Diagnosis Murder: Script, "The Greatest Fear"

By Olivia Sutton

Part 5: Act IV

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 IV

SCENE 1

(Fade in. Int. Community General, waiting area, third floor surgery area, Amanda, Susan, and Mark are sitting quietly, waiting for word on Steve. Jesse is not there. Then Jesse enters with Dr. David Carleton, a thoracic surgeon)

MARK

Jesse? Doctor? How's Steve . . . (his voice fades out in fear)

JESSE

Steve's going to be fine.

Dr. DAVID CARLETON

We removed the foreign body, and repaired the damage. His leg is stable, after his condition improves we'll do more surgery on it. The important thing is he made it through the thoracic surgery okay.

MARK

Oh, thank God.

Dr. CARLETON

He's in recovery now, but as soon as he's moved to an ICU room, you can see him.

MARK

Thank you, Dr. Carleton. (He shakes the Doctor's hand) Thank you.

(At that moment, Natalie rushes in)

NATALIE

I just heard, How is he?

AMANDA

They just told us he's out of surgery and in recovery. Come with me, and I'll tell you what I can.

(Amanda leaves with Natalie, leaving Mark and Jesse alone)

SCENE 2

(Int. Community General, surgery waiting area, early morning)

JESSE

(Walks close to Mark who's sitting, pale and exhausted. Jesse sits, and reaches a hand to the older man's shoulder)

He's going to be okay, Mark. We stabilized him quickly in the E.R, and Dr. Carleton's an excellent surgeon. It went well.

MARK

I know, I know. Jesse, that's not ... (lowers his head into his arms)

JESSE

Mark, Mark, What is it? Steve made it, he's okay.

MARK

He was drunk, Jesse.

JESSE

I know. I did the BAL analysis, remember?

MARK

But you don't remember what it was like, last time. It's been ten years, Jesse. Ten years.

JESSE

That long?

MARK

Jesse, you didn't know Steve, back then. Back when he was drinking. I (beat) I was wrapped up in my own pain from losing Kathryn; and Steve, (pause) I nearly lost him, then, Jesse, I don't know if I can go though that again.

JESSE

We'll get him help. And you won't be alone, you have me, Amanda, even Natalie and Susan. We all want to help, Mark, both Steve and you.

MARK

I know, and I thank you. But that's not all. The accident, Steve was alone, and drunk. I... Jesse, I'm ... I think, it was (he takes a deep breath) I think it was intentional.

JESSE

(Looks confused for a second, then it dawns on him) Intentional? Mark, no. I *know* Steve, passive suicide is *not* his style.

MARK

(mutters quietly) You don't know that.

JESSE

(taken aback) Mark, Steve wouldn't, no...

MARK

It's happened before.

JESSE

What?!

MARK

(quietly at first, slowly gaining strength) Steve started drinking, when, when Kathryn died. And it was just a few years after he came home from Vietnam. I was wrapped up in my own depression, I didn't notice his pain. To tell you the truth, Jesse, I was on the edge myself. Full of guilt and pain. Completely incapable of taking care of Steve. He drank, he drove drunk, and he was careless.

JESSE

(Shocked, he nods, dumbly, then asks) What happened?

MARK

One night, Steve didn't come home. He'd been coming home later and later, always drunk. It was a nightmare. The hospital called me, and the department sent over a car to bring me to Mercy General.

JESSE

Mercy! But that's. . . Mercy General Trauma Center is twenty miles north of L.A.

MARK

Steve didn't want to take the chance of being brought to Community General's E/R, so he drove up north, towards San Francisco. He found a bar and got drunk. Then, then he got in his truck, drove into the mountains, and ( stops as tears flood into his eyes then continues) The truck went over a bridge and into a river. Fortunately, a rescue unit was nearby, and a couple of off-duty fire fighters saw Steve's truck hit the water. I nearly lost him, Jesse.

JESSE

My god!

MARK

Exactly. Steve survived. And the accident was enough of a shock that he admitted his problem. I snapped out of my depression, when I realized that my coldness nearly cost me my son. Steve stopped drinking and we rebuilt our relationship.

JESSE

I had no idea. I mean I noticed that Steve never touched a drink, even with owning a restaurant, and when I kidded him about being a teetotaler, he mentioned being an alcoholic, so I never brought it up again. But I never realized...

MARK

We *never* talk about it, Jesse. *NEVER!* Not since it happened.

JESSE

I won't tell him I know, Mark. Thanks for trusting me.

MARK

I needed... I needed to talk about it, Jesse. I'm... When I smelled the booze on him, and saw all that blood, everything flashed back.

JESSE

Mark, I really don't think, I mean, Steve wouldn't ... Not now. He's a survivor, Mark. Ever since I've known him, he's been a survivor.

MARK

If I lose him...

JESSE

Carleton said he'd make it. He's going to pull through.

MARK

You still don't understand. I *know*, every fatherly instinct I have is *screaming* at me. He hasn't talked to me hardly at all in two days.

JESSE

Go in there and see him.

MARK

I don't know if I can do that and not confront him; about the alcohol, at least.

JESSE

Then confront him. Maybe it will help you both to have some things out in the open.

MARK

(pulls himself together) Maybe you're right, Jesse, maybe you're right. I think I can see him now.

JESSE

And Mark, look, I've got a friend, a psychologist, maybe you could get Steve to see her, about the shooting, his drinking, and ... anything else.

MARK

A psychologist?

JESSE

She's good. She's professional. And an impartial person might help. She can help Steve, and Mark, maybe she can help you too.

MARK

Me?

JESSE

You've carried this guilt a long time, my friend.

MARK

When did you learn so much about human nature? What's her name?

JESSE

Dr. Walenchekz, Dr. Emily Walenchekz. She was an instructor at my med school, but now she's in private practice, here, in L.A.

MARK

Give her a call, for me, will you, Jesse? And I'm going in, to see Steve.

(Jesse nods, his face grave as he thinks over all of Mark's revelations)

SCENE 3

(Int. Steve's hospital room. Steve is hooked up to several monitors but is breathing on his own, with no respirator. Steve's asleep, Mark sits quietly by his son's side. Steve stirs.)

STEVE

Geez, did anyone get the plate of the truck that hit me?

MARK

(overjoyed, he ignores Steve's remark)

Steve! You're awake.

STEVE

Yeah, What happened?

MARK

(sighs) You were in a car accident. Alone. And you were drunk, Steve.

STEVE

Dad, that doesn't mean what you think it does. Okay, so I had a few drinks. Big deal. I passed 21 a long time ago.

MARK

(Mark looks away from Steve in pain, he clearly doesn't want to argue with him, so soon after nearly losing him.)

Steve, I love you. You're my son, and I love you. You know that. But what you did was irresponsible. You're a police officer, you've seen what drunk drivers *do*, Steve. I know how long it's been since you've had a drink, so don't try telling me you just had a few to relax.

STEVE

Dad...

MARK

I don't know how I'd stand losing you. Especially to something so stupid.

STEVE

Dad ...

MARK

Now, tell me what's been going on with you since the shooting two days ago. (at Steve's stoic look) Please, talk to me Steve.

STEVE

All right, Dad, look (pause) I can't. You wouldn't understand.

MARK

Try me! Please, try Steve. Tell me what's going on with you. I'll listen. I promise.

STEVE

(looks at him) I love you too, Dad, but no, I just, I can't.

MARK

If you won't talk to me about the shooting, Can you at least tell me why you're drinking again?

STEVE

I ... (He looks away) It seemed to help. I couldn't face what I'd done and I've been having nightmares, and ...

MARK

So why did you decide to drive? (softly) Steve were you trying to get yourself killed? Out of guilt?

STEVE

No, not really. Dad, I ...

MARK

(Mark moves to Steve's side, places his hand on his shoulder)

Steve. I know you. But for the last two days you've been a stranger to me.

STEVE

I'm sorry.

MARK

No, that's not ... Steve, please don't you trust me? I know that what happened wasn't your fault. Did you think I'd blame you?

STEVE

No. Okay. Look, you're a doctor, you save lives! But me, I *took* one. I killed someone. Dad, it's been tearing me up. And I don't see how you could care about me when I killed an innocent 16-year-old boy.

MARK

Steve, I love you. And it wasn't your fault.

STEVE

Who else can I blame? I shot him.

MARK

It was an accident.

STEVE

(angrily) So the shooting was an accident but getting in a car crash was my fault?

MARK

Steve, (pauses with each word, his voice rising) You (pause) were (pause) drunk! You must have known it! You could have called me, or Jesse, or a *cab* or any number of people for a ride and we willingly would have picked you up, no questions.

STEVE

Dad. I. . . Okay, it wasn't intentional, the crash I mean. The rain, a curve, and you're right, the alcohol didn't help.

MARK

Oh, thank god. Now about the shooting. Have you thought about seeing a counselor? From the department, or even a private one?

STEVE

No, not really.

MARK

Maybe you should. I don't want to lose you, Steve.

(*cut*)

SCENE 4

(Int. Office of Dr. Emily Walenchekz, a short, dark-haired, motherly, female psychologist. The office is tastefully decorated with modern art prints and classic, heavy furniture.

Steve enters.)

STEVE

Dr. Walenchekz? (pronouncing it walenCHEZZ)

EMILY

WALL-en-check. But, please, call me Emily.

STEVE

Emily. My friend, Dr. Travis, recommended you to me. Did my dad talk to you? He set up the appointment. What'd he tell you?

EMILY

That you are an police detective, and you've been through an unfortunate experience. But I'd rather you told me about it yourself.

Steve sits down and begins to talk. Fade out.

SCENE 5

(Int. A few days later. Community General hospital, Mark's office. Jesse's just entered.)

JESSE

Steve called me today.

MARK

Oh?

JESSE

Mark, he sounds much better. He's not so on edge. I think Emily is really helping him.

MARK

So do I. You know, at first, I was upset when she told me to stay out of it? But now, I realize that Steve needed to work this out with someone more detached. He just couldn't talk to me. It was very difficult to accept that.

JESSE

Mark, it's your nature to be protective. And to always want to help.

MARK

I know.

JESSE

Hey, Mark...

MARK

No, it's okay, Jesse.

(There's a knocking at the door. The door opens and it's Steve. He's smiling)

STEVE

Hey, Dad, I was just going down to the beach. You want to grab your roller-blades and come along?

MARK

How's your leg?

STEVE

Healing. My physical therapist says exercise and walking are good for it.

MARK

(smiles) Then we'll have a nice walk. Without the roller blades.

Fade out.

EPILOG (TAG)

(Ext. Mark Sloan's beach house deck, a few days later. Day, late afternoon. Steve stands staring at the ocean from the deck. Mark walks through the slider and to his pensive-looking son. Steve turns from the crashing ocean, and faces his father)

STEVE

The shooting committee finally came to their decision, Dad.

MARK

Oh?

STEVE

I've been cleared. I can go back to regular duty on Monday.

MARK

Well, that's good news.

STEVE

Yeah, I guess so.

MARK

Steve?

STEVE

Dad, just because I was cleared, doesn't mean I feel any better about this.

MARK

It will just take time. Has talking to Dr. Walenchekz helped?

STEVE

Some. Actually, talking to her has helped more than I thought it would. I know it will take time, Dad.

MARK

(Mark raises his arms like he wants to hug Steve. Steve nods, and moves to his father's side, melting into his arms)

(whispering into Steve's hair) It *will* be all right, Steve.

STEVE

Yeah, I hope so.

(*Cut to end credits*)