ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. BROOKE'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Brooke watches a male nurse push a wheelchair into her room
and park it by her bed.
NURSE
Hi, Brooke. I'm Steve, and I'll
be your chauffeur today. Ready to
go downstairs?
BROOKE
(clapping her hands together)
Ready as I'll ever be.
Brooke throws her covers aside and awkwardly tries to swing
her legs over the side of the bed.
NURSE
Here—let me.
The nurse reaches over, sweeps Brooke up in his arms and
expertly sets her down in the wheelchair.
NURSE (CONT'D)
Usually if you can just jump out
of bed, you don't have to go to
P.T.
BROOKE
(sighs)
Yeah, I guess.
NURSE
Hey, before you know it, you'll be
cheering your lungs out again.
BROOKE
How'd you know I was a
cheerleader?
NURSE
(grinning)
With a face like that? How could
you not be?
Brooke giggles as the nurse wheels her off.
CUT TO:
INT. PHYSICAL THERAPY
The nurse wheels Brooke into the room and parks the
wheelchair.
NURSE
All right. Don't work too hard.
I'll be back later.
BROOKE
Thanks.
As the nurse leaves, a grizzly, fifty-ish man in another
wheelchair pushes himself over.
HARDY
Fresh meat, I see.
(sticks out his hand)
Welcome to Hell.
Brooke shakes his hand tentatively.
HARDY (CONT'D)
Nathan Hardy.
BROOKE
Brooke. Brooke McQueen.
HARDY
(looking her over)
What are you in here for?
BROOKE
I had a fight with my former best
friend, and she decided to take
her car and run me down on prom
night.
HARDY
(making a face)
Ouch. When I went to high school,
we just glued each other's lockers
shut.
BROOKE
So, what's your story?
HARDY
I was a rock climber. Went all
over the world. Then one day a
grapple snapped, and I became a
rock faller. Let me tell you, you
go down a helluva lot faster than
you go up.
BROOKE
Oh...I'm sorry.
HARDY
Don't be. Most people who take a
fall like I did—
(snaps his fingers)
—lights out. Me, I'm still here.
Either that, or I really AM dead,
and I'm going to be tormented in
this place for eternity.
BROOKE
Naw... I've been dead—or close,
anyway—I'm pretty sure this isn't
it.
A tall, solidly-built female doctor emerges from a back room.
HARDY
(nodding)
There's Dr. De Wolf. In a couple
of hours, you'll wish you'd never
met her.
The doctor walks over to them.
DE WOLF
Spreading good cheer again,
Nathan?
HARDY
Hey, I consider it my patriotic
duty to inform new POWs about the
cell block guards.
Another nurse enters the room.
HARDY (CONT'D)
Oop—my ride's here. Good luck,
kid—you're gonna need it.
The nurse wheels Hardy out, leaving Brooke shaking her head.
DE WOLF
(extending her hand)
I'm Dr. Nadia De Wolf. Did he
tell you that you were going to
wish you'd never met me?
Brooke shakes the doctor's hand.
BROOKE
Yeah.
DE WOLF
He's right. But it'll pass.
Dr. De Wolf circles around Brooke and takes hold of her
wheelchair.
DE WOLF (CONT'D)
Let's get you started on some
preliminary exercises, shall we?
The doctor wheels Brooke off.
CUT TO:
INT. THE BOUTIQUE
Mary Cherry is posing—in a much plainer outfit—on the main
floor of the boutique when, to her horror, the front door
opens and Cherry Cherry sweeps in with a (small) entourage.
CHERRY CHERRY
Lor' sakes! And I thought Texas
was hot! It's like bein' in a pot
of three-alarm chili—extra spicy!
You better be right about this
here place.
FLUNKY
I assure you, Mrs. Cherry, the
house designer is simply to die
for.
CHERRY CHERRY
That's what you said about the
last place! This better turn out,
or you're gonna be the one dyin'
for somethin'!
The manager comes over to them.
MANAGER
Can I help you?
CHERRY CHERRY
Cherry Cherry here. I wanna see
some high-fashion merchandise.
She snaps her fingers, and her flunky holds up a wallet—from
which an accordion of platinum cards dangle. The manager's
eyes light up.
MANAGER
Right this way, Ma'am...!
(calling)
Fredrico!
The manager leads Cherry Cherry off, while Mary Cherry does
her best not to move a muscle.
FLIP CUT TO:
INT. THE BOUTIQUE - LATER
Both of Cherry Cherry's flunkies are loaded down with bags,
and as the group makes its way for the door, Cherry Cherry
walks right past her daughter. She stops short, steps back,
and proceeds to take a long look. Mary Cherry refuses to even
move her eyes, even when Cherry Cherry flicks her nose.
Finally, Cherry Cherry shrugs, and continues towards the door.
Just as she's about to leave, though, she stops, and sighs
audibly.
CHERRY CHERRY
Dang!
With that, she spins and marches back to Mary Cherry.
CHERRY CHERRY (CONT'D)
Mary Cherry, what do you think
you're doin' NOW?
Fredrico steps over.
FREDRICO
(pointing)
That one does not move.
Cherry Cherry reaches into her handbag, pulls out a wad of
bills and hands it to him.
CHERRY CHERRY
Here's ten thousand dollars.
FREDRICO
(to Mary Cherry)
You—five-minute break.
Mary Cherry relaxes and lets out her breath.
MARY CHERRY
Mama! I didn't expect to see you
here!
CHERRY CHERRY
I'm looking for somethin' to wear
for the fall season. All the
places in Texas are too—Texan.
I'm tired of lookin' like every
other...thirtysomethin'...Southern
belle in the joint! Now, just
what in Hades are YOU supposed to
be?
MARY CHERRY
This is my job now, Mama.
CHERRY CHERRY
Standin' around like a dam' crash
test dummy? That's the dumbest
job I ever heard of!
MARY CHERRY
Well, I got it on my own!
CHERRY CHERRY
Well, that explains it!
MARY CHERRY
Mama!
CHERRY CHERRY
And here I WAS gonna un-disown
you...but since you seem to be
doin' just fine on your own...
MARY CHERRY
Oh, no, Mama! I'm not doin' fine!
I'm doin' awful! Please let me
come home! Please please
pleeeease!
Mary Cherry drops to her knees and clutches at Cherry Cherry's
skirt.
CHERRY CHERRY
Aw...all right. I didn't really
change my mind.
(grins)
I just wanted to make ya beg.
MARY CHERRY
You mean—?
CHERRY CHERRY
That's right—you're a Cherry
again.
Mary Cherry leaps up and throws her arms around her mother.
MARY CHERRY
(grating)
Mary Cherry, if you don't git offa
me in two seconds—
Mary Cherry hurriedly composes herself.
CHERRY CHERRY
All right, now get in the car, and
let's go home.
MARY CHERRY
Right, Mama.
As they walk off, the manager rushes up.
MANAGER
Hey!
CHERRY CHERRY
(over her shoulder)
She quits!
Cherry Cherry gives her daughter a meaningful look.
CHERRY CHERRY (CONT'D)
Right, Mary Cherry?
MARY CHERRY
Right, Mama.
They walk out together, leaving the manager and Fredrico
sputtering in their wake.
CUT TO:
INT. PHYSICAL THERAPY - LATER
The large room is mostly empty, so nobody is disturbed when
Brooke's wail pierces the air. Brooke is lying on one of the
tables, drenched and panting, while Dr. De Wolf works on
flexing her left leg.
DE WOLF
Okay, we're doing fine...
Brooke screams again as Dr. De Wolf bends her leg.
BROOKE
(raggedly)
Please... Stop... I can't...
DE WOLF
It'll get better in time, Brooke.
BROOKE
I don't want it to get better, I
want it to STOP HURTING!
Unheeding, Dr. De Wolf flexes Brooke's leg again; Brooke
shrieks and pounds her fist into the padded table.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
No more... Oh God, please...
DE WOLF
(soothingly)
Just one more...
Dr. De Wolf works Brooke's leg one more time, eliciting a
final ear-splitting scream.
DE WOLF (CONT'D)
There. You've made a fine start,
Brooke. I think you'll make quick
progress.
BROOKE
(panting)
Oh...no...I am...never...coming
back here...again...
Dr. De Wolf pats Brooke's leg.
DE WOLF
Everyone says that. Don't worry,
it's only every day for the first
couple of weeks.
Brooke groans pathetically.
DE WOLF (CONT'D)
All right, we'll try one round on
the bars, just to get you
acclimated, and then I'll send you
back to your room.
Dr. De Wolf pulls Brooke up and helps her over to a set of
parallel bars. She makes sure the Brooke has a grip on them,
then walks to the other end.
DE WOLF (CONT'D)
Okay, this is simple, Brooke. One
end to the other.
Brooke looks up at her.
BROOKE
(pleading)
I don't think I can...
DE WOLF
(cajoling)
Just support yourself with your
arms, and put as much weight on
your leg as it will stand. Just
take little, baby steps.
ANGLE: THE DOORWAY
as Harrison pokes his head in, then comes through.
Meanwhile, Brooke hesitantly tries to take a step. She steps
down on her left leg, and it crumples under her, sending her
crashing through the bars and onto the floor.
HARRISON
Brooke!
Harrison sprints over, sliding to the floor to gather Brooke
up. After a feeble attempt to push him away, she collapses
into him, sobbing. Harrison looks up at Dr. De Wolf in
anguish.
HARRISON (CONT'D)
What happened? She's hurt!
DE WOLF
(nodding)
She's had a rough session. The
first day is always rough.
Dr. De Wolf retrieves Brooke's wheelchair and parks it next to
her.
DE WOLF (CONT'D)
The second day will be easier.
Come on, help me.
Together Harrison and Dr. De Wolf lift Brooke up and get her
into the wheelchair, where she sits dully. Dr. De Wolf takes
Harrison by the shoulder and leads him a few steps away.
DE WOLF (CONT'D)
(quietly)
Look, it's going to be a long haul
for her. It would help if she had
someone she can count on, here,
with her.
HARRISON
I can do that.
Dr. De Wolf takes a paper out of her lab coat and hands it to
him.
DE WOLF
Here's her schedule.
HARRISON
Thanks, Doctor. You can count on
me.
She looks over her shoulder at Brooke.
DE WOLF
Right now, she needs rest. It's
going to take a lot for her to
overcome her injuries. I'm going
to call her floor nurse and have
her room declared off-limits for
the rest of the day.
HARRISON
Can I at least get her settled in?
Steve, the nurse, comes in to get Brooke.
DE WOLF
Sure. Go ahead.
The nurse wheels Brooke out, with Harrison walking beside her.
CUT TO:
EST. L.A. SKYLINE - EVENING
RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Whew! It was a scorcher today,
folks—and the heat just continues
on into the night! Don't expect
the A.C. to go off anytime soon—
temperatures will still be in the
high eighties at the midnight
hour!
CUT TO:
INT. JOSH AND LILY'S LIVING ROOM
The doorbell rings, and Lily walks over to answer it. When
she opens the door, she is surprised to see Mary Cherry
standing on her stoop.
LILY
Mary Cherry, did you lose your
key?
MARY CHERRY
Nope, I just wanted to return it
to you.
Mary Cherry holds up the door key and drops it in Lily's hand.
Lily peers around Mary Cherry at the limo parked in the
street.
LILY
Does this mean...?
MARY CHERRY
Yup! Mama re-inherited me!
LILY
Well...that's wonderful, Mary
Cherry.
Mary Cherry takes a breath.
MARY CHERRY
Lil Lily...I wanted to thank you,
for everything you did for me
while I was on the skids... And,
I hope we can still be friends,
even though I am once again richer
than you could ever dream of
becoming.
LILY
(chuckling)
Yeah...we can still be friends.
Mary Cherry suddenly envelopes Lily in a bear hug. After a
startled moment, Lily hugs her back.
MARY CHERRY
Oh! I almost forgot!
She breaks away and digs into her handbag.
MARY CHERRY (CONT'D)
Mama said it turned out to be a
good thing, me protestin' and all.
LILY
(raising an eyebrow)
Really?
MARY CHERRY
She said they could put a
"positive P.R. spin" on the whole
thing, and come out lookin' better
than ever. So she wanted me to
give this to you.
She pulls out a check and hands it to Lily.
LILY
(gaping)
Ten thousand dollars to the L.A.
Homeless Fund!
MARY CHERRY
Tax deductible, of course.
Lily laughs and shakes her head.
LILY
Mary Cherry...I wouldn't have it
any other way.
MARY CHERRY
(awkwardly)
Well...I gotta go.
Mary Cherry heads down the walk.
LILY
Take care of yourself!
MARY CHERRY
Don'tcha worry your pretty li'l
head about that! If there's
anything we Cherrys know how to
do, it's take care of ourselves!
Tell Joshua I said howdy!
LILY
I will!
Mary Cherry climbs into the limo, and Lily waves from the
doorway as it rambles off down the street.
CUT TO:
INT. MCQUEEN DINING ROOM
Sam and Harrison are nervously sitting across the short end of
the table from each other, over the remains of dinner.
HARRISON
Ah...it was really good.
SAM
(shrugs)
Carmen actually fixed
everything... I stirred.
HARRISON
Well... I-it was very well
stirred.
Sam titters.
HARRISON (CONT'D)
I'm, uh, sorry about...dessert. I
wasn't thinking...
SAM
Oh, no, I like melted ice cream
soup.
It's Harrison's turn to laugh nervously. Sam gets up and
walks around the table.
HARRISON
Man, can you believe it's still so
hot out there?
Sam holds out her hand; Harrison takes it and scoots out of
his chair.
HARRISON (CONT'D)
(fingering his collar)
Whoo... And, pretty hot in here,
too...
SAM
Harrison...will you come upstairs
with me?
Without waiting for an answer, Sam turns and heads for the
stairs, still holding on to Harrison, who follows docilely.
CUT TO:
INT. SAM AND BROOKE'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Harrison and Sam sit down, side by side, on Sam's bed; and for
a long moment, nothing happens.
HARRISON
(turning)
Sam...look, this is a really big
step. I mean, it's not like I
don't want to...believe me, I want
to...I just—I don't want you to
do anything you'll regret later,
because you feel like you have to
or something—
She puts her finger to his lips to shush him.
SAM
(softly)
Harrison...can I ask you to do
something?
HARRISON
Ah...sure?
SAM
Would you please...stop being so
damn considerate?
HARRISON
Ah, I—
Sam leans in and kisses him; and after a moment, he kisses her
back. After several long moments, she breaks away and stands
up.
SAM
Hold that thought. In fact,
expand on that thought. I'll be
right back.
While Harrison looks at her strangely, she turns and walks
out.
CUT TO:
INT. MIKE AND JANE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Sam walks in and heads straight for the nightstand. Taking a
breath, she opens the drawer and pulls a condom out of the
box, holding it up in the dim light.
SAM
(smiling to herself)
Yes...she will.
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF ACT FOUR
THE END