Calling Nurse Jen
Episode 212
Fade In: Interior. Maple Falls General. Nurses station. Jen is standing there working as the phone rings. She picks up the receiver.
Jen: Fourth floor nurses station, Jennifer Crane speaking. Oh, hi, Dot. No I guess I missed your calls. No I turn my phone off when I’m at work. What is it? Today? No it’s really too busy–well, yes I get a lunch hour but–all right. I’ll come over to St. Mark’s as soon as I can. Okay. (Max enters off the elevator and walks in front of the nurses station.) I gotta go, Dot. I’ll see you later. (She hangs up) Max!
Max: Yes?
Jen: Can I talk to you?
Max: I’m really in a hurry. I want to check on Andrew–
Jen: Please.
Max: (Gently): Sure.
Jen: (Indicating the nurses lounge): Let’s go in here?
CUT-TO: Interior. Nurses lounge. Jen and Max enter.
Jen: Do you want a cup of coffee.
Max: No. Jen, what is this about?
Jen: Yesterday you asked me if I was drinking–
Max: And you told me no.
Jen: And then you wouldn’t let me assist in Andrew’s operation. Why?
Max: I think you know why.
Jen: I’m not drinking, Max.
Max: Okay, fine. You’re not drinking.
Jen: Did Arthur ask why I didn’t assist when he was expecting me too?
Max: No. I assume he’ll take it up with you if he wants too.
Jen: So you didn’t say anything to him?
Max: No, Jen, I kept your little secret.
Jen: Max, I–
Max: Jennifer, who do you think you’re kidding? I know you and you know me. There’s nothing we don’t know about each. I love you, Jen.
Jen: Don’t say that.
Max: I’m no longer in love with you but I was for a very long time well before our affair began during the affair of course and even after. But now I’m marrying Brooke and I think we will be very happy together. David and Judy love her and she’ll be a wonderful wife and mother.
Jen: Is that why you’re marrying her?
Max: Partly yes. Sylvia is not a good mother. She also wasn’t a good wife but then I wasn’t a good husband so we’re even on that. But Judy and David deserve a good mother and I want to make a home for them and for me, too. I am in love with Brooke. Not the way I was with you but I think we will be very happy together. I hope you can be happy with Richard. Does he know you’re drinking again?
Jen: I’m not drinking. I took some medication and had a bad reaction, that’s all. I only wanted to talk to you to find out if you said anything to Arthur.
Max: No. I didn’t and I don’t intend too. You’re on your own with this one. (He starts to exit.)
Jen: Max–
Max: I have to go. (He exits.)
Close up of Jen
CUT-TO: Interior. Father McShane’s office. Dot and Kathy are standing looking at black dresses and shoes.
Kathy: Don’t you think this one is too big for her?
Dot: Not at all. Have you seen her lately? Besides, she has nothing. She can’t afford to be picky.
(Father McShane enters)
Father: Kathy! I heard you were back! I’m so glad.
Kathy: Hello, Father McShane.
(They embrace and Dot smiles. They break apart.)
Father: We were worried about you. Your mother especially. Everything is good now? How’s Declan? Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to get you upset.
Kathy: No, it’s not your fault, Father. It’s just–
Dot: Declan’s a sensitive subject right now, Donald. (He clears his throat.) I mean, Father.
Father: (Handing Kathy his handkerchief): Yes, well, if you’d like to talk or pray about it, Kathy. I’m always here for you.
Kathy: Thank you, Father.
Dot: Were you able to wake up Grace so we can see her and gives her these things?
Father: Yes, she said she’d be here in a minute. Kathy, I can see you are still upset. Come with me and we’ll talk and pray.
Kathy: Yes, Father, I’d like that.
(Grace enters as Father and Kathy exit.)
Grace: Are you going somewhere?
Kathy: I’m sorry for you loss, Grace.
Father: We’ll be back in a little bit. Excuse us. (They exit)
Grace: They seem very close.
Dot: Donald has always had a special place in his heart for Kathy but I’m not here to discuss that. I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about Ralph. It must be a terrible shock.
Grace: Yes and no. (Dot looks confused.) I told Ralph yesterday morning that he shouldn’t smoke in the house. That one day it would catch on fire and it did.
Dot: Oh. Well it’s still a terrible loss for you.
Grace: Yes it is. (Looking at the dresses) What are these?
Dot: Well Kathy and I knew you had nothing else to wear–
Grace: So you thought I would wear these? (Holding one black dress) This dress is huge. I’m not that big. Where did you get it from?
Dot: If you must know. My closet.
Grace: You were once that fat?
Dot: There was a time that I was larger than I am now, yes, and I thought this would be appropriate and fit you perfectly.
Grace: Thank you but no and all these dresses are black.
Dot: Of course. I’d assume you want to wear black since you are mourning the loss of your husband.
Grace: Is that what you’d assume?
(There is a knock on the door. Jen enters.)
Dot: Oh, Jen. Just in time.
Jen: Hi, Dot. Grace, I wanted to say how sorry I am about Ralph.
Grace: (She embraces Jen): Thank you so much, Jennifer. You’re coming here means a lot to me.
Jen: Has Olive been by?
Grace: Oh, yes, she came by earlier.
Dot: Did Charlie Syms come to see you?
Grace: Charlie Syms? Yes he did. Why?
Dot: I didn’t know you knew Charlie.
Grace: I don’t. Olive does and he heard about Ralph and came to see me.
Dot: I find that odd. He told me he knew both you and Ralph very well.
Jen: Where did you get the dresses from?
Grace: Dot’s closet.
Jen: Well that was nice of you, Dot.
Dot: I thought so.
Grace: It was nice of her but they really aren’t my taste.
Dot: Oh, really. Some of them are Kathy’s too, you know.
Jen: Oh is Kathy here?
Dot: Yes, she’s in talking to Father McShane. Did you want to see her?
Jen: I can’t. I have to get back to the hospital.
Grace: Jen, thanks so much for coming. But could I ask a favor? I hate to be a bother.
Jen: What is it, Grace?
Grace: You have such style and taste I was wondering if maybe we could go shopping later today for some clothes for me.
Dot: You’re going shopping today? I hardly think that’s appropriate considering–
Grace: Well I do need new clothes.
Dot: I suppose you will need something for the funeral.
Grace: There’s not going to be a funeral.
Dot: What?
Grace: Just a quiet family service. Ralph didn’t know many people. He was a private person and I thought that maybe just I, Olive, and maybe you, Jen, could come.
Jen: Me? Well yes of course I’ll come. Why don’t I pick you up after work and we’ll go shopping? (Dot looks aghast. Jen shrugs.)
Grace: Thank you, Jennifer. You are a true friend.
Dot: Well! (Exiting) I wonder where Kathy could be!
Close up of Grace who’s smiling.
CUT-TO: Interior. Crest Haven Nursing Home. Olive is at her nurses station as David enters.
Olive: Yes?
David: Is Mrs. Donahue in?
Olive: No. What do you want to see her for?
David: Well I applied for a job online about a week ago and I hadn’t heard back. She’s the boss here?
Olive: Yes.
David: Well can I leave her a message or anything?
Olive: You’re the Goldman kid, right?
David: Yes.
Olive: I’ve seen you.
David: Okay.
Olive: So why does a rich kid like you want to work in a dump like this?
David: I’m not rich and I need the money.
Olive: Not rich? Your mother sure is. She has that fancy house up on the hill. Why don’t you live with her?
David: Look, can you just tell Mrs. Donahue I stopped by and asked about the job.
Olive: Sure. It isn’t like I’m busy enough running this joint. I can leave a message from the rich boy.
Close up of David
CUT-TO: Interior. Ginny’s office. She is seated at her desk looking at a photograph of she and Ralph when they were boys. There’s a knock on the door. She puts the photograph away and dries her eyes.
Ginny: Come in. (Martin enters holding a small brown paper lunch bag) Oh, Martin.
Martin: I wanted to stop by and see if you were okay. You looked shook up when you were at the store earlier today.
Ginny: Well I just have a lot of my mind.
Martin: I’m not faulting you or anything. I can understand considering the fire and all.
Ginny: Yes it’s always upsetting.
Martin: Course you must see this stuff all the time in your line of work.
Ginny: Yes but I never quite get used to it.
Martin: No I can’t imagine you do. (Places the bag on the table) I brought you a tuna salad sandwich and a coke and a bag of chips.
Ginny: Oh, you didn’t have to do that. How much do I owe you?
Martin: No, it’s on the house. I mean w’re friend, aren’t we?
Ginny: Yes. We are friends. I’m sorry about tonight I’m just not–well I have so much work.
Martin: Don’t worry about it. We’ll do it another time. (Ginny impulsively grabs and hugs Martin and kisses him on the cheek surprising him.) Well! (Separating himself from her.) You got a strong grip for a woman. I’ll see you later. (He exits)
Ginny: See you.
CUT-TO: Interior. Kathy’s kitchen. Kathy and Dot enter carrying in some of Kathy’s dresses.
Dot: She is so rude. Can you believe her? Insulting me after all I did for her? How can she not have a proper funeral for her husband and she made me feel like my dress came from Tent and Awning.
Kathy: We meant well. We can’t do anymore than that. I better get dinner started. I’d ask you to stay but Jim wants it to be just the four of us tonight. I hope you don’t mind.
Dot: No, dear. Not at all. Jim is right. You four should be together. I’m rather tired. I think I’ll go home and put my feet up for a while. I meant to tell you that Elsie is rather odd.
Kathy: What do you mean?
Dot: I don’t know quite how to say it but she’s strange. It’s like she’s in her own little world.
Kathy: Well she lived alone for a very long time maybe that’s it.
Dot: Are you sure you can count on her to help you with your plan?
Kathy: Yes, I’m sure.
Dot: You didn’t mention to Father McShane, did you?
Kathy: No only to you. Not even Jim and the kids know about it.
Dot: Not even Jen?
Kathy: No. The fewer people who know about it the better.
Dot: That’s probably just as well. I saw Jen today.
Kathy: Yes, you told me already.
Dot: I was concerned about her. She seemed a little off.
Kathy: What do you mean?
Dot: I don’t know what I mean. I’m tired that’s all. Call me later, dear, if you have the chance. (Kisses Kathy on the cheek.) Bye. (She exits)
Close up of Kathy
CUT-TO: Interior. Jen’s car. She is seated at the wheel. She fusses with her hair, takes a mirror out of her bag and fixes it. She sees a nip in her bag.
Max’s voice: I am in love with Brooke. Judy and David deserve a good mother.
(His voice repeats as we…)
CUT-TO: Interior. Max’s car. Rain pouring down. Jen and Max making love during the flood in the backseat of his car.
CUT-TO: Interior. Jen’s car. She takes the nip out of her bag, opens it, and swallows it. Then she looks into her mirror with tears in her eyes.
Jen: Oh, Max, I love you too. Oh, what have I done? Oh, Max.
Fade to Black
Everlasting Love 