Episode #118
A Few Days After #117

TEASER

EXT: FISHER HOME
MIDDAY

PAULA climbs out of her car and, as she is heading up to the front steps of the house, hears the quick steps of running shoes behind her. She turns around to find CLAIRE.

PAULA: Claire! Hi!

Paula gives her daughter-in-law a hug.

PAULA: So what are you doing here?

CLAIRE: I needed someone to talk to. I was hoping you’d be here.

PAULA: Come on in.

She turns her key in the door.

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY – CONTINUOUS

PAULA and CLAIRE walk into the house. Claire almost immediately assumes her position on the living room sofa, while Paula takes a moment to straighten up the scattered magazines on the coffee table. At last she sits down beside Claire.

PAULA: So is it that you need to talk about?

CLAIRE: I’ve got … problems.

PAULA: I hope it’s not about Tim.

Claire doesn’t answer immediately.

***

INT: SONIC SOUND RECORDS (ROBERTA’S OFFICE)
MIDDAY

ROBERTA is in the midst of a telephone conversation when she hears a sharp rap on the door. She looks up to find KATHERINE standing inside the open doorway.

Roberta gestures for the older woman to come in and quickly brings her phone call to an end as Katherine takes a seat across the desk from her. No sooner has Roberta placed the phone back on the receiver than Katherine launches right into the business she has come to discuss.

KATHERINE: It’s all over.

The frantic tone of her voice alerts Roberta to the fact that something truly terrible must have happened. It’s hardly like Mrs. Fitch to lose her composure like this, after all.

ROBERTA: Whoa … What happened?

KATHERINE: It’s over – Andrew found out everything!

***

INT: HOTEL (HALLWAY)
MIDDAY

COURTNEY leads ALEX down the hallway, barely able to keep herself from running. They soon reach the door of Don’s hotel room.

ALEX: I still don’t understand why it was so urgent that we come see your dad.

COURTNEY: You will in a minute, believe me. Just go along with what I say, okay?

Alex shrugs, giving in.

ALEX: Sure.

Courtney raises a hand and knocks on the door. Seconds later, it is pulled open – but instead of Don, Courtney and Alex are stunned to find that SALLY has answered the knock!

ACT ONE

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY

A deeper concern quickly spreads through PAULA’s face. CLAIRE raises a hand to calm her.

CLAIRE: Don’t worry. Tim and I aren’t having problems … per se.

PAULA: Does this have anything to do with the flowers you received a few months back? The ones that had you so worried that your father might be … back?

Claire nods and can’t help but crack a tiny smile. Paula, as usual, had read her mind.

PAULA: He’s not, is he?

CLAIRE: No. It’s nothing that horrible. But I did find out who left those flowers for me.

Paula motions for her to continue.

CLAIRE: It was my ex-boyfriend.

PAULA: Ah. I think I see where this is going.

CLAIRE: I don’t know. You’re good, but I doubt you’re that good.

PAULA: I take that to mean this is yet another unbelievably complicated situation?

CLAIRE: You couldn’t even begin to imagine.

She drops her chin into the palm of her hand.

***

INT: HOTEL ROOM
MIDDAY

COURTNEY immediately shoves her way past SALLY and bursts into the room … to find her father, DON, sitting on the bed innocently. ALEX uncertainly follows her inside and stands near his mother.

COURTNEY: Dad, what’s going on here?

DON: Nothing. Sally came by to talk.

Recalling the last time Courtney and Alex found her and Don together, Sally suddenly becomes antsy.

SALLY: Courtney, I was just going. I’ll just—

COURTNEY: Don’t worry about it. I’m not here to get mad at you two for leaning on each other. This has been a hard time for both of you, and I’m sorry if I wasn’t understanding enough before.

SALLY: Really?

COURTNEY: Yep.

DON: Are you okay?

COURTNEY: I’m fine, Dad. But if Sally and Alex don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you alone for a minute.

ALEX: Sure. Mom, let’s go out in the hallway.

Within seconds, they are gone. Don looks at his daughter in confusion.

DON: What’s going on with you, Courtney? I thought you were going to bust a gut when you found Sally here.

COURTNEY: Actually, I’m glad to see her here, Dad.

Don’s mystification is only heightened by this comment.

COURTNEY: That’s exactly what I came over here to talk to you about.

ACT TWO

INT: SONIC SOUND RECORDS (ROBERTA’S OFFICE)
MIDDAY

With KATHERINE’s announcement, her distress quickly spreads to ROBERTA.

ROBERTA: What do you mean, he knows everything?

Katherine opens her mouth to speak, but Roberta cuts her off in disbelief.

ROBERTA: How the hell did this happen?

KATHERINE: Do you remember that I told you I had another plan?

ROBERTA: Yeah …

KATHERINE: Well, I called Andrew’s former fiancée—

ROBERTA: Who’s this?

KATHERINE: Melissa Evans.

ROBERTA: I’ve never heard about her.

KATHERINE: There’s plenty you don’t know, dear. The point is, Melissa agreed to come to King’s Bay and get close to Andrew while Danielle is away on tour.

ROBERTA: Uh-oh.

KATHERINE: Exactly. She showed up at his apartment alright, but then she went right ahead and double-crossed me!

Roberta springs to her feet.

ROBERTA: She told him everything?

KATHERINE: I’m afraid so.

ROBERTA: That bitch!

Katherine looks around, taking note of the open door.

KATHERINE: Please, dear, sit down! And do try to keep your voice down!

ROBERTA: Like it matters! I’m about to be out of a job anyway!

KATHERINE: Why do you say that?

ROBERTA: Duh! If Andy knows everything, it’s only a matter of time before Danielle finds out that this whole record deal was a sham—

KATHERINE: He doesn’t know about that part.

ROBERTA: What?

KATHERINE: I never told Melissa about the record deal.

ROBERTA: Then what did she tell Andy?

KATHERINE: That I’ve continued to involve myself in his life when I pretended to be making an effort to accept his relationship with Danielle. Melissa knew nothing about our scheme.

Roberta’s panic is briefly replaced with a sigh of relief … and then a Cheshire-cat grin.

***

INT: HOTEL (HALLWAY)
MIDDAY

SALLY and ALEX stand in silence outside the hotel room. Despite her son’s lack of words, Sally can practically feel her son’s urge to berate her for being here.

SALLY: Save it, Alex. I don’t want to hear it.

ALEX: Hear what?

SALLY: The lecture. Look, I know you don’t think I should be around Don – but I’m not going to let that get in my way.

ALEX: Mom—

SALLY: No, I’m serious. I have been alone for far too long. Why shouldn’t I want to be with the one man I’ve ever been truly happy with – especially when he’s all alone now, too?

Alex can’t help but jump in now.

ALEX: That’s just the thing, Mom: He’s not "alone." He’s got Courtney—

SALLY: And I’ve got you.

ALEX: Let me finish. He’s got Courtney and Helen, and they’re his family. He and Helen aren’t getting divorced.

SALLY: Maybe not yet, but it certainly doesn’t look like things are getting any better between them. Give me one good reason why Don and I shouldn’t be together now.

Try as he might, Alex realizes that all the points he can think of are ones he’s already said – ones Sally has already shot down.

***

INT: HOTEL ROOM
MIDDAY

DON is truly baffled by COURTNEY’s sudden change in attitude.

DON: Are you sure you’re feeling alright, honey?

COURTNEY: I’m fine! Dad, this isn’t about me – it’s about you!

DON: Courtney – Just get to the point, will you? Stop running around in circles!

COURTNEY: Fine.

She takes a seat on the bed next to her father.

COURTNEY: About you and Sally … I don’t think it’s such a terrible thing if the two of you can be friends to each other right now. As a matter of fact, I think it may be exactly what you both need.

DON: Huh?

COURTNEY: I mean, Sally sure seems like she could use a friend right about now. She’s lonely.

DON: Courtney, she basically tricked me into going to Paris with her and then did her best to cause confusion between your mother and me.

COURTNEY: I know. I’m not saying I like what she did – believe me, I hate it. But she’s not the one I’m worried about.

DON: How is being a friend to Sally going to help me?

COURTNEY: Face it, Dad, you need someone to lean on besides me, Bill, and Paula right now. Sally must understand better than anybody what it’s like to lose someone you love because of something foolish you did.

Don is quiet.

COURTNEY: What’s wrong?

DON: Maybe I’m missing something, but isn’t this just going to drive your mother and me further apart?

ACT THREE

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY

After what seem like endless moments of watching CLAIRE’s quiet torment, PAULA breaks the silence hovering over the room.

PAULA: So what exactly is the problem with this ex-boyfriend?

CLAIRE: That’s just the problem. I don’t know.

PAULA: What do you mean?

CLAIRE: He’s … It’s complicated. Ryan and I—

PAULA: Ryan is the ex-boyfriend?

CLAIRE: Yeah. Anyway, we grew up together. We were together for a long time when we were teenagers.

PAULA: And he still has feelings for you?

CLAIRE: I think so.

PAULA: And what about the other way around?

***

INT: HOTEL ROOM
MIDDAY

COURTNEY stands, though she keeps her hands latched to DON’s.

COURTNEY: That’s just the thing, Dad. If Mom sees you being nice to even Sally, I’m sure she’ll remember what she’s missing.

DON: So basically, you want me to use Sally to make your mother jealous?

COURTNEY: Basically.

He looks at her like she has three heads.

COURTNEY: What? It sounds like a good idea to me.

DON: Except for two things: First of all, it’s my "closeness" with Sally that broke your mother and me apart; and two, don’t you think I’d only be encouraging Sally?

COURTNEY: I don’t know … Dad, you have to try it. I know Sally’s hurt you … repeatedly … but still, if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that you’ll find a good friend in her.

She raises a hand to silence her father before he can protest further.

COURTNEY: And besides, I’ll take care of Mom, okay? I’ll make sure she doesn’t get the wrong impression about you and Sally.

DON: I don’t know, Court—

COURTNEY: Just give it a try!

With that, she flings the door open. ALEX and SALLY soon reenter.

COURTNEY: I am all done with my father, so Alex and I should be getting out of here.

DON: You sure? You kids are welcome to stay.

COURTNEY: No, we’ll leave you guys alone. Bye!

Final waves are exchanged and the two young adults exit.

INT: HOTEL (HALLWAY)
MIDDAY – CONTINUOUS

ALEX and COURTNEY begin walking down the hallway.

ALEX: Did you accomplish whatever you came here to accomplish?

COURTNEY: I hope so.

ACT FOUR

INT: SONIC SOUND RECORDS (ROBERTA’S OFFICE)
MIDDAY

ROBERTA is nearly ecstatic about KATHERINE’s news that her involvement in Katherine’s schemes remains secret.

ROBERTA: So you mean to tell me that Andy and Danielle still have no idea that I’ve been running around for you behind the scenes?

KATHERINE: None at all. But how is that supposed to help me now? I’ll be lucky if Andrew speaks to me again. I can’t risk losing him any more than I already have.

ROBERTA: There’s a way you can split Andy and Danielle up without being involved at all, you realize.

KATHERINE: And what’s that?

ROBERTA: Who, my friend. The question is, Who? And the answer is … me.

KATHERINE: Roberta …

ROBERTA: Face it, Mrs. Fitch. I’m your only hope now.

Katherine, who until now has had unbridled enthusiasm for anything that might come between her son and his intended, is quite skeptical of Roberta’s plan.

KATHERINE: I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Roberta.

She stands, intending to leave before her accomplice can get any deeper into her new plot.

ROBERTA: Of course it is! I know I can get Andy to fall for me – and then Danielle will be out of the picture for good.

KATHERINE: Let me think about it …

ROBERTA: No, it’s fine, really. I’d love to do it.

With that, she ushers Katherine out. Roberta closes the door to the office and then leans against it, reveling in this new opportunity.

INT: SONIC SOUNDS RECORDS (HALLWAY)
MIDDAY – CONTINUOUS

Outside the office, KATHERINE walks away looking at least as distressed as she did when she arrived.

***

INT: HOTEL ROOM
MIDDAY

An awkward silence has fallen over SALLY and DON. Sally’s attempt to break it is successful, though uncertain.

SALLY: So, uh, that was an interesting little visit, huh?

DON: Yeah, really …

He fiddles with his fingers as he searches for his next words.

DON: Courtney just comes bursting in here with ideas, you know? It’s crazy.

SALLY: That’s how kids are.

DON: I guess so.

A long pause ensues.

DON: Listen, do you want to go get some coffee or something? I can’t sit in this room another second.

SALLY: Sounds good to me.

***

INT: CAR
MIDDAY

ALEX watches COURTNEY drive with an enormous grin on her face.

ALEX: What exactly are you up to?

COURTNEY: I just want my dad to be happy. After the talk we had today, I feel like he’s definitely moving in that direction.

ALEX: I want the same thing for my mom.

Discomfort overtakes Courtney. It bothers her to think that Sally may think she actually has a chance with Don for a while … but as long as it gets her parents back together, Courtney decides that she won’t let it worry her too much.

***

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY

CLAIRE sits up straight in response to PAULA’s question.

PAULA: Is that it, Claire? Have you got feelings for this Ryan?

CLAIRE: Yes … but not in that way. He’s my friend. He had done things in the past that made me practically hate him, but he’s really changed now. I feel like I owe him somehow, you know?

PAULA: I don’t see why your friendship with Ryan needs to cause problems with Tim, dear. Unless, of course, your feelings for the two are getting mixed up.

CLAIRE: You know I love Tim, Paula. But I feel like as long as Ryan’s around, the … specter of our past together – of everything we shared, and of my father – is always going to be looming. And that makes it really hard to focus on Tim, when I’ve got all this other stuff running around inside my head.

Paula places an arm around her daughter-in-law’s shoulders.

PAULA: Tim loves you. He understands how painful your childhood was, and I’m sure that if you just share all of this with him, he’ll be supportive.

CLAIRE: I hate this! Why can’t the past just stay buried in the past?

This question hits a nerve with Paula, who, after her encounters with both Helen and Claire recently, has been feeling her own memories gnaw away at her.

PAULA: I don’t know, Claire. I wish it could. But the past has a funny way of making its way back into the present.

She sighs and the two women just sit there, staring straight ahead, each trying to sort out the conflicts inside herself, with little success.

END OF EPISODE #118

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