Episode #108
Shortly After #107

TEASER

NEW YORK
INT: POLICE STATION
EVENING

Looking anguished, SARAH steps away from a desk occupied by a gruff-looking man. Rubbing her forehead, she returns to ANDREA, who is standing several feet away.

ANDREA: Any luck?

SARAH: Nope, nothing at all.

ANDREA: When’s his indictment?

SARAH: Tomorrow morning.

ANDREA: They can’t do it any earlier?

SARAH: Believe me, we’re lucky to have it this soon in a zoo like this.

Andrea groans.

ANDREA: What a mess.

SARAH: Tell me about it. Andrea, what am I gonna do?

ANDREA: What do you mean? Look, Sarah, this isn’t over yet. We’re going to find out the truth.

SARAH: That’s the least I can do. I screwed up big this time.

ANDREA: Sarah--

SARAH: No, I let Matt down. I just hope he can find it within himself to forgive me.

***

INT: POLICE STATION
AFTERNOON

Back in King’s Bay, Sarah’s husband BRENT sits behind his desk. He is busily shuffling the numerous files which he has faced since reclaiming the job of police commander.

More than the paperwork sitting before him is troubling Brent, however. As is typical of late, he is unable to remove his mind from the distressing complexity of his personal life. He hasn’t heard from Sarah in days, and his last call, the one he made this morning, hasn’t been returned.

And then there’s Molly. She’s been such a good friend, he reflects -- a pillar of strength throughout all of this madness. Perhaps that might come to an end, too, he worriedly realizes, remembering their tense argument of a few days ago.

Suddenly he is swept out of his thoughts by a knock on the door.

BRENT: Come in!

He attempts to appear focused, but can’t help but show his surprise when MOLLY walks through the door.

***

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

JASON picks up an empty soda can off of the coffee table, plagued by thoughts of his prior conversation with Molly. She’s got to control her feelings for Brent, Jason knows, but he is doubtful that she can manage this much longer. Sarah’s absence certainly isn’t making things any easier on Brent or Molly ...

The doorbell rings and he quickly answers it. COURTNEY, LAUREN, and ALEX step inside. Jason and Courtney exchange pecks on the cheek.

COURTNEY: Hey.

JASON: Hey. Did you guys bring movies?

ALEX: We did ... What’ve we got, Lauren?

She flips through the movies, reading off the titles which she knew by heart just moments ago but can suddenly no longer recall. She is surprised by how flustered she is in simply responding to Alex’s question.

JASON: Okay, then. Everybody else is gone, so why don’t we just hang out in here?

LAUREN: Sounds good to me.

JASON: I’ll go grab some food.

COURTNEY: I’ll help.

ALEX: Don’t worry, Courtney. I’ll take care of it.

COURTNEY: Sure. Thanks, Alex.

Jason and Alex head off to the kitchen. Lauren watches until they are gone and then grabs Courtney by the shoulders. A look of nervousness spreads over her face.

LAUREN: I can’t do this, Court!

COURTNEY: You mean with Alex? Why not?

LAUREN: It’s terrifying! What am I gonna say?

COURTNEY: Just be subtle, okay?

LAUREN: What if it doesn’t work?

COURTNEY: So what? You like this guy, don’t you?

LAUREN: Yeah.

COURTNEY: Then just go for it.

She offers her friend an encouraging smile.

ACT ONE

INT: POLICE STATION
AFTERNOON

BRENT stands up, his movements awkward as he and MOLLY maintain a distance from each other.

BRENT: Hi. Uh, what are you doing here?

MOLLY: Is this a bad time? I can come back--

BRENT: No, please. Stay.

MOLLY: Are you sure?

BRENT: I’m positive. Look, we need to talk.

MOLLY: I know.

Both sigh, uncertain of who should speak first or what should be said.

***

NEW YORK
INT: HOTEL
EVENING

SARAH walks into the hotel room and flings her purse onto the bed. She takes a look around: This place is becoming incredibly annoying to her. She decides she’ll have to check into a different hotel tomorrow.

SARAH: But not now … I just wanna take a nap and try to clear my head.

No sooner has she said this than does the phone ring. She freezes in place for a moment – might it be Brent? She finds herself torn: Part of her is aching to speak to him, to have him soothe her troubles … but the rest of her is well aware that it won’t be that easy. Hesitantly, she answers the phone.

SARAH: Hello?

She is surprised to hear Matt’s voice on the other end.

MATT: Hey.

SARAH: Matt? What are you doing?

MATT: Hey, I get one phone call, right?

SARAH: And you called me? Are you nuts? You should get your lawyer on the phone or something!

MATT: Don’t worry. It’ll all get taken care of ... I just wanted to talk to you.

ACT TWO

INT: FISHER HOME (DINING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

JASON and ALEX are crossing through the dining room on their way to the kitchen. Alex pauses, his eye caught by a photograph.

ALEX: Is that really you and Courtney?

Jason smiles sheepishly as Alex picks up the framed photo of Courtney and Jason in their skates and costumes from a long-ago competition.

JASON: Yeah, it is.

ALEX: You guys ice skate?

Jason nods, expecting the usual jokes.

ALEX: That is so cool!

JASON: Really?

Alex’s response has truly surprised him.

ALEX: Yeah. How long have you been doing it?

JASON: Since we were kids.

ALEX: Wow! So are you guys, like, going to Nationals or anything like that?

JASON: Let’s just say this is a rebuilding year for us. Courtney was injured last season … I’m surprised you didn’t ask if we’re going to the Olympics. Everyone asks that.

ALEX: I’m sure they do. But the Olympics aren’t until 2002, right?

JASON: Yeah.

ALEX: So it’s probably kind of a dumb question to ask. Is that a goal of yours, though?

JASON: Ultimately, yeah, but it’s a little unrealistic, honestly. Making the Olympics is such a perfect combination of skill and luck …

ALEX: I understand. It’s a brutal sport, isn’t it?

Jason’s thoughts flash back to his and Courtney’s experiences with the nutty Shannon.

JASON: You can’t even begin to imagine.

***

INT: POLICE STATION
AFTERNOON

MOLLY and BRENT can hardly make eye contact with each other as they circle the room uncomfortably.

BRENT: Look, about what happened the other day ...

MOLLY: I’m sorry.

This catches Brent by surprise.

BRENT: What?

MOLLY: I shouldn’t have brought up ... that night. It was wrong.

BRENT: No, Molly, I was wrong. I never should’ve reacted like that.

Molly sighs. For the first time, it crosses her mind that perhaps she wasn’t entirely at fault.

MOLLY: But you had every right to.

BRENT: Maybe, but that’s something that had to come up at some point. We’ve been keeping it buried for too long.

MOLLY: I know.

He can’t miss the uneasiness that has produced the creases in her face.

BRENT: What? Molly, I’m sorry--

MOLLY: No, it’s not that.

BRENT: Then what is it?

MOLLY: Now that we’ve brought this up again ... How can we ever put it back where we’d hidden it for so long?

ACT THREE

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

COURTNEY is seated on the sofa and LAUREN on the loveseat when JASON and ALEX enter, carrying two bowls of popcorn and four cans of soda.

JASON: Here we go ...

He puts the two bowls down on the coffee table and takes a seat on the sofa close to Courtney. Alex hands each of them a soda and then gives one to Lauren. He looks around for a moment, but Lauren pats the seat next to her.

LAUREN: Sit here.

ALEX: Okay, sure.

He dims the lights and then takes his seat. Courtney picks up the remote to start the movie. As the image fills the screen, Lauren flashes a hopeful glance at Courtney.

***

NEW YORK
INT: HOTEL ROOM
EVENING

SARAH stands with the phone to her ear, listening to Matt.

SARAH: Matt, I’m so sorry about all of this. I never should’ve let you come to see Andrea with me--

MATT: Forget about it.

SARAH: How can you say that?

MATT: You’re forgiven, okay?

SARAH: But--

MATT: Now shut up before I change my mind.

They share a laugh.

SARAH: You’re in an awfully good mood for someone who just got hauled off to jail.

MATT: I don’t plan on being in here for much longer.

SARAH: Don’t get your hopes up, Matt. The bail might be a little excessive ...

MATT: I’m not depending on bail, Sarah.

SARAH: Then how can you be so sure you’re gonna get out of there?

MATT: I may have found the proof we need to clear my name.

ACT FOUR

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

The movie is playing out on the screen, but LAUREN’s attention is far from fixed on it. She is keeping one eye on ALEX, trying to figure out what she can do to get his attention.

Meanwhile, on the other couch, COURTNEY has tucked herself into a niche between JASON’s arm and chest. She looks up at him, a smile on her face. He returns it and then runs a hand through her dark hair.

Lauren picks up the bowl of popcorn from the coffee table and takes just a few pieces in her own hand. She carefully inserts them in her mouth, taking special care to not fumble at all, and then extends the bowl to Alex.

To her disappointment, he simply offers a friendly smile and grabs a handful of popcorn.

***

INT: POLICE STATION
AFTERNOON

BRENT places his hands on MOLLY’s shoulders reassuringly.

BRENT: We’ll manage. Hey, we did it for that long, didn’t we?

MOLLY: I guess you’re right. We’ve got to.

BRENT: Can you imagine what would happen if Sarah found out?

MOLLY: She’d lose it. We can’t let that happen, Brent.

BRENT: And it won’t. There’s no reason for this to be an issue ever again ... right?

Molly’s eyes again drift down to the floor.

MOLLY: Right.

ACT FIVE

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

The movie has now concluded. JASON and ALEX pick up the empty popcorn bowls and the crushed soda cans and cart them off to the kitchen. Once she is sure they are out of earshot, LAUREN turns to COURTNEY.

LAUREN: What did I do wrong?

COURTNEY: What?

LAUREN: Did you see how he reacted? He acted like I hardly existed, Courtney! I must have done something--

COURTNEY: Why am I suddenly Dear Abby?

This interruption quiets Lauren down enough for Courtney to speak.

COURTNEY: I don’t have all the answers, Lauren. But let’s not blow this out of proportion -- you hardly know Alex. This is just a little crush, right?

Lauren nods, putting things in perspective in her own mind.

COURTNEY: So just make a play for him if you really like him. If it turns out well, then great. And if it doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world.

LAUREN: You know, you’re right. This is nothing to get all worked up over.

COURTNEY: Exactly.

LAUREN: But if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that Alex is incredibly hot.

Both girls smile, and Courtney acknowledges this fact with a nod.

LAUREN: So I’m just gonna try to have a little fun with this and see what happens.

***

INT: POLICE STATION
AFTERNOON

MOLLY is suddenly quite anxious to change the subject, something that is not lost on BRENT.

MOLLY: So, uh, have you heard from Sarah lately?

BRENT: No, of course not. I left a message for her this morning, but God forbid she picked up the damn phone and called me to tell me she’s still alive.

MOLLY: Why is she doing this to you?

BRENT: Because she believes in Matt. Apparently she’s decided that it’s more important to clear him of these charges than it is to have any contact whatsoever with her husband.

MOLLY: I’m sure she’ll be back soon, Brent.

BRENT: Maybe she will, maybe she won’t. I’m just wondering where exactly it is that we’re going to pick up from.

***

NEW YORK
INT: HOTEL ROOM
EVENING

Over the phone, Matt has informed SARAH of the crucial evidence he discovered.

SARAH: I can’t believe it! It was right under our noses the entire time!

MATT: It really was a stroke of luck that I found it, huh?

SARAH: Amazing. Jeez, I was looking through those papers after they took you away and I couldn’t find a damn thing that seemed like it could have shocked you so much.

MATT: Like I said, it was sheer luck that I found it while I was picking everything up.

SARAH: Wow ... I’ve got to figure out a way to get my hands on it, Matt.

MATT: Do you think Andrea will give us any trouble if you just ask her?

SARAH: I don’t know, but I have to try. This is too major to waste.

She clutches the phone tightly, adrenaline suddenly surging through her body. At last, the information they need is so close! But it also may be so far out of reach ...

END OF EPISODE #108

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