ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. BROOKE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - LATER
Lily is sitting by Brooke's bedside, showing her a small,
smooth, translucent stone.
LILY
All right, here's the meditation
stone, and this is the book by Dr.
Goulash.
Lily hands the stone and a small book to Brooke.
BROOKE
(looking the stone over)
Thanks... I hope this works.
LILY
So, how's it coming? Harrison
told me you've been having dreams?
BROOKE
Have I—like, every night. I
haven't been bothering Sam and
Harrison with it lately, though.
LILY
And you think these dreams are
some kind of unconscious memory of
a near-death experience?
BROOKE
THAT I'm sure of, now.
LILY
So what are these dreams like? I
mean, what are they about?
BROOKE
A lot of things—a lot of walking,
a lot of empty space. Playing
basketball.
LILY
Basketball? I didn't know you
played basketball, Brooke.
BROOKE
I don't. So it must mean
something, right?
LILY
I guess. I mean, I've always
believed in the power of the
subconscious.
BROOKE
Oh—you know who's in a lot of
them? You remember Clarence?
LILY
Harrison's roommate when he was
here with leukemia? The one who
died?
BROOKE
Yeah. It's really weird. I only
talked to him a few times here
before he died—but he's all over
my dreams. I don't know what that
means.
LILY
Well, use the stone. It's always
worked for me in the past.
BROOKE
Thanks.
Brooke puts the stone and book aside.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Now...tell me about you and Josh.
LILY
(shrugs)
I don't know what there is to
tell. I'm flying up there this
afternoon to have it out with him.
BROOKE
Look, Sam told me a little bit
about it. Lily, I am SURE he's
not cheating on you.
LILY
I don't want to believe that
either, but...I don't know, maybe
what we have isn't what I thought.
Maybe he's not really, truly in
love with me after all. Maybe
he's just had a "thing" for me.
Brooke shakes her head and looks intently at Lily.
BROOKE
He never had a "thing" for you,
Lily. I know what that looks
like. It's not what's in him when
he looks at you. Anyone could see
that.
LILY
I used to think that too, but—
BROOKE
No buts. Look, I am the last
person to be giving anyone
romantic advice, but I know you
can't solve anything by just
shutting down and locking the
people you love out. I've tried
that. It didn't work.
LILY
Sam thinks it's a good idea, too.
BROOKE
Well, she's smarter than I am in
that department these days.
LILY
Oh, Brooke, I'm sorry...
BROOKE
No, no. You and everyone else can
stop tiptoeing around the subject.
Sam loves Harrison. Harrison
loves Sam. End of story.
LILY
Still...I guess you aren't very
used to this. Losing out, I mean.
BROOKE
(shakes her head)
I don't look at it like that at
all. I didn't "lose" Harrison.
It's not some competition between
me and Sam. Love isn't a contest.
Love is...love. You can't win it,
or lose it. It just is. Or...
isn't. If you don't have it,
there's nothing you can do about
it.
She leans over and gives Lily a significant look.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
But if you do have it, it's the
easiest thing in the world to hold
onto. It doesn't go away—not
even if it moves to Monterey for a
couple months.
Lily shakes her head reflectively.
LILY
I'm kinda glad we aren't in
opposing cliques anymore.
BROOKE
I'm kinda glad, too.
(chuckles)
I can't even imagine some of the
things I did. I was SO immature.
She lowers her eyes at Lily.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
YOU were always mature.
LILY
Ha! I remember some really stupid
things...principled and
politically correct, maybe, but
really stupid.
(shrugs)
That's what growing up is all
about, right?
BROOKE
I sure did THAT in a hurry.
LILY
Yeah, having your best friend run
you over'll do that, I guess.
BROOKE
EX-best friend. I think I've got
better friends now.
LILY
(smiling)
Yeah, you do.
Lily gets up.
LILY (CONT'D)
Remember, read the book and use
the stone. You'll find what
you're looking for.
BROOKE
Thanks again. Hey, tell Josh he'd
better clean up his act and
remember that you're his wife...or
else his ex-girlfriend'll come
beat him up.
LILY
(laughs)
I'll tell him.
Lily leaves; after she's gone, Brooke settles back in bed and,
after a moment, picks up the book and begins to read.
CUT TO:
EXT. A CITY STREET
Harrison is walking along, hands in his pockets, with Sam
tagging along a half-step behind.
SAM
Uh, Harrison...
HARRISON
(distantly)
Hm?
SAM
(suggestively)
You know, with Brooke coming home
tomorrow, and Mom and Mike coming
home the day after...we really
oughta do something.
HARRISON
Mm? Oh, I guess we should plan
some kind of party. Maybe we
should combine the two.
SAM
Okay, yeah, but that's not really
what I was looking for... Are
you coming over tonight?
HARRISON
(distracted)
Huh? Oh—yeah, sure.
Sam stops and runs her hands through her hair, aggravated.
SAM
Okay, Harrison, just stop.
He turns and looks back at her.
HARRISON
What?
SAM
Look, obviously I've done
something to make you mad, but I
really have no idea what.
HARRISON
I'm not...mad, Sam.
SAM
Well, you're SOMETHING. You're
acting like you don't even know
me.
She takes his hands.
SAM (CONT'D)
Come on, Harrison. Please, don't
do this to me. What is it?
HARRISON
It's... I was just a little
thrown this morning.
SAM
(shakes her head)
What? When?
HARRISON
You said...something about...us
being married...
Sam squeezes her eyes shut and rubs them.
SAM
Oh, God... Okay, I totally did
not mean that in any serious way.
It was a stupid, silly thing to
say, and I did NOT mean to freak
you out. Forget I said it, okay?
Just completely delete it from
your memory.
HARRISON
You don't...I mean...
SAM
No! Harrison, I'm seventeen, and,
yes, I love you, but, no, I do NOT
want to get married. Not for a
long while. There's lots of
things I want to do before I
become Mrs...anybody.
She closes in, lays her arms on his shoulders and locks her
hands together behind his neck.
SAM (CONT'D)
Okay?
HARRISON
Yeah. I guess...this just still
seems...new...to me. You know,
it's not like I have a lot of
experience with this stuff.
Sam lays her head on his shoulder.
SAM
Yeah...me either.
HARRISON
Hey, at least you had a boyfriend
before this.
(pause)
I'm just lucky I fell in love with
an older and wiser woman.
Sam makes a face at him and swats him on the arm.
SAM
Hey! I am, what, five months
older than you? Let's not go
there.
Grinning, Harrison puts his arm around Sam's shoulder as they
head on down the street.
CUT TO:
EST. THE INSTITUTE - AFTERNOON
FADE TO:
INT. THE INSTITUTE'S LOBBY
Like many lobbies, this one has a security guard seated behind
a wide, semi-circular desk. Lily walks through the front
doors, looks around, and approaches the desk.
GUARD
Can I help you, Ma'am?
LILY
Yes, I'm looking for Josh Ford?
He works here.
GUARD
And you are...?
LILY
Lily. Ford. I'm his wife.
GUARD
I'm sorry, Ma'am, but no visitors
are allowed inside unless it's
been cleared by the Director.
Just then Dr. Bennett walks through a side door, nose buried
in a folder. She looks up and stops short when she sees Lily.
BENNETT
Hey, are...? You're Lily, right?
Josh's wife?
LILY
(confused)
Yes, but—
BENNETT
I've seen your picture. Oh...
She extends her hand.
BENNETT (CONT'D)
I'm Tina Bennett.
Lily's eyes widen in recognition as she shakes Dr. Bennett's
hand.
LILY
You're Dr. Bennett? Josh talks a
lot about you.
BENNETT
(laughs)
Not nearly as much as he talks
about you, I bet.
(to the guard)
Tom, can you get Mrs. Ford here a
visitor's pass?
GUARD
That's against policy, Ma'am.
BENNETT
(insistently)
Tom—please.
GUARD
Yes, Ma'am.
As the guard busies himself, Lily looks Dr. Bennett over
unobtrusively. The guard hands Lily a pass and a clipboard.
GUARD (CONT'D)
Could you sign in, please.
Lily scrawls her name on the clipboard and hands it back to
the guard, and fixes the pass onto her blouse.
BENNETT
Come on. I'll take you to Josh.
CUT TO:
INT. INSTITUTE CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
BENNETT
Sorry about that—we had some
vandalism problems recently, and
the place is on a security kick.
LILY
Oh—I didn't know.
BENNETT
(surprised)
Really? Josh was instrumental in
apprehending the vandals. Didn't
he tell you?
LILY
No... He said there were
problems, but...not really.
(pause)
We haven't been talking much at
all lately.
BENNETT
I know. This time of year is just
insane. Technically it's illegal,
but we've been pulling eighteen
hour shifts just to keep up.
That's why we hire interns in the
first place—their families don't
miss them when they disappear for
a couple of weeks. We just don't
get many with spouses, is all.
They turn a corner.
BENNETT (CONT'D)
I should warn you, you'll probably
have to wake him up. Around this
time, when people aren't working,
they're usually sleeping.
CUT TO:
INT. THE INSTITUTE'S SNACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Dr. Bennett opens the door to the snack room and shows Lily
in. Sure enough, Josh is curled up on a cot against the far
wall, sound asleep.
BENNETT
(hushed)
I'll leave you two alone.
Dr. Bennett backs out. Lily walks over to Josh, and, looking
down at him, can't resist smiling. Then she reaches down and
taps his shoulder.
LILY
Josh? Jo-osh...
Josh stirs, groaning, and finally opens his eyes.
JOSH
(rubbing his eyes)
Honey? Am I home?
LILY
No, baby, you're not home. I'm
here.
Josh sits up groggily, and Lily sits down on the cot beside
him.
JOSH
But, what—what are you doing
here?
LILY
I got worried about you.
JOSH
Aw, honey, I'm sorry. I've just
been so busy...
LILY
I know. I heard. It sounds like
you've made a real impression
here.
JOSH
Yeah, it's not a bad job...
Well, until a couple of weeks ago.
Then all this work starting piling
in...
He shakes his head to clear it, and when he looks over at
Lily, a loopy grin covers his face.
JOSH (CONT'D)
You came all the way up here just
because you were worried about me?
Lily gets up and starts pacing nervously.
LILY
I didn't just get worried. I
got...mad, and...jealous.
JOSH
Jealous? Of what?
She turns to face him.
LILY
Josh, be absolutely straight with
me, okay? Is there someone else?
JOSH
(shocked)
What? Lily, you're not serious!
How can you even ask something
like that?
LILY
It's just—
Josh jumps up.
JOSH
Hang on—stay right there!
Before Lily can say a word, Josh rushes out of the room,
leaving her standing there open-mouthed.
CUT TO:
INT. THE LAB
Josh rushes in, heads straight for his table, and begins
sifting hurriedly through the mounds of papers there.
Frustrated, he bangs his hand on the table as Dr. Bennett
comes in.
JOSH
Dr. Bennett, do you remember—?
BENNETT
(interrupting)
They're in your locker.
JOSH
Right. Thanks!
Dr. Bennett watches Josh run out, shaking her head in
amusement.
CUT TO:
INT. THE INSTITUTE'S LOCKER ROOM
Josh heads pell-mell for one of the lockers, opens it, and
pulls out a small box. Slamming the locker door shut, he runs
out again.
CUT TO:
INT. THE INSTITUTE'S SNACK ROOM
Lily is still standing, arms crossed, when Josh hurries back
in. He takes her by the arm and leads her over to one of the
circular tables, sitting her down and then sitting down
himself across from her. He takes the box and sets it down
between them.
JOSH
Before things got so crazy...I got
this for you. I was going to come
home to give it to you, but then I
couldn't get any time off at all.
But you're here now, so...
He opens the box and lifts out the sapphire ring. As Lily
gapes at the sight, he takes her unresisting hand and slips
the ring on her finger.
JOSH (CONT'D)
Whew—it fits.
He takes the gold band out box and puts it on his own finger.
JOSH (CONT'D)
I even got one for myself. Mine
didn't cost anything, though.
LILY
Oh, my God... Josh, this is...
oh my God. How...?
JOSH
Tina—Dr. Bennett—she helped. I
got them from her uncle. Well,
he's not really her uncle, just an
old family friend. But I got them
for way less than I woulda
otherwise.
LILY
(shaking her head)
Wait...when did you do this?
JOSH
Oh, a couple weeks ago, right
before everything got nuts. I
didn't know your ring size,
though, so I had to call Sam and
get her to find out without you
finding out what was going on.
But the guy delivered it right
here.
Lily looks skyward.
LILY
That's what the message was
about...
JOSH
Message?
LILY
(blushing)
Huh? Oh...nevermind. Josh, I
can't believe you did this!
JOSH
I knew you wouldn't want a
diamond, so I got a sapphire. And
it's not nearly as expensive as it
looks, either.
LILY
It's beautiful, Josh. It really
is.
JOSH
(hopeful)
So...you're not worried anymore?
LILY
(sighs)
No, I'm not worried. Or mad, or
jealous. I feel kinda like an
idiot.
JOSH
Well, you should. Lily, I can't
believe you thought I was fooling
around.
LILY
I know...Sam kept telling me it
was nothing. Baby, I'm sorry. I
just go crazy when you're not
around.
Josh leans over and is THIS close to kissing Lily when the
door opens and Dr. Bennett walks in. Josh stands up
hurriedly, with Lily getting up behind him.
JOSH
Do you need me back there, Dr.
Bennett?
Dr. Bennett puts her hands out in a calming motion.
BENNETT
No, no, Josh...in fact, Rodriguez
and Delany are going to cover your
terminal, so you can take your
wife and get out of here for the
rest of the day.
JOSH
Really? Just like that?
BENNETT
(grinning)
No, you're going to owe them big
time later on...but isn't it worth
it?
Josh looks at Lily, puts his arm around her shoulder and gets
a loopy grin himself.
JOSH
Yeah, it is.
BENNETT
So? Go on, get out of here...
before some emergency crops up
that we really can't spare you
from.
Josh grabs Lily's hand and practically pulls her out of the
room.
JOSH
Thanks, Dr. Bennett!
BENNETT
(calling after)
Nice meeting you, Lily!
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE