Atlanta

Written by
Joseph Frost
written for the 2014 31 Plays in 31 Days Project
Play #4
Draft
8/4/14
Attic Scripts 2014
Joseph Frost
4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
atticsripts@gmail.com
Two doctors, wearing scrubs, in an interior hospital room.
HARRIS is smoking. REYNOLDS enters.
REYNOLDS
You cant do that in here.
HARRIS
I cant go outside.
REYNOLDS
Youre a doctor.
HARRIS
I know.
REYNOLDS
Well put it out. You havent figured it out yet? Smoking is bad for you.
HARRIS
There are many things that are bad for you.
REYNOLDS
Dont I know it.
Reynolds goes to wash hands.
HARRIS
How is he?
REYNOLDS
Progressing. Vitals are strong, things are looking positive.
HARRIS
Hes still sick.
REYNOLDS
Obviously. You know how serious this is.
HARRIS
I certainly do.
REYNOLDS
These things take time. Usually do. Its not like weve been through this before.
HARRIS
Yeah.
REYNOLDS
So, we monitor things closely, keep track of how he responds to the treatment, and keep
moving forward.
HARRIS
Forward.
REYNOLDS
I know that this whole thing is very scary. The media is going berserk.
HARRIS
Its not every day we import one of the worlds most infamous, untreatable, deadly viruses
on purpose. How should they be responding?
REYNOLDS
Everything is under control.
HARRIS
I can see that. Not everyone out there can.
REYNOLDS
For obvious reasons.
HARRIS
Yes.
REYNOLDS
Do you think hes not worth it?
HARRIS
Who?
REYNOLDS
Our patient. He was there doing good.
HARRIS
Our. Patient.
(beat)
Yes. Everyone likes the charity doctors.
2.
REYNOLDS
As opposed to blood-suckers like us.
HARRIS
(almost finishing the sentence)
Like us.
(beat)
Are we... colleagues?
REYNOLDS
What? Sure we are.
HARRIS
We are.
REYNOLDS
We are both here... we are all here to make sure he gets the best care possible. Thats why
hes been brought here. We are giving him the best treatment in the world.
HARRIS
Thats why we are here.
REYNOLDS
Yes.
HARRIS
Were doing this together. A team.
REYNOLDS
Exactly.
A moment.
HARRIS
I want to know where it came from.
REYNOLDS
What?
HARRIS
You know what.
REYNOLDS
I dont have the time to go through the virus origins with you.
3.
HARRIS
The serum. The antidote.
REYNOLDS
Its not an...
HARRIS
Where is it from?
REYNOLDS
Doctor...
HARRIS
Tell me.
REYNOLDS
Thats not information that Im at liberty to--
HARRIS
I dont want to play games with you.
REYNOLDS
Thats good.
HARRIS
Youre going to tell me where it came from, and why it was there, just sitting around
waiting for a patient zero.
A moment.
REYNOLDS
Im going to ask you again to extinguish your cigarette.
(beat)
Please.
Harris puts it out.
HARRIS
Im on to you.
REYNOLDS
Me?
4.
HARRIS
You brought it here with you. I know you did. Dont deny it.
(beat)
You had it super-cooled.
REYNOLDS
Thats right.
HARRIS
Is that why it hasnt been--
REYNOLDS
The serum is still in experimental trial stages.
HARRIS
Is that why its not in West Africa right now?
REYNOLDS
You know how this works. We cant distribute a drug thats in trial stages.
HARRIS
Well, its not in trial stages now. Its in him.
REYNOLDS
These are obviously special circumstances.
HARRIS
We arent making a guinea pig out of a missionary doctor. You know it works.
REYNOLDS
It is not an approved drug treatment that can be mass produced at this time.
HARRIS
Cut the PR man bull. Its you and me in here. If Im going to be able to help this man, I
have to know what were doing here. What are we doing?
REYNOLDS
Treating a disease using a drug on a patient who needs it.
Reynolds starts for the door.
HARRIS
Tell me your company hasnt been holding onto this cure while hundreds of people have
died around the world.
5.
REYNOLDS
My company? Has no cure for this virus. But it is a virus. And it can be cured. It can be
contained.
HARRIS
And once we prove that here... it... the serum... will be shared with the world.
(beat)
Tell me we will share it with the world.
(beat)
I cannot continue with this unless you tell me.
A long moment.
A voice comes over a loudspeaker.
VOICE
Doctor Reynolds. Report to the Isolation Unit. Doctor Reynolds to the Isolation Unit.
A moment.
REYNOLDS
Thats our boy.
HARRIS
Reynolds.
REYNOLDS
Dr. Harris. I would hate for you to be uncomfortable being a part of a history-making
medical discovery. Dont bother scrubbing in for your shift.
Reynolds leaves.
Harris is alone.
Lights down.
6.