Author's Text

I know you guys are used to me writing happy and sappy stories where everything is always tied up neatly by the end of the story...but life doesn't always work that way...

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"
"Tangled Webs"
Opening Act

Scene opens at the Ross home. Show Carol Ross sitting shell shocked on the sofa in front of a standing Amy Pattick. Carol has her mouth open in complete surprise.

Carol (repeating, questionly):
Married?

Amy (nods):
I know this is short notice, but, Jamie asked I said yes. Since I've taken care of so many kids in this family, I know I can handle just about anything and I'm over my fears of that now.

Carol:
Well, how soon are you leaving?

Amy:
I told Jamie I wanted to stay until you found a replacement, so, however long that takes. I'm giving you my official notice now.

Carol:
Well, OK...that's fine, Amy, and I'm very happy for you. I wish you all the best.

Amy:
Thank you.

Amy goes on out of the room. Carol shakes off the surprise effect and gets up off the sofa.

Carol:
Gives me a good excuse to go talk to Doug!

She snaps her fingers and goes off through the house with a smile on her face.

Cut to show Doug Ross standing solemnly in front of a fresh grave in a cemetery. He is dressed nicely in a suit, and tie and holding a small bouquet of flowers, which he lays on the fresh dirt of the grave. His expression is sad as he looks down at the new grave hand made marker - Raoul Fernandez - 1988-1998. Cut to show Beverly Watters walk slowly up behind him and stop to observe him before she lets him know she's there. Doug turns his attention to look behind him and smiles sadly at her.

Doug:
Will there be a headstone?

Beverly:
The County provides a foot marker.

Doug:
Can I pay for a headstone?

Beverly:
If you want to, sure.
(pause)
Doug, I hope you know I'm very sorry...

Doug (shakes his head):
It's not your fault, Beverly. You were just doing your job. You're not the one I'm upset with over this.

Beverly:
I just know that Raoul had become quite a part of your family.

Doug (bites his lip, still looking down):
Yeah.

Beverly:
Your son brought the stuffed dog you gave him...I put it in the casket with him...

Doug (smiles slightly):
Scotty did that?

Beverly:
He's a good kid, Doug. And Raoul had made terrific progress. You're very good with children...

Doug:
I'm a Pediatrician, Beverly...kids are my job.

Beverly:
Patching them up and taking care of them at the hospital is your job...caring for them on your own is something else.

Doug:
Yeah, well, sometimes I care too much.

Beverly:
I wish I knew what to say to you. I know your heartbreak...

Doug:
Do you, Bev?
(turns to look at her)
How could you? Did you nurture that little boy for almost two years and see the changes in him? Did you see his grades at school start climbing? The artwork he was gifted in? The confidence start growing? I don't think you could possibly know the emptiness I feel in my heart right now. That little boy was responding...he was going places...he was proof positive to me that I knew what I was talking about and what I was doing. I couldn't have loved that little boy than if my wife had given birth to him. He was a member of my family. And I don't think anyone really understands that right now.

Beverly:
I understand it, Doug. I know Fosters suffer from attachment and separation the same as anyone else.

Doug:
Yeah...but everybody thinks because he wasn't blood I should just 'get over it' and get on with my life. And I will...just not too soon.

With that, Doug turns and walks away from both, the grave and Beverly, leaving her with a sad look on her face as he goes.

Cut to show Carol getting ready to go to the Drake back at the Ross home. She pulls her hair back and checks her appearance in the mirror. She reaches into the drawer to get a hair band and her attention is caught by a Valentine's card she has tucked in the drawer. She takes it out and reads back over it, her eyes misting from the words on the card...

Doug's Voice (reading card):
Carol - I love you more with each passing day...you have my heart...and my soul...you are my life...Doug

Carol (sighs):
I love you, too, Doug...but we just really need to talk about some things...

She puts the card back in the envelope and returns it to the drawer. She grabs her car keys and starts quickly through the house to leave.

Cut to the Drake Hotel. Show Doug sitting at the bar having a drink. He has his suit jacket off and on the stool beside him and his tie is loose and he is drinking from the glass slowly. Show Linda Ferrall come slowly up to the bar and stop beside him.

Linda:
You look like you could use a friend...
(motions to bar stool)
May I join you?

Doug (moves his jacket):
Sure! Can I buy you a drink?

Linda:
You know I love Strawberry Dacquari's.

Doug (motions to the bartender):
Strawberry dacquari for the lady, please?

Bartender (nods):
Yes, Sir.

Linda:
Did you go to the funeral?

Doug (sighs):
Yeah.

Linda (nods a smile as the bartender puts her drink down in front of her):
Are you OK?

Doug (breaking just slightly on his tough exterior surface):
No...I'm not all right! I know in my job I lose kids all the time, but, not ones I love. I loved that kid, Linda...

Linda (smiles, understands):
I know you did...

In effort to comfort his breaking emotion, Linda reaches over and pulls his head to her, kissing his hair softly and stroking his face.

Pull back to show Carol coming through the lobby and spotting the scene at the bar between Linda and Doug. She is taken aback...and her expression is a mixture of shock and anger. Instead of proceeding, she turns sharply and goes back through the lobby and out the door without Doug even knowing she's there as Opening Act fades into Opening Credits of the show.

Act One

Scene opens at a hospital board meeting. Mark Greene is present, along with several other members of the board and Kerry Weaver. Doug Ross is present, but, he is not part of the hearing. He is merely listening in.

Kerry (winding down her speech):
...so I merely acting on hospital policy when I called child services for the Ross baby...

Morganstern:
The policy the says when abuse is suspected a physician must act accordingly?

Kerry (nods):
That's correct.

Morganstern (turns to Doug):
Doug? Anything you want to say?

Doug:
The repercussions of Kerry's actions cost the life of my foster child...a child I was in the process of adopting and making part of my family...I don't think he deserved to pay the price of her animosity towards me.

Kerry (scoffs):
Dr. Ross's accusations are absurd...

Doug (defensively):
They're not absurd! You've been looking for a way to get back at me for years...you just finally found a way to do it by hiding behind hospital policies!

Morganstern:
BEFORE we get into a personal war here, Doug, let me ask you this...if you had attended a child in the ER with the same injury as your child, would you or would you not have suspected abuse?

Doug:
I never made an assumption of abuse without further examinations of any child...I order x-rays to look for old healed breaks and make further examinations to look for other signs of abuse before I call child services.

Morganstern:
In other words, you give the parent every benefit of a doubt possible?

Doug (nods):
Yes.

Morganstern (turns to Kerry):
And you didn't do this?

Kerry (shakes her head):
No.

Morganstern:
Why not?

Kerry (reluctantly):
Because I didn't know what else to look for I suppose.

Morganstern:
This would go back to Doug's policy that only Pediatric doctors attend Pediatric patients...based on what happened here with this case, I'd have to say that's a pretty good policy.
(Kerry frowns)
I know you don't agree with that, but, I'd have to say this is a prime example case. Doug's family was torn apart. A little boy lost his life. And it all could have been prevented. Kerry, your actions were totally unprofessional, and I have to say that's very out of character for you. Based on your sparkling record here, I'd have to say no actions against you are necessary...but I would like to say that if you suspect abuse of a pediatric patient again, you should call for a Pediatrics specialist for a second opinion before you rip another family apart like this. And also, this case was a colleague... a co-worker...if you suspected abuse, it should have been handled from within the hospital. If Administration supported your feelings, we would have taken proper action ourselves.

Kerry (nods):
I understand, David.

Morganstern (smiles, pushes way from the table):
Well, I think that's about all we have for today.

Before anyone can say anything else, Doug bolts up from the table and is the first one out the door. Mark chases after him quickly and catches him at the elevator.

Mark:
Doug...

Doug (pushes him back):
Don't talk to me right now, Mark...

Mark:
I know you're upset, but, what did you expect?

Doug:
I expect the same thing I would have expected if it had been ME instead of Kerry Weaver! I would have been suspended! And you know it!

Mark:
Look, Doug, don't over react and let this get to you...
(elevator opens and Doug steps in, Mark steps in with him)

Doug:
OVER react? What you are seeing from me right now is very calm compared to what I'm feeling inside!
(punches button, door closes)
I don't know why I'm so upset...I know Kerry has every administrator in this hospital wrapped around her little finger anyway...

Mark:
And why do you suppose that is?

Doug:
Because she's a suck up...she does everything by the book...

Mark (nods):
That's right...and why do you suppose you don't have administrators on your side all the time?

Doug (sighs):
I'm a good doctor, too, Mark...and I care about my patients.
(elevator door opens, Doug steps out, Mark follows him)

Mark:
I won't argue with that...but you're a cowboy...and administration frowns on cowboys...

Doug:
But my patients don't suffer for it...I care just as much about mine as anyone else...and actually I care more about mine than she does hers...she's too worried about what's right or wrong to care about whether somebody lives or dies...

Mark (as they go into Doug's office):
You know that's not true...

Doug (sits at his desk and opens a drawer to look for a pen):
Apparently, Mark, I don't know anything compared to the Immaculate and Perfect Dr. Weaver.

Mark (sees bottle in desk drawer):
What's this...
(reaches and picks it up)
Jack Daniels? Is this your partner for breakfast? Lunch? Or Dinner?

Doug (grabs bottle, puts it back in the drawer):
It's been known to be all three...

Mark (concerned):
You're drinking on duty?

Doug (agitated):
No, I am NOT drinking on duty. I drink on my own time.

Mark:
You shouldn't be drinking at all! You're a kidney patient, Doug...

Doug:
I can take care of myself...

Mark:
Well, you don't seem to be doing a very good job...

Doug (starts working at his desk):
I'm surprised you noticed, Mark...

Mark:
Now, what's a crack like that supposed to mean?

Doug (shrugs):
It's just that you're so busy being my boss I'm surprised you have time to make any notations of anything between us that might resemble a friend...
(Doug's beeper goes off and he looks at it, jumping up from his desk)
That's me. I'll see you later, Mark...

Mark (as Doug goes out the door):
We'll talk later, OK?

Doug (as he goes out of sight):
Sure, Mark...later....

Once Doug is gone, Mark is left shaking his head as he heads on out of the office himself.

Cut to the ER. Show Doug going into a room where John Carter and Kerry Weaver are working over a baby about 18 months old. The baby is crying, loudly, and has blood all over the front of her. The mother is standing nearby in a panic state.

Doug (as he comes in):
What have we got, John?

Carter:
Infant, 18 months old, vomiting blood...

Kerry:
We need an ET tube...

Doug (annoyed):
She does NOT need an ET tube, she needs an NG tube...

Kerry (perturbed):
She's is respiratory distress now, she needs an ET tube...

Doug (trying to curb his anger):
She is vomiting blood, she needs an NG tube to pump out the stomach...

Kerry:
And what about the respiratory distress?

Doug:
That's from crying...we get her calmed down, and she'll be just fine...

Kerry (angry now, turns to Chuny):
I need an ET tube...

Doug (shoves her physically away from the table):
You put an ET tube in that baby and I'll personally see to it that you never touch a patient under the age of 18 again for as long as you practice medicine!

Kerry gives him a cold look, then she hobbles out of the room and heads up the hall...

Doug (mumbles):
Yeah, right...go run to Mark...
(turns to Chuny)
You got that NG tube yet?

Chuny (hands it to him):
Right here, Dr. Ross...

Doug (as he works to put the tube in):
It's OK sweetheart...we'll get you taken care of...
(smiles at her)

Cut to show Doug coming out of the trauma room and Carol waiting for him at the front desk. She smiles slightly when she sees him and he goes over to her with a curious look and a soft smile.

Carol:
Hey.

Doug:
Hey, yourself...didn't expect to see you here.

Carol:
I think we need to talk.

Doug:
Yeah, I agree, but I'm really kind of busy right now...

Carol:
I was thinking of later...after you get off...

Doug (nods):
That would be great...

Carol:
I could call you...what time do you leave?

Doug:
I get off at six...why don't you call me at the hotel later and we'll get together? That be OK?

Carol (nods):
Yeah, that'll be great.
(pause)
How are you doing? OK?

Doug (nods):
I'm fine.

Carol:
The kids miss you...

Doug (sarcastic grin):
But you don't, right?

Carol (sad look):
I do miss you...a lot.

Doug (sighs, beaten look):
I miss you, too...
(pause)
I went to Raoul's funeral this morning.

Carol (nods):
I wanted to go, but, I didn't think I could stand it.

Doug:
It wasn't so bad...his Mom was pretty torn up...I wanted to say something to her, but, I didn't trust myself.

Carol:
I'll call you at the hotel this evening, OK? We'll talk then.

Doug (as she starts away, nods his head):
Yeah...call me.

He watches until she is out the door and gone and then turns back to his work as Act One Fades to Black.

Act Two

Scene opens in Mark Greene's office. Kerry Weaver is there and she is pacing and ranting as Mark sits at his desk listening with a look that says he's getting a headache from this.

Kerry:
I can't work with him, Mark! He is completely out of control...

Mark:
So, what do you want me to do, Kerry? What can I do about it?

Kerry:
You're the Chief of Staff...can't you talk to him?

Mark:
I can talk to him but what makes you think he'll listen?

Kerry:
I thought you two were friends?

Mark:
Well, lately I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Kerry:
What's going on with him anyway? He looks like a train wreck...and he's acting worse than he did when he first came here...irresponsible and going off half cocked...

Mark (annoyed):
I'll tell you what's going on with him, Kerry...a child he took into his home and into his heart is dead...and I think that hurts him more than a lot of us know...

Kerry:
It wasn't even his child...how could it hurt so much? I mean, it's not like if it had been Marc or one of the others!

Mark:
It doesn't make any difference to Doug. He loves any child...and he had a special bond with Raoul.

Kerry:
I'm sorry about what happened...but I can't change any of that now. And Doug is going to have to suck it up and get on with his life...

Mark:
I know...I agree with you...I think there are some things going on with Doug right now that he needs to get a grip on. I'll talk to him.

Kerry (finally sits down in the chair):
Mark, he physically pushed me away from a patient...in front of a parent...we can't have that kind of thing going on between doctors in the ER...

Mark (sighs):
I agree...and I'll talk to him...but I'll tell him the same thing I'm going to say to you...you two have got to find a way to put your personal feelings aside and work together when you're on duty. We can't have this kind of dissension between doctors who are supposed to be part of a team.

Kerry:
I don't try to start trouble with him...he starts it...

Mark:
Regardless of who starts it there are very bad vibes between the two of you and I think you need to bury the hatchet. Because I'm getting tired of being the mediator in all your arguments.

Kerry (scoffs):
You're the Chief of Staff, Mark. That's your job.

Mark (nods):
I realize that...but it gets boring when it's the same two doctors in my office complaining about the same thing every day.

Kerry:
My record in this hospital is spotless, Mark...can he say the same thing?

With that, Kerry gets up and walks out of the office. Mark sighs, takes his glasses off, and pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Cut to Doug's office. He is sitting at his desk and working over files when Linda Farrell comes in through the door.

Doug (looks up, smiles):
What are you doing here?

Linda:
I thought you might like to get some dinner...it might keep you away from the bar a while.

Doug (looks at his watch):
I'd have to shower and change first.

Linda:
What wouldn't be a problem...I'll wait.

Doug (nods):
OK...but I want to get back early...Carol is supposed to call me tonight.

Linda:
She's finally ready to talk?

Doug:
I hope so...
(stands up and starts out the door with her)
Let's go.

They open the door into the face of Mark, who is more than surprised to see Doug leaving with Linda.

Mark:
v Leaving?

Doug:
Yeah, my shift is over...

Linda (smiles):
Hi, Mark!

Mark (nods):
Linda...good to see you...uh, Doug...we need to talk...

Doug (as he starts away):
It'll have to wait 'til tomorrow, Mark! I'm out of here...

Mark (sighs):
First thing in the morning...in my office!

Doug motions over his shoulder that he understands as he and Linda get into the elevator and disappear. Mark sighs and closes the office door, shaking his head.

Cut to the Drake Hotel. Show Linda sitting on Doug's bed where he has his clothes for the evening laid out to change into when he comes out of his shower. Focus on the ringing telephone and Linda reaches over to pick it up.

Linda:
Hello?

Carol (on the other end, startled):
Who is this?

Linda:
Hi, Carol, this is Linda Farrell.

Carol:
I called to talk to Doug...

Linda:
He's in the shower...can I take a message?

Carol (coldly):
No...no message...

Carol hangs up the phone promptly. Linda holds the dead receiver in her hand and shrugs her shoulders, hanging up the phone.

Cut back to the Ross home and show Carol sitting on the edge of the bed by the phone. She puts both hands up over her face and drops her head down.

Carol (mumbles):
Thanks for waiting, Doug...

Cut to show Doug and Linda having dinner somewhere in Chicago. Linda is talking but Doug doesn't seem to be listening. He seems very lost in thought.

Linda:
Hello? Earth to Doug!

Doug (pops his trance):
Huh?
(turns his attention to her)
I'm sorry...what were you saying?

Linda:
Obviously it's not nearly as important as what ever is on your mind.

Doug:
I was just thinking the last time I was here I had Carol and the big kids with me...Raoul had lobster for the only time in his short life...

Linda (reaches over, touches his hand):
You really loved that little boy, didn't you?

Doug:
He was a great kid. He was a good little brother for Scotty and a good big brother for Tatchie.
(pause, drops his head)
I miss my kids, Linda. I miss my wife and I miss my family.

Linda (shrugs):
Then, why don't you just go home?

Doug:
Carol and I have been having a lot of problems...it's not good for the kids for us to be fighting all the time.

Linda:
I thought your problems just developed over what happened with the baby?

Doug (shakes his head):
No, it started before that...when I took this job.

Linda:
Why did you take this job, anyway? I thought private practice was every doctor's dream?

Doug:
The hours were great...but, I just got bored with well baby check ups and sports physicals all day long. There was no challenge in the job...only leisure.

Linda:
Did Carol support your decision?

Doug (nods):
She did...but neither one of us could see what was coming. Until Carol and I sit down and talk about all the things that are bothering us, it's really better if I stay away.

Linda (frowns):
But you're so miserable without your family.

Doug (grins):
I know...but I can't just think about me...I have to think about everybody involved now. That's why I want to get back early...Carol is going to call me tonight so we can set up a time to talk...

Linda (in suddenly thought):
She called already! While you were in the shower...

Doug (startled):
And you answered the phone?

Linda (nonchalant):
Well, sure...you were in the shower...I figured you'd want me to...

Doug (still recovering):
Did she leave a message?

Linda (shakes her head):
No...she said there wasn't any message...

Doug (looks around for the waiter):
I have to go...
(spots waiter)
Could we have our check, please?

Waiter (nods):
Right away, sir...

Linda (confused):
You have to go? Already? We just got here...

Doug (takes the check):
I'll pay this...you can stay as long as you like...I have to get back to the hotel...

Before Linda can say or do anything else, Doug is away from the table and gone, leaving her with a bewildered look.

Cut to show Doug back at the hotel. He is pacing the room with the phone in his hand, the receiver to his ear, and listening to the answering machine.

Doug (mumbles to himself):
Come on, Carol...I know you're there...pick up the phone, please?

Cut to show Carol sitting beside the phone, listening to Doug on the answering machine but she doesn't pick up the phone. She just listens with her arms folded across her chest and a cold look on her face.

Cut back to the hotel. Doug finally gives up in despair and hangs up the phone. He sits on the edge of the bed and runs his hands through his hair, holding his head in his hands. He looks up to put the phone back on the table and his attention is caught by a bottle of whiskey on the table behind the lamp. He reaches over and pulls it out to him, taking the cap off and downing a quick drink. He makes a bitter face, but, takes another drink as Act Two Fades to Black.

Act Three

Scene opens at the Greene home. Show Mark and Nina sitting in the living room, both of them reading. Nina is reading a medical journal...Mark is reading a book. Nina looks over at him and shakes her head slowly.

Nina:
Mark?

Mark (doesn't look up, stays focused on his book):
Uh huh?

Nina:
Debra Burns called today...she has a new hearing date.

Mark (still absorbed in his book):
Uh huh.

Nina:
It's a week from next Tuesday...will you remember that?

Mark:
Uh huh.

Nina (smiles, knows he's not listening to her):
Should I write it down for you?

Mark:
Uh huh.

Nina (seizes a chance to toy with him):
Your mother called today...

Mark:
Uh huh.

Nina:
She's going to hitch hike cross country from San Diego and be here tomorrow.

Mark:
Uh huh...
(puts his book down)
What?

Nina (laughs):
I thought that might get you...you've been reading that same page in that book all evening...something you want to talk about?

Mark (sighs):
Just office stuff...you don't want to hear it.

Nina (puts her book down and goes over to sit beside him):
Try me.

Mark:
Oh, Kerry Weaver was in my office today complaining about Doug again...

Nina (knowing look):
And you read Doug the riot act...

Mark:
No...I didn't get a chance to! He was leaving when I went to talk to him...leaving with Linda Farrell.

Nina:
Linda is his friend...

Mark:
I don't have any 'friends' that look like that...

Nina:
What do you expect? He needs someone to talk to. He can't talk to Carol...he can't talk to you...

Mark (defensively):
He can talk to me!

Nina:
No, he can't. Ever since you took that job, you've been nothing to him except his boss...

Mark (sighs):
That's what he said...

Nina:
Well, think about it, Mark. When was the last time you and Doug played golf? Or went bowling? Or just sat on the porch and had a beer together?

Mark (sheepishly):
You think I made a mistake with this job, don't you?

Nina:
No, I think you just haven't found the balance in it yet. Once you get that sorted out, I think you and Doug will go back to being friends the way you were before.

Mark:
Kerry comes to my office almost every day complaining about Doug for something...

Nina:
Tell Kerry Weaver to blow it out her butt...she hates Doug and you know it. And what she did to him is unforgivable...

Mark (shakes his head):
Well, not according to the board review...she was just acting on Hospital Policies...they gave her a reprimand and that was it...

Nina (sighs):
Poor Doug. That had to hurt. She wronged him terribly and practically got a pat on the back from the board for it...

Mark:
Yeah...he said if had been him he would have been suspended...and he would have been, I'm sure. I can't fight hospital politics...and I don't uphold them...but I'm not so sure Doug believes that right now.
(pause)
He's drinking again, too.

Nina (startled):
Drinking? On dialysis? That can't be a good combination!

Mark:
He doesn't look well. He seems really edgy all the time. I'm really kind of worried about him.

Nina:
Did you talk to him?

Mark (shrugs):
I tried to...he pretty much blew me off...and then he got paged to the ER...I thought I'd try again tomorrow...
(they are interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Mark gets to his feet and starts for the door)
Who could that be?

Mark goes to the door and opens it to find Carol. She stands looking forlorn with her hands in her jacket pocket. Her face reflects that she has been crying but she is calm now.

Carol (softly):
Can I come in, Mark?

Mark (opens the door for her):
Sure...come on in!

Carol goes into the house and goes through the hall way to the living room and sits on the sofa. She keeps herself drawn up tight and doesn't talk for a minute.

Carol:
I'm really sorry to bother you guys, but, I didn't know who else to talk to...

Mark:
We're your friends, Carol...you can always talk to us...

Carol (near tears again):
I think my marriage may be in real trouble.

Nina (comforting):
Oh, Honey, you and Doug have just hit a bump in the road...you can work thinks out if you just talk to each other.

Carol:
That's just it...I don't think he wants to talk to me. I told him I'd call him at the hotel tonight...and when I called, Linda Farrell answered the phone.

Nina:
He knew you were going to call?
(Carol nods her head)

Mark (confused):
Wait a minute, you called him? He's not home?

Carol (shakes her head):
No, he hasn't been home since Child Services said he had to leave the house.

Mark:
But, I thought when the charges were dropped he went back home?
(Carol shakes her head)
Why not?

Carol: We have a lot of problems right now, Mark. Marc getting hurt was just the straw that broke the camel's back...we've been having problems every since he took this job...

Nina (looks at Mark):
You aren't the only one...

Carol (confused):
What do you mean?

Mark (sighs):
Doug and I haven't been talking much except business issues lately...

Carol (sighs):
I know he loves this job, but, I honestly wish he'd never taken it. Our lives were a lot simpler before he took it.

Mark:
I think there's just a lot of things involved in these jobs that neither one of us really thought about when we took them. I think if we could have seen some of the future, we might have thought twice about them. I wish I'd known he wasn't home, though...I feel bad about that...

Carol:
I guess he's been with Linda the whole time...I went over to the hotel the other night and I saw them together at the bar...

Mark:
So, you know he's drinking again?

Carol (nods):
Yeah. He came to see the kids the other night and he had been drinking then. He's bound to know better...but I can't stop him...

Nina:
Except by letting him come home.

Carol:
I'm not stopping him from coming home... never said 'you can't come home'...

Nina:
Did you say 'come home, Doug' either?

Carol (frowns):
No...I didn't say that either. I guess he was waiting to hear those words, huh?

Nina:
You know Doug beats himself up over every little thing...

Carol (wrings her hands):
Well, now things are just a mess! I don't know what to do, Nina! I don't know how to talk to him about how I feel about Raoul...or Marc...or even Linda...or his job...
(sighs...looks at her feet)
I don't know how to save my marriage...

Mark:
Why don't I go over to the Drake and see if I can talk to him. Maybe if I can get our friendship back on track, I can open him up enough to find out what's going on with him and point him in the right direction.

Carol (smiles at him):
You'd do that for me?

Mark (grins):
I'd do that for BOTH of you. You and Doug belong together...and I have a feeling he's just as miserable over there alone as you are at home without him.

Nina (puts her arm around Carol, shakes her shoulder):
Why don't you stay here with me for a while? We can talk girl talk...

Carol (smiles):
OK...that'll be good.

Nina walks to the door with Mark and he turns angrily on her just before he leaves.

Mark:
Why didn't you TELL me Doug wasn't home?

Nina (defensively):
Maybe because I figured you KNEW?

Mark:
HOW would I know? He doesn't talk to me anymore...

Nina:
Well, maybe he would if you weren't so worried about being afraid someone will think you play favorites with him because he's your friend and you lower the boom on him every chance you get.

Mark:
I do NOT do that...

Nina:
Yes, you do! You did it when you were ER attending and you're doing it now! What's he supposed to think? He can't turn his friendship on and off as easily as you do!

Mark (promising):
We'll talk about this later...

Nina (nods solemnly):
You bet we will!

Mark goes on off into the night and Carol watches nervously from the window until he disappears from sight.

Nina (standing beside her at the window):
It'll be all right, Carol...

Carol (shakes her head):
I don't know, Nina...I've got a really bad feeling right now...

Cut to the Drake Hotel. Show Doug sitting on the floor, propped against the bed with a bottle of booze in his hand. There are several empty bottles on the floor around him. He holds up the bottle and waves it in the air.

Doug (drunken slur):
This one's for you, Carol...may you never have pain caused by me again...

When he hoists the bottle up he looks up into the eyes of Ray Ross staring back at him with a concerned look on his face...

Ray (desperately):
What are you doing, Dougie?

Doug (drunken slur):
I'm coming to the party, Ray!

Doug laughs and downs the drink. Then he rolls his head back to rest it on the bed and closes his eyes as Act Three Fades To Black.

Act Four

Scene opens in Doug's hotel room. Doug is completely passed out propped against the bed. Show the image of Ray Ross stooped down in front of him, shaking him by the shoulder.

Ray:
Dougie? Can you hear me? Don't give up, Boy...things will work out! You've got a family, Dougie...they need you...they love you...don't give up...

Cut back to the Greene home. Show Nina and Carol sitting on the sofa together, but Carol gets up suddenly and goes over to the window. She pulls the curtain back and gazes out to the street. Nina comes slowly up behind her to look out with her.

Nina:
What do you see out there?

Carol (shakes her head):
Nothing...I was just thinking about something.

Nina:
Thinking about what?

Carol:
Standing in this house looking out this window about four years ago and seeing Doug standing out by the curb looking like he wanted to come in.
(smiles slightly)
We weren't together then. I was barely even civil to him at the hospital. He had hounded me for another chance I don't know how long. I'm always so hard on him, Nina...I always go overboard with punishing him or pushing him away...why do I do that?

Nina (smiles):
You're afraid of being hurt because you've been hurt by him before.

Carol:
But not lately. Every since he came back into my life, Doug has done everything possible to make me happy. And he has. He's been a gem. Tag would never have done the things he's done for me. Neither would Shep. Or any other man I've ever known. No matter what I throw at him, he always bounces back...he always comes back.

Nina:
And he'll come back this time, too...

Carol (shakes her head):
I don't know, Nina...something won't let me alone right now...I've got a really bad feeling about everything...about our marriage...about Doug...
(gazes out the window)
...just everything.

Cut back to the Drake hotel. Show Mark Greene get off the elevator and start down the hall to Doug's room. He gets to the door and knocks on it loudly.

Mark (knocking on the door):
Doug? Hey, Doug! It's me! Mark! Open the door, OK?
(when he doesn't get a response, Mark rolls his eyes and knocks again)
Hey, Doug, come on. I know you're upset with me but I need to talk to you...open the door.
(when he gets no response again, Mark tries the door knob and find the door unlocked, so, he opens the door and goes on into the room. He does not see Doug at first)
Doug? You in the shower, Buddy?
(Mark looks around the room and sees Doug's head titled back on the bed)
Doug?
(he goes over to the side of the bed and finds Doug slumped on the floor amid empty whiskey bottles and gets down beside him quickly)
Doug! Oh, my God...
(he quickly feels for a pulse by placing his fingers on Doug's neck...he leans close to Doug's face to listen for breathing...then he reaches for the phone)
Yeah, I need an ambulance to the Drake Hotel, please? Room number 4117...patient is white male, forty years old, unconscious and shallow breathing...possible acute alcohol poisoning...
(looks over and sees dialysis machine beside the bed)
...patient is a dialysis kidney patient as well...
(Hangs up the phone and lifts Doug's eye lid to peer into each of his eyes)
Hold on, Doug...just hold on, Buddy...
(picks up the phone again and dials another number)

Nina (answering phone as it rings):
Hello?

Mark:
Nina...it's me...listen....things are not real good over here...let me talk to Carol...

Nina:
She just left to go back home...something about the Nanny wasn't going to be there tonight and she needed to be with the kids...what's wrong?

Mark:
Doug is unconscious...I've called an ambulance to take him to County...he's been drinking quite a bit from the looks of things...I suspect alcohol poisoning...

Nina (concerned):
With his kidneys the way they are? Will he be OK?

Mark:
Right now? I can't really tell you...

Nina:
Do you want me to call Carol?

Mark: c No, let me get him to the hospital and get him stable...then I'll call her myself, OK? The paramedics are here, Hon...I gotta go...

Mark hangs up the phone quickly and gets out of the way so the paramedics can work on Doug.

Paramedic:
You found him like this?

Mark (nods):
Yeah.

Paramedic:
Any idea how long he's been like this?

Mark:
The front desk said he called for room service about an hour ago.

Paramedic (looks around):
I don't see any signs of room service.

Mark:
He must not have responded and they took it away.

The paramedics open Doug's shirt and put the electrode patches for the cardiac reading on his chest and start an IV of saline in his arm.

Paramedic (looks across the room at the boxes of dianeal along the wall):
How many of those is he using?

Mark (looks at the boxes):
Supposed to be using one a day.

Paramedic:
Better count them and see if he's missed any...

Mark (nods):
Yeah.
(counts them in his head)

The paramedics lift Doug up off the flood and put him on the gurney, covering him with a blanket and strapping him to it.

Mark:
Take him to County...I'm a doctor there...I'll ride with you.

Paramedic (nods):
OK...let's go.

Mark follows along with the paramedics and the roll the gurney out of the room and down the hall to the elevator. As they go through the lobby, Mark is aware of the looks and whispers surrounding them as they head for the ambulance. Doug is placed into the back of it and Mark climbs in with him and one of the paramedics. The door is closed and the ambulance screams away from the hotel in route to county.

Ray (suddenly in the back of the ambulance beside Mark, stares at Doug):
He's not going to make it.

Mark (not rattled by Ray's image):
Yes, he will...

Ray (shakes his head):
No...I've seen that look...he's not going to make it.

Mark looks at Doug lying motionless on the gurney. The heart monitor shows his rhythm is very slow. His breathing is very shallow and his skin is mixture of pasty white and pale yellow in color.

Mark (softly, looking at Doug):
I know we've been fighting a lot lately, Buddy...
(show flashes with no audio of Mark and Doug fighting in Mark's office, Doug's office, on the hospital roof and in the ER)
...I hope we get a chance to fight again. You fight, OK? Don't you let this beat you...

Cut to County ER. Show Mark coming through the doors with the Paramedics wheeling Doug down the hall. They are met promptly by Kerry Weaver in the hall way.

Kerry:
What have we got?

Mark (pushes past her):
Never mind, Kerry...I can handle it.

Mark takes Doug into an exam room and Kerry follow him quickly.

Mark (to team):
On my count...one...two...three!
(Doug is lifted from the gurney to the exam table)

Kerry (surprised when she sees the patient):
Doug Ross? What happened?

Mark (begin working over Doug quickly):
Chuny, I need an ET tube to help stabilize his breathing...
(pushes Kerry gently back a step away from the table)
Kerry, I really don't need your help, OK? I can handle this.

Kerry (grabs ET tube from Chuny):
I'll put this in for you...

Mark (grabs the tube away from her):
You won't touch him, all right? I said I'd take care of him and I will...I care about his life!

Kerry (defensively):
I care about every life that comes through those doors...

Mark (nods):
Yeah, until you might have to do something against regulations to save one...then you just care about your career and your 'spotless' reputation! Get out of my way, Kerry!
(he rips open Doug's shirt and turns to the team)
A need a 32 French Catheter...STAT!

Kerry:
To hook up for hemo? I thought he was on peritoneal...

Mark:
I don't have time for that...I've got to get his blood cleaned FAST and Hemo is the best way...

Kerry:
You need a surgeon to put that catheter in...

Mark (perturbed):
I know how to do it...

Kerry:
A surgeon is supposed to do it...

Mark (getting angry now):
In the amount of time it takes to get a surgeon down here I can have it in..
(looks up and sees John Carter at the front desk)
Go out there and get John Carter then...

Kerry:
Carter isn't a surgeon...

Mark:
He's close enough for me!
(shouting)
Carter!
(Carter look up)
Get in here!
(Carter comes quickly into the room)
You studied surgery...put this catheter in Doug's shoulder so we can hook him up for hemo...

Carter (takes catheter):
Right away!

Kerry (shakes her head):
This is not the way this should be done, Mark...

Mark (angrily):
Yeah? Well, why don't you write me up, Kerry...I'll take it up with the Chief of Staff first thing in the morning...
(Carter gets the catheter in)
OK, let's send him up to hemo...

Kerry:
Don't you think you should stabilize him first?

Mark (annoyed):
No, I think I should get him dialyzed first...right now, I think that's the most important thing.

Mark goes with him as Doug is rolled out of the exam room, leaving Kerry shaking her head as they roll away.

Cut to show time lapse. Show Mark on the phone in his office.

Mark:
Carol? It's Mark...I'm at the hospital...

Carol (on the other end of the phone):
Hospital? Oh my God...something's happened to Doug!

Mark:
He's downstairs hooked up to Hemo now...I'm watching him pretty close...but I wanted you to know...

Carol:
OK...thanks, Mark...I'll get my Mother to come and stay with the kids...
(pause):
Is he going to be OK, Mark?

Mark (sighs):
I don't know right now, Carol...he's not even awake yet.

Focus on Carol as she hangs up the phone and is lost in thought.

Carol:
So this is how it ends, Doug? We don't even get a chance to know if we could have worked it out?

Carol quickly picks up the phone and dials another number as Act Four Fades to Black.

Closing Act

Scene opens in Mark's office. Show Mark sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, thinking over everything that's happened. Show Kerry Weaver come into his office and slam the door behind her.

Mark (looks up):
Don't you ever knock?

Kerry:
I don't like what happened down in the ER tonight, Mark. And I don't appreciate you taking that attitude with me! That's a Doug Ross attitude...not a Mark Greene one...

Mark:
Yeah? Well maybe Doug Ross isn't so far off base with his attitude, Kerry! What I told you was true! I didn't want you working on Doug because I knew he was in bad shape and might need a rule infraction to get him moving faster...and I knew you wouldn't be willing to do that!

Kerry:
It could have been done WITHOUT any rule infractions!

Mark:
But it's a race against time! And I wasn't willing to take a chance! Doug is right, Kerry! We play by the book! But he's the only one the believes the oath he took when they gave him a license to practice medicine...the oath that says "At all costs". We're too busy worrying about whether something is right or wrong to take a chance on a patient...he's not! And you know what? I really ADMIRE him for that!

Kerry (defensively):
He's a cowboy, Mark! He's a gung ho hotshot that bucks authority every chance he gets just to see how far he can push the system!

Mark:
He's a hell of a doctor! And you know it! And if you don't know it, it's just because you don't want to know it!

Kerry:
So, I guess that means you're on the friendship side of the fence with him again.

Mark:
I never stopped being his friend...
(beeper goes off and he looks down at it)
...I just forgot what a friend was supposed to do. Now, if you'll excuse me, my FRIEND and my patient is waking up in hemo and I'd like to be there with him when he does.

Mark walks away and leaves Kerry standing in his office alone. She shakes her head and leaves his office.

Cut to dialysis unit. Show Doug hooked to a HemoDialysis machine by the catheter in his shoulder. He is in a bed, not a chair and he is starting to wake up but he is still kind of groggy. Show Mark come into the dialysis unit and nod an acknowledgment to the nurse there and goes over to Doug's bed. He leans over and looks down at him and smiles slightly as Doug opens his eyes and peers up at him.

Mark (smiles):
Hey...

Doug (weakly):
Hey.

Mark:
How are you doing?

Doug (looks over his shoulder at the hemo machine pumping):
I don't know...how AM I doing?

Mark:
A lot better than you were a few hours ago.

Doug:
What happened?

Mark:
I found you passed out at the hotel...empty bottles all around you...I'm guessing you went on a binge.

Doug (closes his eyes, rolls his head away):
Yeah, I guess I did.

Mark:
Doug, I'm really sorry I let you down...I should have seen the warning signs...I should have known something was wrong...
(pause)
I should have been your friend.
(Doug looks up at him but doesn't say anything)
You were right with some of the things you said to me in your office this morning. I've been so busy trying to be a boss that I forgot how to be your friend. And you're right...I do crack down on you harder than anybody else. And I'm sorry about that. I guess I'm not a very good boss...

Doug (grins):
Are you kidding? You're the best boss I've ever had. At least you listen once in a while and don't just throw me out.

Mark:
You're gonna be OK...might take a while to build yourself back up to what you were...you'll need to be on Hemo for about a week to filter out all the poison from the alcohol and then you can go back to peritoneal.

Doug (nods):
OK.

Mark:
Your creatin was up to about 17 but the dialysis should get it back down again. I'd suggest you see your doctor, though.

Doug (nods again):
OK.

Mark:
I don't think you've done any real damage...just a minor set back.

Doug (softly):
I wasn't trying to hurt myself, Mark.

Mark (smiles):
I didn't think you were.

Doug (looks away):
I just turned to the only thing that was there.

Mark:
You should have told me you weren't back home yet...

Doug:
Why? What difference did that make? Even if I am home, nobody's there. Carol and I have been at each other for weeks now. I don't know if we can even work this out.

Mark:
Yes, you can...you just have to try.

Mark looks up and sees Carol standing in the hallway looking through the glass. He smiles at her and motions her in with his eyes. He is surprised when she sadly shakes her head and steps away. Mark could see her, but, Doug could not.

Mark (touches Doug's shoulder):
I'll be right back, Buddy, OK?

Doug (nods):
Sure.

Mark darts quickly out the door and runs down the hall to catch Carol before she leaves.

Mark:
Carol! Hey! Carol! Where are you going?
(takes her by the shoulder)
He's going to be OK.

Carol (nods):
I know. I talked to the nurses.

Mark:
Go talk to him, Carol...

Carol:
What am I going to say to him, Mark? Half of me wants to go in there and smother him with kisses and promise him everything will be OK and the other half of me wants to slap him for being so stupid! And right now I don't know which one of me would end up being in there!
(pause...near tears)
Besides...he'd probably rather have Linda Farrell in there with him anyway, so, why don't you just call her...

With that, Carol walks away quickly leaving Mark standing in the hall way with a painful look on his face. He sighs heavily and turns to go back to Doug's room as Closing Act Fades into the Closing Credits of the show.

May 31, 1998