ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. THE LAB - LATER
Josh has been busy sweeping up, and is dumping a dustpan of
debris into a trash can when Dr. Bennett appears.
BENNETT
Josh, there's custodial staff to
do that. You don't have to clean
up this mess.
JOSH
I know. But there's nothing to
do, and Mr. Porter said for
everyone to call it a day and pick
it up again on Monday. So I
thought I'd do a little of this.
BENNETT
That sounds like a good
idea—calling it a day, that is.
What do you say we get out of
here?
JOSH
Well—
BENNETT
In fact, why don't we grab an
early dinner?
JOSH
Actually I haven't eaten today.
BENNETT
Then let's go.
Josh sets the dustpan aside, and they walk out of the lab.
FLIP CUT TO:
INT. TACO BELL - LATER
Josh and Dr. Bennett are sitting at a table with a tray of
food between them.
JOSH
You know, this is funny.
BENNETT
What is?
JOSH
(gesturing)
This. Scientists—Taco Bell—I
guess I never made the connection
before.
BENNETT
(munching)
Are you kidding? When I was in
college, I lived on this stuff.
She notices Josh checking his watch.
BENNETT (CONT'D)
Plans?
JOSH
Huh? Oh—no. It's just, I call
my wife every night at seven.
Except for last night, 'cause we
were working.
BENNETT
(surprised)
I didn't know you were married.
JOSH
(grinning)
Yeah, we're newlyweds. It's been
a month now.
BENNETT
You're not wearing a ring.
JOSH
Well, we couldn't exactly afford
rings. In fact, I'm working this
job so we can afford our own
place.
BENNETT
Good for you! So, when's she due?
JOSH
Due? Due for what?
BENNETT
(embarrassed)
Oh—you're not—she's not—?
JOSH
Oh! No! I mean...we didn't even
do it until after we got married.
BENNETT
(rubs her eyes)
Oh boy, and here I was getting on
Ll—Dr. Rutherford's case for
stereotyping you. Man, do I feel
stupid.
JOSH
Come on, you're not stupid. Look,
I know lots of young people get
married because they have to.
Lily and me, we're just different,
that's all.
BENNETT
That's your wife? Lily?
JOSH
Yeah. Oh—here, let me show you.
Josh digs his wallet out of his pocket, and shows her a tiny
photo of Lily.
BENNETT
She's a very pretty girl.
JOSH
(gushing)
Yeah... Oh, and she's a vegan,
and a huge environmentalist, and
she's totally into all these
causes.
BENNETT
Is she the reason you joined EX-
TEAM?
JOSH
She showed me there are bigger
things than football. I guess she
inspired me.
BENNETT
(chuckling)
You sound like you're in love.
JOSH
I'm sorry—I didn't mean to keep
going on like that.
BENNETT
No, please—it's refreshing.
People in my profession tend to be
married to their work.
(pause)
Myself included.
JOSH
Oh, I'm sure the right guy is out
there for you, Dr. Bennett.
BENNETT
I'd like to believe that. And,
hey...at work I'm Dr. Bennett. At
Taco Bell, it's Tina, okay?
JOSH
Sure.
CUT TO:
INT. BROOKE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
Brooke is, for once, alone. The phone rings, and she reaches
behind her awkwardly to grab it.
BROOKE
(into the phone)
Hello?
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. GEORGE'S LIVING ROOM
Actually, just a close-up of George—he could be anywhere.
GEORGE
Hey, Brooke. You sound better.
BROOKE
George? I thought you forgot
about me.
GEORGE
Who, me? Would I do that?
BROOKE
Well, I never hear from you, I
never see you...
GEORGE
I'm sorry—I was there the first
night and...it was a little
awkward.
Brooke rubs her forehead.
BROOKE
No, I'm sorry—that was dumb of
me. Just forget I said anything,
okay?
GEORGE
Hey, you need me—say the word,
and I'm there.
BROOKE
No, no, nevermind. Although...
GEORGE
What?
BROOKE
I just think a little less
avoidance might be good for you.
GEORGE
Brooke...
BROOKE
Hey—you called me, you get the
lecture.
GEORGE
It's just too soon, Brooke. I
still have trouble just thinking
of Sam, let alone Sam and
Harrison.
BROOKE
You know, she really didn't mean
to hurt anyone.
GEORGE
But she did.
(pause)
Maybe I should get tips from you.
I mean, from what I hear, you're
around the two of them all the
time. How do you handle it?
BROOKE
Actually, I...I try not to think
about it too much. I knew Sam and
Harrison had a long history. I
can't...blame them for wanting to
be together.
(pause)
Besides, the last time I let it
get to me, I got hit by a car. It
kinda gives you perspective.
GEORGE
I guess that's what I need.
Perspective.
BROOKE
Well, don't try it the way I did.
Hospitals suck.
GEORGE
(grinning)
You DO sound better.
BROOKE
I still look like hell, though.
GEORGE
I doubt that somehow.
Mike walks in, carrying a shopping bag.
MIKE
Hi, honey.
BROOKE
(to Mike)
Hi, Dad.
GEORGE
Well, I'll let you go.
BROOKE
(into the phone)
Hey—even if you don't want to
come down here, I still expect
regular calls from you.
GEORGE
I'll put your room number on my
speed dial. Promise.
BROOKE
That's more like it.
(pause)
You take care of yourself, okay?
I'm glad you called...I really am.
GEORGE
You work on getting out of that
hospital.
BROOKE
I will. Bye.
Brooke leans over to put the phone away; Mike quickly takes it
from her and places it on the bedside table before sitting
down.
MIKE
So, where are the other two
musketeers?
BROOKE
(firmly)
I sent them home. They're always
fawning over me, and they don't
have any time to themselves. I'm
starting to feel guilty about it.
MIKE
I'm sure they don't mind fawning
over you.
BROOKE
Sam does.
MIKE
What? Brooke, did she—
BROOKE
No, Dad, calm down, okay? She's
been wonderful. I know she thinks
she's hiding it, but I can tell
how she feels. I'm taking up all
of Harrison's time—that can't
make her feel good.
Mike chuckles to himself; Brooke peers at him quizzically.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
What?
MIKE
I'm just thinking about how grown
up my little girl has gotten.
BROOKE
How unlike Nic, you mean?
MIKE
No, that's not what I meant.
BROOKE
Come on, Dad. A couple years ago
I was as shallow and self-centered
as Nic. I was Queen B. of Kennedy,
and the "B" didn't stand for
"Brooke".
MIKE
Brooke—
BROOKE
You know it's true.
MIKE
What I know is that you made some
mistakes, but that you learned
from them, and became a better
person, a more mature person.
BROOKE
And I know how much of that is
because of Sam. The more I think
about it, the more I realize that,
if you hadn't met Jane, and
brought Sam, kicking and
screaming, into my life...I could
very well have ended up just like
Nic. I owe her, Dad. And if
Harrison wants to be with her,
then...then I'm going to do
everything I can to make sure that
they're happy together.
Mike pats her hand.
MIKE
Honey, you could never have wound
up like Nicole, because you were
never as self-centered as you
think. I'm not saying you should
do anything differently. I know
you want to be considerate of
everyone else's feelings. I just
hope that you leave some
consideration for your own.
BROOKE
(shaking her head)
Harrison made his choice, and he
chose Sam. Why would I even want
to keep him for myself? He loves
her, not me. I'm accepting it.
MIKE
(gently)
My experience is, that doesn't
make it hurt any less.
Brooke turns away.
BROOKE
I don't care.
There is a moment's awkward silence. Then Mike reaches into
the shopping bag.
MIKE
Hey, I brought something from home
that might cheer you up.
He pulls a notebook computer out of the bag and sets it on
Brooke's tray table.
BROOKE
(brightening)
My laptop!
MIKE
Lily finally came around and
showed us how to disconnect it
from the fax machine without
screwing everything up. And, I
took it to Electronics Unlimited
and had a wireless modem put in.
Brooke opens up the computer and starts tapping on the
keyboard.
BROOKE
Wow, this is great, Dad.
But after a few moments, she does a double-take at the screen.
INSERT: THE COMPUTER SCREEN
Brooke's e-mail screen, where a box has popped up reading,
"You have 361 new messages."
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Holy...
MIKE
(leaning over)
Most of them are probably get-well
letters.
BROOKE
Well, I know what I'M doing this
weekend.
She stifles a yawn. Mike reaches over and closes the laptop.
MIKE
Why don't you leave that 'til
tomorrow. You need your rest.
BROOKE
I don't know why. I don't do
anything except lie around.
MIKE
Your body's still healing, honey.
Don't push it.
BROOKE
(sighing dramatically)
All right.
As Brooke slides down on the bed, Mike leans over, kisses her
on the forehead, and pulls the covers up around her.
MIKE
Night, sweetie.
BROOKE
(sleepily)
Night, Dad.
He turns out the overhead light, and leaves Brooke to settle
down to sleep.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE