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TIGHT SHOT ON ANDREW, FACE TWISTED IN PAIN (INT./DAY) ...
Andrew rests his head against the wall, sweat covering his face.
A storm of fire has passed through him, and he's hoping it's over
for now.
ANDREW
I think I need to go to the hospital.
CUT TO:
MIGUEL ALVAREZ RUNS URGENTLY DOWN SPRUCE STREET, DODGING traffic
as he crosses Eleventh Street, toward Jefferson Hospital (EXT./DAY).
He hustles up the ramp toward the Emergency Entrance...
CUT TO:
MIGUEL SHOVES THROUGH GLASS DOORS, INTO THE BUSTLING
Emergency Room (INT./DAY), FINDING
ANDREW sitting on a gurney, holding a cotton ball against his arm,
where blood has been drawn, wearing a blanket over his shoulders,
fighting chills.
Chandra and Bruno are waiting with Andrew. They exchange quick
hugs with Miguel and Andrew, ad libbing greetings and goodbyes.
ANDREW
Thanks, you guys.
MIGUEL
Yeah. Thanks, guys.
Miguel puts his arms around Andrew.
ANDREW
Gillman's out of her office today. I told her to take a day off,
and she did, can you believe it? Did
you get someone to cover your class?
Miguel touches Andrew's face, checking for fever.
MIGUEL
Don't worry about it. They took blood? A specimen?
Andrew holds an empty specimen cup.
ANDREW
Aren't you giving an exam?
MIGUEL
I said, don't worry about it.
Miguel places a gentle kiss on Andrew's sweaty forehead.
MIGUEL (CONT.)
You got a fever, baby.
Suddenly, the facade cracks and TEARS STING Andrew's eyes.
ANDREW
I almost didn't make it to the bathroom, Miguel. I almost lost control
right in front of everybody.
MIGUEL
(holding him)
So what? It's nothing to be ashamed of. You have nothing to be ashamed
of, okay?
Andrew pulls himself together, brushing aside tears, in control
of his emotions once more.
ANDREW
Wait, here's my guy... Hey!
Andrew catches the attention of a harried INTERN, whose surgeon's
greens are covered with blood.
INTERN
Mr. Beckett, I'm sorry...
ANDREW
About my blood work?
INTERN
We're waiting...
Miguel opens a small notebook, making notes.
INTERN
... meanwhile, I'd like to prepare you for a colonoscopy, so we
can take a look inside.
ANDREW
Sounds delightful.
MIGUEL
Why do you need to do this?
INTERN
Who are you?
MIGUEL
Who are you? Doctor... ?
ANDREW
This is my partner. We keep
records of hospital visits.
Nothing personal.
INTERN
Dr. Klenstein.
(to Andrew)
It's not a pleasant procedure, but if the KS is causing the diarrhea,
we ought to know right away.
MIGUEL
It could be parasites, an infection...
ANDREW
A reaction to AZT...
KLENSTEIN
That's possible, but.
MIGUEL
He's not going through some painful procedure until we've cancelled
out everything else.
INTERN
I'm trying to help your "partner." You're not a member
of his immediate family, I could have you removed from the ER.
ANDREW
(to the Intern)
He's upset, he's sorry.
MIGUEL
Don't apologize for me.
ANDREW
He's not sorry, okay, fine.
(the diplomat)
Why don't we see what we find out from the blood work? I'll work
on getting a specimen, I'm
sure hospital food could help in that direction. Maybe, by then,
we'll hear from my doctor, and
we'll go from there. Okay? Everybody happy?
INTERN
Allright. I'll get on the lab about the blood work.
MIGUEL
(to the Intern)
I'm sorry.
The INTERN walks away. Andrew's BEEPER BEEPS.
ANDREW
That's the third time. I better call the office.
(smiling at Niguel)
Would you relax, please?
MIGUEL
I am relaxed.
Andrew HOBBLES toward a pay phone, outside a VISITOR LOUNGE, where
weary relatives are watching TV.
Andrew drops a quarter into the phone.
JOE MILLER'S VOICE
"If you or someone you know..."
ANDREW'S POV ON TELEVISION: Joe Miller on the screen, with the
words "Negligence... Malpractice... Auto accidents"...
and in the background, PHOTOS of MAIMED, BURNED, INJURED CLIENTS.
JOE (CONT.)
"... has been injured through the fault of others, you may
be entitled to legal remedy...
Andrew LAUGHS. Then, his call is answered:
ANDREW
Shelby? It's me. Jamey's been beeping me, I... Okay, okay, calm
down. Put Jamey on.
INTERCUT WITH:
FIRST YEAR ASSOCIATE JAMEY COLLINS, SITTING AT ANDREW'S DESK (INT/DAY),
GRABS THE PHONE when Andrew's intercom BUZZES...
JAMEY
(frantic)
Andy?! This is a disaster! We can't find your revisions on the Kronos
complaint!
ANDREW
Slow down, Jamey, for Christ's sake!
JAMEY
I went down to Word Processing to pick up the corrected copy, but
they said you haven't
delivered the corrections. I told them you've been working on it
at home, and...
Andrew forgets his physical pain, this is more important.
ANDREW
I brought it in last night, around midnight. It's in my computer.
JAMEY
What did you file it under?
Jamey puts his hands on Andrew's computer keyboard.
ANDREW
K-R-O-one.
Jamey types the file name.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Jamey, I don't have to mention, do I, that we're up against a statute
of limitations on this
complaint which runs out in...
(checks his watch)
Seventy-five minutes.
Jamey stares dumbfounded at the computer monitor.
JAMEY
It's not here, Andy.
Andrew closes his eyes. He can't believe this.
ANDREW
You go down to Word Processing and tell those motherfuckers they
better come up with that
complaint, now! Or they are fucking dead! You tell them that comes
from me!
Andrew SLAMS the phone into its cradle.
He pauses, takes a deep breath, and says to himself:
ANDREW (CONT.)
Every problem has a solution. Every problem... has... a... solution.
Calmer, Andrew returns to the gurney, putting on his shirt.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Every problem has a solution...
Miguel approaches with tea purchased at the canteen.
MIGUEL
Why are you getting dressed?
ANDREW
You're not going to like this. Please try to smile...
Andrew puts his arms around Miguel.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Thanks for leaving school, and coming here, and...
(pulling back, putting on his jacket)
I will be back. An hour, tops.
MIGUEL
You're going to the office?!
ANDREW
You're not smiling.
Andrew rushes toward the exit doors.
MIGUEL
You're leaving the hospital? You're going into the office looking
like that? Are you insane?
ANDREW
One hour!
MIGUEL
Drew!
ANDREW
I promise!
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
ANDREW RUSHES TO THE STREET, HAILING A CAB (EXT./DAY) ...
CUT TO:
ANDREW STEPS OUT OF THE TAXI IN FRONT OF THE WHEELER
Building, heading for the entrance (EXT./DAY) ...
But he changes his mind, darting to the corner of the block.
Andrew stops to buy a baseball cap from a VENDOR.
He trots down an alley, past bags of garbage, entering the building
through a garage door.
CUT TO:
FROM A HIGH FLOOR, ANDREW CAN BE SEEN CLIMBING THE STEPS OF
an emergency stairwell (INT./DAY) ...
Andrew passes CAMERA, out of breath. He's wearing the ball cap
PULLED TO HIS EYEBROWS to hide blotches on his forehead.
CUT TO:
ANDREW OPENS THE FIRE DOOR ON HIS FLOOR AT WYANT WHEELER, removing
the ball cap, baring the purple blotches. (INT./DAY)
He walks quickly down the hall. Passing a COLLEAGUE, Andrew pretends
to scratch his face, attempting to hide the blotches as nonchalantly
as possible.
He dashes past an office, ignoring Anthea.
ANTHEA
Didn't expect to see you... ?
He ducks into his office.
CONTINUOUS CUT TO:
SECRETARY SHELBY AT ANDREW'S DESK, FRANTICALLY SEARCHING through
papers (INT./DAY) ...
Startled when he sees Shelby, Andrew spins toward the wall.
SHELBY
I'm looking through the files but...
ANDREW
Call the messenger service, have someone standing by...
(she reaches for the phone)
Your phone.
SHELBY
Sure.
Andrew keeps his face averted, until she's out of the room. He
goes to his computer, the monitor already glowing.
ANDREW
Think. You brought the discs in, you transferred...
Rachel comes into his office.
RACHEL
I thought I was supposed to be covering for you.
(blurts out)
God, Andy, you look awful.
ANDREW
Fucking Word Processing lost my Kronos complaint. Which must be
filed by fucking five o'clock!
If it's late, there's no case...
(the mantra)
Every problem has a solution.
RACHEL
What can I do?
ANDREW
Get down to Word Processing. Help Jamey look.
She rushes out.
Andrew begins shoving floppy discs into the slots on his computer,
bringing up each disc's directory.
ANDREW (CONT.)
No.
He throws the disc to the floor. Shoves in another.
Shoves in another, bending it in half.
ANDREW (CONT.)
No, goddammit!
He pulls open a file drawer, dumping legal briefs onto the floor,
frantically spreading them around with his foot.
Andrew THROWS a document across the room, takes a breath.
He picks up the telephone.
ANDREW (CONT.)
Bob? Something's come up. With Kronos. I don't want to upset Charles,
but...
(letting down his guard)
Oh, shit, Bob, the complaint's due in forty minutes and I can't
find it.
(suddenly)
No, you don't have to come...
(hanging up the phone)
Great. Fucking great.
Andrew rubs his eyes, this is a nightmare.
He switches off the overhead light. He slants the window blinds,
filling the room with shadow
Bob Seidman comes into the office, typically cheerful.
SEIDMAN
C'mon, Andy, you didn't lose anything...
Seidman is struck by the mess in the office, and Andrew's disheveled
appearance.
SEIDMAN (CONT.)
Jesus.
ANDREW
I don't know what to do, Bob.
SEIDMAN
You'll never find it in the dark.
Seidman FLIPS ON the overhead light. Andrew flinches.
Seidman approaches. Andrew gives up trying to hide the purple blotches,
facing his mentor straight on.
SEIDMAN (CONT.)
What in God's name... ?
ANDREW
Bob...
SEIDMAN
What's wrong with your face?
ANDREW
What's wrong with my face? You want to know what's wrong with my
face? I've got a skin condition. Next question, Bob? No more questions?
Fine. Now
can you help me find the complaint?
SEIDMAN
Allright. Calm down.
ANDREW
Sorry...
Seidman sits in front of Andy's computer.
SEIDMAN
What was the file name?
ANDREW
K-R-O-one.
SEIDMAN
Maybe you mistyped the name when you were saving it. We'll try combinations
of those letters...
Seidman goes to work. Andrew leans over his shoulder.
ANDREW
You're right, I probably just misfiled...
KENTON (O.S.)
Andy?
Walter Kenton is standing at Andrew's door. His demeanor is casual.
So casual it seems a little forced.
KENTON (CONT.)
Some sort of problem?
Andrew has kept his face averted. But now he TURNS DIRECTLY TOWARD
CAMERA, showing his face to Kenton.
ANDREW
Yeah, Walter. Yeah. Some sort of major problem.
HOLD ON THIS CLOSE UP OF ANDREW...
SOUND OF A BABY CRYING CROSSES THE CUT TO:
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