Ladies Who Lunch

6:53 AM - a cheap old digital flip clock. The room is dark with shocks of bright sunlight forcing their way in through the slats in the blinds. Loud voices erupt from beyond the paper-thin walls.

6:55 AM - A thin person pulls up into a sitting position on the bed, slowly rises and crosses to the bathroom. In the shadow we cannot determine if the person is male or female. The bathroom light flips on and lights up the floor by the bed. It is covered with women's flashy clothes (several pair of six-inch spike heels, spangled mini-skirts, tank tops, etc). The morning routine reveals that the person is a woman. Leaving the light on, she trudges back and slips under the covers.

6:58 AM - Next to the clock is a picture in a frame of a man and a four or five-year-old boy taken at a park on a swing. The man in the picture has light hair and very fine features. He appears to be very tall, but that could be only in comparison to the smallness of the boy. The child is clearly related to the man. They are laughing.

6:59 AM - Next to the picture is a full ashtray and two brands of cigarette packages and several matchbooks from THE PINK TRIANGLE. A pink princess trim-line phone and Radio Shack answering machine are buried under a pile of gaudy costume jewelry. Between the strands of beads and tons of bangles are either 3, 13 or 23 messages that have yet to be picked up.

The woman's hand, with its brightly painted finger nails, quickly reaches out from under the covers to hit the snooze and just as quickly slips back under the covers. There is another loud altercation in the room next door. The disturbance beyond the walls is becoming more heated and footsteps can be heard running up and down the hall. Sirens are in the distance.

"Chris? … It's your mother. … I know you're home. … Pick up the damn phone. … What are you gonna do, huh? … This is not gonna just go away, you know? … This is not something you can just CUT OUT. ... Do you want me to tell them where you are? … Well? … I will you know. … I'll tell them the whole sorry mess. … Don't think I won't. … How would that fit into your NEW LIFE? …. Don't test me. … Damn it Chris … I don't deserve this. … Fine … I'm through. … This is your crap and I'm going to let you float in it. … … … … Chris? … Fine … Call me." Hang up.

The familiar hand reaches over and turns the picture to get a better look at it. The forefinger gently touches the young child's face. The picture is flipped face down on the end table and the person moves away from the bed.

We pull back to see the whole room. The sheets are in disarray and there is a pile of clothes and towels in the middle of the floor. Maddie is in her robe, putting on the last of her make up. She rises from the vanity. An intense cramp causes her to sit down again. Maddie takes slow, deep breaths. She catches her eye in the mirror and shakes her head.

She inhales deeply as if she is getting ready to lay into him about being inconsiderate, thoughtless and rude, but changes her mind and exhales slowly. She says sternly. "So why did they cancel?"

Another wave of pain takes Maddie by surprise. She clenches her teeth. He turns to look at her and spies the bottle of Advil. It's that time again … that FEMALE time … that time to keep his head down. He tries to acknowledge it without actually acknowledging it.

She shrugs her shoulders. She doesn't want to be touched. He steps back but does not move away. "Yeah." She looks up at his reflection. Damn, he is handsome … but does he really need to be so bloody cheerful in the morning? "Was up a little late last night." She says by way of apology with a strained smile.

The doorbell rings and David leaves to answer it. She looks back into the mirror and can't help but notice that she looks wan - pale - almost ghost like. Maybe it is the light …or the robe … that robe has always washed her out. Maybe it's nothing … maybe it's just … too much work … or not enough vitamins … or too much … it's probably nothing. David is back quickly.

"Glad to see that you don't let it go to your head." She adds quickly. "Of course is could be the FRONT PAGE coverage of CLAIRE the LOON trying to kill you that is bringing in all these clients."

She smiles at him in the mirror. It is amazing how often he gift wraps lines like that for her since they have been living together. He leaves himself open and it doesn't occur to him that she might … jab, stick or poke him. An unspoken truce has been called in the ever-present "Battle of Wits" - at least over petty stuff like that.

"As much of a cosmopolitan Mecca as Torrance is, I am going to take a pass. You two boys go and have fun. Don't forget Miles Archer will be at the office at 1:30 so be sure to make it back before then."

David gives her a quick kiss on the lips and darts off down the stairs. As soon as she hears the door close, Maddie curls back up on the bed. She is exhausted. That man is taking it out of her, but what is a little sleep loss compared to the in-house benefits? She smiles and pulls his pillow to her face.

David realizes that he has given too much information away and has gotten more than he needs. He needs to recover. Interesting that now that he and Maddie are living together, he wants to protect their PRIVATE life rather then hold it up for public consumption.

"Well David … looks like you may get your wish sooner than you think ... Oil Changes … water pump … oil pump … hoses and belts … brakes … muffler … shocks … transmission … TRANSMISSION? Could have gotten a new car for all that. Should have gotten a new car - it hasn't run the same since I got back from Chicago. Pulls to the left - I wonder if David had an accident he didn't tell me about?"

Maddie is immediately on her feet, up from behind the desk and out the door. Agnes watches as the two women greet each other as long lost friends. Moments later they are back in Maddie's office, Maddie talking a mile a minute.

"They split long before he did. … anyway … He left me with almost nothing except a few businesses that I had owned as a write off … I was going to sell this one too but … my partner, David Addison, convinced me not to and the rest - as they say - is history."

"Just a little … about 67 hours on film and another megabyte or two on disk. But that is all ancient history. We have turned this into a very profitable business … not over night … but we are doing very well now and I like it."

"She is - I am so proud of her. She has completely turned her life around and it … I am so proud. Quitting that agency and leaving New York City brought us so much closer. Can you believe it … we are best friends?" Cecilia smiles a warm mother smile. "She is married to an extraordinary man, Marcus. They have three kids, two dogs, six cats and a fish."

"Yes, yes it was, but not as horrible as it could have been. He didn't suffer. We had a wonderful 21 years together." She smiles. "Well, only eighteen of them were wonderful." She laughs nervously. "Stu was the best man - person - I ever knew."

"Don't be silly. Working on some mindless paperwork - detecting is not like they show on TV. Besides you can't go until you meet David. He should be back sometime during lunch; he'll join us. There is so much to talk about. Can you? I mean do you have time?"

Bert has trouble parallel parking, mostly because he is talking non-stop. He needs to take three or four passes at it and still winds up almost two feet from the curb. David opens the door and takes a long stride to the sidewalk.

The two walk into the kitchen and speak to a woman who gestures to another woman standing over by the soup pot. The woman that was pointed out is about 50 - 60 years of age, carrying about 150 lbs more than would be recommended by her doctor, and she is dressed in a floral mummu. The apron barely covers her immense chest.

"Nice try boys …" She nodded to the garbage can which was full of open number 10 cans of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup." You can tell that tramp that she can send all the lawyers and all the private DICKS she wants … there ain't nothing to talk about. I have no idea where Chris is."

"Addison. David Addison. This is --- ." He turns to Bert who is about to stick his finger in a huge tray of green Jell-o that has been laced with fruit cocktail. "Herbert Viola." Bert drops his hand and looks up sheepishly.

David continues. "We have gotten off to a very bad start. We don't know you, and you don't know us. We are not here to cause a big to do … Can we just sit down and … maybe talk? Just for a few minutes? Two … minutes? A minute and a half?"

She shrugs with great annoyance and moves into the cafeteria to sit down. David and Rachel sit down at the first table and Bert continues to stand in the doorway to the kitchen. Bert is eyeing the packages of Twinkies, Cup Cakes, SnoBalls, and Ding Dongs by the register.

"Fine … I guess someone should hear my side. … It started about 7 - 8 years ago. Chris was living with his father in Oregon - Oregon, Ohio? - Just outside of Toledo? Anyway … he was there for his junior and senior year of high school and freshman year of college. He met this TRAMP … Linda Sparks … she threw herself at him over and over. She was a gold-digging whore, who would bed anything that moves. She was looking to land a man and retire with her MRS degree. You know the type."

"Chris wanted nothing to do with her and made that very clear. One night - only one night -- in his freshman year of college ... they … you know… did it. She got pregnant. She said it was Chris's but I didn't believe it. Well anyway, Chris's father threw him out of the house. Sparks parents disowned her and Linda and Chris moved to California to live with me. They didn't get married - I put my foot down on that. We moved into a three-bedroom trailer in Irvine. Chris got two jobs, I got a second job and Linda sat at home on her fat butt eating us out of house and home watching re-runs on Bravo all day. We - Chris and I - paid for everything … including the doctors and hospital at 100%. Then little Andrew was born. He was the sweetest child in the world."

"Anyway … Linda got depressed … They said it was postpartum depression, I think she was just PO'd that the attention was off her. She took off with a trucker, leaving Andrew with Chris and me. I thought GOOD RIDDANCE. Things went along for a couple of years. Chris and I worked our butts off for that little angel. Then when Andrew was about four … the bitch came back. She had made up with her family. Dumped the trucker and married the boy-next-door and was pregnant again. Her father is a used car salesman and is very big in Toledo. They hired some high-powered attorney from Chicago and took Andrew away from us. She threw some pretty nasty lies around and got sole custody."

"They want him to sign over all rights so that that tramp's new husband can adopt my little Andrew." Rachel pulls some strength from deep with in her. "Not as long as I got breath in my body." She drops into a coughing fit and has to get up to get some water.

"The money is all gone now. His parents died when he was very young and the trust fund was completely mismanaged. Everything except this property was lost. But Marcus and Chloe - and I dare say I - have helped to save it and keep it for their kids. It is all that is left."

"David? Well … David doesn't need things clearly defined - especially when it comes to relationships. He's the kind of guy who likes to take a trip with no plans; happy to let road take him where it wants to."

"Stu and I fit very well together from the beginning and right up until the end… there were a couple of periods when we had troubles but … yeah I suppose you could say that we were soul mates."

"To say the least. … David is … he is full of life. Full of all the energy that it takes to try new things and take risks and he forces me - well, drags me kicking and screaming most of the time - along with him."

"NOT attracted? Now there's a laugh … No I was ATTRACTED to David pretty close to the first day we met. Everyone is. He is a charmer. I spent the first few years fighting that attraction."

"I don't want to rehash that stuff. But let me just say that our getting together was not smooth sailing. It was not candle light, caviar and violins playing in the background. In fact many people have argued that it was not only NOT romantic it was NOT their idea of passion."

Maddie laughs. "You don't know David and me … we don't do the heart to hearts … open honest discussion of our inner most thoughts and feelings … not our forte. AND … I can say without hesitation we BOTH like it that way."

"I know. I know you are right … but for now this works for us." Maddie takes a sip of wine and thinks for a moment before she speaks again. "Something pretty big happened to me ... well to us … at the very start of our relationship. It all got very confusing, other people were dragged in and then it got pretty bad for a while. It is all ancient history now. But if we had just --- it doesn't matter it didn't go down that way and --- ."

"Or TANGLE." Maddie takes a deep breath. "We got together - finally. I ran … literally … to Chicago. Found out I was pregnant. Came back … eventually. After some major road blocks - we figured it out - or started to. Then I lost the baby."

"Yeah." Maddie holds back a tear. "It was bad … awful … wretched. It nearly killed David and me. It very nearly broke us up - well it did actually break us up. It took us two years to work back to each other."

"What? … It's no big deal. You know that when you get older everything just aches more." Maddie swallows the pills and turns the conversation back to Cecilia. "So tell me about you? You look fantastic."

"It wasn't easy - but I was lucky and life is good. I work in a women's health clinic in Santa Barbara working with women over forty. Trying to get the word out. Catching something early is the only way to survive and I am not just talking about cancer."

"You've been pregnant once and not carried that child to term - I'm sorry - that was very callous." She reaches out to touch Maddie's arm. "I don't mean to be. It's just that I have seen so many women suffer needlessly."

"What? No. Well … I mean it is hard to say. I am sleeping with a man who can generate enough heat to keep Chicago warm all winter. And that is when he is sleeping." She smiles half-heartedly.

Maddie burst out laughing. "No --- not at all … just the same old rut." Cecilia looks a little confused. "No pretty much nothing has stayed the same in the last eight years. David is not a very ROUTINE kind of guy and being a detective is not a very ROUTINE kind of life."

Maddie is back at work flipping through piles of invoices and files trying to do the billing. We can tell by the way she tosses the files around that she is annoyed. David saunters in looking very much like the `cock of the walk.'

"That's a yes." He sits down casually in a chair opposite her, the kiss forgotten. "Torrance … California … USA … Planet Earth … the Universe … Am I getting warmer?" Her glare does not soften and he feigns a shiver. "Nope … feels like I'm ice cold."

"I'm sorry Miss Hayes. I knew that I was going to be out when you got back from lunch … and I couldn't trust any of them to give you the message so I taped them here. I guess I should have told you when I got back. I'm sorry Miss Hayes, it won't happen again."

"Thank you Miss DiPesto. As usual your efficiency has gone completely unnoticed. You will please try to be less on-the-ball. We just cannot let this kind of competence continue. We'll talk about it later. Back to your station, young lady."

"I'm sorry." Clearly she isn't completely sorry. She checks her watch and pulls a bottle of Motrin out of her drawer. She discovers that it is empty and tries to throw it into the trash but misses. She goes to the bathroom in search of another bottle.

She reenters the room with a half glass of water in her hand and a new bottle of Motrin. "First of all, it is NOT aspirin. Second of all … if you had ever gone through once in your life, what women go through every lousy month … you would not ask such a STUPID question."

Rachel Kingston heaves herself up the stairs after a long day in the cafeteria. She lets herself into an apartment on the second floor. Dumping her purse and keys on the cluttered kitchen table, she hits the button on the answering machine.

Rachel looks disgusted. She pulls a bottle of beer from the refrigerator and takes a long hit as she kicks off her shoes. She pulls the phone handset off the wall and lowers herself down on to the kitchen stool. She takes a second hit from the bottle and finishes the beer. She dials.

After a moment; "Chris? … I need to speak to Chris. Fine … Let me talk with Tina. … You know damn well who this is, CHARLES …" She waits as the phone is handed off. "Yeah … It's me. … Archer is on his way to Los Angeles and he has hired some fancy Beverly Hills Detectives. …I met them. … Today … at work … they tracked me down at the school. Can't tell you how hard that was to explain. … The truth. … You bet I did. … No … No … NO … I didn't say anything, but they are going to find out." She pulls a card out of her pocket. "Blue Moon Investigations … Century City … David Addison … Addison … A - D - D - I - S - O - N … David. … No, don't come down here. I'll come up there. … No not tonight … I know … Tomorrow … where? … Fine … Fine … I'll see you then." She hangs up and looks toward the refrigerator. She wants another beer but the three feet to the fridge seems so far away.

Maddie and David leave the office saying that they won't be returning that day. Just before they go out of sight, David slaps the glass with his open palm. He does it twice and then gives the thumbs up.

"Blue Moon …. No I am sorry they have left for the day. I can leave them a message. … Tina LaSpring? … If this is important I can reach them at home. … Are you sure you don't want to leave them a message … They'll get it Monday morning. OK … Bye."

Maddie stares at the reflection in the mirror. She is dressed casually - light pants, tank top and classic linen over shirt. Her casual festive appearance is in direct competition with the scowl on her face.

Maddie is attempting to put on mascara but her fists are so tightly clenched she can't get close enough to her eye without fear of poking it out. David frames himself in the bathroom door. A towel wrapped around his waist and shaving cream on his face.

David bounces back into the bathroom. "WHOA CECILIA… you're breaking my heart. You're shaking my confidence daily … down on my knees … Making love - MAKING LOVE - in the afternoon with Cecilia up in my bedroom. I got up to wash my face." He hums the next verse.

Maddie gives up putting her make up on and goes to make the bed: yanking the sheets into place, slapping the pillows into position. She constantly glares back toward the bathroom as she walks around the room picking up discarded socks, shoes, yesterday's T-shirt and boxers. His suit coat and pants, which were left on the back of the bedroom door, she re-hangs.

"It could be me … not likely. Could be the caseload. Could be this 24/7 that we are doing … God knows we are on top of each other all day … everyday… not that I have a problem with the positioning -"

"What I mean is … Maddie … admit it … you are the queen of UMS's … you have got to give me that … And I have gotten pretty good at knowing when one is coming … and I know how to keep my head down … but-"

"Maddie … don't go to there … if you are going to try to convince me that you were THAT upset over socks and shoes … or some stupid sexist comment … one of a million … then you need a shrink … or some other licensed professional."

Rachel Kingston is sitting at a table outside the bistro. She is chain smoking and by the fullness of the ashtray; she has been there for a little while. A very tall woman dressed in spangles, sparkles and heels that lift her almost six inches off the street struts up to the edge of the café. She reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ears with the familiar painted nails. Rachel looks up at her and takes a moment to recognize her.

It is mid-afternoon on the veranda at the Hathaway estate. Maddie, Cecilia and Chloe are seated around the patio table near the built in bar-b-que. Chloe is a younger version of Cecilia. She has long dark hair and her eyes are little bluer but other than that, the women are identical. Chloe is talking rather intensely to Maddie. Maddie is looking back and forth between mother and daughter. It is clear that Chloe is talking about Cecilia; who looks generally uncomfortable but jumps in to clarify for Maddie every so often. At one point, Maddie reaches over to take Cecilia's hand and presses it warmly. Cecilia smiles at her.

Behind them is the pool and beyond that is a great expansive lawn leading to the bluff that overlooks the ocean. David and Marcus Hathaway is a handsome young man with full beard and mustache dressed in jeans and polo. The three Hathaway children (Dylan (7), Sean (5) and Miranda (4)) are playing a version of bocce on the lawn. Little Miranda is hanging on to David's hand and forcing him to swing her. Well forcing is not really right … David is in no hurry to turn the child over to her dad. The men are laughing and seem to be enjoying each other's company. Marcus is a very doting father and offers to take Miranda off David's hands several times. David convinces Marcus that he is fine with her.

Fade to the BBQ - Marcus and Chloe are hovering over the grill playfully arguing about the doneness of the steaks and burgers on the grill. The boys practice their diving for Maddie. Miranda is floating around the shallow end under Maddie's watchful eye. David and Cecilia can be seen just inside the house. Cecilia is chopping vegetables for a salad with David's not so helpful assistance. She is talking seriously and David looks a little uncomfortable.

Fade to just after lunch time … Miranda is sitting between David and Chloe. Miranda's face and hands are covered with ketchup from her burger. David is in a meaningful conversation with Chloe who occasionally checks on the child's progress. Maddie is listening intently to Marcus who is clearly in the middle of a long drawn out tale. Cecilia and the boys are clearing the plates.

Fade to late afternoon … the adults are sitting on the patio and the kids are nowhere to be scene. David is very animatedly telling some story that Maddie keeps playfully interrupting. With each interruption the laughing and silliness is amplified. It has the vague appearance of a stand up act.

Fade to early evening … David is shaking hands with Marcus. They are making plans for some male bonding event - baseball, basketball, hockey. Maddie hugs Chloe and Cecilia and they make plans for lunch on Tuesday. Maddie waves and slides into the passenger seat and David takes his position behind the wheel. More waves and David slowly takes the car out of the drive.

Fade to evening … just outside of Santa Monica, Maddie's head is resting on David's shoulder. She is fast asleep. David watches the road intently, his hand gripped tightly on the wheel. Something is on his mind. He takes a quick glance at Maddie with a look of loving concern.

Maddie enters from the bathroom in her bathrobe. Her hair is pulled back and her face is freshly washed clean of make-up. She is a stunningly beautiful woman, with or without the cosmetic improvements. David is looking out the window, still dressed.

"It is. They're making a difference - the clinic, the programs, getting the word out. Between Ceci and Chloe, they will reach every woman living on the west coast - and beyond. There will not be a woman between the ages of 18 and 55 who have not been pre-screened for … well everything."

He walks out of the bathroom grinning. "I just think you could be a little more considerate and leave the toilet seat up for me." He grabs her playfully and they fall onto the bed. David is of course nuzzling her neck.

Dr. Weed enters with Maddie close behind. The good doctor directs her to take a seat as she takes her place behind the desk. Maddie's file is open and Dr. Weed is looking through it. She doesn't look up as she starts to speak.

"I am not sure if anything is wrong … necessarily. I just feel different. I am tired all the time and I feel … I don't know how to describe it … on edge. Like I never have a moment to myself. David says I am getting irrational."

"Oh yes … Cecilia. She is a wonderful woman - a little zealous at times but for a good cause. So … part of this visit is being prompted by Cecilia's mission to get everyone woman in America to be on a first name basis with their doctors, huh?"

"Well lets get back to you and the changes you are experiencing. You say you are tired all the time? And have the feeling of being on edge? Well that could be signs of something … or nothing more than you are working too hard."

"Yes and no … I mean they are usually right around the same time … every 4 weeks ... but they seem to be heavier and the cramps are much worse than I remember. Again … I wrote it off to not enough exercise or sleep or vitamins."

"It might be nothing … like you said … you are working hard, your home life has changed and your body is changing. It could be something as minor as a cyst … a lot of women have them … they are more of an annoyance then anything else."

"There is a wide variety. It could be an ectopic pregnancy … but I think I can rule that out … your symptoms would be much more pronounced. It could be something as serious as Endometriosis … but that normally would have been discovered years ago. It is rare that a woman develops that at your age."

David is hard pressed to contain his amusement at the throwback to the 40's that stands before him; Maddie is less than amused. Archer is a rumpled middle-aged man. He is tall, barrel-chested and is wearing a fedora and a broad smile that seems permanently etched on his face. His eyes are clear and are ogling Maddie up and down.

He reaches across the desk to press Maddie's un-extended hand. She recovers quickly and offers it halfhearted. David comes behind the desk to sit on the credenza more to mark his territory than to be close to Maddie.

"DeWinter is elusive. You are not the first detective agency that I have hired for this case." Archer can't take his eyes off of Maddie. "I need to apologize about last week. I had known how beautiful you were in real life --"

"Let me start at the beginning. My client is Jack Sparks." He pauses assuming that Maddie and David will show recognition and be impressed; they aren't. "… The Pontiac King? … Toledo Ohio's Man of the Year?"

"He is a very wealthy man - must pull down two - two-fifty a year. Anyway his daughter, Linda, got mixed up with kids she shouldn't have. When her father got wind of who these kids were - he put a stop to it. Linda - being a teenager … you know how teenagers are … ran away from home. She would up out here in California with this Chris DeWinter person."

"Anyway this DeWinter person convinces her to move in with him and he will see her through this pregnancy. Out of the kindness of his heart … right. He keeps her locked away in his apartment ... no food - well not enough … no phone … no contact with another living soul except some strange woman who claims to be a Mid-wife. Eventually the kid was born. Less then 2 months go by. Linda goes out for some diapers and stuff when she gets back DeWinter and the baby are gone. She contacts her father … after trying to find her baby herself. Sparks brings her home and spends the next four years tracking down DeWinter and the baby. He finds them in a Trailer Park in Irvine. There is a custody battle … Linda like a stupid foolish girl … had put DeWinter down as the father on the birth certificate … the court rules in Sparks favor and grants sole custody to Linda."

"Linda has married the kid's father … she want to have the birth certificate changed and wants to erase all contact with DeWinter from her life. All I need him to do is sign off on an affidavit that he is not the biological father and relinquishes all claim on the kid."

"Sunbird? … Grand AM? … Grand Prix? … Le Mans?" Maddie's glare has only intensified. "No Pontiac? … Ok … look ... all I am saying is that we should find this DeWinter person and hear his version of events."

"For no other reason than to give him an opportunity to fight them on this. Maybe he doesn't know. He has been out of touch with pretty much every one connected to this case for the last two years."

There you go … the first episode of the Virtual Season 8. The usual thanks go to Diane, Sue and Sarah. What a great team to work with. Sue gets special mention this time as the "technical advisor." Thanks Sue. And to Diane, collaborator and beta-reader extraordinaire … thanks and Happy Birthday, girlfriend.