FITCH MANSION
Ryan, caught somewhere between shock
and annoyance, stares at Nick. "What do you mean, I can't do that?"
"You can't just drop out of this
and go legit," Nick says, as if it the most obvious thing in the world.
"Cutting ties is a lot harder than you think."
"But it's possible. Besides, all
my ties are through you. If you're still in the business, no one's going
to care what the hell I'm doing."
"That's not necessarily true, Ryan."
"But it probably is."
After a short silence, Nick adds,
"It also wouldn't be nearly as lucrative."
"Ah, yes, because we're currently
enjoying such a comfortable financial situation."
Nick ignores the jab. "You'd have
to work your way up that ridiculous corporate ladder ... play by the rules
... you'd go insane."
Ryan's shoulders slump. "Maybe. But--I
don't know if I'm cut out to be a part of this business, either. You've
always talked about me taking over when ..."
"When I'm gone," Nick finishes.
"Yeah. Do you really think I'm capable
of that? Because I have serious doubts."
Nick studies the younger man, the
person he has known as his son for so long. All he sees in Ryan is confusion,
upheaval, and anxiety. That old certainty -- the self-assuredness that
drove Ryan to come to King's Bay in pursuit of
Claire in the first place
-- is buried deep beneath the surface.
"Is this another Claire Robbins-induced
mood swing?" Nick asks.
"No." Ryan shakes his head. "This
is a me-induced thing."
"I don't believe that," Nick says
after another moment of consideration. "Maybe you believe it, but I can't.
This isn't happening because of you, Ryan. It's because of Claire. Ever
since she's been back in your life, it's like you've gone haywire."
Ryan hesitates before saying, "Well,
I'm sorry if I let emotions get in the way every now and then."
Nick hesitates a little more before
asking, "What happened in that cellar on New Year's Eve? I could tell something
had happened when I found you in there, but you tried to pretend it hadn't."
Ryan's first instinct is to insist
it was nothing, but yesterday's encounter with Stan comes rushing back
to the front of his mind. "I told her," he blurts out.
Nick looks puzzled. He pats his moustache,
thinking, and then says, "About Stan?"
"Yeah. I just snapped ... All of
a sudden, I didn't want to keep it in anymore."
"Good," Nick says firmly. "He didn't
deserve your protection. And you don't deserve to have to deal with this
just to save his hide."
"I did need to get it out. But I
think the damage is done. Claire wasn't exactly receptive to the news,
as I'm sure you could see."
"She was stunned. It's only understandable."
"Even so ... I let a couple of weeks
go by and then I went to see her again. All I wanted to do was tell her
I was sorry to hear about Tim. But she wouldn't even be civil with me.
She kicked me out of the apartment."
Nick sighs. "Then maybe you need
to let this go. You've been chasing after her for too long."
"I've never felt this way about anyone,
Dad. And for it to last this many years -- I don't exactly think this is
some passing infatuation. I love her."
"Maybe--maybe not. Ryan, you don't
think logically when it comes to this woman. It's time to figure out what
you want, and if you can even have it."
Ryan doesn't say anything.
"I know this may not be something
you want to face," Nick says. "Claire is an important part of your life
-- at least, she's come to stand for something important in your mind.
But this isn't good for you."
"So what the hell am I supposed to
do?" Ryan snaps suddenly.
"Resolve this," Nick says. "Either
give up on Claire or go after her for real."
END OF EPISODE #199
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