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PROLOGUE

SET: Ext. Farmhouse Back Door

(With snow falling hard. As Laura sits, huddled on the step, Bill bangs on the door, his face frantic. There is no sign of life from within. Desperate, Bill tries to force the door open but cannot. After a last futile attempt, he turns, bends to Laura)

Bill tells Laura he’s going to look for something to get into the house, since it's locked. She tells him she’s so cold. Bill tells her to hang on. She sits on the front step as snow keeps falling.

Later in the act...
SET: Ext. Farmhouse Window

(Close shot of a frantic Bill at window, struggling to get it open. He finally succeeds. He hoists himself up and scrambles through, into the house)

ACT ONE

SET: Ext. Farmhouse Back Door

(As Bill flings it open. Then he bends to the huddled Laura on the step, tries to lift her up, but can’t with his bad arm)

Laura is moaning as Bill is pleading with her to help him get her inside the farmhouse.

(She opens her eyes, looks up at him. Then as he helps her with his left hand, she manages to get to her feet, stagger into the farmhouse kitchen, leaning against him. Helps her sit down on a plain wooden chair next to a square, old-fashioned rimmed table. Then he turns back, picks up his black bag from the step, goes inside, fights to close the door against the howling wind. As the blizzard continues to whirl outside, we fade to black...)

ACT TWO

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(With Laura alone in the primitive room. She’s still huddled in the chair, her head leaning against the table. Bill enters from another room, carrying a pile of quilts and pillows)

Bill is trying to make Laura as comfortable as possible by using the pillows and quilts inside the farmhouse. Laura wonders what people will think of them since they broke into someone’s house. Bill thinks when they see why they did it, they’ll understand and thinks there’s someone more pressing.

Bill asks Laura about her contractions. She says they’re irregular and not as painful. She think it's because she’s so cold. Bill wonders if it's something medically wrong with her but keeps his concerns to himself.

Bill asks her to help him get her coat off and onto the table. He has put quilts on top of it. She gets on the table and Bill starts getting a fire started. He notices the wood burning stove and logs and tells Laura that they’ll be warm in no time.

(As he gets the fire going, we cut to Laura. She has a contraction and her face twists with pain but she doesn’t cry out. As she breathes in deeply, her face breaks out with perspiration. Then the pain passes and she relaxes with a sigh. Widen angle to include Bill. He takes a pail from the stove, goes to the primitive sink, pumps water into it. He puts the pail of water on the stove, then comes to her.)

Bill jokes about having twins. Laura says one’s enough. Bill feels like he’s an old west pioneer in this farmhouse. Laura think it could be worse, like delivering this baby in a snowbank. Bill tells her that he’s going to wash up and check the progress of the baby.

(As he turns away we hold on her face. Now that he isn’t watching her, her concern shows through her confident façade)

Later in the act... 

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

Bill has finished up examining Laura and pulls the quilt down over her again. He tells her to try and rest. Laura notices that the contractions have slowed down as Laura asks Bill if there’s something wrong with the baby.

ACT THREE

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(Up close on Laura as she lies on the table, huddled in her quilts. Angle widens to include Bill, leaning over her. He’s disturbed at what he found in his examination but is making an effort to conceal it from her.)

Bill asks how she feels and Laura tells him that she’s finally warm. Bill asks about the contractions and she says they have slowed down. Laura searches his face and asks if he’s keeping something from her.  He tries to avoid the question. She figures that the cold and the walk through the snow wouldn’t slow down the contractions this much. Bill thinks it's possible. Laura reminds him that she’s a doctor too. Laura tells him she knows something’s wrong. Bill finally confesses that he thinks the baby may be a breech.

Laura worries that the delivery will be difficult for Bill now that the baby is breech, especially with his bad arm. Bill says that he’ll be able to do it. He says if they were at a hospital, she’d be having a c-section. Laura reminds him of their isolation and the blizzard outside. Bill tells her that is why he’s not taking chances and waiting for natural birth. He says with his shoulder, performing a c-section would be risky. She asks Bill if he’ll be able to bring their baby through. Bill says he’ll do his best and kisses Laura.

ACT FOUR

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(Up close on Laura, lying on the farmhouse kitchen table, her face bathed in perspiration as another contraction hits her. Establish, then pull back to show an anxious Bill beside her, holding tightly to her hands)

Bill tells her to go with the pain as he wipes her face with a towel. Laura says that she has to get the baby born. She says she has to be in Salem tomorrow for Mickey’s hearing. Bill tells her she can’t think about that right now. Laura tells him that Mickey’s counting on her testimony in order for his release from Bayview. Bill thinks Mickey might not remember her. Laura thinks Mickey can recover with outpatient counseling but if he’s confined at Bayview she thinks it's poor for his state of mind. Bill tries to get her back to concentrating on their baby first.

ACT FIVE

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(Up close on Laura, as another pain hits her. Pull back to show Bill watching her anxiously. This time the pain is not so strong or long lasting. When it's over, she looks up at him)

Laura tells Bill that the contractions are getting weaker. Bill tells her not to worry. She tells him that he’s probably right about the breech. Laura asks him what he is going to do. Bill tells her that he’s going to try and turn the baby.

ACT SIX

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(Laura’s deeply concerned face as Bill, the examination finished, covers her with the quilts. He moves up to stand beside her)

After his examination, Bill concludes that the baby is indeed breech. The baby’s rear is coming out first. Laura says it’s the worse possible position. Bill says he’s going to try and move the baby so it’ll come out feet first. Laura asks if he can do that with his bad arm. Bill says there’s nothing wrong with his left arm. Bill tries to mask his concern and Laura tells him to not try to hide his concern because she can see it. She asks that she’s in for a “bad time,” and Bill tells her that it won’t be easy. Laura tells him that having a c-section before with Michael makes natural birth much more dangerous. Bill agrees. Laura tells him that the pressure could rip open the original incision. Bill says that’s a possibility but hopeful that won’t happen because the baby is small.

Laura is thinking maybe they’ll be better off if Bill tries to do a c-section. Laura tells him not to spare her of any news. Bill says they can’t do a c-section because of his arm. Laura thinks it's something else and correctly guesses that it’s too late to do a c-section. Bill tells her that she’s right- the baby has entered the birth canal. Laura tries to comfort Bill by telling him that even if they were at a hospital it wouldn’t help them now.

Bill is really worried. Laura tries to tell him that the baby will be fine. Bill says he worried about her. She tells him that his first concern must be the baby, nothing must happen to it. Laura tells him that there’s something else she’s not telling him. That the baby could die from lack of oxygen if he doesn’t get it out in time. Bill asks her if she can face those facts and put her trust in him. She says of course she trusts him. Then Bill tells her she has to relax so she can help him with the birth. Laura says she won’t tighten up and will help all she can. Bill says that they have to get the baby out as soon as possible. She agrees.

Bill tells her he’s going to move her and get to sit so that gravity will help her deliver the baby. Laura understands. Now Bill gets ready to tell her all the facts because Laura wants to know everything. Laura beats him to the grim news- if the baby dies inside her, she can die too. Bill says all they can do is hope and pray.

PROLOGUE

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(Open on tight shot of Laura’s face reflecting the difficulty of the labor, the worry. Establish, then pull back to include Bill at her side. He is also showing the strain, but does his best to keep her relaxed, at base)

Laura is concerned about the baby. Bill says the baby will be all right. Laura thanks him for being so gentle and understanding. He says their baby will be born perfect. A contraction hits and Laura screams out Bill’s name. Bill tells her to breath through the contraction. Laura reminds him she knows what to do- she’s a doctor. Bill tells her she’s a mother and to try and relax but it's obvious in her face that she can’t. She complains about her back and Bill tries to alleviate the pain by putting his fist onto her spine. She feels a bit of calm.

Laura tries to lighten the mood by saying people say that she has a flair for the dramatic. Bill tells her who else would have a baby in a blizzard, only his wife.

Another contraction and Laura screams out Bill’s name again. He tells her that they’re less then two minutes apart. He tells her to try and stay loose. She says she’s trying but from her face we can see she’s having trouble. Laura tells Bill she can’t do it. Bill tells her she can and to remember Michael and their family. She wants him to make her a promise if she doesn’t make it. Bill makes her stop before she finishes her thought. He tells her that he turned the baby. Laura asks him if he turned the baby enough. Bill tells her that the baby is coming out kicking.  Another contraction. Laura goes back to asking about the promise. If she doesn’t make it, she wants him to go back to Salem and help Mickey, make sure they don’t commit him to Bayview. He promises. She also wants him to tell Michael that she loves him, then she tells him that she loves him. Bill jokes that she better and that rumor is that he’s the baby’s father. He tells her that they’ll get through his. Laura apologizes. Bill tells her to stop apologizing and to concentrate on what their son or daughter will look like.

(She smiles weakly at him, her eyes widen and she gasps as another pain hits her)

ACT ONE

SET: Int. Farmhouse Kitchen

(Shot of Laura as one of the pains hits her)

Laura screams out Bill’s name. She notices that the contractions are getting closer. Laura tells him that he’s so beautiful. Bill tells her that she isn’t bad looking herself. Laura tells him that she keeps seeing Mickey’s face. Bill tells her to go with the contractions.

ACT TWO

SET: Int. Carlson Farmhouse Kitchen

Laura is in full labor with contractions coming closer and closer. The lights of the farmhouse are flickering off and on. Bill notices this and can’t believe it. He tells her that he’s sorry.

The door bursts open. We see a shocked Rosie Carlson, the owner of the farmhouse.

(And at this point, the door bursts open. It is Rosie Carlson, a good-natured farm woman, the epitome of earthiness, warmth, strength, a female Hank. She is obviously shocked at the unexpected sight)

ACT THREE

SET: Int. Carlson Farmhouse Kitchen

Rosie looks at the situation and can’t believe it. Bill quickly explains the situation to Rosie as another contraction hits Laura. Rosie asks how far apart the contractions are. He says three minutes. Rosie asks if he’s ever delivered a baby before. Bill tells her that he’s a doctor. Rosie clarifies if he’s delivered in this situation before. Bill tells her no. Rosie tells Laura that she’ll take care of things and removes her coat. She thought that someone broke into her house. Bill says that they did break in. Rosie warmly tells Laura that she has to take her time.

Rosie then says that she didn’t see their car. Bill tells her it's down the road. Rosie says she almost got stuck in town, but she has a truck. She asks how long they’ve been here. Bill tells her that it's been several hours. Rosie tells Bill that it's up to them to help Laura out since all the lines are down, but not to worry.

ACT FOUR

SET: Int. Carlson Farmhouse Kitchen

(Shot of Rosie as she dampens Laura’s mouth with a wet cloth)

Rosie tells Laura that it’s almost over and it’ll be easy. Bill is scrubbing at the sink and Rosie joins him. Bill tells her that it’s not going to be easy. Rosie says she noticed the breech.

ACT FIVE

SET: Int. Carlson Farmhouse Kitchen

(Take it up on Rosie, Bill and Laura. The tension is thick, although Rosie tries to keep it on an even keel)

Rosie asks for Bill’s name because she’s been calling him “doc.” Laura screams. Rosie tells her not to worry. Bill tells her that she’s been through this before. Rosie says she’s been through it before as well- from calves to kids. She’s even delivered one of her own.

Laura tells Bill that she’s close to giving birth. Bill tell Rosie that he needs all her strength now. She says that she’s good at following orders. Rosie tells them they’ll birth a beautiful healthy baby. Bill tells Laura to hang on. Rosie tries to distract Laura by saying that her baby will be gutsy.

Bill is giving Rosie instructions on helping him bring the baby out. Rosie tells him not to worry. Laura’s contraction hits and Bill tells her to push. Rosie massages her legs and tells her to stick out her neck like a chicken and push.

(A short time later)

SET: Int. Carlson Farmhouse Kitchen

(To Laura’s face in close, as she gasps. And pull back to show Bill and Rosie, preparing for the delivery. The tension in the room thick.)

LAURA: (gasping) Bill! The baby’s coming! (As Rosie looks at Bill)

ACT SIX

SET: Int. Carlson Farmhouse Kitchen

(To tight shot of Rosie, in on her face as she assists with the birth)

ROSIE: (excited) Push a little more now!

BILL: (Low, tense) The cord—make sure the cord—

ROSIE: That’s it!

(And we hear a near shriek from Laura as the baby is thrust into this world)

ROSIE: I got it—it’s all right! Look at that!

(And tight on Bill’s expression as a smile breaks across his face, as the baby...SOUND: CRIES)

BILL: It’s all right, Laura.

LAURA:  Oh, Bill—

ROSIE: (stay with Bill and Laura’s faces as they smile at one another) Lookie there! All ten fingers and toes! (beat) She’s a beauty!

BILL: (looking from the baby to Laura) Just like her mother.

(Take it up in tight on Laura’s and Bill’s faces as Rosie places the baby in Laura’s arms)

LAURA:  Oh, Bill!

BILL: A daughter—almost as pretty as you.