EPISODE 5

 

EPISODE # 005

Created By: Casey S. Hutchison

Written By: Casey S. Hutchison

Air Date: Friday September 6, 2024

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The morning sun has awakened the city of Hazelbrook.

At Firefly Cafe, in the Main Area, Emily is sitting at a booth, drinking a lemonade, when Antonio rushes up to her, and hurriedly takes a seat.

EMILY: Morning. I was wondering when you’d get here.

ANTONIO: Sorry to have dragged you out of bed so early for a meeting I ended up being late for. The bus took the long way.

EMILY: Why’d you take the bus? Is something wrong with your truck?

ANTONIO: Isn’t there always something wrong with that piece of junk?

EMILY: It is an old truck. Anyway, I was already up early. So this meeting you’ve called has actually jump started my day.

ANTONIO: Nice. I didn’t even go to sleep last night.

EMILY: What? Why not?

ANTONIO: Because I broke into my dad’s briefcase last night and came across a manila envelope stuffed full of a total of ten thousand dollars in cash.

EMILY: Come again?

ANTONIO: I had the same expression on my face last night when I saw it. Emily, I don’t know what my dad’s up to, but I don’t think it’s anything good. And I don’t think I can go on this journey alone. I’m in desperate need of your help.

At the Callahan Home, in the Living Room, Catherine enters the room, having just come from the foyer. As she enters the room, she sees that the window has been fully repaired since the brick was thrown through it. She slightly smiles, feeling at peace. Said peace only lasts for a second, however, as her phone starts to ring.

CATHERINE: (answering the call/on the phone) Hello? Wally, hi. It’s been quite some time since we last talked. How’s Trish and the kids? That’s great to hear. Anyway, not that you need a reason to call, but I suspect that you have one. What do you mean you’re calling in regards to suspicious activity on one of the family accounts? I’m sorry, come again?! Hudson spent how much money?!

As Catherine reels from learning of the recent transaction, Hudson enters the room, whistling, clearly starting his day off on a happy note.

CATHERINE: Thank you for letting me know, Wally. I’ll call you back.

Catherine hangs up from the call rather perplexed.

HUDSON: Good morning, mother.

CATHERINE: Don’t you “good morning, mother” me. I just got a call from our family’s accountant. He mentioned that there was some suspicious activity going on, on your account. He wants to make sure you were the one that spent ten thousand dollars recently?

HUDSON: Don’t worry, no suspicious activity in sight. I did spend ten thousand dollars. It was all me.

CATHERINE: Now why, for the love of the Lord himself, did you spend ten thousand dollars? What are you up to, Hudson Alexander Callahan? And don’t you dare lie to me.

At St. Raphael Hospital, on the 5th Floor, Edmund steps off of the elevator, talking on his cell phone.

EDMUND: Don’t worry about it, Chuck. The board meeting went very well today. The hospital is running smoothly. I’ll be sure to email over the notes from today’s meeting. And I’ll be sure to step in here at the hospital’s chapel, and say a prayer for Meg. Give her my best. Bye for now.

As Edmund hangs up from the call, he makes his way over to the doors of the hospital’s chapel. He then quietly enters, making his way to one of the front pews. But as he does, he spots Denise in the front right pew, with her eyes closed, quietly praying. He gently lays a hand on her shoulder.

EDMUND: Denise?

Denise opens her eyes and looks up at Edmund.

DENISE: Edmund, what are you doing here?

EDMUND: It would appear as though I got here at just the right time.

At The Bell Tower, in the Dining Area, Imani and a man by the name of Mr. Armstrong shake hands, and then take a seat at a table in the corner of the restaurant.

IMANI: It’s very nice to finally meet you, Mr. Armstrong.

MR. ARMSTRONG: Same to you. And forgive me for being in my work clothes. I didn’t know we were going to be at a fancy place like this. And I have work today.

IMANI: No worries. I’m just happy that we finally got a chance to see one another face-to-face, instead of just exchanging more emails.

MR. ARMSTRONG: Putting a face to the name does give me more confidence with this whole thing. I hope you sense my confidence.

IMANI: Don’t worry, I do. And confidence is just what I need for you to continue to have, especially over the next few months.

MR. ARMSTRONG: Does that mean you’ll take the case that me and the other guys have been keeping our fingers crossed that a competent woman like you would take on?

IMANI: Yes, I am taking on the case. Callahan Cosmetics better watch out. I’ll be getting you and those guys justice and a whole lot of money.

At the Davidson Home, in Clark and Denise’s Bedroom, Clark and Jennifer are in bed with one another, completely breathless:

CLARK: Oh my goodness! Where’d you learn to do something like that?

JENNIFER: College. And you know that I know my anatomy very well.

CLARK: That you do, Doctor.

JENNIFER: So, not that I didn’t mind us having the house to ourselves this morning, but I have missed the hospital. Should we take a shower together, and get ready to go in?

CLARK: I’m all about that. But we better make it count?

JENNIFER: Why’s that? 

CLARK: Because it might be the last shower we take together for a long time.

JENNIFER: Afraid somebody might catch us in this full house? That’s part of the fun, in my opinion, you know?

CLARK: I bet. But no, that’s not the reason why. In the coming months, I’ll need to step up more as a husband.

JENNIFER: Why?

CLARK: Can you keep a secret?

JENNIFER, You and I are having hot sex, while I’m engaged to your son. Of course I can keep a secret, Clark.

CLARK: Right.

JENNIFER: What’s going on?

CLARK: Denise is sick, Jennifer. She has breast cancer.

Back at St. Raphael Hospital, in the Chapel, Edmund takes a seat next to Denise on the front pew. He then turns to Denise.

DENISE: I’m surprised you didn’t burst into flames when you walked in here.

EDMUND: Ha, ha, ha. Got any more zingers saved up?

DENISE: My humor has always been top tier.

EDMUND: A lot of things about you have always been top tier.

DENISE: What are you doing here, Ed?

EDMUND: I just finished a board meeting. One that the board was shocked to not see you at. But they quickly got over it, thinking you were busy going over some last minute details before Clark’s arrival with the new surgical interns.

DENISE: I was busy in my office, that’s no lie. But then I wanted to come here to get some peace. Some much needed peace.

EDMUND: You have cancer, don’t you?

DENISE: What makes you say that?

EDMUND: Have you forgotten that as much as you can’t stand me sometimes, I can still read you like an open book?

DENISE: I guess as a New York Times bestselling author, it’s a gift you have.

EDMUND: You’d be right about that.

DENISE: When does the new book come out, by the way? You left us on quite the cliffhanger last time, as Detective Todd was hanging over that pit of acid.

EDMUND: You read my Detective Todd series?

DENISE: Of course I do. I got into it when they put the first five out in a boxset at Barnes and Noble. It was 75 percent off. Cheap. And a quick and easy read. I think I got through all five in a weekend.

EDMUND: Discounts on my first five books. Why don’t you dig the knife a tad deeper next time, Denise?

DENISE: What? You don’t like discounts?

EDMUND: This suit jacket was five hundred dollars.

DENISE: There’s the Eddy I know.

EDMUND: (laughs) No ones called me that in decades.

DENISE: I think you’re in my phone contacts as Eddy.

EDMUND: Here I thought you would’ve put me in as Satan.

DENISE: I thought about it.

Denise and Edmund share a good laugh, but then look deeply at one another.

EDMUND: What are you gonna do, Denise?

DENISE: About what?

EDMUND: The cancer.

DENISE: I’m not going to freak out, that’s for sure. I’m going to wait until my appointment tomorrow where I’ll get some answers.

EDMUND: And then what?

DENISE: Nope.

EDMUND: What?

DENISE: I’m not going to spend all this time thinking about every possible left and right future turn. No. I’m going to sit right here, and enjoy this peaceful moment. I’ll think about the future when it becomes the present.

Back at the Callahan Home, in the Living Room, Hudson takes a sip from a cup of coffee he has just poured.

CATHERINE: You and your sister have the privilege of having access to our family’s fortune. The only condition for accessing such a large sum of money was that your separate bank accounts would be under a family plan of sorts, and monitored by Wally.

HUDSON: I know this, mom. It’s always been that way. And yes, I spent ten thousand dollars a few days ago. I’m not going to hide that from you.

CATHERINE: Where? Why? I have so many questions on what that ten thousand dollars was used on.

HUDSON: Simple. And I’m not lying to you. I went on a shopping spree. I went to the next city over and couldn’t get enough of all the vintage shops grandpa used to tell me about.

CATHERINE: Is that so?

HUDSON: Yes, mother. I needed an update on my wardrobe.

CATHERINE: And just where are all these fabulous clothes?

HUDSON: Being dry cleaned. And don’t worry, I’m not spending ten grand to have my newish fits dry cleaned, I promise.

CATHERINE: Alrighty then. Just remember that someone is always watching, okay? We’ll never run out of money, but I just don’t want you scaring Wally like that. If you ever need to spend ten thousand or over again, just let Wally know in advance.

HUDSON: Sure thing, mom.

CATHERINE: Thank you for listening, son. I appreciate it. Well, I better be getting to the office. I reopened the factory today, and God only knows what’s running through the minds of my employees.

HUDSON: Have a good day.

CATHERINE: You too.

Back at Firefly Cafe, in the Main Area, a Barista places a cup of coffee in front of Antonio, and then walks off.

EMILY: Ten thousand dollars. I just can’t wrap my mind around how he got ten thousand dollars. Are you sure it wasn’t something to do with your mom’s insurance policy, though?

ANTONIO: That will pay out monthly for another four years. But it's never been that much.

EMILY: Maybe he got an advance?

ANTONIO: I guess I could see what the insurance company can tell me.

EMILY: You might not get far, though. It could all be locked down in his name.

ANTONIO: Good point. But how do I…or we, if you agree to help…

EMILY: You don’t even have to ask.

ANTONIO: I’m so thankful for you. But Em, how do we get to the bottom of this? How do we figure out where that money came from?

EMILY: I actually might have an idea.

ANTONIO: What’s your idea?

EMILY: Let’s get your father to slip up. He always leaves his briefcase locked. But didn’t you tell me one time that he keeps a picture of your mom in there?

ANTONIO: Yes.

EMILY: So that’s how we get him to slip up. That’s our way in. I’ll come over one night to help you study, I’ll ask to see the photo, get him to open the briefcase, I’ll accidentally spill the contents onto the floor, and then…

ANTONIO: We’ll see the money as we help him pick up.

EMILY: Exactly. And then he’ll have no choice but to provide an explanation. And like you said, I’m good at reading people, so I’ll be able to tell if he’s lying.

ANTONIO: This plan of yours just might work.

At Callahan Cosmetics, in the CEO Office, Catherine is sitting behind her desk, looking over a file that Human Resources put together on potential suspects in the brick throwing incident. As she turns the page, her office telephone starts to ring. She picks up the phone rather quickly.

CATHERINE: Hello? Yes, send her in.

Catherine hangs up from the call, and stands. She then comes out from behind her desk, as Imani enters the office.

CATHERINE: Imani Davidson, what a surprise.

IMANI: Hello, Catherine.

CATHERINE: What brings you by, dear?

IMANI: Well, my apologies for this not being a social visit.

CATHERINE: Oh? What kind of visit is this then?

IMANI: A professional one.

Imani reaches into her large Louis Vuitton handbag and retrieves a manila envelope, handing it to Catherine. Catherine opens it, retrieving a stack of papers that she quickly skims through.

CATHERINE: What the hell is this, Imani?

IMANI: (deep breath) From this point forth, I’m representing 25 very unhappy employees of Callahan Cosmetics in a lawsuit against you and Callahan Cosmetics, which alleges unfair pay and unsafe working conditions. And immediately, you are to shut down your factory until further notice. 

CATHERINE: Imani…

IMANI: I have to go, Catherine.

CATHERINE: But, I…

IMANI: Let me advise you that any questions you have should be taken up with your legal team here at the company.

CATHERINE: I just…

IMANI: (sternly) No, Catherine. Just no. You’ve been served. Have a nice day.

Imani walks out of the office, as a stunned Catherine watches on.

END OF EPISODE 005