Previously on Fantasy Knots Landing…
“I need your help Greg. And only YOU can help me” stated Abby Fairgate upon the realisation that her son could be sent to prison for killing Lori Fairgate…
“You know what it’s like to have children Greg. You know what it’s like to want the best for your children right?”
“Come on Abby” responded an exasperated Greg; “Cut to the chase here…”
“Greg…I need that jury to see my son in the same light that I do. I need them to see the Brian that he is – not the Brian that some prosecuting attorney will paint him out to be. Isn’t there some way where you could ‘influence’ the juror’s minds? Or the jury selection process even? You MUST know someone with some kind of clout”
“That’s called JUROR TAMPERING Blondie – and it’s a SERIOUS crime”
“Believe me Greg” (sighing) “I KNOW it’s a serious crime but I’m desperate. I don’t want this. I don’t want some jury to take away my baby again”
And following a short pause, Greg walked back to his study desk and assured Abby:
“Leave it with me. I’ll take care of everything”
Several months later, judgement day came for Brian at the culmination of his trial:
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury have you reached a verdict?” asked the Judge
“Yes we have your honour” replied the chief jury spokesperson.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?”
“Not guilty your Honour”
Needless to say there was huge relief all around with gasps, cries and sighs galore...
However, whenever Abby tried to embrace her son and his new found freedom, she was stunned to find her old foe Jeremy Fox (whom she thought she had helped send to prison for killing Peter Choy months earlier) was one of the jurors whom Greg had chosen…
CUE the look of horror on her face!!!
And a confrontation with Greg…
“Greg…I think we’re in trouble”
“What kind of trouble? Quit with the jokes…they’re NOT funny”
“One of jury members happens to be Jeremy Fox”
“Yeah?” (looking confused)
“Oh God” (sinking in); “You mean you didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Anne Matheson and Nick Schillace were arrested for the murder of Peter Choy in Washington…they happened to be in Washington at the time he died…the thing is Greg, I know they didn’t kill him…it was Jeremy Fox who killed him”
“How do you know all of this?”
“Because Peter told me…in a letter…he had the letter passed on to a confidante who then passed it onto me in the event of Peter’s untimely death”
“So what happened the letter?”
“I passed it onto the police”
“Oh this is just great. I go out my way to do you a favour and this is the thanks I get? I mean…out of the THOUSANDS of Bozos I had to choose from, I had to go and pick Jack the Ripper to be on the jury?”
“Greg what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know…I just don’t know…but I know what Brian has to do! He has to get his butt out of town while he is a free man”
“What?” responded a shell-shocked Abby
“He has no other option. If he values his freedom, he’ll go”
Brian was forced to flee town – and while both Kate and Molly stayed behind, he soon came back for them several months later and was re-united with his family to start afresh.
While for Abby, the pain continued - leading to an extended outburst months later in a trapped elevator with Val and Karen:
“I know I'm not perfect and that I've made mistakes, and some would say that I’m NOT a good mother…but I always risked everything for my children. I never went around parading how good of a mother I am unlike some I could mention…but no one…I repeat NO ONE will know what I’ve been through with my kids. You think that because I do what I have to do to survive and because I always seem to somehow land on my feet that I don’t get hurt in the process? Because believe me…I get hurt. I keep my own house in order and that’s that…but because I do that doesn’t mean to say that I don’t suffer nor that I HAVEN’T suffered in the past”
Greg though tried to keep the juror tampering secret just that – a secret. However the threat of that secret constantly being revealed just wouldn’t go away as Greg soon learned whenever Jeremy Fox visited him looking for more money and a job:
“I’m re-locating back to LA…and I was wondering if you were on the lookout for another Trade Executive”
“Go fly a kite” warned Sumner
“You realise I have a lot of information on you Sumner. Have you any idea what I could do with that information? I could bring you down just like that” (clicking his fingers)
“Oh yeah? Well I bought me a little insurance policy around the same time - and if that were the case, I could bankrupt you just like that” (clicking HIS fingers sarcastically back)
“Oh well…don’t say you weren’t warned” threatened Jeremy…
Meanwhile as Val got to grips with the Sumner Biography she’d been assigned to write by Greg himself, she sought extra help from a personal assistant.
Step forward – Jennifer Rawlings!!!
“Hi…my name is Jennifer…Jennifer Rawlings”
“Hi Jennifer how do you do?” responded Val as she interviewed for a potential PA…
“I have to say I’m SUCH a fan of your work Mrs Ewing…and Sumner? Boy…what a character to write about…SUCH a fascinating man”
“Have you followed his career?”
“Followed his career? I used to work for Sumner many, many years ago”
However Val was unaware of the ties she and Sumner REALLY had together…as was revealed in a conversation between Jennifer Rawlings and Greg Sumner in Sumner’s own office…
“You want everyone who reads this book to think that you are some environmental saviour in the 21st Century…that your image is squeaky clean…that you are a moral and worthwhile public servant to our country. Of course there are some of us who know different…like those of us who worked at Empire Valley back in the mid eighties…I mean where do I begin? There was Tom Schultz for starters…and Marjorie Macneal? Benjamin Bradley…but then…you wouldn’t know any of them would you?”
Greg: “Cut to the chase”
Jennifer: “Of course I’m sure you must remember John Coblentz…sure you met with him everyday to discuss operations…”
And then Jennifer revealed the ace card she had up her sleeve:
“And then there was Frank Elliot…that was such a shame what happened Mr Elliot wasn’t it? Most unfortunate…of course…some of us knew what REALLY happened him”
Meanwhile as the details of Elliott’s murder and the subsequent “hush hush” payments which Sumner had recently stopped paying to Jennifer were relayed back to the man himself, so across town, we saw none other than Jeremy Fox who had bugged Sumner’s office during his recent visit lapping up every single word!!!
“BINGO” he cried laughing to himself!!!
And the secrets didn’t stop there…
Because following a recent one night ‘reconciliation’ with Greg, Abby blurted out the secret during a visit to Greg’s bugged office!!!
“That’s no way to speak to a lady…especially one you’ve just slept with” she revealed
CUE Jeremy Fox’s eyes lighting up in his office across the street as he digested every word!!!
“What’s a guy to do? You were all over me. I didn’t stand a chance”
“Well I’m honoured you think of me as such a seductress…but I’m actually not here to speak about our sleeping together…though it does beg the question; What would your bride to be do if she found out huh? I don’t think she’d be too thrilled about it now”
“Well she better not find out had she?” warned Greg…
While one more conversation between Greg and Jennifer was also caught on tape as he offered her one last offer he knew she just couldn’t refuse…
“I thought to myself I could buy her a beach house in some exotic location thousands of miles away…buy her a top of the range convertible sports car to drive about in…or what about thousands of dollars worth of Designer Clothes Vouchers huh? You’d never need to set foot in a Neiman Marcus store ever again! Or what about your OWN Designer Boutique to run as a business with YOU as the sole owner? Because “hey” I said to myself…”that girl likes having power” and under a different set of circumstances I’d gladly have her working here at The Sumner Group…but I’m sure you understand why I have to write off THAT idea…and then I thought to myself…”I know what she’d REALLY REALLY like”…how about just giving her a million bucks and letting her do what she likes with it?”
In a generous mood, Greg offered Jennifer the whole lot – the money, the car, the house and the business in exchange for her leaving town never to return.
However within a few hours of leaving Sumner’s office and resigning her job working with Val, Jennifer was KILLED on a side road just off the main freeway en route to the airport – and as witnesses confirmed, it seemed she was the victim of a hit and run…
Val was stunned – and that wasn’t the only shock she had to deal with as Betsy soon revealed:
“I’m pregnant mom…and I’m scared…I’m so so scared”
While Gary demanded to know who the father was:
Gary: “I want you to tell me who did this to you”
Betsy: “What does it matter?”
Gary: “It matters to me”
Betsy: “What? So you can go over to his house and break his legs?”
Gary: “If I have to then YES”
However Betsy and her parents were unaware that next door, MEG was developing a crush on the father himself – the extent of which we soon learned about while Karen was cleaning up Meg’s room and saw some scribblings made by Meg on the back of some scrap paper sat beside her diary. Karen laughed as she stumbled upon Meg’s first teenage crush…
However as Tag himself soon learned, this was no laughing matter – as Meg began to stalk him…
Meg: “From what I can gather…Betsy’s father doesn’t want her to have the baby…Betsy’s mother on the other hand does…this in turn is causing MAJOR conflict in Betsy’s house…her parents aren’t seeing eye to eye…tempers are becoming frayed…”
Tag: “And?”
Meg: “And because both Betsy AND Bobby aren’t giving them the answers they’re looking for, they’re turning to my mom who is turning to me to see if I know anything”
Tag: “But you don’t. You didn’t even know I was the father”
Meg: “But I know NOW…and I have two options…I can tell them what I know…or…I can…NOT tell them what I know…”
Tag tries to digest what Meg is saying to him and then spits it out:
Tag: “For a price right?”
Meg: “Of course”
The price was a one off date with Tag which Tag reluctantly agreed upon in exchange for Meg’s silence on the matter. Unfortunately for Tag though, Meg didn’t give up after one date!!!
Tag: “You listen here lady…I don’t know what your game is but I’m telling you now to BACK OFF. Do you hear? We agreed on one date and you GOT your one date. Now it’s over you LEAVE ME ALONE”
However as Tag attempts to walk off, Meg threatened him:
“What if I don’t want to leave you alone huh? What then?”
“If you don’t leave me alone you little tramp…I swear I know some people who aren’t as nice and patient as me…and they’ll see to it that your revolting…disgusting little face becomes even more hideously vile. You know what I’m saying?”
However, as Tag leaned over Meg while threatening her, rather than be put off by his venomous words, she seems to want him all the more and at that point, she attempted to KISS HIM!!!
Tag pushed her aside telling her:
“You’re one sick chick do you hear me? SICK. SICK. SICK”
Meanwhile on the morning of Greg’s wedding to Mack’s sister Megan, Jeremy Foxes’ private courier was working overtime delivering all sorts of parcels containing incriminating evidence to various cul-de-sac regulars:
Starting with Val:
“Dear Val, I had my reasons for wanting to get involved with the book…I worked as an intern many years ago at Empire Valley”
“Empire Valley?” responds a stunned Valene as she continued reading…
“The whole reason for my being there was simply to gain valuable experience for after my graduation. It was while I worked there at Empire Valley that summer that I uncovered a LOT of shady goings on involving Sumner and his business partners… but I know enough to know that they were behind the ‘accidental’ death of Frank Elliot – the head engineer.”
“Oh my God” declares Val as she continued reading the letter…
“For all of these years, Greg Sumner has blackmailed me into staying quiet about what I know…but now…I cannot live in silence any longer…I have to get my message out to the world about what happened that awful day. However…Greg isn’t making it easy for me. He’s threatening me with my life and I’m scared Val…I’m really, really scared…so if you’re reading this letter…it means that I’m gone…and that Greg succeeded with his plans to kill me…and I ask you…to tell my message for me…to tell the whole world…that Greg Sumner…”
“IS A KILLER” concludes Val with a stunned look on her face…
While Megan listened to the taped conversation between Abby and Sumner containing more information than she wanted to hear...
Abby: “And that’s no way to speak to a lady…especially one you’ve just slept with”
Greg: “What’s a guy to do? You were all over me. I didn’t stand a chance”
Abby: “Well I’m honoured you think of me as such a seductress…but I’m actually not here to speak about our sleeping together…although it does beg the question; “What would your bride to be do if she found out huh? I don’t think she’d be too thrilled about it now”
Greg: “Well she better not find out had she?”
Patrick then turned off the tape deck before angrily ejecting the tape concluding:
“I think we’ve heard enough”
While across town at an LAPD, photos taken by Jeremy Fox were handed over to the cops showing Greg handing a briefcase filled with money to Jennifer on the day of her death resulting in a surprise arrival at Sumner’s wedding to Megan as Greg was read his rights at the altar:
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will be used against you as evidence in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present while you are being questioned…if you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you…”
While Meg found herself in danger after losing Tag his job - when he forced her into petty crime by holding up an elderly Mexican shopkeeper for cash...
As the pair drove away from the scene of the crime, they were followed by the cops causing Tag to increase his speed and colliding with a Garbage Truck as he kept one eye on his rear window to check the progress of the oncoming cops.
“TAAAGGG” cried Meg
The collision caused a major pile up on a major traffic route with no less than four other cars and a tonne of certain injuries:
“Oh good heavens” remarked one elderly woman; “There can’t possibly be any survivors…”
“Joy riders huh? I bet it was joy riders…” remarked her friend
“I blame the parents…” commented another spectator…
Karen & Gary arrived at the hospital after being notified of the accident and met with the surgeon who was treating Meg:
“Mrs Mackenzie?”
“Doctor…how’s Meg”
“She was in a very bad car accident and as a result has suffered some major spinal injuries”
“Spinal Injuries” replies a horrified Karen
“And your daughter was the lucky one” confessed the Doctor as he revealed; “The other passenger travelling with her was killed outright”
“What other passenger? Who else was in the car?” asked Karen
“A Mr Terence Edwards”
“Terence Edwards?” responded Gary; “That sounds familiar…” (before realising) “Oh my God…that’s Bobby’s friend…TAG”
While Sumner fought for his freedom – alongside the unlikely assistance of Mack:
“I don’t need to justify myself to you Mackenzie. What the hell are you doing here anyway?” asked Greg
“God knows WHY I’m here” answers Mack; “Out of obligation to my sister and nothing more and right now pal…I’m the only one who can help you. But in order to help you, YOU’RE gonna HAVE to be more co-operative”
And then, a damning assumption from Detectives Gaines and Garcia leading the investigation into Jennifer’s death:
Gaines: “At precisely one thirty last Thursday afternoon, Miss Rawlings made a transaction worth one million dollars into her bank account. Naturally such a large transaction required a LOT of attention and the paperwork involved gives precise and accurate timings…”
Garcia: “Then just under THREE hours later Mr Sumner…THREE HOURS…at 4.19pm, all that money is WITHDRAWN again”
Gaines: “According to the Branch Manager, Miss Rawlings seemed uptight…and in an agitated state of mind. She gave some lame excuse for wanting her money back. Miss Rawlings declined alternative suggestions put forward by staff and to quote the Manager himself looked “visibly scared”…we believe she a had reason to look scared Mr Sumner…we believe she was being forced to withdraw that money against her own will…we believe that YOU were the one who was forcing her to withdraw that money”
Greg: “You call this evidence?”
Meanwhile over lunch with her daughter, Abby had a proposition for Olivia:
“I’ve had it with this place. Knots Landing? California? It’s not the same anymore…none of it is the same”
“But mother…your family live here…and your friends…”
“Family? Come on. I have your Aunt Karen and that’s it”
“But…you have twenty years worth of history in this place…you can’t throw all that away because of the way you’re feeling right now”
“Look…Jeremy Fox is back in town…he’s making threats. Whatsmore, I know enough about him to know he’s a dangerous man…and despite my appeals to Greg to do something about him he’s STILL in town…and the truth is, I don’t want to be here when it’s too late honey…when he tells all he knows…because even though I could tell all I know about him…all that’d mean is that we ALL end up going to prison. He, I, Greg and BRIAN…”
“Mother…you’re scaring me”
“Olivia…I’m leaving Knots Landing…I had a Realtor out viewing the property this morning…and I intend to sell up…the question being…I’d like you to come with me”
“Mother…this isn’t like you to just…give up like this”
“Oh I’m not giving up Olivia…I’m just getting even”
“With whom?”
“The gentleman in question…you see…I intend to nail him with all the information I know about him…but I’m going to do it once I know the coast is clear for the two of us…and Brian…and Kate…and the kids…besides…if you agree to come away with me…it wouldn’t just be you and I…”
“Who else would be there?”
And with that, Abby retrieved from her purse a small picture of the man which was pinned to a letter she had received days earlier and hands it to Olivia before telling her daughter:
“There is someone I’d like you to meet…”
However our cyber camera panned away from the pair just as Abby began to reveal all about the mystery man in the photograph to her daughter…
And in later conversations between the pair, the only information we were able to learn was that the mystery man’s name was Paul and that he lived in Philadelphia – where the pair headed together on a flight…
Meanwhile back at the LAPD, Mack received an alarming phone call from his heartbroken sister Megan following her revelation about Greg’s indiscretions with Abby:
Megan: “Marion. Where are you?” (shocked)
Mack: “Trying to help your fiancée” (sarcastic) “Boy Megan…he’s dug himself a deep hole this time and I don’t know if I can get him out of it”
Megan: “Why don’t you push him in it instead?”
Mack: “Huh?”
Megan: “Gregory slept with Abby Fairgate…not long ago”
Mack: “What?” (disgusted)
And with this in mind, Mack confronted his ‘client’:
“You son of a bitch”
“What?” answers Greg in an alarmed manner
“I hope they lock you up and throw away the key”
“What the hell are you talking about Mack? You’re my lawyer. You’re supposed to be defending me”
“Defend you? I wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire”
Mack then turned and walked out the questioning room telling Greg:
“GREG SUMNER…YOU’RE HISTORY”
Some time later, once he had received word about Meg’s accident, Mack joined Karen and Peggy at the hospital to be by Meg’s bedside:
“I’m here…I’m right here” he assured his devastated wife
“Oh Mack…I’m so glad you’re here” replied Karen as she hugged him tightly
While Mack’s eyes were more focused on MEG who lay on the adjacent bed fighting for her life…
But will she pull through???
And Betsy learned the devastating news of Tag’s death from her father over the phone:
Gary: “Look can you pass on a message to your brother? Can you make sure he knows that his friend Tag, the guy who came to dinner that night?”
Betsy: “What about Tag?” (concerned)
Gary: “Well he…he died honey…he died in the same accident that Meg was in…”
Betsy: “What?” (bursting into tears)
At that moment in time, Betsy’s world fell apart. She had just learned that the father of the baby she was carrying and the guy she’d held such a torch over for months, the love of her life, was DEAD…
Feeling immense isolation and sadness, she sat in her bedroom staring out the window and clinging onto the only memory she has of Tag – the father of her baby who is now dead.
Lying in bed and clutching hold of a photograph from the party they both attended ‘that night’, so Betsy held onto her stomach and the precious gift of life beating inside of it…
That gift of life is her child!!!
TAG’S CHILD!!!
Fantasy Knots Landing
'Starring' (in alphabetical order):
Penn Badgley
Tyne Daly
William Devane
Kevin Dobson
Josh Duhamel
Michele Lee
Jesse McCartney
Donna Mills
Ted Shackelford
Michelle Trachtenberg
Joan Van Ark
Episode One - "Prison Break"
Written By: Robert McCormack
We open our sixth season of Fantasy Knots Landing at the graveside where Tag is being buried…
All of the High School gang who hung around with him – including his friends Arnie, Tiffany and Bo, are gathered by the grave where the minister conducts the short service:
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pasture. He leadeth me beside still waters, he restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff - they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen”
As the ancient prayer is read out by the minister, we then ‘see’ the sad expressions on the faces of Val and Gary who comfort their distressed daughter Betsy in her agony while Bobby too looks sorrowful. Upon the words “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil”, Betsy starts weeping aloud – making others gathered around the graveside look on at events in a more mournful fashion…
Stood beside Karen at the graveside is Tag’s mother Arlene. Being a single parent, she has no partner and few friends to support her and she weeps with her head bowed towards the ground – prompting a sympathetic Karen to wrap her arms around her…
While Mack, who is just grateful that his daughter survived the accident and that’s it not MEG who is being buried today looks up at the sky and ponders over what might have been whilst remaining grateful for all that actually is…
Once the service ends, the family and friends who have gathered by the graveside start to disappear…
Val also attempts to leave however Betsy (whose hand she is holding) doesn’t want to leave and asks:
“May I have a moment alone mom? Please?”
“Sure sweetie” assures Val; “Take all the time you need” before kissing her forehead.
Once left alone at the graveside with the other mourners heading further away in the distance and no one around her, so Betsy opens up her heart to Tag for the first time since his death…
“I never got a chance to tell you Tag just how much I loved you. I mean…I’m just 15 years old. You are…” (then realising) “…you WERE just seventeen. We had our whole lives ahead of us. I wasn’t expecting THIS. None of us expected this to ever happen. Infact…it shouldn’t have happened. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.” (looking around her and struggling to comprehend the enormity of it all)
CUE the adjacent wooden wooden coffin adorned with flowers as Betsy continues:
“And I wonder…if I HAD known this was going to happen, would I have told you huh? Would I have told you that I loved you?”
“Probably not” assumes Betsy shaking her head before continuing;
“Well…I’m telling you now” (smiling tearfully); “I love you Tag Edwards. It’s not until you were gone that I realised just how much…and that I get so damn wound up for all that goofing around. So we slept together and you ignore me? Big deal! I should’ve went after you. Confronted you. Told you how I felt. Perhaps I would’ve…had I not be so damned scared of what you were going to say in return. Scared of you saying “no Betsy”. No you DIDN’T love me. But I’d have known”… (nodding in agreement with her mind). “I’d have known by your answer…and the look on your face…and the tone of your voice…I’d have known when you told me that you didn’t love me that deep down you DID love me and this hadn’t all been a waste of time…” (voice breaking up again)
From a distance away from the graveside, we watch on as an isolated, lonely Betsy stands talking to Tag just feet away from her concluding:
“But now I’ll never know. I’ll never know because I DIDN’T go after you. I didn’t insist on an answer and I didn’t have the guts to face you…and here I am…wondering of what might have been had I not goofed around so much…had WE not goofed around so much! And you’re as guilty as me in all of this…”
“So what do we do now huh?” asks Betsy; “What next? Here I am? Alone…with YOUR child to raise all by myself? I can’t do this Tag. I can’t do this all alone. I don’t wanna do it neither. Only now? I have no option. It’s too late. I have to have this baby whether I like it or not…”
“So Tag…I’m begging you…please. Please, PLEASE help me. I need you Tag. I need your support…your encouragement…your help in all of this…your LOVE! Please don’t leave me alone…Oh God…” (panicking) “I don’t know how I’m gonna cope without you” (welling up)
A moment of silence then prevails with Betsy weeping into herself as she ponders over this thought…
While about 100 metres away from the graveside at the entrance to the cemetery, Karen and Val are standing with Arlene Edwards:
“He was a good boy” insists Arlene in a Texan drawl; “He’d never hurt no one neither. He was honest, compassionate, caring…”
Karen then remarks with growing concern:
“You look exhausted. Have you had much sleep?”
“Sleep? I feel like I've been rode hard and put up wet."
“You must get some sleep you know. It does no good going without” insists Val.
“Easier said than done” maintains Arlene; “Each time I close my eyes at night, I see his face…and those beautiful blue eyes staring right back at me. I’m scared that if I fall asleep I might never see those eyes of his again” (imagining his eyes as speaks these words);”you know what I mean?”
“You will” smiles Karen in assurance; “Things will get better. I promise you. I’ve been there myself. I know what it’s like to lose a son” (subdued)
"Nothin' dries as quick as a tear huh?" remarks Arlene
Val smiles at this comment in sadness as she reaches out and rubs Arlene’s right arm to comfort her.
As Arlene opens up her heart to these two strangers, an anxious Val then turns around to check on how her daughter is doing while standing alone by the grave – it is then when she is alarmed by what she sees…
Because at that moment, as Betsy stands weeping by the graveside, a stranger comes up behind her and wraps both his arms protectively around her…
Betsy though is taken aback – having clearly thought she was all alone here:
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” she asks
“Isn’t it kinda obvious?” asks the stranger back; “I’m just here to pay my respects…just like you are”
“Oh no” answers Betsy; “Not like me.” (shaking her head); “You see what Tag and I had…was special”
“I never said it wasn’t” (shrugging his shoulders)
“And this is MY time. He was MY boyfriend. And this is MY last chance to say goodbye to him and you had no right in being here” (becoming upset)
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you” (backing off)
As Betsy makes her way away from the graveside, the stranger follows her urging her:
“Wait a minute…please? Don’t leave on account of me”
“Leave me alone” sobs Betsy as he continues to follow her past the line of headstones…
Val then excuses herself from Karen and Arlene Edwards as she approaches her tearful daughter:
“Betsy? What’s the matter darling?” she asks
“I swear…please let me explain” continues the stranger
“Mom” cries Betsy into her mother’s arms
“What’s going on?” asks Val looking concerned
“Please…I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry. I’m a friend of Tag’s just like you are. Aren’t I allowed to pay my last respects? Just like you?”
“No…NOT like me. Stop saying that”
As Val comforts Betsy, she assures the young man who is around the same age as Tag:
“She’s just a little upset sweetie that’s all. I think you scared her”
“I know I scared you” he responds; “And I’m sorry…look…I’ll leave and come back another time okay? And once again…I’m truly sorry”
As the young man walks away leaving Betsy, Val, Karen and Tag’s mother standing nearby, Betsy stops in her tracks to ponder over how she treated the guy.
“Ssshh” assures Val as she holds Betsy in her arms; “It’s all gonna be okay sugar I promise”
Following the drama at the graveside, a few hours later we find Mack visiting Meg in hospital. He hands her a few magazines which he purchased on the way over to the hospital:
“Here kid. Enjoy them” (sighing)
“Thanks Daddy” replies Meg as she digests the contents of both magazine covers while sitting up in the bed...
Mack then pulls his now familiar favourite chair over to her bed side as Meg approaches the burning subject asking the inevitable question:
“So how did it all go huh?”
“How did WHAT all go?”
“Today?”
Oh boy Meg” (sighing); “Boy were you lucky it wasn’t you out there today we were burying.”
“I wish it had’ve been” answers Meg
Mack – who is sat in his chair staring at the ground with his chin sat in the palm of his left hand rubbing the left side of his face in contemplation of what might have been – soon looks up in disbelief at what Meg has just said:
“What?” he asks; “What did you just say?”
“That I wish it had been me who had died and not Tag.”
“Don’t dare say that young lady. Don’t EVER say that do you hear me?”
“Oh no?” answers Meg continuing; “I’ve spent the past two weeks sat in this bed unable to do anything…unable to go anyplace…facing hundreds and hundreds of questions from “how are you feeling?” to “What were you doing in that car in the first place?” Well do you know what daddy? I’m sick of it”
Mack then gets up from his chair having to control his temper whilst shaking his head reminding his daughter:
“Do you know what you’re actually saying and how it actually sounds? You’re ALIVE kid. ALIVE. That boy is six feet under. But you? You’re breathing. Your cuts and bruises…they’ll heal. There’s no permanent damage to your spine. You’re gonna LIVE girl - don’t you realise what that means?”
Meg sits upwards in her bed rolling her eyes as an angry Mack approaches her bedside and grabs hold of her arms reminding her:
“You’ve got the gift of life. Have you no idea just how precious that is?”
“You’re hurting me” complains a visibly scared Meg
Mack backs off pointing his index finger in the air and reminding her:
“Just don’t ever say that again. Understood?”
And with that, Mack pulls himself backwards off Meg who is sat up in the hospital bed looking shaken by Mack’s ‘outburst’…
Following the funeral service for Tag though, it’s reflection time for Betsy…
Down on the beach, barefooted and staring out to the ocean her mother loves so well, she reflects on what her future holds…
It’s clear she doesn’t want this baby now – after being talked around to the idea by her mother. But that was then – and things were different! Now, there’s no hope of ever being reconciled with the child’s father and she can’t bear the thought of being a single parent…
And therefore while sat on a rock that is positioned to take the full force of the crashing ocean waves, Betsy has much thinking to do to herself.
Should she give the child up for adoption when it’s born? What even about handing it to her mother to raise as her own? She dismisses this last suggestion knowing she could never view the child along the same lines as a sibling when in reality it’s HER child and everyone knows…
Betsy has never had a deep routed faith however Tag’s death has changed that. Now, she realises that life CAN’T possibly just end with death. It has to go on surely. A love and affection as deep as the one she spiritually feels with Tag right now can’t die. It HAS to continue…
And so, bearing this in mind, she asks Tag within her mind to help her from beyond the grave. It’s HIS child too and HE needs to give her the answers she so desires today…
“Oh boy” sighs Valene – before sipping from a steaming hot mug of coffee at Karen’s kitchen table…
Val is sat with her back against the refridgerator staring out the window dressed in her grey suit from the funeral she attended that morning with Karen sitting to her right and her back to the sideboard:
“I’m worried for Betsy” she reveals
“I’m worried for Meg” replies Karen with her mind clearly on her daughter’s problems…
“It’s not right you know? She has the problems of an adult. She’s not an adult. She’s fifteen. She’s still a child”
“They grow up so fast…” Karen admits – still thinking of her daughter
“I mean when I was fifteen and I was pregnant, I…I…I felt that…that my adolescence had been…I don’t know… taken AWAY from me but even then…through the worst of times, I always had hope…Betsy can’t EVER have that hope…she just can’t”
Val looks saddened by this fact as she withdraws into herself and ponders on what life without Gary ever returning to it would’ve been like.
“I wish Meg could have that hope” remarks Karen; “…that spirit…like her mother had. She’s going through this ‘phase’ right now. This awful, teenage phase…I want the old Meg back”
“Something inside of Betsy died the day that poor boy died…and I dunno if it’ll ever return Karen…I’m so scared for her” (welling up)
“Yeah” agrees Karen – before snapping out of her trance and realising that Betsy’s problems are much greater; “Oh honey I’m so sorry…I was so lost in my thoughts there”
“That’s okay” sighs Val as she shrugs her shoulders.
“Look honey…you HAVE to be there for Bets’ you know? Like REALLY be there. Know her pain…and make HER know that you know her pain…that’s all you can do”
“Yeah” agrees Val – knowing full well in her heart of hearts that this won’t be an easy task…
Across the street the following morning, Patrick enters his mother’s kitchen dressed smartly in a cream coloured business suit and tie which he is duly adjusting. His mother is stood by the sink in her robe running the faucet to make tea.
Patrick enters from behind greeting his mother:
“Good morning”
This forces Megan to look round to acknowledge her son and once she reciprocates the morning greeting, she remarks:
“Another day on the campaign trail I see?”
“Actually no” replies Patrick; “I’m off to prison…to see the old man”
“What?” answers an angry Megan
“You heard me – Prison”
“I know full well what you said kiddo and I absolutely forbid you to go and see that man”
“You FORBID me?” (laughing as he pours himself an orange juice)
“Yes I forbid you – have you ANY idea what that SOB did to me?”
“Oh mother get over it. People sleep together all the time. It’s no big deal”
“What?” (outraged) “Whose side are you on here?”
“I don’t take sides – especially when it comes to choosing between my parents”
“But where are your morals? Your principles? I raised you better than this”
“Mother – incase it escaped your attention, he’s my father and he’s been rotting in prison for two weeks now on a murder charge with no one to bail him out”
“GOOD” retorts Megan
“Don’t you think you’re taking this grudge of yours a little TOO far?”
“Too far?” (angry)
“We’re his FAMILY. We can’t sit back and do nothing”
“Oh yes we can” snaps Megan
“I need to get on the old man’s side here. I’m fighting an election campaign for State Senate this year and Sumner is financing my campaign. If I don’t go in and check on the old croak now and then, there won’t BE a campaign. I need to keep him sweet”
“Bit late for that now honey. I’d say you’ve MORE than burned your bridges”
“Not with the story I have to tell him” assures Patrick; “He’ll understand that I’m doing everything I can to get him out of there” smiles Patrick
Meanwhile at the prison, it emerges that Patrick HAS been in touch with his father – though it’s still grim news for Sumner:
Greg: “You expect me to buy that crock of bull?” (having heard his son’s explanation for his lack of help)
Patrick: “I swear. Senator Dempsey wasn’t interested in helping. Ted O’Brien doesn’t want to be associated with you while he is still in office, your estate wouldn’t let me get hold of your assets without speaking to you in person and I didn’t want to let slip that you were in prison. Remember? Your orders not to let this get out right?”
Greg: “What about your Uncle?”
Patrick: “Mack’s taking mother’s side on this”
Greg: (laughing) “Look kid…this isn’t a board game. This is real life. I’m in prison. You’re my lawyer now GET ME OUT OF HERE” (angrily thumping his fists on the table in the visiting room)
Patrick: “I’m doing everything I can father. I swear”
Greg: “I want you to do MORE than everything! Just remember who’s financing your little power trip here. Just remember without me you’re nothing. And just remember that I can easily pull the rug from right under your nose just like THAT” (clicking his fingers)
Patrick: “I’m working on it” (oh boy!)
END OF ACT ONE
Last edited by Knots Man; 05-10-2009 at 08:46 PM.
ACT TWO
Later that day, Patrick seeks help for his father’s cause from the most unlikeliest of sources:
“You want ME to help your father?” answers a stunned KAREN in her kitchen.
“Karen…I’m desperate” concedes Patrick
“But I don’t see what the problem is. Greg Sumner can more than afford the bail money himself”
“It’s not that simple”
“Why?” answers Karen – handing Patrick a mug of coffee
“He’s trying to keep this out the press as much as possible”
“That’s a bit late is it not? There were photographers there on the day of the wedding was there not?”
“And they were ALL on the party payroll. They know better than to report this”
“You mean to say that none of them have been tempted to go to national tabloids with this?” (shocked)
“They know better than that Karen - meanwhile for father the worry of word getting out about his absence is growing. He’s worried that the exposure will ruin his relationship with investors not to mention The Sumner Group’s reputation. I’ve been working on a 24 hour loan from party funds till father does get out - but none of the party faithful are so keen to help him out even though it’s Sumner who’s ploughing money into my campaign. I can’t get access to his estate without his authority. Mack won’t help me because of what happened with him and my mother. I’m desperate Karen”
“But…” (stuttering); “I still don’t see how I can help”
“Can you please talk to Uncle Mack? That’s all”
“And say what?”
“He’s been practising law for more than 20 years in California. He has more contacts than I do. I don’t have access to a million dollars. Neither do you. Mack might know someone though who does…”
Karen shakes her head insisting: “Mack won’t help him out either because of what he did to your mother”
“So that’s it? We just let him sit there and rot in prison? He’s one of the most powerful men in the State of California and yet he can’t get access to one million dollars and no one is prepared to pull any strings for him? Come on Karen…my father may be many things, but he’s not a killer”
“I know” concedes Karen as she reaches out to rub Patrick’s hand in an assuring manner
“HELP SUMNER? NO WAY” is Mack’s somewhat predictable response to Karen’s question as the pair turn down the bedcovers that night before bed
Karen: “Mack…he’s Meg’s father” (seriously)
Mack: “I’M her father” (pointing to himself defensively)
Karen: “And Meg is due home from the hospital tomorrow. How would she feel if she knew you were refusing to help him?” (arms open)
Mack: “Why am I the bad guy all of a sudden huh? I didn’t kill anyone” (still pointing the thumb into himself)
Karen: “And neither did Greg – and you know he’s not a killer. Many things perhaps. But NOT a killer Mack”
Mack: “And look at how he treated Megan. Am I expected to turn my back on my own sister?” (despairingly)
Karen: “And what about Patrick? He’s your NEPHEW and Greg is his father”
Mack: “DON’T REMIND ME” (still yelling)
Karen: “And look at that time all those years ago when you were in the exact same dilemma with Mary Robeson. Greg paid for YOUR bail”
Mack: “Boy…I hate it that Sumner bailed me out”
Karen: (climbing into bed) “Look” (sighing) “…Patrick isn’t asking you to bail Sumner out here. He just needs help in getting hold of Sumner’s funds. You know those guys as well as Sumner does and BETTER than Patrick does. You could convince them into doing the right thing to help an innocent man here – to help MEG’S FATHER”
Mack: “I’M HER…” (stopping himself)
Mack then heads into the bathroom to brush his teeth as Karen turns out the light and sorts out her pillows to the right adjustment.
Having had time to think about Karen’s question, Mack soon emerges into the semi-darkened bedroom once again from the en-suite. He follows Karen into bed and pulls the covers over himself for maximum comfort as he stares up at the ceiling and sighs...
Karen (to his right) is lying on her right side staring over to the other wall and not saying anything as she still awaits Mack’s response on the matter – knowing full well what HE is thinking.
After a short pause:
“One million?” asks Mack in the dark.
“One million” repeats Karen quickly back!
“Fine” answers Mack with grudging tones…
However the following day before Mack has a chance to do anything for Greg, Carlos pays his employer a visit in the prison where he is being held and explains that he received a strange message sent in his own name by post at the ranch:
Carlos: “The letter said specifically you had to meet with Officer Markham”
Greg: “Who? Who the hell is Officer Markham?”
Carlos: “It said he would make himself known to you in the recreation area and that you had to meet him at six o’clock tonight”
Greg: “Tonight? What the hell is going on here? Who the hell sent this message?”
Carlos: (shrugging his shoulders) “I don’t know Mr Sumner. I’m just following orders from what the letter said”
CUE a bemused looking Greg as Carlos continues:
“And the letter said that under no circumstances should I bring the letter to the prison to show you”
By now, Greg is appearing somewhat nervous by Carlos’ mystery revelation…
But what can it all mean???
Back at the cul-de-sac, Megan and Val are gathered at the bottom of the Mackenzie driveway to welcome home Meg from the hospital following her recent stay there after the fatal car accident.
As Mack, Karen and Meg herself arrive home in Mack’s jeep which hurls up the drive before stopping, so Mack emerges from the vehicle and opens the door to let Meg out...
Karen gathers Meg’s crutches for her since she still needs assistance when walking while Val and Megan go to greet her:
“It’s great to have you home sweetie” admits Val as she hugs her
“Yeah, you gave us quite a scare honey” laughs Megan
However Meg is a lady of few words today as she heads indoors with Mack – prompting Karen to apologise to both her friends:
“She’s still a little shaken” she admits
“Oh sure honey of course” replies Val in an understanding manner
“She’ll bounce back Karen” smiles Megan; “It’ll just take time”
“I sure hope so” answers Karen before asking Val; “Maybe you could get…Betsy to drop by and speak to her Val?”
“Oh sure” responds Val; “I’m sure Bets’ would love to see her”
“NO WAY” maintains Betsy as she lies on her bed reading when asked the question by Val a short time later
“Honey she’s your friend. She needs you. And I’m sure you need HER”
“Mom…she was IN the car with Tag. Hasn’t it occurred to you to ask WHY she was in the car?”
“Well that’s all the more reason to go and speak to her sweetie. You need to iron things out”
Betsy remains silent as Val leaves her room – however she ponders over Val’s words and realises that perhaps speaking to Meg WOULDN’T be such a bad idea after all…
In prison, Greg the jailmate is playing pool with his cellmate when the mysterious Officer Markham casually strolls by…
Greg doesn’t have a clue who he is so continues to play his game potting a red ball whenever Officer Markham stands by him waiting for him to ascend from the cue position.
Markham then bends over to him and whispers in his ear:
“I’m on night duty tonight Sumner. I’ll unlock your cell and make sure the coast is clear with no one around. Make your way down to the laundry at 5.30am – just before sunrise and all will be revealed…”
Markham casually strolls away leaving Sumner even more startled…
It’s confrontation time for Betsy and Meg meanwhile up in Meg’s bedroom…
Betsy: “I wanna know Meg – I wanna know why you were in the car with Tag that day?”
Meg: “What does it matter? Tag’s dead”
Betsy: “It matters to me”
Meg: “Do you really HAVE to ask Bets’?” (rolling her eyes)
Betsy: “YES. The fact remains he was my boyfriend…” (interrupted)
Meg: (laughing) “He was NOT your boyfriend”
Betsy: (adamant) “He was MY boyfriend, the father of MY child, he’s now DEAD and you were with him when he died. So I want to know WHY you were with him”
Meg: “Boy you are SO naïve” (laughing)
However judging by the look on Betsy’s face, she is finding this anything but funny!!!
While downstairs, Mack and Patrick are talking in the Mackenzie living room while Karen comes out from the kitchen with a tray of soft drinks for them.
Patrick takes a glass of ice tea from the tray thanking Karen while listening to his Uncle Mack’s report on the progress he has made today:
Mack: “I’m not going to lie to you Patrick. Getting hold of this money won’t be easy”
Patrick: “But it’s HIS money Mack”
Mack: “Yes it’s his money Patrick but it’s also invested into your campaign and party funds which means that while it’s in their hands it’s THEIR money. And you’ve got to see their position on this. If your father was ever found guilty of Jennifer Rawlings’ murder and word got out that they used party money to bail him out, how would that make them look?”
Patrick: “It’s still not right Mack” (angry)
Mack: “Tell Sumner from me NOT to be so stubborn and to contact his bank authorising the release of the money. They have a duty to keep their clients’ confidentiality exactly that – CONFIDENTIAL! They won’t tell. Besides…once this goes to trial, the outside world will know soon enough”
Patrick: “He won’t do that” (shaking his head)
Mack: “It’s his only way Paddy”
Karen: “Isn’t there someone Mack? Anyone? Who we can go to for the bail money?”
Mack: (laughing) “Where’s Abby when you need her?”
ABBY on the other hand is long gone. Settling into her new life thousands of miles away in Philadelphia, but still living the life of luxury now that the threat of Jeremy Fox has been lifted from her. We therefore find the Abster all alone in the back of a C Class Mercedes Benz being chauffered around town.
As Abby sits in the back of the car filing her nails and looking extremely nervous – letting out a deep sigh, she is then informed by the driver:
“That’s us arrived Ms Fairgate”
“Thank you Walter” responds Abby
‘Walter’ the driver then emerges from the car and walks round to the kerbside where he opens the passenger door allowing Abby to walk outside as she hands him a generous tip:
“Why thank you m’am” answers Walter…
Abby looks over towards the enormous front lawn of an expensive looking (almost stately) home. The long driveway leading up to the front door is effectively lit with spot lights adorning the side of the freshly cut lawn...
The sound of crickets that fill the night air around Abby accompany her as she nervously walks up towards the entrance to the house dressed to kill in stunning diamonds and a three quarter length fur coat clutching hold of her handbag.
The clip clopping of Abby’s high heels charts each step she takes towards the front door while the sheer echo of each footstep only serves to illustrate how long the driveway actually is…
Once she reaches the front entrance of the home, Abby takes a deep breath and then rings the doorbell.
In the few seconds it takes for the occupant to answer, Abby takes one further look around her at the beautiful entrance to the house and smells the beautiful sweet scent of the surrounding trees in the garden before the door opens:
“ABBY” smiles the gentleman inside who answers.
“Hi Paul” smiles Abby before giving the gentleman a warm hug
“Come on in” replies ‘Paul’ as he eyes up the Abster herself and all her draping fur; “You look great” he remarks
"Thanks" responds Abby
As Abby heads indoors, the door is closed behind her and we are left ‘standing’ outside wondering…
Where on earth is she and who is the mysterious Paul???
Back in California at the Mackenzies’, Betsy is then shocked by Meg’s revelation:
Betsy: “You were SEEING Tag?” (horrified)
Meg: “You bet I was” (smug)
Betsy: “But…how could you? I was your friend”
Meg: “Oh give it a break Betsy. It’s not like you were dating him or anything. You slept together once about six months ago and he never saw you again after that.”
Betsy: “But I was pregnant with HIS child”
Meg: “SO?” (rolling her eyes); “It wasn’t as though he loved you or anything. I was the one he loved”
Betsy: (tearfully shaking her head) “No…No way”
Meg: “Yes Betsy. Tag loved me. We were planning to run away together”
Betsy: “That’s not true”
Meg: “Yes…yes it IS true”
Betsy is stood in the centre of Meg’s bedroom as Meg lies sprawled across her bed with the television switched on in the background and the remote control in her hands.
Upon hearing these cruel words by Meg, Betsy runs out the room distraught by what Meg has said leaving Meg behind with her eyes transfixed on the TV smirking…
Next door, Betsy runs inside her house bawling her eyes out and heading straight upstairs leaving Gary, Bobby and Val who are sat by the dining table eating appearing somewhat confused:
“What was that?” asks Gary
“I’ll go and check on her” replies Val as she rises from her chair
Bobby meanwhile looks at his father believing he knows the problem:
“It’ll be Meg” (rolling his eyes)
Meanwhile across the country in Philadelphia, Abby is handed a glass of wine by Paul:
“It’s Zinfandel Rose – all the way from sunny California” laughs Paul
“Just incase I was feeling a little homesick huh?” asks Abby with a smirk on her face as she takes a sip from the glass; “Mmm…that does taste…sweet…and kinda fruity”
“So tell me where’s Olivia this evening?”
“She’s out on a date”
“A date?” laughs Paul; “Boy she doesn’t take long does she? Only in town a couple of weeks…”
“What can I say? She must take after her mother” laughs Abby
At that moment though, the conversation is then interrupted by the clip clopping of more heels across the polished floor as Paul’s WIFE enters the grand living room”
“Hi…you must be Abby right?” smiles the lady
“Last time I checked my drivers’ license that’s what it said” laughs a nervous Abby as she rises to her feet to shake the other lady’s hand and kiss her warmly”
Standing back and watching the two ladies embrace from a distance, Paul then smiles to himself before remembering that on such occasions, it IS only customary to make some formal introductions:
“Abby” he begins; “This is my wife Christina”
“How d’you do?” smiles Abby as she shakes Christine’s hand.
"Please, call me Christine" replies Christina
“Christine…this is my long lost baby sister…Abby”
Upon hearing these words, Abby smiles as she turns round to face Paul – who in turn is smiling back with a great big beaming smile at Abby!!!
Early the following morning (and before dawn), we see the turning of a door handle and the opening of a door…
Out that door, we see two legs dressed in customary prison attire (an orange overall) gently and carefully creeping their way down the corridor and the adjacent steps…
The hallway censors force the security cameras to turn to the right and record live images of what is actually going on within the prison where Greg is locked up.
Fortunately, thanks to the help of a prison guard, arrangements have been made to keep the first door on the left unlocked – allowing Greg himself access to the prison laundry…
Once inside the laundry, a bemused Greg looks around him to find nobody there. There is an eerie stillness surrounding the normally vibrant, bustling workplace. The machines are turned off, the room is dimly lit in semi-darkness and Greg still looks bewildered and curious as he investigates what awaits him in the laundry room. He had expected to see the prison warden who had instructed him to visit the laundry at such an early hour – however there is no one there…
At that moment, an inquisitive Greg is soon distracted by the sound of a distant engine outside being started up…
The sound of the engine is coming from Greg’s right hand side – so he walks slowly towards a door in the corner of the room before spotting the vehicle lights in the 5mm space between the door and the floor…
Sumner stands there looking anxious and nervous as to what is going on outside. Despite the sound of the outside engine, all is STILL eerily quiet inside with just the sound of his breath to be heard in the still of night as Greg himself stands with his right ear pressed up against the door for evidence of what is going on at the other end of the door.
Has he made a mistake by heading down to the laundry in the first place?
Or is this is all a set up? Another one of Jeremy Fox’s tricks?
In the next moment, Greg is startled somewhat when the door he is leaning against is tapped from the other end causing Greg to stand by with a look of trepidation on his face…
After a moment of hesitation, Greg’s right hand soon moves slowly down towards the handle of the door and Greg cautiously turns the door handle before quietly opening the rather heavy looking fire door:
“Gregory Sumner?” asks the silhouetted stranger in a deep voice
But Greg doesn’t answer – instead opting to follow the lead of the van driver who walks towards the vehicle and opens the door on the left hand side of the van…
Greg stands there waiting for his cue as the van driver continues to load his van with filled laundry bags.
Greg stands there looking intentively at all that is going on before him as the driver concludes his loading of the vehicle before stopping, turning round and asking Greg himself:
“Last chance buddy…”
Greg looks nervously around him before making his getaway out the darkened doorway and into the waiting van where the doors are then closed before the driver gets behind the wheel, buckles his seatbelt and takes off into the distance.
And as the vehicle lights fade further and further into the distance, we ask ourselves:
Where next for Greg???
END OF EPISODE
Last edited by Knots Man; 04-30-2009 at 09:47 PM.
Also 'Starring': Cindy Pickett as Arlene Edwards
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