S8x20: "The Letter" – by Powder Skier

Original Air Date: May 2, 2002

The El

Two hot babes walk up the steps to the El platform. Sandy in a tight denim jacket….Kerry in a blazer over the same green turtleneck she wore at work all day.

As they reach the platform level they turn toward each other and Sandy says, "We'll blow it off and go some other night", but Kerry argues, "NO, you changed your shift". Sandy won't let it go at that "Kerry, the guy died. You should be with your staff tonight." Still not giving in, Kerry says, "They were being polite."

Looking and sounding slightly perturbed Sandy says, "They’re your friends." Very matter of factly Kerry corrects, "They're people I work with." (Where have we heard that said before ... oops bad memories of the hockey game)

As the train is rolling up, Kerry is standing straight and staring into the distance, body language making it obvious she's not open to this discussion at all. Sandy leans around her to look her in the eye and tries again, "When one of our guys goes down, the company gets together and we get drunk."(So who is minding the station house when they are all drunk in a bar?) Totally exasperated Sandy adds, "It's more for the unit then the guy who's gone."

As the train stops and they move to board, Kerry starts off first looking totally bored with Sandy's arguments, and answers flatly "I'm not a firefighter." Sandy won't be put off and continues as they board and all the way to their seats, "It's basically the same job, isn't it? You put out fires."

Kerry sits in the senior citizens' seat by the door, facing the aisle and Sandy sits in a forward facing aisle seat so she can face Kerry and go on with the conversation. Sandy is sitting on the edge of the seat leaning forward, elbows on knees - looking up at Kerry. Kerry finally starts talking about her grief and regrets "Mark and I always butted heads. I was always trying to maneuver him … gain some kind of edge … like it had to be a competition … and he just wanted to do his job and go home. I've known this was coming for a while, and I never imagined I would feel like this."

She glances at Sandy once or twice as she talks and Sandy just watches and waits her eyes radiating compassion and love. As Kerry finishes speaking Sandy says softly (in the most compassionate voice ever to hit the airwaves) "You've lost a friend." Close to tears, Kerry agrees, "I think I have."
Did I mention she is wearing the pendant?

.....

The Lava Lounge

Luka, Abby, Haleh, Susan and Gallant are sitting in the tiki bar. They just finished a toast to something Luka said in Croatian (Over the lips, past the gums, look out stomach, here it comes … but it sounds much more romantic in Croatian) Next we see Kerry pushing through a swinging entrance door, closely followed by Sandy. Part way in Kerry turns to look back at Sandy, and Sandy puts her hand on Kerry's back in support.... Haleh sees them coming in and says coyly, "Looks like we're going public."

As everyone turns to look, Susan says in greeting "Hey, Kerry" sounding pleased. As they keep walking forward Sandy removes her hand from Kerry's back, a little smile is appearing on Kerry's face and Sandy looks over at her with obvious love. Kerry responds to Susan. "Hey!"

Oh, and she's wearing the pendant.

.....

Flash Forward The ER is stifling hot…air conditioning is not working. Fans are blowing. Kerry comes rushing around a corner next to a patient on a gurney. The IFF pendant dangling properly around her neck…

 

Episode Summaries

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