EPISODE 1 – BLACKOUTSIn the heart of a bustling corporate world, Randal, an unassuming man, finds himself on an intriguing journey that defies explanation.
In the heart of a bustling corporate world, Randal, an unassuming man, finds himself on an intriguing journey that defies explanation.
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Punching In
RANDAL holds a desk job in a sprawling corporation where his performance barely ripples the surface of daily profits. His knack for delegation allows him to coast through the day. By dividing tasks among unsuspecting colleagues, he takes credit for departmental achievements.
His manager of seven years, Melanie, tolerates his misgivings. However, a strange pattern emerges, demanding her attention.
One ordinary morning, Randal punches in with the digital time clock and pours himself a cup of coffee that he sets on his desk. But as time inexorably moves forward, his day takes an unexpected twist.
A tap on Randal’s shoulder jerks him from his screen. Melanie stands there, a mix of concern and frustration etched on her face.
“Hey, Randal. Can I have a word with you in my office?”
“Sure, Melanie.” Randal grabs his coffee as they head down a short hallway. When the door closes, he greets her, “Good morning,” before sipping what is now icy coffee.
“Randal, it’s past 2 o’clock. I sent an urgent email to you this morning but you never replied.”
“Oh, I’m very sorry. I’ll give it my immediate attention.”
“Unfortunately, it’s too late. You were supposed to meet with a client for lunch.”
“I can’t explain it, Melanie. Time just slipped away.”
Punching Out
Melanie’s expression grows graver. “Randal, I’ve given you more leeway than most, but not this time. Are you getting enough rest?”
“That must be it. I’ll get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow things will be back to normal.”
“Unfortunately, my superiors are taking this seriously. Use some paid vacation days to figure things out. If this continues when you return, they may terminate you.”
“Wow. It’s that serious?”
“Yes. Complaints are piling up. Go on a vacation. See a doctor. Do whatever’s necessary to find out why you’re only working a few hours per shift.”
The conversation troubles Randal, so he seeks solace in a local bar, drowning his concerns in a couple of drinks. When he gets home, his wife, Lynda, asks about his day.
He kisses her gently before replying, “It was pretty uneventful. What’s that I smell for dinner?”
“I’m sautéing some vegetables with garlic and onion while the pasta is boiling. I plan to add some ground beef and tomato sauce unless you prefer me to broil some chicken. Everything should be ready within 40 minutes.”
“The ground beef sounds fine. I’ll just pour myself a drink and wait in my recliner.”
Blacking Out
Randal awakens with an empty bottle of scotch next to his oversized leather recliner, worn from many years of use. By his watch, it’s now past 11 o’clock in the evening. He stumbles to the dim kitchen to see his dinner on a plate in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap. In the dark bedroom, Lynda, wearing her often-overlooked negligee, is fast asleep. So Randal puts on his pajamas and goes to bed.
In the morning, when he shows up for work as usual, Melanie can’t hide her confusion. She immediately directs him to her office.
“Randal, what are you doing here?”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“Do you recall our conversation from yesterday afternoon?”
“I’m sorry. Refresh my memory?”
“Randal, are you alright?”
“Sure, I’m fine.”
“Have a seat. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Melanie phones Lynda, mentioning her husband’s memory loss, and requests her to meet them at the hospital. Medical professionals embark on a quest to decipher the enigma of Randal’s disappearing time. Is it medications, seizures, fainting, blood pressure, blood sugar, or something more insidious?
Checking In
As questions linger, the doctor delves into Randal’s history. “Any history of blackouts?”
Lynda answers, “He’s just forgetful. It’s probably job-related stress.”
Randal nods, “That’s it. Age catches up with all of us.”
But the doctor prods further. “Is there any history of recreational drug or alcohol use?”
“I have a couple of drinks now and then.”
“How many is a couple?”
“Usually, it’s two, here and there—I guess.”
“Does that mean a couple several times during the day?”
“Sometimes, but I have coffee in between to dilute the alcohol.”
“Actually, both coffee and alcohol are diuretics that deplete your body of fluids. This can cause sleep disturbances and dizziness.
“I recommend that you drink eight cups of water each day, and an extra eight ounces for each cup of coffee or ounce of alcohol you drink.
“For now, I’m going to have a nurse start an IV with some basic fluids and nutrients.”
Lynda returns to the lobby, downplaying the diagnosis to Melanie. “No need to worry. He just needs more water. He’ll be back to work tomorrow.”
Melanie, however, furrows her brow, hinting at a deeper issue. “Your husband was put on mandatory vacation yesterday. Didn’t he tell you?”
“No. he said nothing unusual.”
“I think this is more serious than water. Sometimes he comes to work in the morning with the smell of alcohol on him. Does he have a drinking problem?”
“The doctor asked the same question. He drinks occasionally, but I didn’t consider it a problem.”
“It’s worth a more thorough investigation.”
Lynda brings this new information to the attention of the physician, along with a description of his blackout preventing last night’s dinner. Further tests reveal some liver damage. The doctor recommends alcohol detoxification. His diagnosis and treatment recommendation jolts their awareness to a new dimension.
Continued…
Return twice weekly for miniseries. Any relation to actual persons or events is coincidental. Login provides the most immersive experience. About 1600 total words. Audio may include sound effects that alter reading time. Cinematic materials are available with ClinicalNovellas Cinematic membership.
