The alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. Lonnie slams his hand on the snooze and rolls back over while Mary creeps out of bed and quickly gets ready.
LONNIE
So I guess you're going?
MARY
Yeah.
LONNIE
(sarcastic)
Good luck. Dunno how you're going to deal with all that.
Lonnie has his back to her.
INT. hospice of Seery co. office-day
Cathy and Mary sit at a conference table with training binders strewn about. Mary looks at one-The cover reads:
Mary's POV-death: a new beginning
CATHY
So are you ready to get out there? We've put you through about six hours of training now. You're not quite ready for one-on-one contact with the patients but I think I'm gonna put you to shadow with...Kristi. She's not been here too long, but she can show you the ropes.
MARY
That sounds great. But...
CATHY
Yeah?
MARY
I'm kind of nervous. Are you sure I should be going out there already?
CATHY
No. But how else are you going to learn? After this, we'll start you with...Gerty Berry.
Cathy winks and Mary turns around as Kristi walks into the room.
KRISTI
(mischievous)
Come on. You're going to like this guy. He likes pretty ladies.
EXT. Will's home-day
PAN: in on a decent-looking yellow mobile home
Kristi knocks on the door but no one answers. She looks at Mary and shrugs and knocks again, louder-still no answer.
KRISTI
That's weird. I'll go try the side door.
The two walk around the house and Kristi knocks on the door again. Still no answer. Mary glances back and sees a car parked in the driveway.
MARY
Is that his?
KRISTI
Yeah. I'll give him a call. Maybe he's sleeping.
Mary shifts her feet and looks uncomfortable.
MARY
What if he's...
KRISTI
That could happen. That's why we're here.
Kristi dials a number and shakes her head when she still has no answer. She dials another number.
KRISTI
(into phone)
Hi, Becky? Yeah, I'm here at Will's house and he's not answering. Do you want to come over and let us in? (beat)
Hm, well we won't be here at that time...OK, under the red pot? OK, thanks. I'll let you know.
Kristi hangs up and reaches under the red pot by the side door for a key.
KRISTI (cont'd)
Let's go see what's up.
INT. will's HOME-CONTINUED-the tv
is flickering.
KRISTI (CONT'D)
Will?
(to Mary)
We'll go check the bedroom.
The bedroom-cont'd
Kristi and Mary cautiously walk into the bedroom. The bathroom light is on and the door is closed. Kristi knocks on the bathroom door. No answer.
The bathroom-continued
Kristi opens the door and her eyes widen. Mary screams. WILL is standing with his pants around his ankles at the toilet, dead.
MARY
Is he...?
KRISTI
(laughs)
It sure looks like it. Man, what a way to go. He's just standing there!
MARY
Is this funny?
KRISTI
Lighten up. I know this sounds harsh, but he was going to go anyway. At least he was able to stand. Come on, help me get him out of here.
Mary and Kristi each grab a hold of his arms but he won't budge. They try again, pushing this time but he's not going anywhere.
EXT. patient home-continued
Kristi and Mary sit on the curb outside and watch as four firemen carry Will outside of the house. Mary gazes dumbfounded.
MARY
I can't believe it took four of them to get him out of there.
KRISTI
Man, that's embarrassing. Going out with his pants down. What do you think God is gonna say when he gets up there?
Mary looks at Kristi like she's crazy and then suddenly bursts out laughing.
EXT. GERTY's home-day
Kristi and Mary pull up to GERTY's house. Both get out, but Kristi remains standing by the car. Mary walks for the door, but stops when she sees Kristi isn't following her.
MARY
Aren't you coming in?
KRISTI
No. You can handle it. All she needs is meds. She'll tell you where they are.
Mary looks unsure, but Kristi waves her inside.
INT. GERTY's home-kitchen-cont'd
Mary stands next to Gerty at the kitchen table. Gerty looks to be about Mary's age and doesn't look sick at all. Gerty is rifling through a basket filled with different medications. Dragonfly sun-catchers cast shades of green and blue on the floor.
GERTY
So you're the new meat, then?
MARY
I suppose I could be called that.
GERTY
You scared?
MARY
You have no idea.
GERTY
(laughs)
I think I have a pretty good idea.
MARY
(gestures toward the sun-catchers)
You know, my sister liked dragonflies, too. And hummingbirds.
Gerty finally finds what she's looking for and pulls out a syringe and hands it to Mary. Mary hesitates before taking it.
MARY (CONT'D)
Do you mind if I ask you a question?
Gerty nods.
MARY (CONT'D)
Are you afraid? Of dying, I mean. It's just that...you're so young and you don't even look-I mean, you could be me. I could be you. You're so young.
Gerty sets the syringe on the table and sits back.
GERTY
I've had this diagnosis for a year. I know I'm going to die some day. We're all going to die. At first, I was angry, but now I know it's all going to be fine. I don't believe there's anything for me to be afraid of.
Gerty hands the syringe to Mary and Mary preps Gerty's arm. She gently slides the needle in her arm.
GERTY (cont'd)
I think you and I are going to get along just fine. You just make sure I get up there OK.
Gerty winks as she points up.
INT. restaurant-later
Mary enjoys a sandwich with her best friend BRENDA. Brenda looks like a kind person, smiling all the time. She's close in age to Mary. Mary's hand rests on the table next to a black mug with a white feather on it.
BRENDA
So he was just standin there? Not leaning against anything?
MARY
No, just standing. Eyes open and everything. What do you suppose that means?
BRENDA
(laughs)
I don't think we're supposed to know.
Mary wraps up her sandwich wrapper and leans back in her chair.
MARY
Well I should probably get home. Lonnie's going to want to know everything.
BRENDA
Tell him to go fuck himself.
Mary flinches at the word "fuck."
MARY
You know I can't do that. Wish I could...but he's always stuck in his ways. You know him. He's always right and sticks to that. Very rigid.
EXT. Mary's house-later
Lonnie is sitting on a double seater lawn chair with Daniel waiting for her. Their back yard is a new deck, brick walk, flowers. We assume Mary did this because Lonnie is sitting in his chair with trash littered around him. Mary walks up and begins picking up the trash.
LONNIE
So how was it? You ready to quit yet?
MARY
You know, you could be a little supportive. It wasn't easy for me to switch jobs-
LONNIE
That's why you shouldn't have done it. You get home three hours later than you normally did and you're going to be running all over the state.
MARY
(laughs)
Yeah, taking care of dying people. Whatever, I'm tired of talking about this.
Mary walks toward the door and Lonnie grabs her arm as he stands. He towers over her. She doesn't look at him.
MARY
Let go.
A beat. Another stare down. He lets go.
LONNIE
Don't forget how you got here.
Daniel is clearly bothered by this exchange. He slinks out of the lawn chair. Mary and Lonnie glance over as the screen door screeches.
CUT TO:
INT. FREDA'S HOME-DAY
Ruth and Freda are in their usual spots in Freda's room. The door creaks open and Mary peeks her head in.
MARY
How are we doing today?
Freda who had been sleeping, wakes up and smiles at Mary.
RUTH
Well, she's better now that you're here.
MARY
Freda! How are you doing today? You seem pretty perky.
RUTH
Now, I know it's only your third time here, but I just want to let you know she's been telling all of us it's her time.
Mary is obviously disconcerted, but tries to keep a neutral tone in front of Ruth.
MARY
Well, that's what we're here for.
Mary pulls a stethoscope out of her bag and puts it to Freda's chest.
MARY (CONT'D)
Freda, can you tell me a story?
FREDA
Oh, I suppose. Ruth knows this one. You know the house down on 800?
MARY
Can't say I do.
FREDA
Well the woman who lives there has a pool, but she never stays there during the summer. Ruth, you finish the story.
This much of the story was taxing to Freda and Mary looks over to Ruth and smiles sadly.
RUTH
Well, Freda was quite the rebel one night! Freda and I went over to that pool--that house was just a quarter mile from the highway--and when we got there Freda stripped right down to the nude!
MARY
Freda!
Freda laughs but keeps her eyes closed.
RUTH
Yep, stripped right down, semis driving by and everything. The water was freezing when we got in there and I'm looking around all terrified someone was gonna see us and all Freda says is 'Doesn't this water feel nice?'
Mary laughs and pats Freda on the arm.
CUT TO:
MONTAGE:
--Mary gives meds to Gerty and laughs at something Gerty says.
--She goes to a church for a funeral.
--She rushes into Daniel's spelling bee late.
--A patient codes in a hospital and all staff stands around and watches the machines flat-line.
--Lonnie eats dinner with Daniel alone in silence.
--Another funeral.
--Mary tries to get Freda to eat pudding.
--She does a mountain of paperwork in the office.
--Mary watches as a patient thrashes on a bed before she passes.
--Mary plays card games with Daniel. Both are laughing and seem very happy.
--She drives to several patients' homes.
INT. Mary's car-night
It's obviously weeks later. Mary's car is now cluttered with various pieces of equipment for patients--syringes, bed pans, dressings. Mary glances at the clock and sighs. It reads 1:34 a.m. Mary's phone rings and she jumps, scrambles for it.
MARY
Hello?
KRISTI (o.s.)
Are you on your way out there?
MARY
Yeah, the family called and said that he seems to be getting weaker.
KRISTI (o.s.)
Alright, just make sure he's comfortable. There's a new order of Roxanol there if you need it and-
MARY
I've got it Kristi, just go back to bed. You're not on call.
Mary hangs up and puts both hands on the steering wheel.
INT. Jason's house-Jason's bedroom-continued
A man in his early fifties, JASON, lies on the bed. The lights are dim and his wife LUCY and young daughter MARIE stand behind Mary.
LUCY
He's been like this for about an hour now. He hasn't woken up or anything and his hands and feet...
MARY
I know. How about you go into the living room and I'll be out in a second.
Lucy nods and walks out of the room with her daughter as Mary steps in. She grabs his wrist and takes a pulse and pulls his sheets up to check his feet. Purple.
MARIE
Is daddy OK?
MARY
We'll see honey. Your daddy might be going up with the angels tonight.
Marie walks out of the room as Mary goes to the nightstand that holds all of his medicine and opens up the drawer. Jason grabs her wrist and looks at her wildly, Mary shrieks.
JASON
Help me.
Jason falls back on to the bed and closes his eyes. Mary checks his breathing and puts a hand to her chest and tries to gather herself.
She notices a dog creep out of the room and into the hall, whining. At this exact moment, the room develops a chill and gets colder and colder. Mary wraps her arms around herself and shivers. She looks around the room, checking the windows, and walks out of the room.
INT. Jason's house-living room-continued
Lucy sits on the couch holding her daughter who is asleep. Lucy livens up a bit as Mary walks into the room.
LUCY
How is he? Is he comfortable?
MARY
Well, it's kind of hard to tell. But as long as he's asleep, we're going to assume he's comfortable. (beat) Um, has anything...strange happened in the last couple of days with him?
LUCY
No. He was just his normal, mean old self.
MARY
What do you mean?
LUCY
He wasn't always the nicest man, to strangers I mean, and as soon as Hospice came around, he turned meaner. Always bossing us around and yelling for something. I just tell myself it's because it's his time you know? At least he was still great to Marie. The nurse from Decatur County said it was fear.
MARY
Uh huh. Well, that's pretty normal I think. When someone is that close to dying, they don't have to impress the people they know anymore. He is comfortable enough around you to be himself. And-
Suddenly, screams O.S.
INT. Jason's house-bedroom-continued
Jason is writhing on the bed and scratching at his arms. It's still freezing in the room and the dog whines out in the hall.
JASON
GET THEM OFF ME!
Jason sits straight up in bed, eyes wide open.
JASON (cont'd)
(sobs)
GET THEM OFF ME, PLEASE!
Mary and Lucy stand in the corner as he falls back on to the bed and is silent.
PAN: in on the thermostat. The needle rises with the temperature
Mary walks to Jason and grabs his wrist.
MARY
He's gone.
Lucy puts her hands to her mouth and cries quietly. Marie clings to Lucy's pants, terrified.
C.U. of Mary upset looking at Marie
INT. Mary's house-bedroom-later
Mary creeps into the bedroom and tries not to wake Lonnie. She looks at the clock.
Her POV: 3:46 a.m.
Mary slinks into bed and accidentally bumps Lonnie. He jerks awake and she shrieks.
LONNIE
Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.
A beat
LONNIE (CONT'D)
Since you're up, do you wanna...
Mary shivers and looks disgusted.
MARY
It was a hard night.
LONNIE
This job is ruining everything.
Lonnie rolls over on the bed.
EXT. cemetery-day
Brenda and Mary walk down a path leading straight to Jane's plot. New grass is starting to grow and plastic flowers lie on top of it. A bird made a nest against the side of her headstone and has scattered tiny white feathers on the ground. Mary reaches down and brushes them aside.
BRENDA
So Freda is the one who sang to you on your first day, right?
MARY
Yeah, she reminds me so much of Jane-so happy even when things are bad. The other day, when I was treating her urinary tract infection, I was getting ready to leave she smiled and said, "Don't leave."
They both smile and stare at Jane's headstone.
MARY (cont'd)
I like Gerty, too.
BRENDA
Who's Gerty?
MARY
She could be Jane's twin. She's got lung cancer--should be around for awhile. She is so sweet. So young, too.
BRENDA
I don't know how you do that every day.
MARY
The only hard part is I don't spend as much time with Daniel. But it's actually helping me--knowing I can help other families get through grief. Freda is the easiest. She's so sweet. It's going to be hard when she's gone. My days will get a little bit worse.
Mary puts new flowers on the ground.
MARY (CONT'D)
I still can't believe she's gone. I mean, I know she's gone, but it's not fair.
BRENDA
I know.
She puts an arm around Mary.
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