Virtual
Season Eight - Episode 16
The
Ties That Bind
By
Sue
Act
I
Scene One:
Monday morning in the Addison/Hayes Bedroom
Filtered light
reaches through the room, which is still except for the billowing curtains at
the window. The only disorder in the room
(which is minus the usual crumpled pile of clothes littering the floor) comes
from the occupants of the bed; Maddie is tangled in the sheets, a foot pokes
out, her hair covers her face. She’s in
a relaxed fetal position, her arms tucked in slightly. Someone sleeps contentedly beside her, their
noses close together. Maddie begins to
stir and as her eyes open she is startled to find herself face to face with
blonde fur and large brown droopy eyes.
Her head jerks back; she pushes the hair away from her face and smiles
down at the dog, now happily wagging her stubby tail at her mistress. She rubs the dog’s head.
Maddie:
I thought David’s morning breath had improved.
She looks
around the room, expecting to see some hint of him or hear him singing in the
shower, but there’s nothing. She looks
over at the clock, 7:10. After four
straight nights apart, she had been aware of him coming to bed at some ungodly
hour so why isn’t she waking her to his snoring? She ponders this question as she lies on her back looking at the
ceiling. Today is Monday, her favorite
day of the week. She should be anxious
to get up and get moving. But she’s not. She’d rather lie here and think about these
last few weeks, how good things have been since San Diego. She smiles a secret smile, stretches
languidly…
Maddie:
Don’t jinx it, Maddie.
She begins to
get up, reconsiders and lies back down.
There’s the sound of a car engine coming up the driveway. The infamous corvette... runs today, tomorrow who knows? She shakes her head, thinks about his love
for that hunk of junk. There’s a
backfire, then a door slam, a tune being whistled…Radar Love? The front door opens and closes downstairs,
footsteps start up the staircase, and she doesn’t make a move. David enters, sits on the bed and whispers
softly.
David:
Hey, Blondie. No, not you. The other blonde. The one with the great—oh, you’re awake. I brought you a latte. You want it?
He doesn’t give
her time to answer.
David:
I got a mocha for me. But I
thought you’d like the latte better.
Here, watch it. It’s hot.
Maddie: Thanks. I thought I heard you come in last
night. Is the stake out finished?
David: That was early this
morning. It’s finished but I’m a little
wound up and I couldn’t sleep so I picked up the dry cleaning and went to
Starbucks.
He jolts off
the bed, startling her.
Maddie:
Why didn’t you wake me up when you got home?
David:
No use both of us not getting any sleep.
Maddie:
How considerate. And how unlike
you.
David:
Thanks a lot. Actually your
snoring kept me awake.
Maddie:
I don’t snore—
David:
Maybe I’d better wean myself off this stuff or I may never sleep
again. But since I’ve been living on
nothing but caffeine lately, I can’t go cold turkey now. Where do you suppose that expression comes
from?
She stares at
him impassively.
David:
Cold turkey…
Maddie:
Why don’t you take a breath and sit down for a minute.
She pats his
side of the bed.
David:
No time. Come on, sleepy
head. You have to get up and get
dressed. We have a busy week planned,
Miss Hayes.
She does a
quick double-take. He turns into the
dressing area to hang up the dry cleaning.
Maddie stretches and yawns.
Maddie:
Yes, we do have a busy week.
Busier than usual since we have to prepare for that audit.
David (yells off camera): You promised you wouldn’t mention that
again.
Maddie:
I lied. David, about last night…
He pokes his
head out of the dressing area.
David: Drink your latte
before it gets cold.
Maddie: Enough with the latte! Now put down the coffee before someone gets
hurt.
She grabs his
arm as he crosses in front of her and gives him a look that makes him
understand she means business. So he
takes a deep breath and sits beside her on the bed.
David: What do you want
to talk about?
Maddie:
Last night. When you came home,
you didn’t wake me up.
David groans.
David: Look, Maddie. When the weekend comes, when I’ve had a
chance at some shut-eye, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.
Maddie:
I’m not looking for an explanation. I’m…
As she searches
for what she wants to say he finds it difficult to maintain eye contact with
her. There’s a look of apprehension on
his face. He sighs.
David: Maddie…I guess I
just wasn’t in the mood.
She smiles at
him reassuringly, puts on an act of looking out the window.
David: What are you
looking at?
Maddie:
I’m watching for the flying pigs.
Wouldn’t want one to fall out of the sky and hit your car.
He laughs and
lies across the bed, now watching her intently.
Maddie:
I’m trying to tell you that I wasn’t disappointed.
David: Yeah? You just looked so…peaceful. I didn’t want to disturb you.
Maddie:
I’m not saying never wake me up again…just that I liked that you came to
bed after four nights out on this case, and instead of feeling obligated to
perform what you probably think of as your manly duty…
David: Duty, eh? If only the Boy Scouts had included THAT
one—
Maddie:
Believe me, David, you’ve more than earned your merit badge. In fact, you’ve earned the rank of Eagle
Scout. But sometimes it’s nice just to
be held.
David: You mean…oh I get
it. This is a female thing, right? You mean we had a touchy feely moment—
Maddie:
And apparently you missed it. I
knew I’d jinx it.
David: Next time you’ve
gotta clue me in. I’m still a guy,
Maddie. You haven’t wrung all the
testosterone out of me yet.
Maddie:
Thank God.
David: And you do
snore. So, are you getting up or do I
have to come in there and get you?
She grins up at
him slyly, he pounces on the bed and we discreetly move on to the next scene.
Scene
Two: Later that Morning, Blue Moon
Investigations
Maddie and David are walking into the office, David still talking
a mile a minute. Agnes and Bert are
huddled at the reception desk.
David: So what would you call that merit badge,
Miss Hayes? And what would it look
like? Could I wear it proudly on my
lapel?
Maddie: For all I care you
could wear it on your—
Bert: Muffin!
I just want to keep looking, that’s all.
Bert is holding up a supermarket throwaway advertising homes for
sale.
Agnes: Herbert.
We already have an appointment to sign the papers. We could look at every house in Culver City
in our price range and never find another one like this. That one bedroom will be a perfect nursery.
Bert: It looks like it needs a new roof.
Agnes: It has a big backyard. It will be great for a swing set, maybe a
jungle gym—
Bert: The street is too busy.
Agnes: It’s close to work—and I didn’t count that
many cars going up and down the street.
Bert: But new houses are coming on the market all
the time, Honeybunch. I just have a
feeling the perfect house is out there somewhere if we just keep looking!
Agnes: Herbert, cut it out. We’ve BEEN looking. Now it’s time to spit or get off the pot.
Bert: Spit?
Doesn’t that expression go—
Agnes holds up her index finger to shush him. She points to the camera.
Agnes: Censors, remember?
David (whispers): Maddie, who
the hell are these so-called censors?
Agnes: Herbert…if you want, I’ll call the plumber,
the painters and the electrician. All
you have to do is just show up this afternoon to sign the paperwork.
She points him to his desk, her expression determined and
unwavering.
Maddie: You found a house?
Agnes perks up when she notices them standing behind her desk.
Agnes: A really great-great house, Miss Hayes. If I can just get Mr. Moneybags here to open
up the purse strings a little.
Bert: Agnes, this place is a money pit. That shyster realtor must have seen us
coming a mile away! Miss Hayes, can you
believe she only saw the place once before making the offer?
Maddie: Sometimes once is all it takes, right
Agnes? I’m sure you’ve looked at enough
houses to know what your likes and dislikes are.
Agnes shrugs.
Agnes: I knew right away when I saw this one—sometimes
even when you think you don’t know it, you know it, you know?
David: I know.
Maddie: You do?
Bert turns to Maddie and David.
Bert: She walked into the living room and said
we’ll take it! Before even seeing the
bathroom!
Maddie: Really.
Agnes: We had to act fast or somebody else would
have snapped it up.
Bert: Yeah, right. I bet that place was on the market for a year. But I’m sure some other suckers— I mean
buyers were waiting in the wings.
Agnes: Pleeeease, Herbert.
Agnes and her pleading look instantly knocks all the fight out of
her husband.
Bert: Whatever you say, Puppybreath.
Agnes: Thanks…Lumpykins.
A snicker is heard in the background. Agnes gazes at Bert sweetly.
He turns around to sneer at MacGillicuddy.
Agnes: Title company, 3:00…Honeypants.
Maddie and David look at each other, mouth, Honeypants? as Agnes grabs Bert by his lapels, gives him
a kiss on the cheek and points him to his desk. Then Agnes turns to Maddie.
She says, in a conspiratorial whisper:
Agnes: Two can play at this
game.
Then excitedly:
Agnes: Would you like to come
see the house at lunch time, Miss Hayes?
Maddie: I’d love to, Agnes. But I’ve got so much to do today. I’m meeting Terri for lunch to go over the
guest list for the baby shower, we have that new client this afternoon—
Agnes: She called and I moved her up to 10:00. I hope that’s ok.
Maddie: That’s fine. But I also have to start pulling records for that audit—
That word, said with enough volume so everyone in the office can
hear it, sends the staff into a frenzy of activity. MacGillicuddy turns all his attention to the coffee pot, while
Jamie grabs the telephone and Kris starts filing like it’s the most important
job on the planet. Jurgenson and
O’Neill study the ceiling lights intently since neither can find a task to do
on his bare desk.
Maddie: You know, Agnes, with all this extra work to
do, I could really use some help planning this baby shower thing. Would you do me a big favor and join Terri
and me for lunch? Maybe help me out a
little bit?
Agnes: I’d love to, and then maybe we can all go
see the house after that.
Maddie: Perfect.
We’ll wait for our client in Mr. Addison’s office then.
Agnes: Ok.
Herbert…Poopyface…
David glances over at Bert, sitting at his desk obediently picking
up the phone but looking rather unenthusiastic about it. David shakes his head and mutters something
unintelligible under his breath as he closes the office door.
Maddie: What?
David: I think ‘ol Bert is having second thoughts
about becoming a real estate mogul.
Maddie: Buying a first home is a big step. Agnes certainly seems ready though. (She shrugs.) I just hope she’s thought this purchase through. A house shouldn’t be bought on impulse.
David: Ah, there’s the Maddie Hayes I know and
love.
Maddie: Well, it shouldn’t.
David: I’m not disagreeing.
Maddie: Does that mean you’re agreeing?
David: It means that I’m agreeing not to disagree.
Maddie: So…you agree.
David: Don’t I always?
Maddie (points out the window): Look! There goes another flying pig.
He grins at her and she continues.
Maddie: But on the other hand it sounds like the
house needs quite a bit of repair work—
David: I’m thinking it’s not the repairs that are
getting to him.
Maddie: Well, what else could it be? I’m sure he’s just worried they’re throwing
good money after bad.
David: Look, I’m sure Bert doesn’t mind giving up
his Saturday morning cartoons for the Saturday morning home shows on PBS.
Maddie: What a shame. The two of you will have nothing to discuss on Monday morning.
David: I’m thinking that our Mr. Viola believes
that buying a house with Agnes will mean that he’s really married.
Maddie: Well, they are really married. So that means—
She is stopped cold by an exaggerated display of fascination in
what she is about to say. He rests his
chin in both hands and leers at her.
David: So being married means…tell me, Ms.
Hayes. What does being married
mean? I can’t wait to hear.
She leans back on the couch silently; crosses her arms.
David: Ok, I guess I’ll have to finish that
thought. Boy I get tired of doing
this. I wish you’d learn to articulate
your ideas more clearly.
Maddie: Do tell, Mr. Addison. Once again, the world, as well as myself,
can’t wait to hear what marriage means from the man who has spent most of his
life talking out of his—
David: I’ll give you the abbreviated version. Responsibilities on top of responsibilities
on top of more responsiblities. I.e.: Getting a mortgage, getting insurance,
paying taxes and maintenance. A little
paint, a little wallpaper, the kids can’t be far behind. More insurance, more bills, braces, college
savings plans and last but not least— and this is the real horror—the
minivan.
Maddie: At least after the kids come along he can go
back to the Saturday morning cartoons.
David: There you go. The circle of life.
Maddie: I know what you’re saying, David. Getting a mortgage together is a big
commitment. But after all, that’s where
many a relationship winds up.
David: I wouldn’t know.
Maddie: Neither would I.
They regard each other in silence for a moment. The intercom buzzes, Agnes announces:
Agnes: Mr. Addison? Miss Hayes?
Maddie/David: Yes Agnes.
Agnes: Your 10:00 appointment is here.
Maddie looks down at her watch.
It’s only 9:40.
Maddie/David: Send her in Agnes.
A young woman tightly
clutching a photograph and purse follows Agnes into the office and is shown to
a seat in front of David’s desk. She’s
attractive in a down-to-earth sort of way, definitely not from Los Angeles and
she’s all wide-eyed innocence as she looks around the office setting, then at
Maddie.
Woman: Thank you for seeing me
early. I’ve been so impatient for this
meeting. I’m Robin Hammond.
Maddie perches in front of David’s desk and crosses her arms. She seems unaware that her stature and body
language might seem a bit intimidating to the much smaller woman, whose wide
eyes settle on David as she sinks into the couch in front of the desk.
Maddie: How may we help you Miss Hammond?
Robin: Now that I’m here…I’m
sorry…I’m…a little tongue-tied.
David: Just take a deep breath and spill it. Don’t worry, I’ll jump out of the way if it
looks like I’m going to get hit with anything.
Maddie’s mouth tightens slightly.
Robin hands David the photo of a beautiful, blue eyed blond girl with a
wide smile.
Robin: I’m looking for my
younger sister, Lark. She left town in
the middle of the night, no notice, a month’s rent due.
David: Left on a lark, eh?
Maddie shoots David a look, but Robin smiles, appears a little
more at ease.
Robin: Lark fits her name to a
“t”. She is somewhat impetuous, but
she’s not…inconsiderate. I don’t think
she would just up and leave with no reason and without telling anyone.
Maddie: Did she take all her belongings?
Robin: As far as I can tell,
she only took a suitcase full of clothes.
She left her furniture behind if that’s what you mean.
Maddie: Then it sounds like she plans on coming
back. Maybe she took an extended vacation
or a got a job offer. I don’t think—
David: Ok. Let me guess. You think she came to Hollywood to be a star.
Robin:
I don’t even know that she came here, Mr. Addison. All I have is a phone bill with a 213 area
code. So this is where I started.
Maddie’s glare
at David for interrupting her goes unnoticed.
Maddie:
This phone number doesn’t give us much to go on, Miss Hammond. You don’t know if she knows anyone in LA, or
why she would have come here? Or even
if she did come here?
Robin:
To be honest, I don’t know much about my sister. I can tell you she’s always been the
artistic, social type; I was the quiet one.
David: So you were the
George to her Paul.
David’s silly
comments seem to be having the desired effect of making this potential client
relax and open up.
Robin (shrugs and smiles): I guess.
She takes more after our mother…although Lark didn’t really even know
our mother. She died when Lark was
four. Our dad raised us alone until he
married our stepmother when Lark was ten and I was fifteen. We’ve certainly always had separate
lives. She was a cheerleader. I was a bookworm. She never went to college.
I went to nursing school. She’s
never had a steady job or a career, but she did make some money modeling. You can see by her picture how beautiful she
was—I mean is!
No cute remark
this time.
David (gently): That’s ok. We can see
you’re worried about her. Go on.
He moves a box
of tissues closer to her.
Robin:
Thanks. That picture was taken
when she was sixteen, but she still looks pretty much the same now. She’s twenty one, and still pretty flighty,
I’ll admit. But the times that she’s
taken off in the past at least she let someone know. She didn’t do that this time.
Maddie:
Have you contacted the police?
Robin:
Our hometown police force consists of a sheriff and one deputy. They’re more interested in writing speeding
tickets since the council tried to eliminate their positions for not generating
enough income for the town. The Los
Angeles police wouldn’t even talk to me.
Maddie:
I’m sorry, but a phone number from an old phone bill? It could have been a wrong number. It could have been a business, a catalog company. It could have been practically
anything.
Robin:
I tried the number. It’s definitely
a private residence. But I couldn’t get
the man on the other end of the line to tell me anything. It was a bit mysterious, actually. He was angry and kept asking me how I got
the number. Look, I know it’s a slim
chance, but it’s the only clue I’ve been able to find. If I could just get an address to go with
this phone number.
David: How about we make
some inquiries? I’ve got contacts that
might be able to find out some information about that phone number. It shouldn’t take long. We’ll look into it and let you know what we
find out.
Robin:
Thank you, Mr. Addison. I’d
really appreciate that.
Maddie:
Miss Holland? Please let our
receptionist know where you can be reached. We’ll get back to you later on
today if we’re able to take your case.
Feeling
summarily dismissed, Robin Holland leaves.
Maddie and David are left alone, watching each other warily.
David: Ok, Maddie. Explain to me why we shouldn’t take this
one. There’s no wacko, no weirdo. It’s not a sordid divorce case. Go ahead and tell me. She looks like a lost little kid. Tell me you don’t feel sorry for her.
Maddie:
She’s hardly a kid, David. And I
happen to feel that her sister, who is also of legal age, has every right to
live her own life.
David: You have to admit
that it’s pretty weird to just up and leave your hometown and your family
without telling anyone.
Maddie:
She admitted that they aren’t very close. Maybe her sister didn’t feel the need to justify herself.
David: It won’t hurt to
make a few phone calls. The number is
probably a dead end anyway. It
shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to find out.
Maddie:
Fine. But if this turns into
something more than a few phone calls, you’re on your own. I’ve got all I can handle with planning
Terri’s shower and preparing for the—
David: Audit! Jeez, I wish you’d quit throwing that up in
my face, Sweetheart. But let me just
say in my defense that the IRS should know better than to waltz into a place on
April Fool’s Day.
Maddie:
Especially this place.
But I assume the poor man didn’t know he was walking into Prank Central.
David: Well, we showed
him, didn’t we?
Maddie:
Yes we certainly did. I still
think having Mr. MacGillicuddy rip a piece of fabric when he sat down was a
cruel joke to play on a person with a weight problem.
David: But you’ve got to
admit leaving that $20 bill on the floor for him to pick up was a stroke of
genius. Ok, maybe the head noogies took
it a bit over the top, though.
Maddie huffs.
Maddie:
Regardless, your feeble attempt to rectify the situation by offering up
Jamie’s affections—
David: Should have
offered O’Neill instead.
Maddie:
David!
David: Ah Maddie, I’m
only kidding. Besides this is no big
deal. We’re honest and trustworthy.
Maddie:
From that stint in the Boy Scouts?
David: We have nothing to
hide. This audit will be a cake walk.
Maddie:
But thanks to you and your hole in the head gang I have to spend
my week making sure all the books are in order and that every T is crossed and
I is dotted.
David: Well dotting T’s
and crossing I’s are what you do best, Miss Hayes. Well…maybe not best. You
do have certain other…special talents.
Maddie rolls
her eyes but smiles at him in spite of herself. She takes hold of his tie and moves down very close to his face,
close enough to feel his breath on her cheek.
Maddie:
And on that note, I guess we’d better both get moving or we’ll be
working through the weekend. And all
those special talents will go unused.
She looks him
up and down seductively.
David: And you know what
they say, Ms. Hayes. If you don’t use
it, you lose it.
Maddie:
And we wouldn’t want that.
Grinning
widely, he kisses her hand, which is still gripping his tie.
David: We sure wouldn’t.
She drops his
tie and sits up.
Maddie:
Well, time to get to work.
David: You’re a mean,
nasty, cruel woman you know that, Ms. Hayes?
Maddie:
You shouldn’t use all your vocabulary in one sentence, Addison. You have some phone calls to make and I
think I should tell Agnes we’ll go look at the house some other time instead.
David: No, no, don’t do
that. She really wants you to see it,
and I can’t wait to know what you think.
Viola says it needs a lot of work, secret code for dump.
Maddie:
Talk about mean! It can’t be
that bad…
Act II
Scene
One: The New DiPesto/Viola Residence
Maddie, Terri and Agnes carefully walk up crumbling concrete steps
and into the front door of a 1940’s ranch house. Actually, Maddie and Agnes walk; in Terri’s advanced stage of
pregnancy what she does is more akin to waddling. As the door opens, Maddie finds herself in a small (by her
standards) living room with a large picture window and a soot-covered brick
fireplace. Terri looks around
uncertainly as Agnes stands proudly in the middle of the L-shaped room.
Agnes: I told you it was great, great, didn’t
I? The Christmas tree will go right in
front of this picture window.
Agnes has a dreamy, faraway look on her face. Maddie’s is pragmatic.
Maddie:
It’s nice, Agnes. The hardwood
floors are in pretty good shape. Needs
a good scrubbing and some paint, but those are just cosmetic.
Terri: Does the fireplace
work?
Agnes: I think so. I’m not sure.
Maddie and
Terri exchange a quick look.
Maddie:
So besides the all-important notion of Christmas tree placement, what
about the foundation?
Agnes: Foundation?
Maddie:
Didn’t the inspector tell you about the foundation?
Agnes: Inspector?
Maddie:
You didn’t hire a licensed inspector?
Agnes:
Oh that guy. Herbert took care
of that.
Maddie:
You mean Honeypants?
Terri: Huh?
Maddie and
Agnes giggle.
Agnes: He said the foundation is fine. I’m going to put lots of flowers in the
front yard. Ooh! And an herb garden in the backyard. I’ve always wanted an herb garden.
Maddie:
Did you check out the power bills?
Agnes is
spinning slowly around, taking in a panoramic view. She doesn’t answer.
Maddie:
The power bills for the past year, Agnes. You should really look at them to estimate what your monthly
expenses will be.
Agnes (distantly): That’s a good idea.
She wraps
herself up in a bear hug.
Agnes:
I can’t wait for Christmas.
Maddie: I think the front window is a fine
place for the Christmas tree, Agnes.
But there could be asbestos, lead paint, radon. This is an old house and it’s the most
important purchase you’ve ever made.
You need to go into this as a well-informed buyer.
Agnes: I’m informed. I know there’s nothing in this house that
could hurt us. Don’t you feel it too?
Terri:
I do feel a draft. Oh—I guess
that’s not what you meant.
Agnes:
I’m talking about the chi.
Maddie:
Agnes, you—the what?
Maddie stops
herself from lecturing any further, because Agnes is positively beaming. She suddenly takes on that persona she
sometimes does when she talks about something mystical. All that’s missing are the smells of incense
and sitar music playing in the background.
Agnes: Miss Hayes, I know
how other people see things, but this is how I see it. This is a place I’m going to be living in
for a lot of years. When I walk in it
needs to feel like home. And this place
felt like home. The Feng shui is
perfectly in balance.
She looks from
Terri’s blank expression to Maddie’s.
She sighs and begins to explain her philosophy like she’s talking to
kindergartners.
Agnes: Feng Shui.
It is the ancient Oriental science of balancing the elements within the
environment. A good environment enhances our well being.
A bad environment will
cause illness.
Maddie:
I see…
Agnes: It all depends
where the house is located and the direction it faces. If the house is in
alignment with the landscape, a good healthy life force is created. And this house has great alignment. I love the energy here.
Terri: That’s very
interesting, Agnes.
Maddie sighs,
finally surrendering.
Maddie:
I guess. I think it’s a lovely
house and will make you and Bert a wonderful home.
Agnes: I think so
too. Of course, it needs a little work.
Maddie:
Just a little.
Terri: You should have a
painting party. You know, everyone come
over in grubby clothes, paint, eat pizza, drink beer.
Maddie:
That sounds like a party you could count David in for. Although your place might look an awful lot
like Animal House when he’s finished.
How’s the kitchen?
Agnes: It’s back
here. Come on. You really have to use your imagination
though.
They walk
through the dining area, where an old, dusty chandalier hangs by one wire,
along the creaking wood floors to the back of the house. The kitchen is like a walk back in time. The appliances look original. So does the two inch layer of dirt that
covers the once-upon-a-time white tile counter tops and red and white linoleum
floor. Half the cupboard doors are gone
and the ones that remain are filthy.
Terri looks down just in time to see something with a long skinny tail scurry
under the sink. She lets out a small
yelp and jumps back, not an easy feat in her condition. Horrified, Maddie fights the need to hold
her breath and not touch anything.
Maddie:
Let’s go outside and look at the backyard…
Cut to:
David’s
office, same time.
David is on the
phone, leaning back in his chair, his feet propped up on his desk.
David: Thanks, Pete…Yeah,
that’s pretty weird. How’s a girl who’s
never left Nowhere, Oklahoma get a high powered number like that………(he
chuckles; Pete has apparently said something funny. David picks up the picture on his desk.) Well, she’s better connected than I am,
that’s for damn sure……Yeah. I’ll
definitely let you know how this one pans out……See ya, Pete.
He hangs up the
phone, thinks for a minute, then calls Bert into the office.
Bert: Yes, Mr. Addison?
David: Hey Bert. Need a little extra overtime to pay for the
new digs?
Bert: It’s going to take
more than just a little overtime to pay for the new wiring alone, sir. You wouldn’t believe what electricians
charge to bring a place up to code these days.
It’s highway robbery, that’s what it is. Then the plumber looks under the kitchen sink and comes up
laughing and making cash register sounds.
I can see my savings dwindling before my eyes, sir.
David: Ah, the things we
do for love, Bert.
Bert (miserably): Yes, sir.
David: Well, Bert. We could sit here all day and talk about
your housing woes, but what I really need to know is did your realtor tell you
about the three B’s in LA?
Bert: The three B’s,
sir? No…I don’t believe he mentioned
that. He was too busy depositing his
commission check.
David: The three B’s, Mr.
Viola: Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Bel
Air.
Bert: Those
neighborhoods are a little out of our price range, Mr. Addison. Does this have something to do with the
overtime you mentioned?
David: You catch on fast,
Bert. That’s why I like you. You and I are about to check out the luxury
homes of Brentwood. One luxury home in
particular, actually.
Bert: Surveillance in Brentwood,
sir? Won’t that be a little
conspicuous?
David: Not if we act
like…(he pulls out two pairs of cheap sun glasses, a bottle of sun block, his
binoculars and a map of Hollywood—all from the same desk drawer.)…Tourists!
Bert: Boy, you have a lot
of useful stuff in that desk.
David: I follow the Boy
Scout motto, Bert. Always be prepared.
Bert: Ok, Mr. Addison.
David: We just have to
change out of these monkey suits and don something more appropriate for
gawking. Bermuda shorts, Hawaiian shirts,
black socks and sandals come to mind.
Bert: Shorts, Mr.
Addison?
David: Well, in your
case, Mr. Viola, we may make an exception.
Now get your camera and let’s get ready to gawk.
Bert breathes a
sigh of relief. They exit the office.
Bert: Brentwood…maybe
we’ll get to see some celebrities.
Doesn’t O.J. Simpson have a house there?
Scene
Two: The Hayes/Addison Bedroom, around
10PM Monday night
Maddie is in bed, covered in paperwork and baby shower business,
everything separated into neat, tidy piles, of course. She speaks to David without looking up as he
enters the room removing a loudly printed shirt that he drops on the floor.
Maddie: I would greet you with a kiss, but I need to
avert my eyes from that outfit. Where
have you been and what have you been doing?
David: Hmmm, sounds suspiciously like wife-speak,
Miss Hayes.
He halts her coming objection with a long, irresistible,
feel-it-from-her-head-to-her-toes kiss.
She responds by wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him tightly
to her. After a few moments of
lip-locked twisting and writhing on the bed, all her paperwork is either
crumpled underneath them or has been swept to the floor.
Maddie (breathless): What was
the question?
David (brushing her hair aside, planting kisses along the front of her
throat): Where have I been and what
have I been doing?
Maddie (after a time): Oh yeah…
David pulls back for just a second to look down at her. Her eyes are shut; her pulse is beating
rapidly on her neck. He grins and resumes
the job at hand.
David: Do you care?
Maddie: About what…
David: About where I’ve been and what I’ve been
doing.
Maddie: Not really…
David: So the thrill is gone?
He rolls away from her and lies on his back. She moves onto his chest.
Maddie: Not quite.
She leans over him and begins placing a few kisses down his
chest. When she gets to his waist we
prepare to fade to black. But the
necessity disintegrates when Maddie’s head pops up at the sound of paper
ripping. She looks down and sees Miss
Me at the side of the bed chewing up last year’s expense receipts.
Maddie: Miss Me, stop that, girl!
She claps her hands and shoos the dog away. She starts gathering up papers. David looks heavenward.
David: That’ll teach me to close the bedroom door. Come on, Maddie. Don’t let a little doggie slobber—
Maddie: David, look at this mess. Just let me pick all this up.
David: Let me help.
He gets off the bed, shakes the covers and rains wrinkled papers
onto the floor. Maddie, on her hands
and knees and not amused, shoots him a look as she begins placing everything
back in neat little piles.
Realizing this moment has vanished forever, he picks up the dog
and throws her out of the bedroom.
David: Thanks a lot Mutt. (To Maddie) Want to start a bonfire?
Maddie:
Not with the RSVP’s for Terri’s baby shower. I need these to let the caterer know how many guests I’m having.
David: At least somebody
somewhere will be having something.
Maddie, still
crawling around hunting for receipts, w-4’s, lists, invitations and God knows
what else, offers no response so he flops back on the bed in disgust. After a long silence, she speaks.
Maddie:
Terri’s certainly made a lot of friends in Wally’s play group.
David (gets up on his elbow to watch her): Yeah, the floor’s covered with ‘em. She should get a lot of loot. Explain to me why she needs a baby shower. Doesn’t she already have all the junk she’s
going to need from when she had Wally?
Maddie:
This baby’s a girl, David.
Different gender, different needs.
David:
Evidently...Guess I’d better skid addle outa here Saturday night.
Maddie stops
her hunting and gathering and looks up at him.
Maddie:
I have an idea. Why don’t you
take Walter with you? With another baby
coming along soon, it may be his last chance at freedom for a while. I’m sure he’d enjoy the break.
David: Huh?
Maddie:
Sure. You boys could go out for
a few beers, maybe bowling.
David regards
her like she’s crazy.
David: I don’t think
Walter is the bowling type.
Maddie:
I’ve made every effort to make friends with Terri, David.
David: Terri’s easy to
make friends with.
Maddie:
So is Walter.
David: I like
Walter. We’re…friendly. But the last time I showed him a night out
on the town, it wound up being a drunken bash involving yellow napkins and ugly
women jumping out of cakes. The horror
of it will follow him to his dying days.
I doubt he’s up for David’s adventures in La La Land, Part Two.
Maddie:
Well, I just think it would be a nice gesture. He’s such a good family man—
David: Hoping it’ll rub
off?
Maddie stops in
mid-pile and looks up at him again, her irritation showing.
David: Maybe we’d better
change the subject.
He pulls her up
and back onto the bed. She places a
pile of something absently on the corner of the nightstand where it teeters for
a moment then falls back to the floor.
Ready to retrieve it, she thinks better of it and admits defeat, running
a finger along his jaw line. She yawns
and an arbitrary thought suddenly occurs to her.
Maddie:
Did you find out anything about Ms. Hammond’s mysterious phone
number? Is that why you’re so late?
David: Shoptalk is not
allowed in the bedroom, Ms. Hayes.
He begins to
play with the strap of her nightgown.
Maddie:
It should only take a second to answer me, David. So is that it?
David relents a
little, but adds another move to the repertoire, slipping her strap down even
further and kissing her shoulder.
David (absently): I found out it belongs to some big Hollywood mucky muck.
Maddie:
Really? Who?
David: Really. William Ross.
Maddie starts
squirming under his weight.
Maddie:
William Ross? The producer?
David: That’s the
guy. The same guy that makes all those
slezoid nighttime soaps you hate and was accused of producing porn a few years
back with underage actresses.
She struggles
to sit up.
Maddie:
That was one of his employees using his name to lend legitimacy to his
own disreputable enterprise. William
Ross is a very powerful, very respected man in this town. And David…
David: You’re killing the
mood, Maddie.
Maddie:
David!
He drops his
hand and looks up at her serious face.
He lets out a deep sigh.
David: Look, Bert and I
spent a good part of the day and most of tonight nosing around his estate. We saw a big bevy of beauties coming and
going from the joint. Young
bevies. Makes me think that maybe he
might know something about Lark Hammond.
Maddie:
That’s a stretch. It’s more
likely Lark Hammond got overly ambitious, got his number somehow and called him
out of the blue—once. Seems like a much
more plausible explanation to me.
David: Maybe. But why all those women going in and out of
there all day?
Maddie:
Possibly they were there for an audition.
Now distracted
from his original quest, he gives her a lecherous grin and a raised eyebrow.
David: At his house?
Maddie:
Why not? Maybe he does a lot of
business from his home. That’s
certainly not unheard of. And he’s a
person who seems to like his privacy.
Almost reclusive. He hasn’t
attended an awards show in years.
David: No need. I don’t think his shows get nominated for
many awards. Unless they have
nominations these days for the best girl fight scene.
Maddie:
David, listen…
David: …or maybe
outstanding T’s and A’s in a dramatic series.
Maddie:
About William Ross...
David: What about Willy?
Maddie:
I know him.
David: Do you? Well, I guess that doesn’t surprise me.
He looks
pointedly at her chest.
David: The man is a
connoisseur of great—
Maddie:
Well, I did know him. When
he was directing commercials. I worked
with him when I first came out here.
David: You think he
remembers you? What am I saying? How could he forget working with Maddie
Hayes, the most gorgeous woman that ever sat her kiester on a moon to push
shampoo? Was that his idea, by the way?
Maddie:
I’ll ignore the derision in that remark. Yes, I’m sure he’d remember me.
She
hesitates.
David: Good. You can get me in to see the guy. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.
He pushes her
gently back against her pillow. She
pushes back not so gently.
Maddie:
David, this is ridiculous. You
don’t need to see him. A phone
call should suffice.
David is now
intrigued. He can smell Maddie’s
discomfort like a dog can smell a bone buried a mile underground. The dog starts digging.
David: You don’t want me
to see him? Why? Would he reveal something juicy about you,
Miss Hayes? Got a blue movie in
your past? A few artistic photos?
Maddie gives
him a caustic stare as he runs a finger from the bridge to the tip of her
nose. Her reply comes through gritted
teeth and David suddenly feels lucky to come away with that finger still
attached.
Maddie:
…of course not.
David: Well…
Maddie:
I’m going to live to regret this…I dated him.
David (in mock surprise): Really!
Well, then I appreciate the magnanimous offer of that phone call, Miss
Hayes, but I’d prefer a face-to-face meeting with the old geezer so I can look
him in the eye.
Maddie:
Geezer?
David: Come on,
Maddie. I’ve seen the guys you used to
date. A bigger bunch of stiffs can’t be
found in a paleontology exhibit. In
fact, I thought they were all extinct by now.
Maddie:
Really…well, I’m just stunned that you know what paleontology is.
David: Sure. It’s the study of Maddie Hayes’ old boyfriends. Old being a relative term, of course.
She glares at
him.
David:
Ok, I’m sorry. They weren’t all
old. Some were just…wimps.
Maddie:
And when was the last time you saw the inside of a gym?
David:
Sometime in the Pleistocene era.
Me and all the other Neanderthals used to get together to pump
granite. Now…I have discovered better
techniques to pump up.
He moves in for
a kiss, but she crosses her arms.
David:
Come on, Maddie. I’m just
kidding around. But this guy just
tweaks my antenna.
Maddie:
After eight years of being consistently wrong, you still trust that
antenna of yours?
David:
Hey, I’ve been right once or twice.
I was right about you…Please?
I’ll ask really nice. Please
call your old—friend and get us an appointment.
Maddie:
I’d be happy to.
David: Thanks.
Maddie:
You’re welcome. Good night.
David: Good night?
Maddie:
Good night, David.
She turns over,
leaving him looking at her bare shoulder.
David: Now you’re mad at
me.
Maddie:
No, I’m not.
David: You sure you’re
not just a little bit mad?
Maddie:
Not even a little bit.
David: Because, you know,
you should never go to bed mad. It’ll
give you nightmares.
Maddie:
My nightmares are of the waking kind.
David: I’ll ignore the
derision in that remark, Gorgeous.
She pulls the
covers up over her shoulder. David gets
under the covers and folds his hands over his chest. He looks over at Maddie’s back.
David: Ross is a TV
producer right? Maybe…when we see him
I’ll pitch him a few of my ideas.
Maddie:
What ideas?
David: I had one for a TV
show about all these people trying to survive on a desert island.
Maddie:
Gilligan’s Island has already been done, David.
David: No…this was with
real people. Not actors. They’d have
endurance tests and have to eat bugs and make fire using sticks and—
Maddie:
I know you’re kidding so I won’t bother telling you what a stupid idea
that is.
David: Ok, don’t like
that one. How about this? A rich bachelor brings a bevy of beauties to
his mansion and they have to compete to become his wife.
Her response
comes with a yawn.
Maddie:
Please. Sounds like one of your
idiotic fantasies.
She clicks off
the bedside light and they’re left in total darkness.
David (whispers): Oh! I
know. The guys not really rich. The women only think he’s rich. And we set him up in a big mansion with
servants and he buys all these girls expensive gifts and they ride around in a
limo. Then at the end, after he’s
picked one of ‘em, and she’s thinking she’s hit pay dirt with Prince Big Bucks,
we reveal the truth and see what happens…
How many beauties in a bevy anyway? Maddie? Maddie?
By her heavy, even
breathing, it’s apparent that she’s asleep.
He peeks over her shoulder just to make sure. A breeze blows the curtains at the window and a bright shaft of
moonlight hits her face. He can’t help
but stare for a moment.
David: And you are
gorgeous, Gorgeous.
He kisses her
shoulder. She smiles and mumbles:
Maddie: And you’re an idiot, Idiot.
Act III
Scene One: Tuesday
Afternoon.
Maddie and David are in the Lexus on the way to the meeting with
the producer.
David: Maybe he’ll buy my screenplay.
Maddie (shakes her head and grins):
Didn’t know you had one.
David: Throw me an advance and I’ll write one in a
couple of days, win an Oscar—have you seen the crap that gets onscreen? (he sweeps his hand crosswise
dramatically) One cop against all
odds! Brother.
Maddie: Do you want to hear about the house or not?
David: It’s what I’ve been dying to hear about all
day. Do tell, Ms. Hayes.
Maddie: Well, I don’t know…surely they can find a
nicer place.
David: On their
salaries? No way. The place is that bad, huh?
Maddie:
Well, it’s pretty rundown. But
Agnes loves it.
David: So, they just fix
it up.
Maddie:
Yeah, nothing a coat of paint and a wrecking ball can’t fix. But she says it has great spiritual energy
or something. I don’t know; she seems
to have a vision that I just couldn’t see.
David: Agnes’ vision is
the envy of Miss Cleo. Hey, listen to
this. “William Ross owns an island
in the Carribean and a ranch in Idaho and a couple of private planes. The multi-millionaire, who made his fortune
in Hollywood by pioneering the concept of the night time soap opera, also has a
palatial estate with two swimming pools, one filled with champagne, according
to legend.”
Maddie:
Are you quoting? Where are you
getting that?
David: Bert found this on
the computer. He’s really into
something called surfing the internet.
Or is it hurtling through cyberspace?
Anyway, he says it’s the wave of the future and pretty soon we’ll all be
doing it. Sounds like he’s been
snorting the toner again, but what do I know.
So he came across a passage from a book, William Ross, The Making of a Hollywood Legend, The
Unauthorized Biography. Didn’t find
a picture of the guy though. I guess
Willy’s a little camera shy. Or maybe
Father Time can’t be photographed.
Maddie stares
at the road ahead.
Maddie:
Here we go.
She brakes
abruptly at a massive iron gate set in a fieldstone wall that looks impregnable
and expensive. Almost immediately a
disembodied voice comes from the gatepost.
Voice:
Please face the pylon at the left and announce your name clearly.
David: I bet he wears an
ascot under his custom-made Italian silk sports shirt.
Maddie gives
her name and receives a murmured thank you from the gatepost. The gate swings open and they follow a drive
that meanders through a tall stand of trees.
It ends over a stone bridge where a rambling house greets them. It is contemporary in style with a gently
curving roofline and opaque windows meant to look like rice paper.
David: Let me revise the
ascot and Italian sports shirt. This
guy probably knocks around his million dollar abode in a silk kimono. I just hope he’s wearing his hearing aid
today. My voice is a little
hoarse. Where do you suppose he keeps
the champagne filled pool?
At the front
door, which is flanked by what look like carved ivory tusks, David searches
around for a door bell. He finally
finds it but before his finger touches the button, the door swings open to a
young man in pressed khakis and a pink cotton shirt with the sleeves pushed up
to his elbows. He looks wary of them
both, but admits them into the foyer.
David: Is your granddad
home?
Maddie:
David…
Young Man: Miss Hayes, Mr. Addison.
Mr. Ross is expecting you. This
way please.
David looks around a large library as the young man walks away.
David: Guy dresses like a rerun
from Miami Vice.
Maddie: If bad taste was a
felony, half the citizens of L.A. would be in prison.
David: Quite a place. I guess ol’ Willy’s done pretty well for himself.
Maddie: I guess. And would you stop calling him that?
David: And just think. It all started with a big blonde and a little shampoo.
Maddie: I knew I should have stayed at the office.
David: Don’t be silly, Maddie. Your name is what got us in here. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your old
squeeze, would you?
Maddie is tight-lipped as she looks at the hundreds of books on
display in the room. Some are exhibited
prominently under glass and are rare first editions. She rolls her eyes.
David: So could he?
Maddie: I’m afraid to ask. Could he what?
David: Squeeze.
A few of those guys could barely walk, talk and gum their mashed
potatoes at the same time.
Maddie: David, I’m going to—let me do the talking,
please.
David: Why?
I can talk.
Maddie: How well I know. Ok, fine. This is your
meeting so never mind. It was just a
suggestion.
A booming voice comes into the room.
Voice: Like the stoplights in
Paris?
They both turn to see a robust man with a full head of wavy sun
bleached-blond hair, dressed in tennis whites, smiling a huge white toothy grin
at Maddie. He strides over to her,
takes both her hands in his and brings one hand up for a kiss.
Maddie: I’m sorry?
William: The stoplights in
Paris. Remember we said they must be
just a suggestion.
His grin is wider than seems humanly possible as he gives Maddie a
not very subtle once-over.
William: Maddie. It’s so good to see you after all this
time. You’re still as beautiful as
ever. Have you ever considered coming
out of retirement?
Maddie: No.
William: Such a loss to the
world. So how are you?
Maddie (stiffly): I’m very well,
William. It’s good to see you too.
William: Would you like some
coffee or tea? One of my famous health
drinks?
Maddie: You’re still drinking those horrible
concoctions?
He pats his hard stomach.
William: Hey, never mess with
perfection.
Maddie: Well, I think I’ll pass. William, this is my partner, David Addison.
David smiles a restrained smile and extends his hand, then
unconsciously taps his own hair after the handshake. Maddie observes his reaction with a slight smirk of her own.
William: Hello, Mr. Addison. You are the one who has been calling, aren’t
you?
David: Guilty as charged.
William: I’m sorry. I never see anyone without a referral. But once Madolyn Hayes was mentioned, I knew
you weren’t some insane stalker trying to pitch some stupid idea for the next
great television genre.
Maddie almost snickers out loud.
David: Yeah, her name opens a lot of doors. (He looks at Maddie pointedly.) Slams a few too.
Maddie: I imagine you get a lot of unsolicited and
unwelcome phone calls, William.
William: I’ve had my private
number changed twice this year alone.
I’m wondering how you got the number, Mr. Addison.
David: The woman who hired us to find her sister
found it on a phone bill.
William: That’s strange. What is the woman’s name?
David: Robin Hammond. Her missing sister’s name is Lark.
William glances at the picture David hands him and shakes his
head.
William: Neither her name or face
are familiar to me.
He turns his attention to Maddie once again.
William: But this face…I
saw you admiring my first edition Yeats, Maddie. You still love his work?
Maddie: William, I don’t think this is the time or
place to rehash things—
William: Of course you’re
right. And I guess time does heal almost
all wounds.
Maddie: About Lark Hammond.
He studies the picture again for a few moments; shakes his
head.
William: I’m sorry. She’s very pretty, but she doesn’t look
familiar to me. Unusual name,
Lark. I think I would remember it.
David: Maybe the kid that answered the door—
William: Donald? I’ll ask him. Now, is that all?
David: You sure you’ve never seen her? Maybe for an audition?
William: No, I’m certain. Never.
David: But you must see a lot of women.
William: Yes, I do, Mr.
Addison. But I never forget a
face. If I had met this woman I would
certainly tell you. Now, I’m a very
busy man.
David: But—
William: Maddie, it’s wonderful
to see you again. I hope we can get
together one of these days to catch up.
Rehash things, as you say.
David: Yeah, she’ll have her hash slingers call yours.
William Ross is already out the door, replaced by the young man
who first greeted Maddie and David when they arrived. The young man holds his tan arm out toward the foyer, obviously
for them to leave.
Young Man: Thank you for
coming.
He escorts them out and brusquely slams the front door as soon as
they are outside. They head back to the
Lexus; Maddie bangs her car door closed as she climbs behind the wheel.
David: A lot of door slamming going on around
here. And if phoniness was a
felony—
Maddie: Once a pompous, pretentious jerk, always a
pompous, pretentious jerk.
David: Well, the guy is a Hollywood
producer. He has no choice but to be a
pompous, pretentious jerk.
She jerks the car into drive and speeds down the driveway,
narrowly missing the front gate as it swings open slowly.
David: Hey, Maddie, have you heard of road rage?
Maddie: First he can’t wait to see us, then he
dismisses us like that. And all his
teeth are capped.
David: Why do you suppose he did that?
Maddie: Cap his teeth?
David: No, act all happy to renew your acquaintance
one minute, then shove you out the door the next?
Maddie: Because he saw I didn’t want to take a trip
down memory lane with him.
David: Well, after the trip to Paris and Yeats,
what’s left?
Maddie: Nothing.
David: Good.
Maddie: Good?
What’s wrong, David? Wasn’t he
what you were expecting?
David: I’ll admit that he was a little livelier
than I thought he was going to be.
Hey…you set me up.
Maddie: Like Humpty Dumpty. And you made it so easy. You open your mouth and your brain just
follows along behind.
David: My mouth usually does follow me where ever I
go, Ms. Hayes.
Maddie: Yes, but you are supposed to think before
you speak, David. Not the other way
around. You never learn.
David: Oh, I don’t know. I just learned that Maddie Hayes can pull one over on me. That was a pretty good one, Maddie. You just let me think the guy was some
tottering—What exactly did he mean when he said that “time heals almost
all wounds”?
Maddie: Do I grill you about all the women in your
past?
David: Right.
Like you have that much spare time.
Besides, my life’s an open book.
Speaking of which, I wonder if there’s a chapter in Ross’s unauthorized
biography dedicated to you?
Maddie: I
seriously doubt it. And for once may we
take the high road, please?
David (clutching the
dashboard): I’d prefer we just stay on
the road, Maddie. Watch out for that
parked car! I’m just curious, not
jealous. Sounds like you did a number
on the guy. The old Maddie Hayes Love
em and leave em, but stomp on every major artery before you walk out the door
number.
She shoots him a brief, but very nasty look.
David: Or…maybe he was trying to distract you by
bringing up old times.
Maddie: Distract me from what? This meeting was about as dead an end as you
can get.
David: Yeah?
He said he changes his phone number all the time. But Lark had the current number.
Maddie: I’m sure he’s changing it again as we
speak. Now, enough with the wild goose
chase. I need to get back to the
office. I still have a lot to do before
the auditor comes tomorrow.
David: Ok, but I think this wild goose chase calls
for more study.
Maddie: Study?
Of whom? Of what?
David: Of William Ross.
Maddie: David, you’ve taken this investigation as
far as it can go. Now leave that man
alone, call Robin Hammond and tell her to go back home.
David: What’s with you?
Maddie: Nothing is with me. I just don’t like where you are heading with
this.
David: And who I’m heading at?
Maddie: I’ve told you he’s a very powerful man in
this town. If you start harassing him
when all you have to go on is the flimsiest of evidence—
David: I’ll be discreet. I have done this once or twice, Maddie. Look, I’ll even stay totally in the background if that’s what you
want. I’ll put Bert on it. Better yet, MacGillicuddy. He’s been moping around ever since the kids got
their own episode a while ago.
Maddie: Fine, but I want nothing to do with
this. And I don’t think you’re being objective
about it.
David: I don’t think you are.
Maddie: I don’t like it, David.
David: Objection noted, Ms. Hayes.
Maddie: And ignored, no doubt.
She punches the gas and the Lexus takes them
off screen.
Scene Two:
The Rest of the Week in Brief.
Wednesday: We see Maddie getting up from her desk and
greeting a large man carrying a calculator and file folders in his fleshy
arms. She smiles benignly and shows him
to a seat in front of her desk. He
begins laying out folders and looking for a power outlet for his heavy
calculator…
David sits behind his desk, a scowl on his
face, as Bert paces in front of him gesturing wildly and MacGillicuddy points
at a hard cover book…
David walks into the dark bedroom. He removes a stack of papers from his side
of the bed and gingerly climbs in bed next to Maddie. She turns away from him in her sleep. He frowns at the dog sleeping between them …
Thursday: Maddie paces behind a large man punching
numbers into a calculator. A long,
curly sheet trails from the machine onto the floor. With two fingers, the man carefully picks up a wrinkled, shredded
receipt; Maddie smiles uncomfortably, shows him a small, framed photo of her
dog…
David sits in a car with Robin Hammond. Their unheard conversation is punctuated
with laughter…
Maddie climbs into bed, yawns, irritably tugs
at the sheets so she has something to cover her, and takes a long look
at David’s sleeping face before she turns off her bedside light. He turns over in his sleep and wraps an arm
around her…
Friday: Maddie shakes a pudgy hand. She closes the outer office door and
furtively glances at David’s closed door.
She gives a worried looking Agnes the thumbs up sign, then quickly moves
to David’s door and knocks. Apparently
receiving no answer, she opens the door quickly and looks inside. The office is neat and clean; David is
nowhere in sight. She spies a hard
cover book on David’s desk, reads the title: William Ross, The Making of a
Hollywood Legend, The Unauthorized Biography. She slams the book down indignantly, then stops, turns around and
picks it up...
Maddie sits at home on her living room sofa,
impatiently clicking her remote control at the television. Miss Me lies across her lap…
Saturday morning: Maddie is startled awake by the slam of the
front door. She peers over the sofa in
time to see David rush past, heading for the stairs.
Maddie: David!
David: What are you doing down here?
Maddie: I fell asleep waiting for you. Are you just getting home?
David: I came by to shave and change. I’ve been in the same clothes for…well, if
you can’t remember the last time you changed your clothes, it’s time to change
your clothes.
Maddie: Still the Hammond case?
David (tersely):
Yes, still the Hammond case and we should have it wrapped up today. Just tying up a few loose ends. That should
make you happy and maybe you’ll give me more than the cold shoulder tonight
when you find out the truth behind William Ross, the Hollywood legend.
Maddie: I haven’t been trying to give you the cold
shoulder, David.
David: Then why the silent treatment?
Maddie: It’s been a crazy week. For both of us. That’s all. But I am glad
you’re almost finished with this god-awful case. What did you find out?
Did you find Lark Hammond?
David: You’ll have the typed report in your hands
by this evening.
Maddie:
I read William Ross’s biography.
Did you?
David:
I read the good parts.
Maddie:
So you know my name is mentioned in that book. Don’t you think it’s too much of a coincidence that Robin Hammond
came to Blue Moon to find out about this mysterious phone number? Which turned out to belong to William Ross?
David:
She didn’t know who William Ross was when she came to see us.
Maddie:
I think she did. I think she
sought me out, David. I’m just not sure
why.
David: Maybe I know why.
Maddie:
So tell me.
David: Not now. Look, I hate to sound so mysterious about all this. But I can’t explain everything in five
minutes. We’ll talk tonight when I get
home.
Maddie: You’re coming to Terri’s baby shower?
David: That’s tonight?
Maddie: Yes.
Saturday night, remember?
David: Well, how long can it take to open up a few
baby gifts?
Maddie: About three hours. From eight to eleven. Did
you call Walter?
David (snaps his fingers in the air): I’ll get on that right now.
Maddie: David, are you upset with me about
something?
He rubs his hand across his two-day growth of
beard.
David: Sorry. I’ve put in a lot of hours this
week.
Maddie: I received a call from William Ross’s attorney
last night advising Blue Moon to cease and desist. I tried to reach you. Did
you turn off your phone—
David: The slime ball. Don’t worry about it, Maddie. Look, I gotta go; Bert’s out in the
car. I’ll explain everything later.
He blows her a kiss and shoots up the stairs
two at a time. Maddie watches after him
for a moment, then gets up and walks outside to Bert’s Tempo, where he sits
behind the wheel asleep with his mouth open.
She jostles him awake.
Maddie: Mr. Viola…
Bert: The house just imploded, Agnes, I
swear! Oh, Miss Hayes. Morning.
Bert blinks at her, tries to get his bearings.
Maddie: Good Morning. You look about as bad as your boss does. What have you two been up to?
Bert: Uh, just running down leads, doing
background checks, you know, the usual.
Maddie: The usual, huh.
Bert reads the concern on her face.
Bert: Uh…yeah.
Don’t worry, Miss Hayes. He’s
ok.
Maddie: Really.
He’s way over invested in this case.
And I don’t want it to—
David: Rev‘er up Bert. See ya soon, Blondie.
Maddie (bends down to Bert and whispers): Do me a
favor and keep an eye on him.
Bert: Sure, Miss Hayes.
She points at David.
Maddie: David.
I hope you wrap this thing up, come home and get some sleep. I’ll be out all day, so the house will be
quiet.
David: Sure.
See you tonight.
Maddie and Bert share one more look before he
drives away, leaving her to watch after them.
Scene
Three: Saturday Night, Before the
Shower:
Maddie places a
vase full of spring flowers in the foyer. She turns around as David is walking down the stairs, showered,
shaved, dressed in jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket. He smiles at her warmly for the first time in days.
David: All those women
will be here any minute. I better get
out of here while the getting’s good.
Maddie:
I’ve never seen you run from a roomful of women before.
David: I’m only thinking
of you, Maddie. Trying to save you from
the green-eyed rage of twenty housewives.
Maddie:
You’re too kind.
David: Thanks for letting
me sleep. I was really running on
empty.
Maddie:
I’m glad this week and this case are over, but I wish we’d had the
chance to talk—
So you’ll fill
me in on the case when you get home?
David: I’ll fill you
in—in full. Before we open the
bedroom door. What?
Maddie:
I feel strange being in the dark about this case. Left out.
David: I think that was
your choice, wasn’t it? And besides,
we’ve worked separately before.
Maddie:
This felt different. I felt like
you were hiding things from me.
David: Well, I
wasn’t. I thought you wanted to
be left out of the loop on this one.
Since you had a past with this guy and all.
Maddie:
I understand.
She breaks eye
contact, looks down at the floor. He
raises her chin gently.
David: Whoa, whoa. You sure?
Maddie, all that’s going on here is that I’ve been busy on this case all
week. What I am now is done with
it. I’m going by Robin’s hotel before I
meet the Walter to tell her what I found out. Then I’m gonna go show Walter all
the decadence he can stand for one night.
Then I’m gonna come home…
He pulls her to
him, and emphasizes each of the next few words with a quick kiss on her mouth.
David: …and wake… you… up. No dog, no audit, no
arguments, no nothing is going to get in our way tonight, Maddie. Case closed, domestic harmony insured, end
of story.
She enfolds him
in a long, deep kiss. Terri walks into
the foyer from the living room.
Terri: Maddie—Oops.
She immediately
turns back around. They chuckle softly
until the phone rings.
Terri (calls from the other room): I’ll get it!
David: Are we ok, here?
Maddie:
I guess we’re fine.
Terri’s head
pokes out of the living room.
Terri: Sorry to
interrupt, guys. David, that was
Walter. He’s got some last minute
things to do at work. He said he’ll
meet you at the bar.
Maddie:
What bar?
David: Oh, you know. Some yuppie fern bar that just opened
downtown. Very quiet. Great place for a couple of guys to get
together for a brandy and stimulating conversation without all that annoying
smoke and music blaring.
Terri: Do you believe
this, Maddie? Do you really think he’s
meeting my husband at a fern bar?
Maddie:
When pigs fly, Terri.
Terri: Just be gentle,
Addison. Let him live.
David: That’s a tall order. But I’ll do my best little lady.
Terri: And no editorial comments about my size,
please.
Terri pats her
swollen stomach, kisses his cheek and leaves the room.
David: Boy, she sure is
touchy these days.
The front
doorbell rings.
David: The mother hens
are here. That’s my cue to fly the
coop. I’ll see you later, Gorgeous.
They kiss again
and part with difficulty. He opens the
door and is accosted by six or seven women talking at once. Even more pile out of a minivan in the
driveway. He hears one woman talking to
another as he opens the door to the corvette.
Woman #1:
Damn, he’s leaving. I was hoping
he was the entertainment…
Woman #2:
Oh, you must be Maddie. I’m
Jane. I’m sort of the ringleader of
this group and I have a question. Can
we have your husband?
Maddie:
He’s not my…
All the women
laugh and disappear into the house; David smiles over at Maddie, who is
standing in the doorway somewhat speechless.
He turns the key, sighs with relief when the engine starts on the second
try, and turns up the radio.
I’m going to wait til the midnight hour
That’s when my love come tumbling down
I’m going to wait til the midnight hour
When there’s
no one else around
I’m going to take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
In the midnight hour
He mouths the last
couple of lines to her before he puts the car in gear. He blows her a kiss and drives off. Maddie grins and goes back inside. She enters the living room, finds Agnes and
looks around at the raucous group that is already swinging into full gear. She whispers to Agnes.
Maddie:
I was thinking finger sandwiches and tea.
Agnes: Should have been
thinking beer and pizza.
Terri: Sorry. They don’t get out much…
Cut to:
Early Sunday Morning
…In the Addison Hayes
bedroom. Same scene that we saw at the
beginning of this story, same body in the bed, same black nose nuzzling the
same face. Maddie begins to stir,
snippets of overheard conversation from last night slowly bringing her to
wakefulness…
Childbirth preparation classes, yeah right!
Sleep deprivation…
Pain…
Sticky furniture…
Making love with the lights on…like you’d want
to?
Grandma underwear…
She wakes with a
start; remembers where she is; what day it is.
Sunday…they can sleep in with no guilt.
She smiles, remembering what David said last night…
…Nothing is going to get in our way tonight,
Maddie.
Maddie: Wake me up, huh? Liar…
Reaching for him, she
stretches her arm out; the sudden ringing of the phone makes her sigh and turn
back over to her nightstand. She feels
around for the receiver, picks it up.
Maddie: Hello?
Eyes still closed,
she smiles.
Maddie: Walter.
What are you doing up so early?
I figured after last night, you two boys would sleep in late this
morning……What do you mean he never showed?
She sits up, hits the
light on her side of the bed and looks around the room in confusion. His side of the bed is still made.
Maddie: David?
David?
To
Be Continued…