the appointment.SCW

The Appointment

Written

Danno Nell

FADE IN:

INT. PROFESSIONAL OFFICE -- AFTERNOON

- Montage -

Of dolly shots revealing AWARDS, DIPLOMA's, SPECIAL PICTURES,
etc. intermixed with:

EXT. CITY STREET/BUSINESS DISTRICT -- AFTERNOON

- Montage - (cont.)

Shots of life outside this office, such as, three "suspects"
sitting on the curb with hands handcuffed behind their backs,
a man and woman in a heated argument, two gang members in
the midst of a fight, etc.

EXT. FRONT OF SMALL DOWNTOWN OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

A Modest section of retail/office space on a downtown street
where a TRANSIENT stands quietly holding a SIGN "stranded,
need $25 GOD BLESS".

ANGLE ON

YELLOW CAB which swiftly pulls to the curb. Without
hesitation, the rear door opens and out steps NICOLE, a well
dressed business women (turtleneck & Long pants) who has a
cell phone surgically attached to her ear..

NICOLE
No I'm here now
(beat)
But this is not going to take more
than a few minutes.

From her satchel, Nicole pulls a $20 and hands it to the
cabby and moves on; The cabby seems pleases with the
renumeration, he smiles and drives off.

Heading towards the entrance to the office, Nicole's eyes
lock on the SIGN loosely grasped by the transient, who stands
between her and her destination.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
Yes, I know it's an hour appointment,
but I can accomplish in 15 minutes
what it takes most people an hour to
do.

Stopping directly in front of the man, Nicole doesn't hesitate
to snatch the sign from the man and take a closer look.
Speechless the Transient's jaw drops.

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 2.
Copyright © 2002

NICOLE (CONT'D)
Besides, I've got the Henderson
appointment in
(looking at watch)
56 minutes and I'm not going to be
late.

Diving back into her bag, Nicole stuffs the sign inside and
pulls out 2 bills,

ANGLE ON

a $20 & $5 that Nicole pulls from her satchel and places in
the Transients hand.

With that Nicole moves on.

ANGLE ON

the Transient who seems confused, although a smile quickly
comes to his face as he looks back at Nicole.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
No, don't push anything off until
tomorrow,
(beat)
Now I'm going inside, I'll call when
I get out.

Nicole hangs up the phone and enters the office

INT. PROFESSIONAL OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

A modest professional office, complete with couch, coffee
table, magazines and JANICE, a retirement age woman, who's
warm smile invites even the coldest person to feel welcome.

Janice, the office secretary, pears at a computer screen
through fragile glasses, which sit atop the end of her nose,
as she types on the keyboard.

JANICE
(not looking up)
Can I help you?

Nicole sizes up the place.

NICOLE
I have a noon appointment with Dr.
Bradshaw,
(pause, no response)
I'm kinda short on time, so if you
could just let him know I am here.

Janice stops typing and gazes over her glasses at Nicole.

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 3.
Copyright © 2002

JANICE
(hesitation)
Dr. Bradshaw always begins on time,
(focus returns to the
computer)
Your group is through the door.

Nicole takes a few steps towards the door, then

NICOLE
Did you say group?

JANICE
Yes dear, they're through the door,
you can go on in.

NICOLE
(with attitude)
Wait a minute, I'm suppose to be
meeting with Dr. Bradshaw, not with
a group of people.

Not even looking at Nicole, Janice finishes typing, takes
off her glasses and goes to the door. Quietly she opens the
door and slips inside, closing the door behind.

Nicole patiently fidgets, periodically looking at her watch,
a long moment passes before....

Janice reappears from the office and sits back down, returning
to work.

A moment passes....

NICOLE (CONT'D)
(angrily)
What is going on here, where is
Doctor....

ANGLE ON

the door to the Doctors office opens and a middle aged
professionally dressed woman appears.

DR. BRADSHAW
Mrs. Warner?

Nicole is a little taken back and unsure what is going on.

DR. BRADSHAW (CONT'D)
(extending hand)
Hi, I'm Dr. Bradshaw.

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 4.
Copyright © 2002

NICOLE
(looking at Janice)
There must be some mistake,
(beat)
I had a 12 o'clock appointment with
a Dr. Ray Bradshaw,
(to Dr. Bradshaw)
And it is not for a group wine
session.

Dr. Bradshaw takes it in stride...

DR. BRADSHAW
(smiling)
I know the name sometimes confuses
people, but I assure you I am that
person and you are scheduled for our
12 o'clock group session.

NICOLE
Look, I don't need therapy, and I'm
certainly not going to pay to listen
to others problems,
(beat, gathers her
thought)
Okay, I just need a letter stating
that I'm okay to go back to work,
(beat)
So just write me out a little letter
saying that you saw me and I am not
going to go kill anybody and I pay
you for the whole hour.

Nicole laid her cards on the table and waits for a response

DR. BRADSHAW
(smiling, extending
her hand)
I apologize for wasting your time
Mrs. Warner,
(beat)
I took you on as a favor to an old
friend and can see that that was a
mistake, now I have to get back to
the group, please see yourself out.

Dr. Bradshaw turns and retreats back to her patients, leaving
Nicole to hang out and dry...

NICOLE
Did what I think just happen, happen?

Janice looks up at Nicole with a look of "What are you still
doing here".

Nicole looks at her watch

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 5.
Copyright © 2002

NICOLE (CONT'D)
I do not believe this.

Nicole storms out of the Office

EXT. PROFESSIONAL OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

The street is much as it was before except the Transient is
now gone.

Nicole comes flying out of the office, takes a few steps and
stops, gives it a second thought, then turns around walk to
the door, grabs the door handle, gives it a third thought,
stomps her foot, turns and walks away, again she stops, this
time throws a little tantrum

INT. PROFESSIONAL OFFICE -- MOMENTS LATER

The office is as it was only moments ago, Janice still types
away.

A moment passes...

Nicole enters from outside, walks across the office and
through the door in which Dr. Bradshaw disappeared only
moments before, slamming it behind her.

ANGLE ON

Janice who continues to go about her business, as a smile
slowly appears

INT. DR.'S OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

A standard shrink's office, with 5 chairs in an arch replacing
any comfortable chair or couch. At the head of the arch
sits our good Dr. Bradshaw.

The office is decorated with all of the pictures and plaques
that were in the opening montage.

In front of the door stands Nicole, who is now on center
stage. Every eye in the room is trained on her.

A moment of silence passes before....

DR. BRADSHAW
Mark? Please continue

The groups focus returns to MARK, while Dr. Bradshaw glances
back at Nicole.

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 6.
Copyright © 2002

ANGLE ON

MARK is 45 year old teddy bear, large in stature, a little
gruffy looking, but sweet as can be. Mark looks emotionally
drained, like he hasn't slept in 2 weeks.

MARK
(shyly)
Okay, well again my name is Mark
Hess, I'm a Battalion Chief with the
13th fire house.
(beat)
I've been a fireman for 26,
(beat)

ANGLE ON

Nicole, who finds an empty chair along the wall where she
sits down.

MARK (CONT'D)
My dad was a fireman for 31 years,
me and my brother are both fire
fighters.
(beat)
I even married the chiefs daughter,
and my only son just became a fireman
at the 12th fire house.

Dr. Bradshaw again looks at Nicole who body language tells
the whole story, legs crossed and arms folded, she is very
closed and distant from the rest of the group.

MARK (CONT'D)
(beat)
I don't really know much else.

DR. BRADSHAW
Thank you Mark,
(beat)
Jenny? Would like to go next.

JENNY is a soft looking 20 year old, petite and almost
fragile, she bears the marks of a battered spouse, both
physically and emotionally.

JENNY
(nodding)
I'm Jenny Presc
(catching herself)
Miller, I'll be 20 tomorrow

DEVIN (O.S.)
(smoothly)
Happy Birthday

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 7.
Copyright © 2002

ANGLE ON

DEVIN, an 18 year old, who's attire properly reflects that
he is a High School Varsity Football Player; Who's as
attractive as he is built, and he is used to getting the
girls. Devin has a line of stitches above his right eye,
about 2 inches long

This dialog is meant to show Devin's immaturity, and to build
up his "Macho manliness"

JENNY
(smiling, to Devin)
I'm a single mom,
(proudly)
I have a two year old boy,
(beat)
And we are staying over at the women's
shelter.

Devin quickly looks away and slides back into his seat,
realizing the blunder he has made.

JENNY (CONT'D)
(back at group)
I am working on getting into the
community college this spring, I
want to become a social worker and
help people.

Jenny sits back and folds her arms.

DR. BRADSHAW
Thank you Jenny,
(Beat)
Devin now would you like to share?

Devin's entire body language changes, sitting forward, he
becomes very animated and "In control".

DEVIN
Well what can I say? I'm the star
quarterback at South High, we're
number one in our division,
(cheering)
Go Cougars!

NICOLE
(laughing)

Dr. Bradshaw looks at Nicole with a look of disapproval

NICOLE (CONT'D)
(quietly)
Sorry.

DR. BRADSHAW
(to Devin)
What about your family?

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 8.
Copyright © 2002

DEVIN
Well, I'm the middle of 7 children,
I've got three older brothers and
three younger sisters, that's about
it
(beat)
Oh yeah, I've also got a dog
(pointing both fingers)
Butch!

Devin again slides back into his seat.

DR. BRADSHAW
Thank you Devin
(beat, to everyone)
Now that everyone has had the chance
to get to know a little about everyone
else, is there anyone who would like
to share why they are here today?

Silence fills the room as each person waits for another to
volunteer

JENNY
I'll start

DR. BRADSHAW
Thank you Jenny.

Courageously Jenny continues

JENNY
Well it's probably no secret why I'm
here,
(beat)
It's kind of hard to hide the fact
that I've been used as a punching
bag.

Jenny begins to hide her face with her hand, but musters up
the courage to face what has happened to her and pulls her
hands down.

JENNY (CONT'D)
Me and Johnny met the first day of
High school, everyone knew we would
get married someday.
(beat)
We were always really careful, but
after two years together, I became
pregnant
(beat)
We knew things would be tough, being
as young as we were, but we loved
(MORE)

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 9.
Copyright © 2002

JENNY (CONT'D)
each other so much. Gradually things
became worse
(beat)
He hit me the first time when I was
two months pregnant, but he was really
sorry, I mean, he begged for me to
forgive him,
(beat)
I had never seen him like that before,
so I didn't think it would happen
again; and he was really good to me
for six or seven months.
(beat)
Then he went out and got drunk with
his friends, he said he was going to
celebrate his little boy
(beat)
I was nine months along, my due date
was two weeks away, but I went into
labor that night
(beat, self control)
After he kicked me in the stomach
for ruining his life.
(beat)
After the baby arrived he was really
good to me. It didn't start again
until about a year later when I caught
him with my best friend.
(beat)

Jenny begins to break.

JENNY (CONT'D)
I left him two weeks ago after he
hit our little boy, I had never hit
him back until that night.
(beat)
All I remember was grabbing him by
the collar and screaming at him
(beat)
I got out of the hospital 2 days
ago.
(half smiling)
Me and my son we celebrated, because
we started our new life.

Dr. Bradshaw hands Jenny a kleenex and Jenny wipes away her
tears.

DR. BRADSHAW
(solemnly)
Thank you Jenny, I appreciate the
courage it takes to share.
(beat)
Who would like to share next?

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 10.
Copyright © 2002

DEVIN
I will.

Devin is now very humble, his voice resinates in a very low
tone.

DR. BRADSHAW
Okay.

DEVIN
First I'd just like to say
(to Jenny)
I'll be more than happy to beat the
crap out of him if you'd like.

Jenny smiles

JENNY
(shaking her head)
That's okay

DEVIN
You just let me know,
(beat, as if avoiding
the subject)
I'm here, I guess, because my parents
though it would be a good idea for
me to talk to someone

Devin looses it immediately, crying profusely. However, he
gains his composure rather quickly.

DEVIN (CONT'D)
I was involved in a car accident
(fighting away the
tears)
I wasn't driving, Marty was, he's my
best friend
(beat)
Paul and Mark were in the back seat,
we had all been drinking
(laughing)
We were all pretty slammed
(serious)
I don't even know where we were going,
but Marty reached back to smack Mark,
(beat, silence)
We ran a red light
(beat)
I don't think the old couple even
knew what hit them
(beat, through tears)
No one told me until the next day
that Marty didn't make it.
(MORE)

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 11.
Copyright © 2002

DEVIN (CONT'D)
(beat)
It should have been me not him, I
was suppose to be the designated
driver that night,
(angrily)
But I got wasted anyway, I drank
twice as much as Marty,
(beat)
He wouldn't let me drive, and now
he's dead, and I get to live with
that the rest of my life.

Silence fills the room.

DR. BRADSHAW
I had the chance to talk with Devin
in our one-on-one session yesterday,
and he has found a wonderful way to
begin dealing with the loss of his
friend,
(to devin)
Would you mind sharing what you told
me?

Devin begins to gain his composure.

DEVIN
Paul and Mark and myself got
permission to take the two cars and
build a memorial on one corner of
the intersection where the accident
happened,
(beat)
We got someone to donate a crane
which we used to place one car on
top of the other, then we welded
them together and had a stone memorial
put right in front of the vehicles
that told about the accident and the
people who lost their lives.

Nicole still sits there closed to the emotions that the rest
of the group is sharing. Looking at her watch, she shakes
her head in frustration.

Mark notices Nicole's disrespect and glares at her for a
moment.

DR. BRADSHAW
Thank you very much for sharing that
Devin,
(upbeat)
Well were about half way through our
first session as a group, I think
(MORE)

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 12.
Copyright © 2002

DR. BRADSHAW (CONT'D)
here would be a good place to take a
breather. There are some refreshments
on the table in the back, we'll get
started again in a few minutes, so
go help yourselves.

Everyone somberly gets up and makes there way to the back
table, while Dr. Bradshaw steps out of the office.

Nicole watches everyone for a moment then pulls out her cell
phone and makes a call.

NICOLE
(quietly)
Hi, it's me
(beat)

Mark hears the call and again glares at Nicole, who sees
Mark and just turns around.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
Call Henderson, tell him I will be
there at quarter after, I got stuck
here longer than anticipated.
(beat)
No, it's a group thing and the Doctor
won't write the letter unless I sit
thru everyone wine.

Nicole has just noticed Dr. Bradshaw, who stands at the door

Nicole turns back away.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
Just make the call

Quickly she hangs up the phone. Making her way over to the
table, Nicole finds a couple of broken chocolate chip cookies
left and no cups.

Openly frustrated, Nicole grabs a napkin and gathers up what's
left of the cookies and heads back to her chair, except that
her chair now sits with the rest of the chairs in the group.

Nicole's body language tells the who story, her shoulders
drop and she looks at the ground, she takes a deep breath
and then submits to the inevitable, taking her seat with the
rest of the group.

DR. BRADSHAW
Okay, were going to pick up where we
left off
(MORE)

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 13.
Copyright © 2002

DR. BRADSHAW (CONT'D)
(beat)
Who would like to begin the second
half of our session by sharing why
they are here?

An awkward silence hangs, until

MARK
(raising hand)
I guess I will

DR. BRADSHAW
Go ahead Mark.

Mark Gathers his thoughts

Marks dialog here is very important, His emotions are strong,
but he also must keep his composure at all times. Never go
overboard here.

MARK
My wife has been nagging me for months
to come and talk with Dr. Bradshaw,
she thinks it will help me sleep
better, I know it sure couldn't hurt
(beat)
I don't know how many of your remember
the old warehouse down on 2nd and
Jefferson
(beat)
It went up on August 11?

Most everyone acknowledges Mark with a nod in the affirmative,
while Nicole, looking around, seems to be a little confused
as to what he is referring to.

MARK (CONT'D)
Well it was a three alarm fire, and
normally 13 wouldn't have gone that
far north, but 9 & 11 were already
battling a blaze on Monroe
(beat)
Anyway, my battalion was the first
on scene,

Mark can't even talk about the accident without become overly
emotional, he fights the tears back.

MARK (CONT'D)
Upon arrival we were informed that
there were upwards of 20 people still
inside

Nicole begins to get drawn into the account

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 14.
Copyright © 2002

MARK (CONT'D)
(angrily)
There wasn't even suppose to be anyone
in the building,
(beat)
It had been condemned for over a
year. But a lot of homeless people
had been living inside.
(beat)
I sent 7 men in, while the rest pulled
hoses, we hadn't even turned the
first hose on when the entire building
gave way.
(beat, fighting back
tears)
I lost six of my best friends and my
brother.
(beat)
We worked in 24 hour shifts, it took
us three days to recover all seven.
(beat)
Now I don't sleep much, and when I
do, I have nightmares about my son
being in that building,
(beat)
And I am the one who sends him in.

Mark wipes the tears from his eyes and hides his face in his
hand

MARK (CONT'D)
I'm sorry, I'm done

Dr. Bradshaw looks at her watch and contemplates for a moment.

DR. BRADSHAW
(to Nicole)
We haven't heard from Nicole yet

Nicole shakes her head, it is obvious she is not interested
in participating

DR. BRADSHAW (CONT'D)
Nicole would you tell the rest of us
a little about yourself and why you
are here today?

NICOLE
(unpleasantly)
I didn't really come here to share
my problems with a group of people,
I just came to get a letter from the
Doctor.

Everyone looks at her with some hostility. While Dr. Bradshaw
thinks.

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Written By: J. Daniel Nell 15.
Copyright © 2002

DR. BRADSHAW
Mrs. Warner, if you participate here
today, you'll get your letter.

Nicole roles her eyes.

NICOLE
(Under her breath)
Fine!
(beat, stands up)
My name is Nicole Warner, I am an
only child, both of my parents died
when I was very young
(beat, searching for
facts)
Um, I was raised by my grandmother,
she was allergic to pets, So I never
had any pets,
(beat)
Um, I am the top executive at a
fortune 500 advertising agency, I
don't have any hobbies, or play any
sports, that's about it.

Nicole sits back down and folds her arms

Everyone stares at her until

DR. BRADSHAW
(nurturing)
Why are you here Nicole?

NICOLE
(angry pause, cold)
Well let's see, my boss gave me the
ultimatum, either come here or take
a month off of work,
(beat)
I don't have time to take a vacation,
so here I am.

MARK
So your a workaholic?

NICOLE
(offended)
I'm not a workaholic, I enjoy my
work, like most people enjoy there
vacations
(beat)
It's not a bad thing

DR. BRADSHAW
(to everyone)
That's a common misconception most
of us have, to much of anything can
be a bad thing, we all need balance.
(beat)
Virtually every vitamin and mineral
our body needs to stay healthy, will
also poison us, if in too large of
quantity over a prolonged period of
time.
(beat, to Nicole)
When's the last time you took a
vacation?

NICOLE
I go to New York once a year for a
week.

DR. BRADSHAW
Oh, do you have family there?

NICOLE
No I don't.

DR. BRADSHAW
Friends?

NICOLE
Yeah,

DR. BRADSHAW
Anyone not at the World Advertising
Convention?

Nicole glares at Dr. Bradshaw

NICOLE
Look what does it matter if I submerge
myself into my work, or I choose not
to take vacations,
(beat)
Maybe it's just what works for me!

DR. BRADSHAW
Fare enough,
(beat)
But would you also be open to the
possibility that your way isn't the
best way?

Dr. Bradshaw just stares at Nicole, waiting for a response.

NICOLE
Only if you would be open to the
possibility that your way isn't the
best way.

With that Nicole gives Dr. Bradshaw a smirk.

DR. BRADSHAW
It's not about doing things my way,
It's about trying something new and
looking at the results, then maybe,
just maybe you will find something
that makes you a little happier, a
little more satisfied at the end of
the day.
(beat)
Then maybe you'll have the desire to
try something else, and then something
else, until before you know it, you
look back and wonder why you didn't
see it before.
(beat)
Or possibly you look back and say
"What was I thinking, what a waste
of time that was"
(beat)
But you'll never know until you try,
nothing will every change, unless
you change it.
(beat)
Are you open to that possibility
Nicole?

Nicole has heard it all before, she doesn't need a
cheerleader.

NICOLE
(belittling laugh)
I didn't make it to where I am in my
life because my daddy owned the
corporation, or paid my way through
an Ivy League School.
(beat)
I've busted my butt every single day
of my entire life to get where I am,
how dare you talk to me like I'm
some

Nicole's anger is steadily building

NICOLE (CONT'D)
(towards Devin)
Fuzzy faced little boy who spends
all weekend plastered or

Devin is clearly unsure of the direction of Nicole's remark,
as the puzzled look plainly shows.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
(towards Jenny)
Some pig-tailed little girl who
decided to start my life out under
oppression.

Jenny is shocked by the remark, so much so that she is
speechless.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
I've made my own destiny and no one,
not you or some slime ball on the
street is going to take that away
from me.

MARK
(raising his voice)
Now wait a minute! What has anyone
of us here done to you? Especially
these two kids,
(beat, disbelief)
Why are you even here? What is it
that your boss thinks so important
to give you an ultimatum?

Dr. Bradshaw quickly jumps in

DR. BRADSHAW
Okay, that's enough, no one should
feel like they have to talk,
(beat)
This is a place where each of you
can come and feel safe. Not a place
to
(to Nicole)
Make judgments about what others
have said or
(to Mark and the others)
Pry when someone doesn't feel like
sharing. This is an active
participation session, you'll only
get out of it what you put into it.
(to Nicole)
It's your choice
(looking at her watch)
Now we have a few minutes left, would
anyone else like to share why they
are here?

Dr. Bradshaw focuses on the only other two people who we
have yet to hear from.

GEORGE, a middle aged, balding, nerdy looking fellow and
MARTHA, an overweight frumpy looking 30 something. However,
both don't look they are going to share anything soon.

NICOLE
It's really not a big deal

Everyone looks a little surprised.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
It's nothing like the things you
guys have been talking about.
(beat)
I work on the 47 floor of the Tri
Towers, and most nights I am the
last one to leave.
(beat)
But it's never been a problem, our
building is completely secure, you
can't even get in, in the middle of
the day without a pass, let alone at
night.
(beat, deep breath)
I didn't know it, but a janitor from
the cleaning crew had been watching
me for a while.
(beat)
That night he waited for me inside
the parking garage,
(beat)
I didn't realize what was happening
at first,
(beat, no emotion,
just tears)
He laid me face down on the hood of
my car.
(places hand on throat)
All I could think about was the knife,
it hurt so bad.
(beat)
Then he was just gone.

Nicole wipes the tears from here eyes and looks at the Doctor.

NICOLE (CONT'D)
(coldly)
That's why I'm here.

DR. BRADSHAW
Is this the first time you have talked
about it?

Nicole is obviously not interested in dragging this out

NICOLE
Look, it's not that big of a deal.
I'm not the first person this has
happened to, this is just one of
those things that happens in life,
(beat)
You forget about, and move on.

With a crash, Marks chair slams against the wall behind him.

ANGLE ON

Mark who stood up with such force that his chair lays limply
against the wall.

MARK
How dare you,
(Tear to Anger & Anger
to Tears)
This isn't something that you can
just forget about, it doesn't just
go away
(beat)
No matter how deep into your work
you get, it will always be there, it
will undermine every relationship
you ever have, it will steal the
intimacy away like a thief
(beat)

Mark had began to calm down, everyone is dumbfounded by the
revelation.

ANGLE ON

Nicole who begins to break emotionally, tears well up, and
her posture becomes very open.

MARK (CONT'D)
You can't just push it away, because
it will wait until your guard is
down and like a wrecking ball it
will blind side you without notice.

Mark looks at everyone, and realizes the scene he has just
made. He grabs his chair and sits back down

MARK (CONT'D)
(sincerely to Nicole)
I have never talked about this to
anyone before
(beat)
I've never even told my wife.

Mark explodes with deep remorse and sorrow.

MARK (CONT'D)
(wallowing)

Dr. Bradshaw moves over to comfort him

ANGLE ON

Nicole who's face shows the shift, then the release of
emotion.

ANGLE ON

Mark who is being consoled by Dr. Bradshaw

ANGLE ON

Jenny & Devin who now console Nicole

SOUND FADES as Camera pulls back into the darkness

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. FRONT OF SMALL DOWNTOWN OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

The street is as it much was only an hour before. Our
Transient is back, with new sign in hand "Stranded need $30
GOD BLESS".

Nicole walks out of the office and sees the Transient back
at it. As their eyes meet, the Transient looks a little
embarrassed, but Nicole just smiles. (For the first time)

Turning away, Nicole begins to walk down the street and
towards the park. Picking up her cell phone, Nicole dials:

NICOLE
Hi it's me
(beat)
Clear my schedule for the rest of
the day, push everything to tomorrow,
(beat, hesitation)
And clear the Noon hour for Monday,
Wednesday, and Fridays for the next
month.
(beat, smile)
I've got an appointment.

Hanging up the phone, Nicole rounds the corner and enters
the park.

MUSIC QUE

CREDITS ROLL

As Nicole walks through the park.