George Clooney is heading to his trailer on the set of ER in Los Angeles. He walks past Julianna Margulies' trailer.
"Shutup!" He hears. George stops. He can hear some more talking, coming from behind Julianna's trailer. He pauses, unsure of whether he should go back there but he could have sworn it was Ron Eldard's, Julianna's boyfriend, voice. He hesitates and slowly walks to the back of the trailer. He walks quietly and cautiously, not wanting to alert Ron of his presence. He peeks around the corner. Ron has Julianna pressed against the back of the trailer, with his hand grasping her shoulder. What in the world? George thinks to himself.
"I'm sorry Ron." Julianna says.
"Sorry's not good enough you stupid little bitch. I told you to come over last night at eight, where the hell were you?" Ron asks.
"I told you, I was at the grocery store." Julianna replies. He slaps her face quickly.
"Don't lie to me! Now where were you?" He asks. Julianna is rubbing her cheek with her hand. George doesn't think he can take anymore of this. He slowly walks backwards a little ways, then yells.
"Hey Julianna, you back here?" George calls out, giving Ron time to back away from Julianna so he won't think George saw anything. George rounds the corner hesitantly. "Oh hey Ron. Julianna. Sorry..I didn't mean to interrupt, I just thought I heard something back here." George says. Ron has stepped away from Julianna and she has her hand at her side, her face turned slightly away from him so he won't see the redness of Ron's slap.
"Sorry to bother you, George." Julianna says, smiling. He nods, sensing her relief.
"It's okay, I needed to come get you anyways. It's time for you to film." George says. She smiles slightly and turns back to Ron. He smiles at her and she kisses him briefly.
"Well then, I better get going Ron. I'll see you later?" She asks. He nods.
"Of course you will." He says, with a double meaning. Julianna nods solemnly and walks towards George. He turns and she follows him. They walk into the hospital set and George stops, looking behind her making sure Ron is gone. He sees him walking towards the parking lot. George nods satisfied then looks at Julianna. He stares hard at her, trying to read her mood. She looks back him, trying to turn her face away from him, so he won't see the mark.
"Julianna." He says. She looks into his eyes. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" George asks. She gives a blank look.
"What are you talking about George?" She asks.
"I saw him. I heard what he said to you, Julianna." He says. She looks away, ashamed.
"Where do they need me to film?" Julianna asks, choosing to ignore him.
"They don't. I just needed to get you out of there." George says. She gives him an annoyed look.
"I could've handled it!" Julianna says. He shakes his head.
"It didn't look like you were handling it, to me." He says.
"Would you just stay out of it?" Julianna yells, tears coming to her eyes.
"No. Julianna, you need help." George says, softly, never breaking his concentration from her.
"I'm fine." She whispers, her tears threatening to spill over. He touches her arm lightly.
"Jules, does he hit you often?" George asks. Julianna knowing she will never get George to leave her alone about this, nods solemnly.
"Yes." She whispers. George's whole entire being hurts for her.
"How long has he done this?" George asks.
"I..in the beginning it was good. For about two years he didn't hurt me...but..about a year and a half ago, he started to hit me every once in awhile. Usually when he was drunk. Now..he hits me more, even when he's not drunk." Julianna says, letting out a small sob. George pulls her into his arms. She buries her face into his neck and sobs. He rubs her back.
"Shhh..Jules, it's okay.....shh...We're going to get you some help, alright?" He asks. Her head jerks up.
"You cannot tell anyone about this!" Julianna says.
"Why?" He asks, confused.
"If you tell the cops, he will just come back and hurt me even more." Julianna says. George shakes his head, not believing what he is hearing.
"Julianna..you cannot let him keep doing this. You have to get away from him." George says. She shakes her head.
"You don't understand. He'll hurt me worse." Julianna says.
"Let me help you." George says. She smiles weakly.
"Don't you see? You can't help. He'll always be there." Julianna says. George sighs.
"You can't let him continue this." George says.
"If I..if I just do what he tells me...then he won't hit me. I'll just listen to him more. Then it will be okay. I just have to listen." Julianna says. George shakes his head.
"Your not the reason he is doing this. He's doing it because he likes it. That's just sick, Julianna. I thought you were stronger then this." George says. Tears are streaming down her face.
"Don't tell anyone. Please." She begs softly.
"What? Until next time? He could kill you Julianna. He will too, if you let him." George says. She leans into him, feeling suddenly weak.
"I know. I just..can't." Julianna says, closing her eyes. George rubs her back.
"You can do it. Your strong. You can get through this. You have friends, people who will support you. Your family." George says, trying in desperation to get her to agree. She sighs.
"He'll kill me if I tell."
"He'll kill you if you don't tell." George argues. She sighs, rubbing her eyes frantically.
"Can I just think about it?" Julianna asks. He shakes his head.
"No...because then you'll just convince yourself that your right and I'm wrong and it'll make it worse. Let me get you help. I promise you will be safe if you let me help you." George says. She sighs.
"Okay." She whispers, defeated. He smiles.
"It's okay. I will make sure you will not be hurt by him again, okay?" George asks. She nods.
"Thank you." She whispers. He smiles.
"Anything to help a friend." He says. He tilts her chin up with his finger, to look her in the eyes. She smiles, then hugs him. He returns the hug.
After work George and Julianna walk into a police station. George has a baseball cap, pulled down far over his eyes with sunglasses. Julianna has her hair tied up into a high ponytail, with sunglasses on. When they walk inside, Julianna walks up to a desk, George follows closely behind her. The police officer looks up. Julianna takes off her sunglasses and smiles nervously.
"May I help you?" The officer asks.
"Yes...I'm hear to report a case of abuse." Julianna says. George puts his hand on her back supportingly, then slips his sunglasses off. The officer gets a surprised look on his face as he recognizes George.
"Yes. Okay, can you wait right here?" The officer asks. They nod. He walks off. George sighs.
"God damn, why do I have to be so famous?" He asks. She smiles.
"It's your fault George." She says. He sighs again.
"I know. It's just difficult sometimes." George says.
"At least we know we'll get top quality care." Julianna says. He chuckles.
"That's a plus, isn't it?" He asks. A little bit later, an older officer comes out behind the younger officer. He reaches his hand out to shake with Julianna, then George.
"I'm Officer Rider. I understand your here to report a case of abuse?" He asks. Julianna nods. "Well then, you're in the right place. Follow me." He says. Julianna and George follow him to his office. "Take a seat." He says, motioning to two wooden chairs with black leather upholstery. George and Julianna sit. "Okay, I just need some details, first." Officer Rider says. Julianna glances at George. "What's your name?" He asks.
"Julianna Margulies." She replies.
"Who is abusing you?" Officer Rider asks.
"My boyfriend." Julianna says.
"Alright. His name?"
"Ron Eldard." Julianna says, nervously.
"Okay. Will you explain the abuse?" He asks. Julianna looks at George. He smiles supportingly.
"He abuses me emotionally. He calls me names and tells me I'm not worthy of anything. He also hits me, sometimes." Julianna says, looking down at her hands.
"How often does he hit you?" Officer Rider asks.
"Almost everyday now." Julianna says.
"How long as this been going on?" Officer Rider asks.
"Well he started hitting me about a year and a half ago, but the past six months have been terrible. He mostly hits me where my clothes cover it up, so that when I am in public or filming the bruises won't show." Julianna says quietly.
"Mmm hmm. Has he ever forced intercourse onto you?" Officer Rider asks. Julianna tenses up and George looks at her quickly, Julianna had not told him anything about this.
"I don't...I'm not sure." Julianna replies. George gives her a puzzled look but Officer Rider just nods, having seen this type of answer before.
"He does, but you go along with it, so you don't really think he's forcing you, even though you really didn't give him consent?" Officer Rider says. Julianna looks up, then glances at George, ashamed. She nods slowly. George touches her arm gently. She looks at him and he smiles reassuringly. She smiles but looks back down. "Alright then. Do you want a restraining order?" Julianna looks up sharply. She hesitates, afraid of what he will do when he finds out she has one on him. She can see George nodding out of the corner of her eye and she decides it would be best.
"Yes." Julianna whispers. George smiles.
"Alright. Do you live with him?" Officer Rider asks.
"No. But he stays over sometimes." Julianna replies.
"Where will he be tonight?" Officer Rider asks.
"Most likely his apartment." Julianna answers.
"Will you give us the address? We'll let him know. But tonight, I think it would be best if you didn't go home." Officer Rider suggests.
"You can stay with me." George suggests. She nods.
"Okay." She replies.
Julianna and George walk back out to his car and get in. She sits by the window and he drives. He glances over at her and sees her crying silently. He reaches over and touches her arm lightly. She looks at him and he tugs her closer to him. She scoots towards him and leans into him. He wraps his arm around her, letting her cry into him.
"Shh...it's okay Julianna. It'll all be okay." He says.
Julianna is laying in the bed of George's guest room. She is thrashing around in her sleep, moaning. George, having heard her from the other room, rushes into the room. He sees her and wakes her up. She looks at him and sobs.
"Oh god. George. He was here. It was so real. Oh god. Oh god." George rocks her in his arms as she clings to him.
"Shhh....Jules it's okay. It's okay. Shhh..shh.." He says.
Julianna is sitting at work, drinking a cup of coffee. Maria Bello is sitting beside her, reading the newspaper when Julianna's cell phone rings.
"Hello?" She says, after picking up the phone and flipping it on.
"Julianna, don't hang up!" Ron says frantically. Her face pales and Maria looks at her quizzically.
"What do you want, Ron?" Julianna asks, turning her back to Maria and standing up.
"Why do you have a restraining order? I promise not to hurt you anymore. I was drunk then. I'll stop drinking. I swear. Just give me a second chance." Ron begs. Just then George walks into the room. Julianna turns around, hearing him enter. George looks at her and then to Maria. Maria shrugs.
"I can't." Julianna whispers.
"Why not? I'm sorry baby. I promise never to hurt you again." Ron says.
"No. I'm sorry." Julianna says. He is starting to get angry now.
"Julianna! You better tell the cops you don't need the restraining order!" Ron says louder. Julianna shudders as his voice raises. George is really becoming concerned now. He walks in front of her and touches her shoulder. She pulls away. She stares at the floor with tear-filled eyes.
"I can't do that, Ron." Julianna says. George stares at her intently, waiting for some sort of explanation.
"I don't care about this damn restraining order! I'M GONNA KILL YOU BITCH." He yells, then hangs up. Julianna gasps and drops her phone. George having heard Ron yell, catches Julianna as her legs crumble from beneath her. Maria stands.
"Is she okay?" Maria asks.
"Can you just give us some privacy please?" George asks.
"Sure." She says, turning to leave.
"Oh, and Maria?" He asks. She turns.
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell anyone about this, please." George says. She nods her agreeance then leaves. George turns back to Julianna. She is sobbing violently.
"He's going to kill me. I'm going to die. He'll kill me." She says. George holds her close to him.
"It's okay. I won't let him hurt you." George says.
"He'll kill you too. Don't doubt him for a second George!" Julianna says. George holds her close. Just then, her phone rings. George looks at it, surprised it still works. Julianna's face fills with fear. George picks it up.
"Hello?" He asks.
"Who is this?" A man's voice says.
"Who's this?" George asks.
"Officer Rider." The man answers.
"Oh, this is George Clooney. Here's Julianna." George says, handing the phone to Julianna. "It's Officer Rider." George says. She nods and takes it.
"Hello?" She asks shakily.
"We have some information about Ron." He says. She nods.
"Okay." She whispers.
"Apparently, before he met you, he was known as Robert Engles. He raped and murdered a woman and ran from the police. He got away and changed his name and identity. He should have been in jail for 25 years." Officer Rider says. Julianna gasps.
"He just called me and said he didn't care about the restraining order and that he was going to kill me." Julianna says, starting to cry again.
"Well...we're going to catch him and turn him in. He will probably be sentenced to life in prison now. Where are you?" Officer Rider asks.
"The set." Julianna replies.
"Alright, stay there and keep as many people there as possible with you. Tell them what's going on, so they will stay. You need to have as many people around you as you possibly can. Stay with them and don't go anywhere alone. When we catch him, we'll call you." Officer Rider says. She sobs.
"Okay." She agrees.
"I'll keep you posted." He says and hangs up. She turns back to George.
"What happened?" He asks. She told him. He pulls her up into standing position.
"It's going to be okay. Now let's go." George says. She smiles weakly as they walk out together. They walk down the hall a little ways until they see Anthony Edwards.
"Hey Tony!" George calls out. He turns around.
"Yeah?" Tony asks.
"Come here." George says. Tony walks to them.
"What's up?" He asks.
"Do you have anything planned tonight?" George asks.
"No. Why?"
"Stay here. We'll explain later, as soon as we get more people." George says as they walk. Julianna stands between the two men. Noah Wyle starts walking by.
"Noah, wait." George says. Noah stops.
"Hmm?" He asks.
"Come on, we need to talk to you." George says. Noah nods, puzzled but follows them as they walk. He gives Tony a puzzled glance and Tony shrugs, motioning to George. Maria and Laura Innes are up ahead.
"Maria, Laura!" George calls out. They turn their heads and come forward. "Let's go sit in there." George says, motioning to an area of chairs that they use as a waiting room on ER. The six of them go and sit around in various chairs.
"What's going on George?" Tony asks. George looks at Julianna. She is looking down at her hands.
"The other day..." George starts, waiting for Julianna to stop him, but she doesn't. "I was walking by Julianna's trailer and I thought I heard Ron's voice yelling." George says. Julianna hasn't moved or said a word. "So...I walked back behind the trailer and peeked around the corner, trying not to alert whoever was behind there. I saw Ron holding Julianna up against the back of the trailer." George says to them, then turning slightly to Julianna. He sees her shudder slightly. The other 4 are staring at George and Julianna intently, waiting for an explanation. "Then he slapped her after saying some things. I wasn't going to just stand there, so I backed up a little bit and yelled for Julianna. By the time I went around the corner, Ron had pulled away from her. I got Julianna to come with me, telling her she was needed for filming, even though she wasn't. Ron left. I got Julianna to admit he was abusing her." George says. Julianna's shoulders are shaking by now. Tony, who is sitting closest to her, slides his arm around her waist. She scoots closer to him and cries quietly. Everyone looks at her with sad faces. "I finally convinced her to let me help, and we went to the police station and got a restraining order put on him. Then just a few minutes ago, Ron called and tried to get her to take the restraining order away. She refused, so he yelled that he didn't care about the restraining order and that he was going to kill her." Julianna shudders and lets out a sob. Tony wraps her into his arms and rocks her. "Then the cops called and said that Ron used to go by Robert Engles and that he raped and murdered a woman." Laura and Maria gasp. Noah just shakes his head. "Since he escaped the police and completely changed his identity, they weren't able to catch him but now they can. Julianna told them what Ron had said, so they are out looking for him right now. What I need you all to do, is stay here. You can call whoever you need to, but we need to keep as many people here as possible, to keep Julianna safe." George says.
"I'll stay." Noah says.
"Me too." Tony says. The women nod.
"I'll call David." Laura says.
"I can stay." Maria says.
"Great. Now..I'm going to go look for more people, you guys, need to hide her but do NOT leave her for any reason at all." George says. Julianna who has calmed considerably looks behind her.
"I'll hide underneath this gurney thing. Just throw the sheet over it, so I'm covered and sit in around and talk." Julianna says. George nods, satisfied.
"Okay, get under there." George says. She does and they throw the sheet over the gurney, making sure she is completely covered. "Now...I need you all to bring out all your acting skills you have ever learned and if you see him, you make sure that he has NO clue that you know anything." George says. They all nod.
"Of course." Laura says.
"Okay, I'm going. Don't leave her." George says.
"Should you go alone?" Noah asks.
"I'll be fine. He doesn't want to hurt me." George says. Noah nods reluctantly. George walks off down the hallway. A little ways down he spots Jorja Fox in one of the exam rooms. He walks in.
"Jorja?" He asks. She looks up.
"George?" She replies.
"Can you go down to chairs, please." George says. Jorja stands.
"What's going on?" Jorja asks.
"Go down to chairs, tell them I sent you, and make them explain." George says. She nods puzzled.
"Okay." She says, and walks past him. He nods satisfied then goes back out into the hallway. He is about ready to round the corner to go outside when he runs into Ron.
"Oh, hey Ron." George says.
"Where's Julianna?" Ron asks.
"I just saw her a little bit ago. She said she was going out to her trailer." George says. Ron nods.
"Thanks George." He says, smiling. George forces a smile onto his face as Ron turns and goes back out the door, heading to Julianna's trailer. As soon as he is out of sight, George makes a run for chairs.
"He's here." George says. Julianna's body freezes under the covers. She barely breathes and doesn't move a muscle. "I saw him and told him Julianna was out at her trailer. So he went back outside. I need to call the cops, someone give me a cell phone." George says. Tony pulls his out.
"Here." Tony hands it to him. George dials the number and looks down the hallways for Ron. He talks for a few minutes before hanging up.
"They are coming." George says.
"Sit down." Tony orders. George nods and sits down next to the gurney Julianna is under.
"Are you okay?" He whispers.
"Yes." He hears her whisper back. He nods as they all sit and talk and act happy. A few minutes later Ron walks up. George's heart pounds faster.
"George, have you seen Julianna since I saw you?" Ron asks. Julianna's whole body is screaming but she is silent, scared out of her mind. George shakes his head.
"Nope. Sorry Ron." George says happily.
"Any of you seen her?" Ron asks.
"Not for awhile." Laura says smiling as everyone else shakes their heads no. Ron nods.
"Hmm..Okay. Thanks." Ron says and walks off. Noah watches him head back the direction he came.
"Holy shit." Jorja murmurs.
"You okay Jules?" George asks.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine." She says. George nods.
"Just a little while longer, I promise." George says. They sit there for a little while longer before they hear a yell.
"WHEREVER YOU'RE HIDING, YOU LITTLE WHORE, I'LL FIND YOU AND KILL YOU." Ron yells.
"Hey hey! Shutup!" They hear another voice.
"Let me go!" Ron yells. They hear some more commotion.
"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god." Julianna murmurs over and over. George hears her. He gets down onto his knees and crawls underneath the gurney. Her face is full of fear. He gathers her into his arms and rocks her. She doesn't cry, she just stares straight ahead, murmuring incoherent words.
"Where is Miss Margulies?" George recognizes Officer Rider's voice. George pulls them out from underneath the gurney. She clings to him in desperation. He smiles at Officer Rider.
"What happened?" George asks.
"We caught him. We'll take him to jail. We need Julianna to make a statement." Officer Rider says.
"I can't!" Julianna says. George takes her face into his hands.
"You can do it, Jules. You have to." George says. Tears are falling down her face as she looks into his eyes. She nods slightly.
"Okay." She whispers. He smiles.
"Good." He says. He turns back to Officer Rider.
"Tomorrow can you come in to the station?" Officer Rider asks Julianna. She nods.
"I'll get her there." George says.
"Thank you." Officer Rider says.
The next day Julianna and George walk into the police station. The officer at the desk waves at them, motioning towards Officer Rider's office. They give him a statement, then they go to have Julianna identify Ron. They walk into the room. Julianna shudders as she see's Ron. Even though he cannot see her, she feels his eyes watching her. George touches her arm slightly. She flinches, but turns to him. He smiles at her.
"You can do this, Jules." He says. She nods and takes his arm into her hands and holds onto him. When Ron stepped up, after they called his name, she finally spoke.
"That's him." Julianna whispers. Officer Rider nods and they do the rest of the guys.
Later George and Julianna are in Officer Rider's office.
"He has been sentenced to life in prison for rape, murder, hiding from the cops, abusing, and stalking." Officer Rider says. Julianna nods.
"Will there be a trial?" George asks.
"No. We have already proven him guilty and he admitted it, so we don't need to testify against him." Officer Rider replies. George nods.
"Thank you." Julianna says to Officer Rider. He nods and shakes hands with her, then George before they leave.
George and Julianna pull up to the garage at Julianna's house.
"Do you need me to stay?" George asks. She shakes her head.
"No." She looks him straight in the eye. "I need to thank you for everything you have done for me through all of this. If it weren't for you, I would still be getting hurt by him." Julianna says. He smiles.
"No problem, Jules. Are you sure you'll be alright?" He asks. She nods and smiles.
"If I need you, I'll call." She says. He nods, satisfied.
"Alright then. Goodnight." He says.
"Goodnight George." She says and shuts the car door. She smiles at him through the window, then turns back to the house, going into the garage, then into the house. He sighs and drives away.