Sunnybrooke

SUNNYBROOKE NURSING HOME- MORNING

A sprawling sitting room filled with elderly people. Large couches, plush chairs, and round tables fill the area that, despite the amount of people, is oddly hushed. 

ALICE is sitting in a large chair, her grandfather CHUCK sitting opposite her. Several nurses are seen milling around the area, tending to the older patrons and a large TV is playing an old western program in the background. A glass cage filled with birds is seen in the corner. 

ALICE

(smiling, but with worry in her eyes)

Have you been outside yet today, grandpa?

CHUCK

(big, bright eyed smile)

Oh yeah. I went down to the lake this morning. Caught a fish this big!

Chuck holds his arms two feet apart to show the size of his fish.

ALICE

(nodding)

Wow! Too bad Ricky wasn’t with you. He would have loved that.

CHUCK

(Looking confused)

Your brother was there. How else do you think these old arms could reel in such a catch?

ALICE

(Her fist tightens against her leg)

Right, I forgot. 

CHUCK

(Smiling happily)

Got to take the fish to your grandmum. God, that woman sure knows how to fry up a catfish!

ALICE

(Voice strained and eyes sad)

Yeah, I-

A nurse wearing purple scrubs interrupts, a thin smile stretched across her face. 

NURSE

Alice, it’s so good to see you. Can I talk to you for just a moment?

Alice glances at her grandfather before nodding and standing from her chair to follow the nurse a few feet away. 

NURSE

(voice hushed, looking concerned)

He’s getting worse. 

ALICE

(voice also quiet, sad)

I can see that. Does he even know where he is?