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ER
"Stages of Recovery"
Act Two
Scene opens in Nina Pomerantz's office. She is sitting in a chair facing Doug and he is sprawled
rather comfortably in his, resting his head back into the pocket of the high back.
Nina (making notes):
Did you ever try the experiment I gave you for your fear of dark rooms?
Doug (nods quietly):
Yeah...just a few days ago, as a matter of fact.
Nina (puts her pen down to focus on his words):
Tell me about it.
Doug (shrugs):
I went with Mark Greene...we went into a medic room down in the ER...one
where we catch cat naps on late shifts. I was OK for a few seconds, but, we
were both moving around and he came up behind me and reached out to touch
my shoulder...if I hadn't known it was Mark I probably would've decked him. I
still can't handle somebody coming up behind me yet.
Nina (makes notes):
That may take a little more time than some of the other things. What about Mark
touching you in a normal fashion...are you having any problems with that?
Doug (shakes his head):
No. Not as long as I see him first.
Nina:
I want you to keep working on that dark room experiment until you can stay in
there a full two minutes, OK? (Doug nods) Now, what about sexual relations?
Have you engaged in any since the attack?
Doug (shakes his head):
No.
Nina:
For lack of trying? Or lack of desire?
Doug (chuckles):
Mostly for lack of time! (pauses...stares at his feet) And, I don't think I'm in any
real hurry. I think I'm a little afraid.
Nina:
What are you afraid of?
Doug:
Afraid I won't be able to...or that it won't be good...or that I'll hurt her...
Nina (smiles):
These are all natural fears for someone who has experienced a sexual violation.
Let's take them one at a time, OK? Afraid you won't be able to...do you have
the desire? Do you get excited?
Doug (nods):
Yes.
Nina:
Then, you will be able to. If the desire is there and you answer the call, when the
time is right, you won't have any trouble performing the act.
Doug (sighs):
I hope you're right.
Nina:
Now, you're afraid it won't be any good? I know you've had multiple sex
partners in the past so I'm guessing you would have plenty to compare... (Doug
gives her an exasperated chuckle) But, I think now you're one to one and in tune
with someone you really care about, am I right?
Doug (nods...lost in thought):
Yeah...
Nina:
Have you ever had sex with her before?
Doug:
A long time ago...
Nina (smiles):
Then, it'll be almost like the first time all over again. If the two of you have not
been together in a while, and you've both changed a lot, then you have nothing
to compare anything to and whatever happens will be like starting over. You
shouldn't worry about how 'good' it is...you will have to learn to love each other
all over again.
Doug (ponders that thought):
I guess I never looked at it that way!
Nina:
Now, why on Earth would be afraid you'll hurt her? (Doug doesn't answer...only
shrugs) Have you ever hurt her?
Doug:
Not sexually...
Nina:
Then, why do you think you would now?
Doug:
'Cos I have dreams about it. I have dreams that the rage that's boiling inside of
me takes over and I unleash during sex...
Nina:
What rage inside you, Doug? Talk to me about that...
Doug (perplexed, but, continues):
I just know I want to hurt somebody the way somebody hurt me...
(pauses...anguished look on his face) And I'm scared to death it's gonna be
Carol...
Nina (smiles):
Carol would never let you hurt her...and your love for her would never let you
either. These feelings that you want to hurt someone...are they only aimed at
Carol? You never feel that way towards another man?
Doug (shakes his head):
No. What does that mean?
Nina:
That means it is the act you're afraid of...not the partner. And the partner of
choice is the opposite sex, which is a healthy sign. Just keep working on that
side of things. I promise you when the time is right it will all come together.
Doug (grins):
Just like in high school, huh?
Nina (nods with a smile):
Something like that. (pauses) You look a little ragged...how are you doing
otherwise?
Doug:
Oh, great! I got these nightmares keeping me awake all night...I got Carol
breathing down my neck every time I move my big toe to see if I'm all right and
I got Mark on my case here... (pitches her the instruction papers he made a
mistake on earlier in the day) And now I'm making mistakes like this... (pauses
as she reads over them) Thank God Chuny caught my mistake and had sense
enough to tell Carol, her supervisor, who in turn went to Mark, MY
supervisor...
Nina:
What did Mark say?
Doug (sighs):
He wants me to take the next couple of days off. Then, he'll re-evaluate me and
see if he thinks I can come back to work.
Nina (smiles):
Well, I think that's excellent!
Doug:
The way it was handled may be excellent, but, I can't be making mistakes like
this, Nina. I've got to find some way to get this thing together fast...
Nina:
You can't rush this, Doug. The mind heals in it's own way and there's nothing
the medical field can do to speed that process up. (pauses for her pitch) But, I
think maybe you're ready for a group session...that might help some...
Doug (confused):
A group session?
Nina:
Sure, I'll bring in Mark and Carol both and we'll all sit down together. I really
think it might help...
Doug (shrugs):
You're the boss...
Nina (brightens):
So, you're saying that's OK with you?
Doug (nods):
Sure.
Nina (makes notes):
Great! We have a regular session scheduled for Thursday at 7pm...I'll just alert
Carol and Mark to come at the same time...
Doug:
I knew Carol was seeing you...but is Mark seeing you, too?
Nina:
Not on a session basis, but, we confer, yes. (smiles) He's been a big help. He's
really a good friend. I hope you know that.
Doug (nods with a soft smile):
I do.
Nina (makes notes):
What about sleeping? Do you want me to give you something to help you
sleep?
Doug (shakes his head):
No.
Nina:
You're sure? Because I can give you something light...
Doug (cuts her off quickly):
I'll be OK.
Nina (nods):
Well, OK...for now at least...
Scene cuts quickly to show Doug opening the door to Carol's house with his key. He stops in the
hallway and hangs his jacket up. He turns his attention to the fact that candles line the hallway and
his eyes follow them to the doorway of Carol's bedroom. Carol is standing in the doorway, leaning
on the door facing, in a very short and revealing negligee...her hair is down over her shoulders...and
she gives him a sultry look.
Carol:
I've been waiting for you, Dr. Ross.
Doug (taken aback):
What are you doing?
Carol (walking slowly down the hall):
I want you, Doug... (she takes him by the shirt front and starts pulling him back
to the room with her) And I want you NOW!
Show Carol leading Doug into the bedroom and focus on the door closing. Cut scene to a local
restaurant somewhere in Chicago. Nina and Mark are having dinner together and conversing about
Doug. Show them sitting at a table and sharing pizza.
Nina (quietly):
Doug told me about his mistake today. (Mark nods and grunts through a bite of
pizza) I thought you handled it very professionally.
Mark (shrugs):
Well, he's a good doctor. He wouldn't make a mistake like that under normal
circumstances. I'm hoping the next couple of days will relax him some. Carol is
off too, so, maybe she can get to him. (sighs) I sure haven't been able to lately.
Nina:
How did he take it? When you talked to him?
Mark (nods):
He seemed OK with it...realized he'd made the mistake and he accepted it. He
knows he's having problems. He just doesn't like to admit it. But, I know
Doug...he'll get it together.
Nina:
You two have had some heated moments down in the ER, haven't you? (Mark
eyes her with a grin, rolls his eyes and nods) Dan mentioned that to me...I didn't
have a lot of concept of that.
Mark:
Yeah, we've had our moments.
Nina:
Yet, you're always right there when he needs you...
Mark:
Well, that's what friends are for. I think Doug realizes that now. I think a good
friend is something maybe he never had before.
Nina:
He told me you helped him with his dark room experiment...
Mark (chuckles):
Yeah! Everything was fine until I touched his shoulder.
Nina:
How did he react? I mean, he told me if he hadn't known it was you he likely
would have decked you, but, what exactly happened?
Mark:
He just sort of freaked out so I turned on the light. He had his fists doubled up.
He was ready to hit. As soon as he saw it was me, he was just drained. (pauses)
I'm really getting worried about him, Nina. I don't know how much longer he
can go on at this pace...
Nina:
Don't worry...things are happening...he's headed in the right direction. He's even
agreed to a group session with you and Carol and I think that's where things can
REALLY start to happen!
Mark (nods, takes another bite of pizza):
Hope you're right...
Cut scene.
Open next scene back at Carol's in her bedroom. Pan up from the bottom of the bed to show Doug and Carol under the covers together. Doug is toying with her hair with the arm he has around her back and shoulders. She is snuggled next to his bare chest and rubbing him gently with her fingernails.
Doug:
Tell me the truth, OK? Was it really bad?
Carol (smiles...snuggles closer to him):
No.
Doug:
You'd tell me the truth, wouldn't you?
Carol (looks up at him...direct eye contact):
I'm not going to lie to you, Doug. Neither of us would gain anything from that.
It wasn't bad.
Doug (chuckles):
Wasn't great either...
Carol:
Will you stop it? Would you just STOP putting so much pressure on yourself?
Don't you understand that I just care about YOU? I care about you being here
and I care about you holding me in your arms...
Doug (cuts her off):
You trying to convince me or you?
Carol:
I don't need any convincing, so, it must be you.
Doug (sighs):
I just want you to be satisfied...
Carol:
I'm not that hard to please, Doug. There are a lot of things more important to
me in this relationship than sex. It will come at it's own time. And I happen to
think you're worth the wait. (kisses him sweetly...he smiles)
Doug:
Well, if that's the case, why did you initiate it tonight?
Carol (shrugs):
I wanted you. I've wanted you since the night you put this ring on my finger.
Doug (almost knowingly):
Was tonight Nina Pomerantz's idea?
Carol (grins at him):
Well, she did suggest I take the bull by the horns if I was tired of waiting!
Doug (chuckles):
Ummm, I don't think it was the horns exactly that you took the bull by, but I'll
accept that! (Carol laughs) I guess it was just a bad day... (she senses he wants
to talk and let him ramble) And now I've got Mark on my back to top it all off...
Carol (snaps at him):
Hey, be fair! Mark is not on your back! He called attention to your mistake in a
more professional manner than he would have anybody else! Mark is giving you
a lot of rope in this...
Doug (sighs):
I know you're right. I just don't like the fact that you are. (he stretches his arms
and snuggles closer to her) You know, you must really love me to go through all
this for me. I hope you're not disappointed. (settles down closer to get some
sleep)
Carol (lost in thought, but touching his chest with her fingernails):
I won't be...
Doug (chuckles):
So, now that I am officially banished from the ER for the next two days, where
would you like to go?
Carol (snuggles her head close on his chest and smiles):
We don't have to go anywhere. We can just spend some time together...take
some walks and just talk. I think I'd like that more than anything else we could
do right now.
Doug (snuggles his head down on his pillow):
You sure?
Carol (nods):
Yeah. (looks up at him and smiles) That OK with you?
Doug (chuckles):
Lady, anything you say is all right with me!
Doug closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep...Carol stares off into space out the window, lost in the
thought of their situation...
Fade Act Two to Black.