Family Plus One: SCENE ONE

MAYFIELD VETERINARY CLINIC, INTERIOR TREATMENT ARENA - DAY
EMILY IS PERFORMING A CAESARIAN OPERATION ON A DOG. WE SEE ONLY THE PUPPIES AS THEY ARE BROUGHT FROM THE MOTHER. CYNTHIA IS HELPING BY WEIGHING THE PUPPIES AND CLEANING THEM UP.
ROBBIE ENTERS HOLDING A LARGISH TABBY CAT WRAPPED IN A THICK TOWEL.

ROBBIE

Murphy jumped out the window again. He
may have broken his leg.

EMILY

Not Murphy again. Let me take a look. Molly, hold on a minute. (TURNS TO LOOK AT CAT) Cynthia, you’re going to have to take his vitals.

CYNTHIA
Can’t put this one down yet, Dr. Em.

EMILY
Robbie, keep Murphy calm. I need a couple of minutes here. Then I can take a look. (LOOKS AT DOG) You’re doing fine, Molly. Just a few more minutes, sweet girl, we’re almost done.

ROBBIE
Dr. Em —

EMILY
It’s okay, Robbie. Just keep him still.

EMILY RETURNS TO THE DOG AND BRINGS OUT THE LAST PUPPY AND WEIGHS IT.

EMILY
Molly is a class act, aren’t you, sweetheart? Let me get you stitched together before someone else needs me. I swear, we could use another pair of hands in here.

ESTRELLA ENTERS

ESTRELLA

Dr. Em, you have a phone call.

EMILY

Not now, Estrella. Get a number.

ESTRELLA

It’s Stuart MacGregor, and he said it’s
important.

EMILY

Fine. See if you can get that phone
under my chin while I finish this.

ESTRELLA BALANCES A PHONE PRECARIOUSLY UNDER EMILY’S LEFT EAR.

EMILY

Stuart, how nice and how inconvenient. I don’t have time. I’m in the midst of puppies … No, tell me you have another nephew. Not ‘A-for-arrogant’ Michael. He is not coming here. … No, Stuart, not today.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR AIRPORT — DAY
A. MICHAEL HAS A CARRY-ON IN HIS HAND. HE IS AT THE COUNTER WITH A SMALL LINE BEHIND HIM. THE LINE GETS LONGER AS AN ANIMATED CONVERSATION BETWEEN A. MICHAEL AND THE AIRLINE REPRESENTATIVE GOES ON … AND ON.

CUT TO:
CLINIC INTERIOR TREATMENT ARENA – DAY
ESTRELLA CONTINUES TO BALANCE A PHONE PRECARIOUSLY UNDER EMILY’S LEFT EAR.


EMILY
Why? … What do you think you’re doing, sending your nephew to my clinic uninvited … Yes, I know he was first in his class … It doesn’t matter. I don’t have time. … No, Stuart, not even for you. … Look, we’ll talk about this later. … After puppies, Stuart. (TO ESTRELLA) Estrella, take this phone, will you? Thanks.


(CONTINUED)