Help Me Sleep

Sorry for the mess of this script, when I had done it in word, it was centred and everything, but when I put it in here it decided to stuff up. Sorry guys.

Scene: 60
EXT. HOSPITAL – MORNING

Hands pick some lavender and a few Daisies from a small garden bed. OSSIE carefully snips the flowers, making sure not to spoil the symmetry of the garden bed.

It’s a sunny morning, but clouds loom on the horizon over the hills. Birds SING as OSSIE collects the last of the flowers.

SHERALYN
Ossie!

SHERALYN beckons OSSIE over to the large window where she is standing. SHERALYN smiles as she pours coffee into a brightly coloured mug. SHERALYN’S smile fades as she sees the flowers in OSSIE’S hands.

SHERALYN
(Sighing)
I guess they’re for her.

OSSIE fiddles some lavender, contemplating the thought of ESSIE.

OSSIE
(Sadly)
Yeah.

SHERALYN looks up from pouring the coffee and puts the jug down. SHERALYN looks concerned and takes a sip from her mug.

SHERALYN
What’s wrong?

OSSIE
(Worriedly)
Sheralyn, if she dies today I’ve killed her.

SHERALYN takes another sip from her mug. She shakes her head.

SHERALYN
That’s ridiculous.

OSSIE lowers his eyes.

OSSIE
(Quietly)
I have.

SHERALYN SIGHS and puts her mug down.

SHERALYN
Ossie, she’s very low. I rang in a little while ago. She could linger a bit but would we want that? She’s in so much pain.

OSSIE looks back up at SHERALYN.

OSSIE
(Firmly)
I gotta see her.

SHERALYN
Whatever it is, she knows you wouldn’t hurt her.

OSSIE looks suddenly worried.

OSSIE
But I did! An’ I have. She taught me ‘bout books and rich an’ wonderful words an’ how to think a different way. An’ to be proud of who I am. An’ clean too. An’ wear good clothes like this jacket ya gave me. An’ not to feel bad about myself…That the past didn’t matter – only what you did today…I was nothing before but I knew who I was and I knew where I was going. I’m still nothing, but the difference is; now I don’t…An’ that’s the worst. I’ve failed her.

Scene: 61
INT. HOSPITAL LOBBY – MIDDAY

OSSIE stands by the large automatic sliding doors. The dark clouds can be seen outside and thunder RUMBLES in the distance. Everything is eerie and QUIET as OSSIE moves over to the reception desk.

OSSIE
(Politely)
Uh, Miss, is Mrs. Esther Ellis still in the same room?

The RECEPTIONIST looks from her work and up at OSSIE and smiles politely back. 

RECEPTIONIST
Yes she is. Relative?

OSSIE shakes his head.

OSSIE
No a friend. Thank-you.

The RECEPTIONIST nods politely and goes back to work. OSSIE walks towards the lifts and pushes the ‘up’ button. The elevator DINGS and the doors gently slide open. A few people pile out as OSSIE makes his way QUIETLY into the ELEVATOR. He receives smiles from people in the elevator as he reaches over and pushes the button for the 5th floor. DING, the elevator reaches the 5TH FLOOR and OSSIE carefully makes his way out. FAINT CHATTING can be heard in the background as OSSIE makes his way to Room 231. A NURSE ambles out of Room 231 as OSSIE reaches the door.

OSSIE
(Politely)
Can I go in?

The NURSE nods.

NURSE
Just for a few minutes.

As OSSIE pushes slowly pushes the door open he notices how different the room has become. Everything has become pink. OSSIE steps into ROOM 231 and notices the storm outside the window, the RUMBLING is louder then before. OSSIE then makes his way over to ESSIE’S bed.

OSSIE
I’m sorry Essie.

ESSIE turns over and looks up at OSSIE and smiles with difficulty. She draws in air and tries to SPEAK. Her breath is RASPY and every to OSSIE seems NOISY. OSSIE places the flowers he had in his hand in a spare vase by ESSIE’S bed.

OSSIE
See ya flowers? Your favourite they are. I’m sorry for what I said Essie, I’ve been so unhappy.

OSSIE takes a seat by ESSIE’S bed and ESSIE takes OSSIE’S hand.

ESSIE
(Nosily)
Oh Ossie…

OSSIE watches ESSIE. He looks concerned as ESSIE violently COUGHS. OSSIE looks out the large window. It has become really dark now and thunder RUMBLES and CLAPS, but there is no rain. OSSIE sees the trees sway in the HOWLING wind. OSSIE then rises from the chair and walks to the window.

OSSIE
(Concerned)
Is it bad Essie? Real bad?

OSSIE doesn’t look at ESSIE, he keeps looking out the window. ESSIE looks over at OSSIE.

ESSIE
Oh Ossie…it hurts.

ESSIE holds onto the end of the bed and grips it tightly. OSSIE turns around and see ESSIE in pain.

OSSIE
(Worriedly)
I’ll get someone.

OSSIE heads for the door but ESSIE stops him.

ESSIE
(Noisily)
No!

ESSIE COUGHS LOUDLY. Tears fall from her eyes. OSSIE hurries over by ESSIE’S side and sits down on the edge of her bed.

OSSIE
Whatcha want me to do, Essie?

ESSIE breathes in heavily as her eyes roll back. OSSIE leans closer. More tears roll down ESSIE’S face.

ESSIE
(Desperately)
Ossie…can’t bear it…any more.

OSSIE takes ESSIE’S hand and holds it tight.

OSSIE
(Sadly)
Essie?

ESSIE takes another raspy breath.

ESSIE
The pain…oh Ossie…help me…pills…

OSSIE gets up from ESSIE’S bed and walks around to the bedside table. OSSIE picks up a small bottle.

OSSIE
These?

ESSIE nods her head slowly. So OSSIE pours a glass of water and sits beside ESSIE. Helping ESSIE up, OSSIE gives her three pills. OSSIE places the now half empty glass of water back on the bedside table. ESSIE slowly closes her eyes. OSSIE finds a cloth and dips in the cool water and draws it across her forehead. Outside the thunder continues to RUMBLE and CLAP. The day has turned into night.

ESSIE
Ossie, hold my hand.

OSSIE takes hold of ESSIE’S hand and places the cloth back to its original place. OSSIE tries to smile, but ESSIE isn’t looking. As time goes by, the TICKING of a clock can be heard. The BLEEP of the instruments over ESSIE’S bed LOUDENED as the last few minutes of ESSIE’S life disappears.

OSSIE
(Shakily)
Oh Essie, don’t leave me, don’t die. I got no one in the world if you leave me…

OSSIE starts to cry.

ESSIE
I won’t leave you…I’ll always be with you…always…

ESSIE opens her eyes and notices OSSIE crying.

ESSIE
Oh Ossie, don’t cry…Don’t cry…You’ll know I’m there…I promise.

ESSIE places a hand on OSSIE’S cheek and tries to wipe away some of the tears. Outside flashes of lighting and CLAPS of thunder roll throughout the land.

OSSIE
I love you, Essie.

ESSIE smiles.

ESSIE
I love you too Ossie.

ESSIE is crying again as OSSIE kisses her. ESSIE squeezes OSSIES hand tightly as the pain worsens. A NURSE silently opens the door and comes in. She quickly examines ESSIE. OSSIE gets up and makes his way to the window.

NURSE
(Troubled)
I’m sorry, she’s gone.

The NURSE looks up at OSSIE. The rain starts to fall; the PITAPATER on the window can be heard. OSSIE places a hand on the window as tears roll down his face.

OSSIE
(Sorrowfully)
No, she’s still in here.

OSSIE points to his heart and the NURSE nods.

NURSE
Yes, of course she is.

The NURSE makes her way out of the room and leaves OSSIE standing at the window. OSSIE slowly lowers his head as everything fades into black.