ER
Background：
An emergency room in Michigan in the US.
Characters:
Leading male character: Steven
An ambitious young doctor who is very concerned about his future
Leading female character: Michelle
Steven’s colleague who is deeply attracted to him
Male doctors: 1 John (Dr. Collins) 2 Dr. Smith
Student doctors 1 2
Patients 1 2. 3. 4.
Customers at the restaurant 1 2 3 4
Bar tender: Waiter:
Paramedics: 1 2 3
Nurses: 1. Nurse Jones 2 Nurse B
Truck driver:
Police:
Scene 1
(In a chaotic ER, 2 stretchers pass by, pushed by paramedics. Two patients are in their wheel chairs. The patients’ screams and complaints, joined by the beeping sounds of the medical equipment, fill the bustling ER. A few seconds later, the door bell rings and a stretcher carrying a bleeding patient enters. A doctor (John) inspects the patient's injuries.)
John : (speaks to a paramedic) Send him to the operating room. Nurse Jones, wake up Dr. Smith. Tell him we'll need him.
Nurse Jones: Yes.
(John then enters the operating room. A high-pitched beeping sound rings, and Nurse B calls out loud. )
Nurse B: Two's coding.
Steven: (Hurries to the patient, says quickly) We got a flat line here. Start CPR. Get me an epi. (a paramedic gets him the equipment.) 400 joules. Clear! (strikes the patient ) Clear! (strikes the patient again) 600 joules. Clear! Clear!
Nurse B: He's got a pulse.
Steven: Good.
(The bell rings again. Another patient is pushed in. And the light turns dark. 10 seconds later, the light turns on again. Doctor Smith, a student doctor, and Nurse Jones talk in front of the operating room; Steven walks out from a corner and stops as Doctor Smith calls him.)
Doctor Smith：Steven！We are going to have a drink. Would you like to come along?
Steven：Well….Thanks! I’m exhausted. Maybe next time!
John comes out of the operating room.
John：What’s going on here？ (Turns to Steven) Are you all right?
Steven：I’m OK. Just a bit tired.
John：It’s been a long day. Get some rest then.
Nurse Jones: Dr. Collins, would you like to join us for a drink?
John: Sure.
Doctor Smith: So, Steven, we’ll go without you.
Steven: Don’t drink too much! It’s dangerous to have a group of drunk doctors in the ER.
(Laughter)
John: You worry too much!
Others: Bye!/See you!
(Steven sits down on the sofa in the lounge and closes his eyes. Michelle appears on the stage, sees Steven, pours a cup of coffee, and gives it to Steven.)
Michelle: You working a double shift again?
Steven: Yeah! Thanks! I have no choice. The ER is always busy. Besides, I need the extra pay. As I told you before, I plan to go to a graduate school in Paris for advanced studies. They have the best faculty and equipment there. I can learn a lot…
Michelle: Can’t you relax a little bit? Give yourself a break, Steven. You really need a few days off. Go on a holiday or something.
Steven: I have no time for entertainment. You don’t understand. I have to work to support myself and prepare myself for future study.
Michelle: Everyone needs some refreshment. You’ll kill yourself if you keep pushing yourself so hard.
Steven: Well, maybe you’re right.
Michelle: I am right. Are you free tomorrow evening?
Steven: Yes？
Michelle: Well, I….I would like to invite you to dinner, at the restaurant across from the library. How about it?（Looks at Steven with a little embarrassment and anticipation）
Steven: I hate to disappoint you, but I have a lot of work to do. I have to attend to the patients, work on my reports, and….
Michelle: Please!
Steven: (Pause a few seconds) Well … OK.
Michelle:（with a cheerful voice） So. Tomorrow night at 7: 00, all right? （rises from the sofa）
Steven: All right…. Michelle, umm…thanks for the coffee. It’s nice.
Michelle: (laughs) Anytime!
(Michelle leaves)
Scene 2
(In a fancy restaurant, several couples dine at their tables. A pianist is playing a romantic song. Steven and Michelle, led by a waiter, take their seats. Two to three other couples are dining in the restaurant. A waiter brings the menus.)
Steven: (Looks at the menu, has a sip of his water and almost spits it out as he sees the prices) The food here is … I mean the price is rather high.
Michelle: Don't worry. My treat today.
Steven: No, how can I let you pay.
Michelle: I asked you out, right?
Steven: Yes, …but.… All right, if you insist.
Michelle: I do.
(The waiter comes)
Waiter: May I have your order now?
Michelle: I want the steak special.
Waiter: Yes, ma'am. How about you, sir?
Steven: Make it two.
(Steven then takes out his file and starts to read.)
Michelle: Can't you just put your work away and enjoy a good dinner with me?
Steven: I’m not used to the atmosphere here. In the ER, I am always hurrying from one room to another, inspecting my patients. The atmosphere is a bit too relaxed for me.
Michelle: Why don't you try to enjoy the music?
Steven: All right. (puts his books back in his briefcase)
Michelle: You mentioned your plan to study abroad yesterday.
Steven: I plan to go to a graduate school in Paris. After I get my degree, I want to have my own clinic (or a nice small hospital) in Seattle.
Michelle: Seattle！I love that city！I dreamt about working there when I was young！... Have you ever thought of getting married some day?
(The waiter comes and pours water in the glass.)
Steven: Yes… but I don’t have time for a family, kids. I have to concentrate on my work, my studies.
Michelle: But isn’t it nice to have someone there, always there, to listen to you, to support you, and to take care of you?
Steven: Sounds like a good idea. But there are still some problems to think about.
Michelle: Like what?
Steven: Well, … nothing worth talking about. But ... if I can get my own clinic, I’ll offer you a job. The only question is—will you accept it?
Michelle: You have my word.
(The waiter comes and serves the wine.)
Steven: I’m having a great night, thanks to you.
Michelle: Maybe we can get together more often….
(Steven’s cell phone rings.)
Steven: Hello? Yes? How bad is it? My goodness! OK, I’ll be back in a minute.…
Michelle: Any trouble?
Steven: (says hastily) It's the ER. I am afraid I have to go now. Sorry! I’ll make it up to you some time.
Michelle: Steven, I…
(Steven takes his coat and runs away while the waiter carries a tray with two orders of salad on it.)
Waiter: Shall I serve the salad now?
Michelle: No, thanks. Just give me the check.
Waiter: Ma’am, do you want me to pack the main dish for you?
Michelle: No, just the bill.
(Michelle leaves sadly after paying the bill.)
Scene 3
(The next day in the ER)
Steven: Thanks for the call last night. I barely made it.
John: I heard that you were in the middle of a date with Michelle. Sorry, I should not have interrupted you!
Steven: Not at all. Besides, it was not a date. It was just an ordinary dinner between colleagues.
Dr. Smith: If it was not a date, then, what is a date?
Steven: There is nothing between us. She is just a friend. Nothing else.
John: Well, she is quite nice to you. She makes coffee for you, treats you to dinner…
(The bell rings and two paramedics push a stretcher in; the patient is bleeding. John is called upon to help. )
Paramedic 1: Dr. Collins.
(Doctor B freezes and shouts out when he sees the patient.)
Dr. Smith: It’s Michelle
Steven: Michelle? Are you kidding? How… how is that possible?
John: Dr. Smith, come and help me.
(Dr. Smith is called upon to help John. Steven wants to enter the operating rooms but is stopped by Dr. Smith)
Steven: Let me help.
Dr. Smith: No. You need to treat the other patients.
Nurse B: (says anxiously while Steven stands aside, lost in his thoughts) What happened?
Paramedic: According to the witness, she stayed at the park for quite a while and was run over by a truck when crossing the street. The truck driver is wounded too. (Looks in the direction of the truck driver, who just entered the ER with a police officer.)
Truck Driver: She did not look where she was going. She crossed the street when the light turned red--- it’s not my fault. (sounds drunk, the police hit him with a file binder.)
Nurse B: (says to Steven) Doctor, are you all right?
(Steve does not answer. The truck driver has been moved away. Steven waits impatiently in front of the operating room and leaves after a while.)
Scene 4
Steven prays in the pray room in the hospital (or in the lounge)
Steven: (says with tears in his eyes) Dear Lord, please don’t take her. She is such a kind soul. I never told her how much I cared for her, because I thought I did not deserve her. Oh, please, Lord, I'll let her know my feelings toward her as soon as she comes around.
Nurse B: (comes towards Steven) Dr. Steven…
Steven: (stands up and says anxiously) How is Michelle?
Nurse B: She's having a CAT scan now. She is still in a coma. Dr. Smith said that she might have brain injuries and needs further examination.
(Steven runs out after he hears what Nurse B says)
Nurse B: Dr. Steven…
( The light dims. When the light turns on again, Steven is in a room with Michelle, who still hasn't come around. He is holding her hand gently when John enters.)
John: How is she?
Steven: Still hasn't come around. She might never… (sobbing)
John: (sighs) All we can do now is pray for her.
(silence)
(John stands up and looks at the medical equipment)
John: Steven… I am worried about you. Are you OK? You need to take some rest.
Steven: I am so sorry! All I thought of was my future, fame, and fortune. I knew her concern for me, but I just ignored it. I am such a bastard. If she should not come around, I'll never forgive myself.
John: Steven, you've done what you could for her. You care for her even though you try to hide your feelings. I think she knows you more than you know yourself. Stop blaming yourself. You haven't got any sleep for two days. Get some rest and let us take care of her.
(Steven holds Michelle’s hands, sobbing)
John: I know how it feels. I felt the same pain when my old man was in a coma. I was falling apart. But… Steven, we have to hope for the best. She'll get through it.)
(Steven does not answer. John sighs and leaves)
Steven: Michelle! Can you hear me? Come back to me, please! I beg you. Please.
(Steven loses control and cries).
.
Michelle: You are leaving for Paris, aren't you? (weakly)
(Steven is too surprised to say a word for a moment)
Steven: No, no, no. I won't go. I won't go without you. I'll be with you, always.
(Steven embraces Michelle happily. Doctor Smith and Nurse Jones come and check Michelle. They smile and close the door silently when they see the two hugging each other.)
Scene 5
A few years later…
(John is sitting at the desk in his office, reading a letter and smiling. Nurse Jones enters with two cups of coffee.
Nurse Jones: Coffee for you!
John: Thanks. I'm reading a letter from Steven and Michelle.
Nurse Jones: Time flies. I can’t believe it's been two years since they left… How are they?
John: Couldn't be better. They have a small clinic in Seattle.
Nurse Jones: That's the kind of life they've always wanted to live. They must be very happy now.
John: They surely are happy. We should pay them a visit some time.
Nurse Jones: That's exactly what I was thinking.
John: You know what? I'm thinking about having my own clinic in the near future. Would you like to be my partner?
Nurse Jones: Well… maybe. Why don't we have dinner together and talk about it? Do you have time tonight?
John: Of course I have time. So when should I pick you up?….
(John and Nurse Jones leave the office)
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The End ∼