ONE CALL AWAY (short)

by:

Pat Bradley

SIDE FOR JOSH

INT. DINING ROOM - EARLY EVENING.

JOSH (30's) sitting at the table, on his phone texting.

Lucas, carrying two open beers in one hand and Monopoly in
the other, places a beer in front of Josh. Josh puts his
phone down and grabs the beer.

JOSH
Izzy's almost here. You better go get
Cin that glass of wine.

LUCAS
Nah, she shouldn't be havin' any wine
right now. He told us she needs to
stay away from alcohol just in case.

JOSH
I'm guessing today didn't go so well
huh?

LUCAS
(defeated)
I think she's ready to tap out bro---
2022 ALWAYS WRITE PRODUCTIONS
I have no clue what to do. She's
takin' everything out on me and--- I--
I understand, I really do. I'm glad
she's at least gettin' all the
frustration out but---

Lucas takes a swig of beer.

LUCAS (CONT'D)
After today, we know--- for sure---
That it's an issue with her and not
me--- I--- honestly--- I just don't
know how to help her other than try
and reassure her, and make her smile---
and hopefully not let this destroy
her.
(deep breath)
It's really hittin' her hard.

Lucas guzzles his beer, Josh putting his hand on Lucas's

shoulder to console him.

JOSH
We know. We can all tell. Cin hasn't
been Cin in a looooong time.

Lucas shrugs, throwing his hands up in defeat.

(CONTINUED)
 2.
CONTINUED:

JOSH (CONT'D)
I'm sorry man, I wish I could offer
some kind of real-world helpful advice
but--- shit man, it's tough, I got
nothing. I know it's not her style
but-- have you guys tried talking to
someone that specifically deals with
infertility or like a marriage
counselor?

Lucas shakes his head no.

LUCAS
Nah, she didn't wanna believe it was
an issue with her--- I made a few
calls but she refused. She tries to
steer the blame on me. First, it was,
you wear meggings to the gym, then it
was your jeans are too tight, recently
it was all the weed you smoked in
college. She's hit every stage of
grief but acceptance.

2022 ALWAYS WRITE PRODUCTIONS

Josh's phone notification goes off. He picks the phone up,
looks at it, smiling, and puts it back down.

JOSH
You can't expect her to accept
something like this--- Izzy just got
off the highway, she'll be here in 2.
What exactly did the tests say that
made her not believe?

LUCAS
He said I was in the upper range of a
healthy---
(pops his shirt)
--- viral young men.

Both men laugh.

JOSH
Definitely--- didn't need to know all
that but---

Lucas cuts him off.

LUCAS
(excitable)
Oh, so check this out right--- so
after the doctor tells us the results--

(MORE) (CONTINUED)
 3.
CONTINUED:

LUCAS (CONT'D)
Cin's looking a little confused, so
she asks what exactly does that mean?
Right? So the doctor looks at both of
us and says--- Mr. Copeland's sperm
count is high enough that for your own
safety--- you should be chewing before
you swallow.

Lucas starts hysterically laughing, slapping his knee,

playfully.

Josh laughs and then smirks, dropping his head in disgust,

but with a slight smile.

JOSH
(head low, laughing)
And you wonder why she's in a bad
mood.

Josh gets a text notification, he picks up his phone and

reads it.

2022 Izzy's
ALWAYS WRITE PRODUCTIONS
JOSH (CONT'D)
here.

Josh stands and leaves the frame.

LUCAS
Shit, I guess I'll set up the board.
Before Shitler comes in and takes
over.

JOSH
Can you stop calling her Shitler
please--- It accidentally slipped out
a few weeks ago and she slapped the
shit out of me.

Lucas laughs, raises both his arms up in surrender, he begins

to set up the Monopoly game.

ITEM TRANSITION OUT:

INT. LIVING ROOM - A FEW HOURS LATER

ITEM TRANSITION IN:

MUSIC CUE: SOFTER, TOP 40 STYLE.

We slowly zoom out from what's now a mid-game board of

(CONTINUED)
 4.
CONTINUED:

Monopoly, with the sounds of the group laughing and arguing

drowning out the music.

ISABEL (30's), Lucas, Josh, and TRACY (20's) are seated at

the table, elbows deep into a competitive game of Monopoly.

2022 ALWAYS WRITE PRODUCTIONS