EPISODE 3

 

EPISODE # 003

Created By: Casey S. Hutchison

Written By: Casey S. Hutchison

Air Date: Wednesday September 4, 2024

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Morning has come to the city of Hazelbrook. Wednesday September 4, 2024 to be exact. The residents have either begun to wake up, or have already jump started their day with professional or personal obligations.

At the Hazelbrook Police Station, Frances enters the Main Area, making her way up to a nearby Police Officer, as said Police Officer closes a file.

POLICE OFFICER: Good morning, Miss. What can I do for you?

FRANCES: My name is Frances Anderson. I was involved as a witness in the Callahan incident last night. I was told I could pick up my cell phone this morning.

POLICE OFFICER: Ah, yes. Bowman told me you’d be by to pick it up.

FRANCES: Did he happen to find anything? Any connection to the incident and the phone call that I had received yesterday afternoon?

POLICE OFFICER: Unfortunately, no. The call you got came from a highly encrypted, untraceable number. He took the number down, however, and is reaching out to an agent at the FBI that he’s good friends with.

FRANCES: FBI? Do you think it’s that serious?

POLICE OFFICER: The Callahans are part of the elite in this country. And you might’ve been targeted just like Catherine Callahan, as you’re the family’s loyal house manager.

FRANCES: I guess you’ve got a point there.

POLICE OFFICER: Anyway, if you’ll follow me, I’ll assist you in picking up your cellular device. I’ll also give you a copy of the report.

FRANCES: Very good, thank you.

Frances and the Police Officer walk off.

At Emerald Gardens Park, Emily and Antonio walk over to a nearby picnic table. Once there and seated, Emily unpacks a to-go bag from a local bakery, which includes two pieces of hummingbird cake in clamshell to-go containers.

ANTONIO: I can’t thank you enough for getting me out of the house today, Em.

EMILY: It’s our tradition. I wouldn’t want you to be alone on today of all days, just like you wouldn’t leave me alone if it was my dad’s birthday.

ANTONIO: You know it. So, are we ready to dig in?

EMILY: First things first…

To Antonio’s delight, Emily digs through her purse and pulls out a birthday candle and a lighter. She then puts the candle on top of one of the slices of hummingbird cake.

ANTONIO: Em…

EMILY: We must sing happy birthday to your mother.

ANTONIO: (softly) Thank you.

At the Callahan Home, in the Living Room, Hector and Catherine enter the room, having just come from the Foyer.

CATHERINE: Thank you for rushing over here on such short notice, Hector. I’m sure you have a million things to do on such a rare day off.

HECTOR: Actually, I don’t have anything to do. Today would’ve been Maria’s birthday, but I already honored that yesterday when I visited her grave.

CATHERINE: Forgive me, I forgot it was Maria’s birthday today. How are you holding up? How’s Antonio doing?

HECTOR: We’re doing just fine, ma’am.

CATHERINE: Glad to hear it.

HECTOR: So, why have you requested my presence?

CATHERINE: I’ve always been fond of how you get right down to business. Simply put, Hector, I need your help. I do not trust anyone at that factory but you. And I want to know…no…I need to know who threw that brick through my window. And then I need to come up with a good way to make sure they never do it again.

At the Davidson Home, in the Living Room, Jennifer enters the room and spots Clark pouring a cup of coffee. She makes her way over to him.

JENNIFER: Mind pouring me a cup?

CLARK: Not at all. I trust you and my son had no problems with the movers.

JENNIFER: Not one bit. And they were quite good to look at. Of course they don’t have anything on you, though.

CLARK: I can’t believe you moved in here.

JENNIFER: Your son insisted on it.

CLARK: Is that supposed to make me feel better?

JENNIFER: Just being honest. Anyway, thanks for the extra days off.

CLARK: Don’t mention it.

JENNIFER: When I get back to the hospital, though, I hope to make that on-call room ours again. Feels good to get away for a bit. Being right under your wife’s nose is even better.

Before an uneasy Clark can say another word, Kirk enters the room.

KIRK: Good morning, you two. The movers just headed out.

JENNIFER: Wonderful.

KIRK: Who knew you would’ve packed so much for a temporary stay?

JENNIFER: I need options. I’m not all about blue scrubs.

KIRK: I guess not. By the way, dad, thanks for getting Jennifer those extra days off. There’s been a lot going on, and it’s been nice to have her around.

JENNIFER: It’s funny that you say that. I was just thanking him for the same thing. Sure, I miss the hospital. But it has been nice to catch my breath.

Jennifer looks over at Clark.

JENNIFER: Isn’t it nice to catch your breath, Mr. Davidson?

CLARK: It is. I, however, do have to make it to the hospital, so I hope you two enjoy having the house to yourselves. Have a good day.

KIRK: You too, dad.

Clark walks off towards the entryway.

KIRK: Hey, I’ve gotta go upstairs and hop on a Zoom meeting with some clients from Japan. When I come back down, why don’t we get ready for a swim?

JENNIFER: I’d love that. It’d be perfect for this midwestern fools summer type of day. We might as well enjoy the 85-degrees while we still have it.

Kirk kisses Jennifer, and then heads for the stairs. Meanwhile, Jennifer pours herself a cup of coffee, and as she takes a sip of it, Imani enters the room.

JENNIFER: Imani, good morning.

IMANI: Morning, Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Your father said Kirk and I had the house to ourselves. I guess he thought everyone was gone for the day.

IMANI: I forgot my handbag. I wouldn’t have made it far without it.

JENNIFER: You’re always forgetting something.

IMANI: That reminds me.

JENNIFER: Of what?

IMANI: I’ve been meaning to chat with you. We have a lot to discuss.

At The Bell Tower, in the Dining Area, Denise is sitting at a table, drinking a cup of coffee, and looking over budgetary projections for the hospital on her iPAD. As she continues to look over the projections, she then gets an email which details how the hospital would like to purchase a new mammogram machine. She then becomes very deep in thought, thinking about her recent experience. As she stares on, with a blank expression on her face, Edmund goes up to her.

EDMUND: Denise, I thought that was you from across the room.

DENISE: Mmm? Oh, Edmund, good morning.

EDMUND: Good morning. Care if I take a seat?

DENISE: Not at all.

EDMUND: (sitting down) How’s your day getting along?

DENISE: Just fine.

EDMUND: Is that so?

DENISE: Yes.

EDMUND: Denise, we’ve known one another for a long time.

DENISE: Ever since you broke my heart in college, and decided to go into Catherine’s orbit. And now Kirk is marrying your daughter.

EDMUND: Like I said, a long time. Anyway, the reason I bring up how long we’ve known one another, is because I saw the look on your face. I can tell something’s wrong.

DENISE: Even if there was something wrong…

EDMUND: Which there is.

DENISE: It’s none of your concern.

EDMUND: That’s where you’re wrong.

DENISE: How do you figure?

EDMUND: I’m your friend.

DENISE: You’re something alright.

EDMUND: Denise…

DENISE: Edmund.

EDMUND: Just tell me what’s got you all twisted in knots. It’s obvious, and I’m not backing down. You like to go into things alone, and I’m not going to let that happen. Something’s telling me to sit right here, and listen.

DENISE: For once you want to listen. How rich.

Back at the Callahan Home, in the Living Room, Hector sits on a sofa chair, as Catherine takes a seat on the couch.

HECTOR: I’ve already begun to look into every factory employee that I oversee. I’ve been heavily assisting Human Resources, trying to get to the bottom of things.

CATHERINE: I appreciate that, Hector. Honestly, after I had a bit of time to sit with how I was going to approach the investigation into every employee, there’s no one but you that I considered to be my right hand. Maria was so loyal to my family, when she worked alongside Frances. Antonio practically had this place as a second home.

HECTOR: I’m grateful that Emily and Antonio are still friends. And I’m grateful that you have given my family so much. You’re even paying Antonio’s college bill.

CATHERINE: I love to challenge people to go to college. And I can’t wait to see him graduate with that business degree. And if you continue to be loyal, and really put your investigative hat on, then I will make sure Antonio is rewarded with an executive level position after he graduates. Of course there will also be something for you when this is all said and done.

HECTOR: This is why I simply don’t understand how anyone could ever hate you. You’re one of the kindest people I know.

CATHERINE: (laughs) Trust me, I understand how someone could hate me. But I love making those who hate me find out what I’m capable of.

Back at the Davidson Home, in the Living Room, Jennifer sets her coffee mug down on the bar cart, after just having taken another sip.

JENNIFER: You and I have a lot to discuss? Imani, I don’t feel like doing this today.

IMANI: What do you think we’re doing today, exactly?

JENNIFER: Getting stuck in the past. I have said “I’m sorry” to you like a million times over. And I meant it…for everything.

IMANI: There’s just always been something about you, Jennifer. Something that I don’t particularly like nor trust.

JENNIFER: (laughs) Then that’s your problem, sweetheart.

IMANI: Don’t you talk down to me. And don’t you expect me to ever accept your apologies. You outed me. You urged your brother to break up with me, because I wanted him to go to rehab, but you didn’t want your precious family up in that house on the hill to have to face such a scandal.

JENNIFER: Oh please!

IMANI: Everything I’m saying is the truth, Jennifer.

JENNIFER: No it is not. It is you twisting the past.

IMANI: Then why don’t you enlighten me? Why don’t you tell me how you perceived outing me, and then how you thought about your brother’s relationship with me, as I tried to get him to quit his addiction. But this is you. You never take accountability. And before you ask, I already promised my mother that I wouldn’t get in the way of you and Kirk’s relationship. But he’s smart. He’ll see the real you very soon.

JENNIFER: Just back off. Stop trying to dive into the past like some Olympic swimmer. I’m sorry for everything. But I will not have you act as though I’m responsible for every little thing. You cheated on my brother by kissing that woman in college. And you want to talk about his addiction? Fine. Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about how you got him off the hook for driving his car into that boutique downtown.

IMANI: It was on the condition that he would go to rehab, and he did.

JENNIFER: You defended him in court, but you didn’t defend him any other time. He got clean, and you left. You just dropped him. And now you won’t even stand in the same room as my brother for more than five seconds.

IMANI: Sometimes relationships end. And I hope my brother ends this relationship with you before it’s too late.

JENNIFER: I thought you weren’t going to interfere?

IMANI: Didn’t you hear me when I said that he would soon recognize the real you? Jenny, we both know he’s going to catch you doing something that will break his heart.

JENNIFER: It’s interesting that you are so eager for this to happen…for your brother to get his heart broken. What’s wrong with you?

IMANI: I don’t want his heart broken. But I know it will be. Like I said to my mother yesterday, you are poison. You have trapped my brother in your world. And I’m upset that he has to live a life with you. And I’m not changing my opinion of you, no matter how many fake apologies you offer up.

JENNIFER: Noted. You’ve made yourself crystal clear where you stand.

As Imani and Jennifer stare one another down, it becomes apparent that Kirk has been listening in on their conversation for quite some time, as he stands behind the wall that leads into the entryway.

Back at The Bell Tower, in the Dining Area, Denise puts her iPAD into her purse.

EDMUND: Please don’t leave, Denise. I would really like to lend a listening ear to the problem you’re clearly facing at the moment.

DENISE: Look Edmund, I’ll level with you. I am going through something right now. Something that has come up very recently. But I’m trying to not make a big deal out of it, because I don’t know exactly what it is. So please, just leave it alone.

EDMUND: How can you give me that type of information, and then not tell me what’s really going on? It’s alright if you don’t want to make a big deal out of it. I won’t either. But I can’t let you keep something bottled up.

DENISE: I’m a strong woman.

EDMUND: I’ve never doubted that.

DENISE: I’ll get by.

EDMUND: You always do. But just be honest with me. Regardless of history, you know I’ve somehow always been there for you. Wait a second…

DENISE: What?

EDMUND: Whatever’s going on, Clark doesn’t know, does he? And you’re afraid that if you tell me first, and if he were to find out, it could come across like a betrayal.

DENISE: My husband and I have a very honest and open marriage. But that’s not the reason, Edmund. I truly don’t know what’s going to become of my mammogram scans.

Suddenly, a saddened expression falls upon Denise’s face, as she stares deep into Edmund’s eyes, realizing she let some of the truth slip out.

EDMUND: Mammogram scans?

DENISE: (choked up) Edmund, yes. Mammogram scans. And when Clark bumped into me at the hospital last night, as I was getting more tests done, I was able to play it off as a meeting with one of the doctors.

EDMUND: Alright, just…just…(clears throat). Alright, I will keep your secret. I won’t tell anyone about this conversation?

DENISE: Really?

EDMUND: You got it. And I’ll stop pressing you on this.

DENISE: (softly) Thanks.

As Edmund reaches for Denise’s hand, Clark suddenly enters the establishment, and spots the two from across the room.

Back at Emerald Gardens Park, Emily and Antonio are now walking a trail.

EMILY: You know, I was thinking about your father last night.

ANTONIO: Really?

EMILY: Yeah. Antonio, he’s a good man. And I think you’re very lucky to have a father like him. I’m just sorry that you’re seeing him go through a hard time right now.

ANTONIO: Why do you say that?

EMILY: You can be one-hundred with me. I read into his appearance and presence last night. What’s going on with him, exactly?

ANTONIO: You’ve always been good at reading people.

EMILY: That’s why I’m getting my degree in psychology.

ANTONIO: I guess so. He’s drinking a little more these days. In fact, no, a lot more. He’s also coming home later, even too late to have stayed on for overtime at work. I think he’s going to other places at night.

EMILY: Are you aware of these places?

ANTONIO: I asked him to turn on his Life360 one day, he used to have it on all the time. But he insisted that I don’t need his location, because he doesn’t even go to that many places.

EMILY: So do you think that maybe he’s just going to the bar?

ANTONIO: Probably. But I don’t know.

EMILY: What do you mean?

ANTONIO: I feel as though there’s something I’m missing, Emily. I feel as though I need to start following my dad. I hate that I even have to consider doing that. But I think it has to be done.

Back at the Callahan Home, in the Kitchen, Frances is cutting vegetables for a salad that will be served with dinner tonight. As she wipes her hands on a dish towel, her phone suddenly begins to ring. Frances answers quickly.

FRANCES: Hello?

All Frances hears is static on the other end.

FRANCES: Look, I don’t know who this is, but I will have you know that the FBI is looking into you. So you better stop. Right now!

Frances then hears three gunshots. She jumps back, slightly frightened. But before she hangs up from the phone call, she suddenly hears a man’s voice.

MAN: Help me, Frances! Help me!

A horrified Frances, whose eyes are now filled with tears, hears the other line go dead. She then slowly puts the phone on the counter in front of her, shaking.

FRANCES: Malaki. That was Malaki’s voice.

END OF EPISODE 003