Diagnosis Murder: Script, "The Greatest Fear"

By Olivia Sutton

Part 4: Act III

A note on formatting. I wrote this script style with standard telecript formatting and camera directions. A list of abreviations is to be found in section one. Since I can't get this thing to save italics, all camera direction is enclosed in parenthesis. As always, asterisks (*) denote emphasis or stress

And finally, character names should be centered above the dialogue, but when I upload this everything comes out flush left.

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ACT III

SCENE 1

(Ext. Sleazy bar, night.

Int. same bar, Steve's sitting in a corner booth. He swallows a drink, then motions to the waitress.)

WAITRESS

I think you've had enough.

STEVE

I've had enough when say I've had enough. Now get me another bourbon.

(The waitress goes over to the bar, and speaks (out of earshot) to the barkeeper/owner. The barkeep comes over to Steve's table.)

BARKEEP

What's the problem here?

STEVE

Nothing if she gets me another drink.

BARKEEP

You've had enough. Let me call you cab.

STEVE

Look, mister, I'm a cop. I can handle my liquor. Now get me another drink!

BARKEEP

It you're a cop, then you know the laws about serving liquor to someone who's obviously intoxicated. Now leave.

STEVE

(Steve gets up.)

I didn't like this bar anyhow.

(He leaves, walking drunkenly to his truck, and gets in.

Cut to Steve driving the truck. It's raining and dark. He goes to take a turn and the car begins to skid. Steve fights to regain control but the car skids off into the guardrail)

SCENE 2

(Int. Community General dispatch desk. Admitting is the next desk over. A nurse/dispatcher is answering a call from area paramedics at dispatch.)

NURSE/DISPATCHER

You said the patient was Steve Sloan? He's one of our doctor's sons. What's his condition?

(Pause while she listens to incomprehensible radio chatter)

All right, we'll be waiting. Yes, I'll inform his father. Thanks for the heads-up, 51.

(Dr. Travis enters carrying a chart, and walks to the nearby admitting desk. The nurse motions to him and he walks to her desk instead.)

NURSE/DISPATCHER

Dr. Travis!

(Jesse stops and looks at the woman calling him.)

JESSE

What is it?

NURSE/DISPATCHER

Dr. Sloan's son, Steve. He's been in a car accident. The paramedics are bringing him in, now. Can you find Dr. Sloan and tell him?

JESSE

Yeah, yeah, sure. How bad is it?

NURSE/DISPATCHER

Pretty bad.

(Jesse gives her a glum look, then turns and walks out of shot to find Dr. Mark Sloan)

SCENE 3

(Int. Emergency room. 3 am. The door bursts open, paramedics bring in a gurney, with Steve on it. He's covered with a yellow sheet, and a yellow foam brace holds his head and neck still. Blood covers Steve's clothes, face and hands, and IV's are in both arms. Mark (civilian clothes, disheveled) runs to his son's side, trying to hold his hand while keeping up with the fast moving gurney. Paramedics shout vitals and other treatments given in route.)

MARK

Steve! Can you hear me? Steve, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should've realized, paid more attention. I shoulda' ...

SCENE 4

(Int. E/R trauma room, Jesse waits inside with Susan Hillard and several E/R nurses.

The paramedics, Mark, and Steve enter. The paramedics transfer Steve to the table in the trauma room, and continue to shout vitals and instructions)

JESSE

Mark, you have to leave now.

MARK

I'm a doctor!

JESSE

You're his father! You need to leave. We'll take good care of him.

MARK

And you're his best friend! Please! Please, let me stay!

JESSE

(To Susan, a nurse)

Susan, Get him out of here!

SUSAN HILLARD, nurse

Come on, Mark. Let Jesse do his work. They'll take good care of him. Come on.

(She puts her arm around Mark's shoulders and leads him outside of the treatment room)

SCENE 5

(Int. E/R waiting area, Susan helps Mark, they stand for a moment)

MARK

(Quietly) I should have known, I should've seen the warning signs. (pounding his fist into his hand) Damn it!

SUSAN

(confused) Mark, he will be okay, he's in good hands. Known what, Mark?

MARK

About Steve. I knew that Steve was having problems because of the shooting, I...

SUSAN

It was a traffic accident, Mark.

MARK

No, no, it wasn't an accident. I smelled alcohol on him. A lot of alcohol. Steve hasn't had a drink in ten years, Susan

SUSAN

(paling)

I didn't know he was an alcoholic.

MARK

I nearly lost him the last time he was drinking. It was one of the hardest things I've had to deal with as a father. You can't understand what it was like.

SUSAN

It will be all right. We're here for you. *Both* of you. (placing a hand on his arm) Now, Mark, you should sit down, it might be a long wait.

(Mark nods, and collapses into a nearby chair. Susan sits next to him. The two are quiet.)

(A few minutes later, Amanda, enters the waiting area.)

AMANDA

Mark, I just heard. How's Steve?

MARK

They haven't said yet. He was drunk, Amanda.

AMANDA

Oh, oh no, Mark.

MARK

I just hope ... god, I just don't want to lose him. Not now. And especially, not like this.

AMANDA

(She joins him in seating down)

He's strong. It will be all right. He'll be fine.

(*cut*)

SCENE 6

(Int. Community General, waiting area, some time later. Jesse enters, still wearing a blood-splattered gown. Mark, Amanda and Susan, rise from their seats)

MARK

Jesse? How's Steve?

JESSE

They're taking him up to surgery. But Mark, ...

MARK

His blood alcohol level was, what?

JESSE

Point one-oh. Mark, I'm sorry.

SUSAN

Did everyone know about this but me?

JESSE

It's not the type of thing you talk about, Susan. Now, as to his condition. Most of the blood came from superficial cuts, especially on his face, and arms. But his left femur was crushed by the dashboard of the truck. He also had a shred of metal in his chest...

MARK

Oh, god. (sinking back into one of the chairs) Where? How bad?

JESSE

It slipped between the 10th and 11 rib and penetrated his left lung, causing a pneumothorax. We put in a chest tube. They'll remove the metal and repair the damage in surgery. They'll also set his leg when he's stabilized from the thoracic surgery.

MARK

Can I see him?

JESSE

Not until he's out of surgery, but we can go up to the third floor waiting area. Mark... Steve's going to be fine. But the physical wounds will be the easiest to heal. He's going to need a lot of help, and support, maybe even counseling.

MARK

To come to terms with that boy's death.

JESSE

Yes. And to stop drinking.

(*Cut*)