Treatment November 16, 2009
Posted by samuhagedorn in Uncategorized.add a comment
He stole so I could Live
A petrified man in a suit scratches his head and croaks in the phone, “I’ll get the money,” and the line goes dead.
(flashback) In an office cubicle, the man in a suit is typing at a computer. He is working on transactions, moving money from account to account. There’s a picture of the man smiling and wrapping his arms around his son. He glances at the picture and furrows his brow. The phone rings, he quickly grabs it. As the man stares wildly around the room, glancing at the picture of the son, a woman’s voice says; “Mr. Earnest Hall? This is Trista from Kaiser Insurance. Your last payment had insufficient funds. This is a business, Mr. Hall. We’re going to have to put a hold on Ben’s treatment until we have your payment of $15,000.” Ernest focuses on the picture. He croaks, “I’ll get the money,” and the line goes dead.
The clock jumps into the afternoon. Ernest is at his desk, with a list in front of him. The first 2/3 of the list are crossed off in thick, black marker. He’s talking on the phone, “Mark, I need a favor” and “Ben’s sick, could you loan me some money”. None of his friends will help him. One by one, he crosses off the names on the list. His face is pained, his lip quivers.
A supervisor’s voice wafts over, “Ernest, have you finished transferring the ACME money?” The man instinctively resumes typing. He is typing out wire transfers. As he finishes a transfer for $15,000, his fingers stop. His eyes drill onto the number. His hand trembles over the enter key. He punches the button. His eyes flit back and forth.
At night in his apartment, Ernest paces. He holds up one hand and the other, as if debating against himself. He lights a cigarette. In the ashtray, the cigarettes pile up as he continues to pace. In a fetal position, he looks at the camera as if he has made a decision. He nods slowly.
The next day in the office, he types in ACMEs name and transfers $15,000 to Kaiser insurance. (fade to white)
(white screen) Doctor is saying, “the operation was very successful, Ben should have a full recovery.” Ernest says “thank you doctor”. Echoing footsteps. the doctor says, “I think he’s coming around now. I’ll leave you two alone” echoing footsteps, the sound of a door opening and shutting”.
(phase in from white to the perspective of Ben in a hospital cot looking at his father)
Ernest says “Oh Ben. I love you so much.” He hugs his son. “Be strong, be strong” Ernest says. There is a knock at the door. It is a police officer. The cop says, “Ernest Hall?”
“Yea… let’s…” his voice sounds hesitant, but gains confidence, “let’s do it outside. I don’t want my son to watch”.
The man locks eyes with his son, slowly walking out of the room. Their hands slowly pull apart. He walks out of the room, followed by the police officer. The door slowly closes. (black, credits). #
