The Spirit Is Alive

Previously on Doris Schwartz Time and Again:

46 year old Doris Schwartz woke up and found herself 20 plus years in the past at the High School for performing Arts. Unable to control where she went, she moved through time reliving moments from her time at the school. Doris’ meddling in the past upset the balance of time and strange things began to happen and led to serious consequences. Leroy Johnson felt haunted by this woman from the future driving him to take drastic action to try and kill her!

The Spirit Is Alive!

Doris Schwartz’s daughter Jenny, watches her mother’s still body lying on the bed and then looks at the beeping monitor and for a second, frozen by grief and shock, feels that she is unable to move. She is unaware that Leroy, Mrs Berg, Mr Shorofsky, Mr Crandal and another Doris are also in the room watching.

Mrs Berg takes a deep breath and turns to Mr Shorofsky: “Oh My... I didn't think he was going to kill her.”

Leroy snaps: “Oh please, I only did what none of you had the guts to do. You guys let her run around interfering and changing the past when you know she shouldn’t be there. You all pretended to be her friends and made the situation worse. None of you even told her how or why this is happening to her and that her body was really in a coma. You all know this had to be done and I've done it for you, so don’t act all surprised and all holier than thou! ”

Shorofsky: “My someone is a little grouchy!”

Leroy indignantly replies: “I’m not grouchy, just a realist. Besides you’d be grouchy if you’d been struck down in your prime and she was responsible. It’s okay for each of you, you all lived to a ripe old age and got to retirement. I’d still got a lot of livin’ to do!"

Mr Crandall interrupts: “May I remind you that I didn't reach retirement. I died of a heart attack in my 50s! while I was still teaching”

Leroy: “Sorry Mr Crandall I wasn't thinking. But even so I didn't even reach 50! Besides How much longer do you think this could go on for, without her doing even more damage. She needed to make a choice and wouldn't so I made it for her. No one can blame me for that!”

Mrs Berg: “But Leroy it was supposed to be Doris’ decision not ours, we weren’t meant to interfere. She needed to work out what had happened to her and that her body was in a coma and that it was her spirit that has gone back in time. Besides killing people is just plain wrong!”

Leroy sighs: “Please, she was already dead she just didn't know it yet, is all!”

An announcement goes out over the PA system: “Code Blue Room 421, Code Blue Room 421.”

Eventually Jenny runs to the door to call for help but initially the room door won’t open. She musters up all her strength and pulls again. This time the door opens and Jenny is nearly knocked to the ground by a huge gust of wind, like some strong force has entered the room. She calls out to the Doctors and Nurses running down the corridor towards the room.

Jenny: “Hurry! It’s my Mother I think she’s dead!”

The medical staff enters the room and quickly attempt to resuscitate the woman lying on the bed.

The unseen force that nearly knocked Jenny over, is dressed in a white long flowing gown, her long flowing red hair blows in the breeze. She fixes Leroy with a stern glare and yells at him:

“Leroy Johnson, step away from My Daughter!”

Mrs Berg looks at Mr Shorofsky: “My this is more compelling than Miss Laird's show “Tomorrow Never comes!"

Leroy snaps at her: “That show has been cancelled!”

Mrs Berg: “I'm not surprised it could never beat this level of drama!”

Angela Schwartz: “What do you think you were doing. It was not your place to take my daughter’s life. It’s not her time yet!”

Leroy snaps: “I didn't take your daughter’s life. I wasn't the one that caused her to be in a coma and I wasn't the one that caused her spirit to go back in time and start meddling with the past!”

Angela: “Yes but you were the one you who suffocated her body. Without the body the spirit has nowhere to return to. You’d better hope that these fine doctors manage to resuscitate her.”

Leroy: “No way am I going to hope for that. She’s dead now and I hope she stays that way!”

Angela storms over and slaps a startled Leroy around the face and Mrs Berg gives a surprised gasp.

Mrs Berg: “Goodness me, this is getting good!”

Leroy: “What are you doing? You don’t have the right to do that!”

Shorofsky: “Now now people calm down, we shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves. What is done is done and all we can do now is wait to see if Doris’ body can be revived.”

They all turn and watch with an anxious Jenny as the medical staff continue to work on Doris.

Dr Philips: “Okay charge to 300. Clear!”

The doctor places the paddles on Doris’ chest and the electric charge flows through her body causing it to move but the monitor still shows a flat line.

Dr Philips: “Again!”

Doris’ eyes open and she looks around but has no idea where she is. She sees lots of different coloured lights and what she first thought were clouds but now can tell by the smell that it’s smoke. The smoke is thick and it causes her to cough a number of times. There is a sound of gentle soothing music playing and Doris feels like she’s floating. Apart from the smoke she feels very relaxed. As the smoke starts to clear she sees something ahead of her. At first she can’t make out what it is, just that it looks like a room. As she gets closer she realises that it is the make-up room at the school. As she gets closer she hears familiar voices.

Dusty: “Leave me alone Jesse, I don’t want to talk to you. You've hurt me and I can’t forgive you”.

Jesse sighs: “I'm sorry that you’re hurting but why won’t you let me explain what happened? Don’t you want to know the truth?”

Dusty snaps: “I know the truth I saw it with my own eyes.”

Jesse: “You think you know the truth but honestly there is a different explanation and it’s not what you think.”

Dusty: “Please just leave me alone!”

Jesse shakes his head in despair and storms out of the room.

As Doris reaches the edge of the room she comes up against and invisible barrier. At first she doesn't understand but soon comes to realise that she’s in the mirror. Her whole body goes cold and she feels nauseous, with the realisation that she must be dead. Feeling light headed and breathless Doris slowly sits down to try and catch her breath. The thought of being trapped in a mirror is a scary one for Doris and she starts to understand why Leroy was panicking.

Dusty is still sat in the make – up room with her back to the mirror. Doris gently taps the glass to try and get her attention. Dusty doesn't hear at first so Doris taps louder, which does catch Dusty’s attention although she has no idea where the noise is coming from. Dusty looks around the room to see what could have made the noise. Doris taps again and waves her arms around. Eventually Dusty spots the movement in the mirror and moves closer to it. When she realises that a person is inside the mirror Dusty is shocked.

Dusty: “Oh my Lord! How did you get in the mirror?”

Doris shakes her head: “I don’t know!”

Dusty is at a loss as to what to do: “I don’t know how to help you and besides after what you did I don’t think I want to help you anyway!”

With that Dusty quickly leaves the room.

Doris calls after her: “Dusty please wait, come back!”

Her words fall on deaf ears as the door shuts behind Dusty. Doris remains seated in the mirror not knowing what to do next. It’s not long before the door to the make-up room opens again. Doris looks up thinking it is Dusty returning after having a change of heart but it not. It’s actually teenage Doris dressed as little red riding hood. Doris taps the glass again with one hand and waves the other but no matter how hard Doris bangs on the glass teenage Doris doesn't hear or see anything. Doris then remembers that her teenage self hasn't ever been able to see or hear her and realises that hasn't changed. Both Doris’ let out a deep sigh, almost simultaneously. The older woman wonders what could be troubling her younger self. Then suddenly it all clicks into place and she remembers that she was mugged while doing The little Red Riding hood show and how alone and isolated it had left her feeling. Feelings that she had felt many times in her life and particularly since she’d found herself in the past and unable to explain what was happening to her. Doris wants to reach out and comfort her teenage self but the glass prevents her.

The younger Doris then begins to sing:

"Cause you never never know when your life will

try to break you in half

And you never never know when you will not

have the strength left to laugh

And you never never think that you’ll ever have

the will to survive

And you never never think that you can

But you try

When you're saying good-bye

And you cry.

Cause you never never think that the people on

the news will be you.

And you never never think that your deepest

darkest nightmares come true.

And you thank your lucky stars and say a prayer

that it’s them.

Cause you never never want to be faced

With what you can’t comprehend.

It’s no good to pretend, So you bend.

Cause you'd never stop to say why does this

happen to me.

Take a look around at the purpose of the

things you can’t see.

You wouldn't make the choice to learn

the lessons like this.

And you always want to high tail and run

But you stay

You don’t know what to say

So you pray.

Cause you’d never get to see all the knowledge

and the gifts you possess.

Never get to sit with grace of having

moved through the mess.

And you’d never get to see that you’re stronger

than you were in the past.

Never feel the peace from the

things that you let go of

Like the angels above,

Nothing’s stronger than love.

Cause you never never know

Cause you never never know

You never never know."

As the song ends Doris notices that things in the make-up room start to look blurred until they all eventually disappear. The glass of the mirror is also gone and been replaced with more coloured lights and smoke. At least this time the smoke isn't as thick and doesn't make Doris cough.

After awhile she sees Mr Shorofsky approaching. He doesn't stop instead he just passes her by and calls out to her as he goes.

Shorofsky: “Go back Cookie, this isn't your time!”

Doris is puzzled by what the music teacher has said and wonders what he means.

She then sees Bruno’s father Angelo Martelli approaching and he passes by in exactly the same way as Mr Shorofsky.

Angelo: “Go Back, Bruno needs you!”

Doris doesn't understand and calls out: “Go back where?”

Then Nicole approaches and passes by.

Nicole: “This is wrong Doris, you haven’t made this decision, go back!”

Doris is confused: “Nicole, I don’t understand, help me! I helped you tell Jesse your feelings. Please help me understand what is happening!”

However Nicole is now out of sight and Leroy is approaching.

Leroy: “Don’t listen to them, you belong here, don’t do what they say.”

Doris is even more confused she frantically looks around to try and see where people are coming from and where they are going to but all she can see is the smoke and lights.

As the next person approaches Doris isn't quite sure who it is at first until his handsome face comes full into focus. Her heart suddenly skips a beat, her eyes open wide and a smile spreads across her face.

Back in the hospital the doctors register a brief heartbeat on the monitor. Dr Philips turns and smiles at Jenny. Although when he turns back to Doris’ body lying on the bed the monitor has returned to a flat line. Again the doctor places the paddles onto Doris’ chest to give her another shock.

Doris can’t believe she is seeing Will the cowboy, one of her first boyfriends. The relationship had been brief but special. Sadly Will had been murdered by a mugger trying to steal his guitar.

Doris smiles: “Will it’s so good to see you. Maybe things won’t be so bad after all with you here to help me.”

Will shakes his head: “No Doris you must go back!”

The smile fades from Doris’ face as Will moves out of sight.

Doris: “Go back where?”

Next to approach is Mrs Berg but before the older woman has a chance to say anything Doris speaks to her.

Doris: “Oh Mrs Berg, please can you help me? I don’t understand what is happening!”

Mrs Berg smiles gently: “Doris what Leroy did was wrong if you want to live then go back!”

Doris sighs: “What did Leroy do?”

She thinks for a minute and is then shocked by the image that comes to her mind. She sees Leroy’s face smiling at her as he holds a pillow over her face.

Doris: “Oh my goodness, Leroy! It was him, he's the one that killed me!”

Approaching ahead of her now is a woman in white. As the woman gets closer tears start to roll down Doris’ face as she recognises the face of her Mother.

Doris: “Mom, is it really you?”

Angela smiles: “It’s really me dear. It’s so good to see you again. I've been watching over you but it’s really good to see you up close and in person.”

Doris: “Mom, you have to know how sorry I am that we argued before you died and that I ignored your last call. If only I’d known about the dreadful thing that was happening to you I would have answered. I'm just so sorry that because I didn't answer we didn't get to say goodbye.”

Angela: “I know dear, of course I know. I didn't need to hear you say the words, I know that you loved me and that my love would always remain in your heart. Not even death can break a loving bond as strong as ours."

Doris wipes away the tears from her eyes with her hand and reaches out her other hand to touch her mother.

Angela pulls away: “ I'm sorry but You can’t touch me dear, not until you fully pass over.”

Doris: “How do I do that?”

Angela smiles: “You don’t!”

Doris is confused: “But I want to be with you. After all these years all I want is to feel my Mother’s arms around me, holding me tight and telling me everything will be okay.”

Angela: “That would be wonderful dear and I too would like nothing more than to comfort you. I miss you so much. You were my life and meant everything to me so that makes what I have to say so hard, but it’s because I love you so much that I want you to live. I want you to turn around and leave this place and go back and fight for your life. Do it Doris, do it for me. Do it for my grand children who need their Mother back. How you felt when losing me is how Jenny is feeling right now. If I’d been able to I would have come back to you, you know that don’t you?”

Doris nods as the tears flow even more: “It’s just so hard Mom.”

Angela: “I know dear, I know. It’s hard for me too but one day, one day we will be together again. It’s just not today. You need to be strong. Now quickly go before it’s too late.”

Doris: “Go where?”

Angela: “Just turn around and go back the way you came but more importantly you've got to want to live.”

Doris: “I Love you Mom.”

Angela: “I love you too dear.”

With that Angela Schwartz disappears.

For a moment Doris stands still wiping the tears from her face. She takes a deep breath looking around for any further sight of her mother but there is nothing. Doris turns around and tries to take a step but her legs feel like lead. It’s almost impossible for Doris to move but she musters up every ounce of strength she has and slowly manages to walk back where she came from.

She starts to repeat “I want to live” over and over again. Quietly at first, then with each small step her voice gets louder and louder.

Back in the hospital Dr Philips looks at the clock and sighs: “Time of death...”

A nurse interrupts: “Dr look! There’s a heartbeat, it’s faint but it’s there!”

The medical staff turn to the monitor and see the heartbeat getting stronger and stronger. Jenny feels emotionally drained, Angela watches and wishes she could reach out to comfort her granddaughter and wonders why her grandson isn't there.

Dr Philips turns to Jenny: “Well, it looks like you Mother is back with us She’s still in a coma and the next few days are critical but for now she is back with us!"

Leroy sighs: “Oh goody, it looks like we’re all back where we started!

Angela smiles at Mrs Berg: “Well that’s something but I had hoped she would come out of the coma and that would put an end to her being lost in the past.”

Leroy smiles: “Well it looks like her desire to live isn't as strong as you thought it was!”

Angela glares at him: “Well all I know is that you’d better not interfere again. Do you hear me?”

Leroy shrugs and disappears.

Mrs Berg ponders for a moment: “You know dear, what you said wasn't true. You could have hugged Doris if you’d wanted to, it doesn't make any difference whether she’d fully passed over or not she was there and so were you."

Angela looks at the older woman and her lip starts to tremble: “I know I could have, but she’s my baby and if I’d have held her I'm not sure I could have let go again.”

Mrs Berg nods and gives a weak smile. She takes Angela’s hand and they both disappear, leaving an unconscious Doris lying in the hospital bed.

To be continued......