EPISODE 31
“PAIRED UP”
Scene: The Lassiter Estate;
the solarium. Kevin
Lassiter and Dr. Gloria
Dailey are there, hugging.
Kevin: Aunt Gloria, thank you. I really appreciate you coming today. I know you’re busy and for you to take time out of your schedule means a lot.
Gloria: (ending
the embrace) Hey, you know how I felt about Alec… and about
you. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.
Kevin: I know I shouldn’t be after all this time, but a lot of people remember Alec kindly. I heard from a number of his old friends and people he used to work with in the film industry. And the AIDS clinic got a few nice donations in his name. It’s time like that I’m reminded that to me Alec was the man I loved, but to a lot of other people he was a Oscar winning director who contributed a lot to the world through his movies. I was so lucky I was to have him, even if it wasn't as long as I might have liked.
Gloria: We should be grateful for any time we have with someone we love and who loves us.
Kevin: You got that right.
Gloria: Kevin, I hate to leave now, but I have to be getting back to work.
Kevin: Hey, I understand, I'm just glad you were able to make it.
Gloria: Like I said, it was important that I be here. I just wish A.J. had of realized that. I can’t believe he didn’t show up.
Kevin: Well, if you’ve read the show in this morning’s Journal you know he’s been very busy. Believe me, I was shocked to have read about his clash with those drug dealers. I tried to call him and see how he is, but he hasn’t returned any of my calls. The paper said he was okay, but I wanted to hear from him myself.
Gloria: Believe me I wish I’d of heard from him, but he couldn’t even be bothered to drop me a line and let me know he almost died. I am so glad you told me about this.
Kevin: I didn't exactly tell you, I assumed you already knew.
Gloria: I could strangle A.J. for not letting me know about this last night. According to Zachary, A.J. was supposed to tell me himself, but I guess he probably found something better to do. What if I’d read it in the paper or heard about it from some stranger?
Kevin: You know, as much as I love A.J., sometimes he can be so infuriating. You know he dumped me at dinner to go chasing after this story that nearly got him killed. I really owe him a piece of my mind.
Gloria: Well, trust me, Kevin he’s going to get an earful from me… and then some.
* *
* * * *
Scene: Covington Bay
Medical Center; a corridor on the fifth floor. A.J. Lassiter and Melody Sorensen are
there.
Melody: Well, A.J.? Were you with your wife last night during your little adventure?
A.J.: Patricia is not my wife!
Melody: Really? I'll bet she has a legal document that would refute that. Well? Am I going to get a straight answer or not?
A.J.: (sighing) Yes, I was with her. But, it's not what you think.
Melody: Then what is it!? You keep insisting you want her to stay away from you and all you want is an annulment. How am I supposed to believe that if the first night she's in town, you two are running around together?
A.J.: We were not running around together. It wasn't planned or anything like that. It just happened.
Melody: Like your marriage just happened?
A.J.: Melody, if you would just listen…!
Melody: A.J., I have listened…and I was going to listen when I agreed to have dinner with you tonight. But why should I when it's obvious that the lies are going to continue!? There is clearly something going on between you and your wife!
A.J.: There is nothing between Patricia and I!
Melody: And I almost believed that, but finding out that you were together last night make me realize I was almost fooled by you again. Well forget it, A.J., forget everything…starting with our date tonight!
Around the corner,
in the lounge, Danny
James is grinning mischievously at Dana Cooper and Dr.
Zachary Dailey. Dana looks angry, Zachary looks embarrassed.
Danny: You two were lip locked pretty heavily there. One of those code blues could've gone off and you probably wouldn't have noticed.
Dana: What are you doing here?!
Danny: I'm here to see Nate, but he's busy getting some tests done before he's kicked out of this place.
Dana: And since Nathan's busy being examined, you decided to harass us?
Danny: I couldn’t pass by without saying hello. That would be rude.
Dana: What’s rude is your behavior last night at Mama J.’s. You’re lucky Zachary was there to save you from yourself. If it weren’t for him you’d be in jail, not that it isn’t where you belong.
Zachary: Dana, no need to get into all that. (Pause) How are you…after last night, I mean?
Danny: Fine. (smirking) Somehow I was able to recover.
Zachary: I'm glad I was able to talk some sense into Eric, the last thing you need is to get arrested.
Danny: Look, you can pat yourself on the back if you want, but I never asked for your help. I can handle myself.
Dana: You're not even going to thank Zachary, are you? He saved your worthless hide from going to jail, despite the fact you deserved it for punching out a cop and you aren't man enough to thank him.
Zachary: Dana, I don't expect any thanks. That's not why I did it.
Dana: Then why did you do it? Certainly you can't think the streets are any safer with him on them?
Danny: That's quite a mouth you got on you, little girl. You should watch what comes out of it because it's going to get you in a hell of a lot of trouble someday.
Dana: Is that a threat?
Danny: Yes it is. And you know that I always follow through, don’t you?
Dana: (getting uneasy) I’ve had enough of this jerk. Zachary, let’s go.
Zachary: No, not yet. Not until I get some answers.
Dana: (looking fearful) About what?
Zachary: The two of you. You are constantly at each other’s throats. At first I thought it was a case of clashing personalities, but there has got to be a specific reason you two are constantly at loggerheads. Quite frankly it all seems rather personal. Exactly what is going on between you?
* *
* * * *
Scene: The
Lassiter Estate; the solarium. Kevin is on the phone as Melissa Stone is
walking in.
Kevin: No, no message. Just tell Dr. Sorensen that I'll call him back later.
Melissa: (as Kevin is hanging up) Did Gloria leave?
Kevin: Yeah, she had to head back to the hospital.
Melissa: And I'm going to be leaving soon too. I am exhausted.
Kevin: You look like you could use some sleep. I appreciate you coming.
Melissa: Hey, I wanted to be here for you... and Uncle Alec as well. (Pause) Kevin, I don't mean to be nosy but…
Kevin: But what?
Melissa: You were calling Dr. Sorensen when I came in. Is that Dr. Gary Sorensen?
Kevin: Yes. Do you know him?
Melissa: He's Monica's uncle. I met him once or twice when I used to baby-sit Vicki.
Kevin: Oh. Well, he sent me the flowers you saw. I was just calling him to thank him.
Melissa: Oh. (She grinned) You should thank him; they’re beautiful. He probably thinks a lot of you to send them to you.
Kevin: Melissa, are you trying to get at something?
Melissa: Dr. Sorensen’s gay isn’t he? I remember seeing some pictures of him and some male model he was dating in the gossip rags a few months ago.
Kevin: Yes, Julian Fairchild.
Melissa: Are they still dating?
Kevin: No, at least I don’t think so. Melissa, what are you getting at?
Melissa: Well, Uncle Kevin, he's very cute and he seems nice. Is this someone you're interested in?
Kevin: (shaking his head) Of course not. I hardly know him.
Melissa: Well, you'll get to know him by dating him; that's the concept.
Kevin: Maybe, but I'm not ready for a relationship. God, I can't even think about it.
Melissa: Maybe not today…not when your thoughts are so with Uncle Alec. But Uncle Kevin, haven't you thought about meeting someone and falling in love? Don't you want romance in your life again?
Kevin: I don’t know I’ll ever want that again. It’s something I can’t even think about.
Melissa: But you should be thinking about it. You’re still young… you have a lot of life
left to live and so much love to share with someone special. I don’t know if Gary Sorensen is right for
you or if you’d even be interested in him, but you have to start
somewhere. You go out with him and if
it works out, that's great. If it doesn't, there's lots of other men out there
for you…even in a small town like
Kevin: Melissa, I appreciate the concern. And believe me, these are things I have thought about and thought about. But, I don't think I'm ready to tackle the dating scene again. I know it's been so long since Alec died, but I honestly feel I've got a lot to get over before I'm ready to get involved again.
Melissa: I just don't like seeing you alone. You’re wonderful and you have so much to offer the right person.
Kevin: Thank you, Melissa, but I could say the same about you.
Melissa: What do you mean?
Kevin: Do you honestly think that my cousin Eric is the right person for you?
Melissa: This is about you…not me.
Kevin: I think we've exhausted the subject of my love life since I don't have one. So, let's talk about yours.
Melissa: Look, I know that you don't like Eric…
Kevin: With good reason.
Melissa: And I understand that. Believe me, I don't like the prejudiced views Eric expresses either. But, that's not completely who he is.
Kevin: Really? Because I think it says a lot about him. And surely you can't tell me that he's a wonderful man despite the fact he's a bigot.
Melissa: Eric has a lot of good qualities.
Kevin: Really? I've known Eric for my entire life and the only good thing he's ever done is father Vicki…a child he completely ignores. So, what do we have so far? He's a homophobe and an absentee father. Just where does the good begin?
Melissa: (raising her hand to brush back her head; the sleeve of her dress slipped back to reveal the bruise on her wrist from where Eric had grabbed her) Look, Uncle Kevin…
Kevin: (alarmed, grabbing her hand and pushing back the sleeve to reveal the purplish bruise) Wait a minute. That is a terrible bruise.
Melissa: (shaking her head) It's not as bad as it looks.
Kevin: Someone had to of grabbed you very hard to cause this kind of bruising. Now how did you get this? Did Eric do this to you?
* * * * * *
Scene: Covington Bay Police
Department; Homicide Division. Det. Eric Lassiter and Det.
Angela Sorensen
are there.
Eric: I'd think after all the years you've worked with the department, you'd know your way around the building. But don’t worry, I’ll be glad to tell you where you can go.
Angela: I’m in the right place.
Eric: And how is that? This is Homicide; this is where the top cops in this city do their job. Since that doesn't apply to you, what are you doing here? The Captain already has a secretary to do his dictation.
Angela: I have no intention of sparring with you, Eric. I have things to do. Now get out of my way so I can see Captain Stone.
Eric: I could get out of your way, but you still won't see Captain Stone. He's not here.
Angela: You really expect me to believe that?
Eric: Fine, check his office. You’ll see he's not here.
Angela: Then I'll wait. He's expecting me, so I'm sure he'll be here soon.
Eric: Whatever it is you have to talk to Captain Stone about can't be important, so why don't you just leave a message? I'll make sure he gets it.
Angela: You know I have been around you for five minutes and I find you boring already. Why you pack up and take your macho pig attitude out of my face because I have neither the time nor the patience for it.
Eric: I was just trying to help you out, not let you waste your time when you could be out writing tickets or being a traffic guard or whatever they've got you doing these days. A guy tries to show you a little courtesy and you act all insulted. Don't you find that men are put off by that feminist attitude of yours…assuming you're into men, that is.
Angela: Why you bastard! I…
Walter: (walking in and seeing Eric and Angela) Lassiter, Sorensen, I see you're both here.
Eric: Captain, we were just…
Walter: (ignoring Eric's attempt to speak) Could you both come into my office?
Angela: (puzzled) Both of us, sir?
Walter: Yes, I need
to speak to you both. (Walter walked into his office)
Eric: Great, just what I need is to have my head ripped off by the Captain.
Angela: Good. It saves me the trouble of doing it.
* * * * * *
Scene:
Zachary: Well, is one of you going to talk and tell me what these fights you are having are all about? And don't tell me that it's nothing.
Dana: Zachary, I think you're making too much of this.
Zachary: I don't think so. You told me you Danny and I have known each other for years and that you've never gotten along. What happened to make you so bitter towards each other?
Dana: (nervously) My brother was a cop; Danny’s a thug and has been all his life. My brother and Eric Lassiter busted Danny the last time he went to jail. Naturally there would be some conflict.
Zachary: It makes sense, but…Danny, you haven't said anything? Is what Dana says is true? Is that why you and she don't get along.
Danny: (smirking as Dana looked increasingly uneasy) Do you really want to know?
Mama J.: (walking up) Danny! There you are!
Danny: Mama J., what are you doing here?
Mama J.: I'm here to be with Polly Johnson. You know here, don't you?
Danny: Of course. She
runs the fruit stand over on
Mama J.: No…haven't you the heard the news?
Danny: What news?
Mama J.: Polly's boys were attacked and beaten last night. The youngest was killed, the oldest is here in the hospital. The doctors don't know if he's gonna make it.
Dana: That's terrible. They are such good kids, both of them. I saw Mrs. Johnson just last week and she was telling me about her kids being able to go to college because they'd won some scholarships. Poor woman. I've always liked her. She used to baby sit me and Pete.
Mama J.: She probably babysat everybody's kids at one time or another.
Zachary: Do they know how it happened or who did it?
Mama J.: The police haven’t come up with any news, at least not yet. (Pause) I've got to get to Polly. Danny, can you come with me? Or do you need to be with Nathan?
Danny: Nate's having some tests done so I can’t see him yet anyway. Sure, I'll come.
Mama J.: What about you, Dana? You know the family; they'd probably appreciate a little comfort.
Dana (hesitating as she looked at Danny): I have to get back to work, I've dawdled long enough today already.
Zachary: Dana, I'm sure no one will mind if you went and spent some time with the woman. This is an emergency; I'll vouch for you. Why don't you go?
Dana: (nodding) Sure. Thank you, Zachary.
Zachary: No problem. See you later.
Danny and Mama J.
walked away, Dana holding up the rear. In a nearby corridor, Melody and A.J.
were talking.
A.J.: Melody, you've got to listen to me. I was not spending time with Patricia. In fact, I didn't even want her there. She almost got me killed. You know I'm trying to find out who killed Candice Dailey. Well, I got a call from a man who said they had information on the real killer. They wanted me to meet them at the warehouse last night. I went and who should show up, but Patricia. I guess she got a call too.
Melody: Why would she be getting a call? Does she work for the Journal or something?
A.J.: No, she works for the Times. She actually considers herself my competition. As if. (Pause) She nearly got us killed last night. We were lucky we got out in one piece. Any time I spent with her was against my will, I want nothing to do with her. Nothing would be better if I could get her out of town… after annulment of course.
Melody: I have the feeling she won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
A.J.: It is so. (Pause) Melody, you've got to believe me. You are the only woman in my life. And that's the way I like it. Now, can we reschedule that dinner? Please?
* * * * * *
Scene: The
Lassiter Estate; the solarium. Kevin and Melissa are there.
Kevin: Melissa, is Eric abusing you?
Melissa: Of course he isn’t! Do you really hate him so much that you'd accuse him of something so horrible?
Kevin: He’s a very volatile man who gets very nasty when he drinks, which is a lot. That could easily lead to his battering you.
Melissa: Well, he's not! Eric wouldn't never hurt me! I know you have some issues with him, but he's not as bad as you say!
Kevin: Then how did you get the bruise?
Melissa: Kevin, it's not what you think! Eric didn't hit me. He didn't attack me. He's not some abusive monster.
Kevin: You still haven't answered the question. How did you get the bruise!?
At that moment,
the phone rang.
Kevin: Just a minute, I'll get it. (He answered the phone) Lassiter Estate. Oh hi, Nikki, No, Richie is not here. He never came to the service. (Pause) Melissa? Yeah, she's right… (Kevin turned to see that Melissa had gone) …here.
* * * * * *
Scene: Covington
Bay Police Department. Eric and Angela walk into Walter's office.
Walter: (sitting behind his desk) Close the door, will you?
Eric: (closing the door) Look, Captain, if you're going to chew me out about what happened out there, I was just having a little fun.
Angela: You sure have an odd idea about fun.
Eric: And you can't take a joke.
Angela: No, I can't. And I wish my sister hadn't either, but she married you anyway.
Walter: All right, that’s enough. I didn’t call you in here to referee.
Eric: Then why are we here?
Walter: Eric, as you well know, since Pete died, there has been a vacancy in this department.
Eric: I know. And it's going to be hard to fill Pete's shoes. He was the best.
Walter: He sure was. But as much as we miss him, things have to go on.
Eric: Meaning?
Walter: Meaning that Pete's position has to be filled. And it has been…by Det. Sorensen.
Eric: (shocked) What you've got to be kidding?! She is taking Pete's place!?
Walter: Yes, she is. Not only in this department…but as your partner as well.
* * * * * *
Scene:
A.J.: Melody, please. Don't cancel our date. We need this as a start to getting back together.
Melody: (hesitating) A.J., I just…
A.J.: Melody, please! I'm just asking for an evening…just an evening. We have to start somewhere, don't you think?
Melody: Yeah. We do have to start somewhere. All right, A.J., all right. I’ll go out with you tonight.
A.J.: (grinning as he hugged her) Great, Melody, great. We’re going to have a great time. It’s going to be an unforgettable night.
Melody: With you, A.J., it usually is.
A.J.: I know you don’t mean that as a compliment, but trust me, you'll see you made the right choice. We're gonna find our way back to each other, I know it.
Melody: Well, I don't know it, A.J.. But, I love you enough to give it a chance. Look, I've got to get to work. Call me later with the details about tonight.
A.J.: You got it. I love you Melody, you've got to believe that.
Melody: I do believe it, A.J., I really do. I just hope it's enough.
A.J.: (as she walked away) It will be, Melody. It will be.
* * * * * *
Next time in
· Kevin is troubled by his past.
· Gloria and A.J. have a heart to heart.
· Eric and Angela deal with Walter's decision
· Nigel and Monica struggle to deal with their conflict.