A Serialized Work of Fiction

Little Earthquakes

Installment One

Written by Zef Domgjoni

FADE IN:

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — DAY

DILLON (52) walks out of the ER area, eyes wet, and legs a little shaky. He composes himself just enough as he surveys the waiting area, looking around at others waiting for admittance into the ER or for news of ailing loved ones.

Dillon finds a corner by the double doors. He slowly takes his cell phone out of his pocket; his trembling brown hands press buttons. He lifts the phone to his ear.

DILLON

(His voice cracking slightly.)

Elena, it's Dillon.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN — DAY

"Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" is heard in the background, playing in another room. ELENA (32) is at her kitchen counter preparing food.

ELENA

Uncle Dillon? Hold on.

(Raises her voice.)

Ray, turn that damn song off — you know I hate that song.

RAY (O.S.)

But mom...

ELENA

(Cutting him off.)

I said RIGHT NOW.

(Turning her attention back to the phone call.)

I'm sorry, Uncle Dillon. That song makes my blood boil. How are you doing?

CUT TO:

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — DAY

DILLON

I, I called to tell you that your uncle Kas had a stroke.

ELENA

What!?!

(Her eyes widen.)

Oh, my God! Where is he? Where are you?

DILLON

We're here at the ER in Bronxville.

ELENA

Jesus. Did you tell my parents?

DILLON

(Letting out a whisper of a sigh before speaking.)

No, not yet. I called you first. Kas would've wanted that.

Elena's eyes well up.

ELENA

Let me call Javier so he can come home for Ray. I'll call my parents, so you don't have to.

CLOSEUP ON DILLON.

DILLON

Thank you. I'm going back in, I'll see you when you get here.

Dillon hangs up before Elena can respond. He is overcome with emotion.

FADE TO:

I/E. ELENA'S CAR ON ROAD — EVENING

As Elena is driving, faint echoes of "Tonight, I'm Lovin' You" can be heard. She looks angry and sad at the same time.

FADE TO:

INT. FANCY APARTMENT — EVENING — APRIL 2012

ELENA (18) is on the couch with KEN (21) talking, smiling. Ken is handsome, fit, well dressed and well-coiffed.

The living room is impeccably decorated, clearly the work of a professional, not a college student.

There are multiple sports trophies in the living room. We see the name "Kenneth J. Fox" engraved on them.

Ringing cell phone jars Elena back to the present. The phone display shows "Mom". Elena answers the phone while driving.

ELENA

Hi, mom. Yes, I'm almost there.

(Pause.)

Okay, see you soon.

CUT TO:

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — EVENING

As ELENA enters the ER, she sees DILLON in the waiting area. Her eyes well up as they approach each other and hug.

ELENA

(Her voice trailing as she speaks his name.)

Uncle Dillon…

DILLON

I know, sweetie, I know.

They slowly release each other from their hug.

ELENA

Uncle Kas has always been so healthy, so active. A stroke doesn't make sense.

DILLON

We're still waiting for test results; the doctor said there can be numerous reasons why this happened. Once your parents come out, you can go in and see him.

Just past Dillon, Elena sees her parents: ADAM (54) and IRIS (53). They're walking out with sullen faces. Their names are on their printed black and white sticker badges.

Elena mutely greets her parents.

ELENA

Excuse me, I'm going to go see Uncle Kas.

Dillon sheepishly looks down.

DILLON

Elena, don't be alarmed when you see Kas. The left side of his face is partially paralyzed.

Elena walks away from her family and towards the visitor check-in desk. A seated portly clerk is at the desk.

ELENA

I'm visiting my uncle, Kastriot Markaj. M-A-R-K-A-J.

ER CLERK

Your name and ID?

ELENA

Elena Becker.

Elena hands the clerk her driver's license. The clerk prints her name tag sticker and hands it to her.

ER CLERK

Through the doors and down on the left side. The staff can direct you once you're inside.

Elena walks through the doors and to the left side, looking for her uncle. She doesn't ask for help. She walks past patients and staff, hearing random words from random conversations. Then she sees her uncle through the crack where the curtains meet. KAS (52) has longish locks on the top half of his head.

Elena walks forward, eager to see him. She walks over to his bed and hugs him gently. The left side of Kas' weary face is droopy. She puts her hand through his hair just like she did when she was a little girl.

Kas looks at Elena and tries to speak.

KAS

(Slurring his words.)

I'm gonna be okay.

She flashes a forced smile, diverting her eyes to his full head of hair.

While looking up at his niece, Kas' expression changes from weary affection to wide-eyed panic. His breathing becomes labored. The monitors start beeping as his blood pressure rises. A nurse rushes in and asks Elena to leave.

As Elena is ushered out of the ER by a second nurse, she sees a frail young woman with a bruised face. She presses her lips together, clenching her teeth in anger.

CUT TO:

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — EVENING

Elena regroups with her parents and Dillon in the waiting area. She fills them in on the episode (inaudible to audience).

ADAM

Zemer, your uncle is strong. He'll pull through this.

ELENA

Of course he's strong. Did he ever have a choice to be anything but strong?

Adam looks hurt.

IRIS

Mija, we've all had to be strong in one way or another.

ELENA

But he had to be strong for so many years. He was disowned by his parents for being gay. Fucking backwards Albanian bullshit.

ADAM

Hey, we supported him.

ELENA

(Sarcastic tone.)

Oh, yeah. With your "we love you but can't support your lifestyle" because of our beliefs crap. Like he chose to be gay.

ADAM

I've tried to make amends multiple times but Kas has a chip on his shoulder.

Dillon has held his tongue this whole time, but he finally speaks up.

DILLON

Chip? Chip. He doesn't have a chip on his shoulder. Your feelings about homosexuality have nothing to do with it. There's only one thing Kas can't get past, and you know it.

(Takes a breath.)

I'm going to go check if they've stabilized him.

Iris opens her mouth to start speaking.

ELENA

Excuse me, I have to use the restroom.

After her daughter exits, Iris turns to Adam.

IRIS

Honey, Dillon is right. Kas has never forgiven us for taking the settlement money.

Adam mutely opens his mouth and mutely shuts it in defeat.

CUT TO:

INT. BATHROOM STALL

Elena is sitting in her stall. Images of her uncle's drooping face, her young self with Ken, and the bruised young woman in the ER flood her mind. Elena's anxiety rising.

She hears her mother's voice on the other side of the stall.

IRIS

Elena, it's mom. Are you okay?

ELENA

I'm almost done.

Elena flushes despite there being nothing to flush.

Elena walks past Iris to wash her hands.

IRIS

You know that you can talk to me, right?

ELENA

Yes, mom, I know. I just want to stay focused on Uncle Kas getting better. I'm trying not to think about the years that I lost with him.

IRIS

You had your reasons, mija. He always knew you loved him.

ELENA

I'm sure he did but, after I had Ray, that was when I realized just how much Uncle Kas loved me. Javier has two siblings and they're barely involved in Ray's life.

IRIS

They're single and childless, they'll come around.

ELENA

Uncle Kas was childless and single, too, but he was there.

(voice getting lower and softer.)

He was there all the time.

Past regret and present uncertainty overcome Elena. She sobs with her throat and chest.

Iris hugs her daughter tightly. She wants to speak but doesn't trust herself to say the right thing at this moment.

FADE TO:

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM — WAITING AREA

Elena and Iris are walking back toward Adam.

Adam is looking up at the muted large screen TV. Iris and Elena turn their heads to the screen as well.

A split screen shows a newscaster side by side with a photo of KEN FOX. The ticker reads "COMING UP: The Unsolved Murder of Kenneth J. Fox".

ELENA

I need air.

Elena briskly storms out of the ER.

FADE OUT.

Little Earthquakes continues next week.