THE WRONG PRESCRIPTION

WRITTEN BYJALEXANDER
INSPIRED BY THE NOVEL “SHIPWRECK” by JALEXANDER

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Overview:

This story is not just about Doctor Henry Stewart’s addiction to prescription drugs, it’s also about his wife Julia’s access to these drugs and how they led to her leaving this world.

FADE IN

SCENE 1 – EXT. A ROAD CALLED GRIEF – 2000

THE OPENING SCENE SHOWS a man named David McMasters who is unconscious and dreaming. As he travels on a road called Grief, he meets other travelers who are on their own journeys to find peace and forgiveness.

AS DAVID SLEPT dreaming of his beautiful wife, he heard a voice saying,

A stranger’s (V.O.)
“Hey! Wake up, are you okay Mister?”

DAVID RUBBED AND THEN opened and closed his eyes a few times, trying to get his bearings. Again, he heard a voice insisting,

A stranger (V.O.)
“Come on, I’ll give you a hand; try to sit up!”

TRY AS HE MAY, David couldn’t sit up. The stranger suggested,

A stranger (V.O.)
“Why don’t you let go of your burdens you have on your mind, they may be weighing you down!”

WHEN DAVID FOLLOWED stranger’s suggestion, he was able to get to his knees, and then finally to his feet. Looking at the stranger, David asked,

David (V.O.)
“Are you a Doctor?”

A stranger (V.O.)
“Well I used to be called Doctor Henry Stewart, but that was a long, long time ago; now people just call me Doc!”

DAVID NOTICE THAT the stranger looked like he was heavy burdened, so, he and asked him,

David (V.O.)
Okay Doc.! “Tell me about your burdens?”

Doc. (V.O.)
My burdens are “Anger” and “Bargaining!”

DAVID MOVED forward and said,

David (V.O.)
“I know a little anger, but tell me about “Bargaining?”

Doc. (V.O.)
“As you know Sir, frustration gives way to “Anger” which is a way of releasing bottled-up tension and laying unwarranted blame on others. “Bargaining” however, is the opposite of “Anger”. With “Bargaining” we question our faith by saying: “Why me” or ‘It’s not my fault!”

DOC. LOWERED his head, then continued,

Doc. (V.O.)
“We often try bargaining our way out of our despair by saying things like, “If you get me out of this mess Lord, I’ll never disappoint you again, I promise!”

DAVID JUST SAT QUITE as he watched Doc. get a little choked up as he explained,

Doc. (V.O.)
Every time, I arrived at a check point, I could release my burden “Anger” but not “Bargaining”! “Because these burdens were together, the guards make me go back to the start, and travel the long lonesome highway all over again.” “Another reason why I got turned away is because, I was still addicted to pain killers. I’m ashamed to say it, but that’s what got me on this road called ‘Grief’ in the first place.”

AFTER TAKING A DEEP BREATH, Doc. continued telling his story.

Doc. (V.O.)
“Many years ago, I had a thriving practice. I had my own office and worked three nights at a clinic. I was also on call at the local hospital. “Although I was burning the candle at both ends, it didn’t have any effect on me, or at least that’s what I thought!” I guess, because I was young, I figured I didn’t need a lot of rest. I planned to do these hours for a few years and then retire early. I dreamed of taking my precious Julia on a trip around the world!”

DOC. GOT ALL chocked-up and had trouble talking for a moment, but then continued.

Doc. (V.O.)
“Unfortunately, things don’t always work out the way we plan. I started to burn out, but not all at once. You see, I had a little helper called “Mr. Prescription Drugs.” I was a Doctor, so, I knew what could happen if you abuse drugs. I thought I could handle a few uppers, when I felt like taking a little rest, and then I would just stop taking them whenever I wanted to! Well, the pressure didn’t ease at all; as a matter of fact, it got worse, and my addiction was getting out of control. I couldn’t even see that my habit was destroying my relationship with my beautiful wife, the one person I had promised God, “I would never hurt!”

DOC. SIGHED as he lowered his head and then continued.

Doc. (V.O.)
“It is said that if you can’t beat them, join them!” And that is exactly what my wife Julia did! I didn’t realize she was hooked until one night I arrived home very late. It was our wedding anniversary and I had promised to be home for dinner. I completely forgot until I entered the dining room and the table was set for the two of us. I could see that the candles had been lit and had almost burned down to their holders. She must have sat there for hours just waiting for her man to come home. Sitting next to one of the place settings was a little box; I guess that was her present to me (I still have it, but I never opened it). I walked into the living room expecting to see her asleep on the couch, but she wasn’t there. I went upstairs without making any noise…