ACT 1- Dr. Heltz
[MONTY IS SAT AT HIS DESK MOCKING NOTICUS. NOTICUS IS STOOD OUTSIDE BELLA'S DOOR, HE CAN HEAR HER ON THE COMU AND SHE SOUNDS CALM. NOTICUS WOKE WITH A SORE THROAT AND A SMALL COUGH AND HE WAS RUBBING HIS NECK.]
BELLAVA WIERAK- Yes… I'm terribly sorry. [PAUSE] Yes. [PAUSE] Yes. Again, I'm sorry for his stupidity. I'll talk to him. [PAUSE] Thank you. Sorry again, Vein.
[THERES A LONG QUIET MOMENT. AND NOTICUS SEEMS TO CALM HIMSELF UNTIL SHE SCREAMED.]
BELLAVA WIERAK- Noticus Bellias Wierak!
[MONTY GIGGLES TO HIMSELF AS HE WATCHES NOTICUS DISAPPEAR. AFTER A WHILE NOW AND NOTICUS EMERGES.]
MONTY KARDO- Half expected to see you crying.
NOTICUS WIERAK- Har har! [SARCASTIC]
MONTY KARDO- I told you it was a bad idea.
[NOTICUS STAYS QUIET. MONTY SUDDENLY LOOKS WORRIED. HE SIGHES]
MONTY KARDO- Well? You look lost. You don't usually get this broody from Bella's scolding. What's on your mind?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Have you seen that floor? It's a mess. He is the only one up there. Those children…
[MONTY JUMPS OUT HIS CHAIR BACKING AWAY FROM HIM HOLDING HIS MOUTH AND NOSE.]
MONTY KARDO- You saw a kid?! You're gonna kill us both!
NOTICUS WIERAK- No. She was no where near me. She seemed happy though. She was in the dark alone and singing.
MONTY KARDO- That is some horror type, sh**? The heck man!
NOTICUS WIERAK- Heltz. He's… odd. He need's help.
[NOTICUS BEGAN WRITING ON HIS COMPUTER AND MONTY WAITS.]
MONTY KARDO- Theres no helping who's already dead.
NOTICUS WIERAK- Then wish me luck. [HE PRESSED SUBMIT]
MONTY KARDO- Huh?
NOTICUS WIERAK- I'm gonna help.
MONTY KARDO- Are you crazy?! Bella would never let you!
NOTICUS WIERAK- That's why I sent it to none other than Supervisor Life-lock himself.
[A MOMENT LATER BELLAVA'S VOICE CAN BE HEARD ONCE AGAIN SCREAMING]
BELLAVA WIERAK- NOTICUS!!!
NOTICUS WIERAK- Shoot…
MONTY KARDO- She's gonna get the acceptance form and notification as well as you. You remembered right?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Thanks for the heads up!
[A WEEK GOES BY]
[NOTICUS HAD SUFFERED WITH A COUGHING FIT AS HE WALKED PAST A DUSTY HEATER. THIS PLACE WAS SO RAN DOWN.]
[HELTZ IS IN HIS USUAL SCRIBBLING MOOD AND SUDDENLY HIS DOOR IS KNOCKED AND HE SAYS IN A GENTLE TONE.]
VEIN HELTZ- Come is sweetheart. [HE JUMPS TO SEE NOTICUS ENTER. THINKING IT WAS OVE OF THE CHILDREN]
I told you I don't need check-ups!
NOTICUS WIERAK- [COCKY LAUGH] Yeh and I'm stuck with you.
VEIN HELTZ- Oh... yeah. Lovely. [SARCASTIC]
NOTICUS WIERAK- Oh, isn't it?! [HE SARCASTICALLY SMILES BACK]
[HELTZ STANDS AND PULLS A MOUTHPIECE OF A PLAGUE DOCTORS MASK OUT TO THROW AT NOTICUS. NOTICUS PUTS IT ON AND THEY ONLY JUST FIT.]
VEIN HELTZ- Do you work out or something?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Yeh, I find it relaxing. But don't get jealous, I bet you got some strong wrists from all that writing.
VEIN HELTZ- I find it relaxing. [HE HUFFS BEFORE WALKING TO HIS DOOR EXPECTING NOTICUS TO FOLLOW]
[THEY MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN THE SAME HALL NOTICUS SNUCK PAST; THEY EVENTUALLY FIND A LARGE TWO WAY DOOR WITH A BUNCH OF NAMES CRAYONED ON. IN THE MIDDLE IT SAYS V. NOTICUS WATCHES HELTZ OPEN THE DOOR AND A BUNCH OF QUIET PLAYING CHILDREN ARE PLAYING DIFFERENT GAMES OR MUTTERING TO EACHOTHER. THEY ALL LOOK AT HELTZ AND START SMILING AND CHEERING.]
LILLY-BLU- Vee! You're back! You're back!
NAVIUS-I finished that puzzle!
MIKEY- I wanna draw!
SALLIEL- Vee! Vee! Vee! VEEEEEEE!!!
LILLY-BLU- You're that old guy I saw in the corridor!
MIKEY- Hahaha he's old!
NAVIUS- How old?
UMI- Big old man!
[THE CHILDREN CROWD HELTZ AND NOTICUS]
VEIN HELTZ- Okay, okay calm yourselves.
JODI- Veeeee! Can we watch the projectorrrrr!
SALLIEL- I don't want to watch the projector!
UMI- Sarielllll! I want to draw too.
SARIELLIE- I got pink or blue.
LILLY-BLU- My name has blue in it!
VEIN HELTZ- Children please!
CAMIE- Shush. Vee is trying to speak!
VALIA- Sorry, Camie.
CHILDREN- Sorry, Camie.
CHESTER- Who's he!
[HELTZ TAKES HIS COAT OFF AND KNEELS DOWN TO THE CHILDREN.]
VEIN HELTZ- This is Notty. He's going to be our new friend.
CHESTER- Notty is gonna take Vee's spot!
SARIELL- He's taking Vee?
CAMIE- NOOOO
JODI- You can't take Vee! [THE SMALL BOY PULLS A PAPER SWORD OUT AND BRANDISHES IT AT NOTICUS.]
VALIA- No taking, Vee!
[THE CHILDREN GATHER ROUND VEE IN A PROTECTIVE MANNER AND NOTICUS GRINS. DECIDING TO PLAY ALONG.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- Yes! That's it! I'm here to steal, Vee all for myself. So, give him here!
LILLY-BLU- [GIGGLING AT HIS OVERDRAMATIC GESTURE AS NOTICUS BRANDISHES HIS PEN] NEVER!!!
[NOTICUS PRETENDS TO FAKE JOUST THE CHILDREN PICKING SOME UP AND FAKE ROARING AS HE DROPPED THEM ONTO BEDS GENTLY KNOWING THEIR ILL. BUT TO SAY THEY WHERE THEY ROLLED OVER AND WAS STRAIGHT BACK TO HIS LEGS WACKING HIM WITH CRAYONS, PILLOWS AND FAKE SWORDS. NAVIUS AND UMI LOOK TO HELTZ.]
UMI- Come on Vee! We will take you to your super-secret… super-secret… hiding secret spot.
NAVIUS- Yeh we will guard, Vee.
VEIN HELTZ- My heroes! [HE CASUALLY SAYS IN A MONOTONED VOICE BEFORE BEING LED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.]
[HELTZ CAN'T HELP BUT GIGGLE AT THE SIGHT OF THE CHILDREN MERCILESSLY ATTACKING NOTICUS AND NOTICUS CASUALLY PICKING THEM UP AND CHUCKING THEM TO EACH BED. EVENTUALLY MIKEY GETS ON THE BED AND JUMPS OFF ONTO NOTICUS'S BACK]
MIKEY- YAAAAA YOU WILL NEVER WIN!!! [HE YELLS BEFORE SLAPPING NOTICUS IN THE CHEST]
[NOTICUS MAKES A LARGE DISPLAY OF BEING HIT IN THE CHEST. GRUNTING AND LEANING BACK. MIKEY SLIPS OFF BACK ONTO THE BED AND NOTICUS FAKE STUMBLES TOWARDS HELTZ BEFORE KNEELING HOLDING HIS FAKE WOUND.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- I will have! [EXAGGERATED BREATH] Revenge!!!
[HE FALLS FLAT ON HIS STOMACH AND HELTZ FLINCHES KNOWING IT HURT.]
LILY-BLU- We win!!!
SARIELLIE- We get to keep, Vee!
CHESTER- Yes, we do.
MIKEY- Yay! Did you see that?! I killed him! I was all like! BAH and he was like AHH.
[THE CHILDREN GATHER ROUND MIKEY AND NOTICUS GETS UP, HELTZ CHUCKLES.]
VEIN HELTZ- Well done. It takes the nurses weeks to get any of them to talk to them.
NOTICUS WIERAK- How long did it take for you to talk to them?
[HELTZ ROLLS HIS EYES AND WALKS OVER TO THE CROWD OF CHILDREN. THEY INSTANTLY SAY HIS NAME WITH JOY.]
VALIA- Vee can Notty come draw with us too?
VEIN HELTZ- Why don't you ask him?
LILY-BLU- Notty! Can we draw with you and Vee?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Of course! What are we drawing?
CHESTER- Each other!
NOTICUS WIERAK- YES! I am the best at drawing! You know that?
VALIA- NOOO
MIKEY- Even as good a Lilly-blu?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Totally!
LILLY-BLU- Prove it! We both will draw, Vee!
NOTICUS WIERAK- You are on, blue bell!
UMI- [GIGGLING] That's not Lilly-blu's name!
NOTICUS WIERAK- It's not?
CAMIE- NOOO [SHE GIGGLES TOO]
[THEY ALL SIT ROUND THE TABLE. HELTZ IS BESIDE NOTICUS AND THE CHILDREN ARE SINGING AND TALKING. ONCE THEIR DONE NOTICUS LOOKS OVER TO HELTZ.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- So, got any siblings, doc.
VEIN HELTZ- That doesn't concern you.
[NOTICUS SIGHES BEFORE LILY-BLU LAUGHS, SHE POINTS TO NOTS DRAWING]
LILY-BLU- See? I told you I was better!
[NOTICUS LAUGHED BEFORE RECOGNISING HELTZ NEW EXPRESSION. HE LOOKED HORRIFIED. HE QUICKLY STOOD UP TAKING THE HAND OF MIKEY AND LEAVING, IN A RUSH. NOTICUS FEELS THE SILENCE GROW UNCOMFORTABLE UNTIL THE CHILDREN SPEAK.]
UMI- Don't worry, Notty.
SARIELLIE- Aww I wish he chose me!!!
LILY-BLU- No Sari. Remember you can only go see your mummy and daddy once Heltz thinks you are ready.
SARIELLIE- But I miss my mommy!
CHESTER- We all do! But they are sick. So, we need to be good boys and girls until they are better.
UMI- Mikey can go home now. Isn't he lucky?
NOTICUS WIERAK-[HESITATES] Yes… it's lovely!
[AFTER A COUPLE HOURS, HELTZ RETURNS. HIS EYES ARE RED AND WATERY, HIS HAIR A MESS FROM WHERE HE HAD HELD HIS HEAD.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- Is he?
[HELTZ SHAKES HIS HEAD. AND A LONG SILENCE TAKES OVER THEM BOTH, THE CHILDREN DISTRACTED BY PLAYING.]
VEIN HELTZ- Mikey was my longest living patient. I thought he was going to survive long enough for...
[HE SIGHES. NOTICUS LIFTS HIS HAND AND HELTZ QUIETENS.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- You go to bed, doc. I got it from here. [HE HOLDS A SMILE]
VEIN HELTZ- [HESITATES] Are you sure?
NOTICUS WIERAK- [EXAGERATED GASP] By golly!
VEIN HELTZ- Fine, fine, fine.
NOTICUS WIERAK- I am flabbergasted!
[STARTS TALKING OVER EACHOTHER]
VEIN HELTZ- Okay! OKAY!
NOTICUS WIERAK- HURT! DESTROYED!
VEIN HELTZ- OKAYY!
NOTICUS WIERAK- OH! VEE! WHY DO YOU INSULT ME SO CASUALLY!
VEIN HELTZ- I'M GOING!
[HELTZ LEAVES THE ROOM AND NOTICUS LAUGHS.]
[NOTICUS LOOKS TO THE CHILDREN AND THEY LOOK CONFUSED.]
JODI- Where's Vee?
LILY-BLU- Yeh?
NOTICUS WIERAK- No worries. I'm on the job. Vee needs to sleep.
NAVIUS- Nooooo! We want Vee!
[ALL OF THEM GO QUIET AND NOTICUS SPOTS A BOOK. HE PICKS IT UP AND HE BEGINS TO READ VERY QUIETLY. BEFORE HE SUDDENLY GETS LOUDER AND STARTS TO ACT IT OUT. HE JOUSTS WITH JODI AND CHESTER AND SPIN VALIA AROUND. THE CHILDREN GIGGLE AND ENJOY THE BOOK BEING ACTED OUT BEFORE THEM. IT CAME TO A PART WITH THE CHARACTER FLYS AROUND AND NOTICUS PICKS LILY-BLU UP AND SWING HER AROUND IN A FLYING MOTION. AS HE DOES, HE YELLS]
NOTICUS WIERAK- You're flying Little Jay. You're flying.
[HELTZ IS IN HIS OFFICE WRITING MORE. A DROP OF BLOOD LANDS ON HIS PAPER AND HE GROWLS.]
VEIN HELTZ- Dang it!
[HE PULLS A PLASTER OUT HIS DRAWS AND PUTS IT ON. HE PULLS HIS SLEEVE DOWN JUST AS NOTICUS ENTERS. HELTZ PICKS HIS BLOOD VIALS UP AND PLACES THEM IN HIS DRAW BEFORE SPEAKING.]
VEIN HELTZ- You manage it?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Easy peasy! I have 4 younger siblings. I'm good with kids. [HE MAKES HIS WAY TO THE SEAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK LAZILY SLOUCHING IN IT.] Why do you put up with them? You have siblings too?
VEIN HELTZ- Why do you insist in noseying into my business?!
NOTICUS WIERAK- Because we are co- workers now? I'd like to know the only one up here that doesn't drool and cough everywhere.
VEIN HELTZ- And I don't! Now retire to bed before I send you back to your desk job.
NOTICUS WIERAK- What about you?
VEIN HELTZ- No more questions either!
NOTICUS WIERAK- You need to sleep!
VEIN HELTZ- I will. Now stop talking to me like I'm your boss and you will obey my orders! [HE HAS STOOD UP IN ANGER]
[NOTICUS SIGHES AND NODS. AS HE OPENED THE DOOR. HELTZ SPEAKS.]
VEIN HELTZ- I had a younger brother.
[NOTICUS SMILES BEFORE GOING TO BED.]
[NOTICUS ENTERS A ROOM WITH CREAKY BEDS AND ONE WAS NEATLY MADE BUT WITH A MESS OF PAPERS AND BOOKS ALL OVER IT. IT WAS CLEAR THAT WAS HELTZ'S BED. HE MAKES HIS WAY TO THE CLOSEST ONE]
NOTICUS WIERAK- So this is what Monty meant by roommates. The Doc lives here.
[HE GOES TO SLEEP.]
[NOTICUS WAS IN THE OFFICE ON THE COMU TO BELLAVA]
BELLAVA WIERAK- Baba is going to kill me, Notty!
NOTICUS WIERAK- Tell him it was my idea.
BELLAVA WIERAK- He will see it as me not taking responsibility. I'm your boss.
NOTICUS WIERAK- Was! Now Heltz is my boss.
BELLAVA WIERAK- You are so reckless!!!
NOTICUS WIERAK- I have been since a child. I haven't changed. I know mum and dad didn't like it but here we are.
BELLAVA WIERAK- I still don't know how you can speak of them so easy.
NOTICUS WIERAK- They're not dead. They're not horrible. The live in the rural town a couple miles away. You're acting like they are strangers.
BELLAVA WIERAK- I just miss them. [NOTICUS SIGHES]
[HELZ WALKS IN AND SETS THE PAPERS ON THE TABLE.]
VEIN HELTZ- Children are all okay. I need some help with-
NOTICUS WIERAK- You act like I don't! It's fine. I'll talk to Baa!
[NOTICUS CLOSES THE COMU AND HELTZ CLEARS HIS THROAT. NOTICUS LOOKS UP AT HIM WITH A DEEP BREATH BEFORE PUTTING THE SAME SMILE ON AS BEFORE.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- Hello, doc. What did you need help with?
[VEIN HELTZ LOOKS AT THE COUNTLESS PILES OF PAPERWORK BEFORE PUSHING THEM TO THE SIDE.]
VEIN HELTZ- Come get dinner with me.
NOTICUS WIERAK- What? It's a bit early, no?
[NOTICUS QUICKLY FOLLOWS HIM TO THE DOOR.]
VEIN HELTZ- I need some time from these halls. Let's go to the caff' before picking up the children's dinner. Their all napping and Navius won't let them get up to any trouble.
[THEY BOTH MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HALLS WHILE HAVING A CONVERSATION.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- So Navius is the oldest right?
VEIN HELTZ- Correct. He's 9.
NOTICUS WIERAK- He's very smart for a 9-year-old.
VEIN HELTZ- Agreed. Every conversation we share is fascinating. He lacks the education of most well children. But he is most likely smarter than them too.
NOTICUS WIERAK- Little guy like him could change big things in this world. Sucks he's stuck on death row instead.
VEIN HELTZ- We talk about what they want to be when their older… Lily-Blu want's to be a nurse. Valia want's to be an actress. Sariellie wanted to study marine life. Jodi says he'll be a superhero. Umi want's to be a teacher. Chester, a police man. [LONG PAUSE] Mikey wanted to be a plague doctor.
[ANOTHER LONG SILENCE.]
VEIN HELTZ- I've raised these children myself. It's hard! Whenever they say something that could be possible! That would happen if they tried! And to lie that they can, knowing they may not make it past the following night. And they carry on being kind and behaving. Their angels on a planet that's an atheist…
NOTICUS WIERAK- I could imagen… I'm sorry you had to do this alone for 6 years.
VEIN HELTZ- I had to. It was my fault after all.
[THEY REACH THE ELEVATOR AND LIFE-LOCK IS IN IT. HELTZ VISIBLY SIFFENS. NOTICUS LOOKS AMAZED.]
LIFE-LOCK- Vein! You have a new dog?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Excuse me?
LIFE-LOCK- I'm here to see the children. Weekly patient's check-up and all. Where are you off to?
[LIFE-LOCK CONTINUES TO IGNORE NOTICUS THE ENTIRE TIME. WHILE GETTING IN HELTZ FACE]
VEIN HELTZ- The children are asleep. And I and my assistant are going to get their lunch and our own.
LIFE-LOCK- Not afraid I'll go rummaging through your office?
VEIN HELTZ- Without a translator? Please! You'll hardly get past the date.
[LIFE-LOCK SEEMS TO STRUGGLE TO CONTOL HIS ANGER. BUT PAST HIS MASK IT WAS ONLY A GUESS BY HIS CLENCHED SHAKING FISTS.]
LIFE-LOCK- Fine no matter! I'll come by tomorrow.
[THEY ALL LEAVE THE ELEVATOR IN SEPARATE DIRECTIONS.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- What was his problem?
VEIN HELTZ- A Sunday dinner? Haven't had that for a while.
NOTICUS WIERAK- What? I don't think I'd survive without it! The roast potatoes! The Yorkshire puddings? And the gravy!
VEIN HELTZ- Someone's passionate with food huh?
NOTICUS WIERAK- I'm quite the cook at home. I make a gorgeous lasagna.
VEIN HELTZ- Well you'll have to make me some when this is all over.
NOTICUS WIERAK- That I shall!
[MONTY SUDDENLY APPEARS HOLDING ONTO NOTICUS WHINNING AND NOTICUS HARDLY NOTICES DUE TO BEING MUCH STRONGER AND LARGER THAN MONTY. HELTZ LOOKS CONFUSED.]
MONTY KARDO- I thought you were dead!!!
NOTICUS WIERAK- Missed you too, pal. Heltz! This is my best friend from the 4th floor. Monty Kardo.
[MONTY LOOKS AMAZED AT THE LEDGEND BEING STOOD IN FRONT OF HIM.]
MONTY KARDO- Woah! You're only our age?
VEIN HELTZ- I suppose so… 31, right?
MONTY KARDO- Well done Not's you got a young one.
VEIN HELTZ- Excuse me?!
MONTY KARDO- Ah! Noticus is 34
NOTICUS WIERAK- Yeah. Now I feel old.
MONTY KARDO- Don't look it though, do you! Huh?
NOTICUS WIERAK- Thanks Monty. What are you here for?
MONTY KARDO- I was trying to track down a file until Bella took it off me and told me to go eat.
VEIN HELTZ- You are on your break?
MONTY KARDO- Yes, sir.
VEIN HELTZ- You should come sit with us.
[AT THE TABLE MONTY IS SAT OPPOSITE NOTICUS ON THE OUTSIDE AND HELTZ IS SAT BESIDE NOTICUS QUIETLY ENJOYING HIS MEAL.]
VEIN HELTZ- It's been a while since I enjoyed a warm meal.
NOTICUS WIERAK- You're kidding!
MONTY KARDO- Patient food is so bad, man. But with this café here us doctors eat like kings compared to them.
VEIN HELTZ- Very tasty indeed.
[AFTER EATING NOTICUS AND HELTZ HAVE GONE TO THE COLLECTION POINT FOR THE FOOD AND HELTZ OPENS THE ELAVATOR FOR NOTICUS. WHEN THEY RETURN, THEY HAND THE FOOD OUT BEFORE HELTZ GOES TO HIS OFFICE WITH NOTICUS ON HIS TAIL.]
NOTICUS WIERAK- So is Life-Lock from somewhere? I've never met him until then.
VEIN HELTZ- He's from the south. It's why he can handle that mask in heat. It's cooler here.
NOTICUS WIERAK- So he can't understand our language?
VEIN HELTZ- He struggles to read and write English. He is from Hungary.
NOTICUS WIERAK- That's why you write bad then? To make it harder?
[HELTS LOOKS INSULTED BUT SAYS NOTHING BEFORE WALKING OFF]
Heltz?