Episode #77
Two Days After #76

TEASER

INT: CHASE HOME (COURTNEY’S BEDROOM)
EVENING

As COURTNEY applies her makeup in front of the mirror, the radio blasts Britney Spears’s "Baby One More Time." Courtney rocks back and forth to the music as she finishes putting her lipstick on.

As she starts with the mascara, she begins to sing along:

COURTNEY: (accompanying the music) Show me how you want it to be ... tell me baby, ‘cause I need to know now, oh because ...

As the chorus picks up, she drops the mascara onto the table and begins dancing, singing along at a considerable volume.

COURTNEY: (singing) My loneliness is killing me (and I) I must confess that I still believe – still believe – when I’m not with you I lose my mind – give me a sign ... Hit me baby one more time!

As she wraps up the chorus dramatically, she hears a bit of light clapping behind her. Turning, she finds JASON standing in the open doorway.

JASON: Bravo, bravo.

COURTNEY: How long have you been there?

JASON: Just long enough to conclude that my girlfriend is, oh, insane.

COURTNEY: Gee, thanks.

She returns to the mirror and finishes up with the mascara.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): What are you doing here, anyway?

JASON: I had to run some errands for my mom for tonight, and I was passing by on the way home, so I thought maybe I’d bring you over to our house.

COURTNEY: Yeah, sure. I was gonna go over with my parents, but I’m sure they won’t mind. (pause) Just give me a sec.

She continues carefully administering the cosmetics to her face as Jason stands nearby, watching with love in his eyes.

***

INT: FISHER HOME (DINING ROOM)
EVENING

PAULA is shuffling around forks, knives, plates, and napkins on the dining room table, which has been extended through the use of an additional, smaller table. BILL enters from the kitchen, wearing an apron.

BILL: Are you still playing with this? It looks fine.

PAULA: I just want everything to be perfect. After all, Sarah and Brent are going to be here for the first time in months. I want it to be a special night.

BILL: I’m sure it’ll be great. Don’t worry.

PAULA: I hope so.

She steps back, examining the table from afar with a critical eye. Picking up on a discrepancy, she moves in and adjusts the long tablecloth slightly -- what appears to be only a fraction of an inch.

PAULA (CONT’D): That’s much better.

Bill raises an eyebrow, amused by the nervous antics of his wife.

BILL: If you say so ...

PAULA: Aren’t you excited, Bill? Our little girl is coming home!

BILL: She’s not so little anymore, Paula. Let me remind you, that little girl is bringing her husband.

PAULA: You’ve got a point there. Still, I just pray everything goes all right.

ACT ONE

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
EVENING -- A LITTLE LATER

Now out of the apron and full attired for the evening, BILL crosses the living room as the doorbell rings. PAULA rushes down from upstairs, affixing the second of her earrings as her husband opens the door. Happily awaiting the return of their daughter and son-in-law, Bill pulls the door open ... to reveal TIM and CLAIRE.

BILL: (sarcastically) Oh, it’s only you.

Tim makes a face at him as he and Claire enter. They place their coats on the coat rack.

PAULA: Oh, you didn’t bring the kids? We would’ve loved to have him here!

TIM: We got a babysitter, sorry. Neither of us thought it would be a good idea to bring two screaming children to what was supposed to be a relaxing evening.

PAULA: Bill, will you close the door? It’s freezing ...

BILL: Hang on -- there’s someone else here too!

Several seconds later, BRIAN walks through the open doorway. Greetings are exchanged as MOLLY comes down the stairs to greet her date.

MOLLY: Hey there ...

BRIAN: Hey.

He throws his arms around her and gives her a kiss directly on the lips.

PAULA: Now you can shut the door, Bill!

He moves to do this, but pauses midway.

PAULA (CONT’D): Let me guess -- someone else is here.

BILL: The guests of honor, no less!

Not long after, BRENT and SARAH burst in. An ecstatic Paula gives her daughter a tremendous hug and then does the same to a somewhat surprised Brent. Bill gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek and shakes his son-in-law’s hand.

BILL (CONT’D): It’s nice to have you two back.

Brent and Sarah turn to the rest of the people present, but both their eyes momentarily freeze on Molly, held within Brian’s arms. Sarah appears pleasantly surprised ... but not Brent.

ACT TWO

INT: FISHER HOME (DINING ROOM)
EVENING -- LATER

All the guests are now present. JASON and COURTNEY stand in a corner, huddled together and whispering to one another, when TIM approaches them.

TIM: (teasingly) In case you didn’t realize, there are other people in the room ...

Jason looks at Courtney, pretending to not have heard a thing.

JASON: Hey, Courtney, did you hear something?

COURTNEY: Nope, not me. I didn’t hear a thing.

JASON: Oh, it must’ve been the wind, then.

Tim chuckles.

TIM: Hey, for all the crap I plan on giving you, I really am glad to see you too happy together.

COURTNEY: Thank you. (pause) You and Claire are doing pretty well yourselves, aren’t you?

TIM: I have to admit, yeah. Now that we both realize Diane is incapable of being trusted, things have become a lot simpler.

JASON: Dad mentioned something about Diane moving. Is she actually gonna do it?

TIM: I think so.

JASON: Well, that’s good, then. It means she’s actually giving up on you.

TIM: Yeah, but there’s the Samantha issue. Neither of us feel very comfortable sending her out to be with Diane like four times a year. If she’s shown us one thing, it’s that she ain’t responsible.

COURTNEY: But you have to let her have that time with her kid, don’t you?

TIM: Yeah, we do. (pause) We’re just worried about how she’s gonna abuse that privilege.

Across the room, SARAH and BRENT are talking with CLAIRE.

SARAH: I wish you guys had brought the kids! I’m sure Travis has grown tons -- and we’ve never even met Samantha!

CLAIRE: Don’t worry, you’ll get the chance. (pause) They’ve got quite the little personalities, though. Travis is walking now, so he’s always thrashing around and stirring up trouble ... and Samantha -- well, she’s only three months old, but I tell you, that girl has already figured out how cute she is. She definitely knows how to use that to her advantage.

BRENT: It seems so surreal to think that you guys have kids. I mean, you really aren’t much older than us -- it’s strange to think that we could actually become parents right now.

CLAIRE: Yeah, but when the kids get here, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Brent notices ANDY and DANIELLE talking in the living room.

BRENT: If you guys will excuse me, I’m gonna go catch up with my sister.

SARAH: Go right ahead, honey.

With that, Brent heads off.

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
EVENING – CONTINUOUS

BRENT makes his way over to ANDY and DANIELLE.

BRENT: Hey, big sis.

DANIELLE: Hey!

She gives him a big hug.

BRENT: Hey, Andy.

ANDY: Welcome back, Brent.

DANIELLE: So how does it feel to be home?

BRENT: Well, seeing as how we got in late last night, crashed at a terrible hotel, and then spent part of today arguing.

DANIELLE: Why? Is something wrong?

Brent begins to speak, but appears uncomfortable.

BRENT: Andy, could you excuse us? There’s something I need to talk to my sister about.

ANDY: Sure thing.

Andy heads back to the dining room.

DANIELLE: So what’s wrong with you and Sarah?

BRENT: Lately … let’s just say very little is right. To make a long story short, Sarah and I have very different opinions about the case we just wrapped up. She’s pissed at me for turning over the evidence to the cops because she thinks an innocent guy is being set up.

DANIELLE: And I gather you don’t share her opinion.

BRENT: I don’t necessarily want this guy to go to jail if he is innocent, but all clues point to him.

DANIELLE: So Sarah just thinks he’s not guilty?

BRENT: Exactly … I don’t know why. Apparently at some point this guy became more important than me.

He shakes his head, unable to understand what is going on in his marriage.

ACT THREE

INT: FISHER HOME (DINING ROOM)
EVENING

JASON, COURTNEY, and TIM are talking in a corner.

JASON: Don’t worry about it. I don’t think Diane would try to harm Samantha.

TIM: Neither do I, but it doesn’t mean she won’t try to run off with her.

COURTNEY: Have your lawyer take a look at the situation. See if he can do anything about it.

TIM: That’s what we’re thinking of doing.

He looks around the room.

TIM (CONT’D): Speaking of which, if you guys don’t mind, I’m gonna go say hi to my wife and my sister.

COURTNEY: I’ll come with you. Coming, Jason?

JASON: I’ll catch up with them later. I’m gonna go see if Mom needs anything.

Tim and Courtney head across the room. Jason walks towards the kitchen.

INT: FISHER HOME (KITCHEN)
EVENING – CONTINUOUS

JASON enters the kitchen, but instead of his mother, he finds HELEN checking on the food in the oven.

JASON: Hey. Have you seen my mom?

HELEN: Oh, she ran upstairs to get something or other.

JASON: Oh, okay. Thanks.

He begins to walk out of the room.

HELEN: Jason?

He stops in his tracks and turns around.

JASON: Yeah?

HELEN: I’m glad we have a minute to talk. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.

JASON: Fire away.

HELEN: All right. (pause) Have you noticed anything … odd about Courtney’s behavior lately?

JASON: What do you mean?

HELEN: Well … it seems like she’s becoming obsessed with this whole Shannon thing. After Don’s accident, she was convinced Shannon was out to get her. And that death threat …

JASON: I know what you mean.

HELEN: I guess what I’m trying to ask you is this … Do you think Courtney’s losing touch with reality?

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
EVENING

BRENT and DANIELLE are speaking in somewhat hushed voices.

DANIELLE: I’m sure he’s not more important to her, Brent. But you know how Sarah is -- when she sets a goal for herself, she’s gonna do it. And it seems like she believes enough in this guy’s innocence to fight for him.

BRENT: I guess. I just hate being made the bad guy in all this because I did my job.

DANIELLE: Don’t worry about it. It sounds like this’ll clear itself up.

BRENT: I hope you’re right.

She takes him by the arm and pulls him slightly further away from everyone else.

DANIELLE: Actually, I’m glad you got rid of Andy for a minute.

BRENT: Why? Don’t tell me you guys are having problems too!

DANIELLE: It’s not "us," no. Things have been great ever since we stood up to Katherine. And Andy said he went back there to get some stuff the other day, and she actually agreed to try to accept us.

BRENT: Sounds like you’re making progress.

DANIELLE: Hopefully. I just don’t understand what that woman’s problem is.

BRENT: Probably almost choked on the damn silver spoon that was in her mouth when she was born.

DANIELLE: You never know.

BRENT: So if you and Andy are doing so well, why are you so glad I got rid of him?

ACT FOUR

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
EVENING

While DANIELLE and BRENT talk on one side of the room, BILL and DON are having a more lighthearted discussion on the other side.

DON: So the doctors tell me everything should be fine.

BILL: Thank God for that.

DON: I know. It’s amazing I wasn’t killed when I fell off that ladder.

BILL: Again, just be thankful.

DON: Believe me, I am.

He gazes around the room, noting the three paintings hanging on the Fishers’ walls.

DON (CONT’D): You and Paula definitely have good taste when it comes to art.

BILL: Give her the credit. I don’t know the first thing about art -- other than what I like and dislike. (pause) You, on the other hand ...

DON: Yeah, but it’s more than just a career to me. Painting has always been a big escape for me -- especially lately.

BILL: After everything that happened with Courtney and Shannon and then the fall from the ladder?

DON: Well, yes ...

He hesitates, a touch of uncertainty in his face.

DON (CONT’D): Can I confide in you about something, Bill?

BILL: Sure.

DON: Okay, because there’s something I need someone to talk to about, and I really do trust you as a friend. Just keep in mind that what I’m telling you, I’m telling you in total confidentiality.

BILL: I promise I’ll keep my mouth shut.

DON: Oh, thank you! (he lowers his voice) Recently, well ... something has happened that I’m afraid could ruin my life as I know it.

INT: FISHER HOME (KITCHEN)
EVENING

A concerned HELEN awaits a reaction from JASON.

HELEN: Seriously, do you think something might be wrong with Courtney?

JASON: I ... I hate to even consider this possibility, but I can’t say I haven’t thought about it either.

HELEN: Has she done anything particularly odd lately?

JASON: Not as of late, no. But every time Shannon or any of the things that have happened lately come up in conversation ...

HELEN: You mean, Don’s accident or the death threat?

JASON: Yeah. It’s like she goes on this warpath -- she’s determined to prove that Shannon is out to get her.

HELEN: That’s what has me worried. There’s really no way Shannon could be doing any of this, but Courtney won’t accept that. (pause) It’s like she’s becoming obsessed.

JASON: I know what you mean. (pause) I just hope you’re wrong.

INT: FISHER HOME (LIVING ROOM)
EVENING

Meanwhile, DANIELLE has just explained the stipulations of the record deal she was offered to BRENT.

BRENT: So you’d have to go away for a year?

DANIELLE: Yep. I just don’t think I could make Andy wait an entire year for me.

BRENT: But if he loves you, it shouldn’t even be an issue.

DANIELLE: Still ...

She begins absentmindedly fiddling with her hands.

DANIELLE (CONT’D): I guess I’m worried that if I’m gone for that long, he’s gonna fall back in Katherine’s little trap. We’d be right back at square one.

BRENT: This is the break you’ve been waiting for, correct?

DANIELLE: Yeah.

BRENT: And you’re sure Andy really does love you?

DANIELLE: Yeah.

BRENT: Then take the offer, okay?

DANIELLE: I keep waffling back and forth in my mind. It’s like I can’t bring myself to a solid decision.

BRENT: You just needed -- and maybe still need -- time to consider it. All I’m saying is, you’d be insane to let an offer like this slip away.

Danielle nods passively, her mind clouded by "what if’s?" and other complications.

Suddenly MOLLY approaches them.

MOLLY: Hey, guys.

BRENT: Molly!

He appears thrilled to see her and moves to give her a huge hug, but stops at merely a polite one.

BRENT (CONT’D): It’s so great to see you.

MOLLY: You too.

The look on Danielle’s face explains her sudden feeling of being on the outside of whatever is going on.

DANIELLE: If you two will excuse me, I’m gonna go find that man of mine.

BRENT: Okay. I’ll catch up with you later.

Danielle walks off.

BRENT (CONT’D): So, how have you been?

MOLLY: Great -- really, really great. I’ve had a whole bunch of job interviews lately.

BRENT: How did they go?

MOLLY: Pretty well -- or so it seemed. I guess I’ll have to wait until they call me back to really find out.

BRENT: Don’t worry about it. You’re gonna have to fight them off with a club.

MOLLY: (a smile on her face) I hope so. (pause) I’m so glad you guys are home.

BRENT: So am I.

MOLLY: I missed having someone around to bitch about all my problems with.

BRENT: And I missed hearing you bitch.

MOLLY: I must say, Danielle did an admirable job of stepping into that role, though.

BRENT: I’m glad to hear it.

VOICE: (angrily) Molly, what are you doing?!?!

Both Brent and Molly turn to see SARAH, arms folded, staring at her older sister with hostility ablaze in her eyes.

END OF EPISODE #77

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