John Q Page #18

J.Q.

Can I have a word with him?

Dr. Klein exits and J.Q. moves to Mike and gently wakes him up.

MIKE:

Hi, Dad. You find me a heart?

J.Q.

Yeah, kid. We got you one. Look like you've got a guardian angel.

Mike smiles and tries to go back to sleep.

J.Q. (CONT'D)

Try to stay awake for a minute, will you? I just need to tell you a few things. I want you always to listen to your mother. Because she's your best friend and family is important.

He's all over the place, searching for the right words.

J.Q. (CONT'D)

And girls? You're too young for them now, but when the time comes, treat them like princesses because that's what they are. And if you say you'll do something, do it, because your world should be your bond. And if you have a chance to make money, go for it, even if it means selling out once in a while. Don't be a knucklehead like your father. Everything's so much easier with money.

He's stumbling, trying to cram a lifetime of advice into five minutes.

J.Q. (CONT'D)

Don't smoke. And try to be kind. But if someone chooses you, be a man and stand up for yourself. And don't get caught up in the bad things, there's too many great things out there.

J.Q. just sits there, the tears running down his face, not knowing what to say.

J.Q. (CONT'D)

Mike?

Mike's eyes open.

MIKE:

Yeah, Dad?

J.Q.

See you later, buddy.

Mike closes his eyes before opening and closing his little hand. Bye bye.

INT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - CORRIDORS - NIGHT

INTERCUT:

Reggie races through the hospital, weaving in and out of ambulatory and pedestrian traffic. In his hand, the all important fax.

INT. J.Q.'S TRAUMA ROOM - NIGHT

Maguire, Klein and Turner speak in hushed tones as J.Q. reenters. When they see him, they immediately go quiet. J.Q.'s eyes are glassy, a look of finality on his face.

J.Q.

Let's do it.

Maguire gathers fresh, clean towels and makes a pack for the back of J.Q.'s head. J.Q. sits on the exam table, takes the Baretta and pops the clip. He then takes a single bullet from his pocket, feeds the clip and chambers the round.

MAGUIRE:

Wait a minute. This gun was empty the whole time?

J.Q.

Aw, I'm all talk. I would never hurt any of you. Only person I ever considered killing was me.

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Reggie flies out the main entrance and into the crowd, pushing through the sea of humanity until he reaches Payne, Grimes and Monroe.

REGGIE:

Miss Payne! You're not going to believe this! We've got a match.

PAYNE:

Are you sure?

Payne studies the fax.

REGGIE:

B-positive. Michael William Archibald. The only status one in the whole country. The heart is ours.

INSERT FAX:

It's official. The heart is on the way.

PAYNE:

Well, I'll be damned.

GRIMES:

You really put the kid on the list?

PAYNE:

I may be a lot of things, Lieutenant, but I am not a liar.

INT. J.Q.'S TRAUMA ROOM - NIGHT

J.Q. readies himself before laying back on the roll of towels.

DR. TURNER

John. Stop. I changed my mind. I won't do this.

J.Q. regards Turner with positive affection.

J.Q.

You're a good man, Doc. I know you'll do the right thing.

J.Q. lifts the gun to his head.

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Reggie, Grimes, Payne and Monroe run over to Denise.

GRIMES:

Mrs. Archibald? I have some very, very good news.

INT. J.Q.'S TRAUMA ROOM - NIGHT

The moment has come. Everyone's face wears the intensity of it. John holds the gun up, his hand trembling. CLICK! Nothing happens.

J.Q.

Sorry. Safety's on.

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Denise reads the fax.

DENISE:

Is this for real?

REGGIE:

You bet. The Lear Jet just landed at O'Hare. The helicopter will be here in fifteen minutes.

Grimes offers his walkie-talkie to Denise.

GRIMES:

You want to do the honors?

DENISE:

(into walkie-talkie)

John? It's me, baby. Are you there?

INT. J.Q.'S TRAUMA ROOM - NIGHT

DENISE (O.S.)

John, honey? Pick up.

J.Q. hears Denise's voice squawking over the walkie-talkie. SNAP. He shuts it off. Takes a deep breath. Flips the safety off and puts the gun to his head for the final time.

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Denise keeps triggering the walkie-talkie.

DENISE:

John? John? Oh, no.

Desperate, she grabs the list and starts running towards the ER entrance.

INT. J.Q.'S TRAUMA ROOM - NIGHT

CLOSE ON J.Q.'s GUN

Moves closer to the temple til it touches.

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Denise breaks through the police barricade.

INT. J.Q.'S TRAUMA ROOM - NIGHT

CLOSER ON TRIGGER as John's finger pulls it tighter.

BLAM!

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - E.R. ENTRANCE - NIGHT

BLAM! The sound is revealed. Not a bullet. It's Denise slapping the list up against the glass windows of the ER.

DENISE:

John! It's a miracle! They found a heart! It's a miracle!!!

EXT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT

The crowd points and stares as a white medivac helicopter descends from the sky, lights flashing and lands on the roof.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

Tuck Lampley, hand over his ear, shouting above the noise to bring us more exclusive coverage.

LAMPLEY:

The heart is here. Repeat. The heart for little Mike Archibald has arrived. What an unbelievable ending to this incredible, tumultuous day.

A roar from the crowd is heard as the entrance to the ER is unlocked and the front door opens. Mitch and Debby are the first to emerge.

LAMPLEY (CONT'D)

Oh my goodness, here we go. The first of the hostages are being released. Yes, they're coming out. There's one, two. They appear to be unharmed. But certainly exhausted from what must've been an excruciating ordeal.

Julie and the security guard are next. And are quickly ushered away to support vehicles.

LAMPLEY (CONT'D)

More, now. And there he is. John Q. is coming out.

J.Q., in baseball hat and windbreaker, emerges from the hospital.

LAMPLEY (CONT'D)

The suspect's hands are up. He appears to be surrendering.

The police are all around him now. Pointing their weapons and shouting commands. J.Q. puts his hands behind his head, turns around, kneels and then lays face down on the pavement.

LAMPLEY (CONT'D)

And they've got him. The police have subdued him. The handcuffs are on, and it's over. It's all over.

The crowd voices their disapproval with the rough way J.Q. is being apprehended. They cheer their support as he is escorted to a police car.

LAMPLEY (CONT'D)

If pictures speak a thousand words, well, I'd say these images speak volumes. And now as the bloody stand off comes to an end, we remind you that Channel 8 was here first and has brought you live, moment-to-moment, all-day coverage of "Crisis at Hope Memorial.'

Frank Grimes takes in the whole scene. But as he glances at the suspect, a funny look comes across his face. Wait a sec -

INT. HOPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - CORRIDORS - NIGHT

Mike's gurney flies through the hospital corridors. Running alongside are Turner, Klein, Maguire and Denise. As well as teams of MEDICAL PERSONNEL and a man in green surgical scrubs. As they pass a police checkpoint, we notice the identity of the man in the green scrubs. It's J.Q.

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