Family Plus One: SCENE THREE

MAYFIELD VETERINARY CLINIC INTERIOR EMILY’S OFFICE – DAY
EMILY IS DRAGGING A. MICHAEL INTO HER OFFICE TO GET HIM OUT OF THE LOBBY AND AWAY FROM HER STAFF.

EMILY
Give me three good reasons I shouldn’t let Estrella have you neutered on Wednesday.

A. MICHAEL
Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to talk to you?

EMILY KNOCKS A STACK OF PAPERS OFF HER DESK.

EMILY
I don’t even know what you’re doing here.

EMILY STARTS PICKING UP THE PAPERS. A. MICHAEL HELPS HER.

EMILY
Thanks. Just stack them all on the corner and I’ll deal with them later.

A. MICHAEL
Isn’t this a lot of filing?

EMILY
Not filing. Paperwork.

A. MICHAEL
When will you get it done?

EMILY
It’ll get done at the usual time …
between dinner and midnight.

A. MICHAEL
That’s what Uncle Stuart said.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR RECEPTION AREA – DAY
EDNA CROSSES THE LOBBY CARRYING A SMALL CAT.

ESTRELLA
Edna! Buenos dias. Who is this?

EDNA HANDS A CAT TO ESTRELLA

EDNA
Doesn’t have a name yet, dear. Saved from the streets and now it needs the works from the doc: test for feline leukemia, AIDS, neuter it, de-tick it, de-flea it, de-worm it, and give it whatever shots you’ve got.

ESTRELLA
Male or female?

EDNA
Female.

ESTRELLA
(STROKES CAT) So, gatita, what’s your name? What do you want Estrella to put on your card?

EDNA
Gatita works.

ESTRELLA
Linda already has one. (TO THE CAT) Are you a playful little one? Nope, pretty quiet. Do you have a sense of humor? Are you a little jester?

EDNA
Awfully quiet for a jester.

ESTRELLA
So, we’ll give this little one something to shoot for.

ROBBIE ENTERS.

ROBBIE
I thought I heard my best girl. Hi, Mom. Who’s that?

EDNA
Hello, darling. Linda’s newest stray. Jester.

ESTRELLA HANDS THE CAT TO ROBBIE.

ESTRELLA
Here you go, Jester. (TO ROBBIE) Take this little girl back for the works.

ROBBIE
(TO JESTER) You’re going to feel so much better when we get all these fleas off you.

ROBBIE EXITS.

CUT TO:
INTERIOR EMILY’S OFFICE – DAY
A. MICHAEL STARES AT EMILY'S WALL OF PHOTOS

EMILY
What did Stuart say?

A. MICHAEL
Who's the girl?

EMILY
Me.

A. MICHAEL POINTS AT THE PHOTO

EMILY
And that is the Right Reverend Stuart L. MacGregor.

A. MICHAEL LOOKS CONFUSED

EMILY
That’s right. One and the same.

A. MICHAEL
This can’t be my Uncle Stuart!

EMILY
It was a long time ago. Now, what did Stuart say?

A. MICHAEL
That you need someone with my skills. You know, you’re lucky I’m available. I wouldn’t even have considered such a small clinic but Uncle Stu said you were pretty desperate, and I can see you need some organization around here.

EMILY
Lucky? Lucky! I don’t need you. And, this place is organized just fine, thank you very much. Sorry you made the trip. Goodbye and tell Uncle Stuart to mind his very own business.

EMILY WALKS TO THE DOOR THAT LEADS OUTSIDE TO THE STAFF PARKING LOT. SHE TURNS TO A. MICHAEL AND OPENS THE DOOR.

A. MICHAEL
Uncle Stuart —

EMILY
I have patients waiting.

A. MICHAEL
Exactly. That’s why I’m here.

EMILY
What?!

A. MICHAEL
Okay, Uncle Stuart said you’re looking for a vet to bring into the practice.

EMILY
And what exactly does that have to do with you?

A MICHAEL
Dr. Mayfield, I am a licensed veterinarian.

EMILY
A. Michael, you are the nephew of my best friend and I’ll admit you’re a smart kid,
but —

A MICHAEL
I was a smart kid. I am now a skilled veterinarian.

EMILY
No! You’re not a veterinarian. You’re a kid fresh out of school who hasn't the faintest idea of what a vet's practice requires.

OFFSTAGE: KNOCK ON EMILY’S INTERIOR OFFICE DOOR
ESTRELLA OPENS THE DOOR TO THE INTERIOR HALLWAY AND PEEKS IN.

ESTRELLA
Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Em, but we’ve got appointments backing up out here.

A. MICHAEL
It requires knowledge and skill.

ESTRELLA EXITS AND CLOSES THE DOOR.

EMILY
It requires compassion and patience. It requires experience.

A. MICHAEL
Yeah, well, I have those too.

EMILY
Experience, no, I don’t think so. Compassion and patience? Do you?

EMILY SLAMS THE DOOR TO THE EXTERIOR PARKING LOT. SHE WALKS ACROSS HER OFFICE AND EXITS INTO THE CLINIC HALLWAY.

EMILY
Follow me.

(CONTINUED)