EPISODE 67

 

“THE PROPOSITION”

Scene:  Covington Bay Police Department; the Homicide Division.  Det. Angela Sorensen, sitting at her desk, leans back in her chair, sighing heavily.   She rubbed a crick in her neck, looking at the battered black typewriter on her desk.  A troubled look slipped across her face, her brow furrowing with worry.  She was sipping a soda.

Angela:  (looking up to see her sister Hillary as she approaches)  Hillary!  What are you doing here?

Hillary:  Evan and I are having dinner tonight.

Angela:  He's treating you to dinner in the police cafeteria?  Sis, I'd think the DA would have more class than that.

Hillary:  (smiling, shaking her head)  No.  We're having dinner at Markham's; he's in a meeting with the commissioner upstairs and I'm waiting for him.  I saw your car in the parking lot so I thought I'd drop by and say hi.  (Pause)  Putting in some late hours on your first day?  Very impressive.

Angela:  I was just typing up some reports.  (Pause)  Almost done for the day though.

Hillary:  Good. I know how you like to overwork and you don’t want to burn out. (Pause as Hillary hesitated)  So, how was your first day?

Angela:  You mean, how was my first day working with Eric Lassiter?

Hillary:  (nodding)  Well yes, I guess that's what I really wanna know.  So how'd it go?

Angela:  (sarcastically) It was everything I thought it would be and more.

Hillary:  That bad, huh?

Angela:  (sighing)  You couldn't even begin to imagine.

Scene:  Aboard The Cassandra.  Nikki Lassiter is on deck, watching the Covington Bay River as the inky black waters slipped by.  Her gaze continued up, seeing that the marina was getting smaller as The Cassandra maneuvered further away from it.  It was a dark, overcast night; warm for the most part save a gentle breeze that cooled things off a bit.

James:  (coming up from the galley)  Dinner is almost ready.

Nikki:  (turning to her host) Great; it smells wonderful.  What are you serving?

James:  You'll find out soon enough.  I want it to be a surprise.

Nikki:  You're really big on surprises, aren't you?

James:  What do you mean?

Nikki:  This whole evening is turning out to be a surprise.  (Her eyes narrowed)  After all, I certainly didn't expect to be kidnapped tonight.

James:  (smiling)  Nikki, I didn't kidnap you.  You came aboard this boat willingly.

Nikki:  And I asked to be taken back...more than once if I might add.

James:  Maybe, but I don't think you really wanted to go back.

Nikki:  Do you always assume a woman means 'yes' when she says 'no'?  That could get you in alot of trouble if you're not careful.

James:  Do you always have to be so serious?   That very pretty brow always seems furrowed about something.  Do you even know how to have fun?

Nikki:  I have lots of fun.

James:  Really?  When?  These days you seem pretty obsessed with this whole Nathan James trial.  That's doesn't seem like much fun in my book.

Nikki:  Greyhawk, I know when to have fun.   It just so happens that when I do, it doesn't include you.

James:  Well, I promise you, sweetheart, that tonight it will.

Scene:  Covington Bay Medical Center; the Intensive Care Unit.   Dr. Darian Jackson walked up to Nathan's room.

Darian:  (pausing outside the door)  I'm doing the right thing...I'm doing the right thing.  I have to save Nathan.  I have to find out the truth. (As Darian went into the room, Dana Cooper peered from the around the corner.  She ran to the door)

Dana:  What are you up to, Darian? 

(Inside the room, Darian pulled a hypodermic needle from his pocket.  After unwrapping it and then pushing out air bubbles, he walked over to Nathan, found a vein in his arm, and drew blood from him.  The African-American doctor finished, and then capped the needle.)

Darian:  It won't be long, Nathan, we'll know the truth soon enough.  I just hope it's worth what it's bound to cost me.

(Darian was headed for the door when he heard voices outside the room.  Outside, Dana was face to face with Christina)

Christina:  Who are you, and what are you doing outside this room?

Dana:  (nervously)  I'm Dana Cooper, a nurse here at the hospital.  I was looking for a relative of Nathan's.  I thought he might be up here.

Christina:  Really?  From what I understand, Nathan James only has one relative; a brother and he hasn't been at the hospital all day.

Dana:  Oh.  I didn't know that.  I guess I should be on my way then, shouldn't I?

Christina:  Yes you should.  Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check on Mr. James.

(Dana looked stunned as Christina started to enter the room)

Dana:  Wait a minute, Dr. Sloan!

(Inside the room, Darian heard Dana and Christina talking.  He looked panicked.  Outside, Christina was turning to Dana.)

Christina:   (annoyed)  Miss Cooper, I'm very busy.  What is it?

Dana:  Can you tell me anything about Nathan's condition?  Do you know how he's doing?

Christina:  Miss Cooper, you're a nurse, you should know as well as I do that I can't tell you anything about Mr. James' condition...unless you're family.

Dana:  (a little too harshly)  No.  We're not related.

Christina:  Then you'll have to speak to Mr. James' brother, Danny.  Maybe he can help you... when he does show up.  If you'll excuse me.  (Dana stood and watched nervously as the young African-American doctor went into the hospital room)

Dana:  (worriedly)  Darian, I hope you don't get caught!

Scene:  Greyhawk Manor; the living room.  Nigel and Monica Greyhawk are on the sofa kissing.

Monica:  Mmmm...just when I think you can't be a better kisser, you reach a new rung on the ladder.

Nigel:  (smiling)  Well, if I'm that good a kisser, it's only because I'm very, very inspired.

Monica:  Oh, so now I'm your inspiration?

Nigel:  That, lady, and much, much more.  (He kissed her again)

Monica:  You know, when you said you wanted to start working on having a baby, I didn't think you meant so quickly.

Nigel:  No time like the present, wouldn't you say?

Monica:  On that, I have to agree.  (Pause)  Do you want to continue this upstairs?

Nigel:  Oh, yes.  I wouldn't want to give the servants something to talk about.

(Nigel and Monica laughed as they rose to their feet and headed for the door.  As they reached it, Lucas Greyhawk swept in, brushing past the couple)

Lucas:  Damn it, I need a drink.

Nigel:  (turning to his brother)  Lucas!

Lucas:  (going to the bar and making himself a scotch and soda)  Hi, Nigel...Monica.  Want one?

Nigel:  No.  Lucas, what are you doing here?

Lucas:  Last time I looked, I had a room in this house.

Nigel:  I mean, I thought you had a date tonight.  Don't tell me it's over already?  Your dates usually don't end until morning.

Lucas:  Well, this one ended before we got to the first course.

Nigel:  What happened?

Lucas:  A.J. Lassiter, that's what happened!

Scene:  A log cabin.  A.J. Lassiter and Patricia Tamakai-Lassiter are there.  A.J. was sitting on a the sofa, drinking coffee as Patricia paces the floor.

Patricia:  What is this all about, A.J.?  Who brought us here?  And why?

A.J.:  Patricia, I'm sure that....

(At that moment, the front doorknob started to jiggle)

Patricia:  Someone's coming in!

A.J.:  Yep.  I think we're about to get the answer to all of our questions.

(The door swung open and A.J. looked on shock at the person standing before him)

Patricia:  A.J.?

A.J.:  (gasping)  Oh, my God.  It's you.

Patricia:  You know this man?  You know who kidnapped us?

Man   Oh, yes.  Mr. Lassiter and I are very well acquainted.  (The man walked into the room and closed the door behind himself.  He was tall and husky; very handsome with a dark complexion.  He had thick, salt and pepper colored hair and dark brown eyes.  He wore a tailored, dark gray suit that fit his muscled frame well)

Patricia:  (turning to A.J.)  What's going on A.J.?  Who is this man?

A.J.:  Patricia, I'd like you to meet Victor Markham.

Scene:  Greyhawk Manor; the living room.  Nigel, Lucas and Monica are there.

Nigel:   What does A.J. have to do with your date?

Lucas:  He ran off with her, that's what.  I was having dinner with Patricia and...

Nigel:  (interrupting and turning to Monica)  Monica, you don’t need to hear my brother drone on and on about his relationships.  Why don't you check on Vicki...see if she's asleep?

Monica:  Nigel, you’re usually much more subtle than that.  I’ll leave you brothers alone for your male bonding.   See you upstairs in bit?

Nigel:  You got it.  (She walked out)

Lucas:   You didn't have to do that.  I wasn't going to say anything she couldn't hear.

Nigel:  Yes you were.

Lucas:  (sipping his drink)  You didn't even know what I was going to say.

Nigel:   I have the feeling you were going to start talking about this whole mess with the Times and A.J. and Patricia's secret marriage.

Lucas:  So what?  I imagine Monica's not too happy about it with Melody being her sister and all, but...  (Pause)  Wait a minute.  You haven't told her yet?  She doesn't know?

Nigel:  No.

Lucas:  Why not?

Nigel:  There hasn't been time.  I didn't know the entire plan until Dad's meeting at the office this afternoon.

Lucas: Yes, but you left the meeting to talk to your wife.

Nigel:  And I would've told her then, but we had other things to discuss.  Look, why don't you tell me why you're so upset?  Why would A.J. run off with Patricia Lassiter?

Lucas:  Patricia and I went to Markham's for dinner.

Nigel:  She went to dinner with you?   I was under the impression that Patricia was very angry with the Greyhawks, and that includes you, because of Dad's using her to hurt A.J.. 

Lucas:  No, she was pretty still upset.  But, I was able to persuade her to go overlook her anger and let me show her a good time.

Nigel:   Well, you always did have a way with the ladies.   But they usually don’t run off with other guys.  You’re usually that other guy.

Lucas:   Yeah, well, A.J. was at Markham's with Melody.

Nigel:  Oh, great.  That must've went over well.

Lucas:  Like a barrel over Niagara Falls.  (Pause)  Anyway, before A.J. realized Patricia and I were there, Melody and Patricia wound in the ladies room together.  I don't know what happened, but when A.J. found out, he went to see if he could stop them from killing each other.

Nigel:  And?

Lucas:  Before A.J. could get there, Melody got so upset she decided to leave the restaurant.  I caught her and we exchanged a few words before she left.  Now you would think A.J. would go after her, try to patch things up. But instead he took off with Patricia.  I got a message from her that they'd left the restaurant...together.   And I shouldn’t worry.

Nigel:    But you should worry.  You do realize that, don’t you?

Scene:  A cabin.  A.J., Patricia and Victor Markham are there.
 
Patricia: (in horror)   Victor Markham?

Victor: (stepping forward, his hand outstretched) Yes, it's nice to meet you Mrs. Lassiter.

Patricia: (looking at his hand, taking a few steps back) Well, it's not nice to meet you.

Victor: And why not?

Patricia: Why not? You've kidnapped me and A.J.. And now you undoubtedly plan on killing us.

Victor: What makes you think that? Why would I want the two of you dead?

Patricia: Because of those men who tried to murder A.J. and I after we walked in on their drug deal last night. They did work for you, right?

A.J.: (annoyed) Patricia, could you not just say whatever comes to mind just once!

Patricia: Well, it's true, isn't it!?

Victor: Actually, it's not true. I have no connection to those men.

Patricia: Really? The police seem to think differently.

Victor: The police think I'm connected to any illegal activity in this town from drug running to jaywalking. But, that doesn't make it true. They certainly have never been able to prove anything…as A.J. here can testify.

A.J.: He's right. The police have never been able to make any charge laid against you stick.

Victor: And that is because I am innocent of any crime they might accuse me of…including this one. No matter what the police may have told you, I don't have murderers like Joe Reilly and Slade Jenkins in my employ.

Patricia: If that's the case why are we here? If you're so innocent of everything, why did you kidnap us?

Victor: I think kidnapping is a strong word.

Patricia: Really? We were taken away at gunpoint by two thugs. That qualifies as kidnapping in my mind.   I’ll bet the police would agree.

Victor: I admit my men may have been a little overeager and may have given you the impression that you were being forced to come here against your will, but that certainly is not the case. I apologize if you suffered any discomfort and believe me when I say I will have a word with my men.

Patricia: Then if you didn't kidnap us, we must be free to go?

Victor: Of course. You can walk out of here any time you’d like.

Patricia: Great. Then I guess I'll be getting out of here. (She glanced at A.J.) Let's go, A.J..

A.J.: (shaking his head) No, Patricia. Not quite yet.

Scene:  Covington Bay Police Department; the Homicide Division.  Angela and Hillary are at Angela's desk.

Hillary:  Well, what happened.  Did you and Eric get into it?

Angela:  What do you think?

Hillary:  Angela, you knew you'd run into him, but I thought you said you wouldn't let it get to you?

Angela:  I wouldn't, except for the fact that I just don't have to run into Eric because he works in the same office.  I have to work with him side by side.

Hillary:  What do you mean?

Angela:  Eric and I are partners.

Hillary:  (her eyes widening in surprise)  What?  You're kidding!

Angela:  Hillary, I've told some bad jokes in my day, but never that rotten.

Hillary:  How did this happen?

Angela:  The Captain ordered it.

Hillary:  Well, isn't there anything you can do about it?

Angela:  No.  I'm stuck.

Hillary:  There must be something you can do.  Have Captain Stone pair you with someone else.

Angela:  The Captain is not going to break up established teams because Eric and I have personal differences.  It's not his job to worry about things like that.  Furthermore, it's unprofessional to even suggest such a thing.

Hillary:  Then what are you going to do?  Certainly you're not going to stay in the partnership!

Angela:  Hillary, I have to stay with this, I have no choice.  I have to grin and bear this for as long as I can.

Hillary:  And given how you feel about Eric, do you think you can?

Angela:  (shrugging)  I don't know, Hillary.  I really don't know.

Scene: Covington Bay Medical Center; the Intensive Care Unit. Dana is standing outside Nathan's hospital room, pacing nervously. She keeps glancing at the door as if she is waiting for something to happen.

Dana: (to herself) Darian, I hope you don't get caught.

(Inside the room, Christina is checking Nathan's IV and monitors. He is lying motionless in bed, attached to various tubes, monitors and IV's. She picks up his chart at the end of the bad and makes a few notes in it. As she closes it, and slides it back in the slot at the end of the bed, the telephone in the room rang. She didn’t see Darian watching her through a crack in the bathroom door)

Christina: (answering the phone) Nathan James' room. (Pause) Hi, Daddy. Are you in Los Angeles already? (Pause) Oh. Well, I was just checking on the James boy. (Pause) No, there hasn't been any change. (Pause) When will you be getting back? (Pause) I see. (Pause) Look, Daddy, there's something you should know. Right after you left, I received a visit from Darian Jackson. He said… (Pause) I know he's no longer on the case, but he said that… (Pause) Sure, I guess it's something that can wait. (Pause) I'll see you when you get back. Bye. (She hung up, sighing to herself, a troubled look on her face as she left the room, where Dana still waited in the hallway) Miss Cooper? You still here?

Dana: I just wanted to make sure that everything was all right…I mean I wanted to see how Nathan was doing. Has his condition changed any?

Christina: Like I said, I can't reveal the details about his condition to anyone but family. I'm sorry.  Now, if you'll excuse me. (Christina walked away)

Dana: (murmuring) She’s charming. (Then glancing up and down the hallway, she peered into Nathan's hospital room) Darian! Darian, you can come out now, she's gone.

Darian: (coming out of the bathroom, looking curiously at her)   Dana?

Dana:  Yes, it’s me.

Darian:  What are you doing here?

Dana:  Maybe we should discuss this outside?

Darian: (as they walked into the hallway)  What are you doing here?  Were you following me? 

Dana:  Of course not.  I just happened to see you go into this room.  I knew you weren’t supposed to be in there and I was wondering why since you have no business being near Nathan.  And when Dr. Sloan came up and was about to go in, I knew you'd get in trouble if you got caught doing whatever it is you were doing. So, I stalled her.

Darian: So you heard I'm off of the case.

Dana: (nodding)   It's all over the hospital.   You know how gossip spreads around here.

Darian: (bitterly)  And I can only imagine what they are saying about me.

Dana:   You don’t look so good that’s true, but at least they're not saying you got caught messing around with someone else's patient. What were you doing in there?

Darian:   It really doesn’t concern you.

Dana:  Hey, I just saved your butt. 

Darian: Well, thanks.   But I’m still not going to tell you anything.  Not only is it not your concern, you're probably better off not knowing.

Dana:   Probably.  So I guess it means  you were up to no good.  Is Nathan James really worth your career?

Darian: Dana, I signed on to be a doctor to save lives and that is what I'm trying to do. I'm not going to stop just because it's a little inconvenient. (Darian walked away)

Dana: Well, Darian, I hope you find what you're looking for because it's only going to help me.

Scene: Aboard The Cassandra. James and Nikki are on deck.

Nikki:  Greyhawk, what will it take for you to realize that having fun with you is the last thing on my mind?   That is not the point of this meeting.

James:   Maybe, but I thought you needed a little respite from all the doom and gloom from being around Nathan James and that boyfriend of yours.

Nikki:   Why do you insist on getting personal with me?

James:   Because I like to know the people I get involved with.

Nikki:  You never had any intention of discussing the case tonight, did you?

James: Not really.

Nikki: So then you tricked me. You told me we'd be discussing the murder case tonight when that was the last thing on your mind.

James:  (shrugging)  What will you do if I say yes?

Nikki:  Damn you, Greyhawk, damn you!   You are a first class jerk!  This entire evening was about getting me alone on this boat so you could try and....!  Just what do you have in mind for this evening? Is this going to be some sick attempt to romance me?

James:  You got a problem with romance?

Nikki: When it's with you, yes!

James: Really? That kiss says different.

Nikki: What kiss?

James: The kiss today at school. It told me a lot about you, Nikki Lassiter.

Nikki: What? That I can't stand you? That I find you to be a pig?

James: Hardly. You liked it. Simple as that.

Nikki: You're crazy! I didn't like that! No one would like having something like that forced upon them.

James: And I say you really enjoyed it.

Nikki: What in the world makes you think that?

James: Because right now you're wondering if I'm going to kiss you again. Or should I say hoping?

Scene: Covington Bay Police Department; the Homicide Department. Hillary and Angela are at her desk.

Angela: It's been a lousy day, Hillary.   And all because of Eric Lassiter.  After all of my hard work, I made it to this department. And believe me, being the first woman in Homicide here is quite a coup. My career was finally going where I wanted it. I'd made it at last. But having to work with Eric is ruining everything! Of all the cops in this town to be partnered up with why him…the man I hate more than anything else in this world!?

Hillary: Angela, I know you hate Eric. And you have good reason. But, you've got to get over it.

Angela: I know that.  But I can't forget how he treated Monica when they were married. And now he ignores Vicki.

Hillary: That's all true. But you can't let that affect your working together. That personal stuff shouldn't be brought into the office.

Angela: Hillary, I know that, but it's more than just our tangled past. He's a lousy cop. He's rude, lazy and obnoxious. All he does is question my ability to do my job and ignore my opinions. Now, I expected some of that when I started here. I knew some of the men wouldn't accept me right away. But I also knew that eventually, I'd prove how good I am and they'd have to accept me. But working with a complete jerk like Eric Lassiter, who will never give me a fair shot, how am I going to have that chance!?

Hillary: Angela, I know it's tough. I know it's hard. I only saw Eric around here on occasion, and we really didn’t work together, but it was more than enough. Your problem is a lot worse. I wish I has an answer for you.

Angela:   There is no answer other than I have to work with Eric. Captain Stone ordered it and I can't ignore orders just because I don't like or agree with them. Besides, I know that Eric and a lot of other men around here would love to see me fail. And I'm certainly not going to give that man the satisfaction. I'd rather die first.

Hillary: Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Evan:  (walking up)  Hey, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.  Hey, Angela.

Angela:  Hey.

Hillary:  (kissing Evan on the cheek)  No.  I was talking to Angela anyway.

Evan:  I hate to interrupt, but are you ready to go?  We’re already running late and I don’t want to lose our table.

Hillary:  Sure, we’re done anyway.  (She bent over and kissed her sister on the cheek) Hang in there, sis.

Angela: I'll try.   You guys have a nice time.

Hillary: Bye. (Hillary and Evan walked out. Angela sat there alone for a few minutes)

Angela: Well, I better get going. Tomorrow's another day…unfortunately.

(As she was about to get up, an all too familiar voice intruded on her thoughts.)

Voice: You still here? You looking to get some brownie points?

(Grimacing at the sound of the voice, Angela looked up at Eric, who stood at the edge of her desk. His faded, snug fitting jeans were wrinkled and stained with what looked to be ketchup and mustard.  His white dress shirt was rolled up to his elbows and was unbuttoned enough to reveal the thick matting of dark hair on his chest.  The gray tie he'd worn earlier was shoved in his front pocket, the tail of it sticking out.  His eyes were glassy with too much booze and his thick dark hair was tousled. Angela could hardly hide her disgust at the sight of him.)

Eric: You know if you're looking to make yourself look good around here, you should do it when there's people around to impress. (He nodded towards Captain Stone's darkened office.) The Captain left hours ago.

Angela: (taken aback by Eric's liquor drenched breath) I'm not here to impress anyone, Eric, I am doing the job expected of me.

Eric: (smirking) Oh really? They paying you now to make me miserable?

Scene: Greyhawk Manor; the living room. Nigel and Lucas are there.

Lucas: Why should I not believe that A.J. would take off with Patricia?

Nigel: Lucas, I know there's no love lost between you and A.J., but you two know the man fairly well. Do you honestly believe he would just desert Melody and leave the restaurant with another woman? That's not his style.

Lucas: When did you become a fan of A.J. Lassiter?

Nigel: I never had the disdain for A.J. that you have. He's always been good to me. In fact, there was a time when I would've called him a friend.

Lucas: When you were with Kevin.

Nigel: Right. A.J. was always very supportive of Kevin and I…and our relationship, despite all the trouble it could've caused if anyone ever found out about us. And knowing what I know of him, he could never treat a woman like that, especially Melody. I was always under the impression that they had a very close relationship.

Lucas: Except for the fact he never told her he was married to another woman…the same woman he happened to take off with.

Nigel: You know as well as I do that A.J.'s marriage to Patricia Tamakai was a mistake made while he was drunk. She's certainly never been part of his life. I can't see him just running off with her.

Lucas: But he did; the maitre d' told me they left Markham's together. (Pause as recognition came over him) Markham's! Oh, Lord.

Nigel: Did you just think of something?

Lucas: Yes, Nigel. I'm afraid you could be right.

Scene: Victor Markham's cabin. Victor, A.J. and Patricia are there.

Patricia: (surprised) What do you mean not quite yet?

A.J.: I'm not ready to leave.  I'd like to stick around and find out why Mr. Markham did…invite us here. He wouldn't have gone to all this trouble unless there was a reason.

Patricia: I'm sure there is, but I'm not interested in hearing it.

A.J.: Well, I am. I figure listening to the man is the least I could do for provided my favorite flavor of coffee. (Smiling, he took a sip)

Patricia: (throwing her hands in the air) I don't believe this!

Victor: Mrs. Lassiter, I understand your discomfort. And if you wish to leave, you are welcome to do so. But I suggest you stay. I promise you you'll be very interested in what I have to say.

In The Next Episode of Covington Bay