Nov 20, 2021
Tim might expect to see corpses, working graveyard
in the morgue, but never expected one that could
talk...
Cast List
Timothy Grant - Jasper Loovis
Bedelia Crane - Emmatrice Devan
Gordy - George Dunn
Darcy - Megan Lane
Halston - Gene Thorkildsen
Sophia - Julie Hoverson
Mr. Summerfield - Bryan Hendrickson
Male Body - Reynaud LeBoeuf
Security Guard - Sky Iolta
Music: Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com)
Recorded with the assistance of Ryan Hirst of Neohoodoo Studio
Editing and Sound: Julie Hoverson
Cover Design: Brett Coulstock
"What kind of a place is it?
Why it's a morgue - can't you tell?"
*********************************************************
DRAWER 23
Cast:
- Olivia, host
- Timothy Grant (M20s), temp. night shift at morgue
- Sophia (F30s), who Tim is replacing
- Gordy (M20s), the go-to guy
- Darcy (F20s), med student
- Halston (M40s), swing shift attendant
- Bedelia Crane (F40-ish), ghost, southern belle from the 1920s
- MALE BODY - Bedelia, but with a man's voice
- Summerfield (M50s), tough boss
- Security guard (any)
OLIVIA Did you have any trouble finding it? What do you mean, what kind of a place is it? Why, it's a morgue, can't you tell?
MUSIC
SCENE 1. MORGUE, NIGHT
SOUND WHOOSH OF HYDRAULIC DOORS OPENING
SOPHIA And THIS--
TIM --Got it. I watch CSI.
SOPHIA On this shift, you won't usually have to deal with the - well, everyday ins and outs, but there are times when somebody has to get in here right away, so you need to know the check-in procedures.
TIM Oh, sure.
SOPHIA Is this your first time dealing with cadavers?
TIM Mm, yeah, but I--
SOPHIA Try not to faint when you smell them. The cold helps, but I have some mentholatum if you need it--
TIM Oh, yeah, I saw Silence of the Lambs.
SOPHIA [sigh, then muttered] And you plan to be a doctor...?
TIM Hmm?
SOPHIA If you, or anyone else, does faint, and sustains any appreciable injury, you must fill out a form 5-C-H dash 2-1-7 dash 62.
TIM There's a form for it?
SOPHIA There's insurance for it. Did you ever see Quincy?
TIM Quincy Jones?
SOPHIA [Sigh] A television show. In the opening credits - never mind.
SOUND DOOR OPENS
SOPHIA There are 30 drawers. You always fill the top row first, followed by the next down, and the floor level ones last of all.
TIM 30? I never thought that Cumberland Pass would--
SOPHIA We really don't. I've only seen all the drawers filled once - after that really bad fire. Well, all the drawers but one.
TIM [waits, then] One?
SOPHIA [sighs, somewhat embarrassed] This one. Twenty-three. It's... tsk... It's supposed to be haunted.
TIM I guess it's the right place for a--
SOPHIA I don't really believe it, but everybody else does. No one will put a body in that drawer. And me, I figure - why take a chance?
TIM I-- I'm not getting it. So there's a ghost and you don't want to put a body in the drawer why...? Because it'll get scared?
SOPHIA For 12 years, I have not seen anything to be scared of. I haven't heard anything but stories.
TIM [eager] Tell me!
SOPHIA Timothy, most people find working third shift hard enough without having ghost stories to freak out over. Just do the three months and when I get back, I promise you I will tell you everything I know.
TIM What if you decide not to come back?
SOPHIA Oh, please! Once this munchkin arrives, I'll be desperate to get back to my wonderful peaceful nights here. Dale swears up and down she's ready to lose sleep for the both of us.
TIM Kids take a lot of time.
SOPHIA [teasing] Don't get your hopes up - they take a lot of cash too, and I'm not about to give up my health benefits.
MUSIC
SCENE 2. CAFETERIA
GORDY [coming on] Hey pal! I heard you got graveyard shift in the land of the dead!
TIM Yeah, Sophia's been showing me the ropes. Seems easy. Clean this, lock that, don't take pictures of dead celebrities, make sure no one gets in without proper authorization.
GORDY Did she tell you about the ghosts?
TIM More than one? I mean, she mentioned [snickers] a haunted drawer in the cool room, but--
GORDY Hmm. Never heard THAT one, but there are supposed to be a bunch of--
DARCY [coming on] This seat taken? [sits without waiting] Hey, Tim! [less enthused] Gordy.
GORDY The lovely Lady Darcy.
TIM Hey Darce.
GORDY Deigning to sit among the common folk? What will the world come to?
TIM Gordy was just telling me--
GORDY Warning you. About the ghosts. In the morgue.
DARCY That's ridiculous.
GORDY Huh? And I suppose you know everything about--
DARCY I don't know anything about the morgue, but I do have a smattering of supernatural lore‑‑
GORDY I suppose someone's got to watch Ghosthunters.
DARCY AND it is absolutely accepted common belief that a ghost haunts the place it DIED, not the place its body went later.
TIM Maybe someone ... died in the morgue. [shudder]
GORDY "Accepted common belief"? That's about as nebulous as "according to statistics."
DARCY The O.R., now. Or the Burn Ward. That's where you'd find ghosts.
MUSIC
SCENE 3. MORGUE, NIGHT
SOUND HYDRAULIC DOOR OPENS
TIM Hello? Hello? Hello?
HALSTON [off] Just a moment!
SOUND HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSES
SOUND PAPERS RUSTLE
TIM [muttering to self] Checklist, check. Clipboard - no scheduled arrivals, check.
HALSTON [coming on] Yeah?
TIM I'm Timothy Grant--
HALSTON Oh, yeah. Soph's gone off to spawn?
TIM She went into labor this morning, so I get to start early--
HALSTON Don't worry. Piece of cake job. Could be done by a monkey, only monkeys won't work for this pay.
TIM [chuckles] Seems fine to me.
HALSTON Yeah, well, you don't have the monkeys' union. You need anything before I take off? Any last questions?
TIM I don't think so - Sophia left me a pretty comprehensive set of notes.
HALSTON Not surprising - she's so damn organized, that kid won't stand a chance. Well, don't you go slacking off and make her clean up your messes when she gets back. It'll be bad enough when all the construction starts, [shrugs] but she's always happiest telling people what to do.
SOUND FOOTSTEPS START TO LEAVE, DOOR OPENS
TIM Oh, I did--
HALSTON [pause] What?
TIM Oh, [embarrassed] someone was telling me about a... well, a ghost. In one of the body drawers.
HALSTON And?
TIM What do you think? I'm dying of curiosity.
HALSTON You ain't the ghoulish type, are you Tim?
TIM I - I don't think so.
HALSTON [thinks, then sighs] The guy who used to do nights, before Sophia took over, swore that there was ghost in drawer 23. He said the guy before him told him about it, but that no one really knew any details, like who or what it was, just that--
TIM Yes?
HALSTON Shit. This is just one of those "you can't win" things. No matter what I say now, chances are you're gonna do something stupid.
TIM Maybe not. I mean, I'll try--
HALSTON Just don't blame me. So Fred - the guy who told me this - Fred said that one night he DID put a body into 23. And nothing happened.
TIM [deflated] Oh.
HALSTON Until midnight. Then the corpse woke up and screamed. It screamed and scratched at the drawer for just about an hour--
TIM The witching hour--
HALSTON Whatever - around one, it just shut off like a light.
TIM Maybe the poor stiff was still alive! Why didn't he open the drawer and check?
HALSTON [beat, ominous] Because the body was already autopsied.
MUSIC
SCENE 4. DAY, SCHOOL
SOUND QUICK FOOTSTEPS IN A TILED HALLWAY
TIM [off mike, slightly out of breath] Hey! Darcy?
DARCY Huh? Tim? What...?
SOUND FOOTSTEPS APPROACH AND STOP
TIM Hey. I- um, I wanted to ask--
DARCY [excited] Yes?
TIM --about ghosts.
DARCY [deflated] Oh. Why?
TIM It's the stories - you know about the ghosts in the morgue. And you seemed to know a lot. I mean, about ghosts. So-- I figured what the heck?
DARCY This is really not the place--
TIM Step outside? Just for a moment. I just got off shift and need some fresh air, anyway.
SCENE 5. OUTDOORS, CONTINUOUS
SOUND DOOR OPENS. MORNING NOISES - BIRDS, CARS
DARCY [takes a deep breath] So. Ghosts.
TIM Anything you can tell me.
DARCY That's like asking a gearhead about cars. It covers way too much territory. You need to be more specific.
TIM How do you ...talk to them?
DARCY Depends. Some ghosts can't talk. A lot of them don't even realize they're dead - they say it's the trauma. They wipe their death right out of their memories, and then get mad because people are ignoring them.
TIM Do you ...need a medium or something?
DARCY Do you need a doctor to know when you have a cold?
TIM What?
DARCY I'm saying that without some detail about your symptoms, you won't know whether to consult an expert.
TIM Oh, Ok.
DARCY I approach ghosts from a theoretical and psychological angle.
TIM Very scientific.
DARCY So? Bring me some parameters.
MUSIC
SCENE 6. MORGUE, NIGHT
SOUND BIG DRAWER ROLLS OUT
TIM I wonder if it has to be pushed in?
GORDY [filter, crackly] Dude, you're breaking up - the morgue sucks for reception.
TIM [snicker] A dead zone.
GORDY [filter, crackly] Ha-ha.
TIM So I got this guy... [muttered, to corpse] Sorry, man. [to Gordy] I wonder if it needs to be rolled in?
GORDY [filter, crackly] Did you remember to tie it up?
TIM [resigned] Yes.
GORDY [filter, crackly, fading] You'll thank me if this is a flesh eating zombie situation.
TIM In, I think.
SOUND DRAWER ROLLS IN
TIM 10, 9, 8--
GORDY [filter, crackly, fading badly] 7--[static] 5--
TIM 4, 3, 2...
SOUND PHONE BEEPS OFF
TIM Crap!
SOUND MUFFLED SCREAMING ["MALE BODY"] AND BANGING - CONTINUES UNTIL NOTED
MALE BODY [light accent - very southern belle] LET ME OUT!
TIM [almost paralyzed] Oh, shit! Oh, shit oh shit oh shit!!!
MALE BODY PLEASE!!! LET ME OUT!!!
SOUND DIALING PHONE
TIM Gordy, man!
SOUND PHONE BAD CONNECTION SOUND
TIM Shit!
MALE BODY [Screaming incoherently]
TIM [yelling] If I open the drawer, will you shut up?
MALE BODY [suddenly silent, then] Is there someone out there?
TIM Yes. Just, be calm, OK?
MALE BODY I'll try.
SOUND DRAWER ROLLED OUT
TIM [reacts in fear]
MALE BODY Thank you ever so much! I was afraid-- I-- Why on earth am I bound? [clears throat, tries to speak higher pitch] And what in heaven's name has happened to my voice?
MALE BODY I think somehow there is a great deal you are choosing not to tell me.
TIM You're right, but--- this isn't going to be easy. First, who are you? Do you remember?
MALE BODY Remember? Of course. Bedelia Crane. Miss Bedelia to my students. And yourself?
TIM Um, Tim. Timothy Grant.
MALE BODY Grant. Well, there's a name for you.
TIM And -- what year do you think it is?
MALE BODY 1932. Now it's your turn. Why don't you begin by telling me what it is you are keeping back.
MUSIC
SCENE 7. EMPTY CAFETERIA
SOUND STRAW POPS MILK CARTON
GORDY One advantage of working nights - we have our choice of tables.
TIM Yup.
GORDY So, do I have to beat it out of you?
TIM What?
GORDY What happened?
TIM Oh. [lightly] Body came to life, killed me, went off on a rampage.
GORDY Right, and even now, it is heading for the nation's capital, in search of brains.
TIM Wrong direction.
GORDY Well, that's because I was employing sarcasm. It's a tool of the trade for oncologists.
TIM [beat, shrug] Nothing.
GORDY Nothing?
TIM Nope.
GORDY Well. Guess I better cancel that Ghostbuster stripper I hired.
MUSIC
SCENE 8. OUTSIDE, DAY
SOUND FOOTSTEPS ON CONCRETE, SECOND SET HURRY UP
TIM Darcy! Got a minute?
DARCY Hi! [damping her enthusiasm] Tim.
TIM I have some more info on the ghost.
DARCY You're serious?
TIM Oh, yeah. I talked to her last night. Asked a bunch of questions - it was weird cause I didn't know she was a SHE, and I'd stuck in a man's body, but--
DARCY Tim?
TIM Yes?
DARCY You're telling me you spoke to a ghost?
TIM Yes.
DARCY A real live ghost?
TIM Apart from the poor choice of words, yes.
DARCY Are you sure you didn't just fall asleep?
TIM [not too sure] Pretty sure.
DARCY [sigh] I mean, I want to believe you, but - actually speaking to a ghost? Most people "feel a presence," or notice items have been moved a teensy bit from their previous position, or run into a cold spot.
TIM Nope. We just chatted - once I explained how things were, she seemed mostly OK with it. I guess no one ever just talked with her before.
DARCY [thinks for a moment, then] You need to video this or something.
TIM Don't you even want to know who she is? I was kind of hoping you could help me look up her records... [running out of steam] Being in records, and all.
DARCY Oh sure. Once I see your recording.
MUSIC
SCENE 9. MORGUE, NIGHT
SOUND DRAWER ROLLS OUT
TIM Is this one better?
BEDELIA [delighted] Oh, much. I almost feel like myself again. Though of course, I am not.
TIM You're taking it very well.
BEDELIA I have always prided myself on being a practical woman. There is no use in shedding tears over what cannot be changed. [losing confidence] I do, however, worry some little about what's to become of me.
TIM I have some questions for you. Are you up to answering?
BEDELIA Certainly. And, Timothy? Thank you so very much. For everything. Particularly for providing me with ... garments. I know it's ludicrous to be modest with another's--
TIM No, no. Perfectly reasonable. I'm curious‑‑
BEDELIA Could you help me out first? I would prefer to hold any such interview in a less horizontal position.
SOUND DRAWER OUT A BIT MORE
TIM & BEDELIA [grunts as he helps her up]
SOUND SEVERAL BARE FOOTSTEPS
BEDELIA [sighs as she sits] Timothy, was this poor girl deformed?
TIM Huh?
BEDELIA I can barely keep my balance and walk with such a monstrous bosom. Poor, poor child.
TIM It's-- Um - guys like girls who--
BEDELIA How times change. Now in my day - well, my heyday, shall we say - the style was a more delicate, and slender figure. Athletic. A girl like this would have cried her eyes out every night and bound herself to kingdom come, trying to achieve a decent flapper slouch.
TIM [shudder] Uhh.
BEDELIA Of, course, I was hardly a flapper - I was a bit old to run with that crowd, [nostalgic] but I spent my share of time in the speaks. Weekends only, o'course. It would never do to show up hung at the schoolhouse of a morning.
TIM Can I ask - I mean without offending you - when you were born?
BEDELIA Oh, Timothy. You are a delight. I'm dead, child, how can you offend me?
MUSIC
SCENE 10. MEETING DARCY
SOUND [On RECORDING] OUTSIDE NOISES
BEDELIA [on recording] I was born in the year 1891, in Rock Creek, Georgia. I came here in--
SOUND CLICK - TAPE MACHINE OFF
DARCY [sucks in breath, exasperated noise] But-- but that could be anyone.
TIM Yeah, I figured you might think that, so here--
SOUND CLICKING OF COMPUTER KEYS
DARCY [gasp]
TIM Sorry, it's the only way to prove - see the time code - this was 11:50, and then this--
SOUND CLICKING
TIM Was 1:08. There. Before and after shots of the same woman - dead. Autopsy scars and all.
DARCY Still...
TIM You could come and see for yourself. You can even choose the body--
DARCY I -- no. I mean, I'm in records for a reason. I don't like ...the smelly parts of medicine.
TIM All right, so--
GORDY [coming on] Hey, hey! Darcy, are you warm in here, or is it just me?
DARCY Is it funny in here, or is it just the way you smell?
TIM Um--
DARCY I've got to go, Tim. If I think of anything, I'll let you know.
TIM Um, Ok.
SOUND CHAIR, FOOTSTEPS LEAVE
GORDY Since the ghost in the drawer was a bust--
TIM [snort - almost a laugh]
GORDY --I did a little digging in old newspapers and I found you another one.
TIM Really? In the morgue too?
GORDY Yup. There was this freshman at the medical school, who for a hazing had to spend the night in the morgue - to make sure he didn't cheat, the frat boys handcuffed him to one of the drawers
TIM Number 23?
GORDY Dude, no one was sober enough to count. Anyway, so this poor newbie was handcuffed, in his underwear, in the morgue all night, and when they came to let him out--
TIM [waits, then] --Yes?
GORDY He was gone.
TIM Oh.
GORDY Wait, wait - He was gone, but his hand was still in the handcuff - he had chewed it off to escape!
TIM That's insane -you can't chew through bone.
GORDY Animals do it.
TIM Animals have teeth made for it. Humans simply don't have the jaw strength--
GORDY Dude, it's just a story. I guess you don't want to hear the best part.
TIM [long sigh, then] OK, what is it?
GORDY [offhand, not caring] His body was never found.
TIM Mm. Of course.
MUSIC
SCENE 11. MORGUE, NIGHT
SOUND DRAWER PULLS OUT
TIM Morning.
BEDELIA [chuckle] Help me out of here, if you please.
TIM Up you come. [grunt]
BEDELIA [sigh] Oh, this is very nice.
TIM You like?
BEDELIA Yes. A good deal closer my own age, and not bad looking.
TIM I was telling a friend about you--
BEDELIA [curious] But why? I mean, you start telling people that you're speaking with the dead, they're liable to look at you strangely.
TIM Oh, no - Darcy's cool. I asked if she wanted to drop in, but she's - a bit creeped out.
BEDELIA You have the most colorful colloquialisms.
TIM It's not the ghosts that wig her, it's more the corpses.
BEDELIA "wig"?
TIM Bother her.
BEDELIA Ahh. I don't wonder - not everyone can take a spirit at face value.
TIM Come, sit. I'm eating lunch - I don't suppose you would like some...?
BEDELIA I highly doubt it. But it certainly smells delicious.
TIM [gracious] Smell away.
BEDELIA Tell me about this lady friend of yours. Is it serious?
TIM [almost choking] You mean like dating? Me and Darcy?
BEDELIA Of course we called it courting in my day, but yes - is she your intended?
TIM I-- we-- I guess I never really thought about it. I mean, she's smart and pretty and all, but she-- [snort] She'd never be interested in me.
BEDELIA Why not? After all, you're obviously smart, kindhearted, and a fine-looking young man.
TIM [huh?] Me?
BEDELIA Of course. Is there anyone else in this room? Why, if I weren't a couple decades too old for you--
TIM --and dead--
BEDELIA --and, yes-- [sigh] You see there? Perhaps that's why you haven't any lady friend. You don't seem to think before you open your mouth.
TIM But - I just - it's the truth.
BEDELIA You are much too literal, Timothy. Sometimes - most of the time - tact isn't in what you say, so much as when you choose to say nothing at all. You would be amazed at how far a little tact and charm can take you.
SOUND DOOR OPENS, ANGRY FOOTSTEPS ENTER
SUMMERFIELD What in hell's going on?
TIM I--I--
BEDELIA [sharp] Sir? And who the devil are you?
TIM [whispered] It's my boss.
SUMMERFIELD Yeah, I'm his boss, he's my soon to fired employee, and who the devil are you?
BEDELIA [sweetness] I am Timothy's aunt, Bedelia Crane. I am so pleased to meet one of Timothy's co-workers. I didn't think I'd have such a chance--
SUMMERFIELD This is a restricted area, lady.
BEDELIA [as if he was being polite] Oh, you can call me Bedelia. And you are--?
SUMMERFIELD [rapidly losing steam] Alvin Summerfield, but--
BEDELIA I'm afraid this is all my fault, Mr. Summerfield. Or may I call you Alvin?
SUMMERFIELD [softening noticeably] Alvin--Alvin's fine. Or Al.
BEDELIA [troweling it on] Alvin is much more dignified. As I was saying, this is entirely my fault. I'm afraid I dropped in without the least warning - I'm only in town for a couple of hours, before my bus leaves again - and I came by with lunch to surprise him. I'm afraid Timothy just didn't have the heart to send his poor old aunt back out into the night, when we never get to see each other, ever, ever.
TIM Yeah.
SUMMERFIELD Well, I really can't let you stay, ma'am, but I... I understand. I won't write Tim up. This time. May I walk you to your car?
BEDELIA I'm parked quite some ways away, and couldn't possibly take you away from your business here for that long - but I would certainly appreciate an escort out of the building--
SOUND TAKES HIS ARM, THEY WALK OFF
BEDELIA [fading out] --I got myself terribly lost, trying to find my way in. But then, it is a fascinating place!
SOUND DOOR STARTS TO SWING SHUT, RUNNING FOOTSTEPS, DOOR SWINGS OPEN AGAIN
TIM Don't forget the time, aunt Bedelia!
BEDELIA Oh?
TIM You've only got [checks] uh, 43 minutes. Until you gotta be where you have to be.
BEDELIA I understand! [fading again] Such a good boy - wants to make sure I don't get left behind somewhere--
SOUND DOOR SHUTS
MUSIC
SCENE 12. MORGUE, NIGHT, LATER
SOUND PACING
TIM 12:49. Where the heck is she? I need to get that body back--
SOUND CELL PHONE RINGS
TIM [startled] Aah!
SOUND FUMBLES WITH PHONE, THEN TURNS IT ON
TIM H-hello?
GORDY [on phone] [spooooky voice] Whooo-ooooo. This is your wake-up ghost.
TIM Gordy?
GORDY [on phone] No, it's Mabel fable, put the money back on the table.
TIM Gordy!
GORDY [on phone] Ok, ok! Jeez, don't get your shroud in a bunch.
TIM Is there a point--?
GORDY [on phone] Yeah. I was googling the morgue and stuff, and realized that one reason I didn't find much was that the hospital changed its name in the 1970s. Once I found that, I uncovered a bunch of stuff.
TIM In the middle of the night?
GORDY [on phone] "Best time" "In an empty house"? - "best place."
TIM Huh?
GORDY [on phone] [sigh] You're such a nerd. All right. Most of the stuff is crap. Not very interesting. [beat] Except....
TIM [disinterested] The freshman's handless body?
GORDY [on phone] No. [serious] There really was a guy - and you can believe this, cause there's a wiki entry on it - who was working in the morgue and went nuts in the middle of July 17th.
TIM [beat] That's it?
GORDY [on phone] He claimed that a huge black shadow had risen from the floor or something, and touched him, and he like had visions or something and went nuts.
TIM When did this happen?
GORDY [on phone] uh [checking] 1945.
TIM He was probably listening to War of the Worlds or something.
GORDY [on phone] Well, there's more, [tailing off] but if you're not interested--
TIM All right. Go on.
GORDY [on phone] It happened three other times - People claimed to have seen something horrible on July 17th, or else [pause, for suspense] they killed themselves. Two suicides - a janitor and a nurse who wasn't even supposed to be in the area, both in the mid 50s.
TIM You're really serious?
GORDY [on phone] As a snack attack.
TIM But Sophia's worked here for twelve years, and she's never had a problem.
GORDY [on phone] Hmm. Ask her.
TIM Yeah - besides, she'll be back by then anyway.
GORDY [on phone] Good. You can start leading a normal life again. Oh, wait, you never had a normal life. Oh well. Chow!
TIM Bye.
SOUND TURNS OFF PHONE
SOUND MOMENT OF SILENCE, THEN A TAP AT THE WINDOW
TIM [startled] Ahh! Oh shit - Bedelia!
MUSIC
SCENE 13. OUTDOORS, EARLY MORNING
TIM [fading in] --and then it was 1 a-m and I had to drag the body back in really quick and clean it up!
DARCY [chuckling] You are such a freak!
TIM You think I'm a freak - It's Mr. Summerfield who was making all googly eyes at her. Ugh. Jeez, I hope he doesn't spot that body on the slab.
DARCY [shudder] The way you talk about her, it's easy to forget she's really... well... dead.
TIM Yeah, and she's been giving me all sorts of great advice-- [stops]
DARCY Mm?
TIM Nothing. [changing gears with difficulty] Um, Gordy told me there's concrete evidence of another ghostly presence, and I was hoping you might be interested.
DARCY Who is it this time?
TIM He said the only description was a "dark presence" and that came from a guy who went mad. I can forward you the e-mail.
DARCY [interested] Yeah. Do.
MUSIC
SCENE 14. MORGUE, NIGHT
BEDELIA It was so lovely. Being outside, in the night.
TIM You shouldn't have been out alone! You could have been--
BEDELIA Killed? [chuckles] Oh, I haven't any real worries on that score.
TIM Guess not.
BEDELIA But I do appreciate your concern, Timothy. That's very considerate of you.
TIM Well, I--
BEDELIA Now yesterday, before we were so rudely interrupted, you were telling me about your young lady friend.
TIM Uh, yeah. Look - there's something more important--
BEDELIA More important than romance? Goodness. That is just like a man.
TIM It's another ghost.
BEDELIA Oh?
TIM Here in the morgue. Someone - something - who only appears once a year - July 17 - and drives people crazy.
BEDELIA I had an uncle like that, but he only--
TIM Please! Have you ever seen this - thing?
BEDELIA [takes a moment to contemplate him] tsk. Timothy, you know very well that I have spent very little time of the last 75 years or so taking any notice of the world around me. When there's no body in the drawer at midnight, I just carry on asleep.
TIM I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
BEDELIA Of course not. It never hurts to ask. You should ask your young lady to dinner sometime.
TIM Why? We eat together - breakfast - all the time. [flushes, realizing how this must sound, blurts] I mean when I get off shift, and she's coming in.
BEDELIA Silly boy. That's just food. "Dinner" is an event.
MUSIC
SCENE 15. OUTSIDE, MORNING
DARCY I think I found out something for you... about your friend Bedelia.
TIM Go on?
SOUND FLIPS PAGES
DARCY Hold on. All right. I found her hospital records, and they're pretty useless - it's amazing how unspecific stuff was back in the day! But they do say she was admitted on a Saturday morning, very early, unconscious, slipped into a coma and stopped breathing.
TIM But did it say why?
DARCY [she knows something] Noooo. [beat] But--
TIM But?
DARCY I checked the papers around the same time, and there were a number of near deaths from a bad batch of bathtub gin--
TIM In 1932 - but prohibition ended-- [cuts self off]
DARCY [waits a second, then] And, they all looked dead, presumably a deep coma, but then revived.
TIM You mean she--?
DARCY She probably revived in the drawer and then really died.
TIM Oh. [swallows] Well, thanks! Sounds like you did a lot of work on that.
DARCY Oh, I like going through old newspapers. The ads are hilarious! [beat] I also discovered one of the ineffable truths of life.
TIM Huh?
DARCY Gordy is an idiot.
TIM Oh, well - we knew that.
DARCY Your dark shape? It exists.
TIM Really?
DARCY In Ontario. Gordy mistook Moss Creek General, which was the old name here, for Moose Creek General, which is in some teensy town in Canada. Tsch. The wonders of the internet.
TIM Darcy...
DARCY Hmm?
TIM [very awkward] Would you like to go to dinner sometime?
MUSIC, MUCH TIME PASSES
SCENE 16. ENTERING MORGUE, NIGHT
TIM Thanks for staying up - Sophia warned me it would be awkward to readjust to days - and even more awkward to just work weekends like this.
DARCY What else am I going to do with my weekend nights? [teasing] My boyfriend has to work.
SOUND KISS, they break apart, both laughing a little
SOUND A COUPLE MORE STEPS, THEN DOOR PUSHES OPEN.
TIM [shock and horror] What the hell?
HALSTON Hiya Tim. I shoulda warned you - they finished over on the quad building ahead of schedule, so they started tearing stuff out over here. Think of it - six months, and we'll have the newest facilities in the state!
TIM But--
DARCY Oh, no! [sympathetic] Tim!
HALSTON What? Didya leave something in the morgue?
TIM Yeah. In one of the drawers. Where- where ... are ... they?
HALSTON Out back with the rest of the rubble, I suppose. Why?
TIM [strained] Nothing. Have a good night! [aside, to Darcy] Help me?
DARCY Um, sure. What do you--
TIM Come back at 11:30 and--
HALSTON [slightly off] At least it means work will be a piece of cake - everyone's being re-rerouted to Central until we get an interim suite set back up.
TIM [whispered] 11:30. We'll take a look. I just need to - at least say goodbye.
DARCY [a little unsure] Sure. Um. What's the worst that can happen?
MUSIC
SCENE 17. OUTSIDE, OUT BACK
AMBIANCE DISTANT TRAFFIC, NIGHTTIME
SOUND CLANKING NOISES
DARCY [whispered call] Found em!
SOUND HURRIED FOOTSTEPS
TIM Where?
DARCY But they're all out of order. Ooh. Some really didn't take it well.
TIM Check the numbers?
DARCY Oh, Tim - most of them don't seem to have them--
TIM Look for a dent on the front that looks like a pair of lips - I rammed a gurney into the drawer one night.
SOUND METAL RATTLES, ETC.
DARCY [beat] This one?
TIM Oh, yes! Help me turn it back over.
DARCY But without a body, how can you--
SECURITY GUARD Hey, you over there!
TIM Run, Darcy!
SOUND DARCY RUNS
SOUND TIM CLIMBS UNDER THE DRAWER AND HIDES.
SECURITY GUARD Hey! You kids!
SOUND RUNNING FEET GO PAST
TIME PASSES
SOUND DARCY'S FEET RETURN
DARCY [whispered call] Tim? Tim?
TIM Over here.
DARCY Oh! When I realized you weren't behind me, I thought he got you!
TIM [Sounding like Bedelia] Nonsense. I waited in ambush. [then, completely himself] Gotta get back to work. See you for breakfast?
DARCY Did you--? The drawer--?
TIM No. [rueful, but sounding just a touch like Bedelia] Not a soul. Any longer.
CLOSER
OLIVIA Now that you know how to find us, don't be a stranger - we have enough of those already...
END