STAFF TEA ROOM, HOSPITAL - NIGHT
There is a table with cups, an urn or jug for making tea and coffee and the usual tea bags, staff biscuits etc. There's a staff couch against one wall, with a blanket slung over the back of the couch. There's also a whiteboard on which is written "St Mark's Staff Roster" and the date, and several names of doctors and their shifts for the day. One says Dr Bridget Summers: 8am - 5pm
Another says Dr Ellie West : 12noon - 8pm The door opens and BRIDGET SUMMERS walks in, dressed in her doctor's coat and doctor's cap, with her stethoscope still around her neck. She is obviously exhausted and suppressing her emotions. She sits at the table, takes off her doctor's cap and runs her hands through her scalp to try to massage some circulation into her head. She stands up, goes to the whiteboard to sign off, and as she holds up the pen she shakes uncontrollably. She gives in to her emotions and slumps to the floor sobbing. Her heart seems to be breaking and she seems lost and alone. BRIDGET: (crying desperately) God, why? ... WHY !? She sits on the floor in despair. She hears someone coming and quickly wipes away her tears and stands up. The door opens and ELLIE WEST comes in, also in her doctor's garb. She seems tired, but otherwise ok. As the door opens, BRIDGET reaches the whiteboard, and faces it so ELLIE doesn't see her face. ELLIE glances to see BRIDGET's back as BRIDGET signs off on the board. She signs 2am. ELLIE: Can I make you a coffee, Bridge? BRIDGET tries to mumble "no thanks", but she can't speak. She collapses to the floor again. ELLIE: Bridget? She races over to BRIDGET who is now sobbing, and kneels down with her. ELLIE: Oh, Bridge. C'mon, honey. You can't do this to yourself. BRIDGET tries to speak, but a lot of her words are muffled by her sobbing. BRIDGET: She .... died ... ELLIE: Sshh. ELLIE cradles BRIDGET. ELLIE: I know. BRIDGET: I let her die. ELLIE: No you didn't. BRIDGET: I should've saved her. ELLIE: There was nothing you could have done. END OF FIRST PAGE |