ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. HOSPITAL COFFEE SHOP (BILL IS DRAWING COFFEE, TURNS TO TABLE AS LAURA ENTERS. SEEING HIM, SHE INVOLUNTARILY STOPS) BILL: Hi, there. LAURA: Hello, Bill. BILL: Join me for a cup of coffee? LAURA: I really shouldn't take the time. BILL: We both know you psychiatrists only work a fifty minute hour per consultation. That gives you at least one extra hour every day and two coffee breaks. (HE'S TEASING HER A LITTLE BECAUSE HE SENSES HER TENSION AND WANTS TO HELP SOMEWAY) LAURA: Well, just two minutes then. BILL: Sit down, I'll bring it to you. (LAURA CROSSES TO TABLE AND BILL BRINGS OVER TWO CUPS OF COFFEE AND SITS DOWN BESIDE HER) BILL: You haven't been around too much lately. LAURA: Oh, I've been around...it's just that I've been seeing so many patients as possible. Work is the only safety valve I have right now. BILL: You can only carry so much of a case load and do justice to them individually, Laura...Don't push yourself too far. LAURA: I won't fail my patients, Bill, even if I... BILL: I'm probably just being the sensitive type but the way you hesitated at the door, I could have sworn you were avoiding me. LAURA (looks at him and finally says): Yes, Bill, I was avoiding you. BILL: I see...No, I don't...Why? LAURA: It sounds a little paranoid but I've become obsessed with guilt that if anyone sees me with you they'll think the wrong thing. BILL (gently, knowing she needs understanding): Who's "they", Laura? LAURA: Everyone who knows us...Would you believe I just snapped at Tom because he asked me how you looked? BILL: He must have been surprised at that. (BILL'S TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE IDEA) LAURA: We'd been discussing Alice's attitude and how I lashed out at her the other night. BILL: Mom made a bad mistake and she knows it...Mickey's disappearance, right on the heels of his coronary, well, Mom's not thinking straight. LAURA: Who is, Bill? BILL: She wants to apologize and put things right. Give her credit for that. LAURA: I do...in fact, I promised Tom I'd call her just as soon as I get back to the office...and if I'm going to talk to her before my next appointment, I'd better run. BILL: Take it easy...and cut down on that patient load. LAURA: I will. Thank you for understanding. BILL: I do understand...whatever happens, remember I'll always understand. LAURA: I just wish I could have said something to Mickey that last time...something he could have understood. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. FARMHOUSE PORCH (MICKEY AS HE APPROACHES...SCREEN DOOR SHUT BUT DOOR OPEN. FEELING OF OPPRESIVE LATE AFTERNOON HEAT. MICKEY IS SWEATING AND FEELING OF FATIGUE. HE CALLS OUT). MICKEY: Hello, anyone home? MAGGIE (voice within): Yes...what is it? MICKEY: Could I trouble you for a drink of water, please? MAGGIE: Certainly...be there in a moment. (MICKEY SITS DOWN, LOOKS AROUND, AND LIKES WHAT HE SEES. MAGGIE APPEARS AT SCREEN DOOR) MAGGIE: Here you are...would you get the screen...it has a loose hinge. (MICKEY RISES, OPENS SCREEN. MAGGIE SMILES AND HANDS GLADD TO HIM. WE SEE SHE IS USING CRUTCHES) MICKEY: That you, thank you very much. (HE DRINKS THIRSTILY AND SHE WATCHES HIM AS WE...) FADE TO BLACK FOR COMMERICAL POSITION # 3 FILM: HOUR GLASS (10 seconds) COMMERCIAL POSITION # 4 ACT THREE FADE IN: EXT. FARMHOUSE PORCH (PICK UP IMMEDIATELY. MICKEY HAS FINISHED WATER AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND HANDS MAGGIE BACK THE GLASS) MICKEY: Thank you. That really tasted good. MAGGIE: It's been a hot day. (MICKEY WIPES PERSPIRATION FROM HIS BROW) MICKEY: Kinda got to me, I guess. MAGGIE: You live around here? MICKEY: No, just passing through. MAGGIE: Oh, I see. MICKEY (turning to glance offstage): Pretty country, peaceful. MAGGIE: Yes. MICKEY: I got a little tired of following the road, so I cut through the woods. And then I saw your farmhouse. MAGGIE: I'm glad you did. Would you like more water? MICKEY: No, that was fine. MAGGIE: Born and raised in the city, I'll bet. MICKEY: What makes you say that? MAGGIE: Walking in this heat without a hat. MICKEY: Not very bright of me. MAGGIE: Not very. (SOUND EFFECT: A TIMER BUZZES) MAGGIE: Would you excuse me a moment. I've got some jelly on the stove. MICKEY: Of course. Let me get the screen. (HE DOES SO, NOTICES THE BROKEN HINGE) MICKEY: This hinge needs fixing. MAGGIE: I've been meaning to get one of the farmhand's to repair it. MICKEY: Well, I may be a city feller but I know how to use a few simple tools. Got a screwdriver? MAGGIE: You don't have to bother. MICKEY: It won't take a minute. It's the least I can do when you just saved me from dying of thirst. MAGGIE (she likes his attention, laughs): Well, I'll get the tool box. (MAGGIE REENTERS HOUSE AND THROUGH THE DOOR MICKEY KEEPS TALKING TO HER AS SHE LOOKS AROUND THE PLACE) MICKEY: Do you keep a lot of stock? MAGGIE: Not much. Some sheep and pigs for butchering, and chickens of course. Used to have cows but they weren't paying for themselves so I sold them off, all but one. MICKEY: What about horses? MAGGIE: Didn't need work horses and I don't ride anymore so I sold them too. (SHE REAPPEARS WITH SCREWS AND SCREWDRIVER) MAGGIE: Here you are. (MICKEY TAKES THEM, LINES UP DOOR, TIGHTENS SCREWS AND PUTS IN NEW ONES WHERE NEEDED ON LOWER HINGE. HE HAS TROUBLE WITH LEFT HAND, WHICH BOTHERS HIM, BUT HE DOESN'T LET HER SEE) MICKEY: I don't like things that don't work the way they should. MAGGIE: I'm afraid it's been that way for weeks. MICKEY: This house is really well built. MAGGIE: Yes, my father spent a lot of time fixing up the place. But nowadays... (SHE HESITATES) MAGGIE: It seems there's always something that needs doing...fences...gate...the barn. MICKEY: You've got a nice view...all that rolling green country. MAGGIE: Yes, and we get the afternoon breezes, if there are any. The place is a lot of work but it's comfortable. MICKEY: There, that should do it. (HE SITS DOWN RATHER ABRUPTLY, HAVING GONE WHITE AND FAINT) MAGGIE: Are you feeling all right? MICKEY: Oh, fine. (HE RUBS HIS CHEST) MICKEY: Just give me a minute and I'll be on my way. MAGGIE: Don't rush. (SHE STARTS IN, STOPS AND TURNS, THINKING HE MAY BE HUNGRY) MAGGIE: Listen, I've got a pot of stew on the stove. Would you like a plate of it before you go? MICKEY: That's a lot of bother for you. MAGGIE: No bother at all. I've got plenty just waiting for somebody to eat it. MICKEY: Maybe I could do some chores. (FROM THE WAY HE LOOKS, MAGGIE CAN SEE HE'S NOT FIT FOR MUCH WORK OF ANY KIND) MAGGIE: Let's get some food in you first, all right? MICKEY: Home-made soup sounds delicious. MAGGIE: Stay right there. I'll bring it out and some iced tea to wash it down. (SHE EXITS. HOLD ON MICKEY FEELING A LITTLE FAINT AS HE RUBS HIS CHEST LIGHTLY...) FADE TO BLACK FOR COMMERCIAL POSITION # 5 Click here for the final act of the episode

 

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