EPISODE 49

“BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE”

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; the Intensive Care Unit. Abby Jefferson is outside of Nathan's hospital room, looking fretful. Dr. Darian Jackson walks out. Abby looks up at him, a hopeful gaze in the young African-American woman's face.

Abby: Well?

Darian: (shaking his head) There hasn't been any change in his condition.

Abby: (as the hope in her face was replaced with fear) Is he ever even going to wake up?

Darian: (gently gripping her shoulder) Abby, I wish I had the answer, but I don’t. Right now, we're playing the waiting game…waiting for Nathan to wake up…and waiting for his new doctor to start the next round of tests.

Abby: (surprised) His new doctor?

Darian: (nodding) Yeah. Someone else is being put on his case.

Abby: But, why? What's wrong with you? You've been his doctor so far.

Darian: Yes, but I'm not a heart specialist. That's who they're bringing in on his case. His name is Christopher Sloan. He's tops in his field. Nate's lucky to have him. If anybody can help him, this guy can.

Abby: Well, where is he? When will he be here?

Darian: Any time now. That's why I'm here; I'd like to meet him and do what I can to help…if I can.

Abby: I'm glad you're going to stay on the case, Darian. I feel so much better knowing that someone who knows and cares about Nathan is involved.

Dana: (walking up) Darian, is it true? I heard Nathan James had a heart attack.

Darian: Yes, it's true. He's in Intensive Care.

Dana: (insistently) Do they know what caused it? He's a seventeen year old kid…he never had any health problems. How could this happen?

Darian: We don't know…but we're working on it.

Dana: (after pausing) Have you talked to Danny?

Darian: No. No one has been able to find him. Mama J said he left the hospital this morning…he hasn't been seen since. (Darian looked at the African-American nurse suspiciously) Why are you asking all these questions?

Dana: (shrugging) I'm curious.

Abby: (bitterly) Since when? You haven't exactly hidden your opinion that Nate killed Candice Dailey and everyone knows you hate Danny. What does this matter to you?

Dana: (flashing back to seeing Danny going into the medical supply storeroom after being told by the man he was hiring to break Nathan out of jail to find a way to keep Nate in the hospital by making him too sick to leave) Just call it idle curiosity.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Police Department; Capt. Walter Stone's office. Walter, Patrick Jackson and Evan Maitland are there. Walter is seated behind his desk while Evan sits on the sofa against the wall. Patrick stands near the door.

Walter: (surprised, rising to his feet) A heart attack? Patrick, are you joking?

Patrick: Hardly.

Evan: From what Dr. Jackson said, he was as healthy as a horse. How is that possible?

Patrick: (shrugging) He doesn’t know what caused it.

Walter: What are the his chances?

Patrick: No one is sure. Right now, they're running tests. But none of that will matter if the kid doesn't wake up.

Walter: So he could die.

Patrick: His condition is critical. Dar… (Patrick stopped himself from mentioning his brother's name) The doctor says it doesn't look good.

Walter: (smirking) Well, it looks like the state might be saved the expense of a murder trial, not to mention keeping the kid on death row while he appeals his conviction.

Patrick: It's certainly a possibility. I guess the trial was on hold indefinitely…maybe permanently.

Evan: (grumbling, slamming his fist on the sofa) Well, isn't that great!?

Walter: Evan, does this bother you?

Evan: Shouldn't it? This kid might escape justice…at least the kind that takes place in a court of law.

Walter: (teasingly) And you might miss out on trying a case that could help you in your plans to run against Jonas Lassiter in the fall. I guess that might be the bigger injustice, huh?

(Evan scowled at Walter as there was a knock on the door)

Walter: Come in. (Det. Jake Collier and Sabrina Collier walked in)

Jake: Captain, we need to talk.

Walter: (angrily) Oh, you bet we do. We need to discuss that fiasco at the hospital today. (Pause as he looked at Sabrina) But why is Sabrina here? Is she acting as your attorney or your mother?

Sabrina: Walter, what I'm here to talk about has nothing to do with the nap that turned this police station on red alert. (Pause) This is about my client. (She glanced at the district attorney) I'm glad you're here, Evan. You should hear this too.

Evan: (visibly annoyed) Sabrina, what would we have to talk about? From what I hear, there may not even be a trial; Nathan James might not survive his heart attack.

Sabrina: (sarcastically) I'm sorry if Nate's health gets in the way of your political career, but I'm interested in keeping him alive right now.

Evan: That's up to the doctors isn't it?

Sabrina: Yes, and hopefully they can pull him through this crisis. It's after that I'm concerned about.

Evan: (curiously) What do you mean? You sound as if you're leading up to something.

Sabrina: I am.

Walter: (exasperated) Well, what is it?

Sabrina: (grimly) Someone is trying to kill my client.

* * * * * *

Scene: A car as it travels the streets of Covington Bay. Det. Eric Lassiter is at the wheel; Angela is a passenger. Both of them look grim, hardly even sharing a glance at one another. The car stopped at an intersection. Eric reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. Angela looked at him in surprise.

Angela: (warily) I hope you're not going to light that.

Eric: (grinning) Of course…it’s the only way I'm going to be able to smoke it.

Angela: (determinedly) You cannot smoke that cigarette…not with me in the car.

Eric: You’re kidding with that crap.

Angela: (shrugging) Do I look like I’m kidding?

Eric: You look like you never appreciate a good joke. (Pause) But if it bothers you that much, I'll let you out. Southtown is that far away from here; I'm sure you can walk it.

Angela: (shaking a finger at him) Don't you dare light that cigarette!

Eric: (scowling) Since when did smoking become so offensive to you? I remember you used to smoke all the time.

Angela: Some of us are able to overcome our vices. (Pause) Frankly, Eric, I could care less if you turn your lungs a nice charcoal black, but you know there's a no-smoking ban in all government buildings and vehicles.

Eric: Look, I know the rules.

Angela: Then why are you smoking?

Eric: Because I think it's stupid that I can't have a smoke while I'm driving.

Angela: You probably think it's stupid you can't smoke in a hospital.

Eric: That's different.

Angela: It's the same principle.

Eric: Really? I don't see anybody doing surgery in the back seat.

Angela: (sighing) Can't you just wait a few minutes until we're out of the car? What is it going to hurt?

Eric: Look, I don't believe in delayed gratification.

Angela: The story of your life, isn’t it? But this time you’re going to have to sate yourself on someone else’s dime.

Eric: (shoving the cigarette back in his pocket) This is just proof that this partnership isn’t going to work. I hope when you had your private talk with the Captain, you were discussing your transfer to another partner…maybe another division.

Angela: I told the Captain what I should've said in the first place. This partnership is going to last as long as he wants it to.

Eric: (shocked) You did what?! (He gnashed his teeth) Are you out of your goddamn mind!?

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Times Office Building; Quentin's office. A.J. Lassiter, Patricia Tamakai-Lassiter and Quentin Greyhawk are there.

A.J.: (urgently) Well, Patricia, you are going to tell the truth, aren't you?

Patricia: (stammering) A.J., I…. so much has happened…it's all so shocking. I need time to think.

A.J.: (angrily) What is there to think about?

Quentin: Her future of course. If she sides with me, she'll have the start of a great career at a newspaper that is going to become the best in this country. If she sides with you, her career is over. She'll be finished in Covington Bay and the rest of the journalism community. I don't even think she'll be able to get her job back in Africa.

A.J.: (turning to Quentin) Because you'd see to that, wouldn't you? (A.J. turned to Patricia) Patty, I can't believe you're even considering working for this man.

Patricia: (desperately) What am I supposed to do?

A.J.: You're supposed to tell the truth, that's what you're supposed to do. That's what being a journalist is all about; telling the truth and honesty…at least that's what it's about to me. (He pointed at Quentin) This man doesn't give a damn about those things… (He held up the paper) …this article proves that. He's out to ruin my family, and he's starting by ruining my career…making me a laughingstock with these half truths and outright lies.

Patricia: A.J., you can recover from that story. Your reputation is too strong, too big to be destroyed by one article. People will have forgotten about it tomorrow.

A.J.: (shaking his head) I don't believe what I'm hearing. So I’ll still have a job tomorrow I shouldn’t mind having my name dragged through the mud!? Don’t tell me you're actually considering going along with this?

Quentin: (a triumphant tone on the elder man's voice) Sounds to me it's exactly what she is doing.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Police Department; Walter's office. Walter, Patrick, Sabrina, Jake and Evan are there.

Evan: (shocked) Is this some kind of joke?

Sabrina: I wouldn't joke about something like this. Someone is trying to kill Nathan.

Evan: (standing) Is this an attempt to get sympathy for the James kid? Because if it is, it's not going to work.

Sabrina: (insulted) I don’t operate like that and you know it, Evan. I leave the grandstanding for you. (Pause) I'm very serious.

Walter: What makes you think someone is out to murder the boy, Sabrina?

Sabrina: It started with the fall Nathan took down the stairs in the courthouse yesterday. He says…or he thinks it may not have been an accident. Nathan thinks he may have been pushed.

Walter: What do you mean he thinks? He's not certain what happened?

Sabrina: (hesitating, shaking her head) No. He's not sure. He's kind of confused about the whole thing. It all happened so fast…and he was startled when the lights went out in the stairwell.

Evan: Then why are you telling us about this?

Sabrina: Don't you think it's important to know about an attempted murder?

Evan: If there was one…and according to your own client, that's debatable.

Sabrina: But if there's a chance…

Evan: (cutting her off) But, I don't think there is one. I think your client is either confused or just flat out lying.

Sabrina: And what would he have to gain from that?

Evan: (shrugging) It could be a tactic to create reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind if they were to find out that someone was trying to kill him. Someone trying to murder Nathan creates the specter of a conspiracy tied to Candice’s death. And it would only take one juror to buy it.

Patrick: (the African-American assistant district attorney nodding in agreement) That makes sense.

Sabrina: (in disbelief) You're just going to dismiss this and call my client a liar?

Evan: Sabrina, you're client's word is questionable at best. He's got a rather lengthy criminal record and now he's on trial for murder…and his conviction's nearly a certainty. People have needed less motivation to lie.

Sabrina: You’re so eager to win this case and pad your resume so you can run for the Senate that you won’t let anything get in your way, will you? Even the pesky little detail of attempted murder?

Evan: Look, Sabrina…!

Walter: (holding up his hand) Hold it you two, let's got to neutral corners here. We're not resolving anything like this. (Pause) Let's calm down, gather our wits and find out if there's really something going on here or not. (Pause) Now, Sabrina, you realize what you're saying if you believe what your client is saying. If someone tried to kill him, the only other person in that stairwell before the lights went out was the guard Jerry Nyland. Are you accusing him of committing this crime?

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; outside of Nathan's room. Darian, Dana and Abby are there. Abby glares bitterly at Dana, who has a self- satisfied look on her face.

Abby: We don't need your idle curiosity, Dana…treating Nathan's like he was so car accident for you to drive slowly by. (Her voice was thick with disgust) You hate Nathan and his brother…everyone knows that. You'd like nothing better than to see them both dead.

Dana: I've never hidden my contempt for Nathan or Danny. (Pause) And for the record, I wouldn't like to see either of them dead…life imprisonment is good enough for me. (She grinned) And it looks like that might happen…unless Nathan dies first.

Abby: And you're standing around like the Grim Reaper waiting for it to happen?

Dana: I'm a nurse in this hospital. I have a right to be here…certainly more than you. You're not even family…not that you wouldn't like to be more than that. (Her chocolate brown eyes sparkling teasingly) But, Nathan dumped you, didn't he? I guess you should consider yourself lucky. You could've wound up like Candice Dailey.

Abby: (angrily as she stepped towards Dana) Listen here, bitch…!

Darian: (stepping between the two women) All right, I think that's about enough for both of you!

Abby: (pointing down the hallway) Get her the hell out of here! She doesn’t have the right to be here!

Darian: (nodding in agreement) Why don't you take off, Dana? I'm sure you have work to do somewhere in this hospital.

Dana: (determinedly) I will…once I finishing doing what I came here for.

Abby: You mean you haven't caused enough trouble already?

Dana: I need to talk to Darian…alone. Could you take off?

Abby: I…!

Darian: Give us a few minutes, Abby.

Abby: (sighing) Sure. I need to check in with Mama J. anyway. (Glaring coolly at Dana, Abby walked away)

Darian: (angrily) Was that really necessary?

Dana: Darian, I'm not going to take any lip off that girl.

Darian: You started it. Moreover, she's going through a tough time. She loves Nathan and she lost him to Candice. Now he's on trial for her murder…and he may not even live to stand trial.

Dana: I guess that means she should think about the men she chooses to get involved with.

Darian: Do you really hate Nathan that much? You used to be family.

Dana: That's not exactly something I like to brag about.

Darian: That's pretty obvious. I talked to Zachary this morning. He has no idea you used to be married to Danny. Question is, just how long do you think you can keep that a secret?

* * * * * *

Scene: A car as it drives through the streets of Covington Bay. Eric is at the wheel of the car. Angela is a passenger.

Eric: (slamming his fist on the steering wheel) I can't believe you didn't get us out of this. All you had to do is ask Captain Stone for a transfer.

Angela: (defiantly) And make things easy for you, Eric? You'd love that. I told you I worked too hard to get to this point in my career. I'm not going to walk away from it now…especially because of you.

Eric: You can't really expect us to work together!?

Angela: I don't like this anymore than you do, but we have no choice. Captain Stone has made his decision, and it's our job to abide by it.

Eric: (shaking his head) Well, I can't abide by that. Maybe you follow blindly what you're told to do, but I don't.

Angela: That's obvious. It's pretty clear you don't give a damn about anything but what you want.

Eric: Are you being general, or is that tongue lashing referring to something specific?

Angela: Eric, there are many acts of selfishness on your part that I could point to, but I'm talking about what happened with your brother.

Eric: What happened with my brother? Last I heard he was fine, no doubt enjoying being the center of attention yet again.

Angela: And it doesn't matter to you that something could've happened to him?

Eric: (dismissively) Nothing happened to him; he was asleep in my mother's office.

Angela: But, you didn't know that…neither did anyone in your family. As far as they were concerned, A.J. in danger, hurt or maybe even dead. Doesn't any of that matter to you? Why didn't you go see your mother and see how she was holding up? Even after learning he was fine, you couldn't call your mother to see if she was okay? Or even check in with A.J.?

Eric: Well, if you noticed, nobody called me to tell me A.J. was missing, much less that he was alive and well.

Angela: Maybe they we so upset that they didn't think about it. Or more importantly, maybe they knew you just didn't give a damn if your brother lived or died and just didn’t bother.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Times Building; Quentin's office. A.J., Quentin and Patricia are there.

A.J.: (insistently) Patricia, you can't even consider working with this man…he's only using you to get to me. That's why you were hired in the first place.

Patricia: (quickly) That's not true.

A.J.: You don't really think you were hired because of your talent, do you?

Patricia: You would say anything to hurt me, wouldn't you?

A.J.: I'm trying to get you to face the truth, Patricia.

Patricia: But, it isn't the truth, is it? (She turned to Quentin, disbelief in her brown eyes) You didn't hire me just because of my connections to the Lassiters, did you?

Quentin: (casually) I'm afraid A.J. is right about that, my dear.

Patricia: (shocked) But, the paper recruited me. The editor said they needed someone with talent, someone who'd come from the area and would have special insight into Covington Bay.

A.J.: Insight into Covington Bay? You haven’t lived here in years.

Patricia: (insistently) They said I'd be perfect for the job.

A.J.: And you were perfect…for his plan.

Patricia: (surprised, staring at Quentin) You mean I gave up my life in Africa? I decided to come back home after all these years…and you were just using me?

A.J.: I'd say you even arranged our encounter with the drug dealers so you'd have an especially nasty story to write about me, but I think you just got lucky in that instance.

Quentin: (shrugging) What can I say; fate played into my hands. I'd thank you, but somehow I don't think you'd appreciate it.

A.J.: (turning to Patricia) I hope this ends your even considering working for him and perpetuating this lie, Patty. This whole thing is just a game to him and you are just a pawn.

Patricia: (nodding) It would seem so.

A.J.: Then let's end it and end it now. We can expose Greyhawk and this paper for the lying piece of trash it is, stop him Greyhawk and his plan dead in it's tracks. Let’s get the hell out of here. (A.J. headed for the door, but Patricia didn't move an inch. Surprised, A.J. turned to face her) Patricia, go.

Patricia: (shaking her head) I'm sorry, A.J.. I can't.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; the Intensive Care Unit. Darian and Dana are standing outside of Nathan's hospital room.

Darian: You know you're going to have to tell Zachary the truth, don't you?

Dana: (crossing her arms) Why does he have to know about my marriage to Danny? It's in the past.

Darian: Maybe, but it's a pretty important part of your past. And considering that Danny's brother has been accused of killing Zachary's sister, I can't believe you haven't told him already.

Dana: And lose any chance I have with him?

Darian: How do you figure? So you made a mistake in your love life, we all have. As for the murder investigation, Zachary believes Nate's innocent. He's not going to hold this against you. But, he will hold it against you if you lie to him. Zachary's an honest guy…and he demands that kind of honesty in his relationships.

Dana: (shaking her head) Look, the last thing I need is for my past with Danny to come out. I don't care what you say, even if Zachary doesn't hold it against me, a lot of people will. I've worked too hard to get past my marriage to Danny. Why should I have to keep paying for that one mistake?

Darian: I don't think you will.

Dana: I think you're being rather naïve, Darian. You know how people love to gossip.

Darian: (shrugging) Who cares about a few loudmouths?

Dana: Darian, despite what you might like to think, people are mean and nasty and they'll take any chance they can to screw you over. (She wore a look of determination) Well, I'm not giving anyone the chance. My past with Danny is going to stay in the past.

Darian: And how do you intend on doing that? A lot of people know about your marriage to Danny, a lot of people Zachary knows. It's going to come out, and it's best if it comes from you. (Pause as he glanced at his watch) I have a patient to look in on, so I've got to take off. Think about what I said, will you?

Dana: (dismissively) Sure. (Darian walked away, leaving Dana alone with her thoughts) The truth. Why does everyone always think the truth is so important. Don't they know what sometimes the truth is best left unsaid? Especially this truth. I can't let Danny ruin my life. I can't let him destroy everything I've done, just because I was stupid enough to let myself fall in love with him. But, Darian's right…Natalie's right. Zachary will find out. Covington Bay is a small town…and too many people know the truth. He will find out one way or the other. And I guess I should tell him myself. But how? How can I do things to make this work for me? (Suddenly, a thought struck her and her eyes flashed with delight) Wait a minute! Why didn't I think of that before!? I can tell the truth. I can make this work to my advantage. And if I play things right…it just might be the thing to get Zachary Dailey in my corner once and for all.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Times Building. A.J., Patricia and Quentin are there.

A.J.: (stunned) Patricia, what do you mean you can't? What other option do you have?

Quentin: Plenty. She can stay here and work for me. And she can have a career that will take her to the top if that's what she wants. And that is what you want, isn't it, Mrs. Lassiter?

Patricia: Of course. Yes, I want to be a success.

A.J.: But at what cost? Your integrity? Your self respect? Patricia, this man has proven he can't be trusted. He is using you to hurt my family…a family I thought you considered yourself part of. Can you so easily turn your back on people you have known and been close to your whole life just because you have a chance to make a few dollars?

Patricia: A.J., this about more than money. I want to be a success in this business. How can you expect me to just throw away my chance to do that?

A.J.: You don't need him to be a success. Quentin Greyhawk and this rag isn't the only paper in the world.

Patricia: Maybe it is, but it's the only paper that would hire me, and believe me I've tried. I've applied to a lot of papers over the past few years, A.J., and most of them were either terrible jobs or they wouldn’t touch me. This is my chance. I know you think I'm some I'm some unqualified fool…

A.J.: (interrupting her) And you've done nothing to change my mind. You weren't hired because of talent or because you could do the job. You were hired because of your connection to me. Greyhawk is using you and if you stay with him, that's only going to continue. You will continue to be his puppet. (He held up the paper) This article is just the beginning.

Quentin: Mrs. Lassiter, I admit that I may have used you and that your being hired was part of a greater plan. But you do have talent. You can be a wonderful journalist one day. However, that will only happen if you remain under my employ. You walk out that door…and you even attempt aid the Lassiters in any legal action they might take against me…and I will have no choice but to retaliate. And destroying any opportunity you might have at a career will be my way of doing just that.

A.J.: See, Patricia? He's laid it out for you. Don't you see that you have no other option but to throw his job in his face and tell him where to go?

Patricia: (shaking her head in confusion) A.J., I really can't make this decision right now. I have to think about it.

A.J.: (His voice taking a warning tone) If you don't want out of this office with me right now, there won't be anything to think about. You will have sided with the Greyhawks and that will make you an enemy. And you don't want me as an enemy. I will take you down right along with your new friend here.

Patricia: (fearfully) So, you're going to turn on me?

A.J.: No more than you've turned on me. (Pause) Patricia, if you stay here, I promise you will regret it. Our friendship will be over, the childhood we shared will be a thing of the past, it won't mean anything to me anymore…you won't mean anything to me. Is that what you want?

Patricia: (shaking her head, her eyes starting to glisten with tears) Of course not, A.J..

A.J.: Then you've got choice to make…and you've got ten seconds to make it.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Police Department; Walter's office. Walter, Patrick, Jake, Evan and Sabrina are there.

Walter: Sabrina, you cannot accuse a respected police officer of attempted murder on the word of a convicted felon about to be tried for murder, especially not without proof.

Sabrina: I'm not accusing him of anything. I just think you should investigate what happened, starting by questioning this man. Besides Nathan, he's the only one we know of who was on the scene.

Walter: Jerry Nyland was already questioned.

Sabrina: And?

Walter: He says Nathan slipped and fell when the lights went out…which is what your client said before he came up with this wild story about being pushed.

Sabrina: You don't know if it's a wild story or not, Walter. You should at least look into the possibility.

Evan: (disdainfully) You can't seriously be asking us to spend police time and effort on an investigation based on the confused, maybe deceptive word of this kid. (Pause) Jerry Nyland is not some loose cannon who attacks his charges. He's a man with a sterling record that has lasted over twenty years. He's got an impeccable reputation. A lot of people respect and like him.

Sabrina: (firmly) Well, you can't count me as one of them.

Evan: What does that mean?

Sabrina: I talked to Mr. Nyland. The man's got a bad temper and I couldn't help but wonder what he was capable of.

Evan: Did he get angry because you accused him of attempted murder? Anyone would get angry at that kind of allegation. (Pause) Sabrina, what is this all about? Is this some sort of ploy you think might help your case?

Jake: (insulted) Mr. Maitland, you've known my mother long enough to know she doesn't work that way. She wouldn't even think of coming to you with this unless there was something to it.

Evan: I haven't heard anything convincing yet.

Sabrina: And I'm not saying I have definitive proof of anything, I just think it's something that should be checked out, especially since Nathan is so vulnerable. If someone, either Nyland or someone else wanted Nathan dead, now would be the perfect time to strike.

Walter: Sabrina, I’m not going to dismiss you out of hand, but beyond there being no motive we can see, you haven't come up with enough evidence to warrant an investigation.

Sabrina: (sighing) So, you're not going to do anything.

Walter: There's nothing we can do.

Sabrina: Well, obviously, I'm wasting my time here. Sorry to have bothered you. I'll see you later, Jake. (Sabrina angrily walked out, slamming the door behind her)

Jake: (turning to the men in the office) You know, you could've at least listened to her.

Walter: We would've…if she'd of given us something to work with, but she didn't. She's got nothing and how can we follow up on that?

Jake: But, you know my mother…you've known her for years. She would've never come to you with this, not unless she believed it has some validity.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Police Department; a corridor outside the Homicide Division. Sabrina is leaning against a wall, talking on her cell phone.

Sabrina: (exasperated) Michael, it was an exercise in futility. Walter Stone refused to even consider what I was saying.

Michael: What did you expect? You don't have any proof, not really.

Sabrina: (determinedly) Well, we'll just have to get proof.

Michael: How do you intend on doing that?

Sabrina: We do have a private investigator on retainer. We'll put Lucas on it.

Michael: (dryly) And I'm sure he'll do as good a job on this as he has on getting evidence to clear Nate.

Sabrina: (annoyed) Michael, I can always count on your to be positive, can't I? (Pause) I'm going to stop by the hospital and see David and then I'll be in the office.

Michael: (sighing) I'll be here twiddling my thumbs. After all, with Nathan so ill, and no trial going on, I don't have much to do these days. Want to put me on another case or something?

Sabrina: (grinning) Nice try, Michael. I'll see you when I get in. (Sabrina hung up her phone and stuck in her purse. Slipping the strap on her shoulder, she turned and came face to face with Jerry Nyland. She was startled and tried to hide the flicker of tension in her eyes) Mr. Nyland, hello.

Jerry: Mrs. Collier, what brings you to the station?

Sabrina: I am an attorney; I have business here.

Jerry: (darkly) I hope none of that business involves me…and your suspicions you have about Nathan James' fall because if it does, I'm not going to be too happy about that.

* * * * * *

Scene: A car as it drives through the streets of Covington Bay. Eric is at the wheel of the car. Angela is a passenger.

Angela: Is it true? Do you hate your brother so much that you don't care if he lives or dies?

Eric: There's no love lost between A.J. and I, but I wouldn't want to see him dead. (He sighed) The last thing this world needs is another martyr.

Angela: (shaking her head) You really don’t care about anything or anyone besides yourself, do you? (Pause as she held up her hand) Don't bother answering. I've known you long enough to know that nothing or no one matters to you. Not your mother, your brother, my sister when you were married to her, or your daughter. All you care about is getting laid or getting drunk.

Eric: (chuckling) Every family has their black sheep.

Angela: And you’ve worked very hard to earn that title, didn't you?

Eric: I didn't have to. I wasn't perfect. I don't have proper manners, I don't say or do the right thing at the right time. I don’t fit into the sophisticated portrait that a Lassiter is supposed to fit in. I'm not like them...and they can't stand it.

Angela: So it's their fault you don't get along with them?

Eric: My family doesn’t cotton to something that doesn't fit into the mold of a dignified Lassiter that Grandfather decreed each and every one of us be. Rather than put up with their criticism, I prefer not to deal with them at all. Now you understand.

Angela: (nodding) Oh yeah. What I understand is that you are full of crap.

* * * * * *

Scene: Covington Bay Times. Quentin's office. Quentin, A.J. and Patricia are there.

A.J.: Well, Patricia, what's it gonna be? Do you leave here with me…right now, or do you side with Greyhawk and throw away a lifetime of friendship?

Patricia: You honestly expect me to just make a quick decision on something like this? This is my career we're talking about!

A.J.: And my career is on the line too, Patricia, not to mention my reputation, my relationships with Melody, my entire life. I won't let anyone ruin that…not Greyhawk, and certainly not you.

Patricia: You really think this is so black and white? Life is not like that.

A.J.: But this situation is, Patty. Either you're going to do the right thing or you're not. There's no middle ground on this one. Now what is it going to be?

Patricia: (as a tear rolled down her cheek) A.J., I…

A.J.: (holding up his hand) Forget it, Patty. I see I have your answer. (Pause as he looked at Greyhawk, who was smirking at him) Enjoy your victory while you can, Greyhawk. Just know this isn't over. You can't even begin to imagine how sorry you're going to be. (He looked at Patricia) And the same little girl…goes for you. (A.J. turned and walked out)

Patricia: (rushing to the door) A.J.! A.J., wait! (She stopped, turning to Quentin) Oh, God! What have I done!?

Quentin: What you have done is rid yourself of a relationship with a man who is looking at a very dark future. His life as he knows it is over…yours however, is just beginning.

Patricia: And how is that?

Quentin: We'll talk about the details in due time. Right now, I have a meeting to attend to.

Patricia: You're leaving?

Quentin: Yes, but don't worry. I'll be back. We have much to discuss, young lady. I look forward to discussing it.

(Quentin walked out)

Patricia: I'm not sure I do. (Pause) I've got to figure out a way to work this out. This whole thing is going to ruin my plans. I can't let anyone get in the way. Not now. But how do I get in the middle of A.J. Lassiter and Quentin Greyhawk without losing everything? There must be a way! There must!

* * * * * *

NEXT TIME IN COVINGTON BAY

· Laura suffers an embarrassment.

· Eric demands an explanation from Angela.

· Jerry gives Sabrina reason to be afraid.

· Gloria laments the problems with the men in her life.