Episode #48
Immediately After #47

TEASER

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
NIGHT

BRENT and MOLLY are seated at their table.

MOLLY: What do you mean, we have to talk about something?

BRENT: Look, Molly, a lot has happened in the last few months. I think we both kinda--

SARAH returns to the table.

SARAH: Hey, I’m back. What’s going on?

MOLLY: Not much.

BRENT: Not much at all.

BRIAN comes back to the table as well, carrying two glasses.

BRIAN: Here you go, Molly.

He hands her one of the drinks.

MOLLY: Thanks, Brian.

She notices him peeking outside.

MOLLY (CONT’D): What are you looking at?

BRIAN: It looks like something’s going on out on the terrace.

The other three turn their heads to look.

SARAH: Tim and Claire are out there.

BRENT: Who’re they talking to?

MOLLY: I don’t know. I can’t see. Can you tell, Brian?

Brian leans over but is still unable to see.

BRIAN: I can’t tell either. But something intense is definitely going on out there.

***

EXT: HOTEL TERRACE
NIGHT

TIM and CLAIRE are trying to talk DIANE down from the ledge.

TIM: Diane, please. Come down.

DIANE: I can’t, Tim. Too much has happened. It’s all such a mess.

CLAIRE: Diane, come on. You don’t wanna do this. Think about all you have to live for -- think about the baby.

DIANE: Shut up, you two-faced bitch! This is all your fault to begin with.

TIM: Diane, come on. You don’t wanna kill yourself, and you don’t wanna kill our baby.

Out on Diane, glancing back and forth between Tim and the street several stories below.

ACT ONE

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
NIGHT

JASON is standing near the buffet table. In the background, “Tearin’ Up My Heart” by ‘N Sync is playing.

Hearing this song causes him to remember that it was playing when he had his car accident.

          CUT TO:

INT: CAR
MORNING

JASON drives, as “Tearin’ Up My Heart” continues to play.

JASON: (sotto voce) I really blew it this time. Oh, Courtney, what are we gonna do now?

He sits back, consumed by his thoughts, as the song continues:

 “It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you
  And when we are apart I feel it too
  And no matter what I do I feel the pain
  With or without you ...”

Lost in the melody and visibly consumed by his painful predicament, Jason begins to get a glazed-over look in his eyes.

Suddenly the car swerves. He snaps out of his dazed state and turns the wheel furiously, but he is too late. The car disappears to the side as snow flies through the air. The sound of twisting metal is heard.

          CUT TO:

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
NIGHT

JASON snaps out of his flashback, looking tortured.

JASON: (sotto voce) That car crash was just an explosion of everything that had been building up. After that fight with Courtney, I had to go drunk and sleep with Shannon, didn’t I? It was so stupid!

He sighs loudly.

JASON: (sotto voce) I can never let anyone find out about that night. It would ruin everything Courtney and I are working so hard for now.

Across the room, SHANNON is standing with DJ.

SHANNON: I can’t thank you enough for coming to this party with me tonight.

DJ: No problem. Not like I had anything better to do.

SHANNON: Oh, you will definitely be put to use -- in bigger ways than you imagined.

DJ: (suddenly very interested, a sly grin on his face) Does that mean what I think it does?

SHANNON: Hell no! I’m not some kind of cheap ho ... I just didn’t wanna be here alone tonight.

DJ: As long as you tell me there’s a chance of something happening.

SHANNON: Fine. There’s a chance of something happening.

DJ looks satisfied.

SHANNON (THINKING): Although it’ll hopefully be between Jason and me.

At their table, BRENT, SARAH, MOLLY, and BRIAN are all standing as they try to get a look at the scene outside.

SARAH: Is that who I think it is out there?

MOLLY: You’re right -- I think it’s Diane!

Brian looks panic-stricken.

MOLLY (CONT’D): Should we go have a look at what’s going on?

BRIAN: I don’t think so.

MOLLY: Why not?

BRIAN: (awkwardly) Well, you know -- it’s kind of a delicate situation.

BRENT: Brian’s right. If Diane gets too embarrassed because people are watching or something, she could jump deliberately, or she could lose her balance and fall.

SARAH: That’s true. Yeah, it’s best that we stay away from the whole thing.

Brian quietly breathes a sigh of relief, but still looks privately troubled by Diane’s predicament.

***

EXT: HOTEL TERRACE
NIGHT

TIM takes DIANE, still on the ledge, by the hand as CLAIRE looks on.

TIM: Diane, you can’t do this. Please don’t.

DIANE: It’s too late, Tim. I have to do this.

CLAIRE: No--

Tim gestures to her to be quiet.

TIM: You can’t take away that innocent baby’s life.

DIANE: Why not? It’s not like either of us will have anything to live for ... it’s all so screwed up now.

TIM: Just come down. Come on.

DIANE: No--

CLAIRE: (interrupting) We’ll give you partial custody.

DIANE & TIM: (simultaneously, shocked) What?!?

CLAIRE: You heard me. It’s better that we split custody than the baby dies.

DIANE: Really?

CLAIRE: Sure.

TIM: There you go, Diane. Now come on down.

DIANE: (uncertain) Okay ... all right.

She grabs Tim’s hand with both hands and moves to climb down, but she loses her balance.

DIANE (CONT’D): (shrieking) Aaaaggghhh!!!

As she slips off the ledge, she screams in terror.

ACT TWO

EXT: HOTEL TERRACE
NIGHT

DIANE slips off the ledge as TIM grabs her hands with both of his. CLAIRE looks on in horror.

DIANE: Tim! Help me!

TIM: Don’t worry! I’ve got you!

CLAIRE: Can I do anything?

TIM: Yeah, come here. Help me pull her up.

As Tim grips Diane’s hands, Claire tries to snag the rest of her body.

CLAIRE: Can you kick your legs up or something?

DIANE: I’m not feeling all too athletic right now, seeing as how I’m very pregnant and dangling from a balcony!

CLAIRE: Just try, Diane -- please! For the baby!

DIANE: All right.

She swings her legs, but they don’t get high enough for Claire to grab. In doing this, Diane nearly slips away from Tim.

DIANE (CONT’D): (panicked) Tim! Help me!

TIM: Hang on, Diane! We’ll get you!

DIANE: I’m gonna die!!

CLAIRE: Don’t think like that! Just try to pull yourself up.

Claire takes Diane’s hands from Tim one at a time, and as she clutches them with both of hers, Tim bends over the balcony to grab Diane’s feet.

TIM: Try to kick them up again, Diane.

DIANE: This is gonna kill me!

TIM: And if you don’t try you’re gonna wind up splattered on the pavement anyway, so wouldn’t you at least go out trying?

DIANE: Fine.

She swings her legs up, and this time Tim is able to grab one of them. She brings the other one back up, and he gets ahold of it. He and Claire are able to hoist her back onto the balcony.

DIANE (CONT’D): (stunned) I’m alive ... I’m alive ...

TIM: Just breathe. C’mon, breathe.

Diane takes some deep breaths.

CLAIRE: How do you feel?

DIANE: Fine. I’m fine. Just a little exhausted.

TIM: We should get you to a hospital.

DIANE: That’s probably a good idea. (beat) If I’m gonna have some custody of this baby, I want it in tip-top shape!

Claire shoots a devious look at Tim.

CLAIRE: Why don’t we head inside?

They help her up and go inside the hotel again.

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
NIGHT -- CONTINUOUS

TIM, CLAIRE, and DIANE come back inside. All the PEOPLE who had gathered to watch disperse as they enter. BILL and DON step aside.

DON: Was that girl trying to kill herself?

BILL: Sure looked like it. But after all the stuff she pulled with Tim and Claire, I wouldn’t put it past her to do something like that just for attention.

DON: That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?

BILL: What I think is that she’s a bit insane.

The song that is playing fades out as the DJ comes over the speaker system.

MAN (OS): Okay, everyone, it’s time to start the count until the New Year. Here we go ...

A large digital clock displaying 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 14 seconds comes into view. As it hits “10 seconds,” the crowd begins to count down with it.

ALL: Ten ... nine ... eight ... seven ... six ... five ... four ... three ... two ... one! Happy New Year!

The room erupts in cheers as “Auld Lang Syne” begins to play.

BRENT and SARAH kiss passionately, but as they pull out of it, Brent catches out of the side of his eye MOLLY and BRIAN kissing.

ANDY and DANIELLE click champagne glasses and then kiss as well, both appearing consumed by their passion.

Standing next to each other, JASON and COURTNEY turn to each other, and after looking awwardly at one another for a few moments, they kiss each other politely on the cheek.

SHANNON, meanwhile, grabs DJ and plants a deep kiss on his lips.

DJ: Wow! What was that for?

SHANNON: Just shut up and keep kissing me.

She pulls him back into her arms for another kiss. Courtney catches sight of this.

COURTNEY: Will you look at her? It’s pathetic!

JASON: The more you talk about her, the more I’m beginning to see that she has definite issues.

COURTNEY: She’s completely obsessed with you, can’t you see?

JASON: I can tell. I just need to get through this skating season with her and I’ll be fine. (beat) I’m beginning to believe that she was involved in the attack on you.

COURTNEY: I’ve been saying it all along! She just had -- has -- too much of a motive to disregard. And the way she’s been acting lately hasn’t helped.

JASON: I know. There’s something definitely not right with her ... I just can’t figure out what.

ACT THREE

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
NIGHT

TIM and CLAIRE are standing near the entrance to the room with DIANE. BILL approaches them.

BILL: Are you guys heading home?

TIM: Actually, we’re gonna take Diane over here to the hospital to get checked out.

BILL: Okay. We’ll see you later, then, okay?

TIM: Yeah. Bye.

CLAIRE: Goodnight.

Tim, Claire, and a resentful-looking Diane all leave the room.

ANDY and DANIELLE are now dancing to the tune of “To Love You More” by Celine Dion.

DANIELLE: Are you having a good time?

ANDY: I certainly am. It was nice of the Fishers to invite us tonight.

DANIELLE: I know. They’re great people. (beat) I have never had so much fun ringing in the New Year ... especially the midnight part.

ANDY: That was quite a kiss, if I do say so myself.

DANIELLE: Go right ahead. Say it as much as you want.

She rests her head on his shoulder.

DANIELLE (CONT’D): I love being with you, Andy.

ANDY: And I love being with you. You have brought me so much happiness in the few months we’ve known each other ... I’d have to say you’re my best friend.

DANIELLE: And you’re mine. When I came to King’s Bay, I thought I would have so much trouble meeting people. But look what happened -- I met a man who I genuinely enjoy spending time with, and who enjoys my company without having any ulterior motives.

ANDY: Now hopefully, if you don’t object, we can take this beyond the “best friend” stage.

DANIELLE: We’re already on our way out of it. But that’s something I never want to lose. It’s so important in a relationship.

ANDY: You’re right.

She looks up at him and they kiss again.

BRENT (OS): Can we please have everyone’s attention?

All heads turn towards the stage, where BRENT and SARAH are holding microphones.

BRENT (CONT’D): First of all, we want to wish everyone a terrific 1999!

The guests erupt in cheers.

BRENT (CONT’D): But we also have an important announcement to make.

SARAH: Well, this is pretty much the first anyone has heard of this, including our families. Brent and I turned in our resignations to the King’s Bay PD earlier this week.

The guests, PAULA in particular, look surprised.

PAULA: Why?

SARAH: We’ve accepted jobs with a private investigation firm. It’s located here in King’s Bay, but this means that we will probably spend a good deal of time away from home working on cases.

BRENT: So we’ll still be around, just not as much.

He scans the crowd and sees MOLLY, who looks up at him. Her face appears slightly strained, almost disappointed.

ACT FOUR

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
AFTER MIDNIGHT

MOLLY and BRIAN are sitting at a table, chairs pulled out and facing each other.

BRIAN: I cannot begin to tell you how much fun I’ve had tonight. It was great ... except for that little interruption by my-- uh, boss, it was terrific.

MOLLY: I know. I’ve had a great time.

BRIAN: Listen, Molly, I know you’ve been through a lot, so I don’t wanna rush you at all. But I have enjoyed spending time with you more than I’ve enjoyed anything in a really long time. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I was wondering if you’d be interested in ... well, in continuing to date.

MOLLY: I’d like that. (beat) I’d like that a lot.

They smile sweetly at each other.

Across the room, JASON approaches COURTNEY.

JASON: Hey.

COURTNEY: Oh, hi. How are you holdin’ up?

JASON: Pretty well. (beat) I know we’ve been interrupted about a million times, but I would really like to try to finish the conversation we started the other day. You know ... about you and me.

COURTNEY: That’s probably a pretty good idea.

From afar, SHANNON is watching them with DJ by her side.

SHANNON: Will you look at that? It’s disgusting! Look at the way she’s throwing herself at him!

DJ: Looks pretty normal to me.

SHANNON: Yeah, well, you’re a moron!

They continue to watch Jason and Courtney. Shannon manages to catch Jason’s eye for a moment. She turns to DJ.

SHANNON (CONT’D): Quick, kiss me. I need to make Jason jealous.

DJ begins to move in towards her and then stops.

DJ: That’s all this is about, isn’t it? The only reason I’m here is so you can make that guy jealous!

SHANNON: Shh! Keep it down! (beat) And for the record, as I said before, I also didn’t want to show up alone.

DJ: Well, too bad, baby. I’m outta here!

DJ takes off and heads for the door.

SHANNON: (panicky) DJ--

He turns around.

SHANNON (CONT’D): (suddenly composed) Never mind.

DJ leaves the room. Shannon turns back to look at Jason and Courtney, who pretend to be talking so as to not appear to have been watching DJ’s exit.

SHANNON (CONT’D): (sotto voce) I’ve gotta stop them.

She takes another glance at Jason and Courtney, who are now talking for real.

SHANNON (CONT’D): (sotto voce) It’s time to pull out the big guns.

ACT FIVE

INT: HOTEL BALLROOM
NIGHT

MOLLY and BRIAN are now dancing. The current song draws to a close and “Viva Forever” by the Spice Girls begins. Brian pulls Molly in a little closer.

BRIAN: I love this song.

Molly glances across the dance floor and sees BRENT and SARAH dancing as well.

          CUT TO:

FLASHBACK

INT: RECEPTION HALL
EVENING

“Viva Forever” plays. BRENT and SARAH, dressed in wedding garb, are dancing closely. MOLLY and JOSH are dancing politely. She looks up for a moment and catches Brent’s eye. The sparks fly between them as their eyes connect. Both soon break the stare, looking disturbed.

          CUT TO:

MOLLY and BRIAN are dancing as “Viva Forever” plays. She looks away from BRENT, who is dancing with SARAH.

MOLLY: (distracted) Yeah ... I love this song too.

Meanwhile, COURTNEY and JASON are talking.

COURTNEY: Look, I know I haven’t been entirely fair to you. I just got so upset when you told me you’d need proof to that Shannon was behind the attack on me. But Lauren talked some sense into me, and I see where you’re coming from.

JASON: No, I’m to blame too. I mean, I should’ve taken your word for it -- plus you had a witness to go along with it. I should’ve helped you investigate or something.

COURTNEY: You were right -- you couldn’t throw away this whole season because I suspected Shannon of something.

JASON: But it’s a big something. And now that Dave has been arrested, maybe he’ll wind up turning her in.

COURTNEY: I hope so, but somehow I doubt it. (beat) My luck’s not that good.

JASON: You’ve had a rough year, haven’t you?

COURTNEY: You might say that.

JASON: First the accident kept you off the ice for months, then you thought you were going insane, and then you got attacked.

COURTNEY: But I made it through.

JASON: I can tell.

COURTNEY: And I couldn’t have done it without you. Jason--

A hand pulls on Courtney’s shoulder and turns her around. It belongs to SHANNON, holding a glass of champagne.

SHANNON: This is quite a cozy little conversation we’re having, huh?

COURTNEY: Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. So why can’t you take a hint and butt out?

SHANNON: Oh, I just happen to know something you might want to know about, Courtney.

COURTNEY: Fine ... what is it?

SHANNON: Keep in mind that I’m just looking out for your best intentions, Court.

COURTNEY: Oh, yeah. How could I forget? (beat) Now what is it?

SHANNON: Do you remember the night of the snowstorm?

COURTNEY: Yeah ...

SHANNON: When Jason over here had that little car crash?

COURTNEY: Yeah ...

Jason looks alarmed.

JASON: Shannon, really--

COURTNEY: No, hang on, Jason. I wanna hear this.

SHANNON: Well, Jason came over to my house to talk things out. It turns out somebody had made him very, very upset. Do we have any idea who that might have been?

COURTNEY: I know, Shannon. We had a fight. Maybe Jason said some things that he regrets while he venting. But that’s behind us now.

SHANNON: Oh, no. He didn’t just say something -- he did it.

Jason’s eyes open wide.

JASON: Please, Shannon--

SHANNON: And he definitely didn’t regret it. Ain’t that right, Jason?

COURTNEY: What in the hell are you talking about, Shannon?

SHANNON: Let’s just say that Jason and I got very cozy that night. So cozy, in fact, that we woke up in the same bed the next morning ... and our clothes were thrown all over the room.

Courtney looks stunned.

COURTNEY: What?!?

SHANNON: You heard me. (beat) Now if you don’t mind, I’ve gotta be getting home.

She heads for the door.

COURTNEY: Is that true, Jason? Did you sleep with her?

JASON: Courtney, I -- look, it didn’t--

COURTNEY: (infuriated) I don’t want to hear it! I can’t believe this!

She throws her arms up in utter bewilderment.

Standing by the door, Shannon eyes the developing argument with a satisfied smile. The vixen downs the last of her champagne and puts the glass down on a table.

SHANNON: (sotto voce) Happy New Year, you lousy bitch.

Hold on Shannon’s devious grin.

END OF EPISODE #48

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