The
Nanny Connection
Prologue
1970
Rainy Night in
November
A
young woman steps out onto the little balcony of a garage apartment. She looks to the main house, where loud
arguing can be heard between a man and a woman.
The words can't be understood but it is a very heated battle. On the second floor of the main house, a
light comes on in the corner room. A
young boy of about seven or eight opens the window and looks out across to
where the woman is standing. He looks sad. The woman and boy exchange a slight nod. The woman steps back and closes the doors. The lights go out in the garage apartment. The outside door opens and the woman descends
the stairs out to the driveway. She is
carrying a suitcase. She has a raincoat
but no umbrella. She turns her collar up
against the weather. She looks up at the
young man and gives a weak smile. Tears
rolled down the boy’s face; he waves.
She walks down the driveway out of sight. The boy’s eyes follow her until she is gone from
view. An older girl, about sixteen,
enters the room and scolds the boy. She
physically pulls him away and slams the windows shut. The lights go off in the room. The arguing continues. The storm rages on.
DISSOLVE
TO PRESENT
The
rain streaks down the window panes of the French doors of an upper garage
apartment. The doors lead to a little
balcony too small to hold a chair or table.
Lightning flashes. The rooms of
the apartment are dark and look abandoned.
There are no drapes in the windows; nothing to make it look homey or
lived in. Lightning flashes again. Through the dirty windows, we see that one
room is full of boxes and pieces of furniture stacked up on each other. In the darkness, it seems it has always been
there, but has been clearly forgotten. Across
the yard in the main house is a similar balcony with French Doors, this balcony
is much larger. These doors lead to the
master bedroom.
Act I
Scene 1
Hayes /
Inside,
safe and warm from the bitter November night is our happy couple. David is sound
asleep on his stomach, arm hanging off the bed with only boxers covering him;
he is snoring softly. Just beyond is
Maddie, propped up with all the pillows including David's. She however is not sleeping. She looks miserably uncomfortable. She looks
to David and considers waking him. She
stops herself. She tries to adjust to
get more comfortable - not happening.
She checks the clock:
Maddie: (whispers softly)
David.
David
does not move.
Maddie
switches to plan B. She picks up a
magazine from the end table, one she has clearly read a dozen times before. It is sitting on top of various pregnancy and
child development books. Surprisingly
enough, it is not a parenting magazine; it's COSMOPOLITAN and the woman on the
cover looks like a very young, very thin Maddie Hayes. Maddie closes the magazine and studies the
young model. Maddie remembers those
early days clearly, but they feel like they happened in another lifetime. Maddie has come so far from that bright,
pretty, idealistic girl who had the world at her feet. Now she is forty plus, pregnant, hasn’t seen
her feet in months and her options are definitely narrowing – but not in a bad
way. She never could have imagined the
life she has currently, particularly the last five years. It wasn't planned. It wasn't even a passing thought. In fact, she is not sure she could connect
the dots from her sixteen year old self to her forty year old self but she is -
dare she truly believe it? - happy. A bright smile crosses her face - brighter
than any picture has ever captured on film.
The magazine drops to her lap and she places her hands on her swollen
abdomen. The baby moves again.
Maddie: It won't be long now, little one. I can’t wait to meet you, show you your room.
Introduce you to your father.
She
tosses a loving glance at David.
Maddie: We love you.
Your father and I will take good care of you.
A
thought crosses Maddie's mind -- one that has been edging her mind for weeks,
but has never made it to the surface until that moment. She looks over at David again. He hasn’t moved.
Maddie: (whispers softly)
David.
David
does not move.
Maddie: (louder) David.
David
does not move.
Maddie: (raised voice) David!
David
does not move.
Maddie
pulls a pillow out from behind her and 'drops' it down on David's head.
Maddie: (just shy of yelling) DAVID!
David
flies out of bed.
David: Who?
What? Where? When?
How?
He
looks over at Maddie and a wave of panic washes over him.
David: (frantic) Is it
time? It's time. I'm ready.
I'm ready. Where are my keys?
David
rushes to the closet. He pulls on a
fedora hat, a raincoat and sneakers that have no laces - so easy to slip on. He grabs Maddie's bag which has been packed
for two weeks and rushes to the bedroom door.
Maddie: David.
David: You stay there. I'm going to get the car and I'll be back to
help you down the stairs.
Maddie: David!
David: Should we call an ambulance? I'll call an ambulance.
David
rushes out the door and starts down the stairs.
David: (Off Screen; Shouting) What's
the number to
Maddie: (shouting) DAVID! I'm not in labor.
The
pounding down the stairs stops. The
footsteps climbing back up the stairs are decisive and slow. In a moment, he is again standing in the doorway,
none too happy.
David: (very slowly) Not in labor?
Maddie: (smiling) No.
David: (repeating) You are
not in labor.
Maddie: (amused) No. I'm a week away.
David: Dr. Weed said any time now.
Maddie: (grinning) Not now.
David
drops the bag by the door and cocks the hat back on his head. Maddie can't contain herself any more. She bursts out laughing.
David: (not amused) What's so funny?
Maddie: Look at yourself. You can't go out of the house like that…
they'd arrest you for indecent exposure.
David: What?
Maddie: You look like a flasher. And where did you
get that hat?
David: You like my hat, huh?
Maddie: It's not the only thing that ... stands out.
David
looks down and wraps the coat a little tighter.
David: Sorry, little David is still used to his
morning routine. He and I usually work it out in the shower.
Maddie: (wincing) Too much
information.
David: Did you think I was in there for so long
'cause I was conditioning my hair?
Maddie: (unimpressed) Your
showers aren't that long, David.
David: Nice. Really nice. Take a
guy's favorite toy away from him and then mock him for how he plays with
it. Really nice.
Maddie: That doesn't make sense.
David: The sun isn't even
out.
Maddie: You aren't the only one who's suffering, you
know? Raging hormones
over here. I may be as big as a
house but ... well, let just say the body is willing.
David: Your body is always willing ... just like
mine ... s'why we are a perfect match. (hitching a thumb
toward the door) You sure you aren't in labor? The sooner we get that kid out of there ...
the sooner we can start counting down --
Maddie: Not in labor.
Disappointed,
David looks over at the clock.
David: It's 5 AM ... what
are we doing up?
He
hangs the coat and hat back up and kicks his shoes across the room. He slips back in next to Maddie. He picks up the magazine that is lying across
her lap and studies the cover for a long moment.
David: (softly) You ain't got nothing on Maddie Hayes, kid.
He
tosses the magazine in the garbage.
Maddie is absolutely beaming. She
doesn’t believe him for a moment, but she is glad he thinks enough to say it.
He
settles back against the pillows and snuggles Maddie against his chest; the
position she likes best, with him supporting her lower back.
David: So spill it Blondie, what's with the wake-up
pillow-to-the-head?
Maddie: I was thinking about what's next.
David: Next?
Maddie: Yeah, next.
David: Another hour of sleep ... shower ... long
shower ... a really long shower ... breakfast and then off to work.
Maddie: Today is Saturday.
David: No rest for the wicked. Meeting a client at eight
at the office - got mouths to feed.
Maddie: That's not what I mean. I mean, what's next after the baby's born?
David: I thought we'd name him, feed him, teach him
how to use the bathroom, speak and dress himself
before we send him off to college so he can get a job and support us in our old
age.
Maddie: I was thinking about child care.
David: I'm for it.
I think we should care about this kid.
Maddie: David!
David: Maddie!
Maddie: (beat) We are not
putting our baby in day care.
David: Huh?
Maddie: Have you noticed how often Mickey is sick?
David: He has Viola blood.
Maddie: David!
David: Maddie! (beat) Ok. So, no day care. Do we need to talk about this now?
Maddie: Yes.
David: You stay home with him until he's twelve.
Maddie: David.
David: I will. I'm a much better Mr. Mom than Michael Keaton.
Maddie: Can you be serious?
David: Not until after my first cup of coffee. (beat) WHAT? We'll
take the kid to work with us.
Maddie: David!
David: We have seven built in baby sitters that are
already on staff.
Maddie: We are not taking our baby to work, exposing
him or her to our clients and our staff.
It won't work for an infant and definitely not when he is a toddler.
David: Toddler?
Where did that word come from?
Just because a person is a little unsteady on his feet he gets dubbed a
toddler.
Maddie: David.
David: Seems mean to pick on a kid like that.
Maddie: (frustrated) David, child care?
David: Look, you have an answer you are going for,
why not just tell me what I am supposed to say?
Maddie: Because this should be a discussion.
David: So I get to keep guessing until I get it
right? (Yawning) Should've
gotten me an hour ago.
David
puts his head back and starts absentmindedly stroking Maddie's side getting
dangerously close to her impressive breasts.
They are kind of hard to miss these days. She is clearly enjoying it. He puts his lips to her head and kisses.
David: Damn, you smell good.
He
nuzzles his nose down into the hair on the nape of her neck and moans.
Maddie: David.
He
brushes the hair away and kisses her neck again.
Maddie: David.
Stop.
David: Just being affectionate ... get your hormones
in check.
He
continues to nuzzle her.
Maddie: David.
David: Can't help it if I'm attracted to the mother
of my unborn child.
He
stops and looks at her with a warm happy smile.
Maddie: What?
David: Nothing.
(Grins) In a week, the kid won't be unborn ... you'll be my baby's
momma. Are you going to go by Mom,
Momma, Mummy, Mommy, Ma or Mammy? ‘Cause I am leaning toward Pappy at the moment.
Maddie: Pappy?
David: Yeah ... Dad just
sounds so ... you know ... Dad. Like I drive an Oldsmobile, hitch my jeans up
over my belly button and am tasked with all the corporal punishment. Do we need to plant a switch tree out behind
the woodshed? Do we have a woodshed?
Maybe I should start wearing belts that I can easily pull off?
Maddie: I've never seen you have any trouble getting
out of your clothes.
David: No ma'am - and you never will.
Maddie: There will be no corporal punishment.
David: How about private punishment
.. (he goes back to nuzzling) … just me and you
after the little one goes to bed? A time out ... some light spanking ... sent
to bed without supper ... or clothes.
Maddie: Can we get back to talking about child care?
David: When I was a kid there was an old single lady
down the street - Mrs. Rubens - who used to watch us when my mom had to
work. She locked us in the bedroom with
the cats and watched soap operas, smoking Pall Malls and drinking vodka out of
a Flintstones Juice glass.
Maddie: David!
That's not true.
David: Of course I was ten at the time and that was
before she was taken away for --.
Maddie: No Mrs. Rubens.
David: I don't think she is up for parole yet anyway. (beat) The Sinisgalli's granny watched them after Mr. Sinisgalli took off with the Avon Lady and Mrs. Sinisgalli had to get two jobs. Granny made the best spaghetti sauce on the
block and some killer meatballs.
Maddie: The grandmother idea is not going to
work.
David: The commute would kill us. So give me a hint, eh Maddie. What do you think we should do?
Maddie: A nanny.
David: A nanny?
Maddie: Or an Au Pair.
David: A pair of nannies?
Maddie: No David, an Au Pair. A young woman typically
from a foreign country who needs work while she gains her citizenship.
David: Don't they call those indentured servants?
Maddie: I think we ought to get a nanny.
David: Fine.
Maddie: Fine?
David: Sure.
What do you want me to say? Nanny. Au Pair. Mrs Rubens. Granny Sinisgalli.
Call it what you will, some lady who
watches over the kid while we are at work.
I wonder if Old Lady Sinisgalli is still around?
Maddie
has bigger fish to fry than to debate David on the nuances of nanny vs. au pair
vs. Mrs Sinisgalli.
Maddie: (hesitant) Well ...
David: Well what?
Maddie: I think she should be a live-in.
David
sits straight up, taking Maddie with him.
David: Wait just a gul dern minute there, Mamma Hayes!
Maddie: What?
David: You want to take in a boarder to look after our
legacy?
Maddie: A nanny is not a boarder. I think that a live-in nanny is appropriate,
given the time constraints of our job.
We have anything but regular hours and if we have a live-in, her hours
will be more ... flexible.
David: Twenty-four/seven is not flexible -- that is
pretty much
Maddie: David.
David: David exactly. What about David? ... What about our privacy?
... What about when I go to the kitchen in the middle of the night to get a
snack? I'm going to have to put pants
on.
Maddie: You should do that anyway.
David: No ... no, no, no, no, no. How can I say this so you will understand?
Maddie: No?
David: Took the word right out of my mouth. Look, Maddie, living with you is great ...
better than great, but I don't want this to become a commune. We are adding a little
Maddie: Hayes Addison.
David: The point is that we are already bringing in
another person who will take up time in the bathroom, fight for the remote and
eat my Oreos and now you want to add a stranger - a stranger stranger than the kid? Not even a blood relation. No. No
way. No how. No ma’am.
Maddie: David ... don't be
stupid.
David: Maddie, we need privacy ... lots of privacy
... an amazing amount of privacy. We are
with people all day; I don't want someone at home too. She'll be watching us. Taking notes.
How long before she writes a book and our secrets are there for all the world to read?
Maddie: What secrets?
David: Forget it. I'll stay home. I'll quit before we let someone live with
us.
Maddie: (sarcastically) I'm glad we can discuss this
like rational adults.
David: I'm more than rational ... I am the King of
Rational, the Duke of Reasonable, the Prince of
Levelheadedness.
Maddie: You're a royal something or other.
David: That's rational.
Maddie: You would rather drop your child, your
legacy, your progeny off with strangers at a day care
with strange kids and their strange diseases.
David: It has worked for decades since your sex
decided to liberate and stop doing the job God intended you for.
Maddie: HEY!
David: I'm not saying that I want to keep you in the
kitchen barefoot and pregnant - great image though. But there's got to be some middle ground.
Maddie: Middle ground?
David: A pair of nannies shows up at eight and
leaves at seven when we get home - no dropping off, just no sleeping over.
Maddie: What happens when we get involved in a case
and have to stay out late?
David: She works a little over time.
Maddie: It's not reasonable.
David: You want reasonable? I don't want to share our house with a
stranger.
David
got out of bed and marched toward the bathroom.
Maddie: Where are you going?
David: I'm going to take a shower - a short one -
the mood is broken. Then I am going to
work while I still can before I get put on baby duty.
Maddie: We aren't done talking about this.
David: Of course we aren't - but we are done for now.
He
closes the door behind him more loudly than he wants to. He opens the door again.
David: See what I mean? If we had someone living here we couldn't
fight like this.
Maddie: That's an advantage?
David: Or make up.
Maddie: So are we making up?
David: Apparently not for seven weeks and two days
... not that I'm counting. But the mood
is back.
Maddie: That was fast.
David: You have that affect on me. Excuse me, need to shake hands with little
David.
He
closes the door again and the shower comes on.
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim
cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim
cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you
Or blow me a kiss and that's lucky too
Maddie
can't help but smile. She still looks
frustrated but not beaten.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act I
Scene 2
Blue Moon Offices
David
is making coffee when Bert rushes in with little Mickey and all his
paraphernalia in tow.
Bert: I'm sorry I'm late Mr. Addison.
David: Not late ... not alone either.
Bert: The daycare is closed on Saturday until
nine. Agnes has the plumber,
the electrician and the cable guy all coming this morning. I told her I would take care of Mickey until
it opens. He'll be fine; you won't even
know he's here.
David
is about to object but Mr. Sorenson walks in.
He is about thirty years of age, very thin, sickly thin. He is dressed in jeans that are too loose and
a white shirt that has clearly never seen the business end of an iron. He is nervous and very anxious. Mickey starts to fuss.
David: (extends his hand) Mr. Livingston, I
presume.
Sorenson: No.
No. (He looks behind him) My name is Sorenson, Jack Sorenson. Are you expecting a Mr. Livingston? Am I early?
I thought I was late. I can come
back if you were expecting someone else.
David
drops his hand, considers offering coffee but thinks better of it.
David: No. Just you. Please come into my office. This is my associate, Bert Viola and our
newest member of the firm, Mickey.
Sorenson
does not look interested in meeting either Bert or Mickey. He looks like he would rather run away. David lets Sorenson precede him into the
office and then follows after him. David
gestures for Sorenson to take a seat on the couch while he takes his position
on the edge of his desk. Bert wheels
Mickey in and sets him up as a fourth member of the conversation. Mickey continues to fuss. David is unimpressed.
Sorenson: I don't know if you can help me. You probably can't help me. I should just go.
Sorenson
stands to leave.
David: Mr. Sorenson, please. Tell us what you need and I'll be very honest
about whether or not we can help you.
Mickey
starts to cry so Bert pulls him out of the stroller and walks him around the
back of the couch bouncing him to quiet him.
It doesn't work. Sorenson remains
standing watching Bert; clearly he doesn't like anyone behind him. David nods to Bert who walks Mickey around
behind the desk closer to the windows.
David nods for Sorenson to sit again.
He does reluctantly.
Sorenson: I need you to find someone. I don't have her last name - her first name
is Anya. I don't know what she looks
like any more. I'm not even sure she
lives in
David: (ignoring his attempt at a departure) We've had less to go on, but not much. What can you tell me about her?
Sorenson
turns and sees that David is in earnest.
He sits down slowly.
Sorenson: She has the most beautiful voice I have ever
heard and her eyes were green - green like the ocean after a storm. She is kind and patient.
David: OK.
Anything more ... you know ... more useful? Like where or how you know her or why you
want to find her?
Sorenson
shoots to standing again.
Sorenson: (anxious and angry) Why I want to find her is
my business.
David: I understand, but if you can't give me a
little more to go on, I wouldn't know where to start. How do you know her?
Sorenson: She worked for Mother (the word sticking in
his throat) ... my mother for eight years ... since before I was born. She left twenty-three years ago today. A rainy November day just like today too.
Mickey
lets out a wail that startles both David and Sorenson. David shoots Bert a look.
Bert: I'm sorry Mr. Addison. He's just out of his routine. He'll be all right.
Bert
starts digging through the baby bag, pulling out diapers and bottles and
blankets, until he find the little red lobster.
That seems to quiet Mickey down.
David
turns back to Sorenson.
David: Please Mr. Sorenson, go on.
Sorenson: That is all I know. She left one night without a word to
anyone.
Sorenson
can't meet David's eye. There is clearly
a lot more to this story that he is not sharing.
David: She just left? Have you asked your parents?
Sorenson: My father died six weeks ago in a plane
crash.
Something
registers with David; something familiar.
David: I'm sorry to hear that.
Sorenson: Mother is ... my mother is in ... she’s in
David: So we won't talk to her.
Sorenson
nods looking slightly relieved that David has agreed without further
explanation.
David: Is this the first time you have tried to find
Anya?
Sorenson: Yes ... Yes, of course ... how could I have
tried before? That doesn't make sense.
David: Oh, right. Of course not. How silly of me. (beat) What type of work did she do for your family?
Sorenson: She was ... I don't know what it's called ...
she helped around the house. She took
care of us ... of me. She cooked and
cleaned ... and took care of us - of me. Just me.
David: (offering) A nanny?
Sorenson: Yes ... yes, that's what she was called.
David: (to the monitor) Tell
me you didn't see that coming a mile away.
Sorenson: We had lots of nannies after that.
David: Do you know where she lived?
Sorenson: She lived with us. Well, she lived in the garage.
David: The garage?
Sorenson: Yes, the garage. Over the garage. On the second floor.
Bert: Isn't it difficult to get the cars up to the
second floor?
David: Can you tell me where you lived? Maybe a neighbor knew her.
Sorenson
digs a paper out of his pocked clearly ready for that question and hands it
over to David. David is surprised and
slightly amused with the address.
David: An apartment over the garage, eh? Who knew?
He
folds it up and puts it in his pocket.
David: Is there anyone else who might have known her
besides your parents?
Sorenson: Yes. Yes.
Mr. Goddard ... he knew her. He
was always at the house.
David: Who is Mr. Goddard?
Sorenson: Jason Goddard, the lawyer. He came to the house a lot when I was
young. We moved away from Los Angeles
fifteen years ago, but he is still the family lawyer.
Another
look of recognition crosses David's face.
David: We're going to help you, Mr. Sorenson.
Sorenson: (surprised and relieved) You
are?
David: Yes.
This may take some time and it might get expensive. We have a day rate, plus there are
expenses.
Sorenson: Money is no
object. I have money. I need you to find Anya.
David: I have one condition.
Sorenson: What is that?
David: When we find her ... and I suspect we will
... if she does not want to meet with you, you must accept that.
Sorenson: Why wouldn't she want to meet with me?
David: I don't know - you tell me.
Sorenson: I need to see her. It is vital that I see her again. Mr. Addison, please.
David: We will help you, but as I said, if she
doesn't want to be found, you will have to respect that ... and still pay us.
Sorenson: She will see me. She has to.
Thank you, Mr. Addison. Thank
you.
With
that, Sorenson shoves an envelope at David and runs out of the office before
David can change his mind.
Bert: Mr. Addison?
David
opens the envelope, revealing upwards of five thousand dollars in cash and a
handwritten note with Sorenson's address at a hotel in
Bert: Mr. Addison, you are taking his case without
discussing it with Ms Hayes?
David: Maddie is working on her own case at the
moment, and I don't think even she would turn this one down.
Bert
is still bouncing Mickey up and down, trying to get him to settle.
Bert: Where do we start?
David: Mr. Goddard's office.
Bert: Do you know where that is?
David: Jason Goddard, of Goddard, Finch and
Finkelstein? It is a very high end legal firm in
Bert: OH ... that Mr. Goddard.
David: And I don't suppose you know about the Sorensons.
Bert: Am I supposed to?
David: Read a paper once in a while, Bertie
Boy. Jonathan Sorenson died in a small
plane crash six weeks ago ... Sorenson? Of Sorenson Pharmaceuticals?
Bert: OH ... that Mr. Sorenson.
David: The obit was pretty interesting ... his only
living relative is his son Jack, but there is quite a tale that goes along with
the Sorenson family - most of it pretty sordid.
The rich have a way of buying their way out of trouble.
Bert: You took this for the money?
David: Only way to keep food on the table,
Bert. You should know all about feeding
more mouths.
Bert
gives another bounce and Mickey spits up all over Bert. Bert looks shamed.
Bert: He's just out of his routine.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act I
Scene 3
8:35 AM
Hayes / Addison
Kitchen
Talk
about kitchen nightmares - Maddie is cooking a massive breakfast and making a
huge mess. It is clear that cooking is
still not in her skill set. She is talking
on the phone too, which doesn't help keep a clean kitchen.
Maddie: No ... No, Mom ... David was not impressed
with the idea of a live-in nanny. ... He said no ... He thinks we can bring the
baby to work or that one of us will stay home. ... Of course, he sees nothing
wrong with daycare either. ... No, I haven't given up the idea, but we are
going to have to settle on something soon.
... We could meet in the middle and have someone take care of the baby
in the house but not live-in, that would be a good compromise, but I still
think that with our hours, it would be better if she lived-in. ... We'll agree on something. ... We agree on
a lot more things these days. ... Amazing, I know. ... Of course I'm not worried about having
another woman live in the house. ... Mother,
please. ... When will you be flying in?
... Is Daddy coming with you? ... OK ... your room is all ready ... It will be
great to have you here, I think David will be very grateful. He is definitely looking forward to your
stuffing and sweet potatoes. ... Oh ...
Oh ... well, we can go out for Thanksgiving dinner if you would prefer. ... I
was looking forward to a home cooked meal and I'm sure David could use a break
from my culinary offerings ... (Laughs) ... David’s specialty is hot dogs. ...
Yes, he wants you here, Mom. ...He's not saying anything, but he might be
feeling a bit overwhelmed… or maybe that's just me. ... Ok ... Ok ... Don't
worry Mom. We have some time. OK ... OK ... I love you too. Love to Daddy. ... See you soon.
Maddie
hangs up and goes back to fussing with the sausages in the pan. Some are burnt
beyond recognition and others are nearly raw.
Maddie: Waffles!
I want waffles! Do you want
waffles, little one?
She
places her hands on her abdomen.
Maddie: We won't be able to eat like this for much
longer, little Bunny. Pretty soon I'll
be back on yogurt and salads - and you ... you'll have a pretty strict liquid
diet. I'd appreciate it if you didn't
bite.
She
laughs as if she were answered. Maddie
cocks her head as if listening to the baby.
Maddie: What's that?
Strawberry Waffles? You got it,
kid. What? Bacon? I don't think we have any bacon. Maybe we can get Daddy to pick some up on his
way home.
Miss
Me yips from her basket by the door.
Maddie: You want bacon too?
Miss
Me barks again.
Maddie: Bacon it is.
Hope there are instructions on the package.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act II
Scene 1
On the road with
Bert and David
Bert
is driving; David is shotgun. Bert has
changed into a t-shirt - he carries extras in his car these days. Little Mickey is in his car seat still crying,
screaming and generally making a scene.
He is slamming his chubby hands down on the safety bar of his car seat,
clearly demanding something. Bert is
looking in the rear view mirror and instructing David to find the little red
beanie lobster. David does and gives it
to Mickey. Without missing a beat,
Mickey takes the lobster and throws it towards the front seat, hitting David in
the back of the head.
Bert: I’m sorry, Mr.
Addison.
David: Bert, how far is this place?
Bert: Sorry.
He is normally not like this. He is out of his routine right now and
that makes him fussy.
David: His routine?
He’s four months old, Bert, what kind of rut could he have gotten into
by now?
Bert: You’d be surprised, Mr. Addison.
David: I guess I will be.
Bert: Not long now, sir.
David: Six days and counting.
David
shoots a look at little Mickey, who is still crying.
David: Can’t wait for the little bundle of joy to
make his entrance.
Bert: I wouldn’t go by the date the doctor gave
you. It could be any minute now or two
weeks late.
David: Bite your tongue.
Bert: That reminds me. Agnes wants me to invite you to Thanksgiving dinner
- again. She is making a huge spread,
there will be lots of people and we would love to have you.
David
is unimpressed with the idea of spending the holiday with Bert and Agnes and
the extended family.
David: Thanks Bert, not sure Maddie is up to that
big a feast. Besides,
Bert: If you change your mind, you are always
welcome, as is Mrs. Hayes.
Bert
pulls into the strip mall that houses the daycare. David is unimpressed.
David: You take him here?
Bert
jumps out and pulls out three bags for Mickey.
Bert: Yes, sir.
They are great. Mickey really
likes it here. You and Miss Hayes should
send your baby here too and then they can engage with each other.
David: Bert, what is all that ... stuff?
Bert: It is all Mickey’s … you know … well I guess
you don’t know … his blanket, his toys, his food, diapers … you know, kids have a lot of stuff.
Can you help me with the stroller, sir?
David
takes the stroller like it is some foreign object.
David: I can see that. Don’t you leave any of that stuff here so you
don’t have to schlep it around?
Bert: Oh no.
Of course not.
They don’t want to be responsible here for any of Mickey’s belongings, particularly
if he’s not here. It’s really no big
deal, you get used to it.
David
follows Bert and is less impressed by the inside. It is actually a very nice place – clean,
organized, busy - but
to David, it feels very impersonal and institutional. Bert launches into his sales pitch.
Bert: The people here are all trained in child
development. They provide educational
child care from six weeks to twelve years so Mickey can keep coming here for
years. Right now, he is in the infant
program where they create a nurturing and calming environment focused on
developing positive and trusting relationships.
David: (unimpressed) Right.
Bert: The teachers … they call them teachers here …
turn caretaking routines into ‘care teaching’ opportunities based on Mickey’s
individual needs and development level.
Activities focus on skills linked to large and fine motor development
along with cognitive, social-emotional and language development. Every day we get a log of Mickey’s feeding,
sleeping, diapering and learning activities.
David: The full scoop on all the
poop, huh?
A
woman approaches. She is in her mid to late forties, very plainly but neatly
dressed with her hair pulled back in a tight bun. To David, she looks like Nurse Rachett. Bert and the woman exchange a familiar formal greeting. It is clear that she is unimpressed with
Mickey’s mood and Bert’s attire.
Bert: Sorry, Ms. Langston. Mickey is out of routine this morning.
Ms Langston: (disapprovingly) We understand, Mr. Viola, but we have talked about what we
do when Americo acts up.
Bert: (shamed) Yes,
ma’am.
She
nods to one of the staff standing by who rushes over and quickly takes Mickey
from Bert’s arms and rushes the child to another room.
Ms. Langston: What time might we expect you? Saturday is not your normal day.
Bert: (fearful) No
ma’am. I’m sorry. Thank you so much for allowing us to bring
Mickey in today. I got called into work
at the last minute. Big case … we are
looking for –
David
clears his throat.
Bert: Oh right … sorry. Either Agnes or I will be here to pick him up
no later than
Ms.
Langston surveys David up and down the frown never leaves her face.
Bert: Mr. Addison, why don’t you take some
brochures? Ms. Langston, Mr. Addison is
about to have a baby … well his … his … well, Ms Hayes is about to have a
baby. Maybe you can show him around?
Ms. Langston: We interview by appointment only
David: Is that the royal we?
Ms. Langston: And only after we have had a chance to review
your application and done an extensive background check.
David: Background.
We are all about background.
Bert, didn't you give Ms. Langston your card. We are private investigators. We'd be happy --
Ms. Langston: We know.
We accepted Mr. and Mrs. Viola in spite of that. Furthermore, we must meet both parents.
David: (using a hick accent) My
better half handles all the raising up - women's work.
Ms. Langston: We believe that both parents need to be very
involved with the child rearing.
David: It took two to make
him, right?
David
winks and scans her up and down, mock lustily.
Ms. Langston doesn’t smile or change expression in any way.
David: We are not amused easily, are we?
Bert: Yes, Mr.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act II
Scene 2
Hayes /
Maddie
sits at the table with a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, waffles, sausage, potatoes,
juice and fruit. It is a meal fit for a
queen - or one very hungry pregnant woman.
She picks at her plate, as she flips through pamphlets for various
agencies that provide nanny services.
The
phone rings. Maddie hoists herself up
out of the chair to retrieve the cordless from the counter. She spies it amidst the mess of bowls, pans,
eggshells and butter. It takes her three
rings to get to it. She is a little out
of breath.
Maddie: (panting) Hello.
David: Where were you? Are you all right? Do you need me to come home?
Maddie: David, will you stop worrying? I'll page you if anything happens.
David: Page me?
The pager! That little thing that
I am not supposed to leave home without.
Maddie: It's on the bureau, isn't it?
David: I'll come right home to get it.
Maddie: I'm fine.
Just making a little breakfast.
David: You're cooking? I'll alert the fire department.
Maddie: You called for something?
David: Make sure you get some protein ... and juice
... and fruit.
Maddie: I'm fine, David.
She
looks around at the mess.
Maddie: The kitchen is fine. What's the case?
David: Should be something simple. Locate someone from twenty-three years
ago. We don't have a last name. That last known address is familiar
though.
Maddie: So you took the
case?
David: No big deal.
Big pay day. Need to take these
little jobs to keep the money rolling in.
We've got mouths to feed.
Maddie: Speaking of which, can you bring home some
bacon?
David: (happily sarcastic) Here we go ... domestic
bliss. What else do you need? Bread? Milk? I draw the line at feminine hygiene products.
Maddie: Just you. (beat) Miss
you.
David: Miss me?
Maddie: She misses you too. You didn't walk her this morning.
David: Hey ... about that thing we were talking
about this morning.
Maddie: Thing?
David: Daycare.
Changed my mind.
Maddie: Oh yeah?
David: Alcatraz has fewer rules. No kid of mine is going into the system that
early.
Maddie: Are you coming home?
David: In about an hour. We have a lead to follow up. We might be able to wrap this up before six. How about I take you out for dinner? Might be the last time it will be just the
two of us out on date night for a long time.
Maddie
looks down at the mountain of food she has on her plate.
Maddie: Sure. Sounds good. I talked
to my mother. She's coming in on
Wednesday night, not Tuesday morning. Daddy
is not coming until after the baby is born.
Mom probably won't want to cook on Thanksgiving, but I can do it.
David: We'll order pizza
or something. Who knows ... maybe we
will have something to be really thankful for on Thursday. A new tradition.
Maddie: David, we won't be having babies every
Thanksgiving!
David: As long as we can go through the motions of
creating one, don't care about the results - the long term results.
Maddie: Wow ... this is you after two weeks? I shudder
to think what you'll be like in six weeks or eight.
David: You'll be shuttering ... trust me. Gotta go. Feed that Bunny.
David
hangs up before Maddie can respond.
Maddie
feels like she won a tiny victory with David eliminating day care. She sifts through the pamphlets again and
finds one she likes. On the front it has
the picture of an adorable baby and reads:
Piccadilly
Nannies
& Domestics
Putting families & children first ...
since 1988!
She
picks up the phone again and dials.
Maddie: Yes, my name is
Maddie Hayes and I am about to have a baby. ... Thank you. ... I would like to get some information about
your services.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act II
Scene 3
Offices of Goddard,
Finch & Finkelstein
David
and Bert are directed into a large corner office. There are three kids under the age of nine
sitting on the uncarpeted floor in the corner playing a game - a very noisy
game of Yahtzee.
Kid 1: SIXES!!
No ... no ... COME ON - SIXES!!!
NO!
Kid 2: HA HA ... where do
you want your ZERO?!
David
and Bert exchange looks. Jason Goddard -
older, white haired, distinguished - enters from another door carrying three Cokes
and a bag of Oreos. He plops them down
next to the kids. There is a round of
cheers and thank yous.
Goddard: Their mother is going to kill me, but
grandfathers get to spoil their grandchildren, eh?
He
laughs conspiratorially.
Goddard: Besides ... she will be here to pick them up
before the sugar really kicks in.
David: Nice.
Bert
is about to launch into all that he has learned about diet and nutrition aiding
in the development of children, but one look from David stops him.
David
extends his hand.
David: Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Goddard.
Goddard: Please, sit down. You caught me at a good time.
One
of the kids screams YAHTZEE!!
All
three men turn with a start to look at the kids.
Goddard: Won't be getting much work done today.
Goddard
directs them to the chairs by his desk.
Goddard: How can I help you? This is about Jack Sorenson, correct?
David
and Bert share a look and wonder how much confidentiality they can breach to
speed this along.
Goddard: Don't worry.
Jack called me. Told me that he
was hiring you - against my advice mind you, and he wants me to help you. So he asked you to find Anya, eh?
David: Yes.
But he would not tell us why.
Goddard: It's not a secret. Anya was the only real mother he has ever
known.
Goddard
looks down and shakes his head.
Goddard: Jack Sorenson is a troubled kid. Hell, he's
not a kid. He's over thirty. I have known him his whole life. I am the trustee on his estate. It wasn't easy for him. He was a sickly child - born premature and
very small. Lydia Sorenson was not the maternal type. She drank and smoked like a chimney. Of
course that was before we knew about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or what smoking
does to babies. There are so many ways
we can screw up our kids; it's a wonder that our species has made it this
far. Do you have kids, Mr. Addison?
David: Working on my first.
Goddard: Congratulations. And good luck.
Bert: My wife and I just had our first four months
ago. Parenthood is such a life altering
experience. Before we --
David
shoots him a look that shuts Bert up.
Goddard: (to David) Boy or girl?
Bert: A little boy.
David: (sarcastic) We are
waiting to be surprised.
Goddard: Well, pray for a boy - they are so much
easier. You know about Jill - I assume.
David: Jill?
Goddard: Jill Sorenson. The daughter. Jack's
older sister? Troubled
girl. Very sad
what happened to her. Money can't
buy happiness - the Sorenson family is proof of that. Nor can it make up for bad parenting. Jill suffered the worst at the hands of
David: I understood his mother lives in
Goddard: If you want to call that living. She had a massive stroke five years ago. Best thing that ever happened to Jack.
Goddard
shuddered at the thought of Lydia Sorenson.
Goddard: She has never recovered. They feed and water her and wheel her around
but that is about all she's good for. At
least she can't talk any more. Funny,
she always wanted to be taken care of - I guess she got her wish.
David: Anya?
Goddard: Ah yes.
Anya. Sweet sweet
girl and a godsend to little Jackie. I swear that girl saved his life – a few
times. She worked for the family for eight
years. Jill was about nine when she came. They never got on – Jill and Anya - but then
again Jill didn't get on with most people.
She left when she got pregnant.
David: Anya or Jill?
Goddard: Anya. I know what you are thinking, Mr.
Addison. I thought it myself. John Sorenson was a very good friend, but he
did have a reputation with women - very young women and typically those in his
employ. As his lawyer I knew about all
of his ... indiscretions and had to pay many of those women off. Not that I blame him.
David: A different story?
Goddard: Yes, Jill told her mother that she saw John
and Anya on many occasions.
David: And you think she was lying.
Goddard: I do.
John had no reason to lie to me.
David: Jill had a reason?
Goddard: Jill wanted Anya out of the house.
David: Why?
Goddard: You name it.
She wasn't there for Jill. Too much attention to Jack.
Love triangle. In the end it didn't matter. Anya could no longer work if
she were pregnant and definitely not after the baby was born.
David: Sounds like what a guilty man might do.
Goddard: I'd agree with you, but like I said John had
no reason to lie. And Anya wanted
nothing from me or from the Sorensons. If that were John's kid, she would have
changed her mind eventually. Pride is
one thing, but when you're hungry – you’re hungry. And most parents will do just about anything
for their children - you'll find that out soon enough.
David: I suspect I will. Do you know why Jack wants to find her?
Goddard: As I said, Jack is a screwed up kid. For many years he thought Anya was his mother
– he chose better for himself than God did.
He’s been institutionalized most of his life and his father controlled
everything. Jack wasn't allowed to buy a stick of gum without his father
approving it. He was my friend, but I
didn't approve of the way he raised his kids.
Anyway, now that John is dead, Jack is free to do as he pleases - within
reason. I am the trustee on the estate
so he can't just give it all to charity, but I assume that he wants to find
Anya and make up for lost time. Maybe
try to forge a relationship with her now that he is free to.
David: Do you know where we can find Anya?
Goddard: (long pause) I'm
sure I couldn't say.
David: Do you have a last name for her?
Goddard: I know she married so it is not what it used
to be. She had a sister ... but I don't
remember her name either.
David: Maybe you could look up the old records of
employees for the Sorensons.
Goddard: Ha.
That’s funny. Even if I had
access and the records weren't over twenty years old, I might be able to, but
Anya was not given a W-2 at the end of the year, Mr. Addison. If you know what I mean. Strictly cash.
David: Mr. Sorenson never planned on running for
office, I guess.
Goddard smiles.
He wants to help but his hands are tied - to a degree.
Goddard: There is someone you could ask. He was the tennis instructor for Jill and
Kid 3: YAHTZEE!!
Kid 2: It is not.
Kid 1: You cheated ... that was your fourth
roll.
Kid 3: No I didn't.
An
all out fight ensues. Mr. Goddard gets
up and goes to quiet them down.
David
and Bert rise and cross over to the door.
David: Thank you for your time, Mr. Goddard.
Goddard
waves and continues to try to pull his grandchildren apart.
Outside the office.
Bert: He knows a lot more than he is telling.
David: Very observant, Bert. You are going to make a hell of a detective
someday. Why don't you follow up on the
tennis pro?
Bert: What will you be doing, sir?
David: Going to check in with Mamma Bear.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act
Scene 1
Hayes /
Maddie
is drinking tea. The remains of a breakfast
are sitting next to her. Behind her --
Hurricane Maddie has come blasting through the kitchen, ensuring that every pan
and bowl has been used. There is a ton
of leftovers too. She is reading the note
pad she has in front of her, adding comments here and there.
David
comes waltzing in whistling Spoonful of
Sugar.
In ev'ry job that
must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job's a game
And ev'ry task you
undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go
down
The medicine go
down-wown
Medicine go down
The
whistling stops when he sees the disaster that is the kitchen.
David: Cooking, were we?
Maddie: I made breakfast.
David: (picking up a
sausage from the pan) Did you call Hazmat to clean up
this culinary feat?
Maddie: I'll take care of it.
David: You aren't supposed to do any heavy lifting
... probably shouldn't even be walking around.
Maddie: You making a crack about my weight?
David: Eating for two I
get. Cooking for thirty-two has me stumped.
He
picks up a waffle and pours syrup directly on it. It drips onto the counter and the floor
before he can get it to his mouth.
Maddie: I can make you some eggs to go with that.
David: I ate.
David
pours himself a glass of juice and spoons some of the potatoes onto a plate,
where he places the rest of the waffle and two more sausages.
David: Is there any bacon?
Maddie: (smiling) You were
supposed to bring some home.
He
grabs a couple more links.
David: I'll go to the store later. So I
have to give you one more.
Maddie: One more?
David: Kids at work – not really gonna fly.
Maddie: No, it won’t. If we had a nanny, she would do more than
just look after the baby… some light house work, light shopping, more so as the baby gets older.
David: Does she need to live here to shop and cook?
Maddie: If she lives here, we wouldn't have to deal
with car trouble, her kids being sick and keeping her home, plumbing issues or
any of the other hundred or so reasons people don't make it to work every day. Look at the issues we have at the office.
David: What issues?
They show up every day. There is
less to do at the office than at home.
Maddie: A live-in’s salary
is less.
David: Money is not my issue.
Maddie: Money is an issue.
David: The salary may be less but she will be living
in our house, eating our food, driving your car – ‘cause
she sure as hell isn't driving mine.
Maddie: There are a lot of details to work out.
David: You can say that again.
Maddie: But you agree with hiring a nanny to take
care of little Bunny in our home rather than daycare?
David: I’m onboard with a nanny thing. My options are live-in or live-out, right?
Maddie: Finding the right person to watch our child
is critical. Do you agree with that?
David: Agreed - but I don't think we'll find the
next Mary Poppins.
Maddie: Can we agree that we ought to give ourselves
the option of hiring a live-in?
David: (reluctantly) The
option.
David
looks over at her note pad which Maddie quickly flips over.
David: And that is?
Maddie: Names of some nannies.
David: Why do you have names of some nannies?
Maddie: So we'll know what to call them when they
come for the interview.
The
doorbell rings. David drops his fork
down on the plate loudly. Maddie pulls her
bulk to standing to go answer the door.
David: Now?
They are coming for interviews now?
You were just going to hire a nanny without me, weren’t you?
Maddie: I wasn’t going to hire anyone. I was doing some … shall we say,
reconnaissance.
David: Reconnaissance? When did you have time?
Maddie: I made a phone call. Division of labor. You were working the case, I could do the
first pass of interviews – but since you’re here …
David: Good thing I came home to protect my closet
space.
Maddie: I’m always glad when you come home.
David: Why are we interviewing nannies before we've
even met Bunny?
Maddie: David this baby is coming – sooner rather than
later – I want to be ready.
David: Have you picked out his college yet?
The
doorbell rings again and Maddie leaves to answer it.
David: You can’t give them a tour of the kitchen;
they’ll run screaming for the hills.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act
Scene 2
Bert
walks into the club with a white sweater tied around his neck. He has changed into shorts and is carrying a
beat up tennis racket that David had in the closet at work. He approaches a very good looking, very tan,
very athletic man who is chatting up some cougars dripping in diamonds. Bert interrupts the conversation.
Bert: Are you Harrison Winthrop?
Bert: Are you Harrison Winthrop? I have a lesson with you.
Bert: I am thinking about becoming a member …
depending upon how the lesson goes.
The
women cackle in that old lady chicken way they have.
Bert: Jason Goddard suggested that I come.
Clearly
there is something going on between Winthrop and Goddard that Bert just stepped
into.
Bert: I am looking for Anya, a nanny that used to
work for the Sorensons about twenty years ago.
Bert: Herbert Quentin Viola, Blue Moon
Investigations.
Bert: Confidential.
Do you know her?
Bert: I don't work for Mr. Goddard.
Bert: Do you have an address?
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act
Scene 3
Hayes /
Maddie
opens the door and is visibly surprised. David rushes up behind her and is stopped dead
in his tracks.
A
woman mid-twenties stands before them.
She has long stringy blonde hair parted in the middle with a crown of
daisies encircling her head. She wears
small round dark purple glasses, bell bottom jeans with peace signs painted
over strategic locations. She has a tie
dyed tank top that is way too tight, revealing that she is indeed a liberated
woman and a jean jacket that has very elaborate embroidered mushrooms all over
it.
Maddie: You must be ... (Maddie looks down at her
notes) ... River's Love Song.
River's Love Song: Wow man ... dig the size your baby belly.
She
reaches out and puts her hands on Maddie's abdomen.
River Love Song: It's a boy.
I can tell. Definite
male vibes. I have a sense of these things. Do you mind if I burn some sage? It is very
cleansing and is a blessing on the house.
David: No smoke…. sorry.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Maddie and David at the door. David steps protectively in front of Maddie.
A
young man who is barely eighteen dressed in tight black jeans, black sneakers
and a black leather jacket with a bright red t-shirt with LONDON CALLING
printed in big block white letter stands at the door. His hair is jet black and clearly hasn't seen
a brush in the last nine months. His
skin is so white that it is hard to believe he has ever been out in the
daylight. He doesn't notice that Maddie
and David are standing there because he is head banging to his walkman and
singing at the top of his voice.
Darling you got to let me know
Should I stay or shout I go?
If you say that you are mine
I'll be here 'til end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
David: I got this one.
Maddie: Mr. Summers?
The
kid finally notices them. He doesn't
remove the earphones and shouts over the music in his ears.
Clash: Hey - call me Clash. Weren't they the best band ever? Totally underrated. Visionaries. Before their time.
Always tease tease
tease
You're happy when I'm on my knees
One day is fine, the next day is black
So if you want me off your back
Well come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
David and Maddie exchange a look.
David: Should we flip a
coin?
~|~
CUT
TO:
David
steps back from the door, a little afraid of who he
sees.
A
woman in her mid fifties stands before him.
Her hair is short cropped. She is
dressed in camouflage pants, boots and a tight brown t-shirt with USMC across
the chest. Dog tags hang around her
neck. She is solid as a rock. Her upper body is so big that she can bench
250 without breaking a sweat and could snap David in half like a toothpick.
Master Sergeant: Master Sergeant Winnie Maxwell,
retired. You can call me Maxwell or
Master Sergeant.
David: Yes, ma'am.
Master Sergeant: (snapping) Don't ma'am me, son. I work for a living.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Maddie
is at the door. On the other side is a
little old lady. She has got to be in
her late sixties or early seventies. She
has blue hair with a little pill box hat, a print dress with a white lace
collar, support hose, orthopedic shoes and a black patent leather purse over
her arm. She has a plate of cookies in
one hand and a firm grip on her cane in the other.
Grammy: Hello dearie. I am Ruth Flanders, but call me Grammy. You certainly look like you are ready to drop
any day. It's a good thing you called
me. You just leave everything to Grammy. Have a cookie.
She
starts to step up into the house and nearly loses her balance. Maddie has to grab her arm to steady
her.
Grammy: Thank you, dearie.
You'll have to put in a ramp before I start working here, but I can take care
of that. My son is a contractor. Well, he is out of work at the moment, but the
injunction should be lifted soon.
~|~
CUT
TO:
David at the door.
His expression changes from annoyed to intrigued when he sees the next
candidate.
Bambi: (cooing) Hi.
Are you the man of the house?
David: (surprised) Are you
here about the nanny position?
Bambi: I can be.
I am open to anything.
Bambi
is a solid 11 - with other measurements of 38-22-32 - blonde, blue and pearly
white. Her cups are running over the
tiny tank top and her short shorts are so tight that they look painted on. She has three inch spike heels that strap up
to mid calf and a smile. A 'costume'
that is out of place on a cold November day in
David: You must be cold.
David
tries to look everywhere but her chest. She
is eyeing him lustily, so lustily that it makes David uncomfortable - uncomfortable
even for David pre-Maddie.
Bambi: Not any more.
Maddie
joins them. She elbows David in the
ribs.
Maddie: (lowly) Put your
tongue back in your month.
David
reflexively put his hand to his mouth and wraps his other around his pregnant
... partner.
Bambi
scans Maddie and sees no threat and no competition. She smiles at David.
Bambi: I see why you are looking for a live in.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Maddie
and David are sitting together on the couch.
In Maddie's lap is the notepad with some questions she has written down.
Maddie: Do you have any formal early childhood
development or childcare training?
River's Love Song: I don't believe in anything
institutionalized. All the information
you need it life is in nature and people and love.
David
looks over at Maddie's pad.
David: That's a no.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Clash: Music is my teacher. Everything is in the lyrics. Strummer and
Jones were geniuses before their time.
Career opportunities are the ones that never
knock
Every job they offer you is to keep you out
the dock
Career opportunity, the ones that never
knock
David: Knock Knock.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Sergeant Major: I am fully trained in hand-to-hand combat
and four types of martial arts. Pistol champion. Rifle champion. Distinguished marksman.
Master explosive ordnance disposal. Master diver. I have been a drill instructor at Camp
Pendleton for the past six years with special focus on physical training and I
have seen combat.
David: Little Bunny doesn't stand a chance.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Grammy: I have been raising children my whole
life. Sixteen of my
own - nine still living - and too many grandchildren to count. There
is nothing more formal that real life experience. Have a cookie. It's OK. I was careful to make sure not to
mix up the Ex-lax with the chocolate chips this time.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Bambi: (Giggles) I finished the tenth grade. I got my first modeling job for
David: I know exactly what you mean. June, wasn't it? Puppy dogs and snowcones?
Maddie
ribs him again.
Bambi: I just need something to fill in before my
acting takes off. And a place to live would be just awesome - totally.
~|~
CUT
TO:
David
looks over at Maddie's notes for the next question and points to one.
Maddie: Do you believe in letting babies cry?
River's Love Song: Crying is the only way that babies can
express themselves. And I am all about
free expression.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Clash: That won't bother me, man. I'll just turn up
the music.
The sharif don't
like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah
sound
David: One way to go.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Sergeant Major: I run a tight ship. There will be no crying.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Grammy: I've raised so many children that if I
picked each one of them up when he cried, I'd never get anything done.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Bambi: I don't like babies. Will there be babies in this job? They smell and there is goo coming from all
ends. Ew.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Maddie
checks her notes looking for a next question.
David leaps in.
David: Why are you looking for a new position?
River's Love Song: New position?
I never had an old position. This
will be the first job I have ever had that pays money. It will pay money, right? It's not just room and board. Though that could work too. The room is big enough for my soul mate
too. We don't need much space - enough
for a bed and my lava lamp. We don't get up before
~|~
CUT
TO:
Clash: My dad kicked me out of the house, but I've
got a kick ass stereo.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Sergeant Major: I have been working with young men and women
for the past two decades. Get them when
they are just about to be adults and they are already screwed up. Want to get my hands on a kid before the
parents get a chance to coddle him and make him weak. I want to raise a real marine.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Grammy: My daughter-in-law won't let me back in her
house after the fire. I think she’s had it out for me ever since I wrecked the
car taking little Billy to the hospital when he fell off the top bunk and broke
his arm.
~|~
CUT
TO:
Bambi: Like I said, I'm between acting gigs right
now and I don't want to go back to Hooters.
The grease gets in my hair and the manager is all hands - if you know
what I mean.
~|~
CUT
TO:
David
closes the door as that last candidate leaves.
He is very amused; Maddie not so much.
David: We can always leave little Bunny in the woods
to be raised by wolves.
Maddie: This was only the first group.
David: Great ... there's more.
Maddie: I will call a different agency. Clearly the screening process is not as thorough
as they reported.
David: Ya think?
Maddie: It was very short notice. I only called today. This is why we have to start early.
David: If that is the group we have to choose from,
we should have started years ago. Though Bambi had her ... assets.
Maddie: We won't be hiring
Bambi to take care of our baby.
David: (grinning) How about to take care of me?
Maddie: That's my job.
David: You've been taking some time off.
Maddie
wraps her arms around David and presses her belling into him.
Maddie: No time off for me, doll. I'm working on your next generation. And just you wait until I am back in fighting
form.
David: (wrapping his arms around her) Yeah?
Maddie
leans in and whispers something in his ear.
David: OH Mamma ... you
can spank me and put me to bed without supper anytime.
Maddie: (cooing and pouting like Bambi) Only when you've been a very bad, bad boy.
They
kiss. The phone interrupts them -
thankfully. David reluctantly goes to
answer it singing.
Now that war is declared and battle comes
down
Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and
girls
Maddie: Why don't you tell me about the case?
David: You're coming with me. You'll like it. There's a nanny.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ |
~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act IV
Scene 1
Anya Waters' House
David
gets Maddie up to speed as they drive to
David: Excuse me, are you Anya Waters?
Anya: Who are you?
David: I am David Addison, this is Maddie
Hayes. We're from Blue Moon
Investigations.
Anya
turns toward Maddie and smiles brightly in recognition.
Anya: It is a pleasure to meet you Ms Hayes. I used to buy Blue Moon shampoo and loved
your ads.
Maddie: Thank you.
Anya: What can I do for you?
David: We were asked to find you by Jack
Sorenson.
Anya's
expression goes from pleasant to dark and sad.
She again smiles at Maddie.
Anya: You look like you could sit down. Let's go inside.
Maddie: Thank you.
Anya: You are due any day now.
Maddie: Yes.
Anya: I know how anxious you must be.
Anya
grabs two bags of groceries, David grabs the rest.
Anya: Thanksgiving.
I can't believe it's this week. Seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the Fourth of July.
Maddie: Time does go quickly.
Anya
directs them into the house. She
suggests that Maddie take a seat in the living room and has David follow her to
the kitchen with the bags. The younger
woman and the kids are in the kitchen.
David
and Anya return to the living room.
Anya: May I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? We have some fresh baked pies.
Maddie: No, thank you.
Anya: We will have a full house this week. My son is flying in with his family tomorrow
and my daughter and her family arrived just today. It is nice to have your family close around
the holidays.
Maddie: Yes it is.
Anya: Your first child?
Maddie: Yes. A bit of a late start.
Anya: I was very young when I had my first. Unmarried. Alone. The father wasn't in the picture. It was a difficult time but we made due. If you know Jack Sorenson, you know that I
work as a nanny and have for nearly three decades. Spent so much time raising
other people's children that I had very little time for my own. That is
a regret that I live with every day. The time goes by so quickly. Most of the families I worked for over the
years didn't appreciate that precious time and that they would never get it
back.
Anya
looks misty and sad. She turns her
attention toward the kitchen at her grandchildren and smiles sadly.
Anya: How is Jack?
I hear he has been ... troubled.
David: I only met him briefly. He seemed anxious to see you.
Anya: After all this time. I thought he had
forgotten me.
David: He wants to see you, but I told him if you
were not interested, that we would not disclose your location.
Anya
looks at David puzzled.
Anya: I am not in hiding, Mr. Addison. I have nothing to hide. Jack Sorenson was the first baby I had charge
of. His mother ... His mother was ... I
don't like to speak ill of anyone, but that woman was selfish, mean and
cold. I don't think she picked Jack up
once in the whole eight years I was there.
I don't think she ever touched the child. The daughter, Jill, was just like Mrs.
Sorenson. I tried with her. I tried to be her friend, but she was just
mean. Jack was just the opposite. He was sensitive and sweet. The most darling
child you would ever want to know. I was
scared for him when I left - I knew that family would eat him alive.
Maddie: Why did you leave?
Anya: The truth of the matter is a lot less sordid
than the rumors. The truth was that I
got pregnant and Mrs. Sorenson was not about to have a pregnant nanny in her
house.
Maddie
and David share a look.
Anya: I know what you are thinking - everyone
thought it. Mr. Sorenson is not my son's
father. He would have been a much better
father than the real one.
David
takes a leap in logic.
David: Harrison Winthrop.
Anya: Yes.
You've met him?
David: Not personally. My associate did.
Anya: We make a lot of mistakes in our youth.
David: Yes we do.
Anya:
Maddie: It must have been ---
Anya: It was a very rude awakening for a very naive
girl, Ms Hayes. I'm sure you've put your
trust in people who did not deserve it.
Maddie
nodded.
Anya: Family is the only thing that matters in
life. I have regrets, but I love my son
and my daughter and we are finally getting to a place where we can put our past
mistakes behind us - at least what we can't learn from.
Maddie: You are still working as a nanny?
Anya: Yes.
I'm good at it, but now I focus on helping mothers bond with their
children. I consider myself a
facilitator. For too many years I took
charge of the children while the mothers went on about their lives like nothing
had changed; that a baby wouldn't change their life. Mrs. Sorenson was by far the worst, and Jill
was the worst example of what the lack of a mother's love could mean to a
child. There are all kinds of ways that
parents can neglect their children.
Maddie
seems affected by Anya's speech.
Anya: Tell me about Jack.
David: He wants to meet you. We can facilitate that.
Anya: I'd like that. I'd like that very much. I'm glad he remembers me.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act IV
Scene 2
In the Lexus
Maddie
was silent and looking out the window as they drove back to the office. David was becoming concerned.
David: Maddie?
Maddie: Do you think she is right? Do you think parents neglect their
children? Am I being selfish for wanting
to go back to work after the baby is born?
David: I don't think that that was what Anya was
saying.
Maddie: This baby is going to change my whole
life.
David: Our life ... it will change our life and we
knew that.
Maddie: A baby isn't a new toy at Christmas. It's not like we can put him on the shelf
when we are done playing with him. A
child is a day in day out responsibility for the next eighteen years - at
least.
David: We knew that too.
Maddie: We can't even walk the dog every day. How are
we going to take care of a baby?
David: Way too late to start thinking about
exchanging him.
Maddie: So what, we turn the baby over to a stranger
so she can take care of him and we go on with our daily lives? What happens when the kid grows up and turns
out to be a stranger or someone we don't like?
Is that our fault or can we blame the person we hired to take care of
him?
David: Maddie.
Maddie. Maddie.
Maddie: I'm serious David. You met those people today -- would you want
anyone one of them to have any influence on or child?
David: Well, the Sergeant Major would certainly keep
him fit.
Maddie: If you aren't going to talk about this
seriously, then we shouldn't talk at all.
David: I'm serious.
What do you want me to say? Yes,
our life is going to change. Yes, Bunny
should be the center of our world. But I
don't think hiring someone to help change a diaper, give a bath or make sure he
doesn't burn the house down makes us evil or bad parents. I suspect that I'll be doing my share of
diaper changing - but it takes a lot more than that to be a parent.
Maddie: Do you know anything about being a parent?
David: Not yet, but I'm a fast learner - and you - Blondie
Blonde, are too. And yes, we will make a
mistake or two ... hell I would bet we would make more than two, but that still
won't make us bad parents.
~ | ~
| ~ ~ | ~ | ~
Act IV
Scene 3
Blue Moon Offices
Anya
follows Maddie into her office.
Maddie: We can wait in my office.
Anya: How long will you be able to take off after
your baby is born?
Maddie: I was originally
thinking about six weeks but it might be longer.
Anya: You own the company, correct?
Maddie: David and I are partners in that as
well.
Anya: You are very lucky to be your own boss. It will allow you a great deal of
freedom. Have you thought about
childcare?
Maddie
was reluctant to answer.
Maddie: I was considering a nanny actually.
Anya: I realize that this is my ... profession ...
but I think that individual care is always preferable than a formal daycare if
you can afford it. My sister helped me
when my children were small and her mother-in-law helped too. Money was tight.
Maddie: You don't think
that mothers should stay home with their children?
Anya: In a perfect world that might work and if the
mother has that desire. I believe in
balance and quality vs. quantity. There
is also practicality. I had to
work. I suspect that this business will
not run itself, so you will have to work.
Since you are both working on a Saturday, I assume that the hours are
not regular.
Maddie: Hardly.
Anya: I don't know if you have the facilities for
it, but have you considered a live-in nanny.
Maddie: I have.
Anya: I'm sure I gave the impression that I hated
my time with the Sorensons, but that is not
true. The first six and a half years I
felt like part of the family. Jill and I
didn't get along, but you don't always have the luxury of liking your
family. Mrs. Sorenson was absent most of
the time so the environment wasn't always toxic. It was a great experience. I was sorry to see it end. I have helped raise nine other children - not
my own - and I have a wonderful relationship with all of them and their
families. I have been very lucky. I really enjoy my work. Jill and Jack were my only regrets. I was never able to help Jill, but maybe Jack
and I can form so sort of relationship.
Maddie: What happened to Jill?
Anya: She died in a car accident ... but if it
wasn't that, it would have been an overdose or some other tragic event. I blame
her mother. Jill never had a chance. At least I was there to help Jack.
Maddie: Are you looking for a job?
Anya
laughed.
Anya: At the moment I have a position and I don't
do live-in, but I do know some very capable people who might be a good
fit. I will get you their information.
Maddie: I'd appreciate that.
There
was a knock on the door and the women look up to see David and Jack Sorenson
standing in the door way. Anya and Jack
meet in the middle of the room. She looks
at him for a long moment before pulling him into a tight embrace. He hugs her back as if he has found his mother.
Act V - Epilogue
Hayes /
Maddie: Dinner was great, thank you.
David
kisses her.
David: This won't be our last date night, you
know.
Maddie: I know - but for a while a least.
David: So interesting case, huh?
Maddie: Timely and topical.
David: You don't think that was by design do you?
Maddie: Nahhhhhh.
David: So you still think that we should be looking
for a live in nanny?
Maddie: I think we should look for someone to help us
with the custodial responsibilities of our child but we should leave our
options open to live-in, live-out and when we bring that person in. I think you and I can handle it for the first
six weeks.
David: (panicked) I thought your mother was coming
out.
Maddie: Don't worry. She'll be here for the birth and when we come
home from the hospital.
David: So ... you need to tell me something?
Maddie: Anything.
David: Wow ... sorry I am going to waste that on
this - when were you going to tell me about the apartment over the garage?
Maddie: Huh?
David: Did you know that the Sorensons
owned this house before you did?
Maddie: They did not.
David
leads her over to the French doors and points to the garage apartment
David: Anya worked here. She lived here with the Sorensons. She had an apartment over the garage.
Maddie: That is just too strange.
David: A little convenient - but it happens.
Maddie: Not really.
David: So how long were you going to let me think
that our nanny would be sleeping down the hall in the guest room?
Maddie smiles.
Maddie: Until I got the apartment fixed up. It needs some work. I have a call in to
David: Million Dollar
Maddie: David, the place needs some work. It had been
abandoned since before I moved in.
David: So let's go see it.
Maddie: What?
David: The apartment. Let's go see it.
Maddie: Why, you thinking about moving in?
David: And leave your bed ... not on a bet. But let's see what this place looks
like.
CUT
TO:
The Garage Apartment
Maddie
opens the door with David's help.
Clearly no one has opened that door in years.
Maddie: It's not huge but there is a bedroom,
bathroom, small kitchenette and living space.
David
is impressed.
David: A coat of paint, some dusting ... a window whatchamacallit.
Maddie
is not so sure.
Maddie: It will need a bit more than that.
David: Nothing I can't handle ... I've got some
energy that I need to get out ... pounding a few nails and sanding a few walls
would be very therapeutic.
Maddie
looks around the place.
Maddie: This might be above your pay grade David. Let me ask
David: You don't think I
can do this?
Maddie
wraps her arms around him.
Maddie: You can do anything you set your mind
to.
David: I got you didn't I?
Maddie: Yes, you did.
They
kiss.
Maddie: Let's go to bed ...
we don't have to sleep. We can just cuddle, maybe you can read me a bedtime story.
David: I'm with that.
Maddie
exits and David takes one last look around.
David: Piece of cake.
Maddie: Come on, Dad. Or are you still going with Pappy?
David: You can call me anything as long as you call
me to bed.
David
closes the door on the mess. Tomorrow. He'll get
started on it tomorrow.
FADE
TO BLACK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Music Cues:
From Mary Poppins:
Chim Chim Cheree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX4Ppm-cPZI
A
Spoon Full of Sugar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Pbd3RSbLo
From The Clash:
Should
I Stay or Should I Go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZBPu7jJbJU
Career
Opportunities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZOrkPIZ1JU
Rock
the Casbah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlgGNXxdv6M
Aknowledgements:
To
Glen, Bruce, Cybill and the rest of the Moonlighting
cast and crew. Without your inspiration
we would not be here twenty-two years later.
There has been no equal. Thank
you.
To
my fellow writers - Diane, Connie and Jen - thanks for allowing me the opportunity
to play along. It's an honor and a privilege.
To
Diane - our leader, my editor, my friend for more than a decade - thank you so
much. You are the push behind this whole
project. I admire your perseverance and
wish some of it would rub off on me.
Thank you.