Mary bustles into the room with a large black bag and a stethoscope around her neck. Ruth sits in a chair in the corner and knits, and Freda is in her recliner.
She looks a lot worse than the first time we saw her. Her skin is bruised and she has a nasty sore on her hand. She looks tired.
RUTH
She said she's not feeling too good today. That's the only thing I got out of her. She hasn't eaten anything either.
MARY
OK, well we'll see what we can do for her today.
RUTH
You know, she's been doing worse. I don't know how much longer-
MARY
We'll just see.
RUTH
OK, I'll go get some mashed potatoes and see if she'll eat for you.
Ruth leaves the room and looks sympathetically at Mary as she walks over to Freda's side.
MARY
(yells so she can hear)
Freda! How come you haven't eaten today?
Freda licks her lips and slowly looks over at Mary. It doesn't look like Freda understood.
MARY (CONT'D)
Do you want something to eat?
FREDA
I want to go home.
A beat. Mary tries to stifle tears.
MARY
Can you tell me a story Freda?
FREDA
No. I don't feel good.
Mary shuffles around some pillows and puts another blanket on top of her. She checks her pulse and her feet. The very tips of her toes have turned a reddish-purple. Mary sits down next to Freda and holds her hand until Freda falls asleep. Ruth walks back into the room with a small cup of potatoes.
RUTH
Did she talk to you?
MARY
Yeah, she doesn't think she'll be here for much longer.
RUTH
I know. She's pretty set on "going home." She waited for you, you know.
MARY
I know.
FADE TO:
EXT. MARY'S house-LATER
Mary gazes at the house from her car. The light in the bedroom is on. She sighs and slams the door of her car.
INT. the bedroom-cont'd
Mary sits up in bed working on some charts. The shower in the bathroom is on. Mary's cell phone rings and she answers it.
MARY
Hello?
We hear words but can't make them out. Mary sits up straighter in bed and puts her book down.
EXT. Freda's house-night
The street around the house is quiet. There are no lights save for one small light coming from the inside of a car.
INT. CATHY'S CAR-CONTINUED
PAN: in on a blue binder with Freda's full name
CATHY
She passed about a half an hour ago. She went real peaceful. She was smiling. I'm so sorry.
INT. Mary's room-continued
Mary is crying now and has her head in one hand while clutching her phone with the other.
CATHY (on phone)
Are you OK?
MARY
I'm gonna miss her.
Mary hangs up and Lonnie walks out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
LONNIE
What's wrong with you?
MARY
What the HELL do you mean what's wrong with me?
For the first time, genuine concern can be seen on his face.
LONNIE
What? I just asked-
MARY
You know what? I can't do this anymore-you don't even care.
LONNIE
I don't care?! I'm the one who told you not to take this job.
MARY
It's not about the job! It's you!
INT. Daniel's bedroom-night
Daniel sits up in bed and can hear yelling coming from Mary and Lonnie's room, but can't make out the words. He waits and watches the sliver of light peeking in from under his door. Suddenly, Mary bursts into the room. She composes herself when she sees Daniel awake.
MARY
What are you doing awake?
DANIEL
I heard yelling.
A beat.
MARY
I'm sorry. Your dad and I were just having a little disagreement.
DANIEL
Does dad like you anymore?
Another beat.
MARY
Dad's just having a hard time getting used to my job.
DANIEL
I like your new job.
MARY
You do?
DANIEL
You're more fun. And you're not sad anymore.
MARY
Sad?
DANIEL
Yeah. About Aunt Jane.
Mary sighs and sits on the bed next to Daniel.
MARY
There's going to be a lot of changes, big guy. You think you can handle it?
Daniel looks unsure but nods anyway.
EXT. CHURCH-DAy
Cathy and Mary are on a bench under a tree away from the entrance of the church. Both wear black. Ruth can be seen walking into the church from their bench.
MARY
I know I'm supposed to be able to deal with death by now, but this is still hard. I didn't want her to go.
CATHY
It's always going to be hard, but you have to learn to be happy for her.
MARY
Have you ever seen anybody go in a good way?
CATHY
What do you mean?
MARY
Well, all of my patients have either been asleep or have done really creepy things before they die. Remember Jason?
CATHY
Yeah. Freda was asleep, too. But let me tell you a story about my mom. She was a great lady. One of the greatest. She told us before she died that she would be watching over us from up there. Before she died, she said she was hovering over all of us and that she was looking down at the tops of our heads. A week later, my sister said she kept finding white feathers in random places in her house.
flashback
INT. Cathy's sister's house-living room-day
Cathy's sister can be seen picking up a white feather from behind books on a bookshelf.
Cathy (V.O.)
None of us really believed it was Mom because she was the only one who saw them. I think secretly we were all a little jealous. Until a few months after that.
EXT. building with sign-"A sign above"-day
An empty parking lot looks into a window of the store where Cathy, her sister and brother look over paperwork looking worried.
CATHY (V.O.)
We were having a lot of trouble with a family business that my brother had been in charge of running for about ten years. We were looking over everything one day and decided we'd shut down at the end of the month. All of a sudden my sister shrieked and looked out the window.
Cathy's sister has her face pressed to the glass and Cathy and her brother peer out from behind her. The parking lot is filled with thousands of white feathers floating gently above the blacktop.
CATHY (V.O.)
We couldn't believe it. They were everywhere. Soon after that, if you can fathom it, our business improved and we're still running today.
end flashback:
EXT. CHURCH-DAY-CONTINUED
Cathy and Mary are still on the bench outside the church. There are more cars parked around them than before and Mary is crying now.
CATHY
I will still find little white feathers around, especially when I'm having a hard time. Believe me, good people end up in good places. You'll see that one day.
A beat.
CATHY (CONT'D)
I know you haven't said much about it, but I know if your sister was anything like you, she's in a good place too.
Mary smiles. Cathy and Mary move toward the church entrance as the bells ring announcing the beginning of Freda's service.
INT. courthouse-day
Mary bustles through the hallways with Daniel in tow. She has Daniel sit outside of a door on a bench before she walks in. She leans down in front of Daniel.
MARY
I know this is hard, but we're going to get through this OK.
DANIEL
What's going to happen to Dad?
MARY
Nothing is going to happen to him. We're both going to be the same. We're just not going to live together anymore.
Daniel looks away from Mary and she puts both hands on his shoulders.
MARY (CONT'D)
Look, we tried OK? We tried hard for you, but I think this is the better thing to do. If you don't think so, we can walk out of here right now.
Daniel still doesn't look at her but shakes his head.
DANIEL
Is it going to be OK?
Mary slowly nods her head, and walks through the door.
INT. Mary's bedroom-day
Mary sits on the edge of her bed and looks around the room. It's much emptier than before. Lonnie's side of the bed is made. Mary's phone rings and she picks it up.
MARY
This is Mary.
Voices can be heard on the other end of the phone.
MARY (CONT'D)
Yeah, I'll be there in a few minutes.
INT. DANIEL'S BEDROOM-CONTINUED
Mary walks into Daniel's room. He snaps two LEGO's together.
MARY
Hey buddy, I'm on call tonight and I just got a call to go out to one of my patient's house. I'm going to take you over to Dad's.
DANIEL
OK. Is this going to happen a lot.
MARY
I hope not, kiddo.
EXT. Lonnie's apartment-day
Both doors on Mary's car shut. Mary and Daniel walk toward the door where Lonnie stands.
LONNIE
How long do I have to have him?
Daniel looks up at Mary who squeezes his hand.
MARY
I know this is hard, but it doesn't have to be this hard.
She looks meaningfully at him while nodding her head toward Daniel. Lonnie shakes his head.
LONNIE
Whatever you want. Just call me when you're ready to pick him up. Unless you wanna stay here all night, buddy?
Lonnie looks hopefully at Mary and Daniel shrugs.
MARY
Yeah, you can stay here if you want. I can bring your school stuff over as soon as I'm done with my patient.
Lonnie looks thankful and Mary walks away as the wreath on the door swishes against the apartment door.
INT. Gerty's home-bedroom-cont'd
Mary sits next to Gerty with a stethoscope to her own chest. She stares at Gerty waiting for her to wake up. Rain drizzles on the window and it's grey outside. Another dragonfly hangs on the window. Gerty is sleeping. A WOMAN rushes in.
WOMAN
Sorry I'm late. I'm Gerty's sister, Mertle. I came as soon as I heard. How's she doing?
MARY
Well I just gave her some meds to make her more comfortable. I think she's getting ready to go. Her pulse and breathing have slowed considerably.
Mertle puts her hand to her mouth and starts crying.
MARY (cont'd)
I'm sorry Mertle, everything is going to be just fine.
MERTLE
I know. It's just-god, this is hard. What am I going to do without her? She's my only family.
MARY
She's a great lady. She'll be watching over you.
MERTLE
Are you sure?
Mary shrugs, but Mertle isn't looking at her because Gerty's breathing changes and she wakes up for a few seconds to look at Mertle and smile.
MERTLE (cont'd)
Gerty?
Sun suddenly breaks through the clouds and shines through Gerty's window. Blue light shines on Gerty's face from the dragonfly forming a blue feathery shape on her face.
Mary and Mertle are startled by the sunlight, but are even more surprised when Gerty's right arm floats up from the bed, hovers in the air, then falls back down on the bed.
The sun disappears.
MERTLE (CONT'D)
Gerty?
Mary puts her stethoscope to Gerty's chest, then puts an arm around a crying Mertle. Tears run down her face, too.
MERTLE (CONT'D)
Does that always happen?
MARY
Only to the good ones. There's another angel up there tonight.
PAN: in on Gerty's calm face
INT. MARY'S HOUSE-BEDROOM-night
Mary paces at the foot of the bed while talking on the phone.
MARY
She was a great lady. I'm going to miss her-she helped me a lot.
CATHY (ON PHONE)
I'm sure she's in a good place.
MARY
Me too.
CATHY
You are?
MARY
I saw her go. It was so surreal. I felt like heaven reached into the room for a few seconds. She's the one person I didn't want to see go. But I'm glad she went that way.
Daniel can be heard calling for Mary O.S.
MARY (CONT'D)
I gotta go. Just thought I'd let you know she's up there now. She was great.
INT. DANIEL'S BEDROOM-CONTINUED
Mary comes into the room and Daniel is pointing at his window.
DANIEL
Mom! I came in here and this huge feather was on my pillow.
Tucked between the edge of the pillow and the bed a feather as big as Mary's hand takes comfort.
DANIEL (CONT'D)
How did it get in here?
MARY
I don't know. But whoever put it there is watching over you.
DANIEL
Who?
MARY
Only the good ones.
Mary puts an arm around Daniel and stoops to cradle the feather in her hand.
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