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E.R.
"Blood Bonds"
Act Three
Scene opens in a hospital room, dimly lit, curtains drawn. Chris lies on his bed in a t-shirt that reads
'Terror of the Track' and shows a race car with a mean face zooming around a track and leaving
fire behind it. Chris is resting with his eyes closed, but, he is not asleep. The covers are drawn up to
his chest and he has his head turned to one side facing the door.
Cut to show Doug opening the door and stepping carefully into the room. He is careful not to 'wake' the patient. Chris hears Doug enter the room and opens his eyes.
Chris (lightly):
Hey, Doc! I thought you pawned me off on somebody else. What are
you doing here?
Doug:
(walks over to Chris' bed and grins slightly as he looks down at him)
I guess that means you met Dr. Benton.
Chris (sits up slightly in bed):
Yeah, he was in a little while ago. He told me about the surgery.
Doug:
When did he say they'd do it?
Chris:
In the morning. Apparently, I'm not in any real danger tonight.
Doug (shakes his head):
Not as long as you stay still and quiet. I had to give you over to somebody
else. I'm a Pediatrician, not a surgeon, so, I wouldn't have been your doctor
anyway.
Chris (laughs):
Guess I wouldn't qualify, huh?
Doug (laughs with him):
Not quite. But, there's another reason I wouldn't have been able to be
your doctor. A more important reason.
Chris (laughs...doesn't catch the serious tone in Doug's voice):
Oh yeah? What's that? You got something against race car drivers?
Doug (pulls a chair beside the bed and sits down):
No, nothing like that. I took your personal information in admitting from your
manager in case we needed to contact next of kin...
Chris (scoffs):
There isn't any. Gene is all there is. I know my Dad is alive, but, I wouldn't
know where on Earth to find him...
Doug (cuts him off quickly):
I would. I could pick up the phone and have him here inside an hour.
Chris (scoffs):
Yeah, right. You got some magic power? Little magic wand you can
wave?
Doug (shakes his head):
No. It's just that Ray Ross is my father too.
Doug's words hammer in on Chris like a bomb. Cut to focus tight on Chris' face. His eyes flash
confusion, but, he says nothing.
Doug (continues):
Before you even ask, yes, I'm sure it's the same Ray Ross. Let's hope
there's not two of them in this world that make a career out of screwing up
people's lives. Besides, when I looked into your eyes down in ER, I felt
something. Maybe that sounds crazy, but, you have his eyes. I'm sure it's
the same man. And, I'm not any happier with him than you are. He was
never there for me, either.
Doug continues to talk...Chris stays silent...he is taking everything inslowly. His eyes continue to flash confusion and he doesn't talk.
Doug (continues):
I know this is a shock for you. It was for me, too. When your
manager told me your father was Ray Ross, I felt like I was walking on a
railroad track and a train hit me from behind. But, I thought I should at
least tell you the truth. Maybe that way you'd know that everybody named
'Ross' is not a lout.
Chris (stammers):
I don't know what to say.
Doug (stands up):
Maybe you shouldn't say anything right now. I just wanted you to know
I was really sorry about your Mom. Gene told me you had it rough for a long
time. If I'd known about you, I could have helped. And I would have. But
it's too late for all that now. Maybe it's too late for us to be brothers, even. I
don't know. But, maybe it's not too late for us to be friends.
Chris (looks away quickly):
I'm really tired right now. I think I need to get some rest.
Doug (nods...almost understandingly):
Sure. We can talk later.
(walks across the room and calls back from the door way)
You get some rest.
Chris (calls out):
Hey, Doc!
Doug (peers back around the door):
Yeah?
Chris (offers peace):
Thanks.
Doug (shrugs):
You might change your mind about that later.
(he gives Chris a short wave)
See you later.
The door bangs shut and Chris is left alone in the room to ponder the conversation. Focus on his
confused expression and fade... Cut scene to Chris' hospital room. Chris is resting in bed. Pan
back to the door and show Gene enter the room. He smiles at Chris from the door and Chris gives
him a short wave. Follow Gene across the floor to have him stop at Chris' bedside.
Gene (with a smile):
How you doing, Kid?
Chris (grunts):
I've been better.
Gene (ignores his tone):
Did Dr. Benton talk to you about the surgery?
Chris (nods):
Yeah. I signed everything. The vampires have been here. Everything's
ready. Don't expect me to be happy about taking six weeks off the circuit.
Might as well be a year...
Gene (cuts in quickly):
Don't start that with me! Ricky Crayven took three months off the circuit
and he's doing just fine. Ernie Irvan was gone almost two years. A few weeks
isn't going to make or break your season. You know better than that.
Chris (shrugs):
I don't have to like it.
Gene (knowingly):
That's not what's bothering you anyway.
Chris (looks him in the eye):
No. I guess not. I guess I just got one more reason to hate Ray Ross
today, didn't I? All those times in my life when I could have used a helping
hand, I had one! I just didn't know it!
Gene (smiles):
Doug seems like a really nice guy. I hope you'll use this time off to maybe
get to know him a little.
Chris (looks at his hands):
I just don't know how I feel about it, you know? I don't know how I feel
about anything right now.
Gene (pats his shoulder):
I know.
Chris (getting emotional...a bit upset):
Why does this always happen to me, Gene? Just about the time I get
things going the way I want them something has to pitch a monkey wrench into
the middle of it!
Gene (trying to calm him):
That's just the way life is, Chris...
Chris (raises his voice...getting more emotional):
First I get hurt...now I won't be able to race...to top it all off, I got a
brother I have to try and deal with...
Gene:
Chris, please, getting upset about it isn't going to help you right now. You
need to just rest...
Chris:
How can I rest? I don't want this surgery! I don't know how I feel about
that either!
Cut to show Peter Benton coming quickly into the room. He has heard the commotion in the hallway and is coming to check on his patient.
Peter (from the doorway):
Is there a problem in here, Gentlemen?
Chris (sarcastically):
This is a private discussion, Doctor.
Peter:
You have a really bad attitude, do you know that? You're in a countdown
for surgery. You need to just rest.
Chris:
Maybe I don't want you doing the surgery. Maybe I have my own choice!
Gene (cuts in):
Chris is just having a hard time dealing with some things tonight, Dr.
Benton. He'll be fine. Don't worry.
Cut to show Doug rushing into the room from the hallway. He has also heard the combination and
comes to investigate.
Doug (coming into the room):
What's wrong down here!? Chris, why are you so upset?
Chris (pleadingly):
I want you to do the surgery!
Doug (shakes his head):
I can't do that, Chris. First of all, it's not my line of work! Second of all,
you're family, Kid! I can't cut on you! It's a code of ethics!
Peter (looks over at Doug quickly):
Family? What the hell are you talking about?
Doug (shrugs):
Chris and I have the same father. It's a complicated story.
Peter (detains anger, but, it flashes in his eyes):
Could I speak to you in the hallway? Please?
Doug nods and follows Peter out the door and into the hallway. Cut to their conversation outside the door. Peter had a grip on Doug's arm and his voice is harsh.
Peter (low but stern voice):
I can't believe you would tell a patient something like that the night before
surgery! You know that a patient's mental well being is just as important as
anything else in a surgery situation! I'd think you'd be more professional than
that...
Doug (defensively):
I just found out I had a brother after 30 years! Suppose he'd die on the
table without me getting a chance to let him know that?
Peter:
This is routine surgery...there is no chance he'll die on the table...
Doug (cuts in...pokes Peter in the chest with his index finger):
There is always a chance of that in any surgery!
Cut to show the door being jerked open behind the two doctors. Cut to show Chris standing in the
doorway in sweat pants and a t-shirt. He is supporting his weight on the door facing.
Chris (angrily):
Does the patient get to say anything here?
Doug and Peter (in unison):
Get back in bed!
Chris:
I'll go back to bed if you two stop yelling at each other!
Peter (nods):
Deal.
Cut to show one doctor on each side of their patient escorting him back into bed.
Chris (quietly...to Peter):
Don't yell at Doug. I'm glad he told me. I'm glad I have a brother. I'm
glad I have some blood family of some kind at least. I'd want to know
something like this. Honest. I just wish he could do the surgery. I feel safe with
him.
Doug (smiles):
I can't do it myself. But, I can be there with you. I can go in with you
and be in the operating room. Would that make you feel better?
Chris (nods):
Yeah. I really think it would.
Peter (grins):
Then, I have your word that you'll stay put the rest of the night?
Chris (crosses his fingers across his chest):
Scouts honor.
(Peter looks at Gene, who smiles and nods)
Gene:
He's a man of his word. He'll be fine.
Peter (nods):
OK.
(strolls over to the door but gives Chris a warning finger point on his way out)
But you stay put!
Fade Act Three To Black
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Act Four