THE GOODE SAMARITANS

"Goode Deeds (Pilot)"

Written by
Robert William McCormack
4420 Arlington Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90043
912 755 3670
writtenbyrobertmccormack@gmail.com
TEASER
BLACK SCREEN:
The MURMUR of the city is distant.
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
They call it the Windy City for a reason.
The gusts off of Lake Michigan are fierce, buffeting the
disheveled, well-worn suit that barely fits REX GOODE.
Unkept in every sense, he stands precariously close to the
edge, staring down the side of the high-rise.
Rex clutches a white envelope, slipping it in his jacket
pocket as --
A cell phone RINGS.
He fumbles, searching desperately. Could this be the call?
Astor (Mobile).
He pulls the cell from his pocket, gazing at the dancing
phone icon on his home screen. Answer or --
The ringing stops, the call going to voicemail.
For a fleeting moment, Rex considers the alternative...
Suddenly, he heaves himself up onto the ledge.
Without a moments hesitation, he steps off.
In an instant, Rex is gone.
INT. MAIN OFFICE - SAMARITANS OFFICE - NIGHT
From within the darkness, a light flickers on.
Then another one. And another.
Finally, the entire room.
Equal parts grace and power, DR. ASTOR GOODE stands by the
reception desk, cell phone in hand.
No answer.
She shrugs it off, turning back to --
SAM (O.S.)
Lets do this quick. My flight
leaves at eight forty-five.
DR. SAMANTHA SAM GOODE, classically beautiful, strides past
her mother as she takes in cavernous office space.
SAM (CONTD)
You certainly got one thing right.
Its big.
Astor cracks a sly smile, approaching.
ASTOR
I knew youd like it.
SAM
I never said I liked it. I said it
was big.
(beat)
Maybe a little too big. You really
think youd need all this space?
Astor begins to take off her coat.
ASTOR
Six offices, two conference rooms,
and a beautiful view of Michigan
Ave. And why not? We --
SAM
You. Theres no we in this.
Astor frowns, but plows forward.
ASTOR
We can actually afford to rent a
space like this. If its going to
happen, it may as well happen in
style.
Sam pokes her head into a dark office. As she comes out, she
turns to her mother, hesitant about something.
SAM
Can you actually afford this?
ASTOR
Your father seems to think so. Its
an old friend who manages the
property. Were getting a good
rate.
2.
SAM
Speaking of, where is he?
ASTOR
Your father? I havent the
slightest idea. Late, as usual.
(beat)
Shall we look at the conference
rooms?
INT. LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM - SAMARITANS OFFICE - NIGHT
Light from the city outside seeps through the blinds,
spilling in slotted patterns across the floor.
Astor flips on the light, immediately basking the room in a
florescent glow. She stands proudly at the head of the long,
oak conference table.
ASTOR
So, have I won you over?
Shes too pleased with herself.
ASTOR (CONTD)
You cant tell me youre not just a
little curious?
SAM
No, Im really not. Its all very
nice, but Im happy in Boston.
(beat)
Plus, it sounds great on paper, but
in reality --
ASTOR
What? Still?
SAM
Yes, still. This is not the market
to be opening a non-profit in --
ASTOR
Shes been filling your head with
nonsense, hasnt she? Teddy has
always been territorial with you --
Mother and daughter begin a tense dance.
SAM
This has nothing to do with her.
She actually thinks its a great
idea --
3.
ASTOR
Shes right about something for
once.
SAM
Can you just imagine for a second
that I might be content at work?
Things have been good --
ASTOR
Have they, though? Are you even
seeing patients at that hospital?
Sam is annoyed, growing angry.
SAM
Thats only for another month. The
board said its temporary.
Astor laughs callously. Yet, its not atypical for her.
ASTOR
Yes, sure, temporary. Thats just
their way of phasing you out. But
by all means, call it what you
want. A doctor thats not seeing
patients --
SAM
Why do you do this? It makes me
wonder if you actually want me to
come home or if you just enjoy this
game?
ASTOR
This isnt a game! I want to see
you succeed, Sam! I see how much
potential, how much talent you
have, yet you squander it at an
institution that has no goddamn
respect for you!
SAM
That couldnt be further from the
truth!
ASTOR
I just want you to be --
SAM
What, like you? Bored and
miserable?
(beat)
To hell with that.
4.
Sam turns and heads for the door, leaving Astor alone.
Neither have anything left to say to each other.
EXT. MICHIGAN AVENUE - NIGHT
Sam bounds out of the building lobby, headed south towards
the subway. Racing in the opposite direction --
An ambulance. Lights ablaze.
INT. AMBULANCE - NIGHT
Inside the rig, a PARAMEDIC prepares his kit as the DRIVER
squawks into his walkie-talkie.
DRIVER
Responding to a reported suicide
attempt at Division and Clybourn.
Patient is a jumper.
EXT. MICHIGAN AVE - NIGHT
The ambulance fades away as it pushes up Michigan Ave.
Sam doesnt even think twice about it.
END OF TEASER
5.
ACT ONE
INT. ELEVATOR - SAMARITANS OFFICE - DAY
SUPER: EIGHT MONTHS LATER
The elevator doors slide open.
Its clean, glossy, and empty. Until --
JILL SCHOLL, pretty but hidden beneath a dowdy wardrobe.
She doesnt get out much.
KEVIN (O.S.)
Wait! Hold it!
KEVIN DAYTON barely makes it through the elevator door. Hes
close to a stereotype -- slick hair, immaculate suit, though
his demeanor betrays that. Hes quiet, reserved... and sad.
KEVIN (CONTD)
Thanks. Always miss these things.
Jill just smiles.
Only slightly awkward.
INT. LOBBY - SAMARITANS OFFICE - DAY
Open into the Samaritans lobby.
Simple, sleek, modern.
And then theres MARYBETH MULLEN.
Older, scrawny, in an outfit she has no business wearing.
She sits behind the large reception counter.
MARYBETH
Here for orientation?
Shes curt, with a slight Southern drawl.
MARYBETH (CONTD)
Marybeth Mullen, office manager.
Can I get your names?
JILL
Jill Scholl.
6.
KEVIN
Kevin Dayton.
With two taps on her iPad --
MARYBETH
Okay, excellent! Youre all checked
in. If youd just head back to that
large conference room, the meeting
will be getting under way shortly.
Jill leads the way, Kevin following.
Marybeth eyes the latter, glued to his --
ALISON (O.S.)
Can we perhaps hold off on the
sexual harassment suit? At least
give us a month or two.
Beside her is DR. ALISON MOORE.
Shes tall, dark, mysterious.
And very wry.
MARYBETH
Glad were finally getting a little
eye candy in here.
Alison just rolls her eyes.
INT. LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM - SAMARITANS OFFICE - DAY
Jill and Kevin enter the conference room.
Motivational posters and promotional material line the walls.
Already seated is REESE MEYERS. Hes young, college-aged with
mop-top hair and wire-rimmed glasses.
REESE
I though Id be the only one.
He smiles, extending a hand.
REESE (CONTD)
Reese Meyers.
KEVIN
Kevin Dayton, nice to meet you.
7.
REESE
Likewise.
He looks to Jill.
JILL
Jill Scholl. A pleasure.
The three settle in.
JILL (CONTD)
Do you go to school around here,
Reese?
REESE
Northwestern. Pre-med.
JILL
Oh, how funny! I have a son at
Northwestern. Journalism. Loves it.
REESE
I hear good things about the
program.
JILL
You must --
Her cell phone begins RINGING --
JILL (CONTD)
Speak of the devil, this is him
now! Excuse me.
She rises, jumping on.
Jill clearly has a tendency to be frazzled.
JILL (CONTD)
Hello.
(beat, whispered)
Andy, no, we --
(beat)
No, Andy, can we discuss this
later? I told you, I --
(beat)
Yes, I promise. Did you get the
refill like I --
She turns sympathetically to the men, rolling her eyes in
mock exasperation, then disappears out into the hallway.
8.
KEVIN
Pre-med must keep you busy. Why the
volunteer work?
REESE
Perspective.
KEVIN
Perspective?
REESE
For the longest time, I wanted to
be a shrink. Not what most teenage
boys aspire to.
Kevin laughs.
KEVIN
I think I still dreamed of playing
in the NHL at your age.
REESE
This place seemed like the right
place to gain some perspective.
Make sure its the direction I
really want to go in.
KEVIN
So long as you dont end up trapped
in a cubicle, youre gonna be set,
kid.
Kevin hoists his briefcase as evidence.
Reese laughs.
Friends already.
INT. SAMS OFFICE - SAMARITANS OFFICE - DAY
Sam seems out of place.
She spins slowly in her office chair, eyes cast down.
In her hand, a folder shes not reading.
Then, a KNOCKING.
Alison stands in the doorway.
ALISON
Hey, were just about ready.
9.