A Happy Ending?
By Rita Widmer
Disclaimer: All characters in this story belong to the people of WENN. I own this story, but everything else is theirs.
"Now to the local news. The trolley in Pittsburgh has hit a car and has fallen on to its side. The people in the car were killed and all of the occupants of the trolley sustained serious injuries," said Mackie, playing Colonel Moore.
At that moment, Maple came running in with a special report. "The latest report of the accident is that WENN’s own head writer, Betty Roberts was riding on the trolley. The driver of the trolley is reported dead. We will give more information as it develops," said Mackie.
After knowing that he was off the air, he turned to Maple, who was crying. "What happened? Betty doesn't go home this early!"
"She told Mr. Comstock, that she was feeling very sick, and he let her go home!" wailed Maple.
"Have they heard how she is doing?"
"No, but she is in the Intensive Care Center in a coma."
"Has Sherwood been told about what happened?" Mackie knew Scott really cared about Betty.
"He's at lunch. I don’t know if he heard over the radio or not."
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Scott was eating his lunch when someone turned the radio to WENN. Mackie was doing the local news, and he said something that broke his heart apart. Betty was on the trolley during the accident, and was in serious condition.
He raced back to the station, wondering if there was any more news. Running in, he bumped into Victor Comstock, his rival for Betty's love.
"Mr. Sherwood, would you watch out, please?" said Victor.
"Sorry, Mr. Comstock," said Scott. "What happened, to Betty, Gertie?" Scott turned to face Gertie.
"Scott, she’s in a coma. The doctors say she may only live for up to 24 hours more," said Gertie, who was crying. "They’ve closed down the station for the day. Everyone is at the hospital or on their way. I can’t leave my station. I need to take phone calls."
"Gertie, go get your jacket. I’ll take you to the hospital," said Scott. Gertie could see that Scott could cry any minute.
"You love her very much, don’t you?” asked Gertie, running to him. They just held on to each other and cried.
"I love her more then anything in this world!" They headed off to the hospital.
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The rest of the WENN staff was sitting on the chairs outside of Betty’s room in the ICC as Gertie and Scott arrived. There was not one clear eye in the whole group.
"How is Betty doing?” asked Scott, his voice wavering.
"The doctors are looking at her right now. She's on life support," said Hilary Booth.
"Are you ok, Scotty?" asked Maple.
At that moment, the doctors came out. "She's doing better, but we don’t know if she'll live or not,” said one of the doctors. "You may go in."
Everyone walked in scared, not knowing what to do or say. They all just stood there, holding on to each other for comfort.
Betty stirred, and cried out in pain from moving her broken bones.
"Mackie, go get the doctor, she is awakening," said Scott. Betty awoke and looked at everyone with a smile.
"What...what happened?" asked Betty, who was still in a daze.
"You got hurt in an accident heading home," said Mackie, with the doctors coming in behind him.
"Who’s running the station?" asked Betty.
"We've shut down the station because we all wanted to come see you," said Jeff Singer.
"I’m so tired. I wish I could stay awake longer, but I can’t," said Betty, falling asleep.
We have an IV in her to make her sleep. She needs her rest if she’s going to get better," said the doctor.
Everyone decided to go home, but with the idea that Betty may be dead in the morning. Only Scott stayed behind. He wasn't willing to leave her until she was better or dead.
The hours went by slowly. Scott once in a while would doze off, but not for long. Then he woke up, and saw that the machine that does the heart rate showed her heart was barely beating. He ran out the door, and called for a doctor. The doctor came running and he got her ready for surgery, knowing she could die any minute.
Scott went to call the others to warn them. One by one they came in as soon as they could. There was still no news of Betty.
Victor decided to call the sponsers to tell them what was going on. They didn’t like being awoken, but they understood and gave their sympathy and prayers.
When he got back, the doctors were strolling Betty into her room. "How is she doing?" everyone asked.
"We believe that she’s going to live. She's certainly a fighter," said the doctor.
Everyone went into her room and she was awake. She chatted with them as well as she could, but it was hard.
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The next morning, everyone got the news that Betty Roberts had fallen back into a coma. The doctors said it was an injury to the head that was too small to notice it earlier, but was very easy to treat. The only thing was that she had to be awake.
Scott wouldnt' leave her side that night. For once in his life, he started to pray. "If you live, I want to marry you, Betty Roberts. I love you with all my heart and soul," said Scott to the slumbering Betty.
Betty started to stir, but did not wake up. "Please, Betty, live. I can't live without you."
"Scott, is that you?” asked Betty, waking up.
"Yes."
"I love you, too," said Betty, and fell back into a coma.
"She loves me! Please live for me!"
One of the doctors overheard the last part of the conversation. "She is looking better. She may awaken tomorrow. Why don’t go home and get some rest?"
"I guess so. Are you sure she will be o.k.?"
"I never can tell for sure."
Scott left, but wasn’t sure if he should.
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For the local news, an update of the trolley > accident. Five people from the trolley and everyone in the car have died. Our own Betty Roberts has waken up from a second coma, and the doctors say she will live after much struggling,” said Mackie, playing Colnel Moore.
Everyone came rushing into Studio B after hearing the news. Only Scott wasn't there. He went to the hospital to visit her after her surgery.
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"Betty, did you mean what you said to me?" asked Scott.
"That I love you? I meant it with all my heart," said Betty, "Did you mean that you wanted to marry me?"
"Yes, I did. Will you marry me?" asked Scott, taking her hand and kneeling down.
"I will!"
"You will?!"
"Don’t act so surprised! I’ve always cared for you, but I just tried to deny it. This week you showed how much you care, and I couldn’t deny it anymore. I love you, Scott."
"I love you, too." Scott kissed her hand, because he couldn’t get around the machines to kiss her on the lips.
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A week went by, until Betty could go home. She had double compound break her left leg and some scratches and bruises.
Everyone was waiting at the station to welcome her home. Even Gloria Redmond was there to welcome her. They couldn’t wait, because it was hard to do her work and they realized how incredibly important she was to them.
Betty came hopping in with Victor at her side. She and Scott decided to keep their engagement a secret for a while. Everyone wanted to greet her.
"Let’s go into the Green Room," said Betty, looking at the decorations on the wall wishing her home.
They all got a chance to visit with her, and she went home to rest. She would start work tomorrow.
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The next day, Betty was back to work. Someone knocked. "Come on in," said Betty. "Hi, Maple."
"I'd like to talk to you about Scott," said Maple.
"Something happened to him?" asked Betty.
"No, but I think you need to make a decision between Victor and Scott."
"I think you’re right. Send Scott in here. I want to talk to him." "Atta girl!"
Soon after, Scott came in. "Scott, I have made a decision about you and Victor. I love you, Scott." Betty winked at him to tell him to play along. Maple decided to leave them alone.
Scott leaned over and kissed her long and passionatly. "Isn’t it time we told the others?" asked Scott.
"I think we should, or I’ll have the whole crew in here telling me I need to decide," said Betty.
They walked into the Green Room together. Everyone was in there. Maple warned them to expect anything.
"We have an announcement to make. We're going to get married!" exclaimed Betty.
"Another happy ending to a sad story," said Mackie.
Scott leaned over and kissed Betty, while everyone cheered for them.
THE END