Philadelphia Page #5

CHANDRA:

You want to try Light Egyptian?

Suddenly, Andrew winces, gripping his gut.

CHANDRA (CONT.)

What?

ANDREW:

(clearly in pain)

Excuse me a sec...

Andrew starts out of the room -- suddenly HAVING TO RUN.

CHANDRA:

Just like my cousin Fredo.

CAMERA HOLDS ON Chandra, Alan and Bruno. SOUND OF BATHROOM DOOR

slamming shut.

Bruno saunters across the room and knocks on the bathroom

door.

BRUNO:

You okay, Andy?

CONTINUOUS CUT TO:

TIGHT SHOT ON ANDREW, FACE TWISTED IN PAIN (INT./DAY) ...

Andrew rests his head against the wall, sweat covering his

face. A storm of fire has passed through him, and he's hoping

it's over for now.

ANDREW:

I think I need to go to the

hospital.

CUT TO:

MIGUEL ALVAREZ RUNS URGENTLY DOWN SPRUCE STREET, DODGING

traffic as he crosses Eleventh Street, toward Jefferson

Hospital (EXT./DAY). He hustles up the ramp toward the

Emergency Entrance...

CUT TO:

MIGUEL SHOVES THROUGH GLASS DOORS, INTO THE BUSTLING

Emergency Room (INT./DAY), FINDING

ANDREW sitting on a gurney, holding a cotton ball against

his arm, where blood has been drawn, wearing a blanket over

his shoulders, fighting chills.

Chandra and Bruno are waiting with Andrew. They exchange

quick hugs with Miguel and Andrew, ad libbing greetings and

goodbyes.

ANDREW:

Thanks, you guys.

MIGUEL:

Yeah. Thanks, guys.

Miguel puts his arms around Andrew.

ANDREW:

Gillman's out of her office today.

I told her to take a day off, and

she did, can you believe it? Did

you get someone to cover your

class?

Miguel touches Andrew's face, checking for fever.

MIGUEL:

Don't worry about it. They took

blood? A specimen?

Andrew holds an empty specimen cup.

ANDREW:

Aren't you giving an exam?

MIGUEL:

I said, don't worry about it.

Miguel places a gentle kiss on Andrew's sweaty forehead.

MIGUEL (CONT.)

You got a fever, baby.

Suddenly, the facade cracks and TEARS STING Andrew's eyes.

ANDREW:

I almost didn't make it to

the bathroom, Miguel. I almost

lost control right in front

of everybody.

MIGUEL:

(holding him)

So what? It's nothing to be

ashamed of. You have nothing to

be ashamed of, okay?

Andrew pulls himself together, brushing aside tears, in

control of his emotions once more.

ANDREW:

Wait, here's my guy... Hey!

Andrew catches the attention of a harried INTERN, whose

surgeon's greens are covered with blood.

INTERN:

Mr. Beckett, I'm sorry...

ANDREW:

About my blood work?

INTERN:

We're waiting...

Miguel opens a small notebook, making notes.

INTERN:

... meanwhile, I'd like to

prepare you for a colonoscopy,

so we can take a look inside.

ANDREW:

Sounds delightful.

MIGUEL:

Why do you need to do this?

INTERN:

Who are you?

MIGUEL:

Who are you? Doctor... ?

ANDREW:

This is my partner. We keep

records of hospital visits.

Nothing personal.

INTERN:

Dr. Klenstein.

(to Andrew)

It's not a pleasant procedure,

but if the KS is causing the

diarrhea, we ought to know right

away.

MIGUEL:

It could be parasites, an

infection...

ANDREW:

A reaction to AZT...

KLENSTEIN:

That's possible, but.

MIGUEL:

He's not going through some

painful procedure until we've

cancelled out everything else.

INTERN:

I'm trying to help your

"partner." You're not a member

of his immediate family, I could

have you removed from the ER.

ANDREW:

(to the Intern)

He's upset, he's sorry.

MIGUEL:

Don't apologize for me.

ANDREW:

He's not sorry, okay, fine.

(the diplomat)

Why don't we see what we find

out from the blood work? I'll

work on getting a specimen, I'm

sure hospital food could help in

that direction. Maybe, by then,

we'll hear from my doctor, and

we'll go from there. Okay?

Everybody happy?

INTERN:

Allright. I'll get on the lab

about the blood work.

MIGUEL:

(to the Intern)

I'm sorry.

The INTERN walks away. Andrew's BEEPER BEEPS.

ANDREW:

That's the third time. I better

call the office.

(smiling at Niguel)

Would you relax, please?

MIGUEL:

I am relaxed.

Andrew HOBBLES toward a pay phone, outside a VISITOR LOUNGE,

where weary relatives are watching TV.

Andrew drops a quarter into the phone.

JOE MILLER'S VOICE

"If you or someone you know..."

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