Agora: Red Deer Polytechnic Undergraduate Journal
Volume 15:1 2024 Agora Conference Proceedings

Fathered: A Pilot (Excerpt)
Isobel Gover
CAST: Alex, Conner, Maddie, Nurse 2, Nurse
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - EVENING
ALEX walks over to the coffee station from where he was sitting, starts making a coffee,
and notices a nurse struggling to reach the top shelf in the supply closet.
ALEX
Here. Let me help you with that.
NURSE 3
Oh, thank you.

With his coffee in one hand Alex reaches for the supplies and hands them to the nurse.

ALEX
(obviously flirting)
You... are... beautiful.
NURSE 3
And you... are... not supposed to be in here.

Alex and the Nurse exit the closet, and the Nurse closes the door behind them. Conner
approaches from the waiting room chairs.

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ALEX
Has anyone ever told you have really beautiful eyes?
NURSE 3
(fake flirting)
Has anyone ever told you that you...
NURSE 3 (cont'd)
(cuts the act)
Need to get new pick up lines.

Conner puts his arm around Alex.

CONNER
(sarcastically)
Oof, I hope our son is a real charmer just
like his dad!

Nurse rolls her eyes and walks off. Conner takes the cup of coffee from Alex's hand and
takes a sip.

CONNER (cont'd)
Thanks for the coffee, by the way.

ALEX
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I'm sorry, our baby?
CONNER
Hey, like it or not, man, we're about to be a
family.
ALEX
(sarcastically)
Yeah, right.
CONNER
Look, I know it's not an ideal situation, but it's up to us to make the
best of it, and if not for us, then at least for the baby.
ALEX
You know, you are awful confident for someone whose girlfriend
is having someone else’s baby three months into their relationship.

Conner goes to respond but gets cut off.

ALEX (cont'd)
(intimidating)
Things are about to change for you, man. You may have been the
center of Sarah's world over the past three months, but after today, you'll
be lucky if you're even in it.

Alex points his finger to Conner's chest and takes the coffee back.

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ALEX (Cont’d)
She won't... have time... for you.

Alex walks off back to the chairs. Conner's face drops.
CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - NIGHT
Alex is slumped over, resting on his knees in the chair and looking down at his coffee.
Conner quietly creeps over and sits down next to him. He waits a second before speaking.
CONNER
I'm sorry, dude.
ALEX
(irritated)
What?
Beat.
CONNER
You're right. Things are going to change. You and Sarah are going to be
really busy with the baby. I guess I've been over compensating, trying to remain in the picture.
ALEX
No... I shouldn't have said those things. You were there for Sarah
through the hard parts when I wasn't. She would want you in there, holding her
hand.
CONNER
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No, man, this is going to be the most important moment of your life. I
couldn't let you miss that.

Conner nudges Alex's shoulder.
ALEX
Thanks, man.
CONNER
Just stay by her head, okay?

Alex stands up to go to Sarah's room. MADDIE enters and approaches the front desk.

ALEX
(chuckles)
Okay, I will.

Conner and Alex within earshot. Maddie begins talking to the nurse behind the desk.

MADDIE
Hi. Sarah Miller’s room, please?
NURSE 1
Visiting? Sign right here.

MADDIE
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(boasting)
She asked me to be her emotional support person, even though we’ve
only known each other for like a month.
NURSE 1
Just to the right there.
MADDIE
Thank you.
CONNER
Well, I guess it was never meant to be either of us.
ALEX
Shit.

Alex immediately sits down and tries to cover his face.

CONNER
What, dude?
ALEX
Uh, you know the girl I've been seeing?
CONNER
Yeah?

Maddie is about to walk into Sarah's room but notices Alex.

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MADDIE
Alex?
ALEX
(under his breath)
Fuck.

Alex pulls his hood over his head and pulls the strings closed.

MADDIE
Alex, I can still see you.

Alex stands up welcoming and puts on a fake smile.

ALEX
Maddie, what are you doing here?
MADDIE
(confused)
Uh, my friend I told you about is having her baby. What are you doing
here?

Conner starts chuckling to himself and stands up.

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ALEX
Uhhhh.
MADDIE
Why is he laughing? Alex, what's going on?

Conner pats Alex on the back.

CONNER
Go on, Alex. Tell her.

Maddie stands there with her arms crossed, waiting for an answer.

ALEX
Well, you see, it's a funny coincidence.
CONNER
I'll say.
MADDIE
Alex??
ALEX
Well, you see that baby your friend is having... it's Conner's!

Alex points his finger at Conner. Conner pushes his hand away, disgusted.

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CONNER
Dude, come on!
ALEX
Okay, fine. It's mine. Sarah is my ex, and she's having
my baby.

Maddie drops her bag and gasps.

MADDIE
You are not serious! You waited until now to tell me
you're having a baby?! And not only that but with my best
friend?!
ALEX
Surprise? Look, I didn't think It would be a big deal. We
only went on a couple of dates.
MADDIE
NOT A BIG DEAL?!

Maddie pauses and takes a breath to calm herself down.

MADDIE (Cont’d)
Okay, Sarah needs me right now, but this... is not over!

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Maddie storms off into Sarah's room. Both guys sit down simultaneously.
Beat.
ALEX
You really think I'm charming?
CONNER
(blankly)
No.
FADE IN:

INT./EXT. OUTSIDE SARAH'S ROOM - VERY EARLY MORNING

Conner is sleeping, leaning against the wall. Alex nervously waits, bouncing his leg. Conner gets comfy and shifts over onto Alex's shoulder while still sleeping. Alex is shaking so much
that Conner falls off onto his lap.
CONNER
Hey!
ALEX
Sorry, dude.
CONNER
Hey, it's going to be okay. She will forgive you.
ALEX
No, it's not that! I'm gonna be a terrible father!

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CONNER
Hey, don't say that. It's "I'm going to be a terrible father".
ALEX
Dude, I'm serious!
CONNER
Okay, just calm down. Everything will be okay. Once
he's born, it'll be, like, second nature. You'll buy him his first
pair of hockey skates and teach him to catch.
ALEX
Um, Conner, I get the sentiment, buddy, but don't you
think it's a bit dangerous to play catch with hockey skates?
CONNER
(painful)
Oh, brother. I'm just going to move on. Then, when he's a bit older, you'll teach
him how to pick up women, ehh?

Nudges Alex's shoulder.
ALEX
(smiles)
Yeah, and teach him how to read those books that all
the chicks love, like that one about the whale?
CONNER
(confused)
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Moby Dick?
ALEX
Ohhh, that's why all the girls love him so much, eh?

Alex elbows Conner in the side.

CONNER
Maybe leave the educating to me.
Beat.

CONNER
(cont'd)
Hey... You're going to be a good father, man... If you
listen to my advice, though.
ALEX
(genuine)
Thanks, man, but my kid is going to know how to win a
fight.

Conner shakes his head and looks up.

CONNER
(under his breath)
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Oh lord, help this child.
ALEX
But in all seriousness, you will, too.
CONNER
(surprised)
You really think I'm going to be a good dad?
ALEX
No, you will learn how to win a fight.

Alex playfully punches Conner's arm. Then, the nurse quietly exits Sarah's room and comes
over to the guys.

NURSE 2
(whispers)
Alright, are you guys ready to meet your daughter?

Both men look at each other slightly panicked.

FADE TO BLACK

THE END

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