Establishing shots of a middle-aged couple. Karen's just had hip surgery. Bruce is taking time off work to help her. A foreshadowing flash back clip shows her weeping on his shoulder the morning after a demoralizing mishap. She sobs that she feels stupid about accidentally breaking the baby toe on the foot of her good leg the day before. She says she's afraid that during one or the other of the laxative-driven trips to the washroom on her last night in the hospital, she may have partially dislocated the new hip, which makes an audible noise when she moves it and seems to be mobile in the joint. Her whole medical adventure so far has been a difficult ordeal. She's stressed out and scared.
Next scene: The couple have agreed that Karen should call her doctor. She's on the phone trying to find someone at the orthopaedic clinic at the hospital to talk to. She's not having much luck. Everyone's on holiday. She finally connects with a person who, after she describes what she's worried about, says, "No one here can answer your question. Go to your family doctor or go to emergency."
"I think I've really only got one choice here," says Karen. "we've got to go to Emerg."
Next scene, at Toronto Western Hope Emergency Ward: Karen's talking to the triage nurses, four of them, all lounging in their office - it's a slow day. She asks if her case might be escalated. She's just had hip surgery, has already sat for more than an hour and a half, and it is painful for her to sit for so long. The young woman most in charge looks at the roster and says "you're fourth in line to go to the area you've been assigned to."
"I don't know what that means," says Karen. "The guy who registered me said you could escalate my case if it was causing me pain to sit for so long. So that's what I'm asking you to do."
"The three people ahead of you have been waiting a long time, too."
"And they've all recently had hip surgery?" Karen asks. The young most in charge woman gives her a look. "Thanks for your help," Karen says, turning and hobbling painfully away on her cane.
Next scene: the big automatic doors to the interior of the emergency ward open for the zillionth time since the middle-aged couples' arrival. A handsome young male nurse [casting note: Liam Hemsworth] calls Karen's name. Her husband helps her lift out of her chair. As she hobbles to the entry way the handsome young nurse asks her if she would like a wheelchair. Deciding right away that she likes this young man, Karen says yes.
Next scene: The couple sit in a private alcove in the emergency ward. The Emergency Ward doctor [casting note: Alan Alda circa 1980] enters, pretending to be confused by the notes taken by the handsome young nurse. Karen repeats her concerns, but omits the detail of the broken toe. Character note on the doctor: he should come across as instantly likeable - a bit no nonsense; a bit compassionate as the Buddha. The doctor does some quick tests (including one where he grabs the broken toe; hilarity ensues) that immediately reassure Karen and her husband that whatever is going on in her hip, it ain't dislocated. The doctor explains that he forgot to become an orthopaedic surgeon and will call around to see if he can find one to consult with about her concerns.
Next scene: The likeable doctor has returned; he says the movement Karen's feeling in her hip could be any number of things - some gunk in the joint left behind after surgery, some suction - both of which will most likely resolve - but the orthopaedic doctor he spoke to recommends an x-ray as a "least we should do" measure. Now that she knows that there's nothing seriously wrong, Karen regrets taking the doctor's time and reassures him that she only came to emergency because she couldn't get anyone to give her this information over the phone. The doctor says, "You don't need to reassure me of anything. You're here so I'm going to help you."
Next scene: Karen's waiting, in a hospital gown, for her x-ray in a large space with many doors, one of which leads to a washroom. SFX: toilet flushes. Karen does not look up as a middle-aged black woman in stylish summer clothes emerges from the washroom. The woman says "hi." Karen looks up, smiles and says "hi, how are you." "I'm good," says the woman, "how are you." Karen says "I'm swell." They both find this funny and laugh a little.
The woman gathers her friend who has just emerged from one of the x-ray rooms. On the way out the nicely-dressed black woman wishes a good day to a guy on a gurney and waves goodbye at Karen, who waves back.
Next scene: Back in the private alcove in the emergency ward. The doctor returns and asks about the video game Karen is playing on her iPad to help pass the time. Then they talk about solutions to game puzzles you can find on the internet and about Donald Trump. The likeable doctor finally gets around to saying that the x-rays don't show any problems, but if what is happening gets worse, she should see her surgeon. Karen says she has an appointment on September 27th. The doctor says "sooner than that." She says, "I think he's on vacation until the 6th of September." "Then come back here if it gets worse" says the doctor and he gives her a work order.
Tracking shot: camera follows the couple as they leave Emergency, both feeling relieved that nothing is wrong. On the way, they see the handsome young nurse. Karen smiles at him and says that everything is OK. He smiles and says he's glad.
Final scene, exterior shot of the hospital: as the couple climb into a cab, Karen says "I guess that was a good use of four hours. And my toe didn't bother me all that much."
-SCENE-
Thanks for reading!Karen
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