DOUG'S PARANOIA


This characters are not mine and no money is made off of them.

Scene 1 Scene opens in the Ross living room. It is early morning. Carol is sleeping on the couch, soundly in Doug's arms with her head resting on his rising and falling chest. A loud screeching noise from outside startles Doug and he awakes but is careful not to wake Carol. Camera pans down to focus more on Carol as we now notice Carol has a full belly and is around 7 months pregnant. Doug carefully slips out beneath Carol while propping her head on a pillow and covering her softly with a blanket. Doug proceeds to the kitchen to check the time and then goes up stairs to take a shower. Just before he steps into the shower the phone rings and he dashes across the room to answer it before it wakes Carol. Doug: "Hello Ross residence?"

Raylynn:(Carol's best friend) "Hey Doug. I wasn't sure if you guys were up at 10:00 AM. Sorry if I woke you."

Doug: "No, no I just about to take a shower. What's up?"

Raylynn: "I was wondering if Carol was up for talking?"

Doug: "Sorry Raylynn. She's still sound asleep. But I could take a message."

Raylynn: "Sure Doug. Remind Carol about our lunch together today at 12:15 PM. I just want to make sure she knew."

Doug: "No problem. I'll make sure she's up by then. Bye Raylynn."

Raylynn: "Bye Doug."

Doug hangs up the phone and heads back for the shower which is still running. As he steps in he is shocked to find Carol already in it.

Doug: "Hey I thought you were asleep?"

Carol: "The phone woke me. Who was it anyway?"

Doug: "Raylynn, she wanted to remind you of your lunch today."

Carol: "Oh yah. I almost forgot. Oh Doug, are you going to come with me to pick out the nursery scene tonight?"

Doug: "I said I'd go to the Bulls game with Mark tonight. Can you go alone?"

Carol: "Sure! I'll just have Raylynn come with me. I think it's better this way. I get to pick what I want!!"

Doug:(With a devilish look) "Yah, this time only! How are you feeling?"

Carol: "Okay I guess. The baby's kicking is getting worse but I guess I should enjoy it. My back is still sore. Oh Doug, after we pick out the scene for the nursery we need to go furniture shopping, okay?"

Doug: "Alright. How ‘bout Monday night?"

Carol: "My calendar's free."

Doug: "Alright then. It's a date."

Carol: "Yah, a date."

Scene 2 It is later in the day. Carol and Raylynn are sitting at Carol's favorite little diner, Fazzoilies, slipping soda and finishing their desserts.

Raylynn: "So Carol, are you and Doug excited?"

Carol: "Excited about what?"

Raylynn: "You know, the baby?"

Carol: "Oh, excited isn't even the word Raylynn. It's much more than that. At least I'm excited. I not so sure about Doug though. He seemed excited at first but as it gets closer and closer to the due date he seems more distant and never ever wants to touch my stomach or hold me. He'll only give me back rubs. It's just weird you know, like he doesn't want to be anywhere near the baby.

Raylynn: "Sounds like he has a classic case of "Father To Be Paranoia."

Carol: "Huh?"

Raylynn: "Oh don't worry Carol. All expectant fathers get it. It's just were they get so afraid that one touch or squeeze or even kiss could hurt you or the baby or even put you into labor."

Carol: "Really?!"

Raylynn: "Oh yah! Trent went threw it when I was carrying Sierra. And he went threw it again before Racheal was born. But don't worry it seems to get better threw each pregnancy."

Carol: "But what do I do? Just let him suffer til the baby is born?"

Raylynn: "Sometimes just talking helps. Or spending time talking to other fathers whose children are already born. Say do you have trouble with sex?"

Carol: "Well, lately when ever I'm ready he backs off, and he doesn't even ask anymore. It's kinda weird seeing as though Doug is like a sex- maniac."

Raylynn: "I bet he's just afraid that sex could hurt the baby. Like maybe break your water or something. I don't know but I think you should talk to him or send him to see Trent. He said he'd be glad to talk to Doug anytime."

Carol: "Thanks Raylynn this has really helped. But you'd think Doug would no better seeing that he's a doctor and he tells under age expectant fathers all the time that it's ok."

Raylynn: "Well, it could just have sunk in one too many times. Now let's drop this, how ‘bout names?"

Carol: "Names, names, Doug and I just can't decided. I wanted Kayce Mae for a girl but he wants Tya Lynn. And if it's a boy I don't think the kid will ever have a name. Doug insists that there aren't two Dougs but I wanted a Doug Jr. Then he said Bre Andrew and I said Brice Ryan. His mother wants Doug's father's name in there somewhere so either way we can't win."

Raylynn: "Well if I were you I'd pick a name I like and let Doug pick a name and then put them together for a first and middle name. That's how Trent and I did it."

Carol: "Oh well, we'd better get going before the department store closes."

Raylynn: "Yah."

Scene 3 It is almost 10:00 PM. Doug is waiting for Carol to get back from her afternoon with Raylynn. Just then the door opens. Doug: "Have fun?"

Carol: "Oh yah. I'm glad I got out for a while. And we picked the cutest thing for the nursery. But first we need to talk."

Doug: "About what babe?"

Carol: "About you Doug, aren't you glad were having this baby?"

Doug: "Of course I am, how could you ask such a thing?"

Carol: "Cause lately you've seemed very different and distant and you never want to feel the baby or hold me or carry me or anything. Are you scared Doug?"

Doug: "What could I be scared of, for god sakes Carol I'm a pediatrician."

Carol: "That you could hurt the baby or me . Or that sex could break my water."

Doug:(With a sheepish look on his face) "How'd you know?"

Carol: "I told Raylynn how you were acting and she said your probably just suffering from "Father To Be Paranoia."

Doug: "Oh so there's even a name for this disease I have."

Carol: "Don't worry Doug. She said all fathers get it. But if you would have just asked me if you could hurt me I would have told you. ‘k?

Doug: "I'm sorry. I was just worried that I could do something really bad to the baby or you. I promise next time to bring my feelings out in the open."

Carol: "Okay but I'd better be up to bed if I want to catch that bus with my mother tomorrow."

Doug: "That's right your going to Mall of America with your mother for the weekend. Is the bus picking you up at Chicago A or B?"

Carol: "B I think."

Doug: "Okay then off to bed I said!"

Scene 4 It is Sunday afternoon. Doug is waiting at Chicago bus terminal "B" for Carol's bus to arrive. Final he sees her carrying tons of bags plus her luggage and he hurries over to help her. Doug:(Grabbing her bags) "How was it?"

Carol: "Fantastic! I never thought a mall could be so big."

Helen: "It was great. We found tons of little things for the baby. They even had Baby Gap."

Carol: "Oh mama, get with it."

Helen: "Me get with, why don't you. You didn't even know they had cat food dispensers."

Carol: "Mama, I don't have a cat."

Helen: "Well, when you were a baby they didn't have the Gap."

Doug: "Bye Helen!"

Helen: "Bye Doug. Bye Carol. Oh Doug take care of my baby."

Doug: "Let's go home!"

Carol and Doug are home and Carol is about to put everything she bought for the baby in the nursery.

Carol: "You know Doug we need to get going on this nursery thing. This kids gonna be here and it won't be done. But anyway I'm going to put this stuff in there for now."

Doug: "I know, I know but this isn't all me here. You just picked out the scene last Friday. Maybe we should hire a decorator."

Carol: "Doug those people cost tons. No, we can do it."

Doug: "Fine then. Suit yourself."

Carol walks to the end of the hall and opens the nursery door. Her mouth drops as she sees it's been painted, the wall paper hung, the crib and other furnishings put together, and it looks gorgeous.

Carol: "Oh Doug it's beautiful!"

Doug: "You like?"

Carol: "I love it! Thank you so much."

Carol: "When did you find the time, I mean with work and all?"

Doug: "Mark, Chuney, Carter, Anna, Abby, Raylynn, even Benton came and helped."

Carol kisses Doug and for the first time in weeks Doug places his hand on her stomach and they continue kissing. Closing credits roll.

Written by Christina on July 23, 1998

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