Author’s Text

OK, people...you’re going to have to be patient with me while I experiment with this new horizon of focusing the stories fully on Doug and Carol and still trying to work some drama into it. I can promise you that probably means bad news for Doug! LOL! But nothing else major...little things that can be cleared up in one script or so.

Tying up some loose ends here and heading for the future.

The characters in this story are not mine and no money is made by me for the use of them in this story.

Robin

"ER"
"Decisions....Decisions..."

Opening Act

Scene opens at the Ross home...interior...early morning. Pan slowly in from the door way of the master bedroom over to the bed, Show Doug and Carol Ross sleeping peacefully beside each other, each turned on a side so they are facing each other. Carol wakes up first. She reaches her hand out and smiles as she feels Doug beside her. She opens her eyes and peers over at him with a smile on her face. Then, she raises up on one elbow, pushes her hair back behind one ear, and leans down gently to kiss him softly. He opens his eyes slowly and looks up to see her smiling back at him.

Carol:
Good morning!

Doug (pulls himself into a sitting position beside her):
Good morning to you, too!

Carol (feels his face):
How are you feeling this morning?

Doug (shrugs):
I’m fine.

Carol (cuddles on his shoulder):
I still think you should have a sperm count.

Doug (nods, slips his arm around her):
I will. I think it’s a good idea, too. Mumps in an adult male with a fever over 102 degrees, as a doctor, I would recommend that myself!

Carol:
I kept you pretty cool, down there...
(reaches playfully for his shorts)
You should be fine.

Doug (chuckles):
Only while I was sick. After I got well, you turned up the heat.

Carol:
Last night was WONDERFUL...

Doug (scolding look):
You were holding back.

Carol (shrugs):
I was afraid I would hurt your back.

Doug (scoffs):
You let ME worry about my back...
(takes her chin and lifts it to kiss her sweetly)
Don’t hold back on me, OK?

Carol (kisses him):
OK.

Doug (wraps his arms around her):
Last night was nice...VERY nice.

Carol (runs her hand across his chest and lays her head on his shoulder):
It was good for me, too. We haven’t been like that in a long time...

Doug (kisses her hair softly):
Too long.
(pause)
I think we should talk about that vacation we wanted to take.
(Carol looks up at him)
We wouldn’t have to go far...maybe just up to Winnetka or something...

Carol:
What’s in Winnetka that makes a vacation setting?

Doug:
Well, we could get a cabin on the lake for a weekend...

Carol:
That might be nice...you could fish...we could swim...

Doug:
You could fish with me...and we could take a boat out for a while...or we could just stay in the cabin and have fun!
(Carol giggles)
Or we could go back to the hotel where we spent out honeymoon and have a better one this time...a longer one...

Carol:
Ummm...the lake sounds more relaxing. But what about the kids?

Doug (shrugs):
What about the kids? They’ll be fine here. Scott and Tatchie have school...Lana, Tina, and Josh won’t even know we’re gone...Marc will cry when we leave but he’ll be fine ten minutes after we’re gone. If we go on a weekend maybe Mom can take them to Great Adventure or something. They’ll be OK...we’ll have a little family meeting about it and everybody will understand everything.

Carol (nods):
OK...why don’t you look into that cabin?

Doug (nods):
OK...I will.

Carol (purses her lips):
Something else we need to talk about...
(Doug gives her a curious look)
This career move you’re anticipating. I think we need to really weigh the pros and cons of everything involved before you make any kind of a decision.

Doug (grins at her):
"We" need to weigh the pros and cons before "I" make a decision? Shouldn’t that be before "We" make a decision?

Carol (shrugs):
Yeah, whatever.

Doug:
You know, you don’t have to go with me if I leave County...

Carol (nods):
I know...but I really enjoy working side by side with you and I want to go where ever you go. Not because I have to. But because I want to.

Doug (kisses her hair)
I appreciate that. I enjoy working with you, too.

Carol:
There’s things I can do as a PA that when I was a nurse I had to wait for a doctor...now I can take a little more control...I need to exercise that a little more. I need a couple of nurses back there, though. When something happens, I have to call up to the ER desk and have them send me somebody...we need some nurses to rotate back in Pedes as well.

Doug (nods):
Your area of expertise! Just put in the request and I’ll take care of the rest.

Carol (nods):
I’ll do that first thing this morning.

Doug (looks at the clock):
Speaking of which, we better get going or we’re gonna be late.

Carol (sighs, lays her head against him):
Well, at least this morning we have a good excuse to be late.

Doug (chuckles):
That we do...
(squeezes her close to him)
That we surely do!

Carol:
If we get started now we can stop and get some bagels and a newspaper on the way...

Doug (tosses the covers off):
The bagels I understand completely but why do you want a newspaper? We get the newspaper delivered here!

Carol:
Well, I won’t get to read that one until we get home...

Doug (laughs):
So? Afraid it’ll be old news by then?

Carol (heads into the bathroom):
No...I’m looking for something.

Doug (laughs again):
In the newspaper? What in the world are you looking for in the newspaper?

Carol (coy smile from the doorway):
Might not be any of your business yet, now might it?
(gives him a satisfied smile and he chuckles lightly)

Doug:
OK! I don’t ask questions.
(As Carol goes back through the door)
Hey, hang on and I’ll come wash your back...

Show Doug going over to the bathroom door and just as he gets there show Carol’s hand come out and grab him by the T-shirt, pulling him into the bathroom with her. Audio allows us to hear both of them chuckling as the Opening Act Fades into the Opening Credits of the show.

Act One

Scene opens at County Hospital. Show Doug and Carol come through the main part of the ER and Doug puts a bakery bag down on the counter in front of Kerry Weaver, who is working steadily at the desk on the phone and with a file.

Kerry (motions to the bag):
What’s this?

Doug (smiles):
Bagels for your department.

Kerry (genuinely surprised):
Oh! OK! Thanks, Doug...appreciate it.

Doug (nods):
No problem.

Doug and Carol go on down the hall to the Pedes unit. This unit is very brightly decorated with kiddy print borders on the walls and character curtains on the windows. Carol gets behind the counter and puts her purse in a drawer. She then reaches into another drawer and takes out a sheet of paper. She begins fishing for a pen and finds one, and starts filling out the paper.

Doug (munching a bagel):
What are you doing?

Carol (gives him a matter-of-fact look):
I’m filling out the request to have some nurses rotate down here.

Doug (nods):
Oh! Yeah! Good idea. I’ll get it right upstairs for you.

Carol (scoffs, smiles):
Huh...and let it get buried on that desk of yours up there? You know you have to take a copy of it to the head of nurses, too, don’t you?

Doug (nods):
Yeah, I know. I’m starting to get all this administrative crap down pat.
(pause)
Do you ever miss being a nurse?

Carol (looks up slightly):
Sometimes.

Doug (shrugs):
Just because you have a PA Degree doesn’t mean you have to use it, you know...

Carol (scoffs):
Well, that would be kind of stupid, wouldn’t it? Spend all that time earning the degree and then not use it?

Doug:
You wouldn’t be the first.

Carol:
No, it’s OK...I like the freedom the PA degree brings me...I can act on my own without waiting for a doctor to tell me what to do. It’s fine.

Doug:
Have you ever thought of applying for the Head of Nursing?

Carol (shrugs):
Maybe when I was still in nursing, but not now.

Doug:
I guess I was just thinking out loud.

Carol (gives him a coy look):
Thinking what?

Doug:
That the nurses could probably really use someone in their corner that truly understands their needs.

Carol (laughs):
They have Valerie Hubert...she used to be a head nurse...I’m quite sure she knows how to cater to their needs.

Doug (innocent look):
It was just a thought.

Carol (gives him a suspicious look):
You know something, don’t you?

Doug (nonchalant shrug):
Only that Valerie’s husband got a transfer and she’s leaving in three months.
(Gives Carol a smile)
Position will be open...office is right across the hall from mine...

Carol (frowns):
As tempting as that might sound to me for afternoon delights I might be inclined to at least think about it. But it would take me out of the ER more and I truly LOVE the medicine side of things.

Doug (shrugs):
It can balance out.

Carol (laughs):
Oh, sure, the way YOU do it? You spend twice as much time upstairs pushing papers as you do down here seeing patients.

Doug:
Not all the time.

Carol (grins):
MOST of the time.

Doug:
Only when you’re not here.

Carol:
Oh, so, now it’s MY fault you never see patients down here?

Doug (mock annoyed):
Did I use the word ‘fault’ anyplace? NO, I did NOT.

Carol (hands him her form):
You would have...if you had thought of it!

Doug (thinking):
Ummm...OK....maybe!
(kisses her lightly)
I’ll take this upstairs, OK?

Carol (nods, smiles):
OK...will you be back...

Doug (nods from the doorway, smiles at her):
Sure...every time you beep me!

Doug goes on through the door and Carol just shakes her head with a smile as he goes.

Cut to show Doug waiting for the elevator at the end of the hall. While he waits, Mark Greene comes in with Nina and they move slowly to the elevator as well. Doug smiles weakly at Mark as comes up.

Doug (soft voice):
How you doing, Buddy?

Mark (weak smile):
I’m OK.

Doug:
You here for treatment?

Mark (nods):
Oh yeah....just getting over the last one....time for another one!

Doug (claps a hand to Mark’s shoulder):
Just hang in there, Buddy...it’ll get better.

Mark (as the elevator door opens and the three of them walk into the car):
Yeah, that’s what they keep telling me.
(points to paper)
What’s this?

Doug (confused):
Huh?
(realizes what Mark is pointing at)
Oh! This is a request from Carol to get some nurses rotating in the Pedes unit. She says every time she needs a nurse she has to go flag one down in the ER so she wants some nurses back with us, too.

Mark (nod):
Makes sense...why didn’t the Chief of Pediatrics think of something like that?

Doug (wry smile):
Because the Chief of Pediatrics doesn’t get paid to think of those kind of things. That falls more to the Chief of Staff, doesn’t it?

Mark (nods, smirks):
Touché...you win.
(elevator opens and Mark and Nina start out)
I’ll talk to you later, OK? I want us to talk about that private practice thing...

Doug (nods as the elevator door starts to close again):
You go it, Buddy...just give me a call!

Mark waves weakly over his shoulder as he and Nina start down the hall for his chemotherapy.

Cut to show Doug going over files in his office and his attention is caught by a file marked ANDREWS, COLIN on the very top of the basket. He picks it up and starts going over it, making notes, and signing pages as he goes. He reads briefly and shakes his head. Then, he picks up the file and heads out of his office.

Cut to show Doug going back into the Pedes unit. He takes the file up to the desk where Carol is working and waits for her to finish what she’s doing.

Carol (looks up at him and smiles):
Hi!

Doug (grins):
Hi...is Max Rocher in today?

Carol:
Yeah, but he doesn’t come in until later...why?

Doug (taps file on the counter):
I wanted to talk to him about this Colin Andrews case...

Carol (smiles):
How’s the little guy doing?

Doug (shakes his head):
Not good...he’s not responding to the medication very well. That’s what I wanted to talk to Max about...he authorized the medication to be changed and I want to know why. He didn’t make any notes on here...

Carol:
I can leave a note for him in his box...

Doug (nods):
Yeah...would you do that for me?

Carol (nods, grins):
Sure.
(grabs a batch of files from the basket on her counter)
Are you going back upstairs?

Doug (nods):
Yes...

Carol (hands him the files):
Got these for you to sign!

Doug (sighs):
What was that you said about pushing more papers than I see patients?
(takes files)
OK...I’ll get these right back to you.

Carol:
Yeah, I need them before one o’clock if you can do that.

Doug (looks at the clock on the wall, notes time is 11:45):
Yeah...I think I can handle it.

Carol (smirks at him as he heads for the door):
Thank you, Dr. Ross!

Doug gives her a smirk and a nod in return and disappears out the door.

Cut to show Haleh coming into the Pedes unit with a paper in her hands. She goes over to the desk where Carol is working and gives her an annoyed look.

Carol (innocent look):
Something wrong, Haleh?

Haleh:
I got this memo here from Morganstern says nurses have to rotate in here as well as in the ER? Was this your idea?

Carol (nods):
Yeah...

Haleh:
Well, did you consider asking Morganstern for more nurses? I don’t have enough nurses to rotate in both places!

Carol (shrugs):
Well, you’ll have to get some.

Haleh:
Well, where would you suggest I get them?

Carol (serious look):
Well, truthfully, Haleh, that’s not my problem. I’m not in charge of nurses anymore. All I know is I have to go into the ER and flag down one or two if we have a crisis down here and I need a couple of nurses down here full time. How I get them is the problem of the nursing unit...not mine.

Haleh (shakes her head, starts for the door with the memo):
How quickly they forget...

Carol (defensively):
I didn’t ‘forget’ anything. I know it’s not easy shifting things around to make it work with what you’ve got, but it’s just not my problem now. I need something...I put in a request for it...how I get it is really not my problem...as long as I do. If I DON’T get it, then THAT’S a problem.

Haleh:
Boy, you take off those nurse’s scrubs and you just become one of the ‘them’, don’t you?

Carol (not intimidated):
Look around you, Haleh? Do you see any nurses down here? I can’t do this all by myself...

Haleh (sarcastic tone):
Well, why don’t you get your husband to buy you some? This whole wing was his idea anyway and all he’s done with it is make more work for the staff that was already here.

Carol:
Well, I’m sorry you feel that way, Haleh. Because I’m down here everyday and I see the good this unit does. Now whether you believe in the wing or not, get me some nurses down here.
(Haleh nods shortly as she heads out the door and Carol calls after her)
Today if possible! Thank you!

Carol shakes her head and goes back to her work.

Cut to Doug’s office. Doug is sitting at his desk and he opens the top file on the stack that Carol gave him and a smile creeps across his lips. He picks up a piece of pink paper stuck inside the file and reads it...

Carol’s voice (as Doug reads over the note):
"Doug - Meet me on the roof for lunch...one o’clock...you bring yourself and I’ll bring everything else-Love, Carol"

Doug chuckles a little, then he looks at the clock on his desk...nearly noon now...he has a hour to sign all the charts and get them back to the Pedes wing so he can be on the roof at 1 o’clock. He opens the file and starts signing them quickly as Act One Fades to Black.

Act Two

Scene opens on the hospital roof. Show Carol come out the door and her hair is immediately tossed by the gentle breeze. She smiles up into the sunlight and folds her arms across her chest. She has a canvas bag over her shoulder and she leans on the rail to look out over the city and just lets herself be absorbed by everything. She has her back to the door so she doesn’t see Doug come out. He smiles from the doorway when he sees her and starts quietly across the roof and comes softly up behind her.

Doug (reaching out to tap her on the shoulder):
Hey...

Carol reacts quickly by whirling around, fist first, connecting directly to Doug’s eye. As soon as she sees it is Doug behind her, she covers her mouth in embarrassment.

Carol:
Oh, my God! Doug! I am so sorry...

Doug (hand over his eye):
Well, at least I don’t have to worry about you being able to take care of yourself...not that I ever would have worried about that anyway.

Carol (reaches for his hand, he pulls back):
Let me see it, OK?
(reluctantly he lets her pull his hand away. She bites her lip)
Why don’t we go down into the ER and let me fix it?

Doug (grins):
Naw, it’ll be OK...
(chuckles)
You’ve got a pretty good left hook...

Carol (nervous smile):
I’m really sorry.

Doug (takes her by the shoulders, kisses her lightly):
Don’t be. It was my fault for sneaking up on you.

Carol (carefully touching his eye):
Looks like it’s going to swell pretty good...
(brightens, thinking)
Here! I’ve got some ice in here!
(reaches into her bag and pulls out a cup of crushed ice)
Just hold the cup close to your eye...it’ll feel better.

Doug (sarcastically):
Carol, I’m a doctor, I KNOW how to treat a black eye!
(gently places the cup on the under side of his eye)
I came up here for lunch...not a black eye.
(grins at her)

Carol (holds up the canvas bag):
I have lunch...
(takes his hand and they walk to the other side of the roof where they can sit down)
You got my note, huh?

Doug (as they walk, clutching her hand):
How could I miss it? You taped it inside the very first file.

Carol (shrugs):
Well, I wanted to be sure you didn’t miss it!
(Doug chuckles)
I thought this would give us a chance to talk about a few things.

Doug (nods):
OK...
(as they sit down on a flat surface)
What do you want to talk about?

Carol (hands him a sandwich and a carton of juice, takes one out for herself):
Well, first of all, how is Colin Andrews doing? I know you were reviewing his file...and you wanted to talk to Max...is something wrong? Other than he’s not reacting well to the medicine?

Doug (ticks his head):
He’s just not doing as well as I’d like him to be doing at this point. He’s going to be OK...I just expected him to be a little further along by now. I’m just curious why Max changed the medicine....I’m wondering if he had some kind of a reaction or something that may have set him back a little.
(bites into the sandwich and nods)
This is good!

Carol (grins):
It’s corned beef...your favorite!
(bites into her own sandwich)
So, what’s going to happen to him? I mean once he’s ready to leave the hospital? Where will he go?

Doug (thinking):
Well, I guess he’ll go to a home.

Carol (frowns):
I know we talked about this before...when he first came into the hospital...I know we even entertained ideas of adopting him ourselves...do you still feel that strongly about it?

Doug (smiles softly):
Carol, I have a passion for every child I come in contact with...it’s my work...and it’s something deep within me that wants to protect every child that I possibly can. If I allowed myself to bond with every homeless child or every battered child that comes in here, we’d be the caretakers of an orphanage by now...
(sips the juice from a straw)

Carol (nods):
OK, but that still doesn’t answer my question...

Doug:
When he first came in, yeah...
(nods)
I thought that might be the answer.

Carol (sips her juice):
But now?

Doug (shrugs):
We have six kids of our own, Carol, and I really think our top priority should be to them. If we manage to get them raised and educated, we’re going to be doing good...much less take on an added load.

Carol (smiles):
I was thinking the same thing. We have children of our own that we don’t even have time for sometimes...another one would be more pressure on both of us.
(frowns)
I hate to think of the little guy going to a home, though. I wish there was something else we could do.

Doug (grins):
There is...and Max and I have already started on it. We put his name into an electronic computer bank that will search for matches across the country for him and see if he’s got some lost relative out there. He was adopted by the Andrews’, so there’s a chance he might have a birth mother or father out there looking for him. If there is, we’ll find them.

Carol (smiles, brightly):
Oh, Doug! That’s wonderful!! Why didn’t you tell me about it?

Doug (shrugs):
I didn’t really know much about it myself. Max was the one that came up with it. He says they used to do this in Philadelphia a lot and they had pretty good success with it. He asked for my permission to try it here and I didn’t see anything wrong with it, so, I said OK. That’s something else I wanted to talk to him about...see if he got it entered.

Carol:
Well, I think that’s a great idea...you’ll let me know the results, right?

Doug (nods):
Oh yeah...absolutely!
(grins at her)
What else did you want to talk about?

Carol:
I wanted us to talk about this career move you’re thinking about...

Doug (chuckles):
You’re not the only one! I saw Mark this morning going up for his treatments...he wants to talk about it, too.

Carol (nods):
Well, then, maybe you and I should talk after you talk to Mark.

Doug (shakes his head):
No, I’d like to hear your take on it first.

Carol (gives him a curious look):
Are you sure?

Doug (nods):
Sure, I’m sure! You’re my wife. You come before Mark!

Carol (soft smile):
I know how loyal you are to Mark, and I think that’s great. Because you were loyal to Mark long before I thought you could ever be loyal to anybody. And I understand that you want to help him as much as you can right now, but, I honestly don’t think going back to private practice is the answer...for either one of you.

Doug (gives her a curious look):
OK...I’m listening.

Carol:
This position that you have now here at the hospital is one you’ve wanted since you walked out of med. school. I remember when we first started dating you told me you wanted to be Chief of Pediatrics someday. Now you are. And I don’t think you should give it up on the sake of being a good friend. I think if you give up this position it should be for something more than that...for a reason that will benefit you.

Doug (grins):
Such as?

Carol (shakes her head):
I can’t come up with a good one.

Doug (grins):
Well, how about private practice would allow me to have more time to spend with my family?

Carol (shakes her head, purses her lips):
No...you can do that and stay here. You’re in an administrative position now...you have more ability to call your own shots. You can tell David Morganstern that you want more time with your family then tell him what you will and won’t do.

Doug (chuckles):
Such as?

Carol:
Well, such as, you spread yourself too thin. You work shifts for other doctors and you cover in the ER...you stay late into the night doing paperwork sometimes...

Doug (a little defensively):
Well, paperwork is part of an administrative position...

Carol (nods):
And you can do it at home. You can set all your files up on the computer and do your updates on your laptop at home in bed! Then all you have to do at the office is sign the files.

Doug (ticks his head):
I guess I didn’t think of that...but you’re right. I could do that...I even have to program to do that with...

Carol:
I could set it up for you just like I did the one at the private practice that I did at home all the time.

Doug (nods):
OK...you’re right....we’ll look into that...immediately...

Carol:
Now, the covering in the ER...what are you even doing down there? Your job is to take care of Pediatrics...

Doug (shrugs):
I guess old habits die hard...I worked down there for a long time...

Carol:
Well, you don’t work down there now. You work in Pedes...and Pedes alone. You let Kerry Weaver and her crew take care of the ER...you take care of Pediatrics.

Doug (nods):
You’re right...

Carol:
If you’re concerned that you spend too much time upstairs, set up a make- shift office there in the Pedes wing. There’s plenty of room for that.

Doug (brightens):
Yeah! We could set up a cubicle in one corner and that way I’d be right there whenever a patient came in...nobody would have to page me...and I could still get some of my work done!

Carol (nods, smiles):
Exactly.
(pause)
Now, this thing of covering for other doctors...that’s very noble of you, but, that shouldn’t be your job. You should appoint that to someone on your staff...I know Max is a newlywed and you don’t like to ask him, but, just the same it shouldn’t always fall to you. Carter can double up sometimes. And Trent will be here in a couple of weeks...that will give you some relief...Trent can work with Carter...John is an excellent teacher.

Doug (nods):
That he is. OK...I’ll hold a little Pedes staff meeting and we’ll talk about some things...make some changes.
(grins at her)
You’d really make a good administrator, Carol. You should think about that Head of Nursing Position.

Carol (grins):
The Head of Nursing should be filled by someone who is currently a Nurse, which I am not...

Doug (shakes his head):
Doesn’t matter...you used to be.

Carol (rolls her eyes):
I’m already in hot water with the nurses over my rotation request anyway. I’m not sure they would appreciate me making all the nursing decisions them now.

Doug:
Who in this hospital better understands the needs of the ER nurses than the former charge nurse?
(grins at her)

Carol:
OK, I’ll THINK about it, OK? I’ll talk to Valerie and take it from there.

Doug (nods):
Good.
(leans in and kisses her lightly)
Now, let’s talk about us...

Carol (chuckles):
What about us?

Doug:
Let’s talk about how we recapture last night...

Carol (smiles):
Ummm...I’d say all we have to do is neither one of us works late, we go home, have dinner with the kids, and go to bed...EARLY!

Doug (pulls her close to him and kisses her sweetly):
After our little family meeting with the kids...remember? We talked about that last night?

Carol (kisses him):
Oh yeah....I do! The little meeting about adult time....which reminds me...I have a phone call I have to make!
(starts gathering up the trash from their lunch and puts it back in her bag)

Doug (chuckles):
Must be a pretty important phone call!

Carol (nods):
It is...
(smiles, kisses him lightly)
Has to do with our ‘adult time’.
(touches his eye carefully)
Your eye looks like you walked into somebody’s fist!
(kisses him again)
Gotta go! See you downstairs!

She jumps up and rushes across the roof, leaving him there chuckling and shaking his head as he watches her go. He stands up to start across the roof himself, carefully touching his eye and wincing as Act Two Fades to Black.

Act Three

Scene opens in the Pedes wing. Show Carol on the phone at the front desk with the newspaper open in front of her.

Carol (into receiver):
6 o’clock? Sure! That’ll be fine! I’ll see you then!

Carol hangs up just as Doug comes in. He strolls over to the desk and leans on the counter giving her a coy look.

Doug:
6 o’clock for what?

Carol:
Oh, a friend of mine is passing through town and I agreed to see her for coffee before she catches her flight.

Doug (nods):
Oh? OK. I thought maybe you were stepping out on me. (chuckles)

Carol (grins):
Now why would I want to do something crazy like that?

Doug (ticks his head):
I thought we were going to bed early?

Carol:
We will...I’ll be home in time for dinner, I promise.
(points to a corner just off from the front desk)
I was thinking we could make your office right over there...then you’d still have the big office for days when you need to work uninterrupted.

Doug (looks, grins):
Yeah, and then we can just put up Japanese screens or something from here to there and you can sneak down and keep me company sometimes.

Carol (sarcastic smile, shakes her head):
I don’t think so.

Doug (shrugs):
Hey, it was worth a shot!

Cut to the hallway and show two paramedics coming down to the Pedes wing with a ten year old on a stretcher. He is conscious and looking nervously around at his surroundings. They are followed closely by his mother, who is carrying a 4 year old in her arms. The child is crying hysterically but does not appear to be hurt. Doug hears all the commotion and steps out into the hallway to assist.

Doug (to paramedic):
What have we got?

Paramedic:
Ten year old fell out of a tree and onto a metal fence...BP is 110/80....heart rate is 85...

Doug (as the go into a trauma room):
OK...let’s move him in.
(looks over at the desk)
I need some help over here...
(Carol is already coming around the desk to assist him)
We’ll move him on three...ready? One...two...three!
(Carol lifts from one side and Doug from the other and they transfer the boy to an exam table)

Carol (takes test at boy’s foot):
Babinski is positive...

Doug (nods):
OK, I need a CBC and a cross table c-spine...

Carol (nods):
I’m on it...

Doug (looks at mother):
What’s his name?

Mother (nervously):
Adam.

Doug (nods, turns back to his patient):
OK, Adam, I’m Dr. Ross. I’m gonna ask you a couple of questions, OK? And it’s really important that you give me answers, OK?
(Adam nods nervously)
OK, I need to know if you can feel your legs?
(boy looks down at his legs, then back at Doug, and nods shortly)
OK...good! That’s good...now, I need to know if you can wiggle your toes?
(boy looks down at his feet and slowly wiggles the toes on both feet. Doug smiles)
Good! That’s really good. Now, I’m going to do something here and I want you to tell me if it hurts, OK?
(boy nods nervously. Doug puts his hand at the base of the boys neck and lifts his head slightly)
Does this hurt?
(Adam slowly shakes his head...Doug nods):
Good...that’s good. OK...
(turns to the mother with the still crying 4 year old in her arms)
What’s his name?

Mother:
Sammy...he’s not hurt...he’s just scared to death....he came in the house screaming that Adam was going to die.

Doug (smiles, pats Sammy on the back):
Sammy, hey, Buddy, listen to me, OK? Nobody is gonna die, OK? Your brother is gonna be just fine...here....
(reaches into a nearby jar and takes out a serf-t-pop and hands it to Sammy)
Here you go, Buddy....try this for a while.

Mother (bounces Sammy comfortingly):
Say thank you...can you tell Dr. Ross thank you?
(Sammy reaches the candy to her for her to unwrap it for him. His tears have quickly subsided)
(Doug pats Sammy on the back and turns back to the table. Show Carol watching with a soft smile on her face)

Doug:
OK, Adam, we’re gonna turn you on your side, OK? If anything hurts anyplace at all, you tell me, OK? Can you do that?
(Adam nods)
OK...here we go...

With Carol’s help, Doug gently rolls the boy on his side and lifts his shirt. The boy’s back is scratched with red, angry marks but Doug’s main concern is that the shirt is stuck in two holes around the middle of the back just beside the spine.

Doug (looks over at Carol):
Go ahead and get that blood work and c-spine...I’m gonna call Abby Keaton down here.

Carol (nods):
OK.
(Doug steps over to the phone at the front desk while Carol starts swabbing Adam’s arm with an alcohol prep)

Adam (nervous voice):
Is this gonna hurt?

Carol (shrugs):
Oh, a little bit...kind of like a bee sting...have you ever been stung by a bee?

Adam (nods):
Yeah, lots of times!

Carol:
Well, does that hurt very much?

Adam (shakes his head):
Not too much.

Carol (smiles at him):
I’ll tell you what I tell my own kids, OK? Take a deep breath and don’t look at it. If you don’t see it, it sometimes doesn’t hurt as much.

Adam:
You have kids?

Carol (nods):
Sure do...a whole house full of them!

Adam (grins):
Got any boys?

Carol:
I have 3 boys...
(ties tourniquet around his arm)
...and I also have 3 girls!

Adam (impressed):
Wow! That’s a lot!

Carol (starts towards him with the needle):
Take a deep breath!
(Adam takes a deep breath and closes his eyes tight as Carol sticks the needle into his skin and begins to draw blood. She snaps the tourniquet off and caps off the vial, smiling at Adam who still has his eyes scrunched together)
All done.

Adam (opens his eyes):
Wow! That didn’t hurt a bit! You’re good!
(looks up at Doug who has now returned to the table)
Does the other guy look worse?

Doug (confused):
Huh?

Adam (points up):
Your black eye...does the other guy look worse?

Doug (grins at him):
Oh yeah...I always make the other guy look worse.
(winks at Carol who shakes her head with an embarrassed smile)
(Cut back to show Abby Keaton has entered the room. She is carrying a large brown envelope in her hands)

Abby (stops beside Doug):
Can we confer?

Doug (nods):
Sure.
(smiles at the mother)
Excuse me just a minute, please?
(Doug and Abby step away and start looking at the x-rays Abby brought with her)

Adam (looks at Carol):
That means it’s bad, huh?

Carol (shakes her head):
Not necessarily...they just want to be sure they agree with each other...

Abby (quietly to Doug):
As near as I can tell, he’s got two prongs from the top of that chain link fence embedded in his back. We have no choice but to operate.

Doug (nods):
OK...you go get the OR ready...I’ll send him right up.
(Abby goes on out the door and Doug steps back to the table)

Adam (looks up at Doug):
It’s bad, huh?

Doug (ticks his head):
Well, not too bad...I think we can correct it OK, but we’re gonna have to send you up to surgery...you know what that is?

Adam (nods):
Yeah, that’s where they put you to sleep and cut you open.

Mother (hand to her mouth):
Oh, Dear God...

Doug (reassuringly):
It’s gonna be fine...

Mother:
Will his father have time to get here?

Doug:
Not before we send him up, but he can be here when he gets out.

Mother:
What do you have to do to him?

Doug:
Dr. Keaton will meet with you upstairs and she will explain the whole procedure to you. But, really, there’s nothing to worry about...

Mother (nervously, as Carol starts pushing the bed towards the hallway):
Can I take Sammy up there with me?

Doug (nods):
Sure, Sammy can go, too.

Carol gets Adam to the hallway and he is taken over by an orderly. Doug stands over at the desk making notes, but notices the newspaper folded up beside the phone. He reaches for it but before he can get it open and see anything, Carol comes in and snatches it out of his hands.

Carol:
What are you looking for!

Doug (surprised):
Nothing! I was looking to see what you were looking for!

Carol:
Did you ever think that maybe you’re not supposed to know anything yet?

Doug (grins):
It’s a surprise?

Carol (coy look):
Maybe.

Doug (bigger grin):
For me?

Carol (shrugs):
Maybe...maybe not. Might be for me.

Doug (annoyed look):
You’re gonna buy a surprise for yourself?

Carol (coy smile):
I might.

Doug (coaxing look):
Come on...what are you up to?

Carol:
Just never you mind, Buster...or I just might give you another black eye to match the one you already have!
(playfully doubles up her fist and lays it gently to his bad eye)

Doug (chuckles):
Yeah, you would, too.
(picks up his file and starts for the door but turns back quickly)
Can you do me up a memo for the Pedes staff? I’ll have a meeting at 3 o’clock tomorrow.

Carol (mock annoyed tone):
Do I look like your secretary?
(Doug turns back and rolls his eyes, Carol laughs)
OK...I’ll get it out for you!

Doug (from the doorway):
Thanks.

Carol just laughs as he disappears around the corner. Then she goes to the computer to start composing the memo as Act Three Fades to Black.

Act Four

Scene opens interior of Doug’s jeep on a downtown Chicago street.

Doug:
Did I tell you I got my sperm count back?

Carol (surprised):
No! I didn’t even know you took it today? How was it?

Doug (grins):
Compared to the one they did when we were trying to have Marc? It’s practically doubled!

Carol (grins, nods):
So, the Mumps didn’t hurt you at all?

Doug (shrugs):
Doesn’t appear to have.

Carol (nods):
Good....
(pause)
Did you get together with Max about Colin?

Doug (nods):
Yeah...he had an allergic reaction and Max had to change the drip. That’s all I needed to know.

Carol:
What about Adam? Was he out of surgery yet?

Doug (nods again):
Out of surgery and doing fine...I don’t think he’s gonna be climbing any trees for a while, though!

Carol (looks out the window):
Here it is...you can let me out here...

Carol gets out of the jeep and steps into a Chicago street. She leans back in and Doug leans down to see her before she leaves.

Doug:
Are you sure you don’t want the jeep? I can take the El home....

Carol (rolls her eyes):
What? And walk the mile and half from the tracks to the road that leads to our house? No, it’s OK! I’ll get home...I’ll get a cab or something! Don’t worry about me...I’ll be fine!

Doug:
You’re sure I can’t go with you?

Carol (nods):
I’m sure...
(starts to close the door but leans back in)
And DON’T go back to the hospital to check on Adam or Colin...GO HOME!

Doug (nods):
Yes, Ma’am!
(grins at her)

Carol blows him a kiss and slams the door shut. He watches out his rearview mirror trying to see where she goes but he can’t seem to follow her. He drives on off and lets her fade out of sight behind him.

Cut to show Doug sitting in the floor of a huge play room at the Ross home. There are toys scattered everywhere...books...and stuffed animals...everything you can imagine. Doug is holding Lana on her feet in front of him. Tatiana is sitting with Tina standing up in front of her and Scott has Josh on his lap. Marc is in the middle of the floor imitating everything that is going on. Scott and Tatiana are doing exactly the same thing Doug does.

Doug (singing):
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout...
(makes climbing motion with Lana’s hands)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out...
(makes downward dashing motion with Lana’s hands...Lana giggles)
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain...
(stretches Lana’s arms outward wide and reaches them upward)
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again!
(makes climbing motion with Lana’s hands again)
Wasn’t that fun, Lana?
(he claps her hands together and imitates a baby voice)
That was FUN, Daddy, let’s do another one!
(Tatiana giggles...Scott rolls his eyes)

Scott:
I guess we’re gonna do the Wheels On The Bus now?

Doug (nods at him):
Good guess...

Scott:
We need to learn some new motion songs!

Doug (nods):
Good idea...why don’t you work on that for us?
(Scott rolls his eyes)

Tatiana (starts singing):
The Wheels On The Bus go round and round....
(makes circling motion with Tina’s hands)
round and round
(circling motion again)
round and round
(circling motion again, Tina giggles)
The wheels on the bus go round and round
(circling motion)
All through the town!

Carol (suddenly from the doorway, big smile on her face):
Am I interrupting?

Tatiana (brightly):
Mama!!

Carol (smiles):
Hi, Sweetie!
(comes into the play room)
Looks like I missed a lot of fun!

Doug (nods):
Oh, yeah...three Winnie The Pooh books and the itsy bitsy spider song!
(Carol leans down and kisses him quickly)
Did you see your friend?

Carol:
Huh? Oh, yeah! I sure did!

Doug (pulls himself to his feet, lets Lana sit in the floor):
OK, then, the little ones can stay in here and play...big kids....we’re having a family meeting!

Scott (scoffs as he pulls himself to his feet):
Ah, MAN! What did we do now?

Doug (annoyed):
Why is it that every time your Mom and I want to talk to you guys about anything you automatically assume you’ve done something wrong?

Scott (shrugs):
Experience?

Doug (shoves him forward playfully):
Get moving, Buster...nobody is in trouble!

Carol (chuckles):
THIS time!

The four of them go into a family room and sit down. The kids sit on a sofa and Doug and Carol sit in chairs across from them. We see Mrs. Lincoln go down the hallway to the play room to be with the babies.

Doug:
Your Mom and I have been giving a lot of time to everything except us lately....this has to change! I’m not saying this is anybody’s fault...or that anybody did anything wrong...just that this has to change.

Carol:
We have a really big family...and both of us have jobs...your Dad works full time...sometimes overtime...and I work part time that sometimes carries into full time. We have a lot of responsibilities at work as well as here at the house.

Doug:
And we understand that the two of you have actives lives as well...Tatchie, you have your dance class and your baton twirling class...Scott, you have your soccer and band, and your girlfriend and everything else that you’re into now...

Carol:
So, we’re not asking for help but rather for consideration....

Tatiana:
What’s ‘consideration’ mean?

Scott:
That means we have to think about them and what they want or need instead of ourselves all the time.

Tatiana (nods):
Oh...OK!

Carol:
OK, so, from now on, if our bedroom door is closed, you are not to bother us for anything except a real emergency...

Doug:
Yeah, and by ‘emergency’ we mean you better either be dead or bleeding before you knock on that door...

Carol (giggles):
Doug, really! He’s kidding! But, you get the idea?
(Scott and Tatiana nod....Scott is smiling)
OK, we have the bedroom door thing down...now...there are also going to be times when your Dad and I are going to go away together...just the two of us...

Scott (turns to Tatiana with a smile):
Cool!
(high fives her)
House party!

Doug:
There will be RULES set for you two when we do go away and I will expect you to abide by them...
(smiles at Scott)
NO house party!

Scott (snaps his fingers and frowns):
Drats!

Doug (grins at him):
Sorry, Pal.

Scott:
Well, can I ask just ONE question?

Carol (nods):
Of course!

Scott:
Aren’t you guys gettin’ too old for this kind of thing?
(Tatiana giggles)

Doug (playfully throws a pillow at him):
No, we’re not getting ‘too OLD’! That’s the whole idea....to get back to this before we DO get too old....

Carol (giggles):
Doug...really! Seriously, kids, all we’re asking for is a little time to ourselves. It won’t be an everyday thing...

Doug (raises an eyebrow):
I wouldn’t be so sure about that!

Carol (ignores his remark):
But there will be times when we don’t want to be bothered unless you really REALLY need us, OK?

Tatiana (nods):
Sure, Mama...

Scott (nudges Tatchie with his elbow):
You’ll be able to tell because they’ll sit around and make moon eyes at each other for an hour....
(Tatiana giggles)

Doug (sarcastic look):
OK, Mr. Smart Mouth...just keep it up!

Scott (laughing):
Ah, come on, Dad...it’s no fun if I don’t get to tease you a LITTLE bit!

Carol (stands up):
OK, now...as a sign that your Dad and I are taking some time away together...I got a little something for us today...
(motions everyone to follow her)
Come on...I’ll show you!

Doug (suspicious look):
What are you up to?

Carol (smiles over her shoulder):
You’ll see!

She leads them through the house and into the garage. Parked in the first slot, beside the jeep, is a black antique MG sport car, convertible with a roll back top, kid leather white interior and a wooden steering wheel on the passengers side of the car with a big red bow tied around the grill.

Scott (very enthusiastically):
WOW!

Doug (stunned):
I’ll say ‘wow’!
(turns to Carol)
Carol? What in the world...?

Carol (big smile):
Surprised?

Doug:
Surprised doesn’t even cover it!

Carol (leads him over to the car...Scott is already beside it and looking in):
I got it at an estate sale. The man told me it belonged to his father and he only drove it on weekends. I thought it would be perfect for us...there’s room for you, me, a suitcase in the trunk and Scrubs the dog if we want to take him for a Sunday afternoon ride.

Doug (looking over the inside of the car):
Carol, this car is inCREDible!

Carol (beaming):
It is, isn’t it? There was another guy wanting to buy it...told me I didn’t want it because it had a ‘stick’...
(leans close to Doug and whispers)
I told him I knew EXACTLY how to handle a stick!
(Doug chuckles)
I thought we’d get an ego plate for it that says JUST4US on it!
(wraps an arm around Doug and leans close to him)
What do you think?

Doug (big smile, wraps his arm around her and pulls her close to him):
I think you are the most sensational woman I have ever met in my life....

Scott (rolls eyes):
Uh oh....here it comes....
(shakes his head as Doug leans down and kisses Carol tenderly)
Told ya!
(rolls his eyes)
Hey, Dad, when I get my license, can I drive this?

Doug and Carol (in unison):
NO!

Scott (nods):
Yeah, that’s what I figured you were gonna say!

Carol:
I think we should let the kids practice what we’ve gone over here tonight?
(Looks at Doug)
Don’t you?

Doug (nods):
Oh, absolutely!
(smiles at both kids)
We’re going to our room now...

Scott (gives them a knowing look):
I know...stay away from the car, too, right?

Doug (grins at him):
You DO learn fast, don’t you?

Doug and Carol start back from the garage through the house with Scott and Tatiana following them until they get inside. Then the kids run on through and disappear in different directions. Doug slips his arm around Carol’s shoulders and holds her close to him as they walk together to their bedroom, go in, and close the door as Act Four Fades to Black.

Closing Act

Scene opens in the master bedroom. Show Doug and Carol standing in the middle of the floor with their arms locked around each other engaged in a deep and tender kiss. Carol leans her head back with her arms draped around Doug’s neck and she smiles at him.

Carol:
Do you like the car?

Doug:
Like it? I LOVE it! Is that what the newspaper and the phone call and all this other mysterious stuff was all about today?

Carol (nods):
Um hum! I saw the ad for an estate sale and one of the things it listed was the MG so I called about it and after I talked to the guy I knew I wanted to see. I wanted to surprise you.

Doug:
Well, you succeeded at that!

Carol (giggles):
So, where are we taking it?

Doug:
I’ll ask tomorrow about that cabin on the lake...

Carol (nods...runs her finger across his lips):
See that you do, OK? We could have a real good time up there together...

Doug:
I bet we could have a really good time here tonight...

Carol (smiles up at him):
Only if you want to...and you feel like it!

Doug (sighs):
Honey, please stop worrying about my physical condition! I’m fine! My back hardly hurts anymore.

Carol (shrugs):
Well, I just don’t want to overextend you!

Doug (shakes his head):
Never going to happen.
(kisses her sweetly)
I like this idea of ‘our time’...why didn’t we think of it sooner?

Carol:
We were either too tired, or too busy!

Doug (chuckles):
Huh! That’s probably the truth.

Carol (pulls his head close to her and takes his face in her hands):
I’m not too tired or too busy now...are you?

Doug (looks her in the eye):
Definitely not.

Carol:
Were you pleased with your sperm report?

Doug (shrugs):
Didn’t matter. We’re not having anymore kids one way or the other.

Carol (sighs):
Yeah, I know...sometimes that still bothers me.

Doug (lifts her chin):
Well, don’t let it, OK...let me take your mind off it...
(kisses her deep and with a lot of tongue)
Shall we pick up where we left off this morning?

Carol (smiles at him):
Sounds good to me.

Doug chuckles and scoops her up in his arms, carrying her carefully to the side of the bed and laying her down on it. He leans down to kiss her gently, but, instead, it turns into a long, passionate kiss. He begins to run his hands over her face and the sides of her body while she begins tugging at his shirt to pull it off him. In a time warped advance, show various stages of them undressing to come to a full focus of them lying in bed together, Doug leaning over Carol kissing her sweetly. He has on just his boxers and Carol has on just her bra and panties.

Carol (leans away from a kiss):
Doug?

Doug (pulls her face back and kisses her gently):
Ummm?

Carol (pulls away again):
You don’t just love me because you felt sorry for me, do you?

Doug (gives her a shocked look):
What kind of a question is that?

Carol (thinking):
Well, I just remember that after my suicide attempt, you wanted us to get back together and I always wondered why.

Doug (sighs):
I wanted us to get back together before that...just didn’t have the nerve to tell you. I figured that was a good time to put my heart on my sleeve.
(thinking, gives her an impish look)
And incidentally, thinking of that, you never answered my question, either!

Carol (giggles, kisses him two or three times quickly):
What question was that?

Doug:
I asked you if you wanted to be with John Taglieri and you never said...you just said he was there for you before, during, and after...

Carol (smiles up at him):
Well? Didn’t that answer your question?

Doug (chuckles lightly):
Yeah, I think so...
(leans down and kisses her deep again)

Carol (loops her arms around his neck and sighs):
Doug?

Doug (kisses her two or three times quickly):
Ummmm?

Carol:
Have I told you today that I love you?

Doug (grins, chuckles):
I thought that’s what you were doing now.

Carol:
Turn on the radio...

Doug (chuckles, reaches to turn on the radio by their bed):
You are the only person I know who likes to make love with the radio on! What? Do you think it drowns out the noise so the kids won’t hear us? Five bucks says they’re sitting out in the hall way now, giggling with their imagination running wild.

Carol (pulls his head down close to her):
Shut up and kiss me!

Doug (grins, chuckles):
Yes, Ma’am...

The begin to kiss without releasing each other, Carol making happy noises and Doug making a few of his own as well until Carol pulls the cover up over them. The first thing to come out from under the covers are Doug’s boxers...then Carol’s bra...and finally her panties. The final scene is a long shot of Doug overtop of her, their arms wrapped around each other, as the Closing Act Fades into the Closing Credits of the show.

September 9, 1998