Rita's voiceover: The human brain is the most complex organism on the planet...
probably in the universe for that matter. But we're lulled into thinking its as
predictable as death and taxes. I used to say that you're only as sick as you
let yourself be. By that definition, I'm the one in control. I lived
comfortably with that false sense of power for a long time. Of course by the
time I realized the magnitude of the brain's control, it was far too late.
Scene 1: Warehouse
(Chris and Rita have just caught up with the bad guy and Chris has handcuffed
him. Rita has just finished calling it in and the backup has arrived. Rita
leaves the warehouse to get some air. She's in the doorway as a sharp pain
shoots through her head. She tries to make it go away, but the pain only
increases. She crumples to the floor . As the pain becomes intolerable, she
calls out Chris' name. He rushes over to her.)
Chris: Rita, what's wrong? Did someone attack you?
(Rita shakes her head but doesn't answer.)
Chris: Sam, it's your head? Oh God. OK, it's OK. I'm going to bring you to
the hospital. (calls out to the backup) Get me an ambulance. Now!!
Officer: It can be here in five minutes.
Chris: No, there's no time!
(He picks her up and carries her toward his car. He races to the hospital,
encouraging Rita to stay awake and hang in there. He gets to the hospital and
rushes to Rita's side of the car. He then notices that she is unconscious. He
carries her into the emergency room.)
Chris:Someone help her!!
(Doctor rushes over to him.)
Doctor: What happened?
Chris: I don't know. Her head ....she has a brain aneurysm. I think it might
have...
Doctor: (gets stretcher) We need to get her to the OR STAT!!!
Chris: Is she going to be OK?
Doctor: I don't know. I need to operate now.
(Doctor rushes off. Chris remains in hallway, stunned and panicked.)
COMMERCIAL
Scene 2: Hospital Hallway
(It has been several hours since Rita was brought in. Chris is there still, now
with Cap, Frannie, George, Diane and some fellow detectives.)
Chris: (very concerned) Give it to me straight Diane. What could happen if
it burst?
Diane: It's impossible to predict. Depending on the fluid in the brain at
that time, her blood pressure, how quickly the doctors got in
there....it could be the difference between...
Chris: Life and death. (heartbroken) I hope that I got her there in time.
Diane: You did the best you could. Now it's in God's hands. (she puts her
hand on his shoulder sympathetically and then walks away)
Fran: Chris, honey. I think I know something that would help.
Chris: Fran, I don't want any of the herbs, OK?
Fran: No herbs this time, Chris. But I find at times like these that the
best thing you can do is pray.
Chris: Fran, I haven't done that in years.
Fran: I can't think of a better time to start again.
(Fran walks away. Chris thinks of what she said and he heads to the chapel.)
Scene 3: Hospital Chapel
(Chris is sitting in the third pew. No one else is in the room.)
Chris: Look, I don't know how it works up there. How you decide who stays
and who goes. But please don't take Rita. She does so much good here.
She's made a difference in so many people's lives. (tearing)
Especially mine. I know, I know. I don't deserve her. But she's been
working on me, really she has. I mean six years ago, I was a
completely different person. Doesn't that mean anything up there? How
important she is to people down here? Or what about the fact that
she's not done here. She has so much more to do. We had so much more
to do. I was going to tell her, you know. I was going to tell her
that I (breaking down) that I love her. I was just waiting for the
right time. I didn't know that...You can't take her away. She was
going to be my wife....and the mother of my children. She was going
to be a fantastic mother. You should've seen her with babies. (He
can't go on. He sobs into his hands. He remains there for awhile. The
Cap then enters.)
Cap: Chris. The doctor's coming.
(Chris jumps up and rushes toward the hallway.)
COMMERCIAL
Scene Four: Hallway
(Doctor approaches the group. )
Chris: Doctor...
Doctor: The aneurysm did burst. It was very, very difficult surgery...but she
pulled through it.
(All let out a sigh of relief. Chris looks up towards ceiling and smiles.)
Doctor: But wait...there was extensive damage. Right now there's no way of
telling how much damage was done.
Diane: How are her EEGs?
Doctor: Promising.
Cap: What's that--EEG?Doctor: Test of brain activity.Chris: You mean she could have brain damage?
Doctor: You can't rule anything out, but the EEGs, as I said, look good.
Diane: Paralysis?
Doctor: Too early to tell. But it certainly was helpful that she got here
when she did. Another minute and we would have lost her.
Chris: I want to see her.
Doctor: Family only.
Chris: I'm the closest thing to family that she's got.
Cap: Doctor, my name is Captain Harry Lipschitz. Rita is one of my cops,
as is Chris. There is no one that she'd want in that room more.
Doctor: OK. But just him. I'm afraid the rest of you will have to wait until
she's out of ICU.
Chris: Thank you doctor. (to crowd) I'll call if there are any changes.
Cap: You take care of her, OK?
Chris: You bet.
(Chris hurries, following the doctor.)
Scene 5: Rita's room
(Chris rushes in but hesitates as he sees all the equipment she's hooked up
to.)
Doctor: These next 24 hours are the most critical. I suggest you talk to her,
let you know that you're here. She can hear you, we know that much.
We'll have a nurse checking in on her often, but if you notice any
change whatsoever, push the call button right away. (sighs) Hang in
there.
(Chris goes to the bed, pulls a chair next to it, and holds her hand in his.
With his other hand, he strokes her hair.)
Chris: Rita? It's me. The doctor finally let me in. I've been waiting out
there a long time. All of us....Harry, Fran, George, Diane...we were
all out there praying for you. (smiles) Even me, I know, I know. I
told you I'd never pray again, but once again you proved me wrong.
You were always so good at that. I mean, god, I never met someone
that put me in my place like you did. I mean, you didn't miss a beat.
Remember the first day we met? We had you on loan from vice and after
the case was over I offered to take you out for a beer and you said
that I was hitting on you. And (smiles) you were right, I was hitting
on you. But come on, you just overwhelmed me. I had never met anyone
like you. You didn't take crap from anyone, especially not me...and I
was pretty good at giving people a line in those days...I know, I
know...it's hard to believe. (smiles) But there you were in some
sleazy outfit that they made you wear and you punched the junkie's
lights out the moment he laid a finger on you. And as you put the
cuffs on him, you said to me, "Lorenzo, are you going to read him his
rights or just stare. I should charge you admission." Bam! You had me
all figured out in the first ten minutes. You meanwhile....I still
can't figure you out. Not that it stops me from trying, mind you.
One minute your pushing me away because you want to keep your
distance, the next minute, I'm at your house reading you bedtime
stories....That's it! (he gets out his phone) Cap? It's me. No, no
change. But I need you to do me a favor. I need you to go to my
house...you still have the key, don't you? Good. ...I need you to go
to the front table and there will be a box all wrapped up...it's.
it's Rita birthday present. I need you to get it and bring it here...
I know her birthday isn't till next week, but I need it now.
(pause)Thanks Cap.
COMMERCIAL
Scene 6: Rita's room
(It is the next day. Chris has not left Rita's side. He is reading her a Suzie
Pratt story (one of many in the box the Cap brought over.)
Chris: Now Suzie thought that the old lady was up to no good, so she decided
to investigate. She waited until the old lady went to the store and
then (Chris notices that Rita's hand (which is in his) is moving
slightly. He moves closer to her. Her head begins to move from side
to side.) Rita? Can you hear me? (He pushes the call button.) Rita?
Try to open your eyes. (Rita remains motionless for a second or so
and then her eyes flicker open. Chris is beaming and hops on the side
of the bed and gives her a big kiss on the forehead. ) Rita!
Sweetheart! You're awake!
Rita: (opens her eyes wide and stares at the Chris who is almost nose to
nose) (faintly) Do I know you?
(Chris gets panicked look on his face as doctor and nurses rush in.)
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