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"ER"
"A Matter of Confidence"
Act One
Scene opens still in Trauma Four room between Mark and Doug. Mark has just blasted Doug for
using him to get out of his sessions with Raypert and Doug is confused as to what exactly Mark is
talking about.
Doug (chuckles lightly):
What are you talking about?
Mark (shakes his head):
Don't start with me, Doug. Not this morning. I got up late...Again...I was up all
night with Rachel, whom I couldn't get started on time this morning, AGAIN...I
got here late...AGAIN...had to get coffee from the cafeteria because there
wasn't any up here and I run into Raypert who criticizes me for being a
'uncaring supervisor' unwilling to give a member of my staff time off to keep an
appointment with him. I don't appreciate you using me as an excuse for you to
weasel out of therapy, Doug.
Doug (holds his hands out in calming gesture):
OK...hold the phone a second! I did not "use you" as an excuse! If Raypert
told you that, that's a lie...
Mark:
He didn't tell me that in exact words! But, that's what he meant! What's going
on, Doug?
Doug (sighs):
I just didn't want to cause any problems for you...
Mark (exasperated):
You let ME be the judge of whether or not something is a problem, OK?
Doug (defensively):
OK!
Mark:
If you need time off to keep an appointment with Raypert, don't hesitate to ask
me, OK? The ER will not come to a screeching halt and cave in if you are gone
from it for an hour. And if it's a real emergency that we absolutely HAVE to
have you for, you are still in the hospital and all I have to do is call Raypert and
have him send you down!
Doug (repeats his defense):
OK!
Mark:
Now! Raypert tells me you have an appointment today at 2:30...
Doug (interrupts):
Well, actually, I was going to reschedule that....
Mark (cuts him off quickly):
You are going to that session if I have to take you up there by the ear, do you
understand me? You are NOT using me as an excuse anymore. If you want to
cancel a session, you're going to have to come up with something better than
'scheduling conflicts' because that's not going to work anymore. Do I make
myself clear?
Doug starts to say something, but the look in Mark's eyes tells him he better not. He nods his head
slowly.
Doug (slowly):
Sure, Mark. Whatever you say.
Mark (satisfied smile):
Thank you!
Mark turns sharply and exits the room. Doug ambles over to the door and watches him go off
down the hall. Doug stands somewhat shell shocked in the doorway and Carol comes up beside
him.
Carol (looks off in Mark's direction, than back at Doug):
Something wrong?
Doug:
I think the milk was sour on his corn flakes this morning. (smiles at Carol)
Everything's fine!
Cut scene to show time lapse. Mark and Doug are working together over a patient in the ER. The
clock on the wall shows that it is 2:15 PM. Mark inches over beside Doug and reaches for the
instruments he's using.
Mark (matter-of-factly):
I'll take over now, Doug, you're out of here.
Doug (doesn't give up the instrument):
I'm not done here, yet...
Mark (grabs the instrument quickly):
I'm taking over your patient, Doug! You have an appointment to keep.
Doug (glances at the wall):
I've got time to get there...
Mark (sternly, looks Doug directly in the eye):
GO! (Doug gives him a perplexed look) NOW!
Reluctantly, Doug shoves the instrument into Mark's hand and disappears out the door of the
trauma unit... Cut to show time lapse again. Focus on Doug, clad in scrubs and Dockers and tennis
shoes, shifting his weight nervously in a leather chair in front of a desk. Pan back to show Dan
Raypert seated behind the desk with a folder in front of him. He folds his hands and gives Doug a
compassionate look.
Raypert:
Would you be more comfortable if you lie down?
Doug (shakes his head):
No. I'm not a basket case yet.
Raypert (smiles, with a shake of his head):
That's an old cliché, Doug. And you know it. I was simply trying to make you
more comfortable.
Doug (nods):
I'm fine.
Raypert:
Anything in particular you want to talk about today?
Doug (shakes his head):
Aren't you supposed to tell me that?
Raypert (sighs):
You know, Doug, you really aren't helping me much. I've told you before that
you need to leave that shield of yours out on the table with the magazines when
you come in here. If you aren't going to be open with me, there's really no point
in doing this. Surely you must know that.
Doug (shifts again):
I'm sorry, Dan. I'm just starting to wonder if maybe I shouldn't have chosen
somebody uptown. Somebody who doesn't know me. Somebody I don't
know. Maybe I wouldn't be so afraid of what I say...
Raypert (cuts in):
There's no reason to be afraid of what you say in here to me. Everything in this
room is completely confidential. I won't reveal anything you say about anything
or anyone to anybody, not even under a court of law. Let's talk about Mark
Greene...
Doug (shrugs his shoulders):
What about Mark?
Raypert:
Well, let's just talk about Mark. Talk about him as a person...a friend...and a
supervisor. How do you feel about Mark right now?
Doug (raises an eyebrow):
Right now? (shakes if off with a nod of his head) I could be mad at him, I
guess. If I didn't know he was right in reading me out this morning. (grins). He's
a fair supervisor. Gives me more rope than most would. He's OK.
Raypert:
You and Mark have been a team down in the ER for quite a while. I understand
you have had some very heated moments in the past.
Doug (nods):
We have. (pauses) But, we always seem to work them out.
Raypert:
Is that a combined effort? Or does one of you do more trying than the other?
Doug (eyes Raypert carefully):
I would guess Mark goes out on the limb a little further to reach me than I do
him sometimes.
Raypert:
Do you ever return the favor?
Doug (nods):
I think so. I think I'm usually there for him when he needs a friend. I know I try
to be.
Raypert (smiles):
So, you would say you think a lot of Mark Greene, then?
Doug (sincerely):
Mark is probably the first real friend I've ever had in my entire life. He's the first
person that I could ever depend on that I knew was going to be there for me
beyond a shadow of a doubt no matter what the situation was. He's gone to bat
for me with Morganstern. He's gone out of his way more than once to save my
butt in this hospital. He's probably the first person I ever knew he gave me any
genuine signs that he cared anything about me one way or the other. That's why
I can't stay pissed at him. I know he's usually right. And when he rides my ass,
he's just trying to get me to shape up. And I can respect that. He's the first
person I ever felt any kind of real bonding with.
Raypert (nods):
Is he aware that you feel this way?
Doug (shakes his head...looks at his feet....toys with a shoe string on his tennis
shoes):
No. That's not something I broadcast outright. Not even to him.
Raypert:
Yet, you allow him to control you. Surely he's aware of this?
Doug (shrugs):
I don't know. Doesn't matter. If he does control me, it's because I let him.
Raypert:
You're not one much for admitting feelings about someone, are you, Doug?
Doug (gives him a confused look):
Meaning?
Raypert:
Meaning you tend to pretty much keep what you think and what you feel locked
away someplace inside you where no one can see them and you don't have to
deal with them...that the only relationships you are comfortable with are surface
relationships that never need you to put much effort into them.
Doug (shrugs):
I guess I never really thought about it much.
Raypert:
I have an exercise I want you to do before you come back to see me next time,
OK? I want you to write me a letter about Mark Greene. I want you to address
the letter to him personally, but, don't worry...it's for my files...not his eyes. I
want you to tell me exactly how you feel about him and why. Will you do that
for me?
Doug (sighs heavily):
I can try. But, what's the purpose of this?
Raypert:
Just an experiment. Maybe we'll both understand it a little better once it's done,
OK?
Doug (nods):
OK.
Raypert:
So, you would consider him a fair supervisor?
Doug:
More than fair. He puts up with a lot more than most would.
Raypert:
And a good friend?
Doug (nods):
Yeah. A real good friend. He's always there with a kind word or a pep talk, no
matter what you need, he finds some way to give it, never mind what's going on
in his own life. He's got a good ear and he's a good listener. And he's got a soft
shoulder. With lots of answers tucked away no matter what the situation is. A
great friend.
Raypert:
And that would make him what kind of a person?
Doug (smiles, lost in thought):
Rare. The kind they broke the mold on.
Raypert:
Someone you admire?
Doug (nods):
Yeah, I guess so.
Raypert (looks at his watch):
You think about that letter, OK? I want to see you again on Friday.
Doug (stands up to leave):
Exactly what does my relationship with Mark Greene have to do with anything
why I came here in the first place?
Raypert (makes notes in Doug's folder):
You're on the ground floor of all this right now, Doug. None of it will make
sense to you yet. But, by the time it's over, it will all fit together. You'll just have
to trust me.
Doug (nods):
OK.
Raypert:
I'll put you down for 4PM Friday. I trust there won't be anymore 'scheduling
conflicts' with Mark?
Doug (shakes his head with a smile):
No, I guess not.
Raypert:
Then, I'll see you on Friday.
Doug (opens the door and starts out):
Yeah.
Cut to show the gang at the computers back in the ER. Pan out to show Doug coming into the
picture from the hallway. He stops at the counter and looks over a chart quickly, watching the
computer game out of the corner of one eye with a smile.
Mark (quietly beside Doug):
How'd it go?
Doug (nods, answers quietly):
It went OK. (continues to make notes, grins at Mark slightly) I think I owe you
dinner.
Mark (smiles wide):
Oh yeah? For what?
Doug (chuckles lightly):
Just because.
(Doug looks Mark in the eye and smiles slightly)
Mark shrugs his shoulders and goes back over to the computer game. Doug slaps the chart shut,
picks up a piece of paper and a pen and ambles off on down the hall. Mark and Carol watch him
go, both with bewildered looks on their faces.
Fade Act One to Black
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