On Call

TW: Illness

INT. CAR / DUSK

RACHEL GARRETT (female, late 30s) is alone in a car, driving along a busy road as the light fades. Fairy lights are strung between the streetlights, and glowing snowmen, reindeer and stars hang from the poles.

RACHEL is wearing a crisp blouse with a light blue cardigan, and her hair is tied into a neat bun.

In the back of the car sit two car seats and an elaborate baby organisation system with pockets for wipes, toys and books.

CAR RADIO

...temperatures are continuing to drop across the South East. And finally on BBC News, at half past four, wait times in over 200 Accident and Emergency Departments across the country have gone up to a record breaking average of-

RACHEL quickly twists the volume knob anti-clockwise to silence.

She inhales and starts to sigh but is interrupted by a loud ringing on the car's Bluetooth.

Composing herself, she taps the green answer button to LIAN ABIOLA.

RACHEL speaks with an RP accent.

RACHEL

What's-

LIAN (male, 30s) interrupts. He has a strong London accent.

LIAN (O.S.)

Remind me, is it the red box or the blue box?

RACHEL

Blue. Think- red is the colour of danger, therefore red is for emergencies. It's not an emergency, is it? Is he okay?

RACHEL's anxiety shows on her face.

LIAN appears to be rattling off a pre-rehearsed list of questions, not listening to her.

LIAN (O.S.)

Can babies eat chocolate cake?

She repeats with more insistence.

RACHEL

Lian, is it an emergency?

LIAN (O.S.)

No- no, everyone's fine.

RACHEL calms.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

Can babies eat chocolate cake?

A beat.

RACHEL

Toddlers. They're toddlers, not babies.

LIAN (O.S.)

Oh, right. Can toddlers have chocolate cake?

She furrows her brow, mildly displeased.

RACHEL

I put two portions of chicken and swede and carrot mash in the fridge before I left.

The traffic reaches a standstill.

LIAN (O.S.)

Yeah, tried that. Did you know, Peppa Pig eats chocolate cake? And someone says yuck to mashed carrots, but I haven't been able to identify that one yet.

There is an audible crash over the phone.

Silently, RACHEL puts her head in her hands, leaning forward and accidentally bashing her head on the horn.

She jolts up, looking around at the other cars, mortified.

LIAN speaks in a sing-song, friendly tone to JESSICA (2), but the stress in his voice can be heard.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

Jessica, you aren't supposed to break stuff while Uncle Thomas is sleeping!

RACHEL

What's broken?

LIAN (O.S.)

Nothing!

She shakes her head, letting it slide.

The Bluetooth screen flashes from black to green as a new call comes in from HOSPITAL. There is no ringtone this time as RACHEL is already on a call.

RACHEL frantically begins to swipe on the screen, trying to find the incoming caller.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

(To Jessica)

Look, Mummy's on the phone!

RACHEL's screen continues to flash between the two calls.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

Talk to Mummy!

She is swiping up and down, left and right, trying to get back to the screen of the new caller, and every time it pops back up it switches back to the black screen before her finger reaches the answer button.

RACHEL

Lian, I really-

A beep from outside causes RACHEL to notice the cars in front of her. They have all moved forward by two spaces in the traffic. She stops messing with the Bluetooth and moves forward, signaling apologetically to the car behind.

JESSICA (O.S.)

Hi Mummy.

Stuck in traffic once more, RACHEL throws her head back in annoyance. The incoming call has disappeared for good, the black screen still reads LIAN ABIOLA.

RACHEL

Hello, sweetheart.

She inhales sharply with cautious optimism as the screen flashes green again; HOSPITAL is calling back.

JESSICA (O.S.)

I don't really like orange food.

As the screen changes back to black, RACHEL's finger hovers above the space that will flash back to the answer button, prepared this time.

RACHEL

(under her breath)

Green. Green.

JESSICA (O.S)

No, orange.

RACHEL is too focused to respond.

On the green, she presses the answer button and nothing happens.

JESSICA

Mummy! I don't like orange food!

She waits for it to come around again. Thinking quickly, she taps it but with a lighter and quicker touch. Then she taps it three times in quick succession. She talks to her daughter at the same time.

RACHEL

What about a banana? Mummy needs to answer the phone. Hand Lian's phone back to him now, good girl!

Finally, she tries holding the green answer button for longer. It does not work.

RACHEL groans.

LIAN (O.S.)

Look, I'm not a parent, I don't know what you expect me to-

This time RACHEL presses the red end call button on the black screen first. It works. She calms down, hearing the ringtone as the green screen pops up once more and stays there. She answers just before the end of the ring.

RACHEL

I'm so sorry.

MR DAVENPORT (male, 30s) breathes a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

Are you on your way?

The cars have started inching forward every so often; at a snail's pace but faster than the previous standstill. She is now close enough to the busy areas that shoppers cross the road in between at frequent intervals. There is the occasional thump as they accidentally knock bags of Christmas gifts against the bumper of her car. Speakers attached to the streetlights blare out Carol Of The Bells, muffled inside the car.

RACHEL

I am- I'm terribly sorry, I had to drop the kids off with Lian.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

(Reproachfully)

This is why I don't usually recommend doctors cover shifts when they're on a leave of absence.

RACHEL

The sat nav says 20 minutes with traffic.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

TWENTY MINUTES?

RACHEL flinches, turning the volume knob down on the car speakers.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.) (cont'd)

It's coming up on quarter to!

RACHEL

Yes, yes, I'll… turn at the next junction and go east of the Green instead.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

You mean where the Christmas markets are?

RACHEL silently cringes. Her fingers tremble over the gearstick as she begins to panic. The cars in front continue to edge forward.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.) (cont'd)

(Kindly)

Merryvale Avenue is usually quieter.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.) (cont'd)

You know, I considered sacking him. This is a serious job.

RACHEL

He's sick.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

Maybe he's just not cut out to be a doctor.

Her face is impassive.

RACHEL

I'll be in to cover.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

You shouldn't need to.

RACHEL

I want to. Anyway, I'm glad to get back into work. There's only so many times I can critique the blatant malpractice of Dr Brown Bear!

She laughs politely, as if trying to make small talk to appease him.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.)

Listen, if there's adequate cover by five, I'll forget about everything. But you know Thomas will be held responsible if you’re late.

She stares forward at the road, nodding slightly even though he can't see her.

MR DAVENPORT (O.S.) (cont'd)

It's good to have you back in, Rachel.

There is a beep as the call disconnects.

Rachel is startled as Merry Christmas Everyone blares, the system switching itself back to radio without an ongoing call.

She hastily twists the volume knob to silence, the gentle buzz of the engine blocking out most of the noise from the Christmas crowd outside as she drives.

In another traffic standstill, RACHEL, fidgety, reaches into her handbag for a tube of hand cream and rubs it in.

She places the hand cream back in her handbag.

She casts another glance  at her handbag, this time pulling out a bottle of hand sanitiser and rubbing it in.

She casts a stressful, wavering glance between the handbag and the amber traffic light. Giving into a compulsion, she grabs the hand cream once more.

We see the clock on the dashboard switch from 16:49 to 16:50.

The traffic light changes to green just as the cream squeezes out onto her hands.

She lets out a tiny sound of frustration and rubs the cream in as fast as she can. She grabs the gearstick, puts the car in gear, and the engine stalls. Her body is tense.

She restarts the car and moves it forward, resuming the slow pace of London rush hour traffic.

The clock changes from 16:50 to 16:51.

LIAN rings.

LIAN (O.S.)

Oh, thank God.

RACHEL

What happened?

JESSICA (O.S)

(Hopefully)

Mummy?

Lian (O.S)

Nothing happened!

RACHEL

Where is Josh?

A beat.

LIAN (O.S.)

Oh no.

There is a scuffle through the phone as LIAN drops the phone somewhere and dashes.

In the background, a door opens.

Rachel tenses, but her voice is even as she repeats herself.

RACHEL

Lian, what happened?

It sounds like JESSICA is holding the phone, her voice now in the foreground of the call.

JESSICA (O.S.)

Playing in snow!

RACHEL, in a moment of panic, jolts to the side as she peers through the side window, looking for snow on the ground. Upon realising the ground is bone dry, confusion replaces the panic.

LIAN groans from far away, speaking in a frustrated tone.

LIAN (O.S.)

Not the flour too!

Understanding dawns on her face.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

No, don't- stop eating that...

There is another scuffle as LIAN takes the phone back from Jessica.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

He's got it bloody everywhere!

In the background, JESSICA's voice can still be heard.

JESSICA (O.S)

Olaf!

RACHEL

You left a two-year-old in the kitchen unattended?

LIAN (O.S.)

There should be someone else to help but of course they don't have a dad...

Rachel starts to cry.

RACHEL

I thought you said you could do it.

LIAN (O.S.)

I am- I'm spiraling, okay? I'm spiraling.

His breathing quickens as he talks.

RACHEL struggles to silence her sobs, but the tears continue to fall.

She opens a window to let air through, and the noise of cars beeping, engines starting and stopping, and Christmas music start to raise.

RACHEL

I'm trying my best, I'm on a leave of absence because I had no choice but to extend after my maternity ended... When things like this come up, what else can I do?

LIAN (O.S.)

Rachel- I didn't- I meant his-

There is ripping and crashing in the background.

LIAN (O.S.) (cont'd)

JOSH- That's for Christmas! Go back to the snow!

The noise outside gradually increases as she enters a busier part of the street, slowly passing a shopping centre with an eight-foot inflatable snowman guarding the entrance.

RACHEL

Lian?

LIAN (O.S.)

Come back, Rachel. Please.

RACHEL

I'm almost at the hospital. When I get around this corner I have to park, the last team finishes at five.

RACHEL turns the indicator on.

LIAN (O.S.)

No, I can't do this. Not today.

RACHEL

(Wrapping up the conversation)

You've been asking to babysit for months. You'll get through it and I'll talk to you later, okay?

She turns her eyes to the road as she approaches a side street on the left, but her focus is momentarily broken by LIAN.

LIAN (O.S.)

And which box was it again? Red or blue?

RACHEL

You made me miss the turn!

LIAN (O.S.)

I want to fucking help him for once!

RACHEL

And what do you think I'm trying to do?

RACHEL starts to look for a way to turn around, but behind her there is a line of cars backed up. Her face twitches as she notices a large digital screen with a live, ticking analogue clock, the big hand moving incrementally closer to the five minute mark.

LIAN (O.S.)

I'm so stressed- all the time. I can't remember anything and I can't cope with everything at once like you can, like, it seems like the perfect arrangement, you cover for your brother, and I look after my boyfriend's niece and nephew and feed them celery and carrot mash-

RACHEL

Swede and carrot.

LIAN (O.S.)

Not much difference when it’s smushed on the floor.

RACHEL

It’s what?

LIAN (O.S.)

I said swede and celery have a lot in common.

RACHEL

I don't think...

LIAN (O.S.)

There's just this constant pressure with it all.

RACHEL

You're going to have to get used to it. I did.

LIAN (O.S.)

What, helping out with the twins?

RACHEL

No.

A beat.

LIAN (O.S)

Oh.

Lian (O.S) (cont’d)

I'm scared, Rachel, I'm so scared. If I'm on the line to you, it helps, right? 'Cause then I know it's not all me in charge.

I'm scared, that one day he'll get worse, and he'll need me, and I can't help him because I panic when I'm stressed and can't even remember if its red box or blue box and he’s been on that medication every day I've known him. He's so independent, but then what if some day- if his illness progresses, or god forbid, he gets something else... Days like this are just proof that I'm not capable of like- just switching on and getting on with it. He rang you for help before me.

RACHEL

Lian, that's not because…

She stops herself.

She takes a softer tone.

RACHEL (cont'd)

I'm the one who could cover his shift. And I'm his sister, Lian, it's just how he-

LIAN (O.S.)

Well I'm his boyfriend, is that not-?

RACHEL indicates into a parking space about 50 yards from the turn she meant to take.

RACHEL

It's the blue box. Red is for emergencies. Which it is clearly not.

RACHEL (cont'd)

Look, I really need to run, Thomas could lose his job if I'm late. If I can't trust you to look after the twins, that's all he's worked for his entire life, gone. I don't think he'd forgive you for that.

LIAN (O.S.)

Just, at some point, let him know I'm trying, okay?

RACHEL

You are.

A beat.

RACHEL (cont’d)

Fine, give them chocolate cake.

She gets out of the car, throwing her keys in her handbag and carrying her phone in the other hand, shivering in the thin cardigan.

As she slams the car door closed, her lockscreen is visible with 17:01 at the top. The screen turns green with an incoming call from HOSPITAL.