(Hospital. Joyce is holding the nurse call button, pushing the button again and again.)

JOYCE: (irritated) This thing doesn't work! It isn't working!

BUFFY: I'm sure they heard you.

JOYCE: I bet it's not even hooked up to anything. Just like the push buttons at the crosswalk that are supposed to make the signal change.

BUFFY: I'm sure someone's on - What, the push buttons aren't hooked up to anything?

(The doctor enters.)

JOYCE: Oh, tell him, Buffy. Tell him, okay?

BUFFY: Look, Dr. Kriegel, we wanna go home.

DR. KRIEGEL: Well, of course. You can come back and visit your mother first thing in the morning.

BUFFY: No. We. I-I mean, all of us. My mom too.

DR. KRIEGEL: Oh. Well, I understand that, but it's not necessarily the first thing I'd recommend.

JOYCE: I can't! I-I can't stay here waiting for two days for this operation, I just can't. It makes my head hurt to be here, can't you tell that?

DR. KRIEGEL: Joyce, there's no reason to get upset.

JOYCE: No reason to get upset? Oh, right, sorry, I must just think there is because of my brain tumor!

(Dawn looks upset. Joyce calms down slightly. )

BUFFY: Here, Dawn, why don't you get something from the machine?

(Buffy hands Dawn some money. She takes it and leaves, looking apprehensive. )

JOYCE: (softly to Buffy) I-I'm sorry I said that, I'm just tired.

BUFFY: I know. Listen, Doctor, I don't see why we can't take her home, you know, just until... (gestures) I-I mean, wouldn't it be better for her to rest someplace where she felt safe and comfortable?

DR. KRIEGEL: Even if it would mean some work for you, taking care of her?

JOYCE: Oh, thank god.

BUFFY: I'll do it, anything.

DR. KRIEGEL: (sighs, shakes his head) There are medications to administer, I'd have to go over those with you, and I'd need for you to check her vitals, watch her pretty closely. I'm afraid you won't get a lot of sleep.

BUFFY: (shrugs) I'm not much of a sleep person anyway.

JOYCE: (anxiously) Can we go now?

(she starts to get out of bed)

JOYCE: Let's go now!

BUFFY: Oh, hold on! (stops her) Lemme get all the medications and all the instructions on how to do everything.

DR. KRIEGEL: She's right. Let's do this right. We don't wanna forget anything.

• Joyce's Illness

written by: Jane Espenson; Transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/87listeningtofear.html