Major health information technology (HIT)

Scene One

(Marie’s House)

(Jordan lay in his bed, staring at a portrait with his dad, he terribly missed his father. His dad, more than being a father to him, was his best friend. Over the weekends, Jordan, Marc and his dad would play baseball the entire morning, then talk over barbeque in the evenings. This morning he particularly missed playing baseball with his dad. Jordan could hear his mom call him from the kitchen, but unlike his dad, his mom was a career woman, her job came before everything else in her life. After calling Jordan without an answer for over 10 minutes, she walked to her son’s room)

Marie: Get up Jordan! It is half past 8 and you are still in bed! What do you want to make of your life? Do you even want to go to school? I work so hard to pay your expensive tuition!

(Jordan and his mom starred at each other for minute, He turn to the other side of the bed, covered his head with the duvet.

Jordan: (Under the duvet) I do want to go to school.

Marie: what! Am not ready for your nonsense this morning! I have a meeting with very important clients. (Marie had a meeting with representatives of a Japanese Company interested in contracting her company for a construction project).

Jordan: Go meet your clients, they are more important than me, than your family, all you ever do is work, when was the last time we had dinner together? When last did we go out to watch baseball? Do you even miss dad? I am not going to school! Get out of my room!

Marie: is that how you feel about me? You have no idea of the sacrifices I have made for this family to be together! I work so hard to give you the best life a teenager can ask for, but what do you do instead, accuse me of not loving you as my son, of not missing my husband? The love of my life! You have no idea of what you are saying! Get up and go to school. And Jordan, you know I have not asked you about last night, you think hanging out with your friend drinking to the midnight will make you feel better? Or you want to end up a failure? The clients am meeting are very important for the company and for this family, am off to work.

Jordan: You mean, Dad’s company? You stole the show from him, making him look like one of the employees at the company, dad hated himself for that, he skipped work and drunk all day to forget the misery he faced at the company.

Marie: (shocked at what Jordan was saying) what are you talking about? What are you implying with your statements? Let us talk about this latter in the day, after my meeting, there is so much you don’t understand about the company, and about me and your dad. I honestly loved your dad as much as he loved me. At the company, he let me head the company because at better at approaching clients and winning contracts. Let us talk in the evening, over dinner. I will have the car you crushed last night towed to the auto shop, I will using it over the weekend to drive to the off-road site, we I win the contract. See you…..I love you son.

Jordan: I won’t go to school, am tired of your new boyfriend trying acting like my dad, am sick of him trying to get close to me…….is dead…..and I will not have a second dad, not your boyfriend, not anyone else.

(Marie looked at his son, in several ways he resembled his father, like his dad he had his own opinions, and once his mind was made up there was not changing it, she missed spending time with her son, he as a lovely baby, loved everyone and loved by everyone, but as she looked at him lay in bed, covered a quarter to 8: 00 pm, he looked like a ghost of the bouncing baby boy he was. At some moments, she felt her son was privileged and lazy, and did not want to make anything of his life, she felt her son used the death of his father as an excuse to avoid taking responsibility for his life. Yet, at some moments she fully understood what her son was going through, as a teenager, and throughout her life, her dad had been her best friend, imagining growing up, especially as a teenager, must have been very tough. Occasionally, she called her dad to advice on how to handle her son. Sometimes she thought of being there for him, but she avoided it, because she thought she was not strong enough. This morning she felt overwhelmed, and without realizing, she took out her stress, pain, loss and anger on her son).

Marie: Get Up you ungrateful spoilt brat, you think I don’t miss your dad! I think you are a lazy good-for-nothing brat, who is afraid to accept the reality and take responsibility of his life. You use your father’s death as an excuse to sit back and get drunk with your friends, you don’t go to baseball practice anymore, you get the worst grades in school, how are you supposed to go to college and take over the company as the manager and lead engineer? You need to get yourself together and stop blaming me for your father’s death, you are an adult but you are lazy and good for nothing! And for your information, my relationship with Mr. Newton is not an attempt to replace your dad, I am trying to move on and get my life on track, I deserve to be happy too!

(Marie slammed the door and walked out of the her son’s room, she felt terrible for lashing out on his son, but she felt she needed to do it, the outrage was from a point of love, and she hoped her son would understand. She deeply loved her son, but the loss of her husband left her confused and clueless on how to deal with a teenager son. Jordan felt bad, he thought of leaving home and moving to another city to start a new life on his own, but he had never worked before and had no idea of working to earn a living. His dad had been dead for seven years but it felt like he had been dead for a week. He felt he was not doing enough to try to get over the loss of his dad, but how could he get over the death of his best friend, it could have been better if his mom tried to comfort him through this hard times, but she was too held up by on business. He felt alone, and the world seemed to be against him. It was 5 minutes to 8 and he was getting late for school. He imagined getting late for the fifth time this week and felt tired of the meeting with the school’s principal. He got out of his bed, reluctantly got into the bathroom. He got out of the bathroom almost as soon as he got in, a thought must have occurred to him)

Jordan: (on one side of the call) Hello, lets skip school and go get her in the woods, I don’t want to see your dad today.

Marc: (on the other line of the call, laughs) come on man, you know I have to go to school, my grades are poor and my dad is not very happy about, let us meet up in school in 20 minutes, we can hang out after school. Trust me man, school is where we need to be right now.

Jordan: (lifelessly) okay man, let get breakfast, and meet you in school in twenty minutes, and one more thing, I have argued with mum again, I don’t want to see her for a long time.

Marc: Your mum loves you, let us talk about that after school, we are running late.

(Both hang up, Jordan goes down to have breakfast, he hurries up to meet up with his friend at school)

Scene Two

(Marie’s office)

Linda: Morning madam, how are you this morning…..and how is that handsome little boy of yours?

Marie: Good morning Linda, my morning has been terrible

Linda: Again?

Marie: My handsome little boy and I went at it again this morning, he does want to take responsibility for his life, yesterday, he got home at midnight, drunk having crushed the off-road jeep. This morning he does want to go school, talking about me not being around for him, and bringing up Newton, I fell he uses his father’s death as an excuse to avoid responsibility.

Linda: you are too hard on the little boy, he lost his dad, he is lonely, he is jealous of Newton because he spends time with you more than he does… (Marie interrupts).

Marie: But you know…….. (Linda interrupts)

Linda: He sees him as a replacement for his dad, he feels you are not remorseful for the loss of his dad….

Marie: But that was years ago….i miss him too but we need to move on…….he was the love of my life…am, sure would want me to find love once again…

Linda: speaking of Newton, have a look at these (He shows her a bouquet of flowers), came in late yesterday (Marie smells the flowers, smiles to Linda)

Marie: yesterday, after meeting, I stayed at the hotel to go through more designs for the Japanese project, and went straight home, poor Newton must think I do want to meet up with him, I have just been busy with the company, that’s all.

Linda: you are too busy for yourself, and your son too, anyway you two should take things more seriously

Marie: Linda, like I told you before Newton and I are just friends, after the death of my husband, we grew very close after the counselling sessions, but it nothing more than friendship, besides I don’t have some much time to live…….

Linda: stop right there girl……you will live for more years……besides you have just said your husband would have wanted you to find love……..

Marie: yeah…but not with Newton….he was practically my husband’s best friend, and I don’t love him….in life one can only fall in love once…..mine was with Andrew….I am not able to love anyone else…I honestly think….Newton does not love, he fells pain for me….I lost my husband, I am dying..

Linda: but both the boys think you two are dating, and it is affecting your relationship with your son, you should tell him the truth….about that and your condition.

Marie: We felt there was no need to explain it to the boys, it is just friendship, Newton helps me cope, you know life has been unbearable since husband died, I am not strong enough to support my son through this hard time, I feel she might notice my world is crumbling, and that would kill him,

Linda: so you avoid him?

Marie: I don’t

Linda: You do, since the death of Andrew, how many times have you spent time with your boy? Don’t you think he needs you?

Marie: I cannot be like his dad, they played baseball and talked for hours, you know, I only love watching sports, not playing.

Linda: then go watch Mets play, over the weekend they have a game with the Dodgers, go to that game, you completely ignored my statement about talking to him about your condition

Marie: My son cannot live with the thought of me dying at any time….he will be devastated I cannot watch my son see me like am dying

Linda: you need to talk to your son, and work on your relationship before it is too late for the both of you

Marie: you it not that simple, plus I might live for more years

Linda: please talk to your boy

Marie: This morning he accused me of stealing the show from his father, saying I took over the company and made his father look alike an employee here (she smiles),

Linda: There is a lot your son does not know about you and Andrew, you need to talk to him, explain these to him, or else he will continue blaming you for his father alcoholism and death.

Marie: I talk to him tonight, but right now with need to work on the presentation for the Japanese company, I need to win this contract for the company as the last thing I do….for my son. And you people too.

Linda: The presentation is ready, with your condition you don’t need to work so hard, you have me and other reliable employees

Marie: let’s get to the presentation we need to be very ready.

Scene Three

(Jordan’s school)

(Jordan meets with Marc at the gate of the school and both drive in. They are just in time for the first class)

Jordan: There you are!

Marc: let’s get to class, the bell has gone

(Both rush to class, but Jordan is slower)

Scene four

(School Cafeteria)

Jordan: you know if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now attending this school or any other class for that matter.

Marc: you joke a lot.

Jordan: my life is off-balance and it has been so since the death of my dad

Marc: I miss your dad too, me and my dad are not close but I cannot imagine losing him, especially at the time you last your dad, lets meet up after show…shoot some hoops and relax, we cannot be taking about your dad every time we hang out.

Jordan: You make a good point, time as flied and I did not realize it…..lets meet after school, right now am thinking of getting through Mr. Bunkle

Marc: come on, he is not that bad

Jordan: you should try being in his class for an entire lesson

Marc: see you man, after school

Jordan: have some girls come over

Marc: perfect, my dad won’t be home,

Jordan: cool, am so mad at my mom, I don’t want to go home

Marc: it is a plan

(They do a special handshake as they have done for all the years they have been friends, both get out of the cafeteria, into different classes)

Scene Five

(Jordan’s classroom)

(Mr. Bunkle gets in class and greets the class. Jordan makes a face at the sight of the teacher. Nobody notices. The teacher introduces the lesson and goes on. Jordan quickly gets lost in his imaginary world. The class goes on. Mr. Bunkle walks to Jordan, but he fails to notice because his mind is not in class. Mr. Bunkle clears his voice to capture the attention of Jordan. It works)

Mr. Bunkle: What year did the American civil war end?

(Jordan stares at the teacher coldly, completely unaware of the answer, everyone else laughs at his lack of focus in a school full of bright minds)

Jordan: pardon?

Mr. Bunkle: Mr. Smith, do you want to be in this class? What year did the American civil war end?

Jordan: (angered by the teacher voice tone) why you don’t ask one of your pets at the front row!

(The class goes totally silent. Mr. Bunkle walks closer to Jordan, he stares at him)

Mr. Bunkle: I have been very patient with you, but at this point I think you are taking advantage of your situation, despite the years

Jordan: shut up! What do you know about losing a loved one! You have no idea what I go through every day of my life.

Mr. Bunkle: For the hundredth time this year, I am sorry for your loss, but you are lazy and using the loss of your dad to get away with your lack of ambition.

Jordan: Lazy? You are lazy, teaching high school history for living, real men design and build structures, how is history useful to me anyway? I don’t even want to be here?

Mr. Bunkle: Really? I think you should get out of my class

Jordan: You cannot throw me out of class, am Jordan smith

Mr. Bunkle: your last name means nothing in this class as much as your presence, so get out!

Jordan: I am not going anywhere!

(Mr. Bunkle’s anger is evident from his face. He thinks of hitting Jordan, but that would be a crime under the New York law. He walks out of the class. Minutes later, Jordan is summoned to the principal’s office)

Scene Six

Principal Newton’s Office

(Principal Newton looked at Jordan and felt pity for him, he was a victim of circumstances, many of which he did not know. He thought the number of times Jordan had been to his office for several reasons from confrontations, to fights with other students. He thought of his own son, Marc, and he felt proud his son was by Jordan’s side during this sad years of his life. He thought about Jordan’s mom, he liked her, but only as a friend, he was completely aware of the trouble in her life; dealing with her condition, and rebellious teenage son on her son, he could relate, he was a single father after a horrible divorce from his estranged wife. Jordan on the other hand, starred at the principal mixed feelings, he did not know whether to hate him because he was his mother’s boyfriend, or love him because he completely understood him and he was the father of his best friend. Principal Newton used a subtle tone on Jordan every time he was sent to his office)

Principal: Arguing with your teachers again?

Jordan: He was not very polite with me, he called me lazy

Principal: He might have thought so because of your results

Jordan: I don’t like History

Principal: You don’t like biology, mathematics and chemistry too? Because you score very lowly in those too

Jordan: I don’t like school much

Principal: Why, because your father died years ago?

Jordan: my life is terrible, my mom wants nothing to do with me, the world is against me, it only Marc

Principal: Have you ever thought that your mom is suffering too?

Jordan: suffering? All she does is work and met up with you, you must be happy to replace my father

(Principal is angered but he maintains his calmness, he laughs)

Principal: you boys thought me and your mom are together? No! Don’t be ridiculous, I was practically your dad’s best friend.

Jordan: Why do you met all the time she is free from work?

Principal: As your father’s friend I have been there for your mother during her low moments, you know, I am a counsellor, after the death of your father, I offered to counsel your mom, and she was going through a lot having lost the love of her life. (Principal thought twice about the information he was about to share with Jordan, it was not professional, but He had to right to know the truth about his family, his mom could not tell him, it would kill her to see the look on his face when she broke the news, time was moving and Principal newton felt it was upon him to reunite the two before time was up for Jordan’s mom)

Jordan: Sir, what my punishment?

Principal: Jordan, there is a lot you don’t not know about your family

Jordan: what are you talking about?

Principal: (changing his mind) let me call your mom, so that we can have a talk.

Jordan: she probably won’t answer, she is busy at work

(Phone rings on the other line, but no answer)

Principal: No answer, school hours are almost done, go home, I will call your mother later and pass by your house to have a talk.

Jordan: Okay sir.

Scene Seven

(Marie’s house)

(Earlier, Marie had a terrible headache, Linda insisted that she had to go to the house to down, leaving the meeting with the Japanese client half-way done. Linda drove her home, and left her on her bed. As she lay in bed, she thought about her life, and the family she had. Andrew was a loving husband and a good father to Jordan. He had worked so hard to run the company. Andrew was the source of her strength, he continuously encouraged her and challenged her to push the company to the next level. Both enjoyed working together. Andrew loved spending time with Jordan and marc, playing baseball. She would watch them play the entire morning, and she loved it. One year before Andrew’s death, everything between them had changed for the worst. Marie was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the doctors said she had two years to live. Andrew could not believe the news, he was in denial, he turned to alcohol, and he totally left the management of the company to Marie. Marie thought of their love in the university, and how she watched Andrew play for the university baseball team and how wonderful it was.

Scene Eight

(School’s parking)

Jordan: (To Marc) are the girls coming?

Marc: Nope, (sarcastically) something came up

Jordan: Girls! I don’t understand them, I guess that is why I don’t get along with my mom, anyway I got a better, I got starch from a party over the weekend, lets us go to your house and shoot hoops.

(Both drive off)

Scene Nine

(Principal Newton’s House)

Jordan: Perfect! Your dad is not here yet, you earlier I thought he wanted to tell me something about my family

Marc: He will eventually, especially since you two hang out a lot

Jordan: (laughs) I hope it not him telling me about their love

Marc: I don’t like the idea at all, bro

Jordan: here is the light, roll up the starch

Marc: cool

(Rolls the weed, lights it, takes a long puff and passes it to Jordan, who seem to be lost in deep thought)

Jordan: (after taking a long puff) this is good weed, i tried to get Benny to get me to his supplier but he was not for it.

Marc: You know Benny, he will come around

Jordan: anyway, what the deal with the girls, how can they let us down and we had plans, or you did not text Anne?

Marc: I texted her right before the last class, she was cool, and said she would tag Kenzie along, but something came up (giggles).

Jordan: The football guys came up (Giggles)

Marc: Girls as beautiful as Anne and Kenzie only have time for football guys and other cool guys in school

Jordan: They used to hang out with us

Marc: Not after, you stopped captaining the school baseball team, but some girls might still hang out with you because of your flashy mom’s cars (Laughs)

Jordan: Betty and I were getting close, then she just withdrew from me

Marc: because you drink every time, you are always high

Jordan: I got issues, and should girls be liking bad boys?

Marc: We are not bad boys, we just drink and get high a lot

Jordan: am so high right now

Marc: Am buzzed out too

Jordan: Girls, girls, and girls we are not very lucky with them

Marc: speaking of girls, don’t you think you are too stubborn to your mom, she must be going through a lot, I think work and the company is her way of coping with the loss of your dad, she did love him so much. You should not be mad if your mum moves on with my dad, both are good people who deserve a second chance at love.

Jordan: I just miss her former self, she just withdrew from me and focused on the company, started hanging out with your dad, you know earlier he told, it was just friendship, he used to be her counsellor, and it makes sense. Aren’t all teachers trained as counselors? But if its romance, I guess it’s not that bad, to be fair, your dad has been very kind to me. I think I should head out home, talk to my mom, and maybe even apologize for being so difficult to her.

Marc: Before that, lets us get pizza, I have the munchies

Jordan: Cool, let us do that

(Both get into Marc’s car and drive off to the pizza inn).

Scene Ten

(Pizza inn)

(At the pizza inn, Jordan gets the pizza and walk back to the car)

Scene Eleven

(Principal’s parking lot)

(Marc parks the car, and both eat pizza with car doors open. Just then, Marc’s dad arrives)

Principal: hello boys, you look so stoned, and Jordan you should be home, I could not find your mom on her cell, I should go with you to check on her, come on get into my car, we should talk, Marc will drive your car to school in the morning.

Jordan: see you bro

Marc: see you man

(They do their handshake routine)

Scene Twelve

(Marie’s House)

(At around the same time, Marie wakes up from her sleep, realizes she does not have her phone. She gets up to find it, but a thought occurs to her, she takes out a piece of paper, writes on it, and leaves it on herself bookshelf. She proceeds to go downstairs to trace her phone, she collapses on the living room floor and dies)

Scene Thirteen

(In the Principal’s Car)

Principal: You know your mom she loves you, but her life after been a struggle with your dad for one year and worst after his death.

Jordan: I think I have not been understanding to her, I think we will talk about it this evening.

(Both remain silent for the rest of the drive, Jordan thinks of his father, how withdrawn for a year before his accident, he always blamed his mother for frustrating his death, leading him to alcoholism and eventually, accident. As he sat in the car, he thought more about it, he felt may be it was not his mother’s fault, but he was going to talk to her about it this evening)

Scene Fourteen

(Marie’s House)

(Principal parks just next to Marie’s BMW, Jordan gets out of the car, and walks to the living room, Newton follows him, suddenly, Jordan stops, completely struck, he sees his mom on the ground, he approaches her, he touches her and realizes she is dead. Principal Newton is numb. After about an hour, Jordan walks to his room, leaving the principal with her, on her bookshelf she finds the note; I have a tumor in my brain)