Nurse Betty Page #2

BETTY:

Thanks, Roy, you're sweet... a big liar,

but sweet. I liked your editorial this

morning...

ROY:

Oh, appreciate it. I was trying to, ahh,

give a sense of history to...

BALLARD:

(interrupting)

Yeah, it was great. Really put the whole

idea of "church bake sales" in

perspective...

ROY:

You know, Elden, some people actually

read more than just the Classifieds...

BALLARD:

Why don't you go back to doing something

you're good at... like that Lonelyhearts

column?

(chuckles to himself)

I'll take a refill there, Betty...

His cup is full before he can even finish the sentence.

BETTY:

Hey, Sheriff. How's everything?

BALLARD:

Oh, you know, the usual... keeping the

world safe.

BETTY:

... I meant your food.

BALLARD:

Oh, right... 's fine. Thanks.

ROY:

I thought you said the eggs weren't...

BALLARD:

It's fine. Mind your own meal...

5.

ROY:

You should get the order you want.

BALLARD:

And you should keep your nose out of

another man's omelette...

(to Betty)

It's no big deal, Betty.

BETTY:

There's yolks in there, huh? It's no

prob'... gotta keep you on track.

Betty grabs Ballard's plate without another word, gives him a

reassuring rub on the shoulders and moves off. He smiles

appreciatively after her, then turns on Roy.

BALLARD:

Why you always gotta embarrass me? I

been eating lunch with you since grade

school and you always gotta embarrass me!

ROY:

They're just eggs, Elden, how

embarrassing can eggs be?

BALLARD:

... plenty

ROY:

Who eats eggs for lunch, anyhow?

BALLARD:

Mind your own business. You just said

that sh*t so you could look at her a

little longer, anyway...

Still carrying Ballard's plate, she returns to the counter.

BETTY:

Come on, guys, I told you it's egg whites

only for the Sheriff...

(quietly)

... I put him in that 'zone' thing.

COOK #1

Well, it better be a pretty good size

zone if he's in it...

Betty and the cooks share a quick laugh. They move to change

his order while Betty glances up at the TV.

6.

4 INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - RETURN TO TV SCREEN 4

Lonnie catches up to Blake in the corridor.

LONNIE:

Blake, I can handle that transplant!

BLAKE:

We need someone with the right kind of

experience, Lonnie.

LONNIE:

Even if he's falling asleep on his feet?

BLAKE:

Lonnie, it's a complex procedure. Why

don't you observe?

LONNIE:

I'm not some snot-nosed resident fresh

out of medical school, Blake.

BLAKE:

No, you're not. You're a good doctor,

Lonnie, but you're not David Ravell.

I've made my decision. Now, if you'll

excuse me ...

Blake exits. The camera moves in to hold on a CLOSEUP of

Lonnie's face as he simmers in anger. Music soars.

5 INT. TIP TOP DINER - DAY 5

Plates of food are piling up on the shelf in front of the

COOKS. One of them turns the TV off by remote.

BETTY:

Hey! We were watching that!

COOK #1

The other girls've got orders up... we're

not one 'a them goddamn Nelson families,

y'know.

Betty snatches up several plates to help out. Ballard's food

appears with A CLATTER of porcelain.

BETTY:

It's "Nielson"...

COOK #1

Yeah, well, we ain't one 'a them,

neither.

7.

(BEAT)

Go on now...

DARLENE:

When you gonna get those things fixed,

anyhow?

COOK #1

When you all quit watching 'em for a

living...

Frustrated, Betty delivers several plates and drops them at

tables where the people know her by name. She moves off

toward FOUR LOCAL GUYS in a booth jangling their empty cups.

Betty weaves her way over to them and pours refills. When a

hand strays around to touch her ass, she pushes it away with

her foot and keeps right on pouring. Absently, Betty takes a

look around the restaurant. The other waitresses are gone

and no one is behind the grill. Alarmed, she pushes through

the double doors into the kitchen.

6 INT. TIP TOP DINER - KITCHEN - SAME TIME 6

THREE WAITRESSES, along with the DISHWASHER and TWO COOKS are

standing in a row waiting for her.

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