Family Plus One: SCENE FIVE

CLINIC INTERIOR RECEPTION AREA – DAY
ESTRELLA IS ON THE PHONE.

ESTRELLA
Thursday afternoon? 2:30 or 3:30?

CYNTHIA AND CLIENT, MR. RODRIGUEZ, AND HIS COMPANION, A CHIHUAHUA, WAIT AT THE COUNTER TO GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM ESTRELLA

ESTRELLA

(TO CYNTHIA) Take Mr. Rodriguez and Spitfire to exam room 1.

CYNTHIA

Mr. Holdveg and Helga are in room 1.

ESTRELLA

You’re right! How about 2?

CYNTHIA AND MR. RODRIGUEZ EXIT. THIRD CLIENT SITS IN A CHAIR IN THE WAITING ROOM, A SMALL PET CARRIER ON THE FLOOR BESIDE HER. FOURTH CLIENT AND PET ARE AT DESK SIGNING IN.

INTERIOR EXAM ROOM #1 - DAY
EMILY AND A. MICHAEL ENTER.

EMILY

Good morning, Mr. Holdveg, how are you this morning?

MR. HOLDVEG

I’m fine, Dr. Em, fine.

EMILY

And how is our girl today? (SHE TAKES THE DOG’S FACE IN HER HANDS AND TALKS GENTLY TO THE DOG.) Good morning, Helga, how are you feeling today? Are you doing all right? Why did you bring your dad in to see us today, Helga?

A. MICHAEL

(UNDER HIS BREATH) You’ve got to be kidding.

MR. HOLDVEG

She’s wonderful. Wonderful. Aren’t you, my Helga girl? We just need some s-h-o-t-s, Dr. Em. She hates them so bad, I don’t want her to hear the word.

EMILY

(TO HELGA) Checkup time, little girl?

EMILY GIVES HELGA EXAM-STETHOSCOPE ON CHEST, CHECKS EYES, EARS, PALPATES STOMACH

MR. HOLDVEG

(TALKS CONSTANTLY AS EMILY IS EXAMINING HELGA) She hasn’t been liking the dry food so much, so I have to supplement. I don’t give her the fried foods, just the healthy ones. Lots of vegetables. Mashed potatoes, green beans with ham, creamed corn. Cornbread. She’s not much for salads. Won’t touch them.

A. MICHAEL

You know about salads?

MR. HOLDVEG

And a little ice cream for dessert. (QUICKLY) Not too much! I know how you feel about her weight! (LAUGHS)

A. MICHAEL

Yours or hers?


EMILY ABRUPTLY QUITS EXAMINING HELGA, TAKES A. MICHAEL BY THE ARM, SHOVES HIM OUT OF THE ROOM AND SHUTS THE DOOR IN HIS FACE.

EMILY

How are your walks together going, Mr. Holdveg?



CUT TO:
INTERIOR HALL - DAY
A. MICHAEL SEES ROBBIE AND JESTER

ROBBIE

(TO JESTER) You are so quiet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a little girl as quiet as you. (TO A. MICHAEL)
This is Jester.

A MICHAEL TAKES THE CAT

CUT TO:
INTERIOR TREATMENT ROOM — DAY
ROBBIE AND A. MICHAEL ENTER.
CYNTHIA IS PLACING CAT LEG X-RAYS ON THE LIGHT PANELS.

A. MICHAEL

(SURPRISED, CONDESCENDING) Nice pictures.

CYNTHIA

I know my job.

A. MICHAEL

Trade school?

CYNTHIA

Georgetown University, Political Science, cum laude.

A. MICHAEL

Obviously good training for working with animals.

CYNTHIA

Of all kinds, doctor.


CYNTHIA EXITS.



(CONTINUED)