Episode #79
The Day After #78

TEASER

INT: VISION PUBLISHING (TIM’S OFFICE)
AFTERNOON

Bent over his desk, TIM is wrapping up some paperwork when there is a knock on the door. He looks up to find CLAIRE standing in the open doorway.

TIM: Hey! You got here in great time.

He rises and makes his way over to his wife, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

CLAIRE: I dashed out of the hospital the minute my shift was over. Why’d you need me to come over here, anyway?

TIM: I got a phone call about an hour ago ...

Claire turns around, noticing her husband’s sudden attention to the doorway as he trails off. She finds their lawyer, GREG THOMPSON, standing there.

CLAIRE: Hey, Greg!

She turns to Tim.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): So I presume Greg has something to do with your wanting me to come over.

TIM: Actually, yeah. So what did you need to talk to us about, Greg?

GREG: I’m afraid I have some bad news.

***

INT: CHASE HOME (REC ROOM)
AFTERNOON

JASON and COURTNEY, each carrying a can of soda, descend down the stairs into the basement-turned-rec room. Immediately Jason heads for the couch, popping open his soda as he plops himself down.

JASON: I am so glad I managed to get through my classes today. I swear, I thought I was gonna fall asleep the whole day.

COURTNEY: Hey, I warned you about the way you scheduled ‘em.

JASON: No, it’s not only that. After all the excitement last night, I couldn’t get to sleep. I practically dragged myself around campus all day.

COURTNEY: Well, you’re here now ...

Standing behind him, she lowers down slightly and begins rubbing his shoulders.

JASON: Oh, that feels good ...

He throws his head back, simply enjoying this for a moment, before he begins speaking again.

JASON (CONT’D): I thought your dad was gonna have a stroke after he found the tires slashed.

COURTNEY: I know. He was acting really, really weird. (pause) It’s not the first time, though.

JASON: What do you mean?

He turns around, disrupting the massage.

COURTNEY: He’s always been a little odd, but ever since the ladder incident ... it seems like he gets really mad really fast, but then it goes away just as quickly.

JASON: Maybe he’s just in pain and all his frustration just kinda blows up after awhile.

COURTNEY: I guess.

His head now facing forward again, she resumes massaging his shoulders.

JASON: You would not believe how good that feels ...

They are interrupted by the ringing of the telephone.

COURTNEY: ... and I guess you’ll just have to wait for the rest of it, buddy boy. I’ve gotta get that.

She crosses the room and picks up the portable phone off its receiver. She brings it to her ear as she pushes the "talk" button.

COURTNEY: (on phone) Hello?

There is no response.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): Hello?

She hears only silence.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): Hello?!?

A puzzled look crosses her face as Jason looks on.

ACT ONE

INT: VISION PUBLISHING (TIM’S OFFICE)
AFTERNOON

TIM and CLAIRE await the "bad news" from GREG.

CLAIRE: What’s wrong?

GREG: I did like you guys asked and went over the full custody settlement again. Unfortunately, there aren’t any restrictions against Diane taking Samantha out of the state.

TIM: Are you serious?

Greg simply nods.

CLAIRE: Dammit!

She shakes her head, unable to understand how there could be such a loophole.

CLAIRE (CONT’D): How could something like this slide by?

GREG: If you remember, the judge made it clear at the hearing that she felt Diane, despite her irresponsibility, does love her daughter and deserves to be with her.

TIM: She doesn’t deserve anything!

GREG: Well, I’m afraid there’s really nothing we can do about it.

CLAIRE: Can’t we go back to court?

GREG: Good luck. In the time it’ll take for us to get a hearing even scheduled, Diane will probably have moved anyway. If she’s gonna do anything, it’ll just give her more reason to do it.

CLAIRE: I don’t believe this ...

DIANE: Believe it.

The three look to the doorway, where DIANE is leaning against the open door.

TIM: What do you want?

DIANE: I just dropped by to let you know something -- and it’s fortunate that Claire is here too.

CLAIRE: Well, go right ahead.

Diane strolls confidently to the center of the room.

DIANE: I’ve accepted the job offer in Los Angeles.

***

INT: CHASE HOME (REC ROOM)
AFTERNOON

Looking confused, COURTNEY hangs up the phone. JASON gets up off the couch and comes closer to her.

JASON: Nobody there?

COURTNEY: Yeah ... nothing but silence.

JASON: Probably some stupid kids dialing random numbers.

COURTNEY: (annoyed) Morons.

A playful grin crosses his face.

JASON: If I remember correctly, we spent quite a bit of our time doing the same thing.

COURTNEY: Yeah, well ...

She struggles to justify this.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): We were much cooler.

JASON: What?

He chuckles.

JASON (CONT’D): What kind of crap-ass explanation is that?

She begins laughing and collapses into his arms.

COURTNEY: Just shut up, smartass.

She simply lays her head on his chest for a minute, a smile still on her face. This peaceful moment is cut short by the telephone, which begins ringing once again.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): Hold right there.

She grabs the phone and turns it on.

COURTNEY: (on phone) Hello?

She rolls her eyes, again hearing nothing.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): Hello?!?

This time, there is heavy breathing on the other end.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): Who is this?

The breathing continues. Courtney simply turns the phone off and slams it back down on the receiver.

JASON: Same thing?

COURTNEY: Yeah -- but I could hear them breathing this time.

At this moment, HELEN peeks her head down the stairs.

HELEN: Who was on the phone?

JASON: It was just a prank call.

COURTNEY: (muttering) I don’t believe it.

HELEN: What?

COURTNEY: It’s obvious who just called.

JASON: Who?

COURTNEY: Shannon!

Jason and Helen’s eyes connect, both recalling their conversation the previous night about Courtney’s unhealthy obsession with her rival.

ACT TWO

INT: VISION PUBLISHING (TIM’S OFFICE)
AFTERNOON

TIM, CLAIRE, and GREG all stare at the cocky DIANE.

CLAIRE: You what?

DIANE: I took the job.

CLAIRE: How could you do that? Weren’t you thinking about your daughter at all?

DIANE: Of course! What I was thinking was that I’d like my time with my daughter to be spent in a place where I’m not regarded as the town quackpot.

CLAIRE: Oh, you’ll have that problem wherever you go, dear.

DIANE: Shut up. (pause) My point is, I need a fresh start. This job is the perfect opportunity at the perfect time.

TIM: How were you so sure you’d even be allowed to see Samantha if you moved to LA?

DIANE: Because, hon, I had my lawyer check it out.

She nods to Greg.

DIANE (CONT’D): And it looks like you did the same. And apparently, I win.

TIM: Yeah, well, don’t let it go to your head. I’m sure you’ll have plenty more screwups in your life.

DIANE: (in an exaggerated soothing tone) There, there, Tim. We don’t want there to be any hostility between us -- for Samantha’s sake, that is.

She cackles crazily as she departs the office.

CLAIRE: Damn her!

Tim simply shakes his head, disgusted by his boss’s attitude.

***

INT: CHASE HOME (HALLWAY)
AFTERNOON

HELEN emerges from the stairs. JASON and COURTNEY soon follow.

JASON: Courtney, there is no way Shannon is behind this!

COURTNEY: Why not?

JASON: Because--

HELEN: Honey, we have checked over and over. There’s no way Shannon could do any of this.

COURTNEY: And I’ve said it over and over: She doesn’t have to. She has someone doing it for her.

Helen sighs, dropping her shoulders in exasperation.

HELEN: This really isn’t healthy, Courtney.

COURTNEY: Oh yeah, but it’s real healthy for me to sit here acting all clueless while somebody plots Shannon’s revenge on me.

JASON: There is nobody "out to get you."

COURTNEY: Well, then, there have been an awful lot of strange coincidences, haven’t there? Let’s see: the broken window at the cabin, Dad’s accident, the death threat in my skating bag, the phone calls--

Her eyes widen.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): Of course!

JASON: What?

COURTNEY: The same person who did all that was the one who slashes our tires last night!

Helen sighs in complete frustration.

COURTNEY: You know what, Mom? Don’t believe me. Really, it’s okay. (pause) Just remember how you brushed me off when you find my body slashed up and tossed in a river, okay?

With that, she turns to head back down to the rec room. She does, however, catch Jason flashing Helen a sympathetic look.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): What, you too? You know what? Just leave me alone, all right? I’d rather not spend my time with a bunch of people who think I’m nuts!

She storms down the stairs.

Jason and Helen look at each other, speechless.

ACT THREE

INT: VISION PUBLISHING (DIANE’S OFFICE)
AFTERNOON

DIANE pushes the door open and ambles into the office, a broad smile still on her face. BRIAN follows several seconds later, having noticed his boss’s sheer excitement.

BRIAN: What’s with you?

DIANE: You would not believe what great timing I have!

She claps her hands together, enjoying the memory of several minutes earlier.

BRIAN: Why? What happened?

DIANE: No sooner had Tim and Claire’s lawyer come in to tell them that there’s not a damn thing they can do about me moving to LA, than I popped in and told them that I accepted the job!

BRIAN: You what?

DIANE: I took the job. (pause) Oh, you should’ve seen the look on Claire’s face. It was priceless.

BRIAN: You really took the job?

DIANE: Of course I did! Why wouldn’t I?

BRIAN: I--I don’t know ...

DIANE: What’s the matter?

She grabs his face from underneath the chin with one hand.

DIANE (CONT’D): (in a cloying, grandmotherly voice) You gonna miss me?

BRIAN: Well ... yeah. I mean, look at everything we’ve been through together.

DIANE: If it makes you feel any better, Brian, I’ll miss you too. (pause) But this is something I have to do.

She picks up a paperweight off the desk and turns it over in her hands several times somewhat absentmindedly.

DIANE (CONT’D): I mean, everyone in this town at least knows that I tricked a married man--

BRIAN: --with amnesia--

DIANE: --yes, with amnesia--into sleeping with me and that I had his kid. It doesn’t exactly make for the best reputation.

BRIAN: I can see your point there. (pause) I just wish you didn’t have to go.

DIANE: So do I. But I don’t have any other choice.

They embrace, both genuinely upset about this upcoming change.

***

INT: CHASE HOME (HALLWAY)
AFTERNOON

HELEN and JASON are left standing at the top of the stairs, baffled by Courtney’s sudden outburst and departure.

JASON: She didn’t take that too well.

Helen shakes her head.

HELEN: See what I mean? (pause) She’s really convinced that Shannon is after her.

JASON: I don’t know what to believe anymore ... I mean, it would make perfect sense for Shannon to be doing this, but how?

HELEN: I couldn’t tell you. I’m just really worried about her. If stuff like this keeps happening, I can’t see her holding up through it all.

JASON: I know. The one thing is, who else could be doing all this stuff?

HELEN: I have no idea. (pause) I just get the distinct impression that something must more mysterious than Shannon Parish’s revenge scheme is going on here.

JASON: I’m gonna go down and try to talk to her, okay?

HELEN: Go ahead.

Jason takes off down the stairs.

VOICE: Hey, pretty lady.

Helen turns around and is surprised to see DON all dressed up in a tuxedo, a radiant smile covering his face.

ACT FOUR

INT: CHASE HOME (REC ROOM)
AFTERNOON

JASON comes slowly down the stairs. He pauses at the bottom and spends a brief moment staring at COURTNEY, who is seated on the couch with her back to him.

JASON: Courtney?

COURTNEY: What do you want?

JASON: I just ... wanted to talk.

She still does not turn to face him and says nothing in response.

JASON (CONT’D): I’m sorry that we treated you like a crazy person just because you mentioned Shannon. It’s not fair.

COURTNEY: (coldly) No, it’s not.

JASON: We didn’t mean any harm, you have to understand that. Your mom and I -- we’re just worried about you.

Courtney sits, fuming, in silence for several seconds before abruptly speaking up. She remains facing away from Jason, however.

COURTNEY: You should be worried about me! Can’t you see that my life is in danger here?

JASON: I--

COURTNEY: (cutting him off) The only thing that every single one of these incidents has in common is that it centers around me. Now, I think that might freak you out a little, wouldn’t it?

JASON: Yeah, but--

COURTNEY: And how many archrivals do I have? Shannon vowed to get revenge on me -- and judging by the way she killed her own parents, I don’t take that threat too lightly.

***

INT: CHASE HOME (HALLWAY)
AFTERNOON

Meanwhile, upstairs, HELEN is surprised to find DON decked out in a tux with an exuberant expression beaming from his face.

HELEN: What are you doing, Don?

DON: Oh, I don’t know ... just getting ready to take my beautiful wife out for a night on the town.

He sweeps her into his arms and begins casually waltzing around the room. Amused, but even more bewildered, Helen brings the dancing to a halt.

HELEN: What has gotten into you?

DON: Why, nothing at all. I was just thinking: We don’t spend nearly as much time doing romantic things as we should. (pause) You don’t have plans, do you?

HELEN: No, of course not.

DON: Well, then, head on upstairs and get ready! We’re goin’ out!

HELEN: I don’t know if this is the best time, Don. Courtney just got some prank phone calls, and she blew up at Jason and me for suggesting that Shannon isn’t the one behind all this.

DON: (airily) She’ll be fine. She’s a strong girl.

He plants a deep kiss on his wife’s lips.

DON (CONT’D): Now get upstairs and get ready!

HELEN: (chuckling) If you say so!

She heads off upstairs, not quite sure what has gotten into her husband but nonetheless thrilled that he has an evening of romance planned.

ACT FIVE

INT: CHASE HOME (REC ROOM)
AFTERNOON

Her back to JASON, COURTNEY has tears brimming in her eyes as she speaks.

COURTNEY: I mean, look at the things that girl has done to ruin my life before! She did a damn good job of it for quite a while, too! Can’t you tell why I’d be a little scared?

JASON: Yes, I can. (pause) But look at it logically, too: How would Shannon go about hiring someone to do all of this to you? I mean, she literally has almost no interaction with the world outside that mental institution!

COURTNEY: She’d find a way if she wanted to, I’m sure of it.

Jason is unable to respond, unwilling to start an argument but also reluctant to agree with an idea that he finds to be less than believable.

COURTNEY (CONT’D): You know what, Jason? If you don’t wanna believe me about this, fine! Just get out of my house!

JASON: Courtney, I don’t wanna turn this into a fight--

COURTNEY: Too late! (pause) Just get out of here.

Defeated, he turns and heads up the stairs without another word.

***

INT: VISION PUBLISHING (HALLWAY)
AFTERNOON

The elevator dings and its doors open. A moment later, MOLLY steps out and heads toward the cubicles. Finding Brian’s empty, she addresses the woman in the adjacent cubicle.

MOLLY: Excuse me ... Have you seen Brian around? I really need to talk to him.

WOMAN: If I’m not mistaken, he had gone to the boss’s office a few minutes ago.

MOLLY: Diane’s office?

WOMAN: Yeah.

MOLLY: Thanks.

She heads off in the direction of the office, knowing its general location from previous visits.

***

INT: VISION PUBLISHING (DIANE’S OFFICE)
AFTERNOON

DIANE and BRIAN release each other from their embrace.

DIANE: And it’ll be hard for me to not have you around, but I’ll have to adjust. (pause) You’ve been a terrific friend to me, Brian.

BRIAN: It was my pleasure -- and I’d do it again.

DIANE: I can’t believe someone is still able to say that to me after all the horrible things I’ve done.

BRIAN: Hey, I’m hardly one to preach about good behavior. (pause) I can’t thank you enough for taking the fall for me with Tim and Claire.

DIANE: Believe me, how badly can one lie on top of all my other crimes hurt?

BRIAN: I guess so, but I still feel bad.

DIANE: Don’t worry about it, really.

BRIAN: I’m just so grateful that we got to Tim and Claire before they got to Molly and told her about how I helped you try to break them up.

Diane nods.

In the background, a stunned MOLLY stands outside the half-open door, looking as if she’s suddenly about to vomit.

END OF EPISODE #79

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