Ryan - Rough Draft #1

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Grandma Gene began, hitting her hand on the table, "The chicken is already dead."

"You can never tell these days," replied Dr. Leale, "you cook them so raw."

"It wouldn't be so raw if I was told you were coming further in advance than a few hours," she smiled, "You are so very busy."

The doctor continued to pick the chicken which he hoarded to his side of the table.

"Well?" Grandma Gene continued, "How's the family?"

The doctor continued picking at the chicken, "Fine. All fine."

"And your son?"

"Never better."

"They aren't here today, are they?" Grandma Gene began reaching for the chicken.

"No, they're off to some play at Ford Theatre."

"And you didn't join them?"

The doctor glanced up, "Obviously not. I have an appointment in about three-quarter hour."

At that moment the door swung open and in came the smallest red-head you could find just north of the Potomac. His head barely peaked over the kitchen table as he hobbled over to Grandma Gene.

"Grandma, Grandma!" the boy said between breaths, "how long have you been? We've been down to the orphanage. Mama said we should go as often
as we can." And then the boy stopped.

"What's wrong?" asked Grandma.

"There was another boy who couldn't walk very well, and when i tried to give him my walker, mama told me that papa made it for me." The boy
looked up at Grandma, "Why are there other boys who can't walk?"

Grandma took the little boy in her arms and said,"Oh little child, you're such a sweet boy! It's becuase there are other children who are just as special and loving as you. And I bet there
is a father out there who could make a walker for him just as your papa has made one for you."

At this the boy smile and hobbled over to his papa and huged him. "Do you think you could make one for him?"

"Not today, Ryan. I'm a very busy man and I really can't spare the time - I'm trying to speak with your grandma Gene."

"Oh!" exclaimed the boy, looking at grandma gene, "What are you talking about?"

"Just about how good your father is."

"To be sure!" replied Ryan. Then he began to whisper in such a way that children often do which allows everyone in the room to hear, "Mama talks to papa about that almost every night. Don't
tell them, but I think the neighbors can hear them if they aren't already asleep."

The boy left the room, and Grandma Gene gave him cunnying look which said something like, "Oh, is that so?"




Scene 2 - Doctor's Office

The doctor arrived at his office which was situated a few blocks down and around a few corners. It was as small one room wooden building with a area to sit out on the porch. The office was operated
by him and his assistant, however, his assistant was always late and so Dr. Leale had the please of letting in all the fresh air. But today, when the Doctor
arrived, the door was already open and John, his assistant, came running out to greet him.

"Doctor! Doctor! It's Madam Fam again - Said she can't breath."

"Did you ask her how she traveled across town to see me?"

"Well, yes. I - er - No. I didn't think to ask that."

The doctor walked into his office and saw the woman pacing back and forth.

"Oh, Charles! It's so dreadful!" she began as she paced towards him, "I woke up and couldn't breath. In fact, I haven't been able to breath all day and it won't do to be at church and not breath.
What if I'm called to pray or sing a hymn or anything?"

"That is a dreadful problem, madam."

"Dreadful! Dreadful, I tell you."

"No worries, I have just the thing." The doctor seemed to be rustling through his desk, "It came in last night some time, so it's quite potent-"

"Doctor, I'll need the strongest you've got," she began, as she walked over to his desk, "It's quite dreadful not breathing all day."

Charles turn over and gave her a bottle of clear liquid. "Now Madam, you'll need to drink this slowly. Let me know how you feel tomorrow."

With that Madam Fam rushed out from his office without barely saying, "Such a wonderful man, such a wonderful man."

"Charles - Er? Wasn't that water?"

"Well now, Assistant, you've earned your keep. You know water when you see it." And they began to laugh.

The day had continued on as usual. A few clients came and went without a problem. It wasn't until about five o'clock that while Charles and John were cleaning up the last few
tools and counting which medicines they should go looking for tomorrow morning, in came Joe Bellum. He was a husky man and stood just above most doorways. It was particularly humouring to see
him try to push his head below the door while sucking in his stomach.

"Doc, I'va felt better than today."

John had left to make sure the back door and the medicine drawers were all closed for the evening. Dr. Leale was looking through their inventory to make sure they matched up with John's
account.

"Doc, I've felt better than today."

"Yes, Joe, Yes, I've heard you. What's the matter?" Dr. Leale began without looking up from his paperwork.

"I'va felt not too good."

"You know, you have a habit of coming just before closing." The doctor continued vacantly, "And you may consider washing yourself, you smell like you haven't bathed in days."

"I'va, I'va..." and then there was a muffled thud.

Charles looked up and found Joe on the ground, sweating and barely conscious.

"John! John!" yelled Charles as he began feeling Joe's head,"It's Joe!"

Dr. Leale began pulling off his shirt and rolling up his pants. He was sweaty and blood was on his hands and legs. But He pulled up Joe's pant legs just as John came running in.

"Oh!" John lurched back.

Joe's leg was gangrene. It was just below the knee in a cut that stretch a few inches across the shin. When Charles tried to inspect the wound it burst with puss and slime.

"Oh Joe! Can you hear me!" Charles yelled. There was no response.

"John, it's gotta come off."



Scene 3 - Family feud

Dinner had been served over an hour ago and there was little more noise than the clinking of silverware.

"Well..." began Dr. Charles, "Do you remember Joe?"

"Joe?" asked Mrs. Leale, "I can't recall any one your clients. You're never around when you're with them."

"Yes. Well," continued Dr. Leale, "I had to cut his leg loose."

"Charles!" yelled Grandma Gene, "We're eating!"

"Just think of that chicken leg as Joe's," He grabbed his knive and split the leg right off chicken and plopt it on his plate.

Grandma Gene glared at Dr. Charles. The conversation resorted back to the clinking of silverware.

Then Grandma Gene broke silence, "What's with you and tormenting dead chickens?"

"Charles!" said Mrs. Leale a bit too loudly as to cut off Grandma Gene. "Today was Sunday, you promised you wouldn't go to work on Sundays."

"People are sick on Sunday's as well as any other day."

"You can't spend a single day with this family can you?"

"Next time I'll tell Joe to schedule his illness on another time."

"The point is you're never with your son," continued Mrs. Leale, "And today he rose in front of the entire congregation to ask for prayer...."

"And?" asked Dr. Leale, his attention being drawn away from his dinner.

"He asked for a day like Joshua's," whispered Mrs. Leale as she started to tear, "An extra long day so he and his papa could build a walker for his friend. An extra long day so you wouldn't
have to miss work and still be able to help him out."

At this moment, Grandma Gene interjected,"And for all we know the dead chickens have had more of your time than Ryan." Whether or not Charles had heard any thing else that night, or the few nights
following, it was well known throughout the house that Grandma Gene had gone too far.



Scene 4 - Presidential Call


"Honey! Honey!" shouted Dr. Leale as he came through the front door, "We must be on our way!" Mrs. Leale was in the kitchen when he arrived and didn't respond. "Honey -" Dr. Leale stopped, "What's
wrong with Ryan?"

"I'm sure - it's not much, his stomach is a bit upset and his hands are a bit cold."

"Well, we best be on our way," I don't want to miss the president.

"President?" replied Mrs. Leale, "Weren't we going to see 'Our American Counsin'?"

"Oh yes, Oh yes. Surely, you can watch the play, I'll be watching the president." Dr. Leale continued as he looked down Ryan's mouth, "I've heard the president give wonderful speeches and would
like to know his facial expressions when he's watching a play. It is just as well?"

"I'm not sure what has gotten into you - looking at another man when you're with our wife - but let's try to have a nice evening." she clasped his hands, "Please, take off work until tomorrow."

Then a knock came at the door. Mrs. Leale hurried over, "It's Grandma Gene, I told her yesterday to come, with ryan sick and all."

And without giving as little as a nod, the doctor and his wife were out on the lamp-lit street of pennsylvania avenue to Ford Theatre. No one could tell, but Dr. Leale probably understood the
muffled yelling of Grandma Gene to mean something along the lines of, "And what is so important that no one notices I'm here?"

Inside Ford Theatre, the seats were a bit disappointing. Dr. Leale had a wonderful view of the President from the ground floor, but it was off to the side where it was much too difficult to see
the entire stage.

"Charles... Charles?"

"Yes honey?" as he was looking around the theater.

"What's wrong?"

"The president isn't here and the play is about to begin."

"The theater is full, maybe he's late." And with a smile she really did regret, "Or maybe he isn't coming? A president is a busy man."

The the actors had been introduced (none of which the doctor knew) and the play had begun. It went swell, and Dr. Charles was enjoying it more so than he imagined. The humor of an American
before the taut behaviour of the English Aristocracy wasn't so bad. But too soon after the play had begun the orchestra starting playing 'Hail to the Chief'. Everyone turned round to face the
presidential box as the Mr. Lincoln and his wife were introduced.

If it weren't for the standing ovation, the yelling, and the orchestra, Dr. Leale would've been heard as far as the northern docks of the Potomac.
"He made it!" he yelled as he jumped up his seat.

A few moments after the audience fell silent and awaited the play to resume, they heard a loud bang, and a man fell to the stage - brandishing a small knife. He yelled something no one quite
understood, and then ran out the back of the stage. Looking back to the Presidential Box, Dr Leale saw people shuffling about and heard screams. He jumped from his seat, pushing a few people to the
floor and ran for the presidential suite.

When Charles arrived, Mr. Lincoln was slouched over on his wife. Mrs. Lincoln was crying frantically and yelling, "Oh doctor! Do what you can for him, do what you can!"
He swept his hand along his back and found no knife wound. But when he cradled Lincolns head he felt a smooth hold in the back. A clot had already began to form.

By this time the audience began yelling, "The President is assassinated! The President is assassinated!"

Two other doctors had arrived and they began carrying Lincoln outside. A man was found yelling to bring him over. It wasn't more than eight hours later that the president had belonged to the ages.



Scene 5 - Chicken Dinner

In a single day the country had seemed to have lost their hearts and their souls. People where in the streets, papers where being sold. It appeared
everyone had somewhere to go or something to tell but Dr. Leale. He hadn't slept and Grandma Gene had once again made Chicken.

"Aren't you going to see if it's still alive?" asked Grandma Gene.

"What's the point, it's already dead."

"You know, you can't save everyone."

"I don't want any more chicken," the pushed the dish across the table, "You can have it." And he left the room.



While Dr. Leale was gone, Ryan's illness had continued to become worse. He began vomiting hours before his return. When he arrived home both Grandma Gene and Mrs. Leale were tending to him
in his room. Charles examined him when he could spare the time, and tried everything he knew. Three days later, after Charles had come home from work, he found Grandma Gene and Mrs. Leale
at his bedside. His little body was laying in his bed - so limp, so weak.

"Mama, I'm so thirsty." he moaned just above a whisper.

"I know honey, but I can't give you any water." Tears began swelling in her eyes. "It'll come right back up."

"Papa?" the boy began as he looked around the room, "Can you give my walker to that little boy? Mama knows who he is. I don't think I'll be needing it any more."

Dr. Leale held his son to his chest, "You're going to be okay. Papa will keep you healthy." Tears began flowing down his cheecks, "And you know what? We'll build walkers together
and give them to all your friends."

The next morning Charles awoke to the sounds of crying from his wife. He rose, pulled on his coat, and left the house.



Scene 6 - A short time after


A few weeks later, Charles had spent little time at work and much less at home with his wife. No one knew for sure if he did this out of self-punishment but in any case, he could often be found
standing outside his son's grave or on a hill overlooking the orphanage where his son often  visited. One night, as he was Walking, Grandma Gene stopped Dr. Leale.

"Charles..." pleaded Grandma Gene, "Your wife still loves you."

He pushed by her and continued on. She tried to keep up as fast as her fragile legs could carry her.

"Charles! ... Charles!" Grandma Gene continued, "You can't save everyone!"

Grandma Gene had caught up to Charles as he stopped. He looked back at Grandma Gene and said, "Every day I pray to God that I could have had one Joshua day."