Episode #40
Immediately After #39

TEASER

INT: FITCH MANSION (DANIELLE’S ROOM)
LATE MORNING

DANIELLE stands before ANDY, who is looking over the RED WIG in amazement.

ANDY: This -- this was her hair.

DANIELLE: What do you mean?

ANDY: This wig -- it’s an exact duplicate of her hair. Or maybe it was her hair.

Danielle thinks this over for a moment, confused.

DANIELLE: Why would she--?

ANDY: I have no idea. (beat) Do you think she might have been sick or something?

DANIELLE: That’s all I can think of. I mean, why else would she need a wig?

ANDY: This is odd. Really odd.

He spots the DIARY.

ANDY (CONT’D): What’s that?

DANIELLE: That’s a diary I found in the box of the old maid’s things.

ANDY: Should we look in it?

DANIELLE: I don’t know. Isn’t it sort of private?

ANDY: To hell with private! I’m interested ... and really confused.

He holds up the diary.

ANDY (CONT’D): Maybe this can help explain what’s going on here.

INT: FISHER HOME (JASON’S ROOM)
LATE MORNING

JASON is sitting on his bed, flipping through television channels. Pain is obvious in his eyes as he remembers an argument of several days past.

          FADE TO:

FLASHBACK

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

JASON, COURTNEY, and LAUREN sit around the room. Courtney’s face is stained from tears. Jason is looking upset. Lauren observes the exchange between the two; she sits shyly, feeling almost like an intruder as her friends speak.

COURTNEY: What do you mean you don’t believe me?

JASON: It’s not that I don’t – or I don’t want to, Courtney. I just can’t. I’m skating with Shannon now. I can’t just accept this kind of accusation without any proof at all.

COURTNEY: (in disbelief) You’re gonna keep skating with her?

JASON: I have to, Court. I can’t go out now – this close to the beginning of the season – and try to find another partner. And I can’t waste another year. You know I’d rather skate with you, but at the moment it’s not gonna happen.

COURTNEY: I don’t believe this …

JASON: Look, Court.

He takes her hand in his.

JASON (CONT’D): You are still my best friend. You always have been, you always will be. But until you get some proof of this accusation you’re making against Shannon, I can’t just go out and screw up my entire life. Do you see my point?

Courtney nods, biting her lower lip to fight back further tears.

          FADE TO:

INT: FISHER HOME (JASON’S ROOM)
LATE MORNING

JASON flings down the remote control in anger and drops down backwards onto the bed.

JASON: (sotto voce) I don’t believe this is happening! How am I gonna make things right with Courtney?

INT: TIM & CLAIRE’S APT. (LIVING ROOM)
LATE MORNING

TIM, seated on the couch, and CLAIRE, standing, listen to SARAH in disbelief as she puts her cell phone away.

CLAIRE: The address belongs to Diane Bishop?

SARAH: That’s what Brent said.

CLAIRE: Why would he have been sending her a letter?

SARAH: Damned if I know.

Tim, who has been listening in confusion, interjects.

TIM: Who sent what to Diane?

CLAIRE: It’s weird. They found this envelope in my dad’s study with an address on it. Brent tracked the address, hoping it might reveal some information about the kidnapping that would help the case against my dad. It turns out that the envelope was addressed to Diane.

TIM: I just don’t understand why James would be contacting Diane -- especially when he was in hiding. It just seems so -- so out of place.

CLAIRE: I know. I can’t figure it out. (beat) It’s obvious that there’s more to this than meets the eye, and I’m gonna find out what it is if it’s the last thing I ever do.

ACT ONE

INT: FISHER HOME (JASON’S ROOM)
LATE MORNING

JASON is still lying on the bed, deep in thought, when there comes a knock at the door. He turns to the open doorway and sees MOLLY.

MOLLY: Hey, little bro. What’s up?

JASON: Nothing … everything. I don’t know anymore.

MOLLY: Sounds like something’s bothering you. What is it?

JASON: It’s Courtney.

MOLLY: Mm-hmm.

JASON: Anyway, she told me thought Shannon was behind the attack on her. I didn’t really believe it – I didn’t want to. Then Courtney and Lauren came over and told me that they saw Shannon with the hitman guy.

MOLLY: Are you serious?

JASON: Completely. Courtney said she got pictures, but the guy saw her and took the camera before she could get away. I don’t know what to make of it.

MOLLY: Didn’t Lauren see the guy take the camera?

JASON: That’s the thing. She got beeped by work and had to leave before Courtney took the pictures. (beat) And now I don’t know what to believe.

MOLLY: What did you tell Courtney?

JASON: I said I’d love to believe her – I’d hate for her to be lying – but until I saw some real proof, there’s no way I’m gonna screw up another skating season by accusing Shannon of this.

MOLLY: Seems fair enough to me.

JASON: That’s what I thought, but Courtney got all offended and stormed out. She hasn’t returned any of my calls in the last few days … It’s really bothering me.

Molly studies his face for a moment.

MOLLY: You’re in love with her, aren’t you?

JASON: I think so. I guess I’m not sure how it’s supposed to feel, but this definitely feels right. (beat) How did you know?

MOLLY: (caught off guard) What do you mean?

JASON: How could you tell that you loved Craig?

Molly appears troubled by his question.

INT: FITCH MANSION (DANIELLE’S ROOM)
LATE MORNING

DANIELLE speaks to ANDY as he flips through the pages of the DIARY, skimming some and skipping others. The RED WIG is tucked under his arm.

DANIELLE: This maid – what was her name?

ANDY: Lisa – Lisa Stafford.

He stops at a certain page midway through the diary and reads.

ANDY (CONT’D): Oh my God.

DANIELLE: What? What is it?

ANDY: Have a look at this.

He points to a section of writing and Danielle runs over it once. Her mouth drops in shock and she repeats the reading silently.

DANIELLE: I don’t believe this.

ANDY: Do you realize what this means?

DANIELLE: Something is definitely not right with this picture.

INT: TIM & CLAIRE’S APT. (LIVING ROOM)
LATE MORNING

TIM, CLAIRE, and SARAH are all present.

CLAIRE: I just don’t understand what kind of connection Diane might have to my father. I think they met in the hospital once, but other than that …

She trails off, trying to think.

TIM: You do realize that this could be the key to exposing Diane’s schemes, don’t you, Claire?

CLAIRE: Oh yeah. I plan to take advantage of this little opportunity.

SARAH: You know what? I should be going. I’ve got some work to do.

TIM: Okay. Thanks for dropping by, Sarah. See you later.

CLAIRE: Thanks, Sarah! Bye!

SARAH: No problem. Good luck with this little mystery!

Sarah leaves the apartment.

Tim suddenly seems to have been hit by a thought.

TIM: So they only found an envelope in James’s study, right?

CLAIRE: Yeah.

TIM: No letter?

CLAIRE: Not a trace.

TIM: Do you think it might have been sent in another envelope for some reason?

CLAIRE: That’s what Sarah seems to think. Apparently there was something wrong with the ink that was used to print on the envelope.

TIM: If he sent the letter in another envelope, that means there must be a letter of some kind, right?

CLAIRE: (catching on) Yeah …

TIM: And there’s at least some chance that Diane might still have it in her possession, correct?

CLAIRE: There’s always a chance. Although she might have destroyed it if it was at all incriminating.

TIM: That’s a good possibility, but I definitely think this is worth a try. (beat) Listen, I’m gonna head over to the office and do a little snooping around. I’ll catch up with you later.

CLAIRE: Okay.

He begins to leave and is halfway out the door when she calls to him.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): Tim?

He turns around.

TIM: Yeah?

CLAIRE: I’ll see you here – tonight.

TIM: You mean—?

CLAIRE: You’re moving back in. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Please forgive me.

TIM: It’s already done, Claire.

CLAIRE: That’s nice to know. (beat) Too many weird things are happening. Diane has to have been up to something. I just don’t buy that you slept with her. It doesn’t make sense. There are so many pieces of this puzzle that don’t fit.

TIM: I’m glad you feel that way. Now if you don’t mind, I’m gonna go get to the bottom of this mess.

CLAIRE: Go right ahead. I’ll see you tonight.

TIM: Okay. I love you.

CLAIRE: I love you too.

Tim exits and closes the door behind him.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): (sotto voce) I just hope this works.

ACT TWO

INT: FISHER HOME (JASON’S ROOM)
LATE MORNING

JASON waits for MOLLY to answer his question.

JASON: How did you know you were in love with Craig?

MOLLY: Actually – I don’t know if I ever was.

JASON: What?!

MOLLY: I think I thought I was. I needed someone – I needed security. I think I let that need take control of my emotions, of my life.

JASON: Wow. (beat) Then maybe I’m wrong about this whole thing with Courtney.

MOLLY: Jay, don’t even think like that. It’s a completely different situation. My life was in danger – I felt alone. Craig could offer me some sort of stability, and I jumped at the chance for that. It’s just a good thing his true colors came out before I married him. I never would have been able to forgive myself.

JASON: You could have been killed.

MOLLY: I know. (beat) But you and Courtney have this bond, this connection. Don’t give your feelings a second thought. This has been years in the making. Believe me, you two were meant to be together.

She gets up off the bed and leaves the room, leaving Jason alone with his thoughts.

JASON: (sotto voce) Yeah – we are. I need to go see Courtney right now and straighten this whole thing out.

INT: OFFICE HALLWAY
MIDDAY

A few PEOPLE pass down the hallway as TIM enters and walks normally to the door marked “Diane Bishop, Vice-President.” He pauses in front of the door to be sure that no one is watching him as the people disappear from sight. Then he knocks on the door but receives no answer.

TIM: Here goes …

He opens the door up.

INT: DIANE’S OFFICE
MIDDAY – CONTINUOUS

The room is empty. TIM slides the door shut behind him and begins to look through the things on the desk, to no avail. He begins shuffling through the desk drawers but still finds nothing. After shutting the last drawer in frustration, he rises and sees the file cabinet.

TIM: (sotto voce) Please, please, please be in there.

He begins opening up drawers of the file cabinet randomly, leafing through files quickly.

TIM (CONT’D): (sotto voce) This is impossible. How am I ever gonna find that letter in all of this?

He sighs and then resumes his search.

INT: OFFICE HALLWAY
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

DIANE walks down the hallway towards her office. She is stopped just outside the closed door by a WOMAN.

WOMAN: Diane, do you have the new contract for Glen Payton all ready to go?

DIANE: As a matter of fact, I do.

INT: DIANE’S OFFICE
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

TIM stands in front of the file cabinet. He slips the file he is holding inside and shuts the drawer smoothly.

DIANE (OS): Let me just run inside and get it.

Out on Tim’s panic.

ACT THREE

INT: FITCH MANSION (DANIELLE’S ROOM)
MIDDAY

ANDY stands reading the DIARY. DANIELLE is now holding the RED WIG.

ANDY: Will you look at this? The woman was mad!

DANIELLE: Let me see.

She peeks over his shoulder to read. He hands her the diary and points out a specific passage. She reads it over.

DANIELLE (CONT’D): Do you think this is ... real?

ANDY: I suppose it could be fiction, couldn’t it? (beat) It would take quite an imaginative mind to write this, though.

DANIELLE: You did say this -- Lisa -- that she was the silent type. Maybe she had a creative streak as well.

ANDY: It’s possible. (beat) Still, whoever wrote this would have to have been completely insane! It’s utter madness!

Danielle continues to read from the diary.

DANIELLE: Do you realize what this means?

INT: DIANE’S OFFICE
MIDDAY

TIM searches frantically for a place to hide.

DIANE (OS): I’ll just run inside and get it.

Tim dives under the desk desperately. The door opens and DIANE steps halfway inside.

BRIAN (OS): Diane, can I speak to you for a minute?

DIANE: Just a sec. I’m getting something off my desk!

She picks up the file hurriedly and departs. The door closes and Tim rises from underneath the desk. He has not been seen.

TIM: (sotto voce) That was close -- too close for my taste. (beat) I’ve got to find that damn letter. It’s the proof I need to bring Diane down ... Now where the hell could it be?

He heads back over to the file cabinet.

EXT: CHASE HOME
MIDDAY

DON is perched on a ladder, putting up Christmas lights above the garage. He is bundled up for the crisp weather. He sees JASON drive up. He steps out of his car, also clad in warm clothing, and begins to approach the house.

DON: Hey, Jason! How’s it going?

JASON: Okay. Getting ready for Christmas?

DON: Not that much time left. What can I do for you?

JASON: Can you tell me where Courtney is?

DON: Actually, she’s up in her room. Why don’t you head on inside and find her?

JASON: Okay, thanks.

Jason heads inside the house.

INT: CHASE HOME (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

JASON steps inside and shuts the front door quietly behind him.

JASON: Courtney?

He marches up the stairs in search of her.

INT: CHASE HOME (UPSTAIRS HALLWAY)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

JASON comes up the stairs and approaches Courtney’s room. He raises his hand to knock, but pauses upon hearing voices.

COURTNEY (OS): I just don’t believe this is happening.

INT: CHASE HOME (COURTNEY’S ROOM)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

COURTNEY sits on her bed. LAUREN is on the floor, painting her fingernails.

LAUREN: What do you mean?

COURTNEY: This thing with Jason. It just sucks.

INT: CHASE HOME (UPSTAIRS HALLWAY)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

JASON presses his ear against the door, listening to the girls talk about him.

INT: CHASE HOME (COURTNEY’S ROOM)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

COURTNEY and LAUREN sit around.

LAUREN: Just try to understand where he’s coming from.

COURTNEY: I can’t do that! I trusted him with all my heart ... and he went ahead and betrayed me like this! I thought he was my best friend. Now I feel like I don’t even know him. How could he believe Shannon over me?

LAUREN: It’s not a matter of believing Shannon. It’s--

COURTNEY: (interrupting, upset) It doesn’t matter. At this point, I don’t care if I ever see him again.

INT: CHASE HOME (UPSTAIRS HALLWAY)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

JASON has overheard Courtney’s last comment and steps back from the door, obviously hurt.

Out on Jason’s conflicting emotions as he absorbs the remark.

ACT FOUR

INT: CHASE HOME (UPSTAIRS HALLWAY)
MIDDAY

JASON has just heard Courtney say that she doesn’t care if she ever sees him again. His hand half-raised to knock on her bedroom door, he rushes off, obviously upset.

INT: CHASE HOME (COURTNEY’S ROOM)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

COURTNEY sits on the bed, talking to LAUREN, who sits on the floor painting her fingernails.

LAUREN: You don’t mean that, Courtney. You love him.

Courtney thinks this over in her head for a moment.

COURTNEY: You’re right. I didn’t mean what I said. If I never saw him again -- I would probably die, no kidding. (beat) But that doesn’t mean I’m not pissed.

LAUREN: Of course not. You just need a few more days to cool down.

COURTNEY: I know. The only way to truly get Jason to believe me is to get that film back from Shannon -- and that’s what I intend to do.

EXT: CHASE HOME
MIDDAY

DON is still up on the ladder, fastening Christmas lights to the gutter, when JASON storms out of the house looking upset.

DON: Is something the matter, Jason?

JASON: No, I’m fine, Mr. Chase -- really.

Without any further words, Jason gets into his car and starts it. As the car heads off down the block, Don develops a puzzled look before getting back to his task.

INT: TIM’S OFFICE
MIDDAY

TIM walks into the office and tosses a file folder onto his desk. He paces for a moment and then picks up the phone and dials a number.

TIM: (on phone) Hey, Claire?

CLAIRE (OS): Yeah?

TIM: I went through Diane’s office pretty well. I checked all of her desk drawers, I looked through the entire file cabinet -- nothing.

CLAIRE (OS): You didn’t find it?

TIM: Nope. What should I do next?

INT: TIM & CLAIRE’S APT. (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY

CLAIRE is talking on the phone as baby TRAVIS plays with some toys next to her.

CLAIRE: I think I’ve got an idea.

TIM (OS): What is it?

INT: FITCH MANSION (DANIELLE’S ROOM)
MIDDAY

DANIELLE and ANDY continue to flip through the DIARY, alternately reading and speaking and occasionally doing both.

DANIELLE: I really don’t believe this.

ANDY: It is pretty shocking.

DANIELLE: It’s pretty sick, if you ask me.

She holds the diary up and clears her throat.

DANIELLE (CONT’D): (reading) “Listening to the flames crackle, their screams of terror adding to the deafening sounds of the house collapsing ... I could barely contain myself.” This is crazy talk, Andy.

ANDY: Tell me about it. What kind of person could write something like this, even if it were fiction?

DANIELLE: A psycho person, that’s who. (beat) But I get the feeling we’re dealing with more than fiction here.

ANDY: Do you really think so?

DANIELLE: I know so -- I just know it. (beat) And that means there’s a homicidal maniac of the highest order on the loose.

EXT: SHANNON’S HOUSE
MIDDAY

A car pulls into the circular driveway. A bundled-up JASON steps out into the chilly early winter air and mounts the stone steps to the front door, where he rings the doorbell. A surprised SHANNON answers.

SHANNON: Jason! What a ... pleasant surprise. What brings you by?

JASON: A lot of things. Everything. I’m not sure.

SHANNON: (puzzled) Come on in.

He steps inside.

INT: SHANNON’S HOUSE (FOYER)
MIDDAY

JASON walks into the house and pulls his heavy coat off. He hangs it on a post of the staircase.

SHANNON: So what’s going on?

JASON: I don't know. I’m just upset ... upset and confused. I needed someone to talk to, and I had your address in my car. I had to come over. (beat) I hope I’m not interrupting anything.

SHANNON: No, no -- nothing at all. Listen, why don’t you sit down in the living room? I’ll make us some hot chocolate and then we can talk this all over, okay?

JASON: Sure. Thanks.

Shannon departs, a wicked smile on her face as she walks with her back to Jason.

INT: SHANNON’S HOUSE (LIVING ROOM)
MIDDAY -- CONTINUOUS

JASON sits down on a luxurious-looking couch and buries his face in his hands for a moment.

JASON (THINKING): How did I get into this mess? Will I ever be able to patch things up with Courtney?

INT: SHANNON’S HOUSE (KITCHEN)
MIDDAY

SHANNON puts a pot of water on the stove and turns the burner on. As she waits, she thinks to herself.

SHANNON (THINKING): This is too good. Maybe he had another fight with Courtney or something ... I know they’ve been arguing lately -- probably over me! Ha!

She scans the contents of her pantry but suddenly turns around. Located just off the kitchen is the dining room; she runs off and returns with a BOTTLE of liquor. She looks the bottle over as she speaks.

SHANNON (THINKING): Now this could make things interesting.

She holds up one of the mugs and begins to unscrew the cap of the liquor bottle.

ACT FIVE

INT: TIM’S OFFICE
AFTERNOON

TIM is still talking on the phone. The conversation seems to have been going on for some time.

TIM: (on phone) Are you sure about this, Claire? I mean ...

CLAIRE (OS): Believe me, Tim, I’m fine.

TIM: Okay, then.

INT: TIM & CLAIRE’S APT.
AFTERNOON

CLAIRE is talking on the phone. Baby TRAVIS is now playing with different toys.

CLAIRE: (on phone) Look, Tim, I trust you completely and totally. There is no doubt in my mind now that Diane tricked both of us -- I don’t believe you would ever be unfaithful to me.

TIM (OS): I’m glad you feel that way. (beat) So you’re sure about this plan?

CLAIRE: I’m positive. It’s the only way to bring Diane down.

INT: SHANNON’S HOUSE (LIVING ROOM)
AFTERNOON

Time has obviously elapsed here as well. JASON, looking very disoriented, takes the last sip from a mug and puts it down on the table a little too loudly. SHANNON sits nearby, looking perfectly fine.

JASON: And that’s hot chocolate number two for me. (beat) You know, I’m feeling kind of ... woozy.

SHANNON: It’s probably just the whole day catching up to you. You’re upset, aren’t you?

JASON: (drunkenly) I am. (beat) What’s wrong with this stuff?

He gestures towards the empty mug.

SHANNON: Nothing. I feel fine. Like I said, you’re just really upset.

JASON: Yeah, maybe.

SHANNON: And I think I know what would make you feel a whole lot better.

She leans in and kisses him deeply.

The kiss finishes. Jason sits back, breathing heavily. Shannon tries to guess his response by “reading” his eyes. He looks almost annoyed, but is unable to sort through his feelings in his inebriated state.

SHANNON (CONT’D): What’d you think of that?

JASON: I don’t know ... maybe this is what I need.

He moves towards and begins kissing her wildly as he pulls her shirt off.

END OF EPISODE #40

Next Episode

Main Page . Current Episode . Episode Archives . Story Recap . Characters . Making Prints . Interact . Around King's Bay . Links