"What's Past is Prologue" - Part 1
JULY, 1997 INT. QUINTON AND NOLA'S TENT -- 7:30 P.M.(QUINTON WORKS INTENTLY AT A COMPUTER WHILE NOLA SITS ON THE BED,FLIPPING THROUGH A PAPER AND LOOKING VERY BORED. SHE FINALLY THROWS THEPAPER ASIDE IN FRUSTRATION, BUT QUINTON DOESNŐT EVEN NOTICE HERRESTLESSNESS.)
NOLA: I wish you paid as much attention to your wife as you do to mapping out that tomb.
(QUINTON TURNS TO LOOK AT HER.)
QUINTON: Are you feeling neglected, dear?
NOLA: Very.
QUINTON: Let me fix that.(HE HOLDS OUT HIS ARMS TO HER, AND SHE HAPPILY CLIMBS INTO HIS LAP.)I'm sorry I haven't had much time for you lately.
NOLA: It's okay, I know how important this project is.
QUINTON: Not more important than you.
(HE KISSES HER.)
NOLA: How about if we make a rule -- no computer after eight o'clock?
QUINTON: Sounds fair.(HE LOOKS AT HIS WATCH AND SMILES SLYLY.)But it's only 7:30.
NOLA: Well, if you'd rather go back to work.
(SHE GETS UP.)
QUINTON: Get back here.
(HEPULLS HER BACK ONTO HIS LAP AND BEGINS TO KISS HER. AS HIS HANDS SLIDEUP THE BACK OF HER T-SHIRT, SOMEONE KNOCKS AT THE TENT.)
STACY: Mom, Dad?
(NOLA SIGHS.)
NOLA: Remind me again why we had children.
QUINTON: Because they bring such joy to our lives.
NOLA: I knew there had to be a good reason. Come on in, honey.
(STACYENTERS LOOKING MUCH DIFFERENT THAN SHE DID MONTHS AGO IN OXFORD. SHE'SLOST WEIGHT AND LOOKS WORN OUT, BUT SHE MANAGES A SMILE FOR QUINTON ANDNOLA, WHO REMAINS ON QUINTON'S LAP.)
STACY: Sorry, am I interrupting?
QUINTON: Of course not, princess. What can we do for you?
STACY: Do you have anything I can put on my arms? I'm out of the stuff I was using, and they're still itching like crazy.
NOLA: Did you go see the doctor about that?
STACY: Yes, Mother. He says it's an allergic reaction and gave me some medicine, but it hasn't worked.
NOLA: Let me see your arm.(STACY ROLLS UP HER SLEEVE AND LETS NOLA LOOK.)It hasn't changed at all.
STACY: I know, Mom.
NOLA: I don't know if the stuff I have will help, either.
STACY: At this point I'll try anything.
NOLA: Maybe you should go see the doctor again.
STACY: He doesn't know anything.
NOLA: Maybe it's not only a rash. Did you tell him about the weight you've lost? And how you keep getting sick?
STACY:I've had a few colds because of the change in weather going fromEngland to here, Mom. And I've lost weight because I'm getting moreexercise here than in Oxford.
NOLA: I'm taking you to see the doctor again.
STACY: I'm not a child, Mother. If I think I need to see the doctor again I'll go see him.
NOLA: You're so stubborn.
STACY: I am your daughter.
NOLA: But Stacy, we need to find out what's wrong with you so you can get it taken care of.
STACY:The doctor thinks crawling around in the dirt all day is what's makingme sick. He thinks I'm allergic to it. I told him I've been doing thisall my life, so it had to be something else, but he didn't want to hearthat.
NOLA: Then I'll take you to a different doctor.
QUINTON: It wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion, Anastasia.
STACY: Okay, okay, I'll go.
NOLA: Tomorrow.
STACY: Not tomorrow. I'll go Saturday if things aren't too busy here.
QUINTON: I'm sure Kent would understand if you took a few hours off.
STACY:I can't, Daddy. Everyone already thinks I'm getting special treatmentbecause I'm your daughter. I'm not going to give credence to that.
QUINTON: You are as qualified as any of the other assistants here.
STACY: All of whom have been waiting years to work at KV5. All I had to do was graduate.
QUINTON:That wasn't my doing. Kent knew you were finishing school and asked ifyou would be interested in joining the team here.
STACY: I probably should have said no. But it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
NOLA: Even if it meant putting up with your parents being here.
STACY: I love having you guys here. But I'm tired of everybody thinking I won't be able to hold my own.
NOLA: I think you're proving them wrong.
STACY: I'm trying.
NOLA: You're trying too hard. Look at yourself, honey. You look like you're about to fall over.
STACY: I'm fine, Mom, just a little tired.
QUINTON:Maybe you should cut back a little, sweetheart. You've been out therefrom five in the morning until six or seven at night every day.
STACY: So have you, Daddy.
NOLA: Your dad's going to cut back, too.
QUINTON: I am?
NOLA: Yes you are. I don't like that I have to crawl into some Pharaoh's tomb in order to spend time with my family.
STACY: I'll cut back when Daddy does.
QUINTON: You make it sound like I'm down there all the time.
STACY: You are.
QUINTON: Not all the time.
NOLA: Oh please. I'm surprised our bed isn't down there.
QUINTON (in her ear): I would have put it there, but I was afraid you'd make the walls cave in with all the noise you make.
(NOLA SMACKS HIM PLAYFULLY.)
STACY: I'll leave the two of you to fight this out.
NOLA: Don't go, honey. Stay and spend some time with us.
STACY: I'm really tired, Mom. I think I'm going to crash.
NOLA: It's not even eight o'clock.
STACY: It feels like midnight. I'll see the two of you tomorrow.
NOLA: Wait, let me get something for your arm. Quinton...
QUINTON: Red bag under the bed.
(NOLA PULLS A RED BAG FROM UNDER THE BED AND FISHES THROUGH IT, DISCARDING A FEW ITEMS BEFORE HANDING A BOX TO STACY.)
NOLA: This should help, at least until we get you to a doctor.
STACY: You're such a mom.
NOLA: You say that like it's a bad thing.
STACY: It's not. Although sometimes it drives me crazy.(SHE KISSES NOLA.)Night, Mom.(SHE CROSSES TO QUINTON AND KISSES HIM, TOO.)Night, Daddy.
QUINTON: Goodnight, princess. Feel better.
STACY: I'm sure I will after a good night's sleep. Bye.
(SHE LEAVES AS NOLA LOOKS WORRIEDLY AFTER HER.)
NOLA: Something is definitely wrong with her.
QUINTON: She's been working too hard.
NOLA: It's more than that. You don't think she's anorexic, do you?
QUINTON:I've been keeping an eye out for that, but she's been eating. Not much,but not so little that it's unhealthy. Of course, then she burns it offwith all the work she's doing.
NOLA: Can't you do anything to make her workload less?
QUINTON: I've tried, but she feels she has to work twice as hard as anyone else.
NOLA:Maybe I shouldn't have pushed so hard for her to accept the job here.But I thought it would be like it used to be, all of us workingtogether.
QUINTON: She's not a child tagging along with us anymore.
NOLA: I know, but I didn't realize how much pressure she'd be under with us here. And now that stress is making her sick.
QUINTON: You weren't the only one who pushed her to come here. And I knew what it would be like for her.
NOLA: Then why put her under pressure like that?
QUINTON:Because she thrives under pressure. And there's no better place for herto start her career than on a high-profile project like this.
NOLA: But look what it's doing to her.
QUINTON: I think it's more than stress. I'm glad you're taking her to see the doctor.
NOLA: I hope it's nothing serious. Do you know any good doctors anywhere near here?
QUINTON: I'm afraid not. I'll see if Kent can recommend one, though.
NOLA: I think I'll call Jim, too. He did some work in Cairo a couple years ago, so he might be able to recommend someone there.
QUINTON: That's a good idea.(HE SEES HOW WORRIED NOLA IS AND SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER.)She's going to be fine. We're going to find out what's wrong with her and get it taken care of.
NOLA:It's probably only exhaustion. Or maybe mono -- that could be what'smaking her so tired. She's never had mono, so it's possible she couldhave picked that up from someone.
QUINTON: Whatever it is, I'm sure it's something that can be easily fixed.
(QUINTON HUGS NOLA REASSURINGLY, NOT LETTING HER SEE THE UNCERTAINTY IN HIS EYES.)
FADE OUT
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QUINTON AND NOLA'S TENT -- THREE DAYS LATER
STACY: Mom, this is ridiculous. There's no reason to go all the way to Cairo to see a doctor.
NOLA: It is not ridiculous. This doctor is a good friend of your Uncle Jim, so I know you'll get proper care there.
STACY: I'm fine, Mother.
NOLA:You are not fine. You're tired all the time, you can't stop itching,you've lost so much weight I can practically see through you, not tomention what a bitch you've been lately.
QUINTON: Nola...
NOLA:Don't defend her, Quinton. She's been treating me like crap because I'mworrying about her health, and I don't appreciate it.
STACY: You haven't been worrying you've been smothering.
NOLA: I have not been smothering.
STACY: You've been watching my every move for three days, and now you're harassing me to go to a doctor.
NOLA: Would you rather I let you walk around sick until you drop dead?
STACY: You are so overdramatic.
NOLA: I am not overdramatic I'm Irish.
STACY: Same difference. Daddy, tell her I can't go all the way to Cairo to see a doctor.
QUINTON: You're going. If we fly there and back you'll only be gone a few hours.
STACY: Not you too.
QUINTON: We're concerned about you, Anastasia.
STACY: Why can't I go back to the doctor here?
NOLA: Because he's a quack.
QUINTON: We don't feel he's doing enough to help you, sweetheart, so we want you to see someone who will.
STACY: He'll probably tell me there's nothing wrong, too.
NOLA: If he does, I promise I won't bug you anymore.
STACY: Yes you will. Daddy, can we really be back in a couple hours?
QUINTON: I don't see why not.
NOLA: So will you go?
STACY: Yes, I'll go. But you guys don't have to come with me.
NOLA: Stacy...
STACY: I'm not a little girl anymore, Mother.
NOLA:I know, you remind me of that every day. But what if the doctor does abunch of tests on you and you don't feel so hot? You don't want to haveto get back here by yourself after that.
STACY: I hate when you're right.
(A KNOCK FROM OUTSIDE INTERRUPTS.)
STUDENT: Professor Chamberlain?
QUINTON: Yes.
STUDENT: Professor Weeks would like to see you, sir. He says to tell you that the date from Cornell has arrived.
(QUINTON HURRIES TOWARD THE DOOR.)
QUINTON: Finally. I thought they were never going to get us...(HE STOPS, REMEMBERING NOLA AND STACY.)Tell Professor Weeks I'll be there in a few minutes.
STACY: Go, Daddy. You've been waiting for this information for weeks.
QUINTON: Not until we settle this.
STACY: If the results of the data are what we're expecting, you aren't going to have time to go to Cairo.
NOLA: So I'll go with you. Then your father can focus on work, and you'll have someone there to help if you need it.
STACY: If I need help I will ask for it, Mom. Otherwise...
NOLA: Otherwise lay off, I know.
STACY: I was going to try to put it a little more delicately than that.
NOLA: I'm not much for delicate. We should leave here by 10:30 tomorrow to get there on time.
STACY: We can't go tomorrow. You said Saturday.
NOLA: You said Saturday. Dr. Bailey said he could see us tomorrow afternoon, so we're going tomorrow.
STACY: But Mom...
QUINTON: Anastasia, listen to your mother.
STACY: There's too much work to do.
QUINTON: I think we'll survive one day without you. I've already cleared it with Kent.
STACY: I guess I don't get a say in this.
NOLA: No you don't. Meet me here by 10:15.
STACY: At least that will give me a few hours to get some work done, so the whole day won't be wasted.
NOLA: I don't want you going to the doctor's covered in dirt.
STACY: I'll shower first, Mother, I promise. Daddy, can I go with you to check out that data?
QUINTON: Sure, honey. Nola?
NOLA: I'll skip it, thanks.
QUINTON: I may be awhile.
NOLA: I know. Wake me up when you get back if it's not too late.
QUINTON: I will.
(HE KISSES HER.)
NOLA: I'll see you in the morning, Stacy.
STACY: Night, Mom. I'll try to be in a better mood for you tomorrow.
NOLA: Be in whatever mood you want as long as you're nice to the doctor.(SHE KISSES STACY.)And try to get a little sleep tonight, okay.
QUINTON: I'll make sure she gets to bed at a decent hour.
NOLA: I'd like to have you in bed at a decent hour, too.
QUINTON: Mmm, count on it. Bye.
(HE KISSES HER AGAIN, THIS TIME A LITTLE LONGER, BEFORE WALKING OUT WITH STACY.)
FADE OUT
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DR. BAILEY'S OFFICE -- 1 P.M. THE NEXT AFTERNOON
(NOLA AND STACY ARE SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM WHEN DR. BAILEY ENTERS FROM HIS OFFICE.)
AIDAN: Nola?
(NOLA LOOKS AT HIM A MOMENT BEFORE RECOGNITION DAWNS.)
NOLA: Aidan?(HE NODS.)When Jim said his friend Dr. Bailey, I didn't even think...
AIDAN: Why would you? We're both a long way from 7th Street.
STACY: You two know each other?
NOLA:Aidan...Dr. Bailey...grew up across the street from the boardinghouseand went to med school with your Uncle Jim. But when Jim recommended aDr. Bailey I didn't realize it was him. What are you doing in Egypt?
STACY: I'd say he's working as a doctor, Mom.
NOLA: Please excuse my daughter's smart mouth, Aidan, she hasn't been herself lately.
AIDAN: So I've heard. Why don't we find out why.
STACY: I'm sure it's no big deal, but my mom insisted I come see you.
AIDAN: Good for Mom. Let's go into my office. I'd like to ask you a few questions before I examine you.
STACY: What kind of questions?
AIDAN: Just routine stuff. Let's start with your name.
STACY: Anastasia.
AIDAN (smiling at Nola): I should have know you'd have a name like that.
STACY: My luck to have a mother with an old-movie obsession.
AIDAN: I think it's a beautiful name.
STACY: It's not that bad. Can my mom come in with me?
AIDAN: Of course. I'm going to be asking you for some personal medical information, though, so...
STACY: It's okay, there's nothing she doesn't know.
AIDAN:Fine.(HE LEADS THEM INTO HIS OFFICE AND WAVES FOR THEM TO SIT ACROSS FROMHIM AS HE SETTLES BEHIND HIS DESK AND PULLS A LEGAL PAD OUT.)How old are you, Anastasia?
STACY: 21.
AIDAN: And what are you doing here in Egypt?
STACY: Working at KV5. It's an archaeological site in Thebes.
AIDAN:I've read a little about it. My son is an anthropology student at theuniversity here, and he's taken quite an interest in it. They believeit's the tomb of Ramses' sons, right?
STACY: Yes, and we think we've found the evidence to prove that.
AIDAN: It sounds fascinating. How did you get into that?
STACY: My father is an archaeologist, too. He and Mom have been here a few months, but I didn't arrive until a month ago.
AIDAN: And where were you before that?
STACY: England.
NOLA: She was getting her Masters. She graduated suma cum laude from Oxford last month.
STACY: Mom!
NOLA: It's nothing to be ashamed of.
STACY: I'm not ashamed, but it's embarrassing to have you tell everyone. Sorry, Dr. Bailey.
AIDAN:It's quite alright. Your mother has every right to be proud. Did yoursymptoms start while you were in England or after you got here?
STACY: I've been feeling more tired than usual the past couple months.
AIDAN: Exactly how long is a couple months?
STACY: I don't know, six maybe.
NOLA: Six months?
(STACY IGNORES HER.)
STACY:I thought maybe I was overextending myself. I had a double course load,I was working as a researcher on a book one of my professors waswriting, and I had to squeeze a few hours in for my boyfriend, too. Buteven when most of that stuff ended, I was still tired.
AIDAN: What other symptoms have you had?
NOLA: Show him your rash.
STACY: I am, Mother...It's not a rash, really, more like really dry skin.(SHE PUSHES UP THE SLEEVE OF HER DRESS TO SHOW HIM HER ARMS.)The doctor at the dig site gave me a couple different things to try on it, but none of them have helped much.
AIDAN: How long have you had this?
STACY:It started out with dry skin on my elbows about two and a half monthsago, and it's kept spreading since then. The other doctor I saw said itwas an allergic reaction from digging in the dirt.
AIDAN: We'll test for allergies, but it sounds like you've been doing work like that for awhile.
STACY: Practically my whole life.
AIDAN: And you haven't had any problems like this before?(STACY SHAKES HER HEAD.)Have you had any unusual illnesses recently?
STACY: Just colds, flu, that kind of stuff. I have a fever for a few days and then it goes away.
AIDAN: Any other symptoms?
NOLA: She's lost a lot of weight lately.
STACY: I can answer for myself, Mom.
AIDAN: How much weight?
(STACY LOOKS AT NOLA A MOMENT BEFORE ANSWERING.)
STACY: 27 pounds.
NOLA: What?
STACY: Mom, please.
NOLA: Why didn't you tell me it was that much?
STACY: Because I knew you'd freak out.
AIDAN: When did you start losing the weight?
STACY:I'm not really sure. I didn't notice it at first, but then peoplestarted commenting about it and my clothes got a little too big.
AIDAN: And you haven't been dieting?
STACY:Not really. I've been eating smaller meals because the food here wasmaking me kind of nauseous, but I've been trying to eat morefrequently, so I think I'm still eating the same amount.
AIDAN: Is there any chance you might be pregnant?
(SHE LOOKS AT NOLA EXPECTING A COMMENT BUT NOLA REMAINS SILENT, WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.)
STACY: I did one of those over-the-counter tests a few weeks ago, but it came back negative.
AIDAN: Have you had a period since?
STACY: No, it's been about two months. But they've never been regular.
AIDAN: We'll do a blood test for that, too.
NOLA: Could it be something that simple?
AIDAN:It's something to consider. Many women experience fatigue, nausea andweight loss in the first trimester, and some also have skin problemsdue to the increase in hormone production.
STACY: Can we do that test now?
AIDAN: I have a few more questions and then we'll go into the examining room. Have you had any unusual pain?
STACY: Every bone in my body has been aching for the past month, but that's not unusual with the work I've been doing.
AIDAN: Any unexplained fevers?
STACY:Just when I was sick. I have woken up a few nights other nightssweating to death, but I think that was from working too much in theheat or out in the sun.
AIDAN: Would you call them night sweats?
STACY: I guess you could. Is that bad?
AIDAN:There are no good or bad answers to these questions, Anastasia. I'mjust trying to learn all I can about the way you've been feeling.(HE SMILES REASSURINGLY.)Why don't we go into the examining room now, so I can run those tests?
STACY: Okay. Mom, you don't have to come in for this part.
NOLA: Are you sure? I can hold your hand during the needles.
STACY: I'll call if I need you, okay?
NOLA (disappointed): Okay.
AIDAN: You're welcome to stay in here, Nola. The magazines are a little more current.
NOLA: Thanks, Aidan, but I brought plenty of work.
AIDAN:You're welcome to stay anyway. It's more comfortable than the waitingroom, and you won't have to worry about anyone coming in -- I clearedmy schedule for the two of you.
NOLA: You didn't have to do that for us.
AIDAN: Anything for a friend. We shouldn't be too long.
NOLA: Call if you need anything, Stacy.
STACY: I will. Thanks, Mom.
(SHE FOLLOWS DR. BAILEY INTO THE NEXT ROOM)
FADE OUT
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DR. BAILEY'S OFFICE -- 2 p.m.
(NOLA HAS SETTLED IN ON THE SOFA. SHE'S SURROUNDED BY PAPERS, WHICH SHE STUDIES AS SHE JOTS DOWN NOTES ON A STENO PAD.)
AIDAN: What are you working so hard on?
NOLA: Trying to translate the illustrations on the artifacts they've found at the dig site. How's Stacy?
AIDAN: She's lying down a minute. She got a little woozy from the blood tests.
NOLA: Is she okay?
AIDAN:She said she hadn't eaten all day, so I think that's what made herdizzy. I had my nurse get her some juice, and she should feel better ina few minutes.
NOLA: Can I go in there?
AIDAN: I'd like to ask you a few questions first.
NOLA: Sure. What do you need to know?
AIDAN:A little more about Anastasia's medical history. Any childhoodillnesses she had, or if she picked up anything unusual during all yourtraveling.
NOLA: She had chicken pox, measles, the usual stuff.When she and her brother were little I was terrified that they wouldpick up some strange disease from some of the places we had to live in,but thank God they never did.
AIDAN: So she's never had any serious medical problems?
NOLA:She was premature. More than two months. I thought I was going to loseher. And she had surgery when she was three for a hearing problem, andhad her appendix out when she was 13. But that's it.
AIDAN: Great. Thanks, Nola.
NOLA: She's sick, isn't she?
AIDAN: I won't know anything until her tests come back.
NOLA: But you're thinking she is.
AIDAN: Something is wrong. I can't tell you yet if it's serious. I want to send her for some more tests this afternoon.
NOLA: What kind of tests?
AIDAN: A CAT scan to start. And maybe a few others depending on how that comes out.
NOLA: I thought CAT scans were for people with head injuries.
AIDAN: They can be used for diagnostic purposes, too, and on any part of the body. I'm going to do a full body scan.
NOLA: What are you looking for?
AIDAN: Anything unusual.
NOLA: But nothing specific?
AIDAN: If I knew something specific I wouldn't have to do the CAT scan.
NOLA: I want you to be honest with me about what's going on, Aidan.
AIDAN:I am, Nola. I probably won't get the results of Anastasia's tests backuntil tomorrow, and she insisted she had to be back to the dig sitetoday, so I thought I'd do the scan as a precautionary measure, to makesure there's no reason she shouldn't go back to work.
NOLA: I'msorry she's being stubborn like that. She was recruited to work at KV5because she's spent most of her life working in archaeology, but somepeople think she only got the job because she's Quinton Chamberlain'sdaughter.
AIDAN: That's a lot of pressure.
NOLA: We thought maybe the stress was what's making her sick.
AIDAN: It could be contributing to the problem. Jim didn't tell me you had such a famous husband.
NOLA: None of us think of him that way.
AIDAN: I think he wrote one of Kieran's anthropology books.
NOLA: Probably, he's written quite a few. Kieran's your son?
(AIDAN NODS.)
AIDAN: He's 21, same as Anastasia.
(HE HANDS HER A PHOTO OFF HIS DESK.)
NOLA: Oh my God, he looks just like you at that age. Do you have any other children?
AIDAN: No. You said you had a son?
NOLA: Yes, Anthony James. We call him A.J. He's 18.
AIDAN: Is he here in Egypt?
(NOLA SHAKES HER HEAD.)
NOLA:He and his friends are backpacking through Europe this summer, and thenhe's heading to Boston for school. My mom and Tony are there, sothey're going to keep an eye on him for me.
AIDAN: I'm heading there myself this fall.
NOLA: For work or vacation?
AIDAN: Work. I have a fellowship at the Dana-Farber Institute.
NOLA: That's great. I think Jim did some work there, too.
AIDAN: He was the one who helped me get this grant. I'll have to look up your mom and Tony while I'm there.
NOLA: I'm sure they would love that.
(STACY ENTERS FROM THE EXAMINING ROOM.)
STACY: Mom, can we go now?
NOLA: Not yet. Dr. Bailey wants to do a few more tests.
STACY: You've already taken enough blood, Dr. Vampire.
AIDAN: No more blood, I promise. But since you insist on leaving here today I have to cram all my tests in before you run off.
STACY: Okay, let's get it over with.
AIDAN: We have to wait until they can squeeze us in.
(STACY FLOPS DOWN ON THE SOFA AND PUTS HER HEAD ON NOLA'S SHOULDER.)
STACY: Do I have time for a nap?
(NOLA STROKES STACY'S HAIR.)
NOLA: Are you okay, honey?
STACY: Just tired, Mom, from all the blood your friend drained out of me.
AIDAN: No more dizziness, though?
STACY: No, the juice helped. What kind of tests are you going to do?
AIDAN: A CAT scan to start. And if that turns up anything unusual, then I have a few more tests up my sleeve for you.
STACY: You're really taking me seriously.
AIDAN: Of course I am.
STACY: The other doctor didn't. He made me think being sick was all in my head.
AIDAN: I'm sorry about that.
STACY: It's not your fault. So are you going to tell us what's wrong with me?
AIDAN: I will as soon as I know.
STACY: I hope it's not all in my head. I'd rather be sick than crazy.
(HOLD ON NOLA, HOPING SHE'S NEITHER, THEN:)
FADE OUT
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RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT -- 4 p.m.
(STACYLIES ON THE BED OF THE CAT SCAN MACHINE, BUT INSTEAD OF BEING FACE-UPIN THE PROPER POSITION, SHE'S CURLED UP ON HER SIDE, HER EYES CLOSED.NOLA STANDS ON ONE SIDE OF HER STROKING HER HAIR; AIDAN IS ON THE OTHERSIDE.)
NOLA: Stacy, please.
STACY: No, I'll be okay. Let's finish.
AIDAN:I can't get a proper reading when you're this sick, Anastasia. Let megive you something to stop the nausea and we'll finish this tomorrow.
STACY: No, I can't stay until tomorrow.
NOLA: Stacy, this is stupid.
STACY: Can't you give me the medicine to stop me from being sick and then we can finish this?
AIDAN: I'm afraid not.
STACY: Then I guess I'll have to do without it. Come on, let's try this again.(SHE STRAIGHTENS UP SO SHE'S LYING ON HER BACK. NOLA AND AIDAN DON'T MOVE.)What are you waiting for?
NOLA: Why are you putting yourself through this?
STACY: I didn't ask to be shot full of stuff that would make me throw up.
AIDAN:I wasn't expecting that to happen. But now that I know your bodydoesn't like what I gave you today I can find something else to giveyou that won't make you sick.
STACY: I'll be okay....Oh, damn.
(SHE GETS OFF THE TABLE AND RUNS INTO THE BATHROOM.)
AIDAN: Please try to convince her not to keep this up, Nola. She's only going to make herself more sick.
NOLA: Get the medication to help her and I'll make her take it.(AIDAN NODS AND GOES OVER TO THE NURSE. NOLA CROSSES TO THE BATHROOM AND KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.)Stacy?(THERE'S NO ANSWER.)Honey, are you okay?
STACY (weakly): Mom.
(NOLA TRIES THE DOOR BUT IT'S LOCKED.)
NOLA: I'm right here, sweetheart, but you have to open the door for me.
STACY: Mom, get Dr. Bailey.
NOLA: He's out here with me, but we can't get in there unless you open the door.(STACY DOESN'T ANSWER.)Stacy.(NOLA BANGS ON THE DOOR.)Stacy! Stacy, answer me!
(AIDAN COMES RUNNING OVER.)
AIDAN: Nola, what's the matter?
NOLA: The door locked behind Stacy, so I can't get in there, and first she told me to get you, and now she's not answering.
AIDAN: Don't panic, we'll get her out of there. (TO TECHNICIAN) Get me a key to this door.
(THE TECHNICIAN HURRIES OVER AND STARTS TRYING KEYS.)
NOLA:Hurry up!(THE TECHNICIAN FINALLY FINDS THE RIGHT KEY, AND NOLA AND AIDAN HURRYIN. THEY FIND STACY SLUMPED AGAINST THE SINK. NOLA PULLS HER CLOSE.)Stacy?
(STACY OPENS HER EYES BRIEFLY BUT CLOSES THEM AGAIN TO AVOID GETTING SICK.)
STACY: I'm sorry, Mom, I couldn't get to the door.
NOLA: It's okay, honey. What happened?
STACY: I couldn't stop getting sick.
AIDAN: Are you still nauseous now?
STACY: Only when I open my eyes or move.
AIDAN:These should help.(HE FILLS A CUP WITH WATER AND HANDS IT TO HER WITH SOME PILLS. STACYTAKES THE MEDICINE AND THEN LIES BACK AGAINST NOLA'S SHOULDER AGAIN.NOLA HOLDS HER TIGHTLY.)I'm going to get you a room upstairs for a couple hours, Anastasia.You've lost a lot of fluid, and we need to get it back into you so youdon't get dehydrated and make yourself even sicker.
(STACY NODS, TOO WEAK TO ANSWER.)
NOLA: Will she be okay?
AIDAN: A couple hours on an I.V. And she should feel much better.(HE PATS STACY ON THE HEAD.)Hang in there, Anastasia. I'll be right back.
(AIDAN HURRIES OUT AS NOLA CONTINUES TO HOLD STACY TIGHTLY.)
STACY: Mom, I'm scared.
NOLA: What are you scared of, sweetheart? You heard Dr. Bailey, he said you would be fine in a couple hours.
STACY: He said I'd feel better, he didn't say I'd be fine.
NOLA: I don't think he purposely made that distinction.
STACY: Every time I ask him what he thinks is wrong with me, he won't give me a straight answer.
NOLA: That's because he doesn't know yet what it is.
STACY:I know it's bad. That's why I let you bring me here, because I feellike something's really wrong. But I've been scared to find out what itis.
NOLA: Don't be scared, sweetie. Everything's going to be okay.
(SHE PULLS STACY CLOSER.)
STACY: I'm so tired.
NOLA: You go to sleep. Things will be better when you wake up.
(STACY DOESN'T ANSWER -- SHE'S NOW FAST ASLEEP. NOLA HOLDS HER CLOSE, TRYING NOT TO CRY HER WORRIED TEARS.)
FADE OUT
======================================================================STACY'S HOSPITAL ROOM - 6:30 p.m.
(STACYIS STILL ASLEEP, AN I.V. NOW RUNNING FROM HER ARM. NOLA PACES IN FRONTOF THE WINDOW BY THE BED, HER CELL PHONE TO HER EAR.)
NOLA: Quinton, where are you when I need you?(SHE SNAPS THE PHONE SHUT AND IT FALLS FROM HER HANDS TO THE FLOOR, BREAKING APART.)Damnit!(SHE PICKS UP THE PHONE, REALIZES IT'S USELESS AND THROWS IT BACK DOWN AS SHE RESUMES HER PACING. AIDAN ENTERS.)
AIDAN: I see you're still fidgety. Do you still kick the back of the pew in front of you when you're in church, too?
NOLA: Maureen used to make me do that so you would turn around. She had the biggest crush on you.
AIDAN: Jim told me about her accident. I'm sorry.
NOLA: Thanks. I really miss her, especially at times like this.
AIDAN: Are you okay?
NOLA: I can't reach Quinton, my stupid phone is broke, and I'm more than a little concerned about Stacy sleeping like this.
AIDAN: The sleep's good for her, Nola.
NOLA: I know, but it's not good for me.
AIDAN: Why don't we go get some coffee?
NOLA: I don't want to leave Stacy.
AIDAN:I wouldn't be surprised if she slept the rest of the night, so shewon't even know you're gone. And you look like you could use a break.
NOLA: That bad, huh?
AIDAN: You do seem a bit frazzled.
NOLA: Just a bit. Coffee would be good.
AIDAN: Great. Come on, I'll even treat.
(HE LEADS HER OUT THE DOOR AS NOLA TAKES ONE LAST LOOK AT STACY.)
FADE OUT
==================================================================
HOSPITAL CAFETERIA -- 6:45 p.m.
(NOLA IS SITTING ALONE AT A CORNER TABLE, AWAY FROM THE OTHERS IN THE CAFETERIA, WHEN AIDAN APPROACHES CARRYING A TRAY.)
AIDAN: Coffee, just like you wanted it.(HE HANDS HER A CUP.)I thought you could use something to eat, too. I know you haven't had anything since you've been here.
NOLA: I'm not hungry.
AIDAN: Eat it anyway. I don't want you to end up in a bed next to your daughter. (HE PLACES A SALAD IN FRONT OF HER.)Despite what they say about hospital food, the salad isn't that bad.
NOLA: Thanks.(SHE STARTS PICKING AT THE SALAD AS HE SETTLES IN ACROSS FROM HER.)So what did you want to talk to me about?
AIDAN: What?
NOLA: I know you didn't bring me down here for coffee.
AIDAN: What gave you that idea?
NOLA: I'm very perceptive. So spill it.
AIDAN: I've gotten some of Anastasia's test results back.
(NOLA SAGS AGAINST HER CHAIR.)
NOLA: They're bad?
AIDAN: They make me want to investigate further.
NOLA: So she isn't pregnant?
(AIDAN SHAKES HIS HEAD.)
AIDAN: Her pregnancy test was negative; so was her AIDS test.
NOLA: Thank God for that. So what is wrong?
AIDAN: I don't know yet.
NOLA: What do you mean you don't know?
AIDAN:I don't mean to frustrate you, Nola. The only thing the tests show sofar is that her white blood cell count is low -- too low -- which couldmean any number of things.
NOLA: None of which are good, right?
AIDAN: It could be dangerous if we don't do something.
NOLA: So what are you going to do?
AIDAN:First I need to find out exactly what the problem is. The CAT scantomorrow should help answer that, along with a few other tests I'll berunning tonight.
NOLA: You're going to keep her here overnight?
AIDAN: Like I said before, I expect her to sleep the rest of the night. I see no reason to wake her up and kick her out.
NOLA: You're trying to make this sound less serious than it is, aren't you?
AIDAN:I don't know yet how serious it is. But I promise that as soon as Iknow anything I will pass that information on to you.
NOLA: No matter how bad it is. I don't want you thinking you need to protect me.
AIDAN: I've never thought of you as the type who needed protecting.
NOLA: Good. So you'll be honest with me?
AIDAN: I promise.
NOLA: Great. Can I stay with Stacy tonight?
AIDAN: I'd rather you didn't.
NOLA: Aidan...
AIDAN: Don't give me a hard time, Reardon.
NOLA: Chamberlain.
AIDAN: You're still as stubborn as you ever were, no matter what your name is.
NOLA: Thank you. Why can't I stay with Stacy?
AIDAN: I don't want her disturbed tonight. She needs her rest.
NOLA: I won't wake her up.
AIDAN: You'll be much more comfortable in the hotel across the street.
NOLA: No I won't, because I won't know what's going on if I'm over there.
AIDAN:I'll call you if she wakes up or if her condition changes in any way.In the meantime, I want you to check into that hotel and get a goodnight's sleep.
NOLA: I don't want to sleep.
AIDAN: Doctor's orders.
NOLA: You're not my doctor.
AIDAN: She's in good hands, Nola. I'll treat her as if she were my own.
NOLA: I know you will. Can I check on her one more time before I go?
AIDAN: Of course. We'll go as soon as you're done eating.
NOLA: I can't get anymore of this down.
AIDAN: That bad?
NOLA: It's not the food's fault.
AIDAN: I can give you something to help you relax if you'd like.
(NOLA SHAKES HER HEAD.)
NOLA: I don't need that stuff. All I need is to know my little girl is going to be okay.(SHE STANDS UP.)I have to go check on her. I'll see you upstairs.
(SHE GRABS HER COFFEE AND WALKS OFF BEFORE AIDAN CAN STOP HER.)
FADE OUT
=================================================================
NOLA'S HOTEL ROOM/QUINTON'S TENT -- 8:30 p.m.
(NOLAFLOPS DOWN WEARILY ON THE SOFA OF THE SUITE, THE PHONE ON HER LAP. SHEDIALS QUINTON. INTERCUT BETWEEN THE TWO AS NECESSARY.)
NOLA: Hi.
QUINTON: Nola, thank God. I've been trying to reach you for over an hour.
NOLA: Now you know how I felt all afternoon.
QUINTON:I'm sorry, things have been really crazy here. The news broke aboutthat data from Cornell, and there have been reporters and TV camerascrawling all over the place, making it impossible to get any work doneand putting us way behind schedule. I'm afraid you and Stacy will becoming back to a pile of work.
NOLA: Well it will have to wait another day. We won't be back until tomorrow evening.
QUINTON: What's wrong?
NOLA:Things have been pretty crazy here, too. Poor Stacy had to go throughall these tests, and one of them made her really sick, so they put heron an I.V. for awhile so she wouldn't get dehydrated.
QUINTON: Is she okay?
NOLA:I think so. She's been sleeping ever since. So they didn't get done allthe tests they wanted to do today, which means she'll have to have themdone tomorrow.
QUINTON: I knew I should have come with the two of you.
NOLA: You can't leave there with everything that's going on.
QUINTON: I can if you need me there.
NOLA: No, you focus on work. I'll handle everything here.
QUINTON: Are you sure?
NOLA:Yeah. They're shorthanded enough without Stacy and I there. We'll getback as soon as we can tomorrow. I'm not sure how long it will take toget the CAT scan done and get the results.
QUINTON: They're doing a CAT scan?
NOLA: Yes. But not on her head, on her body.
QUINTON: What are they looking for?
NOLA:I think the doctor's being overly cautious. I didn't realize it whenJim gave me his name, but Dr. Bailey is an old friend of the family. SoI think he's running every test in the book on Stacy to give me peaceof mind.
QUINTON: I hope that's all it is. Where are you two staying tonight?
NOLA:Stacy's still at the hospital. Aidan...Dr. Bailey...said I didn't haveto wake her up to leave, they had an extra bed for her. I'm in thehotel across the street. I dropped my phone and it's useless now, so ifyou need to reach us tomorrow you'll have to leave a message here. Idon't see a number on this phone, but the place is called theCleopatra. The suite number's 624.
QUINTON: A lucky number.
(IT TAKES NOLA A MOMENT TO REALIZE WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.)
NOLA:Oh, it is, isn't it? I hope it brings Stacy and I luck tomorrow. Notthat we'll need it -- I'm sure the tests are pretty routine...I bettergo now, Quinton, I'm really tired. I'll call you tomorrow when I havean idea of when we'll be home, okay? I love you. Night.
(SHE HANGS UP.)
QUINTON: Nola, wait!(THE ONLY ANSWER IS A DIAL TONE. QUINTON TOSSES THE PHONE DOWN ON THE BED.)I know there's something you're not telling me. And I'm going to find out what it is.
FADE OUT
==================================================================
NOLA'S HOTEL ROOM -- 12:30 a.m.
(NOLA'SON THE SOFA, NOW DRESSED IN A ROBE. SHE PUSHES AWAY THE WORK SHE'STRYING TO DO AND IS REACHING FOR THE PHONE WHEN THERE'S A KNOCK AT THEDOOR.)
NOLA: Who could that be.(SHE JUMPS UP SUDDENLY.)Please don't be bad news about Stacy.(SHE RUNS TO THE DOOR, CHECKS THE PEEPHOLE AND PULLS THE DOOR OPEN EXCITEDLY.)Quinton!
(SHE FLIES INTO HIS ARMS, NEARLY KNOCKING HIM OVER. HE HOLDS HER TIGHTLY.)
QUINTON: I see I was right to come.
NOLA: What are you doing here?
(SHE LEADS HIM INTO THE SUITE.)
QUINTON:After all these years together, I know when you're lying, my love. Icould tell by the tone of your voice and the quick way you hung up thatthere was more going on here than you were letting on.
NOLA: So you drove all the way here.
QUINTON: It's only a three and a half hour drive.
NOLA: You must have driven so illegally to get here that fast.
QUINTON: I've picked up your driving habits. What's going on with Stacy?
(SHE SITS ON THE SOFA AND MOTIONS FOR HIM TO JOIN HER. HE DOES AND PULLS HER CLOSE TO HIM.)
NOLA:I actually told you most of what I know. They ran a bunch of tests onher and asked her all these questions about her health. She was havingmore problems than she let on to us, you know.
QUINTON: I know, I talked to her roommate. She already had a bag packed. She knew Stacy would be here longer than a day.
NOLA: What did she say?
QUINTON:That Stacy's been waking up with night sweats, she's been popping painmedicine like candy, and she's lost a lot more weight than she's let ussee.
NOLA: 27 pounds. How the hell could I not notice she'd lost 27 pounds?
QUINTON:You did notice, that's why she's here. (QUINTON KISSES THE TOP OF HERHEAD.)Don't start blaming yourself for anything that might be wrong with her.You were the one who brought her here, you are the one who made sureshe's going to get the help she needs.
NOLA:I hope she will. They don't seem to know much of anything yet. The onlything they know so far is that she's not pregnant and she doesn't haveAIDS.
QUINTON: Those were possibilities?
NOLA: She is 21, Quinton.
QUINTON: Don't remind me. Did they say anything else?
NOLA:Her blood count is low -- no, her white blood cell count is low. Aidansays we'll get more answers tomorrow after the CAT scan, but until thenall we can do is wait.
QUINTON: Should we call in another doctor?
NOLA:I don't think we need to. I like having a doctor I know, because hecan't get away with keeping things from me. And he's really going outof his way for her. He took the whole afternoon off today so he couldgive up all the time we needed.
QUINTON: So you two are old friends?
NOLA:He lived down the street from the boardinghouse growing up. He wasfriends with Jim and Tony, so he was always at our house, and he andJim went to med school together.
QUINTON: We're lucky someone you knew was so close.
NOLA:Yeah, I feel a lot better having someone I can really trust taking careof Stacy.(HE LOOKS UP AT STACY.)I feel a lot better having you here, too. I didn't want to ask you tocome after you said how crazy things were at the dig site, but I didn'tknow how I was going to make it through tonight without you.
QUINTON: There was no way I was going to let you handle this on your own.
NOLA: I bet Kent wasn't too happy about you leaving him to handle all those reporters.
QUINTON: He knows where my priorities lie.
NOLA: Is this going to set things back much further, you being here?
QUINTON: We'll catch up. Maybe A.J. can come pitch in.
NOLA: He's having too much fun in Europe.
QUINTON: Have you told him about any of this?
(NOLA SHAKES HER HEAD.)
NOLA:Jim's the only one I talked to. I didn't want to get Ma and everybodyall worked up until we find out exactly what's wrong.(SHE GETS UP SUDDENLY, STRUCK BY AN IDEA.)Did you bring the laptop?
QUINTON: I thought I might have time to get some work in.
NOLA: For once I'm glad you're such a workaholic. Where is it?
QUINTON: In my bag. What are you up to?
NOLA: I'm going to do a little detective work.
FADE OUT
=================================================================
NOLA'S HOTEL ROOM -- 12:45 a.m.
(NOLASITS ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE COFFEE TABLE, ABSORBED IN THE LAPTOPIN FRONT OF HER. QUINTON ENTERS FROM THE BEDROOM NOW DRESSED IN A ROBE,HIS HAIR WET. HE SITS ON THE SOFA BEHIND HER.)
QUINTON: What are you so absorbed in?
NOLA: Research.
QUINTON: What kind of research?
NOLA: I'm running Stacy's symptoms through here to see what I can find out.
QUINTON: Nola...
NOLA:I don't want to be surprised, Quinton. I want to know what we might begetting into so that I can deal with it tonight and keep all my focuson Stacy tomorrow.
(QUINTON STROKES HER HAIR.)
QUINTON: So what have you found?
NOLA:A lot of her symptoms fit chronic fatigue syndrome, but I don't thinkit's that, because there are things that don't fit, too. There are twoother possibilities that seem more possible. One is lupus, which I hopeis what it is.
QUINTON: Why, what's the other possibility?
NOLA: Cancer.
(QUINTON MASSAGES THE BACK OF HER NECK.)
QUINTON: Let's not jump to any conclusions before we speak to the doctor, okay?
NOLA:It would make sense. This says CAT scans can be used to look fortumors. And Aidan was acting pretty cagey, even though I told him Iwanted him to be completely honest about what he thought was wrong withStacy.
QUINTON: It can't be that.
NOLA: When I brought herhere I didn't think that it could be something that serious. But when Isaw how scared Stacy was today I knew it had to be bad.
QUINTON: But it can't be cancer.
NOLA: I don't want to think about this either, Quinton, but I think we need to prepare ourselves, just in case.
QUINTON: No.
(HE GETS UP AND GOES INTO THE BEDROOM. NOLA IS QUICK TO FOLLOW. SHE FINDS HIM OUT ON THE BALCONY.)
NOLA: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.
QUINTON: I don't want to talk about this, Nola.
NOLA: Are you sure?
QUINTON: Yes.
NOLA: It's okay to be scared. I'm pretty scared myself.
QUINTON: I'm not scared because there's nothing to be scared of. We don't know yet what's wrong with her.
NOLA: So how can you say for sure it's not cancer?
QUINTON: How can you say it is?
NOLA: I'm not. I'm just preparing myself in case it is.
QUINTON: You can't prepare yourself for that.
(NOLA COMES UP BEHIND HIM AND RUBS HIS BACK.)
NOLA: Please talk to me.
(QUINTON SAGS AGAINST HER HAND BUT DOESN'T FACE HER.)
QUINTON: My mother died of cancer. I don't know if I ever told you that.
NOLA: No, you never did. You don't talk about her much.
QUINTON: I don't like to think about that.
NOLA: It must have been pretty horrible.
QUINTON: That doesn't even begin to describe it.
NOLA:I'm sorry I even brought up the subject. I'm sure that whatever's wrongwith Stacy isn't something serious like that. I'm just thinking theworst because I'm so tired and because it really threw me to see Stacyso sick today.
(QUINTON TAKES HER INTO HIS ARMS.)
QUINTON: Let's forget all this and go to sleep, okay? I have the feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day.
FADE OUT