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EPISODE 2

“HIS FORGOTTEN WIFE”

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; the cafeteria. It is busy, bustling with medical personnel, other employees, patients and visitors.

Dr. Gloria Dailey is sitting alone at a table, a cup of coffee, and a salad in front of her. But, she is picking at the food, moving it around on her place. The look on her face is glassy, as if she wasn't even in the noisy room. A slender woman with dark brown hair approached the table. She is attractive, in her late forties and is wearing a simple pale gray business suit. She has a black leather briefcase with her.

Woman: Hey, Glo... Your office told me you were down here. (Gloria continued staring into space) Gloria? Gloria, hello? Hey, girl!

Gloria: (startled, looking up) Oh! Sabrina! Hi. Have you been standing there long?

Sabrina: Only long enough to feel supremely rejected.

Gloria: I'm sorry, 'Bree, I didn't mean to ignore you. I've got a lot on my mind.

Sabrina: (sitting at the table) Don't we all.

Gloria: In your case, I can only imagine. You must be nervous about this Nathan James trial.

Sabrina: (shaking her head) Not nervous... in fact I can't wait to get started. Nathan has been in jail long enough and it's time to get the ball rolling to get him out of jail.

Gloria: I like your confidence.

Sabrina: Well you know I'm full of it.

Gloria: (grinning) And I'm not going to touch that one with a ten foot pole. (Pause) So what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in court? Doesn't the trial start soon?

Sabrina: I'm on my way to the courthouse. I had to stop by here to visit one of our associates from the firm undergoing some minor surgery and I thought I'd stop by and see my best friend. I just wish she looked happier is all. You want to talk about it? Is it about the trial? I know you and Candice were close and you care about Nathan too.

Gloria: You’re right and I am upset about what’s happened. (Pause) But it’s more than that. You know Glenn got the divorce papers.

Sabrina: Oh, that.

Gloria: I was hoping to warn him this was going to happen, but it was too late. (Pause) This is the last thing I wanted, especially today.

Sabrina: Again, I'm sorry about the mix-up at my office. You know how I feel about Glenn, but even I thought serving him could've waited a day or so. (Pause) How'd he take the news?

Gloria: About as well as I'd expect. He's not happy about it. He thinks this is the wrong time to do it with the trial starting.

Sabrina: Of course he would say that. It doesn't surprise me a bit he'd put a guilt trip on you and ask you to put things off.

Gloria: Oh, he did.

Sabrina: I hope you didn't fall for it.

Gloria: No. I'm well aware of how manipulative Glenn can be. I’ve seen enough of it over the years to recognize it. I do know this is a rough time for him, but the marriage is over; there's no saving it. I know that. It's just a matter of getting Glenn to face it too.

Sabrina: Don't concern yourself with Glenn. Just think about how quickly I can get you out of this marriage. And believe me, I'm going to do everything in my power to do just that.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; Dr. Glenn Dailey's office. Glenn and Dr. Zachary Dailey are there.

Glenn: (holding up a hand) Zachary, this day is difficult enough already. I'm not really interested in fighting with you.

Zachary: I am sorry about Candice, I know that you mourn her and that losing her was difficult...

Glenn: Difficult? I'd say that losing a child goes beyond difficult.

Zachary: I can't pretend to know what you are going through, I wouldn't even try. Having said that, but I won't stand by while you try and use Candice's death to guilt Gloria into delaying the divorce.

Glenn: You really think I could do something so despicable? You think that little of me?

Zachary: Quite the contrary, Dad. I know exactly what you're capable of and the lengths you'll go to get what you want. But it won't work this time.

Glenn: Zachary, I've had all I'm going to take from you for one day. (He motioned to the door) I think you should leave. Surely there are some patients that need your attention.

Zachary: That was good. You avoided the point of this conversation quite smoothly Dad.

Glenn: (shouting) I said get the hell out of here!

Zachary: Sure, but just know that your manipulations won't work anymore. You've done it to the people in this family for the last time. (He walked out)

* * * * * *

Scene: A.J. Lassiter's apartment; his living room. A.J. is there with Patricia Lassiter and Melody Sorensen. Melody had a stunned look on her face, but A.J.'s expression is even more surprised. As for Patricia, she was wearing a sweet little, ever knowing smile.

A.J.: (shocked) Patty, are you out of your mind!?

Melody: Married? What do you mean you and A.J. are married?

Patricia: A.J. and I are married, husband and wife, spouses, hitched; surely the concept is familiar to you.

Melody: This must be some sort of sick joke. A.J. is not married to you or any other woman.

Patricia: Really? How can you be sure of that? Have you asked him?

Melody: I didn’t need to! A.J. and I have been together for three years. I think he would've mentioned that he had a wife.

A.J.: Look, Melody, I….

Melody: A.J., you and this woman aren’t married, right?

A.J.: (hesitating) Well. . .

Melody: Well, what? A.J., what is going on? Are you married to this woman or not!?

A.J.: Well, technically yes, we are married.

Melody: Technically?

A.J.: Yeah, technically.

Patricia: He means according to the fifty states and most of the civilized world.

A.J.: Patty, will you please shut up!? In fact, why don't you get out of here!?

Melody: Do you really think you should ask her to leave? After all, it seems she has more right to be there than I do.

A.J.: She has no right to be here. Patty is not some wife I had squirreled away while I had you on the side. Our marriage is in paper only. I haven't even seen her since the day we got married six years ago.

Melody: Then why did you get married? (She looked at Patricia) It wasn't some sort of green card thing was it?

Patricia: Of course not, I'm as American as you are. In fact, I grew up right here in Covington Bay.

Melody: Then what is this all about?

A.J.: Melody, it's a simple explanation. You know Harry Tamakai, he's the majordomo for the Lassiter Estate. Patty is Harry's daughter and Michael’s sister. We all grew up together. I’m sure I’ve mentioned her at least once or twice.

Melody: Sure, but you never said you were married. Somehow you left out that little detail.

A.J.: Because I didn’t think it mattered. I didn’t think it was important.

Melody: You don’t think the fact that you have a wife would matter to me?

A.J.: Look, let me explain. (Pause) Patty was this obnoxious little troublemaker who liked stirring the pot where ever she went. (He glanced at her) She was always tagging after me, Michael and our friends. Anyway, I went off to college. And a few years later so did Patty, to the University of Las Vegas-Nevada. After I graduated, I went to work for NewsTime Magazine's London division.

Melody: What does any of this have to do with you being married?

A.J.: Getting that job was a big deal. And to celebrate some friends of mine and I decided to spend the weekend in Vegas, only at the last minute they bailed on me. I still wanted to go to Vegas, but I didn't want to spend the weekend alone, so I went and looked up Patricia. She agreed to spend the weekend with me and show me around.

Melody: And you married her out of gratitude? I think dinner at a nice restaurant would've sufficed.

Patricia: A.J., she's beautiful... and witty. Such a change from the brainless bimbos you're usually so enamored with.

A.J.: (glaring at Patricia) I could do without the editorializing. Look, the point is, Patty and I had a lot of fun. We gambled a lot, won a lot, lost even more and drank the entire time. In fact, we got so drunk, we did something crazy.

Melody: (nodding) Like running off and getting married.

A.J.: (nodding) Exactly. I don't even remember the ceremony. All I recall is waking up the next morning with a marriage certificate, a nasty headache and a horrible buzzing in my ears.

Patricia: Yeah, you did have a terrible hangover.

A.J.: Actually, the buzzing in my ears was the sound of your voice. Look Mel, this whole marriage thing was a mistake, a drunken escapade. It didn't even mean anything. It wasn’t real in any respect. I wasn’t even consummated!

Patricia: Yeah, by the end of the night, he could barely lift a shot glass much less anything else.

A.J.: (grabbing Patricia by the arm and pulling her to the door) I think I've had just about enough of you, it's time for you to go create havoc someplace else.

Patricia: (struggling to get free) A.J., I haven't even told you why I'm here.

A.J.: Isn't ruining my morning enough of a reason? Look, I don't know why you came here, but I do know this, you are going to pay for this little stunt!

Patricia: (as A.J. opened the door and pushed her outside) So does this mean I'll see you later?

A.J.: Of course. Just be sure I'm not driving my car and you're standing in front of it when I do. (He slammed the door, then walked over Melody, who was shaking her head, her arms crossed angrily across her chest) Look, Mel, I'm sorry about all this. I never intended for you to find out this way.

Melody: A.J., it's pretty obvious you never intended on me finding out at all.

A.J.: You're wrong, I would've told you.

Melody: When? We've been seeing each other for three years, we practically live together, when would you have told me?

A.J.: When the time was right.

Melody: The time wasn't right in three years? A.J., I find that very hard to believe.

A.J.: Melody, please, will you just listen!?

Melody: I have heard your explanation, now I want you to answer a question.

A.J.: (sighing) Sure, what?

Melody: You obviously want me to understand and accept how you could've married this woman under some rather bizarre circumstances.

A.J.: Yes, I'd like you to. But what's the question?

Melody: Well, if the marriage was such a big mistake, why haven't you divorced her? What's your explanation for that?

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; the cafeteria. Gloria and Sabrina are there.

Gloria: Sabrina, I appreciate your help, I just wonder if you should be handling my divorce.

Sabrina: You doubt my expertise?

Gloria: Of course not, but you've got this big murder trial to worry about. Couldn't an associate or someone else in your office handle my divorce? Nathan James needs you a lot more than I do.

Sabrina: Gloria, don't worry, I'll make the time to help you. You've been through hell in that marriage. I'm only too glad to do what I can to get you our of it once and for all. I'll arrange it so neither interferes with the other.

Gloria: Again, thanks.

Sabrina: (smiling) What are sorority sisters for? (She glanced at her watch) I better be getting to court. Wouldn’t impress the judge for the defense attorney to be late.

Gloria: Good luck. Not that I think you’ll need it. I have complete faith that justice will be done.

Voice: The only way that will happen is if Nathan James winds up strapped to a gurney with a needle in his arm.

Gloria: (looking up) Glenn!

Glenn: Sabrina, I've always thought you to be a smart woman. Are you really going to go through with defending that murderer?

Sabrina: (annoyed) In case you were unaware Glenn, this was a private conversation.

Glenn: Not when it concerns my daughter and the man who murdered her. And he did kill her no matter what you, Gloria or Zachary are foolish enough to believe. It just amazes me how many people that boy is able to dupe into believing him.

Gloria: (shaking her head) Glenn, this is really not the time.

Glenn: You're wrong. Now is the perfect time. Maybe I can make Sabrina see that Nathan is guilty and she'll drop this case before she gets a murderer off, not to mention committing professional suicide.

* * * * * *

Scene: A.J.'s apartment; his living room. A.J. and Melody are there.

Melody: Can you explain why you haven't divorced Patricia after all these years if the marriage was such a mistake?

A.J.: Because there was no time.

Melody: You didn't have time in six years? A.J., I realize you're busy, but don't you think that's stretching it?

A.J.: What I mean is that the morning after the marriage, there was no time. I was supposed to be on a plane to London to start my new job the next day. So, Patricia and I agreed to get a divorce the next time I got into the States.

Melody: But. . .

A.J.: But, the job kept me away a lot longer than I thought. For the next few years, I hardly got home long enough to see my family much less deal with this mess. I did try to contact Patricia a couple of times, but she was busy herself and very hard to get a hold of. She's a feature writer for Travel Magazine. The magazine was keeping her so busy traveling all over the world. Like me, she hardly even wrote or called home. Eventually, it didn't seem like such a big deal. But, I knew we'd take care of it eventually. And it wasn't like I was planning getting married or anything. (Pause) Now, do you understand?

Melody: Oh, yes, it makes perfect sense to me.

A.J.: Good. I hope this means we can get past this.

Melody: Does this answer your question? (She slapped A.J. soundly across the face and stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her)

A.J.: (rubbing his jaw) I'll take that as a no.

to be continued. . .

In Episode 3 of 'Covington Bay'. . .

· Patricia's next move shocks A.J.

· Gloria deals with Glenn's wrath.