A Flicker of Hope
A Flicker of Hope
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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FADE IN:
INT. NURSING HOME, SECOND FLOOR NURSES STATION - DAY
Two EMT's wheel MARIAN (90's) a frail, motionless, pale
woman, on a stretcher to the nurses desk.
LYSSA (30's) A stocky, laid-back charge nurse, lounges behind
the station, filing her nails.
One of the EMT's steps up to the desk with papers in hand.
EMT
This woman must be on oxygen
continuously. Maximum off time
fifteen minutes.
Lyssa, nonchalant, takes papers from the hand of the EMT.
INT. NURSING HOME, PATIENTS ROOM - DAY
Lyssa looks on as supply clerk, DORLEEN (30's) a dedicated,
husky, short woman, hooks Marian to a large boxlike container
on wheels called an oxygen concentrator. Dorleen pushes the
plug in the socket.
DORLEEN
This is our last concentrator.
Lyssa stares at Dorleen with an air of self-importance.
LYSSA
We need more.
DORLEEN
I ordered five. They'll be here
tomorrow.
LYSSA
About time.
DORLEEN
We're always short because no one
cooperates around here.
LYSSA
Not my problem.
DORLEEN
God forbid if there was an
emergency.
Lyssa stares unconcerned.
Dorleen lumbers out of the room.
INT. NURSING HOME, SUPPLY ROOM - DAY
Dorleen listens to the radio and loads supplies on to a
medium size heavy plastic supply cart.
RADIO BROADCASTER (V.O.)
Today clear and cold. Tomorrow
expect sunny skies and continued
cold, high around 30.
Dorleen smiles with confidence that she will get her supplies
tomorrow.
INT. NURSING HOME, LOBBY - EVENING
Dorleen walks to the double glass entrance doors. She stares
outside. Dorleen turns and motions to the admissions clerk,
MEEKA (30's) the admissions clerk, a slender, bright, astute
woman lumbers over to Dorleen.
DORLEEN
Is that snow flakes I see out
there?
MEEKA
Nothings suppose to develope. They
say clear tonight and tomorrow.
Dorleen eyes Meeka with hope then turns back and lumbers out
the double glass doors.
EXT. NURSING HOME, PARKING AREA - NEXT DAY
The sky is a dark gray. A thick blanket of snow covers
everything. The strong blustery winds make the heavy falling
snow a blizzard.
INT. NURSING HOME, LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Dorleen and Meeka stand side by side with eyes glued to the
scene outside.
MEEKA
I'm glad you made it in Dorleen. We
have only a handful of staff.
DORLEEN
They called a state of emergency.
That means no deliveries. Not a
good sign.
Lyssa lumbers into the lobby. She stares at Dorleen with an
expecting glare.
LYSSA
We getting any oxygen tanks today?
Meeka and Dorleen turn and gawk at Lyssa wide eyed.
DORLEEN
Are you joking? Look out there.
The lights black out.
A few flickers flash from the large square light panels
imbedded in the ceiling. A sudden low HUMMING sound.
The lights stammer back on.
MEEKA
Something happened. We're on
generator power.
Lyssa tramps back out of the lobby.
RITA (50's) a distinguished gray hair woman, the
administrator, walks in the lobby.
RITA
They say it will be 5 or 6 hours
before we'll be back on line.
Lyssa lumbers back into the lobby.
LYSSA
The socket in Marian's room is not
working. There's no more oxygen
tanks.
RITA
Bring her down to first floor.
Lyssa tramps back out. Dorleen and Meeka follow behind.
INT. NURSING HOME, FIRST FLOOR NURSES STATION - MOMENTS LATER
Marian lays on a portable bed and hooked to the concentrator.
Rita looks on cautious as,
Dorleen sticks the plug in the electrical socket.
The concentrator BEEPS on.
Meeka stands waiting, holding her breath.
The concentrator suddenly HUMS to life.
Meeka releases a puff of air through her nearly closed lips.
MEEKA
My God, that was close. In a few
minutes we would have lost her.
PAUL (40's) wears a gray uniform and professional demeanor.
The patch on his pocket indicates he is the maintenance man.
He walks up to the others.
PAUL
The fuel level is low in the
generator. We have a few hours left
of power.
The lights flicker. The concentrator shuts down.
PAUL (CONT'D)
Well, maybe less.
RITA
We can't give up. Keep trying all
the outlets.
Lyssa whins a stressed reply.
LYSSA
We don't have enough time.
PAUL
Get her down to the lower level,
closer to the generator.
The five gather around Marian and wheel the bed down the
hall.
INT. NURSING HOME, ELEVATOR - LATER
Marian lays on the portable bed with Paul, Meeka, Dorleen,
Lyssa, and Rita surrounding her. The elevator glides down.
SUDDENLY
The light in the elevator flickers. The elevator thumps to a
stop.
Paul hits the button on the panel with his finger. No
movement.
LYSSA
What now!
The light flicks back on.
The elevator shakes then rumbles down.
INT. NURSING HOME, BASEMENT HALL - MOMENTS LATER
The concentrator HUMS next to the portable bed that Marian
lays motionless on. Her eyes open and a nasal cannula hooked
in her nose.
There's a sigh of relief on the five health care worker's
faces. Rita turns to Paul with urgency.
RITA
Check the fuel again Paul.
Paul races down the hall.
The four women keep watch on Marian.
LOWER LEVEL BASEMENT HALL - LATER
Paul returns with a grim look. He holds a cylindrical object
to his side.
PAUL
There's enough fuel for a few
minutes.
The lights flicker. The hall goes black.
Sudden light illuminates from a FLASHLIGHT in Paul's hand.
MEEKA
We have 15 minutes to get Marian
out of danger.
Dorleen charges up the stairs. Paul, Meeka, and Rita follow.
Lyssa looks down over Marian's pale and motionless body.
INT. NURSING HOME, LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
Meeka stares out the double glass doors.
Dorleen paces nervous. She stops and turns to Raul.
DORLEEN
We need more fuel. Where do we get
it?
Paul stares blank at Dorleen. He gropes for an answer.
PAUL
The nearest gas station is closed
and nothing can get through.
Meeka gazes intense out the entrance glass door at,
The snow covered parking lot. Vehicles incased in mounds of
snow.
MEEKA
You said gas Paul?
(beat)
What about the cars in the parking
lot? There's a big source of fuel.
PAUL
I can rig up a siphoning device. We
need more help.
RITA
You get what you need, I'll round
up the staff.
Paul charges out of the lobby.
EXT. NURSING HOME, PARKING AREA - LATER
A small band of EMPLOYEES brave the harsh elements, shoveling
snow away from the vehicles.
With a long hose and a suction device, Paul siphons gas into
large buckets.
The other EMPLOYEES lug the fuel in buckets to the entrance,
forming a line to the building.
INT. NURSING HOME, BASEMENT GENERATOR ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Dorleen takes a bucket of gas and pours it into the fuel tank
of the generator. Dorleen pulls the starter cord.
Nothing.
Frantic, Dorleen pulls harder. Nothing.
DORLEEN
Come on! Start!
She gives it another forceful pull.
The generator vibrates and kicks over. Dorleen wipes her
forehead with relief.
Lights suddenly flick on.
INT. NURSING HOME, LOBBY - LATER
The room dimly lit. The EMPLOYEES assembled together.
Meeka and Dorleen smile at each other with uncertain victory.
RITA
We did it by working together. We
have enough fuel for another 8
hours. And Marian is out of danger.
Suddenly the lights brighten.
The phone RINGS. Meeka grabs the phone as Dorleen watches
intense. Meeka listens then places the phone down.
MEEKA
The city power has been restored.
The road crews are out clearing the
highway.
A chorus of cheers fill the lobby.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
