"ER"
"From This Moment On"
Opening Act
I just swear That I'll always be there I'd give anything and everything And I will always care Through weakness and strength Happiness and sorrow For better or for worse I will love you With every beat of my heart
Doug and Carol are still clinging to each other..holding on. Holding each other in their arms.
Carol cries while gently whispering "I'm sorry..I love you."
Doug just holds her...knowing now that her love for him is as strong as his is to her. They've been through a lot together...two years of a rocky but memorable relationship...a suicide attempt..five years of waiting for Doug to change..and a year of strong friendship...and a year of a new found love...stronger than it ever has been before. They both pull away, looking deep into each others eyes with love.
Carol: "I love you Doug...I was just scared. I do want to marry you."
Doug places a finger gently on Carol's lips, telling her that he understands. There's no need for her to apologize. She looks up at him and lovingly wraps her lips around his fingers, kissing them gently. He leans in and kisses her, while she wraps her arms around his neck, gently playing her fingers at the bottom of his hair. Slowly he begins to unbutton the top button of her blouse, letting her know that he wants to be with her tonight. He takes her in his arms and lays them both on the bed, both of them ravishing each other with kisses while pulling the covers over their bodies. Cut to show Carol and Doug lying in bed, wrapped in each other's arms, wide awake. The clock reads 12:03 am. Doug smiles down at her and buries his head in her neck, taking in the smell of her hair and perfume. She lifts up her hand and strokes his chin and face.
Doug: "I love you. I'll always love you."
Carol: "I love you too. Even if I do seem scared sometimes...it's only because I love you so much that I'm afraid of what might happen if I surrender myself to you."
Doug: "Don't be." He runs his hand through her dark curly hair and kisses her forehead.
Carol: "Doug, will you marry me?"
Doug: "Of coarse. I'd marry you anytime, anywhere."
Carol: "Would you marry me now?"
Doug(a little surprised): "Tonight?" Carol nods.
Carol: "Tonight. I'll call my mom to watch Ry...we can take off of work... just go some place and get away from it all. We already have the blood tests done." Carol leans in and kisses him.(stops and considers his feelings.) "Unless of coarse you want the big wedding. We could wait if that's what you want."
Doug: "All I want is for you to be my wife."(pause)"Let's do it." They both laugh and kiss each other. Carol throws her blouse back on as Doug struggles with his trousers. He sticks his hand in the pocket and comes out with a small black box. Something he had intended to give her when he walked in...to show her how much he loved her. But they had gotten caught up in the moment and he had forgot.
Doug: "Carol..."
Carol(turns around and smiles): "Yeah?"Doug: "I got these for us."
He hands her the box."I hope you like them." She looks him in the eye and then opens up the box. Inside are two gold band with the engravement: "Forever" on them. She smiles, gently fingering the gold rings. He looks at her and rubs her cheek, seeing that she has tears in her eyes.
Doug: "Do you like them?"
Carol: "I love them." Doug smiles at her. She gets up and takes a duffel bag out from the closet, and begins to pack in various clothes of hers and Doug's. Doug reaches for the phone to call her mother as the opening act fades to the opening credits of the show.
"ER"
"From This Moment On"
Act One From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one Right beside you is where I belong From this moment on From this moment I have been blessed I live only for your happinessAnd for your loveI'd give my last breath From this moment on
Both Doug and Carol are in their kitchen looking over and making the final touches to a bunch of papers. She looked up into his eyes and couldn't help but smile. He seemed so happy, so excited. The amazing thing is that she felt it too. She, for once in her life could look into his eyes and see her soul mate- someone that she wanted to be with her entire life. He handed her the pen, telling her to sign one of the papers of their blood tests, but all she could do was look deep into his eyes. Suddenly, she couldn't resist him anymore. She jumped at him and gave him a passionate kiss right on his lips, which he responded to immediately, by kissing back. After they parted he looked up into her eyes much like the way she was just looking at him. Doug let out a low chuckle and his eyes glimmered. "What was that for?"
Carol: "Just for being you...I love you you know that right?" Doug wrapped his arms around her waste and brought her closer to him, almost so that they could feel each other's hearts beating right next to each other
Doug:"I know...you show it to me everyday of my life by just being with me."
Carol: "I can't imagine myself with anyone else." Doug smiles at her and leans down to kiss her softly.
Carol(whispers) "My mom's in the other room..."
Doug(groans) "Thank God we're getting away from it all...we really need this."
Carol: "I know...we need to be with each other. And TALK to each other. We haven't sat down and talked in forever."
Doug: "Tonight, all I want to do is hold you in my arms"
Carol: "Mmmm...sounds good to me."
Doug: "Did you sign?"
Carol: "I was going to but I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. You mesmerize me."
Doug: "We better get out of here...I don't think that I'm going to be able to take one more second of this without scooping you in my arms and taking you right here."
Carol(laughing)"Why don't you?"
Doug(smiles): "Like you said, your mother is right in the other room." They both laugh and reluctantly pull away from each other.
Carol: "Did you say good-bye to Ryanna?"
Doug(smiles): "Yeah, just a second ago. She's sleeping like a baby with her arms wrapped around Bethany."
Carol: "God help us if we ever lost that doll..." Doug laughs and they both move from the kitchen into the living room, where Carol's mother is sitting down.
Carol(quietly):"Mama, we're leaving now..."
Helen(looks up): "Where exactly are you two going?"
Carol(looks up at Doug and smiles): "We're not exactly sure. We're just heading out."
Helen(smiles with a sigh): "I remember when I was your age and in love."
Doug: "Here's a list of all of the people on our guest list." (he hands her one of the pieces of paper in his hand) "We need you to call them and tell them that the wedding is off. Not to show up on Sunday."
Helen(confused):"You mean there isn't going to be any wedding?"
Carol:"At least not the kind you were expecting."
Helen: "What are you talking about?"
Carol(laughs) "We'll explain it to you later. Right now we need to go."
Doug: "All of the instructions for Ryanna are on the table. Everything about her meds too. If there's any trouble, just call us. I'll have my cell phone on. The number's on the fridge."
Helen: "Relax, Douglas. I raised three girls. I know what I'm doing."
Doug(smiles): "And you raised them great, Helen. I just want to be sure. I don't want anything to happen to her."
Helen: "I understand...don't worry. She's in good hands."
Doug: "Thanks, Helen. Can't tell you how much I appreciate this."
Carol: "Yeah, Ma. Thanks."
Helen:"Anytime."("shoos" them out) "Go, go...you two love birds..." Carol and Doug both smile
Carol: "Ok...Ok...we're leaving. Bye, Ma!"
Helen: "Bye baby. Bye Doug."
Doug: "Bye!" She closes the door behind them and smiles. Hopefully they'll finally find the happiness that they both deserve. Cut to show Carol and Doug, inside their Jeep, just driving in the darkness. Carol is propped up in the fetal position in the front seat, dressed in a T- shirt and windbreaker pants, Doug is wearing a polo T-shirt and a pair ofjeans.
Carol (laughs): "Doug, are you sure you know where you're going?"
Doug(scoffs with a smiles): "What do you mean? Have you forgotten you you are talking to?" Carol laughs out loud "It just so happens that I am the master of directions."
Carol: "Oh really?"
Doug: "Yes!"
Carol: "Doug, how about the time that you got us lost going to that hotel up in Winnetka? Do you remember that?"
Doug: "Well, maybe if I wasn't DISTRACTED by a certain person trying to lure me with her sexual advances I might have not gotten lost."
Carol: "Oh, yeah, sure...uh-huh!"
Doug: "No, seriously, I happen to be very good with directions...we'll be there in no time."
Carol: "Doug, where exactly are you taking me?"
Doug: "It's a surprise."
Carol(smiles at him): "One that I'll like?"
Doug: "Maybe...."
Carol: "How far away is it?"
Doug: "Not that far away...."
Carol: "Come on, Doug! You HAVE to tell me now!"
Doug just gives her a sly smile "Oh, come on! You know I hate surprises."
Doug: "As much as you know that I love them."
Carol: "Doug, I want to marry you more than anything. I want to start our future together..."(he looks over at her sweetly) "But if you don't tell me where we are going, I just might have to kill you."
Doug: "I'm not telling you exactly where we are going...but I will tell you that I just happen to know of this place not too far away that marries people. He's a judge and they provide a witness and everything." Carol gets an excited look on her face
Carol: "How soon will we be there?"
Doug: "What has Ryanna been rubbing off on you or something?"
Carol laughs "Every time I take her on a car drive she asks 'how many more minutes?'"
Carol: "She's five, Doug. What do you expect? She's a kindergartner!"
Doug: "I know...but I don't expect it from you..."
Carol: "I'm just anxious that's all..."
Doug: "I'll tell you what, I'll do exactly to you like I do to Ryanna...look at the clock."
Carol gives him a confused look "Look at the clock and tell me what it says."
Carol: "One thirty five."
Doug: "I promise you we will be there by the time the clock reads two fifteen."
Carol(realizing): "So that's why Ryanna always asks me that when we take a car drive..."
Doug(chuckles): "Probably, yeah...."
Carol(sighs): "I don't know what I'm going to do if we lose her Doug....she's been healthy for almost a year now...but I just feel like we're betting against time, here." Doug looks at her...almost sadly and reaches out to stroke her face as he puts two fingers up to her lips
Doug: "Shhh...not tonight. Let's just be together tonight. I don't want to think about all the things that can go wrong...I just want to think about how happy I am right now."
Carol(smiles at him): "That's exactly why I love you. You're always there to tell me that everything will be all right."
Doug: "It will be...because we love each other and we'll always be there for each other."
Carol: "I know I say it all the time.... But I really love you."
Doug: "I know...I love you too. Let's not ever stop reminding each other, ok?"
Carol: "Ok." (pauses as she out the window up in the sky, which is filled with stars) "It's so beautiful."
Doug: "I know..."But he's not looking up at the stars "That's why I'm marrying her." Carol looks at Doug looking over at her and blushes
Carol: "You better not pamper me too much, Doctor. I might get used to that kind of treatment."
Doug(smiles): "Good"
Carol: "What time did you'd say we'd be there again?"
Doug(sighs...mock annoyment): "Two fifteen, Carol." Carol looks over at the clock, which now says ten to two. Cut to show the clock reading 2:32. Doug and Carol are still on the road. Carol is slumped back in her seat as Doug fumbles with a road map with a confused expression on his face. Fade act one to black.

"ER"
"From This Moment On"
Act Two

I give my hand to you with all my heart. Can't wait to live my life with you. Can't wait to start. You and I will never be apart. My dreams came true because of you From this moment on Carol: "Doug, I thought you said you knew where you were going?"
Doug: "I did! Until I got lost..."
Carol: "Where are we exactly?"
Doug just sighs "You mean you don't know where we are?"
Doug: "Well...no."
Carol: "Doug!"
Doug: "I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I honestly thought that I knew where I was going."
Carol: "Well, where were you trying to go?"
Doug: "I was trying to take you to Dundee. They have this really nice lodge with a judge that marries people."
Carol: "Are we anywhere near Dundee?"
Doug: "I don't think so."
Carol: "Well, what should we do?"
Doug: "I don't know...I guess keep driving until we find someplace to get directions from."
Carol: "Doug, it's past two thirty in the morning. What place to you think is honestly going to be open?"
Doug: "There's got to be some kind of 'Open 24hrs' convenience store around here."
Carol: "I think we're about twenty miles from human civilization, honey."
Doug: "We'll find it...don't worry."
Carol: "Whatever you say...." She slumps back into her seat as Doug shoves aside a road map. Doug(mumbles to himself): "We'll get there..."
Cut to show that the clock on the car now reads 3:05...Doug and Carol are STILL driving.
Carol(imitating Doug): " 'I know where I'm going, Carol...don't worry. We'll get there' "
Doug: "I'm sorry...I really though I had the direction down...I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere."
Carol(sarcastically): "Really, you think?"
Doug: "Oh my God! Look!" He frantically points to a little store that says "Quick Mart". The lights are on and a glowing sign says "Open 24 hours" hangs in the window. The parking lot is vacant except for two or three cars, as Doug and Carol pull up and get out of the car.
Carol: "Thank God, we found this place."Doug: "Eh-hem! WE???"
Carol: "Ok, fine...YOU found this place. But you were the one who got us lost in the first place so don't go acting all high and mighty about it..."
Doug: "Ok, ok...you win. I DID get us lost. I'm sorry."
Carol: "It's ok, I forgive you...this time."
Doug: "Maybe someone in here can recommend some kind of hotel or something."
Carol: "Hey, I'd settle for just about anything right now." They enter the store, which is practically deserted. A woman in her early forties is at the cash register, painting her nails with bright red polish while reading HAIR magazine as Doug and Carol approach her.
Doug: "Excuse me...ma'am?"The woman looks upWoman: "Yes, may I help you?"
Doug: "Actually you can...my fiancé and I were heading up to Dundee to get married when we got lost. We must have made a wrong turn somewhere and now we have no idea where we are."
Woman: "Dundee? You must have made some wrong turn sir...this is Crest Hill."
Doug(leans closer in disbelief): "Crest Hill??? We're in Crest Hill?"
Carol(in shock): "Exactly how far away is that from Dundee?" Woman: "I'd say about four and a half hours away...if I didn't know any better I'd say you went in the completely opposite direction."
Carol(in a whisper to Doug): "I'll say."
Doug: "Is there any hotel around that you would recommend?"
Woman (thinks and then shakes her head): "No."
Carol: "Is there any place with shelter that you can direct us to?"
Woman: "Well, there is a little bed and breakfast up the road about three and a half miles. Run by that old hag of judge McCaib. Not the fanciest place around..."
Carol: "It'll do for tonight." Grabs Doug by his jacket sleeve "Come on, Doug, let's go..."
Doug: "Whatever you say." They turn to exit
Woman: "Good luck....with your marriage and all. Been married three times myself. At least the wedding were good." Carol gives the woman a forced smile and leaves along with Doug into the parking lot
Doug: "Well...I guess we don't have any choice but to go up to that place she was talking about."
Carol: "Guess not."
Doug unlocks the car doors and they both enter the car.Doug: "I'm really sorry."
Carol(smiles at him sweetly): "Don't be."
Doug: "I really wanted us to get married tonight."
Carol: "Doug, we could get married tomorrow...or the next day...or the next. All I want to do right now is spend some time alone with you. We never get to spend time alone anymore."
Doug: "I know. But I know that you had your heart set on eloping tonight." Carol: "Ok, I admit...I was looking forward to us becoming Dr. and Mrs. Doug Ross...but it doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that we are here alone. With each other."(gives him a sly grin) "And that can present it's advantages..."
Doug: "Oh, yeah." He leans in an kisses her. She reacts with a light little sigh and kisses him back with more passion and force.
Carol: "We'd better get to that little hotel quickly before we wind up doing it right here. I don't think we've ever done it in a car before."
Doug(chuckles): "What? You mean that you don't remember?"
Carol: "No...I don't think so."
Doug: "Don't you remember that Thanksgiving....it was cold...and we were lost. We pulled over to try and find a map in the glove compartment..."
Carol(realizing): "Oh my God...I remember! God, how could I forget!"
Doug(looks over at her): "Let's get out of here."
Carol: "Couldn't have said it better myself." Cut to show Carol and Doug approaching the little motel that the woman had told them about. A glowing sign, reads "Sunshine Inn", but the place looks everything but sunshiny. There's only two other cars besides their own parked in the driveway.
Carol: "Maybe we should have just slept in the car..." They approach the main door and enter
Doug: "It's not that bad...just a little vacant is all. But the less people the better."
Carol: "Whatever you say Doug." Doug has one duffel bag containing his and Carol's clothes and personal items over his shoulder. Carol carries a tuxedo of Doug's and a white dress of hers in two plastic covers. They approach the desk, which no one is behind. Doug sees the little bell and presses it lightly, but after a minute or so, no one answers
Doug: "Hello? Anyone here?" He rings the bell again, this time a little harder. A man, probably in his late 50's, comes out of a door, dressed in his pajamas and a pair of slippers
Man: "Can I help you sir?"
Doug: "Yes, I'd like a room please."
The man looks down at his watchMan: "At 3:45 in the morning?"
Doug: "My fiancé and I got lost...we need a place to stay for the night. Can I get a room?"
Man: "Sure..." He walks up behind the counter and comes up with a form. "Just fill that out."
Doug: "Thank you."
Man: "All rooms except for the honeymoon suite are 40 dollars a night. The honeymoon is $45"
Doug: "I'll take the the nicest room that you have."
Man: "That'll be the honeymoon suite." Doug hands him the form along with a credit card.
Doug: "There you go."
Man: "Ok...Dr. Ross...just follow me." He walks over to a door right next to the one he came out of and knocksloudly. "John!! Get up!"(turns to Doug and Carol)"John will get your bags for you." Doug nods and places down his duffel bag, but Carol continues to carry their attire. A young man, probably in his twenties, steps out of the room, also in his pajamas.
John: "What?"
Man: "We got customer's...take their bags for them."
John: "Yes sir."He picks up Doug's duffel bag and follows them.
Man: "Right this way..."
Doug(trying to make conversation): "This is a nice place you got here."
Man(nods): "My wife and I built this about 15 years ago when I retired from judging. Doesn't get too much business...but it's an OK place."
Doug: "Well, it practically saved our lives if that counts for anything." The man comes to a stop at a room with two doors. He slides the key in and opens both door.
Man: "Here you go, Dr. Ross. It's not the fanciest place around...but it's nice and comfortable." Pan camera around the room. Like the owner said, it's not a fancy hotel room. But it does have nice blue carpeting and a king sized bed and a built in bathroom as well as a walk in closet.
Doug: "Pretty nice if you ask me." Carol looks around the room and nods in satisfaction while John places the bag down
Man: "It even has a record player over there in the right corner with some old records if you'd like to play it."
Doug: "Thank you...I didn't catch your name."
Man: "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Judge Peter McCaib. Welcome." Him and Doug shake hands. "I heard you and your fiancé mention that you got lost. How did that happen."
Carol: "It's a long story but we were going to get married up in Dundee and somehow (gives Doug a look) we got lost."
Peter: "Oh, man...those poor people at your reception."
Doug: "Oh, no...we weren't having a reception."
Carol: "We were gonna elope."
Peter: "How romantic. That's how me and my wife got married." (gets a 'thinking' look on his face) "Say, you two aren't still looking to get married tonight, are you?"
Carol: "I don't see how we still can..."
Peter: "Well, as I mentioned before I used to be a judge. I still have my license. I could marry you."
Carol: "What about witnesses and everything?"
Peter: "My wife and my boy John could be witnesses. We have a beautiful little dining hall in the upstairs. Organ and piano and everything. If you have rings and a blood test, I could do it." Carol and Doug both look at each other and smile.
Doug: "Well, why not?"
Carol: "I mean, we WERE gonna get married in the first place why does it matter where?"
Peter: "We might even still have a camera...we could take a picture of you two lovebirds. It'll be just like a real wedding."
Doug(turns to Carol): "Let's do it." Carol runs over to him and hugs him.
Carol: "Let's get married."
Peter(smiles): "Ok, then...you two get ready. The hall is up the stairs and to the right."(turns to his son) "Come on, John, let's go get your mother up and get ready." Him and his son exit, leaving Doug and Carol alone. Doug kisses her excitedly.
Carol: "This is probably the single most romantic moment of my life."
Doug: "It's our wedding day."
Carol: "I love you."
Doug: "I love you too." They lean in and kiss each other again as act two fades to black.

"ER"
"From This Moment On"
Act Three

Your the reason I believe in love And your the answer to my prayers from up above All we need is just the two of us My dreams came true because of you>From this moment as long as I live I will love you I promise you this There is nothing I wouldn't give Act three opens after a short time lapse from act two. Doug and Carol are still in their honeymoon suite. Doug is standing in front of a wall mirror adjusting the bow on his tux. He gets it as even as it can get and runs his hands through his hair. Cut to show Carol in the bathroom. She has tied up her hair in some kind of French twist, leaving a few curls to hang down on her face. She's dressed up in a long white gown that falls perfectly over her slim figure. She puts on little bit a of makeup and looks at herself one more time in the mirror before opening the bathroom door. She looks at Doug standing in front the mirror and smiles. He doesn't know she's watching him. Doug(whispering quietly to himself): "For rich or for poorer...in sickness and in health..." He looks at himself, and realizes that he's making an idiot of himself and sighs, stopping the vows.
Carol: "Don't stop...I was enjoying hearing those words out of your mouth."
Doug, turns around, a little startled.
Doug: "I didn't hear you come out." He looks her over, mesmerized at how beautiful she looks."You look...." Carol grabs the sides of her dress and pulls them out a little.
Carol: "You like?"
Doug: "You look beautiful."
Carol(blushes): "Don't look so bad yourself."(pause) "Do you have the rings and the blood tests?"
Doug(holds up a small box with a piece of paper): "Right here." (hold out his hand to her)"Shall we?"
Carol(takes his hand): "Yes we shall" Cut to show Doug and Carol entering the reception hall. It's a small place...but pretty none the less. John McCaib is sitting at the organ player...fumbling through papers trying to find wedding music. When the Judge and his wife see Doug and Carol they smile and approach them.
Mrs. McCaib: "You must me Doug and Carol...hello."
Carol: "Hello."
Mrs. McCaib looks at them and smiles.
Mrs. McCaib: "You two look so young and in love....much like Peter and me when we were your age."
Doug: "We hope that we're as happy as you and your husband look."
Mrs. McCaib: "You will be. I can tell right away if a couple will make it or not and you two will."
Carol looks over at Doug and smiles.
Judge: "Are you two ready?" Doug takes a deep breath in and look at Carol
Doug: "Yes we are. We've been ready for a long time now. Just that we were the last people to realize it."
Judge: "Do you have the rings?"Doug: "Yes I do." He hands the Judge the two engraved bands in the box as well as the bloodtests.
Judge: "Well, then let's get this show on the road...." Cut to show Doug standing at the beginning of the aisle. His hand are crossed in front of them as he nervously reminds himself to breathe. The Judge look over at him and smiles with a wink
Judge: "Don't worry, son. It'll be fine."
Doug: "I know...I just can't believe this day came. Carol and I....well, we've been through a lot together. I just can't believe that we're finally getting married."
Judge: "No one can, son...no one can."
Doug(takes a deep breath in): "All right...I'm ready." Judge McCaib turns around and motions to his son to begin to play the wedding march. As he begins playing, Carol steps out from behind the doors and begins to slowly march down the isle. Doug's heart skips a beat as he looks at her. Sure, she's not dressed in a big wedding gown with a huge bouquet of flowers. But she's never looked more beautiful walking towards him in a white dress, with a small bunch of flowers wrapped in a ribbon in her hands. Carol looks at Doug and smiles at him. It's a nervous smile, but a smile that tells him 'I love you.'. This is the day she's been waiting for since September 29, 1992 when she first laid eyes on Douglas Ross. Now, they both were ready to commit to each other "Till death due them part" She gets up to the head of the aisle, takes Doug's hand in hers and faces him. They look into each other's eyes...both never wanting to let this moment go.
Judge: "Dearly beloved...we are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony, Dr Douglas Ross and Carol Hathaway. Marriage is a very sacred vow...one that is to be entered into with complete love and honestly. I have every bit of faith that these two will be true to those vows until the day they part into heaven." Doug squeezes Carol's hand and smiles at her. Tears are practically welling up in her eyes
Judge: "Douglas Ross...repeat after me. I, Douglas Steven Ross."
Doug: "I, Douglas Steven Ross...."
Judge: "Take thee, Carol Hathaway."
Doug: "Take thee, Carol Hathaway...."
Judge: "To be my lawful wedded wife."
Doug(turns to Judge): "I know the rest...I've been practicing." They both chuckle as Doug starts from the beginning.
"I, Douglas Steven Ross. Take you, Carol Hathaway, to be my lawful wedded wife. To have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and forsaking all others, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live."
Judge: "Carol..."
Carol: "I, Carol Hathaway, take you, Doug Ross, to be my lawful wedded husband. To have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and forsaking all others, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live."
Judge: "The rings please..." The Judge's wife hand on of the gold bands to Doug.
Doug: "With this ring, I thee wed and this band is a symbol of my never ending love for you." He places the ring on Carol's finger. Carol takes the other ring from the Judge's wife.
Carol: "With this ring, I thee wed and this band is a symbol of my never ending love for you."
Judge(smiling): "It is with the power invested to me by the state of Illinois, that I now pronounce you husband and wife. Doug, you may kiss your bride."
Doug(smiles): "You don't have to tell me twice." He leans down and gives her a passionate kiss, after over five and a half years of waiting, they are together at last forever. John plays the end march as Doug and Carol stand there kissing. Cut to show Carol in their honeymoon suite bathroom. She's now dressed in a long white nightgown as opposed to her earlier attire. She stared down at the ring on her finger. She was Mrs. Ross. Mrs. Douglas Steven Ross. At last. Show Doug outside the room. He's taken off his black tux, and has dressed down to a pair of boxers and a T-shirt. He also looks down at the gold band on his finger. He's a married man now. Never in a million years did Doug think that he would be married. But now he was and he's never been happier in his entire life. He opens the complimentary champagne that Peter and his wife sent up to them and pours two glasses. The clock next to their bed now reads 5:53. Carol comes out of the bathroom and looks at Doug. He stares right back at her.
Doug: "You look beautiful...as always."
Carol: "Thanks."
Doug: "Come here, Mrs. Ross...." She walks up to him and he wraps his arms around her, rubbing his face in her neck, taking in the smell of her perfume. "May I have this dance?"
Carol: "What dance? There's no music."
Doug: "Ah-ha!" He parts with her and walks over to the record player that's in the corner of the room. He's already set up a record, and just simply take the dial and puts it on top of the record. He walks back over to Carol and holds her once again.
Carol: "What song?"
Doug: "Your favorite...I figured our wedding song should be one of the most romantic songs of all time." The music fades in and Carol recognizes the tune immediately and closes her eyes to the music.
Carol: "Oh, I love this song." ,br>Doug: "Like, I said, before, may I have this dance?"
Carol: "Yes...of coarse." He pulls her closer to him and wraps his arms around her. The lights in the room have been turned off...leaving them both swaying in the darkness Whoa...my love...My darlingI 've hungered for your touch Alone Lonely time... And time goes by So slowly...And time can do so much...Are you still mine?
Doug: "I love you. What did I ever do to deserve you?"
Carol: "You loved me.." (pause)"I love you too."
Doug: "Promise me that you'll never forget this moment. Even if we get into a fight...or if something bad happens...promise me we'll never let go of this."
Carol: "I promise."I need your loveI need your love God speed your love to me... Carol grabs his shirt tail and pulls his shirt off of him, throwing it to the floor. She gently presses her lips up against his bare shoulder...rubbing her face against neck....slowly kissing him. Doug rubs his hand up against her back, slowly taking her in...slowly letting himself come to realize that he'll have her forever...till death due them part. Whoa! My love, my darling, I hunger for your touch,Alone. Lonely time.And time goes by, so slowly, And time can do so much.
Doug(in a whisper): "I need you Carol."
Carol: "You can have me....whenever...wherever." Are you still mine? I need your love.I need your love.God speed your love to me..... He moves his lips to hers and gives her an explosive kiss...they linger there for a moment. Both not wanting it to end. He gently lifts her up and carries her over to the bed, placing her down while ravishing her with kisses as Act Three fades to black.

"ER"
"From This Moment On"
Act Four

From this moment I will love you (I will love you)As long as I live> From this moment on
The clock beside Doug and Carol's bed now read 10:56. They are both just waking in bed, in each other's arms. Sunlight peeks through the windows and Doug nudges Carol. She turns around, looks at him, and smiles.
Carol: "Good morning Dr. Ross."
Doug: "Good morning Mrs. Ross."
Carol: "Wow...I'm gonna have to get used to that. Carol Ross."
Doug: "Yeah...it's pretty amazing, isn't it? Us? Married?"
Carol: "It's like a dream come true." Carol holds up one of her hand to look at her ring as Doug does the same thing...holding his hand up right next to hers.
Doug: "Last night was pretty wonderful."
Carol: "I know...I don't think I could have imagined a better night."
Doug: "I can..."
Carol gives him a confused look "I imagine tomorrow night, and the next night, and the next...and every night for the rest of our lives."
Carol: "I still can't believe it. Five years ago, us married was the last thing I would have imagined."
Doug: "I know...at the mention of the word 'forever' I would have run in the opposite direction."
Carol: "It wasn't just you Doug. I wasn't ready for a serious relationship as much as I may have come off. I was still young and scared."
Doug: "Yeah, but I was always selfish."
Carol: "No you weren't. You were always caring. You just didn't know how to express your love."
Doug: "Yeah, I guess so."
Carol: "I don't want to beat yourself up for what you did wrong in the past anymore, Doug. It's all behind us now. Officially."
Doug: "Ok." Carol looks over at the clock
Carol: "Ugh! We have to leave soon. I don't want to leave."
Doug: "Me neither...but I have to go to work at three."
Carol(laughs): "Do you even know how to get back to Chicago?"
Doug(chuckles): "Yeah, Peter said that he'd give me directions." They are interrupted by a knock at the door. Doug throws on a robe and walks over to the door. To his surprise, when he opens it there's no one at the other side, just a small breakfast cart. He shrugs and wheels it inside. "Mrs. McCaib must have made us breakfast."
Carol: "Oh, thank God, I'm starving." She also gets out of bed and throws on a robe, walking over to Doug and thecart
Doug: "Let's see...we've got pancakes, eggs, bacon, orange juice....." He stops talking when his attention is drawn to a large manila envelope under the tray.
Carol: "What's that?"
Doug: "I don't know..." He picks it up and opens it revealing a piece of paper. He begins to read it to himself as Carol looks on.
Carol: "It's our wedding license!" A smile spreads across her face
Doug: "Wow...this was really nice of them."
Carol: "Yeah, it was." Pauses as they both look over the license
Doug: "We really did it didn't we? We really got married..."
Carol(smiles): "We sure did." Cut to show Carol and Doug pulling up to the hospital parking lot in the Jeep. Doug turns off the car and turns to Carol with a desperate look on his face.
Doug: "Ugh! I don't want to go back to work. I want us to go back."
Carol(laughs): "Me too." She gently reaches up and pushes his bangs out of his face. "But you have to. Lots of sick kids that need to be fixed. They need you."
Doug: "Yeah, but I need you."
Carol: "We could take another vacation pretty soon...like they honeymoon that we never had."
: "Oooh...I like the sound of that. How about we go now?" They both laugh
Carol: "You're such a goofball."
Doug: "Yeah, but that's why you love about me."
Carol: "This is true...." She bends down and kisses him "Seriously though...."
Doug: "Uh-oh, I don't like the sound of serious."
Carol: "How is everything at the hospital? I haven't been working too much since we got Ry."
Doug: "Things are OK...I mean, I've had Kerry Weaver up my ass twenty four seven, but..."
Carol: "She's still on your case about the Marquez kid?"
Doug: "Yeah, and baby Josh...she's still acting like I'm on probation. She doesn't think I know but she double checks everything I do. Everytime I send a chart up to the lab...she has to check. It's really starting to get on my nerves."
Carol: "Maybe you should talk to Anspaugh or Morganstern about it..."
Doug: "Maybe I will...I just don't want to sink to her level, you know? I'd much rather handle it myself."
Carol: "Yeah, I know."
Doug: "If I didn't feel so close to everyone at County I'd leave...I hear that they're building a new Pedes hospital over on Madison Ave. That'd be great if I could get in there."
Carol: "You could...you could look into it."
Doug: "I don't know...it just seems a little to much. I've worked at County since forever. Mark is like a brother to me...I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't around. "
Carol: "Just because you wouldn't be working together doesn't mean that you two wouldn't still be friends."
Doug: "Yeah, I guess so..."
Carol: "I can pull up some information about it on the computer..."
Doug: "Could you?"She nods.
Carol: "I wish you'd give the computer a chance Doug..."
Doug: "It's evil. Everytime I touch it something breaks on it."
Carol laughs "Well, we better go tell everyone."
Carol(laughs): "I can just imagine their faces..."
Doug: "They'll probably disappointed that we didn't have a big wedding."
Carol: "Are you?"
Doug: "Am I what?"
Carol: "Disappointed that we didn't have a big wedding..."
Doug: "Of coarse not. Last night was the best moment of my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Carol(smiles): "Good...neither would I." Cut to show them entering the hospital hand in hand. Mark Greene, Kerry Weaver, John Carter, and Elizabeth Corday are all at the admit desk along with Jerry, Haleh, Lydia, Chuny, and Connie.
Doug(laughs at them): "What's everyone standing around for, isn't there work to be done?" Everyone looks up at them and give various greetings
Haleh: "Carol, what are you doing here...isn't today your day off?"
Carol: "Yeah, I'm not staying...Doug and I just have a little announcement to make..."
Mark: "Uh-oh"Doug: "No, I didn't do anything wrong." A couple of people laugh.
Carol: "You guys won't need to come to the wedding tomorrow...it's canceled." There's a couple of disappointed remarks from everyone.
Doug: "Aren't you guys gonna let us finish?"(pause) "The wedding is canceled because we already got married." They both proudly hold up their wedding bands
Chuny: "When?"
Carol(proudly): "Last night!" A couple of people lean into to see their rings and everyone offers their congratulations.
Jerry: "Where did you guys get married?"
Doug: "In Crest Hill."
Mark: "Where's Crest Hill?"
Doug: "I don't know..."They both chuckle "We were trying to go to Dundee but wound up there...it's a long story."
Mark: "Well, congratulations...you both deserve this."
Doug: "Thanks, Mark." Just then, the paramedics burst through the door
Paramedic: "We need some help, here! We have a 78 year old female in cardiac arrest!"
Mark: "I'm on it!"
Kerry: "Me too!"(turns to Doug and Carol) "Congratulations. You two are going to be very happy."
Carol: "Thanks Kerry."
Mark: "Gotta go, sick people to cure."(turns to Doug) "I want to talk to you later, ok?"
Doug(chuckles): "I figured that much. Meet me on the roof later."
Mark: "OK." Carol turns to Doug.
Carol: "Well, I should go....break the news to my mother."
Doug(laughs): "Hey, she likes me now."
Carol: "Yeah, actually...she has been kind of calm about the whole thing."
Doug: "I'll see you."He leans over and kisses her while the staff looks on.
Jerry: "Woo-hoo!" A bunch of the other nurses and doctor's clap and cheer. Carter lift up a can of soda.,br>Carter: "Here's to Doctor and Mrs. Ross!"
Staff: "Here, here!" Doug and Carol laugh to each other and kiss one last time before she turns around and exits. Cut to show Doug up on the hospital roof looking out into Chicago. It's started to slightly drizzle and the sun is just starting to set. He turns around when he hears Mark come through the doors.
Doug: "Hey."
Mark: "Hey yourself."
Doug: "All right...lay it on me..."
Mark: "Lay what on you?"
Doug: "Oh...you know, the usual. Tell me that you're shocked."
Mark: "I'm not really shocked...pretty proud of you two though."
Doug: "Proud of us?"
Mark: "You guys deserved this for a long time. I'm glad that you're finally happy."
Doug: "She makes me really happy...I don't know what it is she's doing to me...all I know is that I like it more and more each day."
Mark: "You're in love."
Doug(chuckles): "That's what they tell me."
Mark: "It's just gonna take me awhile to start calling Carol Mrs. Ross." They both laugh
Doug: "We're gonna talk about her keeping Hathaway for professional reasons."
Mark: "So, what exactly happened?"
Doug: "Well, to make a long story short we were going to go to Dundee to get married because we both decided that the wedding was too much for us. But, I wound up making some kind of wrong turn or something and we wound up in Crest Hill. The hotel we stayed at was owned by a Judge and his wife and they married us."
Mark: "Sounds romantic."
Doug: "It was."
Mark: "So, you're happy?"
Doug: "Deliriously."(pause) "You know, I always thought that I wasn't capable of it. That I could never get where I am now. I'm a husband and a father...and I love it. It's all pretty new to me, but I'm learning more and more about it each day...I think I'm getting better at it each day."
Mark: "You are. I see you with Ryanna and with Carol and it's like I'm seeing a completely different Doug Ross than I saw four years ago. You've completely turned your life around and become this amazing person."
Doug: "Thanks, Buddy." (pause)"I know that you can be happy too."
Mark: "I know...I'm talking to Jen about maybe getting full custody of Rachel. She's talking about travelling to Michigan for a few months to work on this murder case."
Doug: "Wow"
Mark: "Yeah, it was a huge opportunity for her and she really wants to take it, and Rachel really doesn't want to go. So, if anything, I might be getting her for a few months. Jen would come by on weekends to see her."
Doug: "That's great...I love Rachel, she's a great kid."
Mark: "Yeah she is...I've been a lousy father to her for years I feel like I'm finally been given the opportunity to make it up to her."
Doug: "You weren't a lousy father, Mark."
Mark: "But I wasn't the greatest either..."
Doug: "You were young...just learning what it meant. I mean, look at me...I'm 38 years old and I feel like I'm just finally starting my life."
Mark(looks down at his watch): "Well, I have to go...I'm on until ten. What about you?"
Doug: "I'm off now."
Mark: "Going straight home?"
Doug: "Yeah, I have to go home to see my....my wife." He smiles
Mark(smiles): "Enjoy."
Doug: "I will."
Mark turns around to exit.
Mark: "Oh, and Doug...."
Doug(turns around): "Yeah?" ,br>Mark: "In case I didn't say if before...congratulations."
Doug: "Thanks, buddy." Mark leaves, leaving Doug all alone on the roof. He shoves his hand in his pockets and sighs. Act four closes with him leaning against one of the pillars and looking out into the Chicago skyline with a calm, contented look on his face as the rain begins to pour down.
"ER"
"From This Moment On"
Closing Act

Act opens with Doug entering the Ross home. He pushes open the door and throws his keys an coat on the nearby table, at the same time shaking off all of the water on him. It's started to thunder and lightning out...and the sky is now completely black. Strangely, the Ross home is quiet.
Doug(calling out): "Is anybody home?" He starts up the steps "Carol? Ry? You guys here?" He slowly pushes open his bedroom door, to find Carol lying down on the bed, sleeping. It looks as if she just keeled over and fell right to sleep. He smiles and approaches her. He reaches out his hand and gently strokes her face, causing her to stir and wake up.
Doug(whispers): "Sorry....I didn't mean to wake you."
Carol(slightly groggy): "Oh, that's ok...I must have just drifted off. I was so tired from last night. Didn't get any sleep."
Doug(chuckles): "Sorry about that."
Carol: "Why don't you come in bed...you must be tired too."Doug: "Yeah, I am." He takes of his pants and shirt, leaving him only in boxers. He then reaches into his draw and pulls out a Chicago Bulls t-shit, and he lifts it above his head and slips it on."Ry in bed?"
Carol: "Yeah, she conked out about an hour ago...it took me awhile to get her to sleep...you know how she gets when it starts to thunderstorm."
Doug: "Oh yeah." Carol lifts up the covers and gets under them, followed by Doug. He wraps his arms around her and hugs her tight. "I missed you already."
Carol: "I missed you too."
Doug: "How'd your mother take it? Was she upset that we didn't have a Church wedding?"
Carol: "Actually, no...she was pretty happy that we just finally got married."
Doug(chuckles): "I think that everyone was." She closes her eyes and snuggles closer to him...burying her face in his neck.
Carol(whispers): "I love you."
Doug(also in a whisper): "I love you too." Just then Ryanna appears at the doorway in purple "feetsie" pajamas, holding her cloth doll.
Ryanna(big smile): "Daddy, you're home!"
Doug: "I sure am! Come here!" She runs up into the bed and gets under the covers with Doug and Carol, snuggling in between them.
Ryanna: "I missed you." Doug ruffles her curly hair and kisses her head.
Doug: "I missed you too."
Carol: "What's wrong, Ry?"
Ryanna: "I couldn't sleep...the booming kept waking me up. I don't like storms."
Carol: "You wanna sleep in here with us tonight?"
Ryanna(brightens): "Yeah!"
Carol(smiles): "Ok...this way you and Bethany will be safe."
Ryanna: "Yeah, Bethany doesn't like storms either. They scare her."
Doug: "Oh, well it's a good thing that Daddy and Mommy are here....no storms are going to get you then."
Ryanna: "Yup!"
Doug(grins slyly): "But you know what just might get you....."
Ryanna: "What?"
Doug: "The tickle monster!!!!" He grabs Ryanna with both of his hand and starts tickling her while Carol laughs
Ryanna(giggling hysterically): "Mommy! Mommy! Help me!" Carol laughs and starts tickling Doug along with Ryanna. The act closes wit the three of them laying there tickling each other, laughing.

Written by Faetra
October 3, 1998

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