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DISCLAIMER!!!!!!!!!!

All characters, names, and settings are property of Warner Bros. They are used here for fun and were not used in anyway to receive profit.


ER
"Storm Front"
Opening Act

Scene opens at the hospital in the staff locker area. Focus on Doug Ross standing in front of his open locker, holding a small box in his hands and staring down at it, toying lightly with it's contents.

Cut to staff room door and show it banging open quickly. Pan to show Carol Hathaway and Mark Greene coming into the room quickly. Cut back quickly to show Doug shoving the small box onto the shelf of his locker and slamming the door shut quickly. He turns around to face Mark and Carol with a wry smile on his face.

Carol (laughs):
What are you up to?

Doug (nonchalantly):
Nothing.

Carol (motions to his locker):
You hiding something in there?

Doug (shakes his head):
Nope! Not a thing.
(Carol eyes him suspiciously...not sure she believes him)
So, are we still on for tonight?

Carol (nods):
Yeah, but, I'm gonna have to meet you there, OK? I'll be tied up here a little longer than I thought.

Doug:
I can wait here until you're ready to leave...

Carol (shakes her head):
No, that's OK. You go on out there and order for me. I'll just meet you there. No problem!

Doug (nods):
Sure! Whatever you want!

Carol (gives him another suspicious look):
See you later, Doug.
(exits)

Cut over to show Mark sitting on the bench in front of his locker. He has been taking in this conversation casually and is not really sure of what to make of it.

Mark (motions to his locker):
So, ARE you hiding something in there?

Doug (opens locker door and retrieves box from shelf):
Yeah, wanna see?

Focus on contents as Doug opens the box to show Mark a diamond engagement ring resting on black velvet inside the box. Mark is taken aback by both the ring and the meaning behind it. He looks at the ring closely and then looks back at Doug with a dumbfounded expression.

Doug (rambling manner):
We're going to dinner at Carlucci's...

Mark (surprised):
Carlucci's? Out by the airport? When did that become one of your haunts?

Doug (shakes his head):
It's not...I just had dinner there one night coming back from a convention. It's really nice out there. And I want to take Carol someplace really nice when I give her this.

Mark:
I trust there's a question that goes along with it?

Doug (nods):
Yeah. And I'm scared to death. I hope I get the right answer.

Mark:
You and Carol have been close lately. (smiles) I'm pretty sure you'll get the answer that goes with that.

Doug (snaps box shut):
Well, it's not like the one John Taglieri gave her, but, I'll be paying for it for a while!

Mark (softly):
You real sure about this?

Doug (confidently):
I've never been more sure about anything in my life.

Mark (reaches his hand to shake):
Then, let me be the first to offer you my congratulations!
(Doug chuckles and shakes hands with Mark)
And I hope I get an invitation to the wedding!

Doug (truthfully):
Invitation? I was countin' on you to be the Best Man!
(focus on a look of surprise on Mark's face)
Well, who else would I ask? You're my best friend, Mark. I thought you knew that.

Mark (smiles slightly):
Even if I did already know it, and I did, sometimes it's nice to hear it anyway. Thanks. And, I'd be honored to be your Best Man.

Doug (looks at his watch):
I better get moving! Don't tie Carol up too long, OK? Let her get out of here within in the next hour, OK?

Mark (nods):
No problem. I'll get her out there.

Doug (holds the ring out one last time):
This is gonna be the best night of my life!

Doug pockets the box with the ring into his jacket pocket and gives Mark a quick wave as he goes out the door. Pan back to focus on Mark. He chuckles and shakes his head.

Mark (aloud to no one):
Go get 'em, Dr. Ross!

Cut to show time lapse. Interior setting of Carlucci's restaurant. Pick up
Carol as she comes in the door and strolls up to the hostess.

Hostess:
Good Evening, Ma'am! Table for one?

Carol:
No, I'm with a reservation...Doug Ross?

Hostess (checks her reservation list):
Oh, yes! (looks inside)
Dr. Ross hasn't arrived yet. Would you care to wait at his table?

Carol (puzzled...looks at her watch):
Yes, please.

Carol is escorted to the table and seated. Focus on her and her confusion as she looks at her watch again and looks around the room blankly. Cut scene.

Pan slowly down a dark alley way somewhere across town from Carlucci's. In the distance there is a barking dog. There are sounds of the Chicago night going on all around...horns...the L train...people we cannot see walking and talking. Keep panning slowly into the dark.

Focus on someone lying in the alley under a dim street lamp as they struggle to get to their feet.

Focus on the hands pressing firmly against the wall and reaching out to cling to the corner of a nearby dumpster for support to stand up. Once standing, he turns around into the line of the camera and we see that it is Doug. Focus tight on his face. His bottom lip is bleeding profusely and he has the start of a bad black eye. He looks down at himself carefully. We do not see what he sees, but his eyes register fear. His fingers tremble as he takes his hand to his lip to try and stop the blood flow. He closes his eyes for an instant and leans his head back against the brick wall behind him. Then, he opens his eyes and stares blankly into the street lamp.

Fade Opening Act into the Opening Credits of the show...

Act One

1