Author's Text

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"
"Turns in the Road"
Opening Act

Scene opens at County ER with Mark running through the staff doors and out into the parking lot to catch Carol as she walks away from the hospital.

Mark (catching up):
Carol! Wait!

Carol:
Mark, please! I can't deal with this right now!

Mark:
Just go talk to him, Carol...that's all the two of you need to do...neither one of you has made an effort to talk about anything that's happened recently...

Carol:
I made an effort! And he knew I was going to call! And he was entertaining Linda when I did!

Mark:
You don't know that for sure...

Carol:
She was in his hotel room, Mark! What else would I think?

Mark (sighs):
I don't know, Carol...I just know you should talk to him about it.
(Carol folds her arms across her chest and looks away)
What are you going to do, Carol? Throw it all away without even trying to work it out with him?
(Carol looks at him, but, doesn't say anything)
You and Doug love each other. You know you do. Don't do this, Carol...don't let it go this easily...

Carol:
Easily, Mark? You think it's easy to leave him laying in there hooked up to that machine looking like a lost puppy on the street? You think it's easy to walk away from him? I know he's hurting! But, I'm hurting, too!

Mark:
Then TALK to him, Carol! Tell him how you feel! Neither one of you can do anything for the other one if you don't know what's going on!
(Carol looks away again)
How many boxes of dianeal did you take to him at the hotel? Do you remember?

Carol (shrugs):
I think about 10...I expected him to be home by then.

Mark (sighs):
Ten boxes are exactly what was stacked against the wall when I counted them. He hasn't touched that machine since he's been there.

Carol:
Why would he do that!? He knows he has to do dialysis everyday...

Mark:
I think he knows that...but right now I think he doesn't really care.

Carol:
I need to think all this over, Mark...

Mark:
I understand that...but give him a chance to explain, at least.

Carol:
I'll try, Mark...I'll really try.

Carol gives Mark a desperate look and walks away. Mark turns and goes back into the hospital. By the time he gets back to the dialysis unit, Doug is being taken off the machine.

Doug (chuckles when he sees Mark):
I forgot to tell you before that I'm allergic to this iodine they use on me here...it's burning pretty good.

Mark:
I'll give you some benadryl...it'll help...and we'll mark your file in case this ever happens again.

Doug:
It won't... I can't let it...I've got to get myself together and try to work things out with Carol. I need my family, Mark. They're what keeps me going.

Mark (nods):
Yeah, well, you'll have to work on that by yourself. I can't help you there.

Doug (sits up on the bed):
Am I out of here, now? Can I go?

Mark:
Yeah, but, I don't want you on the floor...will you go back to the hotel and rest?

Doug:
How about I just go upstairs and work in my office for a while? I've got a lot of paper work I need to catch up on.

Mark (nods):
Sure...just take it easy, OK?

Doug (nods):
OK.

Show Doug slide off the bed and get to his feet. Once he is steady, he heads for the elevator. While he is waiting for the elevator he over hears Lydia and Chuny talking in the hall way behind him. They do not see him waiting.

Lydia:
I can't believe she just walked out and left him there like that.

Chuny:
I know! Carol is always so over protective of Doug anyway...she must really be mad at him this time.

Doug hangs his head and gets into the elevator. Show him coming off the elevator and going into his office. He picks up the family photo he had placed face down on his desk a few days before and looks at it with sad eyes. Then he puts it back down on his desk.

Cut to show Carol going home and going through the house to the phone. She picks up the phone and dials a number.

Carol:
Hello, Mama?
(her voice starts to crack as tears form in her eyes)
Can you come over? I need to talk to you...it's about Doug...you were right, Mama...you were right about everything...

Cut to show Doug sitting at his desk in his office and his attention is diverted by a knock at the door.

Doug (softly):
Come in.

Mark (opens door):
I just wanted to see if you were OK.

Doug (sad look):
No, I'm not OK, Mark...but thanks for asking.

Mark (comes on into the office):
Anything you want to talk about?

Doug (leans back in his chair):
There's nothing to talk about, Mark..
. (he gets up and goes over to the window to stare out it blankly)
My marriage is over.

Mark (goes in, stands beside him):
You don't know that for sure...

Doug (sighs):
My wife came to the hospital, but, she didn't come to see me...what does that tell you?

Mark:
It tells me she was concerned enough to at least check up on you...

Doug:
She wanted to know if I was dead or alive, but, she didn't want to see me when she knew.
(sighs)
My marriage is over, Mark...it's really over.

Doug stares blankly out the window. Mark stands beside him with a helpless look on his face as the opening act fades into the opening credits of the show.

Act One

Scene opens with Doug and Mark still standing by the window. Mark reaches over and puts his hand on Doug's shoulder.

Mark:
Your marriage isn't over...you've just hit a bump in the road...

Doug (laughs):
A bump in the road, Mark? It's more like a ditch that buried the car!

Mark:
You can work this out...

Doug:
How can I work it out if Carol won't even talk to me!?

Mark:
You have to try...

Doug:
Try? Try for what, Mark? I changed my whole life for Carol...she was the only reason I even tried to get myself together! If I don't have her, I don't have any reason to try anymore...

Mark:
Now, Doug, don't do anything stupid...

Doug:
I won't do anything stupid, Mark...I'll just go back to being the bastard I was before again. I did everything right...and what did it get me?

Mark:
It got you three years of wedded bliss and a beautiful family...

Doug:
Yeah, and the first mistake I made, I lost it all.

Mark:
You don't know that you've lost it...until you know that for sure, don't give up, OK? I know you...you're not a quitter.

Doug (chuckles sadly):
Maybe I just don't know when to quit, Mark...and I think now might be a good time.

Mark (sighs):
I think you should take the rest of the day off and go talk to Carol...

Doug (shakes his head):
No, I've got a lot of work to do...my 'boss' expects a report on his desk in them morning...

Mark:
I'll waive it...why don't you go home?

Doug:
Because I'd rather be here.

Doug goes back over to his desk and sits down, opening a file and going over it. He stops and looks back up at Mark.

Doug:
Anything else?

Mark (shakes his head slowly):
No, I guess not.

Doug:
Then, can you excuse me so I can work? Please?

Mark nods and goes on out of the room. Doug works over the file for a minute, then, he looks back at the family photo on his desk. He picks it up and looks at it again. He shakes his head sadly and puts it back, face down, on his desk and goes back to work.

Cut to the Ross home. Show Helen and Carol sitting at the kitchen table together over coffee.

Helen:
You said on the phone I was right about everything...since I don't get to be right very often, what was I right about?

Carol (frowns):
You were right about Doug.

Helen:
And how was I right about Doug?

Carol:
When you told me men like him never change.

Helen:
What happened?

Carol:
Doug has been seeing Linda Farrell.

Helen:
For how long?

Carol:
Since he went to live at the Drake, I guess.

Helen:
And why is living at the Drake? I thought he was cleared of all charges.

Carol (nods):
He was.

Helen:
Then why didn't he come home?

Carol (squirms):
Doug and I have been having a lot of problems...

Helen:
What kind of problems?

Carol:
We've been fighting a lot lately.

Helen:
About what?

Carol:
His work, mostly.

Helen:
And why would you be fighting about that? Surely he knew what he was in for when he took this new job...and just as surely, you did too.

Carol:
I might have known it, but, I don't like it. He works late nights. Sometimes he doesn't come home for two days. He's slacked off with the quality time he used to give the children. Our sex life is practically non-existent...

Helen:
One thing at a time, Carol...are the children complaining? About the lack of quality time, I mean?

Carol:
Well, no...

Helen (nods):
No, they are just happy with whatever time he gives to them, aren't they?

Carol (nods slowly):
Yeah, I guess they are...

Helen:
Both of you worked at that hospital before so both of you were bound to be aware of the new demands this job would make on Doug...seems like he's the only one that accepted it.
(Carol gives her a confused and startled look but doesn't say anything)
Now, as for your sex life...that's a two way street. Is it non-existent because he doesn't want to have sex? Or because you don't?

Carol (scoffs):
Doug always wants to have sex...

Helen:
Then, that means the problem is you, doesn't it?

Carol:
I don't have a problem having sex with Doug!

Helen:
You don't? Are you sure? Ever since you had your hysterectomy you've been different, Carol. Get over it. You have six beautiful children. Be blessed with that and stop mourning for the children you can't have now. You have your hands full now.

Carol (nods slowly):
The truth is, you're right. We lost our Nanny and now I really need help...

Helen:
Well, call me anytime...I'm always glad to help.

Carol:
I know...and I appreciate that...

Helen:
I know! But you want to be super Mom and do it all yourself.
(Carol frowns)
Honey, no Mother can do it all by herself...not with four children in diapers! Doug wasn't trying to take anything way from you...he was trying to make more time for the two of you.

Carol (frowns):
What about Linda Farrell?

Helen (shrugs):
What about her?

Carol:
I called his hotel room to talk to him and she answered the phone.

Helen:
Did she sound like she was doing anything with him?

Carol:
I don't know...

Helen:
Well, even if he was, Carol, what did you expect? You wouldn't let him come home...

Carol (surprised):
You're taking HIS side?

Helen:
Well, don't you think somebody needs to? Honestly, Carol, you're my daughter, and I love you dearly, but sometimes you just plain don't think! How could you think Doug would hurt your child? That's his child, too...and he loves that little boy to death!

Carol:
I know he didn't hurt Marc on purpose, but the fact remains that he got hurt while in Doug's care!

Helen:
Do you know how many bumps and bruises you got while you were in your Father's care? It's part of children growing up, Carol...do you think Marc is going to go through childhood unscathed?

Carol:
No...of course not...

Helen:
Well, then grow up, Carol. So Doug made a mistake, The most important thing is that Marc was all right. Have you even considered what all this did to Doug? Separated from his children...not even allowed to see them...
(Carol nods slowly)
...and you! His 'loving wife'...you let them lead him out of that hospital in handcuffs and you didn't even go to the jail and bail him out!

Carol (defensively):
I was staying with Marc...I thought I needed to be with my child!

Helen:
And when they told you that child was going to be all right, your place was with your husband. But, you let him sit in jail until his lawyer bailed him out...and then you let him go back to that hotel alone.

Carol:
I had to come home to my other children...

Helen:
That's just an excuse, Carol...you had a Nanny and 2 grandmothers to take care of those other children...if you had wanted to comfort your husband, you could have. You just didn't want to.
(Carol looks down, ashamed)
At a time when he really needed his wife to support him, Carol, you let him down.

Carol (surprised):
It's so strange to hear you defending him, Mama...

Helen:
Honey, I love you...and I always will...but I love you enough to tell you when you're wrong, too. I know that Doug loves you. He tries harder than any man I've ever seen.
(she reaches over and touches Carol's hand)
And I know that deep down under all the anger and confusion, you love him, too.

Carol (smiles sadly):
Yeah...I do...

Helen:
Then don't throw that away, Carol. Love like what you and Doug have only comes along once in a lifetime. If you let it go, you might not ever get it back again. You only have two choices now...forgive him and take him back and try and make it work...or forget about him and move on. Now, which one do you think you're more capable of?

Carol:
But what do I do now?

Helen:
You go to him and let him know you love him...and pray he's not so hurt that he won't come back.

Focus on Carol's pondering expression and cut scene.

Cut to Doug's office. He is still working at his desk when Mark pushes the door open and sticks his head in.

Mark:
Still working?

Doug (grins):
Are you checking up on me?

Mark:
I thought you might like to get some lunch?

Doug (shakes his head):
I'm not really hungry right now...

Mark (scolding look):
To take your meds, you have to eat...

Doug (chuckles, pushes himself away from his desk):
You know what, Mark? I think I liked you better when you were just my boss...

Mark puts his arm around Doug's shoulder as they go out the door together.

Cut to the Ross home. Show Carol in the kitchen with Marc when she hears the phone ring. Carol smiles at Marc as she starts out of the room.

Carol:
Mommy will be right back, Marc...
(goes into the other room and picks up the phone)
Hello?
(starts walking with the phone back to the kitchen)
Hello, Mama...yes...I thought about everything you said and...
(gets the to kitchen, her eyes grow wide with fear as she looks in)
MARC!

Focus on Carol dropping the receiver and rushing into the kitchen as Act One Fades to Black.

Act Two

Scene opens in the hospital cafeteria. Show Mark and Doug moving through the line and carrying their trays to a table. They sit down together and start into their lunch.

Mark:
Are you sure you should be here? Shouldn't you have gone home?

Dog (sighs):
Mark, don't you think if I didn't feel like being here I would have left by now? I'm fine.

Mark:
I don't know what being on that machine does to your body...I'm just concerned...

Doug (chuckles):
I appreciate that, but, I'm fine. Really. Besides, what am I going to go home to? An empty hotel room? No thanks...

Mark (short pause):
What DOES being on that machine do to your body?

Doug:
It zaps you out...but since I'm still recovering from a drinking binge, I don't really know the difference right now.

Mark:
Have a hangover?

Doug:
You know it!

Mark (serious tone):
I wanted us to talk about you and Carol...

Doug:
Look, Mark, there's nothing you can do about that. Carol and I are something Carol and I are going to have to work out ourselves. Now, somehow, we're just going to have to find a way to talk to each other...

Mark:
You have an anniversary coming up...maybe you can send her flowers or something...

Doug (sighs):
I'll figure it out, Mark...I can't lose her...

Mark:
Can you tell me when all the trouble started? Because I know it didn't start with what happened with Marc...

Doug (shakes his head):
No, that just brought it to a head. We've been fighting about this job ever since I took it, for one reason or another. I love this job, Mark...but if I'd have known it was going to cost me the one thing I love more than anything in the world I've never have taken it.

Mark:
I think it can all be worked out...you're a workaholic...Carol knows that...

Doug:
Yeah, well, I gotta cut that out...I need to think about my family first and the patients in this hospital second...that's a hard thing for me to do.

Mark:
Family changes things...I know...I'm going through the same thing myself.

Doug:
I just can't believe Carol didn't come and see me when she came to check on me...that hurts, you know?

Mark (shrugs):
Maybe she just didn't know what to say to you?

Doug (shrugs):
Maybe...

Cut back to the Ross home. Show Carol running into the kitchen, dropping the phone receiver as she goes. She gets there just in time to see Marc falling backwards from the counter and she catches him quickly. He has made a step ladder out of the counter drawers to climb up to the cabinet where the cookies are. Had Carol not gotten there when she did he would have cracked his head on the kitchen table when he fell. Carol holds him on her lap and cuddles him close to her and he is crying from the fear.

Carol:
Oh my God, Marc! You scared me to death!

(she reaches down and picks the phone up off the floor) It's OK, Mama! Marc was climbing on the counter, but, I caught him.

Helen:
Funny how you can take your eye off them for one minute and something can happen, isn't it, Carol? I'll talk to you later, sweetie...take care of your baby.

Helen hangs up and leaves Carol holding the receiver and her child with her words ringing loud in her ears.

Carol (looks down at Marc):
Look at me, cuddling you on my lap when this is the second time you gave someone a heart attack! I ought to bust your little butt...
(kisses his head)
...but right now I have to work on getting your Daddy home.

Cut back to the hospital cafeteria. Doug's beeper goes off and he looks at it, getting up from the table.

Mark (getting up with him):
Trouble?

Doug:
They need me in the ER...

Doug starts running towards the ER with Mark right behind him. They get there and are confronted by Jerry at the main desk.

Jerry:
Got a two year old in three bleeding from the forehead...mother says he fell into a table...I tried to find Dr. Rocher but he's out of the building...
(Doug starts for the room)
Dr. Weaver is with him now.

With that, Doug bolts into the room quickly with Mark close behind him.

Kerry (applying bandage to the boy's forehead):
Everything is under control here, Doug...no stitches were necessary...

Doug:
You took care of him?

Kerry (sighs):
Yes, Doug...no Pedes doctors were available...

Doug (looks into the watching eyes of the mother):
Could I speak to you? Outside? Please?

Kerry reluctantly follows Doug out into the hallway, where his calm mood turns angry.

Doug:
There is a policy in the ER that says PEDES doctors handle PEDES cases!

Kerry:
I'm aware of your petty policy but there were no Pedes doctors available...that's your fault...you obviously don't have the ER staffed round the clock...

Doug:
I was in the hospital and should have been paged...

Kerry:
I believe you WERE paged, weren't you?

Doug:
After the fact, yes!

Kerry:
It wasn't anything big, Doug...I cleaned it, dressed it, and put a bandage on it...a medical student could have done it.

Doug:
Not unless they were a PEDES medical student! You deliberately violated hospital policy!

Kerry:
It's a stupid rule and everybody knows it!

Doug:
Oh, so, if it's a stupid rule, you don't have to follow it? Funny! That never works for me! It's only a stupid rule to you, Kerry, because it's MY rule!
(pauses, collects his thoughts)
Did you order any x-rays?

Kerry:
What? For a bump on the head?

Doug:
I would have ordered a skull series, at least...I might also have looked at his back.

Kerry:
For a bump on the head?

Doug (sarcastically):
That's all my kid had, Kerry...and I got Child Services called on me...my kid had a blood clot...what if that one did too and you missed it? If anything else happens with this kid because you didn't do a proper exam, you can bet I'm writing you up!

Doug stalks off and leaves Kerry shaking her head with a sarcastic laugh as she looks at Mark.

Mark:
He's right, you know...he should have been paged.

Kerry:
Mark, it was no big deal...

Mark:
That's the way it is with Kids...something you think is nothing always turns out to be something. If you were ever a parent, Kerry, you'd know these things. You better hope nothing happens to that little boy later...

Kerry:
So now, suddenly, you're on his side of this?

Mark:
I'm the side of the patients, Kerry...if that puts me on Doug's side of the fence, that's not my fault.

Kerry (defensively):
The kid wasn't even unconscious, Mark! It was a minor injury...

Mark nods and walks away leaving Kerry shaking her head in wonder as she ambles back to work.

Cut to the Ross home. Show Carol sitting in the bedroom holding the wedding photo of her and Doug from when they renewed their vows. She is in a wedding gown and he is in a tux. She looks at the photo while listening to the radio and a Jack Jones song comes on that the lyrics catch her attention.

Lyrics:
Hey, little girl, comb your hair, fix your make-up...soon he will open the door! Don't think because there's a ring on your finger you needn't try anymore! For wives should always be lovers too...run to his arms to moment he comes home to you...he's almost here...

Carol gets up and walks over to the mirror and looks at her reflection. She looks tired...her hair needs something done to it...she is wearing a baggy sweatshirt and jeans...she frowns as she looks at herself. In her mind she remembers the night Doug proposed marriage to her at Carlini's. She sees the flashback...Doug in a very nice suit, shirt, and tie...she was wearing a nice dress with her hair done up nice and her make-up on with jewelry. She remembers they danced as the band played THE GIRL THAT I MARRY and she hears the lyrics to that song in her mind.

Lyrics:
The girl that I marry will have to be as soft and as pink as nursery, the girl I call my own will wear satins and laces and smell of cologne...her nails will be polished and in her hair she'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there...stead of flittin' I'll be sittin' next to her and she'll purr like a kitten...

Carol (looks in the mirror):
That's sure not me, Doug...
(frowns)
...not anymore.

Carol stands there, thinking, looking at her reflection and she starts to get an idea. But before she can carry it out she is distracted by the door bell ringing. She goes through the house to answer it, calling out at she goes.

Carol:
OK! OK! I'm coming!

She gets to the door and rips it open to find Linda Farrell standing on the other side. Carol's expression is a mixture of shock and surprise. Linda smiles slightly at her.

Linda:
Hello, Carol? May I come in?

Focus on Carol's surprised expression, still standing and holding the door open as Act Two Fades to Black.

Act Three

Scene opens at the Ross home with Carol still standing there holding the door.

Linda (smiles):
May I come in, Carol? Please? I'd like to talk to you.

Carol (still stunned):
I don't think we have anything to talk about, Linda...

Linda (walks inside):
Oh, I think we do...

Carol closes the door and goes through the house with Linda. They go into the living room and sit down. Linda has on a very nice dress...her hair in combed and fixed...her make-up is perfect...Carol smiles nervously at her as they sit down together.

Carol:
Can I get you anything? Coffee? Anything?

Linda (smiles):
No, thanks, I won't be staying that long. Listen, Carol, I wanted to talk to you about the other night...

Carol (laughs nervously):
Oh, I don't think there's really anything to talk about, Linda...

Linda:
I know you think there's something going on between Doug and me...and I'll admit that I'd be willing...
(Carol rolls her eyes)
...you know I'm crazy about Doug. I always have been. But I also know his heart belongs to you.

Carol (gives her a surprised look):
You expect me to believe that?

Linda:
You have to believe it, Carol...because it's true.

Carol:
Come on, Linda! Look at you and look at me! Doug would be a fool to choose me over you the way you look right now!

Linda (laughs):
Doug doesn't care about this!
(she motions down at herself)
He cares about this...
(she doubles up her fist and lays it to her heart)
When ever he was with me all he talked about was you and the kids and his family...it's killing him to be away from all of you now, Carol...
(she smiles at Carol sweetly)
Whatever you think he did that is so terrible he has to be banished, why don't you just forgive him and let him come home? He loves you and his family so much...I really think he will go back to being the old, sultry, uncaring Doug he used to be if he loses it.

Carol:
Why are you telling me this, Linda?

Linda: Because I love Doug very much. He's a good friend. And he's a great guy. And I'd hate to see anything happen to him. And if I can prevent that, or help him out in any way, then, I'm there for him. I just wanted you to know that there is nothing going on between us...nothing at all except a friend lending a shoulder and an ear to another friend. That's all.
(stands up)
You can believe me...or not. That choice is yours.

Linda starts for the door and Carol sits, shell shocked for a moment. Then, she gets up and walks to the door behind her.

Carol (once they are at the door):
Thanks, Linda...for coming. I really do appreciate you telling me this.

Linda (nods):
I just hope it did some good.

Linda goes on out and Carol watches her go.

Carol (mumbles to herself):
Oh, it did some good, Linda...more than you know.
(she goes back into the house and picks up the phone)
Hello, Mama? Could you come over and watch the kids for me for a while? There's something I need to do...

Cut to County ER. Show Doug working at the main desk over a file and show Mark come up behind him.

Mark:
You're not supposed to be down here...

Doug (sighs):
I thought maybe I could hide from you down here! Seeing as how you've been in my office more than I have today!

Mark :
I told you I didn't want you on the floor...

Doug:
I'm just here until Max gets back...in light of what happened earlier, I think somebody needs to be down here, don't you?

Mark:
OK, just take it easy, OK?

Their attention is caught by a mother running in the doors of the ER carrying a little boy in her arms.

Mother:
Help me! Please!

Doug (comes around the corner):
What's the problem?

Mother (hands him the child):
I was here with him earlier when he fell and hit his head. I took him home and put him down for a nap and now I can't wake him up!

Doug carries the child down to an exam room and puts him on a table. He peers into his eyes by lifting the eyelids and looking in with a penlight.

Doug:
I need a full skull series and somebody call Abby Keaton for consult!

Chuny (nods):
Right away, Dr. Ross...

Doug (turns to mother):
Don't worry...he'll be all right...

Mother:
What's wrong with him? Why doesn't he wake up?

Doug:
It's most likely just a concussion...he'll be fine...

Doug touches her shoulder and leaves her in the room with her child as they come to transport him for CT. Doug glares at Mark as he goes on down the hall to the elevator.

Doug (from the elevator):
Somebody page me when Max Rocher shows up!

Cut back to the Ross home. Show Helen standing in the door way of the bedroom watching as Carol starts working on herself. She pulls off her sweatshirt and jeans and stands looking through her closet in her bra and panties. She finds a nice pants suit, nothing really fancy, but, nice, and lays it out on the bed. She goes over to the mirror and starts working with her hair. She brushes it well and pulls it back away from her face and ties it up with a nice hair clasp. Then she starts working on her make-up.

Helen (coyly):
Going somewhere, Dear?

Carol (looking in the mirror at her standing behind her):
Yes, Mama...I'm going to see if I can still save my marriage.

Helen (smiles):
Fixing yourself up isn't going to save your marriage. What you say is what will save it.

Carol:
Then, let's hope I say the right things.

She finishes with her make-up and gets dressed. Then, she stands in front of the mirror and looks at her reflections again. She looks very nice...very sharp...and Helen smiles at her.

Carol:
Tell me the truth, Mama...how do I look?

Helen (hands on her shoulders):
Like a woman in love going after the man she adores.
(turns her around and smoothes her hands down her arms)
Good luck, Honey.

Carol:
Mama, if I succeed, I won't be home tonight...can you stay?

Helen (smiles):
Until Hell freezes over if I have to.

Carol (kisses her cheek lightly):
Thanks, Mama...

Carol goes on out of the room and Helen smiles watching her go with a look of hope on her face.

Carol (mumbles to herself as she goes out the door):
Just have to make one stop first...

Cut to County Hospital. Show Mark at his desk in his office when he is interrupted by a knock at his door.

Mark:
Come in!

The door opens and Doug comes in carrying a paper in his hands, which he hands across the desk to Mark.

Mark:
What's this?

Doug:
That's my write up on Kerry Weaver...the kid she sent out of here that was 'no big deal' to her is now a patient in PICU.

Mark:
What did you find out?

Doug:
He has a concussion...pretty good contusion of the brain...

Mark:
Any signs of abuse?

Doug (shakes his head):
Doesn't appear to be...looks like it was just one of those things that happens to kids.

Mark:
Will he be OK?

Doug:
Looks like he will be. I have Rocher keeping an eye on him and Abby Keaton on stand by in case they need her. That's why I asked about a skull series. Children have softer skulls under the age of three years old. If this had been a 10 year old, I wouldn't have thought as much about it. But, a child this young should have been checked closer.

Mark (takes report from him and reads over it):
So, you're filing a policy violation?

Doug:
It was a policy violation, Mark. Pedes doctors handle pedes patients...Kerry handled this case...she's not trained...this is exactly my complaint and why I asked for this in the first place.

Mark (nods):
OK...I'll send this in first thing in the morning.

Doug:
I really need you to back me up on this, Mark. I know you and Kerry are soul mates and you both stand for basically the same things...and most of that is against me...but I'm right this time and I really need your support.

Mark (nods):
You'll get it...I promise.

Doug (surprised):
Really? You'll really back me up on this?

Mark (nods):
Absolutely! Kerry knew the policy and she chose to ignore it...now a patient is paying the price for it...I can't overlook that...I'll file this in the morning and when the board review comes, I'll give you my full support.

Doug (smiles slightly):
Thanks, Mark...

Mark:
Doug, I know we've had some differences lately, and I know you think I'm on the opposite side of the fence from you right now, but, you are right about this...and I will support you on it. I signed your ER policy about pedes doctors on pedes cases because you gave me evidence that supported your request...and now you're backing it up with more solid evidence. It's time Kerry Weaver found out you DO know what you're talking about.
(smiles at him)
I hope the little boy will be OK.

Doug (nods as he inches for the door):
Yeah, I do too...

Mark:
So, you're leaving now?

Doug (nods):
Yeah...I'm going to the hotel and get cleaned up and then I'm going over to the house and talk to Carol...

Mark (smiles):
Well, good luck!

Doug (smiles weakly):
Thanks...I may need it.

Cut to his room at the Drake hotel. Show Carol in his room standing in front of the mirror holding up a red lace teddy to see how it looks on her.

Carol (smiles):
Yeah...that should work!

She neatly folds it back up and puts it back in the bag. Then, she sits on the end of the bed and folds her hands as she sits and waits for Doug to come back.

Cut to show Doug coming through the lobby of the hotel. He looks over towards the bar, but, shakes his head and walks on by. He gets into the elevator and punches a button. Show the elevator open and he gets out to walk down the hall. He puts his room key in the lock on the door and turns the knob to step into his room. When he steps in, Carol looks up at him with a nervous expression on her face. Show Doug with a very surprised expression on his face as he steps on into the room and closes the door behind him.

Doug (surprised):
Carol? What are you doing here?

Carol (shrugs):
I thought we needed to talk.

Focus on Doug as he ticks his head looking over at her and Fade Act Three to Black.

Act Four

Scene opens in Doug's hotel room. Show Carol sitting on the end of the bed and Doug comes over and sits on the bed beside her.

Carol:
I think we need to talk about some things.

Doug (grins):
This is really funny, because, I was coming here to get cleaned up and come over and talk to you!

Carol (looks at him):
Are you all right?

Doug (nods):
Yeah...I'm fine.

Carol:
When Mark called me and told me what happened I was so worried about you...worried that you would let yourself slip like that...

Doug (ducks his head):
When you didn't come to see me at the hospital, I thought you didn't care...

Carol:
I cared...I was just angry. I was upset when Linda answered the phone when I called that night...

Doug (looks up at her):
There's nothing going on with me and Linda...

Carol (cuts him off):
I know...she was just someone for you to talk to...
(smiles)
She told me.

Doug (surprised):
SHE told you?

Carol (nods):
Yeah, she came to the house to tell me...that and when you were with her all you talked about was your family...
(Doug chuckles)
I'm glad she was there for you when you needed someone...I just wish it had been me.
(Doug shrugs)
Let's start at the beginning, Doug...does the fact that I had a hysterectomy turn you off in bed?

Doug (looks at her, surprised look):
No! Of course not!

Carol:
Then, what's holding you back? Something isn't the same and I assumed it was me. If it's not me, what is it?

Doug (motions across the bed):
Sitting right over there.

Carol (looks):
Your dialysis machine? What's it got to do with anything?

Doug:
I felt like it bothered you...that maybe it made me less desirable to you.

Carol (laughs):
Honey, No! I don't even know it's there! You tie up the tubes so that they don't get in the way, I never even pay any attention to it.

Doug (grins, head down):
Then, I guess we've both been being pretty silly, huh?

Carol:
We just quit talking...we used to talk about everything...what happened to that?

Doug (chuckles):
Huh...I can give you four excuses!

Carol (questioning):
The babies?

Doug:
I hired a Nanny so you wouldn't have to spend your every waking minute taking care of them...so we could have some time together...but it seems like every time we get a chance to be alone, one of them needs something anyway. Whenever I want to talk to you, you always seem to have a baby on your lap.

Carol:
I just wanted to be sure they bonded with us...I didn't want them think the Nanny was their parent!

Doug (nods):
I understand that...

Carol:
But, if you wanted to talk, you should have said something and I could have put the baby down.
(pause)
Amy left anyway...she's getting married.

Doug (looks at her):
So, what are you doing now?

Carol (laughs):
Calling Grandmothers! But we'll need to hire somebody else...

Doug (slight smile):
We? Does that mean I'm coming home?

Carol (nervous look):
If you want to.

Doug (turns to her, finally takes her shoulders in his hands):
That's all I've wanted since the day I left!

Carol:
Doug, I am so sorry I got so upset with you over Marc...

Doug:
No, it's OK! That was my fault! I was supposed to be watching him and I didn't...I deserved for you to be mad...

Carol (shakes her head):
No, it wasn't your fault. This afternoon I found out that you can take your eye off them for one second and something can almost happen...nothing did...but it could have! Marc pulled all the drawers out on the kitchen counter and climbed up to the cookie cabinet. I got there just as he lost his balance and fell back.

Doug (chuckles):
Toddlers...

Carol:
I should have supported you instead of being mad at you. I hope you can forgive me for that.

Doug (looks into her eyes):
Of course I can...just not seeing that accusing look out of your eyes now is enough for me.

Carol:
Things were bad enough...and then Kerry Weaver had to make them worse...
(Doug chuckles)
...I can't believe she did that to you.

Doug:
She got away with it, too. The board agreed she was acting on hospital policies.

Carol (shakes her head):
What a bitch...

Doug:
That's OK...I've got her now...she treated a toddler in the ER today that bounced back because she didn't do it right and she's not supposed to be treating kids anyway.

Carol:
Will Mark back you up on it?

Doug:
He says he will. I really need him to. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Carol:
We didn't even get to talk about Raoul...
(Doug ducks his head)
...I know that hurt you so much...

Doug:
Hurt you too...

Carol:
Yes, of course it did...any child dying hurts me...but Raoul was very special to you...the two of you had a very close bond and you had to go through that alone...I'm so sorry about that.

Doug (smiles shyly):
It's OK.

Carol:
No, it's not OK...but maybe it will be later...after you've had time.
(pause)
There's one other thing...

Doug:
I know...the job! I love my job, Carol...but I know I need to work on balancing things a little better...

Carol:
It's not that...it's not that your hours are a problem...I just used that as an excuse. The truth is, I'm jealous.

Doug (laughs, surprised):
Jealous! Of what?

Carol:
You got to go back to the hospital...that's where we met...that's where we fell in love...it has a special place with me. I envy you going back there and me not with you.

Doug (laughs):
Is that all? Well, why don't you just go back to work then?

Carol:
Because I'd want to work with you so I can be close to you. And I don't want to work full time...

Doug:
Then work part time! And I can use a PA down in the ER! You're welcome to be part of my team! I'd be thrilled to have you!

Carol:
Can you afford me?

Doug:
There's room in the budget for whatever I need...and if there's not, hell, I'll pay you out of my own pocket if that's what it takes!

Carol:
You wouldn't mind me going back to work?

Doug:
If that's what you want to do, you should do it.

Carol:
That's not what I asked you.

Doug (smiles):
No, I wouldn't mind you going back to work. I miss you being there, to tell you the truth.
(Carol smiles)
We're a good team, Carol...we work well together...and I miss that.

Carol:
You don't think my place is with the children?

Doug:
Most kids have working parents...we'll work it out and the kids will never know the difference.
(Pause, looks at her)
Anything else we need to work out?

Carol (shakes her head):
No, I think we've about covered everything.

Doug (motions):
What's in the bag?

Carol (embarrassed):
Just something I picked up for you in case you wanted me to stay.

Doug (smiles):
Oh yeah? Let me see it...
(Carol reaches into the bag and pulls out the Teddy and holds it up for him to see. His eyes twinkle)
Go put it on.

Carol (smiles):
Are you sure?

Doug (leans over and kisses her sweetly):
I'm sure...

Carol gets up to go over to the bathroom. Doug picks up the phone and punches a number.

Doug:
Room service? This is Dr. Ross in 4117...would you please send up a chilled bottle of Non-Alcoholic Champagne please?

By the time Carol gets out of the bathroom, Doug is pouring the champagne. He looks up and smiles, his eyes sparkling as he looks at her.

Doug (nods):
Oh yeah...

Carol (smiles shyly):
You like it?

Doug:
I LOVE it!
(reaches his hand to her)
Come here...
(she goes to him and he wraps his arms around her and pulls her close to him)
God, you feel good here!
(kisses her)
I've missed you so much.

Carol (kisses him, touches his face):
I've missed you, too.

Doug:
I love you, Carol...I used to say I couldn't imagine my life without you...now that I know what that's like I know I can't survive that way.

Carol:
I love you, too, Doug...and my life was just as miserable without you.

Doug (chuckles):
I guess we're just stuck with each other, huh?

Carol (smiles):
I guess so.

Doug (reaches down and scoops her up in his arms):
What a way to be stuck...

He carries her to the bed and lays her down on it carefully, leaning down over her. She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down to her, kissing him sweetly. He reaches over and turns out the light beside the bed and we hear Carol giggle and Doug chuckle as Act Four Fades to Black.

Closing Act

Scene opens in Doug's hotel room. Show Doug waking up and rolling over in bed. He sits up on the bed and closes the exchange unit clamp and pushes a button on the dialysis machine. Then he disconnects from the machine and put a cap on his exchange unit. Once he is loose from the machine, he lays back down to gaze at Carol sleeping soundly. He touches her hair, and then he starts kissing and nuzzling at her neck. She smiles and wraps her arms around his neck.

Doug (smiles at her as she opens her eyes):
Good morning.

Carol (smiles):
Ummmmm...those are such nice words to hear!

Doug:
I thought we could pack up my stuff and get me out of here early so I can get to work!

Carol:
That sounds like a plan.

Doug:
And I was thinking if we leave now we can get home before the kids wake up so we can tell them I'm home before they go to school.

Carol:
Why don't we let them stay home? And you can stay home, too...after your ordeal, Mark won't mind if you call in sick today.

Doug (chuckles):
It would at least give me a break from his suddenly surge of overprotectiveness! It's OK with me.
(pause)
What are we going to do about help now? At the house.

Carol:
I was thinking about a nice live in housekeeper. You know, somebody to help with the cooking and the cleaning and laundry as well as the kids...surely there's somebody like that out there?

Doug:
Somebody like 'Alice' on the old 'Brady Bunch' show, huh?
(chuckles)
I'm sure if we call an agency we can find somebody.

Carol:
What time is it?

Doug:
Not quite six o'clock...why?

Carol (pulls him to her and kisses him):
We don't have to leave yet, do we?

Doug (chuckles, kisses her sweetly):
I guess we've got a few minutes yet...

He leans down to her and chuckles lightly as she holds him close and kisses her.

Doug (cuddles close to her):
Oh, yeah...I've definitely missed this...

Carol:
Doug...let's make a promise to always talk about the things that are bothering us so that this never happens again.

Doug:
That's a deal...
(chuckles)
Although it has been a lot of fun making up...

Carol (giggles):
Yeah...I know!

Carol just holds him close to her, kisses him repeatedly and cuddles him, touching him, and stroking him while he nuzzles as close as he can get to her.

Carol (promising voice):
You're never going to miss it again...

Doug (close to her face):
Don't waste time talking right now...
(kisses her)

Cut to show time lapse. Doug and Carol are dressed now and a bell hop is loading the last of Doug's things into the van. Doug reaches into his pocket and gives him money, the bell hop smiles and tips his hat to Doug as he goes back into the hotel. Doug stands looking at the hotel before he gets into the van.

Carol (looks at the hotel with him):
What are you thinking about?

Doug:
I'm thinking about what a great place this is...and what a great bunch of employees work here...I think everybody's due for a raise.

Carol (smiles):
That's really nice of you.

Doug:
It's a nice place...I didn't know that before now...
(puts his arm around her shoulder and pulls her close to him)
I guess that's the good I found out of all this, huh?

Carol:
Yeah...I guess...
(kisses him)
Come on...let's go home.

Doug (smiles...kisses her):
Yeah...let's go home.

Cut to show Doug and Carol coming into the house and Helen coming to greet them.

Helen (puts both hands on Doug's face):
I never thought I'd ever be so happy to see you!

Doug (hugs her):
Hi, Helen! It's great to see you, too...thanks for staying with the kids.

Carol (hugs her too):
Hi, Mama...

Helen:
So, is everything OK?

Carol (smiles):
Everything's great...

Cut to show Doug going quietly into Tatiana's bedroom. The little girl is sleeping with her doll and Scrubs the dog on the foot of her bed. He looks up and wags his tail when he sees Doug but Doug gives him a "shhhhh" warning and he puts his head down, still wagging his tail. Doug sits down on Tatiana's bed and shakes her shoulders slightly with Carol standing behind him.

Doug (quietly):
Hey...Tatchie...wake up, Punkin.

Tatiana (opens her eyes):
Papa?

Doug (smiles at her):
Hi, Sweetheart.

Tatiana:
Am I dreaming?

Doug:
No, Punkin, you're wide awake!

Tatiana:
Are you home for good? Or just visiting?

Doug (picks her up and lifts her out of bed):
I am home to stay!

Tatiana (throws her arms around his neck):
Hooray!!

Doug:
Come on, let's go tell your brother, huh?

He carries her with him and Carol follows along. They go into Scott's room and Doug stands even with the top bunk where Scott is tossing around, half awake, half asleep.

Doug (touches his shoulder):
Roll out, Sport!

Scott (opens his eyes):
Hey, Dad! What are you doing here?

Doug (smiles):
I'm coming home.

Scott (excited):
For real?

Doug (grins):
For real!

Carol (smiles):
Come on...nobody's going to school today...this is a family day...

Tatiana:
No school?

Carol: Not today...we'll leave the babies with Nana and we'll take Marc to the zoo...

Doug (chuckles):
Better put him on a leash...

Scott climbs down out of bed and Doug puts an arm around him, still carrying Tatiana as the family starts through the house together and the Closing Act Fades into the Closing Credits of the show.

June 2, 1998