Summary: Dr. David Redwood is a well-known doctor in the town of Sleepy Peak. He lives with his adopted son, Max, and does his best to protect abused children he comes across in his profession. One day, he becomes so disgusted with corruption in the town that allows child abusers to go free that he decides to take matters into his own hands. Hyde is the worst mistake he's ever made.
Notes: This chapter is a play. I am just pre-facing that now since the characters are a bit OOC. They are ACTING. You'll notice there are location and time notices. When you read playbooks, they generally include that before the actors' lines. Its useful for understanding the setting. For Max's bedroom, later on, I designed it similarly to Dipper and Mabel's room in Gravity Falls. Also, I want to thank everyone who has enjoyed reading this story so far. It really warms my heart whenever I see a comment, favorite, or follow.
Previous Chapter:
Songs used in this act:
Once Upon a December from Anastasia
watch?v=KVIdK1VWmLA
God Help the Outcasts from Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda's part only)
watch?v=0pLCDnbBEk0
Good Company from Oliver and Company
watch?v=gk0dUuc5z64
David peeked out between the curtains of the camp theater stage. There was a large audience of townspeople and camper's parents sitting on the wooden benches and eating from the little concession stand that Nerris and Ered were operating. David felt ducked back behind the curtain and started to hyperventilate.
"WHERE IS MY STAR?!" Preston screamed from backstage.
He came running up to David.
"There you are! Are you READY to start the performance? The curtain will rise in FIVE minutes."
David gripped his shirt in nervousness. He was wearing a simple plaid shirt and a lab coat.
"I-I don't know, Preston. Are you s-sure I'm good enough to be the lead actor? I've never done theater before."
Preston scoffed, "You may never have been in a role but you have always been good at teaching it. Besides, this version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is written tailored to your personality anyways. It's the others I'm worried about."
Preston turned to glare at Max, Nikki, and Neil. The trio were all chatting together. David placed a hand on his Preston's head.
"Don't you worry about them, Preston. Nikki and Neil are really excited about this. I know Max gave you a hard time about it earlier but I've taken measures to make sure he does his best."
Preston gave David a flat look.
"You mean you bribed him."
David floundered his arms.
"I didn't bribe him! I just offered an incentive to perform well and he excepted."
Preston laughed.
"Don't worry, David. Bribery is commonplace in SHOW BUSINESS! If you'll excuse me, I must ANNOUNCE our play to our audience."
Preston walked over to the curtain and stopped for a moment.
"Thank you, David, for arranging for the town and our families to come to the play. I don't think I've ever had an audience as large as this."
Preston walked through the curtains. David smiled at the space where Preston was before getting into place. He could hear Preston through the curtains.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Preston Goodplay and welcome tonight to the Camp Campbell Theater."
David closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Tonight! I have a very special play for you all. My team will be performing a variation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I call it, Dr. Redwood and Mr. Hyde! I wrote and directed this play and I am absolutely ecstatic to share it with you all tonight."
David looked to the side as Max, Nikki, and Neil approached the side stage. Neil waved nervously, Nikki mouthed 'You'll be great!' and Max smirked a gave him a thumbs up.
"And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for. I present, Dr. Redwood and Mr. Hyde!"
I can do this.
Act 1
*Evening in the Clinic
"Have a good evening, Mr. Everton!"
David smiled at his last patient for the day. He locked everything up before walking over to his house next door.
*Evening in the house
Once inside, he made his way down to his laboratory in the basement.
*Inside the laboratory
David liked to experiment at night in an attempt to find remedies for sicknesses that occurred in the little town of Sleep Peak. David was one of the few doctors that lived here and he always took the job very seriously.
"I have a couple hours until Max gets back from his piano lessons. Let's see if I can get this salve for blood clotting correct."
He worked on the salve for a couple hours and then brought it up to a mouse in a cage. He had found it that morning, bleeding out after getting attacked by some predator and tried to patch it up. However, the little thing kept pulling its stitches and the wound wasn't clotting like it should've. He rubbed a small amount onto the wound using a q-tip and watched to see if it worked. The wound stopped bleeding in seconds.
"Perfect!" David cheered.
He put the salve away and stored the write-up in a binder.
"Dad! I'm home!"
David grinned and made his way upstairs.
*Inside the house
He saw his son Max setting his bookbag on the kitchen table.
"How was school?"
Max smiled and pulled out a couple notebooks.
"It was fun! Mrs. Gwen taught us all a new song and Nikki and Neil got to be in my group for a science project."
David ruffled his son's hair.
"Well, I'm making stew tonight. Is there anything you want to go with it?"
Max hummed in thought.
"Biscuits! With butter!"
David chuckled.
"And then I'll make banana bread for dessert. Get started on your homework for now, okay?"
Max nodded and they both got to work. The prep work for dinner and dessert wasn't hard. As the stew sat bubbling on the stove, David pulled out the local newspaper.
Sander's Cleared on All Charges
By Amelia Reeves
Marshall Sanders was cleared today of all charges against an accusation of child abuse. The Prosecutor, one of his family members accused the Defendant of abusing his son for his ability to perform magic and tried to gain custody. Sanders had this to say, "I never would've believed that my sister-in-law would have tried to take my son from me. I love Harrison very much and I hope that I have proven that to her now that she has seen the evidence. I have requested a restraining order though as I fear she may try again to take my son from me."
The Prosecutor believed that Marshall was scared of his son for his talent in magic tricks but Marshall claims otherwise.
"I never imagined he would've been capable of magic but if you watch him perform, that's the only thing it could be described as. He loves it and no one can dissuade him from his dream of performing for others."
Marshall requested his son not be interviewed.
David frowned.
I remember that case. It was about a child at Max's school. She had photos of bruises and everything.
"Hey, Max? How's Harrison doing?"
Max looked up from his paper.
"He's doing well. He was really quiet but he said he was relieved that the whole thing is finally over."
I don't know what to believe. I remember when I adopted Max, his own parents only received a couple years prison sentence for being abusers. It took Max being beaten almost to death for them to finally get arrested and that's because a neighbor called the ambulance.
"Hey, Dad?"
David snapped out from his thoughts and looked at his son.
"What's up, Max?"
Max fidgeted in his chair.
"Can Nikki and Neil spend the night again this weekend?"
David frowned. It seemed the two kids were coming over more and more often.
"I'm fine with it but aren't their parents concerned that their kids are spending the night at a friend's house almost every weekend?"
Max bit his lip.
"If I tell you something will you promise not to tell them?"
David looked at his son in concern.
"I promise. What's wrong?"
Max sighed.
"Nikki's mom has been having her boyfriend come to their house every weekend and Nikki doesn't like him. He always glares at her and makes comments about how everything would be better without her around. Her mom doesn't care because he makes a lot of money. He's a construction worker."
David glared at the table.
"Tell Nikki she's allowed to come over and spend the night whenever she wants. We have the spare bedroom and if she wants to leave anything here she can. Is Neil in a similar situation?"
Max shook his head.
"Neil's dad and mom are divorced. They fight over him to prove who is better than the other. It makes him feel sad sometimes since he knows they are just using him to prove a point. You don't do that though, so he likes being here."
David turned back the stew, his good mood gone.
"Tell Neil that he's allowed whenever as well. He can sleep in your room and I could buy a twin mattress and put it in there if you don't mind?"
Max's eyes lit up.
"Then we'll be like brothers!"
David ruffled his son's hair.
I am sick and tired of hearing about abused kids in Sleepy Peak. If no one else will help them, then I guess I will because someone fucking has to.
*Afternoon outside the house
Max, Nikki, and Neil were walking home together from school.
"You have the best dad, Max. He's so nice to everyone!" Nikki twirled with her arms out.
Neil and Max chuckled.
"He's gonna put a bed in my room for you Neil so that you have a place to stay whenever you want to as well."
Neil hugged his backpack in excitement.
"It'll be great to have someone who cares so much about us. Honorary family right?"
Max and Nikki smiled.
"Honorary family forever!"
The trio walked into the house.
"Dad is at the clinic so we can go ahead and set up your room if you want, Nikki."
Nikki squealed and ran to the doorway.
"Woah…"
The other two caught up. The spare bedroom was painted a light teal with a dark blue border. There was a simple twin bed with a brown bedframe in the corner next to a wooden dresser, desk, and bedside table. The closet was empty but had hangers on it. The bed also had a stuffed wolf on it.
"I love it!" She jumped on the bed.
"If Dad already set up your room then maybe-"
Max and Neil turned and ran to Max's room. Nikki followed quickly after.
His room was rearranged slightly so that the two beds were on opposite sides of each other. There were two desks sitting together by the door and in between the window was the dresser. There was also a chest in front of both beds. On Max's Bed sat a teddy bear and on Neil's bed, there was a stuffed owl.
The kids all grabbed their stuffed animals and sat in the kitchen to work.
*Afternoon in the Clinic
David was especially attentive today. He dealt with his normal patients but whenever he worked with a child, he watched carefully for any signs of abuse or neglect. One of the children, Cassandra, seemed nervous and a little twitchy when he gave her a checkup. He saw some light yellowing on her arms and made a note of healing bruises and jumpiness. The parents looked relieved though as they went on their way. He sighed and locked up before heading home.
*Inside the house
He saw the line of shoes by the door and smiled knowing that Nikki and Neil were over.
"Hey, kids! How was school?" They all turned and rushed him.
David stepped back from the force of three kids hugging him.
"If was great! Thank you so much for the room!" Nikki jumped up and down in excitement.
Neil shyly shuffled his feet and held his hands behind him.
"And for my room as well."
David smiled and guided them all back into the kitchen.
"I'm glad you all like it. Do you want spaghetti for dinner?"
He received a chorus of 'yes' and got to work.
"Hey, David?"
Nikki walked up to him.
"Yes?"
She looked at the wolf on the table.
"Since you gave me a room here, would you mind if I called you dad?"
David kneeled down and put his hand on her head.
"I would be honored."
She smiled.
"I'm glad! I've always wanted a dad but I've never liked any of my mom's boyfriends."
David looked concerned.
"Do you remember your dad at all?"
Nikki shook her head, smiling sadly.
"I only have a vague memory of him. It was snowing the day he left me with my mom. I never knew why he left me but I know that he wanted me."
She grabbed her stuffed wolf in her hands and held it close.
"Swishing pines,
Flutters of wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings,
Once upon a December."
Nikki twirled with her wolf, then hugs in again, swaying from side to side.
"Someone holds me safe and warm,
Traversing through a silver storm,
Smiles, tears, and comforts dance across my memory."
She grabs David's hands and pulls him into a dance. He lets her stand on his feet as he waltzes through the kitchen.
"Someone holds me safe and warm,
Traversing through a silver storm,
Smile, tears, and comforts dance across my memory.
Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart used to know,
Things it used to remember,"
She steps off as David twirls her. He let's go and kneels down again. Nikki hugs him. Max and Neil get up and hug them as well.
"And a song someone sings,
Once upon a December."
David hugs her.
"I'm so sorry."
Nikki chuckles softly.
"Don't be! You're the dad I always wanted."
David smiles.
"I'm glad I can be that person for you."
Neil tugs at David's sleeve.
"C-Can I call you dad too?"
David pulled the kids closer.
"Of course! I would love to be part of your guys' family."
*Night in the house
David opened the door to Max and Neil's bedroom. His sons were asleep in their beds but David could see they fell asleep talking to each other.
He quietly closed the door and moved on to Nikki's room. She was asleep, clutching the wolf to her and mumbling about the forest. He closed the door and crept silently into his lab.
*Inside the laboratory
He cleared the table in front of him from all the chemicals that were there and pulled out a notebook. He started writing down an idea for his next creation.
Maybe I can make something that helps get rid of acne faster? Or maybe something that helps with healing burns without leaving the scars.
David wrote down several steps before he heard banging on his door.
That's strange. Who would be here at this hour?
*In the living room, partially depicting the house and partially depicting the outside
He walked up to the first floor and opened the door.
"Hello?"
"Oh, thank goodness! Please, I need your help!" It was a frantic woman.
David noticed that she was covered in blood.
"Oh my gosh! What happened!"
The woman started crying.
"Please save my daughter! Please help her!"
David grabbed a first aid kit that he left beside the front door for emergencies, locked the door behind him, and followed the woman to her daughter.
*Inside the Midler residence
David could smell the strong stench of alcohol as he entered the house. He gasped when he saw her daughter. She was bleeding very badly in a pile of glass shards.
"What happened?" David started assessing her wounds.
"M-My h-husband drank too much and hit her with the bottle. I picked out the glass but I didn't know what else to do."
David picked her up and moved her out of the glass pile.
"I need a bowl filled with warm water and a towel."
The woman ran to get the requested items and David pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol, some gloves, and some cotton balls. He also grabbed a pair of tweezers.
The woman returned and he picked out the pieces of glass that she missed and then cleaned the wounds with water and the rubbing alcohol. Once he was done, he wrapped her in bandages and picked the girl up.
"Ma'am, I need you to come with me. If this is a case of child abuse I need to report it and get you two to a safe area."
She shook her head.
"I can't! My husband is the principle of the school. He won't get arrested and any charges I bring against him will probably be dropped since he knows a lot of the cops here."
David bit his lip in anger.
"Then at least let me get you out of here."
She started to disagree, then thought better of it.
*Inside the Clinic
He brought her to a room that had a couple beds in it and got them both blankets.
"Thank you so much, sir, for your kindness."
David shook his head.
"This is the least I can do. I will file a report for this and hopefully, something will be done."
She smiled sadly at him.
"I thank you for trying. I doubt anything will come of it though."
David bade her goodnight and made the call.
"I want to report a case of child neglect. I have a little girl here who was hit with a vodka bottle that I had to tend to."
"It's Alison Midler."
"What do you mean it's probably unfounded?"
David slammed the phone on the port.
"I can't believe they hung up on me."
He walked outside of the clinic, knowing the woman had probably heard the conversation. It hurt to know that Alison and her mother would have to go back to their home. David ran a hand through his hair. He walked out of the clinic.
*The town with the church in the background
He walked through the neighborhood and stopped when he realized he was in front of a church. The church was always open so anyone could come in when they wanted. While David wasn't religious, the sight of the church seemed to stir a sense of desperation deep inside. He walked up the steps and entered.
*Night in the church
The church was very simple with a small lobby, sacristy, and a large main area filled with rows of pews.
"I don't know if you can hear me,
Or if You're even there."
He walked alongside the pews, brushing his hand along the armrest of each one he passed.
"I don't know if You would listen,
To an atheist's prayer,
I know I've done all that I can,
I know that deep inside.
Yet, still, I see Your face and wonder,
If you could turn the tide?"
David kneeled in front of the altar.
"God help the children,
Hungry and hurt.
Show them the mercy,
From words that are curt."
Tears rolled down his face as he gazed at the cross of Jesus.
"God help the abused,
They look to You still.
God help the children,
Or nobody will."
David stood and looked at the stained glass windows. The moonlight filtered softly through them.
I have done my best,
I've wiped their tears.
But I know of many,
Still living in fear.
Please help the children,
Neglected and hurt."
He turned to a picture of Jesus holding a lamb and surrounded by sheep.
"Don't You say that we're,
The children of God.
God help the children,
Children of God."
He turned away and walked out of the church.
*Inside the house
David walked into his house, He wanted to check on the kids and drink a cup of coffee before heading back to the clinic to check on Alison. As he started the coffee pot, he heard footsteps behind him.
"Dad?"
It was Max. David turned and got down on one knee so that he was level with his son.
"Did I wake you?" David asked.
Max shook his head. He clutched the bear he was holding close.
"Did someone need your help?"
David nodded.
"I actually am going to head back to the clinic in a moment to check on them. Are you alright here? You have Nikki and Neil now so you won't be alone."
Max nodded.
"I'll be fine."
David guided his son back to bed.
"You're a lot like a hero you know?"
David looked at Max in surprise.
"You help people who are hurting. You make everything better. That's what heroes do."
David smiled at his son. He kissed him softly on the forehead and tucked him back in the bed.
"Don't heroes have an alter-ego or disguise? Someone you wouldn't recognize?"
Max chuckled, already falling asleep.
"You can always-"
Max yawned.
"-always make one."
David closed the door quietly behind him, now that Max was asleep. He drank his cup of coffee and went back to the clinic.
*Inside the clinic
Alison was still unconscious but was held in her mother's arm. David checked her vitals. It didn't seem like she was getting better. He checked the bandages. They were stained red. He quickly unwrapped them and noticed they were still bleeding sluggishly. He applied a small amount of his salve to clot the bleeding and went to phone the nearest hospital.
"Hello? I need an ambulance. I am Dr. Redwood and a patient I have here needs more medical attention then I am capable of providing in my clinic."
He hung up and woke the mother. David tended to Alison until the ambulance arrived. He moved aside as the EMTs carried placed her on a stretcher and carried her out. As David watched as the ambulance took off, mother and daughter inside, he prayed with all his heart, that she would survive.
*House in the afternoon
David closed up his clinic for the day. He had heard no news from Alison or the mother. He felt useless. He shook his head in an attempt to shake the negative thoughts away and went to find his kids. They were sitting in the living room chatting about the music club.
"…and I think I'm pretty good at it now," Max stated.
Nikki and Neil laughed.
"Can we play it together?" Nikki was already pulling out her saxophone.
Neil quickly pulled out a violin. Max sat down at the piano. Neil and Max started singing.
"You and me together will be,
Forever you'll see.
We too can be good company,
You and me."
Neil and Nikki danced around the living room. They were all smiling.
"Yes, together we too,
Together that's you.
Forever with me,
We'll always be good company.
You and me, that's together we'll be."
They all turned as David clapped.
"That was beautiful kids! How long have you been practicing that?"
Max looked embarrassed as he tucked his arms under themselves and looked away.
"A-A couple days."
Nikki laughed.
"Our music teacher likes to encourage Max and Neil to sing. I think they sound really good too!"
David chuckled.
"S-Shut up, Nikki!"
Max pulled his hood up and hid his face in the hood's collar. Neil coughed and played with his violin's strings. David felt a strong surge of pride and affection at their banter. They were acting like siblings.
I don't know what I would do if anything happened to any of you.
He made to ask them about their club when his phone started ringing
"Excuse me."
He walked over and answered.
"Hello?"
"Yes, this Dr. David Redwood."
"R-Really?"
"Yes, thank you for letting me know."
David hung it up. He slumped over the counter and held his head with his hands.
Another child's life taken by abusers. Why can't this end!
David looked at his children, playing and laughing together in the living room. He remembered the day he rescued Max from his abusive parents. It had taken so much to help Max become the happy child he was today. He remembered Max's words about Nikki and Neil's home lives. How they were going through their own situations of abuse.
"Hey, kids. I'm gonna be downstairs. We'll go out to the Pizza Bros. tonight for dinner alright?"
Once he received a chorus of cheers, he descended into the basement.
*Inside the laboratory
His table still had his notebook open but he quickly turned to the next page.
I can heal the pain but I can't prevent it. I don't have the countenance nor the power to.
He thought back to his conversation with Max last night.
Maybe I can make it? An alter-ego, a persona, someone who can deal justice to those who escape persecution by the law.
David poured over his notebook and calculations for hours, stopping once to take treat his children to dinner and help with homework. Once they were in bed, he went back into the basement and worked all night. When the sun rose the next morning, David created the serum.