![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Still Life - "Not Fade Away" - Acts IV & V
Not Fade Away, Acts I, II, & III
Act IV
Fade Up on:
Interior, Morgan parlor, Day:
Daisy, Em, and Max are seated on the couch; Char is in an armchair opposite (a coffee table sits between), with Ben sitting somehow (arm of the other chair?) above her. Policito Granddad is standing in front of the fireplace (in the middle of the picture) lecturing all of them.
Granddad: We have to get out there right away and make sure no one else pics up this story.
Em: I don’t even work there anymore.
Granddad: What were you thinking? Don’t you realize with all this “bad mother” talk the damage you’ve done to your mom’s campaign?
Ben: (rising, defensive) Hey! Owen. We’ll handle it.
Em: (also rising, also angry) No, he’s right, Dad. I screwed everything up!
And she storms out of the room.
Charlotte: Dad, you can’t talk to her like that!
Granddad: Well, obviously someone should!
Charlotte: Dad, I—
Max gets up to follow Em. He’s going to fix this for her, at least talk to her. He starts toward the front hall, but as he’s halfway across the room, Charlotte stops him.
Charlotte: No! Max, I’ll do it.
Cut to:
Interior, Em’s room:
Em is stretched across her bed, lying on her back with one arm flung over her eyes. Charlotte enters without knocking, and Em sits straight up, facing away from the door and her mother. Char shuts the door firmly. Not a slam, but she makes no effort to be quiet about it.
Em: Before you say anything, I was not a stripper!
Charlotte: Oh, great. Good to know. So what the hell is going on?
Em: I screwed up. Okay?
Charlotte: No, it’s not okay! Why would you work in a place like that? (She sits on the bed, leaning in toward Em, who still won’t look at her.)
Em: It was just a job, Mom. Someplace nobody knew me.
Charlotte: Okay, and you did what, there, exactly?
Em: (finally turning to face Char) I served food, period.
Char seems somewhat relieved. Em turns away again.
Em: Don’t worry. Nothing else is gonna surface to hurt your campaign.
Charlotte: (still intense) You think that that’s what I’m upset about.
Em: Aren’t you?
Charlotte: (all but shouting) Emily, you lied to this family for a year. You put yourself in some sleazy club for God knows why. I—I feel like I don’t even know you!
Em: (getting up and turning on her mother) Yeah! I know the feeling!
Charlotte: What?!
Em: Ever since you decided to run for mayor, you’ve been a totally different person.
Charlotte: Yes. I’ve—I’ve been busy. But—but all you had to do was say the word.
Em: (with tears in her voice) Or make an appointment to say the word and hope that you don’t reschedule.
Charlotte: That is not fair.
Em: You never even asked us what we thought! If we wanted you to run.
Charlotte: (she’s had enough. She gets up and crosses to face off with Em) I thought it would be good for all of us.
Em: (sarcastic) Yeah. It’s working out great for me. (She crosses to leave the room.)
Charlotte: Oh, well, maybe you better stop thinking about yourself for one minute, and think about why I got into this race to begin with—
Em: (turning on her mother again. Angry) Don’t “Jake” me, Mom! You dragged us all back into the spotlight without a second thought!
Charlotte: (crossing to Em) Uh-uh! You got that job long before I decided to run. You can’t blame me for your mistake.
Em: No. I’m the mistake. Is that what you want to hear?
Char is horrified to hear this.
Charlotte: Of course not! (pause and sigh) God, Emily. God, you’ve always been like this. My tough kid. (Em can’t look at her mom now.) You’d fall down and laugh so no one would pick you up. (Tone softening, but still intense) But you know what? It’s okay not to be okay.
Em: (still not looking at her mom. Trying to convince herself as much as anyone) I’m fine.
Charlotte: Go—
Em: (opening the door and dashing from the room) No thanks to you.
Charlotte: Em . . . (And she’s left in the doorway, shaking her head and sighing . . . )
Cut to:
Interior, Police interrogation:
Darien and Will (Ben’s partner) sit across the interrogation table from each other.
Will: We have reason to believe that Jake Morgan followed Eddie Marble to your house. Why would he do that?
The door opens and Ben enters. His captain is standing outside.
Ben: Camera’s off.
Will gets up and leaves the room as Ben takes over. Ben claps him on the back as Will passes.
Darien: You the big guns?
Ben: Naw, I just wanted to meet you for myself.
Darien: (with a sardonic sigh) Lucky me.
Ben takes his suit jacket off, getting comfortable for the duration.
Darien: You gonna rough me up? Is that why you turned the cameras off?
Ben: No. (He pulls a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his jacket pocket and lays them on the table.) Here ya go. Help yourself. (Darien considers the cigs.) I got the camera turned off because I’m not supposed to be here. (He sits in the chair Will vacated.) It was my son that got killed.
That takes a little bit of the wind out of Darien’s sails.
Darien: (in a hushed voice, not looking at Ben) I’m sorry for your loss.
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, me, too.
Darien: Well, I wish I could help you.
Ben: Do ya?
Darien nods.
Ben: That kid was my life. And I can’t understand why you’ll go to jail to protect the son of a bitch that killed him.
Darien: (attitude changing again, tough act returning) Easy. I don’t know anything.
Ben: Well, that’s too bad. See, if you could help us just a little bit—you know, like, just how Eddie knew Jake--you wouldn’t have to go down.
Darien: (huffs a laugh, leans back away from the table) I’m not goin’ to jail.
Ben: Oh, yeah, darlin’. You are. (Darien narrows her eyes at him.) I’m gonna see to it.
Darien: Well, then, I’ll send you a post card.
Ben: (smirking) Jake was right. You don’t scare easy.
Darien: I never met Jake.
Ben: Not what he said.
Darien: Right.
Ben: What, you didn’t think I talk to my kid? He wanted to be a cop like me. (Darien’s looking a little uncertain now.) We were tight. He didn’t tell me everything. He said you two’d . . . talk there in front of your place where he was parked. Said he was intrigued, but he never went up. (Eyeing her intently) Now I see you . . . you went up. Didn’t he.
Darien: (after a pause) He didn’t talk to you.
Ben nods slightly, confident in his bluff.
Ben: My boss is gonna come in here and offer you a deal. You take it.
Darien looks around nervously, as if she’s trapped.
Darien: What kind of deal? I mean if I give you—
The door opens, and the captain leans in. Ben holds up a hand. He just need a few more moments.
Captain: Detective.
Ben: Give me a moment.
Captain: She made bail. We’re done.
Ben: (hand still held up to the captain. To Darien, intense) Give me what?
Darien: (backpedaling, nervous, but recognizing her out) Nuthin’. I—I was, uh, I was gonna offer you a cigarette. That’s all. Looks like I’m goin’ home.
She bolts from the room, leaving a frustrated Ben sitting at the table. He was so close.
And I’m thinkin’ that the captain’s timing was just a little *too* convenient for her.
Blue wash to:
Exterior, Shopping plaza, Day:
Charlotte is crossing through the plaza, a dress bag over one arm.
VOJ: It takes a lot to get Mom upset, but there’s been a lot going on lately. I hate that I’m stuck here, and that I can’t help.
Across the plaza, Char see DR. JANET FRAZIER! Looking quite well, considering she was killed on an SG-1 away mission. She’s apparently relocated and changed her name to Susan.
Charlotte: Susan?
Susan: (delighted, changing her course to talk to Char) Charlotte, how nice to see you!
Charlotte: How are you?
Susan: I’m well, thanks. And you?
Charlotte: Pretty good.
Susan: I’ve been meaning to call to tell you how great it is that you are running for mayor.
Charlotte: It hasn’t been that great the last couple days.
Susan: (with a chuckle) Well, I’m impressed. I just raced out of work to catch Carrie’s volleyball game, then I’ve got to head back to the house to meet Paul’s new business partner at dinner tonight.
They share a laugh at how busy they’ve both become.
Susan: With your schedule it must be just impossible to juggle everything.
Charlotte: (a wry smile) Ugh, it is. It’s impossible.
Susan: (growing serious) We all miss Jake so much, Charlotte. Especially Aaron. Aaron still refers to him as his best friend.
They share a sad smile.
Charlotte: What’s Aaron been up to these days? I haven’t seen him in forever.
Susan: Well, studying, mostly. You know that he’s graduating from college this semester.
Charlotte: (soft, almost wistful) Already . . . Wow. Senior year.
Susan: Charlotte, I am so sorry—
Charlotte: No. No, please. Please don’t apologize. (With tears in her voice) Now you tell Aaron congratulations for me. It’s wonderful.
Susan: I will.
Charlotte: And give my best to the family.
Susan: And yours. And we’ll talk soon.
Charlotte: (with a smile) Absolutely. I’ll call.
They hug and part ways.
VOJ: They won’t talk soon, of course. I wish I could be there for you, Mom. I’m trying.
And as Charlotte watches Susan make her way through the plaza to the street . . .
. . . She sees Jake further down, watching her, smiling at her. She takes a step toward him, tears in her eyes. Then someone crosses in front of her, and he’s gone. She stands staring at the empty space where he was.
(And dagnabit, I’m getting teary.)
Cut to:
Exterior, Morgan patio, Evening:
Max has a camera disassembled and spread out in front of him as he cleans the inner mechanisms. Maggie enters the scene by way of exiting the house through the patio door. She has her large bag on her shoulder. They seem pleased enough to see each other.
Maggie: Hi.
Max: Hey!
Maggie: Am I interrupting?
Max: No.
Maggie: Daisy wanted me to meet . . . Gray Dog?
Max: Gray Dog. Yes. She’s gotta come up with a better name for that dude.
Maggie: (setting her bag down on the table) You know she thinks . . .
Max: Yeah. Yeah, well . . . (Looking up at Maggie with a smile and a small one-shoulder shrug) Whatever get you through, right?
Maggie: Right. (She opens her bag as Max takes a drink from his coffee mug) I brought you something. (She pulls out a large book and hands it to Max.) Uh, Maya Mani, that photographer we were talking about at dinner?
Max: (accepting the gift) Yeah. (He opens the book and starts leafing through it.) Oh, wow. This is great. She’s amazing.
Maggie: Yeah. Whit picked it up, actually.
Max: (looking from the book up to her) Cool. Tell him I said thanks.
Maggie: (nodding slightly) I appreciate this, Max. Dinner and stuff. I know it’s awkward.
Max: (closing the book and setting it aside. The rest of the conversation is played with her standing and him looking up at her in that way he has.) Well, it was alright. I mean, I’m not gonna go hot tubbing with you guys or anything, but it wasn’t so bad.
Maggie chuckles.
Maggie: Well . . . really?
Max: (nodding) Yeah.
Maggie: Good.
Max: That’s what you wanted, right?
Maggie: Totally. I guess I’m just surprised, um, at how mature we’re acting.
Max: Yeah, me, too. I mean, he seems like a good guy, though. I get it.
Maggie: I’m glad.
Cut to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Night:
Stack is working at one of the tables when Em storms in, crosses behind him, grabs an apron and puts it on.
Stack: Everything okay?
Em: (not looking at him as she steps up to the table beside him) The stripper story hit the paper.
Stack: Yeah, I saw.
Em grabs a mound of dough from a bowl, slams it on the counter, and starts pounding it violently.
Stack: Oh, hey. Easy on the food, lady. There is a bright side in all of this, you know.
Em: (a hint of sarcasm) Please, tell me.
Stack: You know how many people are gonna want a hot stripper caterer? Phone’s gonna be ringing off the hook.
Em: (giving him a sideways glance) Ha, ha. (pause) It’s not so crazy that I didn’t want my family to know where I worked, is it? I mean, I knew they’d freak out. My mom freaked alright. (Stack smiles to himself and shakes his head) What?
Stack: (with a shrug) No—nothin’. It’s jus’ . . . It’s just you might have a little problem with reality. (She looks at him questioningly, like WT???) I mean, you just don’t always come clean, that’s all. I thought your name was “Pam” the whole time we worked together.
Em is sullen, but she sees his point.
Em: Reality sucks.
They exchange small smiles. Stack has a point.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan kitchen, Night:
Ben is getting a beer out of the fridge.
VOJ: One way that Dad and Max are alike: some things they just won’t let go. They’re close to the truth about me, and they’ll pursue it, even if it hurts.
Ben twists the cap off his beer, then sets the bottle on the kitchen island and leans bracing himself on both arms in thought. Max enters from the direction of the patio, carrying his coffee mug.
Max: (seeing that something’s wrong) Dad? What’s up?
Ben: We brought in that prostitute you found, that Darien.
Max: (very interested, a hint of intensity in his tone) You did? What’d she say?
Ben: Nothin’. She didn’t have to. It was all over her face. (Max looks . . . not quite stunned . . . but like this information is news to him.) Jake didn’t go there just for Eddie. He went there for her. I’d bet on it.
Max’s eyebrows crinkle. This doesn’t make sense. He himself leans on the island.
Ben: And I had her. (Shaking his head in disgust.) I had her. And she made bail.
Max: You just let her leave?
Ben: That’s the law.
Max: Yeah, but you guys can still question her, right?
Ben: She’ll be lawyered up.
Max: (his expression shifts to challenging, ready to jump back in, challenge the way things have gone) Then I’ll go talk to her.
Ben: (very firmly) No you won’t.
Max steps down a notch at his dad’s reprimand. Ben’s expression, too, shifts from reprimand to regret.
Ben: Besides, it’d never hold up.
Char enters from behind Max, crossing to the cupboard to retrieve a mug.
Charlotte: What won’t hold up?
Max: Dad’s just fillin’ me in on Jake’s case. I found this lead, but . . . (he rubs his eyebrow in frustration.)
Char is taken aback. Did she just hear what she thinks she just heard?
Charlotte: (to Max) You what? (She looks from Max to Ben, then steps to the island, watching Max.)
Ben: He heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy. That’s all. I told him to stay out of it.
Charlotte: (she can’t really believe what she’s hearing) Max brought you new evidence. This is what you’ve been working on?
Ben: Yeah, but it was a dead end. (He takes a pull of his beer.)
Charlotte: I—I can’t believe that you didn’t tell me that our son got involved in the case.
Ben: Well, Charlotte, you’ve been busy. I didn’t want to worry you.
Charlotte: (getting on a roll) Nononno. Next time tell me first! (Em and Daisy enter in the background) Let me be the one to decide whether to worry or not!
Ben: (nodding. The word is barely audible) Yeah.
Em: (timidly from the background) What’s going on?
Charlotte turns to see her daughters, then turns back to Ben (and dang by Max looks good standing there next to her).
Charlotte: What’s going on is that this family is falling apart, and I’ve only got myself to blame.
Ben: Oh, that’s not true.
Charlotte: No, I think it is. (pause) I’m gonna quit the race.
She makes a quick exit, leaving the rest of the family speechless.
Fade to BLACK
Act V
Fade up:
Interior, Max’s room, Next morning:
The camera pans across from one side of the room to find Max sitting on his bed. (Wardrobe notes: This morning he’s wearing a multihued brown/beige/tan striped button-down over a green T.) Em comes and sits down next to him.
Em: This is terrible, Max.
Max: (nodding) Mom seemed really upset.
Em: (fretful) I know.
Max: I hate seeing her like that.
Em: (with a shrug, grasping at straws) Maybe it’s the best thing, her quitting.
Max: (with a doubtful shrug of his own) I don’t know.
Em: C’mon. Maybe she’ll be happier not running around all the time thinking about all this campaign stuff.
Max: I mean, I wasn’t around much before she decided to run, but was she happier then?
Em: (quietly. Max has a point) No.
Max: Seems that now she gets excited about things, you know? Stuff to look forward to. That’s something.
Em: You’re right. That’s a lot.
Cut to:
Interior, Ben & Char’s bedroom:
Char is putting on her jewelry, getting ready for the day. Ben sits at the foot of the bed.
Ben: You sure this is what you want to do?
Charlotte: (nods) As angry as I was at those protesters, they were right. I’ve been so wrapped up in this campaign, I’ve been missing you guys completely.
Ben: Charl, they were dead wrong. Your kids know that if they need you, you’re there for them.
Charlotte: (bending to pick up her boots, she crosses over to the bed to pull them on) But I haven’t been. Max is involved with stuff with the case. Emily’s lying to us about her job. Daisy’s clinging to this dog, claiming that it’s a sign from Jake.
Ben: Yeah, well, it’s been a rough year. Kids are getting’ better every day.
Charlotte: (not convinced) Are they?
Ben: Yes.
Charlotte: Well, I just want to feel like I’m doing everything I can. It’s just too painful to wonder.
Ben: Wonder what?
Charlotte: If I could have done more. For all of the kids. For Jake.
(And now the lighting people are just showing off, what with the morning sun streaming into the bedroom, casting both soft glow and shadow on the two as they sit with space between them.)
Charlotte: (throwing up her hands) Look, I haven’t been the mother that I want to be. Not lately. I mean, I haven’t even been myself.
They both rise, Char in frustration, Ben to support her emotionally.
Ben: Charl, you know I’m gonna back you either way, but I’m not about to sit here and let you call yourself a bad mother.
Charlotte: (they are now facing each other) Look, I knew something would suffer if I ran. It had to. But this is just not the right time. The kids still need us. So I’m gonna announce the resignation tonight at the PBA dinner. Jonathan will be back in the morning, and he can help deal with the fall-out.
She exits the room.
Cut to:
Interior, Finn’s loft studio, Day:
The camera pans across a table strewn with photographic paraphernalia to find Max seated on the couch, bent over the coffee table, looking at negatives or possibly slides placed on an electric light board through a magnifying eyepiece. A knock draws his attention to the open door. It’s Whit.
Whit: (striding into the room with a smile) Heya, Max.
Max is a little surprised by the visit.
Max: Hey, what’s up?
Whit: Uh, nothing much. I’ve, uh, gotta go to New York for a while, but, um . . . (He takes a look around the studio, speaking with enthusiasm and interest) Hey, this is a nice place you’ve got here.
Max flips off the light board, rises, and steps around the table away from the couch.
Max: Yeah, it’s, uh, Finn. He’s a trip. You should meet him.
Whit: Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. (Stepping toward Max) Hey, listen, um, I was going to ask you a favor, actually.
Max: (hands in pockets, with a shrug) Sure.
Whit: Yeah, well, um. You know I got a bit tired of renting every time I came to town, so—so I bought a car.
Max: Yeah, the Beemer. I saw it outside.
Whit: Yeah, well, Maggie won’t drive it while I’m out of town. Claims that she’s a little, uh, accident prone.
Max: (with a smile and a chuckle) She’s not lyin’, man.
Whit: (sharing the chuckle) So, um, (he reaches into his pocket) why don’t you take ‘er out? (He holds the keys out to Max, who takes them slowly.) With this weather, make a nice alternative to that bike of yours.
Max considers (doing the “ducky lips” thing).
Max: It’s a nice car.
Whit: Oh, it is. (Casually looking at some pictures strewn on a work-height table, then back to Max) You should enjoy it.
Max’s eyes are wide with puzzlement and disbelief.
Whit: In fact, (stepping up to Max and looking him straight in the eye) think of it as yours.
Max: (with puzzlement) Alright . . .
Whit: I think you’ll find I treat my friends very well, Max. As long as they respect what’s mine.
And Max and I both get what he’s saying. Max huffs an ironic laugh as he looks at the keys.
Max: Oh, okay. So it’s a trade, huh? (He looks back at Whit, holds up the keys) A car for Maggie.
Whit: (with a smile, but he sees Max can’t be bought) Of course not. Maggie’s not yours to trade.
Max: (brow furrowed in frustration, and possibly disgust) Maggie doesn’t belong to either us, man.
He tosses the keys onto the table.
Whit: Don’t be so sure.
Whit and Max eye each other for a moment, Max looking disbelieving that Whit just tried to bribe him.
Whit looks at his watch, his attitude saying that he believes he won this round.
Whit: I have a plane to catch. But I’ll be back in a week or two, I imagine. (He picks up his keys.) Be good, Max.
He turns and leaves.
Blue wash to:
Interior, Jake’s room, Day:
Daisy has found the dog in Jake’s room, Jake’s trading card collection scattered across the floor. Daisy rushes in and kneels next to the dog and the mess.
Daisy: What did you do? (She picks something up and we get an insert shot of) Joe Montana’s rookie card. (It’s been chewed and torn.) This is Jake’s most prized possession.
VOJ: No way, dog. Not the rookie card.
Daisy sits herself cross-legged on the floor.
Daisy: You’re not a sign from Jake. A sign from Jake wouldn’t chew a rookie card. Give me fleas.
VOJ: After all this, I was kinda hoping Dais wouldn’t realize that. She seemed to be pretty happy with that mutt.
Em comes in to see the mess, jaw dropping open at the sight.
Em: Oh my God! What happened here?
Daisy: (petting the dog) We have to give him back to his owners.
Em: We have to find them first.
Daisy reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a “Lost” poster with the dog’s picture. She hands it to Em.
Em: Daisy . . . (She sits on a chair behind Daisy and considers her sister for a moment.) Dognapper.
Daisy: Shut up. (But there’s no bite to it.) I just . . . thought . . .
Em: I know. (She folds up the poster) Come on. Let’s get ready for this dinner thing. (She pats Dais on the shoulder as she rises and leaves the room.)
Blue wash to:
Interior, Banquet hall, the Sullivan PBA Annual Dinner:
The Morgans (minus Em) and Granddad are seated at a round table close to the podium. The mood is subdued. Char leans toward Ben to talk quietly to him.
Charlotte: My dad won’t even look at me.
Ben: Well, he’ll get over it, or I’ll drop-kick his ass.
Em and Stack are in their catering uniforms. Em tells Stack something before making her way to her family’s table.
Charlotte: (with a sigh) Okay, I better do this.
Em stands behind one of the chairs at the family’s table, holding onto the chair’s back nervously.
Em: (to the room at large) Excuse me. Dinner guests?
Charlotte: Em?
Em: (to her fam) I just want to say a quick word about how cool the PBA is.
Ben: Go ahead, Sug. (With an amused smile) Speak up a little bit.
Em: Right. (Trying again) Hi! Everyone?
Max looks around to see if anyone is giving Em their attention. Wardrobe note: Tonight he is wearing a white button-down with what looks like a Western motif stitched down the front.
Em: Quiet! Please?
Slowly the room starts to given her their attention. Stack looks a little confused.
Em: Hi. Thank you. Hi. (She smiles nervously) I’m a big fan of the Police Benevolent Association. It’s a great organization and has meant a lot to my family. (Noticing some to the confused looks around the room) Oh. Oh, I’m—I’m not just the caterer. I’m also Ben and Charlotte Morgan’s daughter. (Ben and Charlotte smile encouragingly.) As most of you know, it’s been a . . . really hard year for my family. At one point or another we’ve all wanted to lock ourselves in a room and just . . . (shrug) . . . hide. Somehow. We’ve had a really hard time moving on. And sometimes it’s felt like we can’t move at all. Like . . . (shrug) . . . Like we’re stuck. (Everyone is listening now.) But my mom’s a little different from the rest of us. She wasn’t hiding. When she decided to run for mayor, she was thinking about the future. And . . . and that—that may not seem like such a big deal to most people, but to me and my family . . . (she looks right at her mom) . . . it makes her a hero. (Char is deeply touched.) So I just wanted to say thank you to her. (Max watches his mom, then looks down and smiles to himself, proud of his sister and his mom.) For showing us the way. Even if we were a little slow to follow. (Mother and daughter share a smile.) (pause) That’s it. Thanks.
Applause all around. Stack especially seems touched and impressed. Char gives Em a big hug. Everyone at the table is proud of Em.
Dissolve to:
CU of hands shaking. The dinner is breaking up and the attendees are leaving. Charlotte is seeing everyone out, thanking them for coming.
When Owen (Granddad) and Char have a moment, Owen expresses his relief.
Owen: I am so glad you didn’t give the speech you’d planned to. And I hope you’re done with the idea of quitting.
Charlotte: (nodding) I am.
Owen: Good.
Char grabs his arm to prevent him from leaving.
Charlotte: Dad. I don’t think we should work together anymore.
Owen: (incredulous) Wh—what?
Charlotte: I appreciate everything that you’ve done, but I don’t like the way you handled Emily or her situation.
Owen: Oh, Charlotte, you’re not being realistic—
Charlotte: (looking her dad in the eye) Yes, I am. Maybe for the first time this whole campaign. I’ve been plowing ahead as if I were somebody else, a political machine, but that’s you, Dad, not me. My family is what’s important to me. That’s how I’m gonna run this campaign. It’s the only way I can fight the battles, whether or not I win.
She kisses him on the cheek, then turns and goes back to the table where her husband and her three children are seated. Owen considers her, but there’s nothing he can do.
Everyone at the Morgan table is smiling, enjoying each other's company and the way the evening turned out.
Cut to:
Banquet hall, Later:
Em, in her soiled catering jacket, is clearing away dishes and stacking them in a bus tub. Stack comes over to offer his assistance. He places a hand on her back and reaches for the dishes she is clearing.
Stack: I’ll get that.
Em: (with a smile) Least you could do.
Stack: Hey, that, uh, that speech to your mom. That was . . . that was cool.
Em: Yeah?
Stack: Yeah.
They share a smile.
Stack: (reaching into his back pocket) Oh! And this guy (he pulls out a card) wants us to cater his anniversary party. (He shows the card to Em.)
Em: Great!
Stack: You realize you’re gonna be filthy rich and famous soon.
Em: Oh, right, right, right. (She looks down at her dirty uniform.) Such a glamorous biz we’re in.
Stack: Yeah. (With a smile, he sticks the car in the front placket of her uniform before picking up the bus tub.)
Em is left to continue clearing with a smile on her face.
VOJ: We all keep things hidden. Hidden from other people, hidden from ourselves. Most of the time we’re better off when we let it go. When we find out the truth behind the lie. That’s when we can move on. Like Emily. Her secret is how much she cares.
Blue wash to:
Exterior, A front porch, Day:
Daisy has the dog on a leash and is ringing the doorbell of a house. The door opens, and an elderly man bends down to scratch the ruff of the barking dog. He’s delighted to get his dog back.
VOJ: And then there’s Daisy. Truth is she needed to pretend that dog was connected to me because . . . she was lonely.
Daisy makes her way off the porch to where Char is watching from the sidewalk.
VOJ: Only it wasn’t me she was lonely for.
Daisy drops a Charlotte Morgan campaign brochure in the mailbox before she and her mom continue down the walk, Char’s arm around her daughter’s shoulders.
Dissolve to:
Interior, Apartment hallway:
An elevator at the far end opens and Darien exits, making her way determinedly to one of the apartment doors.
VOJ: But for me and for Darien, it’s too late for the truth.
Darien looks nervously back the way she came, then knocks firmly on the door. The door opens, revealing a man, Eddie.
Darien: Eddie. You gotta get outta town.
VOJ: Sometimes, the lie is so big you have to do everything you can to protect it. No matter what the cost.
Darien and Eddie look at each other a long moment, then Darien dashes back down the hall the way she came. Eddie closes the door.
Blue wash to BLACK
End Credits
Act IV
Fade Up on:
Interior, Morgan parlor, Day:
Daisy, Em, and Max are seated on the couch; Char is in an armchair opposite (a coffee table sits between), with Ben sitting somehow (arm of the other chair?) above her. Policito Granddad is standing in front of the fireplace (in the middle of the picture) lecturing all of them.
Granddad: We have to get out there right away and make sure no one else pics up this story.
Em: I don’t even work there anymore.
Granddad: What were you thinking? Don’t you realize with all this “bad mother” talk the damage you’ve done to your mom’s campaign?
Ben: (rising, defensive) Hey! Owen. We’ll handle it.
Em: (also rising, also angry) No, he’s right, Dad. I screwed everything up!
And she storms out of the room.
Charlotte: Dad, you can’t talk to her like that!
Granddad: Well, obviously someone should!
Charlotte: Dad, I—
Max gets up to follow Em. He’s going to fix this for her, at least talk to her. He starts toward the front hall, but as he’s halfway across the room, Charlotte stops him.
Charlotte: No! Max, I’ll do it.
Cut to:
Interior, Em’s room:
Em is stretched across her bed, lying on her back with one arm flung over her eyes. Charlotte enters without knocking, and Em sits straight up, facing away from the door and her mother. Char shuts the door firmly. Not a slam, but she makes no effort to be quiet about it.
Em: Before you say anything, I was not a stripper!
Charlotte: Oh, great. Good to know. So what the hell is going on?
Em: I screwed up. Okay?
Charlotte: No, it’s not okay! Why would you work in a place like that? (She sits on the bed, leaning in toward Em, who still won’t look at her.)
Em: It was just a job, Mom. Someplace nobody knew me.
Charlotte: Okay, and you did what, there, exactly?
Em: (finally turning to face Char) I served food, period.
Char seems somewhat relieved. Em turns away again.
Em: Don’t worry. Nothing else is gonna surface to hurt your campaign.
Charlotte: (still intense) You think that that’s what I’m upset about.
Em: Aren’t you?
Charlotte: (all but shouting) Emily, you lied to this family for a year. You put yourself in some sleazy club for God knows why. I—I feel like I don’t even know you!
Em: (getting up and turning on her mother) Yeah! I know the feeling!
Charlotte: What?!
Em: Ever since you decided to run for mayor, you’ve been a totally different person.
Charlotte: Yes. I’ve—I’ve been busy. But—but all you had to do was say the word.
Em: (with tears in her voice) Or make an appointment to say the word and hope that you don’t reschedule.
Charlotte: That is not fair.
Em: You never even asked us what we thought! If we wanted you to run.
Charlotte: (she’s had enough. She gets up and crosses to face off with Em) I thought it would be good for all of us.
Em: (sarcastic) Yeah. It’s working out great for me. (She crosses to leave the room.)
Charlotte: Oh, well, maybe you better stop thinking about yourself for one minute, and think about why I got into this race to begin with—
Em: (turning on her mother again. Angry) Don’t “Jake” me, Mom! You dragged us all back into the spotlight without a second thought!
Charlotte: (crossing to Em) Uh-uh! You got that job long before I decided to run. You can’t blame me for your mistake.
Em: No. I’m the mistake. Is that what you want to hear?
Char is horrified to hear this.
Charlotte: Of course not! (pause and sigh) God, Emily. God, you’ve always been like this. My tough kid. (Em can’t look at her mom now.) You’d fall down and laugh so no one would pick you up. (Tone softening, but still intense) But you know what? It’s okay not to be okay.
Em: (still not looking at her mom. Trying to convince herself as much as anyone) I’m fine.
Charlotte: Go—
Em: (opening the door and dashing from the room) No thanks to you.
Charlotte: Em . . . (And she’s left in the doorway, shaking her head and sighing . . . )
Cut to:
Interior, Police interrogation:
Darien and Will (Ben’s partner) sit across the interrogation table from each other.
Will: We have reason to believe that Jake Morgan followed Eddie Marble to your house. Why would he do that?
The door opens and Ben enters. His captain is standing outside.
Ben: Camera’s off.
Will gets up and leaves the room as Ben takes over. Ben claps him on the back as Will passes.
Darien: You the big guns?
Ben: Naw, I just wanted to meet you for myself.
Darien: (with a sardonic sigh) Lucky me.
Ben takes his suit jacket off, getting comfortable for the duration.
Darien: You gonna rough me up? Is that why you turned the cameras off?
Ben: No. (He pulls a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his jacket pocket and lays them on the table.) Here ya go. Help yourself. (Darien considers the cigs.) I got the camera turned off because I’m not supposed to be here. (He sits in the chair Will vacated.) It was my son that got killed.
That takes a little bit of the wind out of Darien’s sails.
Darien: (in a hushed voice, not looking at Ben) I’m sorry for your loss.
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, me, too.
Darien: Well, I wish I could help you.
Ben: Do ya?
Darien nods.
Ben: That kid was my life. And I can’t understand why you’ll go to jail to protect the son of a bitch that killed him.
Darien: (attitude changing again, tough act returning) Easy. I don’t know anything.
Ben: Well, that’s too bad. See, if you could help us just a little bit—you know, like, just how Eddie knew Jake--you wouldn’t have to go down.
Darien: (huffs a laugh, leans back away from the table) I’m not goin’ to jail.
Ben: Oh, yeah, darlin’. You are. (Darien narrows her eyes at him.) I’m gonna see to it.
Darien: Well, then, I’ll send you a post card.
Ben: (smirking) Jake was right. You don’t scare easy.
Darien: I never met Jake.
Ben: Not what he said.
Darien: Right.
Ben: What, you didn’t think I talk to my kid? He wanted to be a cop like me. (Darien’s looking a little uncertain now.) We were tight. He didn’t tell me everything. He said you two’d . . . talk there in front of your place where he was parked. Said he was intrigued, but he never went up. (Eyeing her intently) Now I see you . . . you went up. Didn’t he.
Darien: (after a pause) He didn’t talk to you.
Ben nods slightly, confident in his bluff.
Ben: My boss is gonna come in here and offer you a deal. You take it.
Darien looks around nervously, as if she’s trapped.
Darien: What kind of deal? I mean if I give you—
The door opens, and the captain leans in. Ben holds up a hand. He just need a few more moments.
Captain: Detective.
Ben: Give me a moment.
Captain: She made bail. We’re done.
Ben: (hand still held up to the captain. To Darien, intense) Give me what?
Darien: (backpedaling, nervous, but recognizing her out) Nuthin’. I—I was, uh, I was gonna offer you a cigarette. That’s all. Looks like I’m goin’ home.
She bolts from the room, leaving a frustrated Ben sitting at the table. He was so close.
And I’m thinkin’ that the captain’s timing was just a little *too* convenient for her.
Blue wash to:
Exterior, Shopping plaza, Day:
Charlotte is crossing through the plaza, a dress bag over one arm.
VOJ: It takes a lot to get Mom upset, but there’s been a lot going on lately. I hate that I’m stuck here, and that I can’t help.
Across the plaza, Char see DR. JANET FRAZIER! Looking quite well, considering she was killed on an SG-1 away mission. She’s apparently relocated and changed her name to Susan.
Charlotte: Susan?
Susan: (delighted, changing her course to talk to Char) Charlotte, how nice to see you!
Charlotte: How are you?
Susan: I’m well, thanks. And you?
Charlotte: Pretty good.
Susan: I’ve been meaning to call to tell you how great it is that you are running for mayor.
Charlotte: It hasn’t been that great the last couple days.
Susan: (with a chuckle) Well, I’m impressed. I just raced out of work to catch Carrie’s volleyball game, then I’ve got to head back to the house to meet Paul’s new business partner at dinner tonight.
They share a laugh at how busy they’ve both become.
Susan: With your schedule it must be just impossible to juggle everything.
Charlotte: (a wry smile) Ugh, it is. It’s impossible.
Susan: (growing serious) We all miss Jake so much, Charlotte. Especially Aaron. Aaron still refers to him as his best friend.
They share a sad smile.
Charlotte: What’s Aaron been up to these days? I haven’t seen him in forever.
Susan: Well, studying, mostly. You know that he’s graduating from college this semester.
Charlotte: (soft, almost wistful) Already . . . Wow. Senior year.
Susan: Charlotte, I am so sorry—
Charlotte: No. No, please. Please don’t apologize. (With tears in her voice) Now you tell Aaron congratulations for me. It’s wonderful.
Susan: I will.
Charlotte: And give my best to the family.
Susan: And yours. And we’ll talk soon.
Charlotte: (with a smile) Absolutely. I’ll call.
They hug and part ways.
VOJ: They won’t talk soon, of course. I wish I could be there for you, Mom. I’m trying.
And as Charlotte watches Susan make her way through the plaza to the street . . .
. . . She sees Jake further down, watching her, smiling at her. She takes a step toward him, tears in her eyes. Then someone crosses in front of her, and he’s gone. She stands staring at the empty space where he was.
(And dagnabit, I’m getting teary.)
Cut to:
Exterior, Morgan patio, Evening:
Max has a camera disassembled and spread out in front of him as he cleans the inner mechanisms. Maggie enters the scene by way of exiting the house through the patio door. She has her large bag on her shoulder. They seem pleased enough to see each other.
Maggie: Hi.
Max: Hey!
Maggie: Am I interrupting?
Max: No.
Maggie: Daisy wanted me to meet . . . Gray Dog?
Max: Gray Dog. Yes. She’s gotta come up with a better name for that dude.
Maggie: (setting her bag down on the table) You know she thinks . . .
Max: Yeah. Yeah, well . . . (Looking up at Maggie with a smile and a small one-shoulder shrug) Whatever get you through, right?
Maggie: Right. (She opens her bag as Max takes a drink from his coffee mug) I brought you something. (She pulls out a large book and hands it to Max.) Uh, Maya Mani, that photographer we were talking about at dinner?
Max: (accepting the gift) Yeah. (He opens the book and starts leafing through it.) Oh, wow. This is great. She’s amazing.
Maggie: Yeah. Whit picked it up, actually.
Max: (looking from the book up to her) Cool. Tell him I said thanks.
Maggie: (nodding slightly) I appreciate this, Max. Dinner and stuff. I know it’s awkward.
Max: (closing the book and setting it aside. The rest of the conversation is played with her standing and him looking up at her in that way he has.) Well, it was alright. I mean, I’m not gonna go hot tubbing with you guys or anything, but it wasn’t so bad.
Maggie chuckles.
Maggie: Well . . . really?
Max: (nodding) Yeah.
Maggie: Good.
Max: That’s what you wanted, right?
Maggie: Totally. I guess I’m just surprised, um, at how mature we’re acting.
Max: Yeah, me, too. I mean, he seems like a good guy, though. I get it.
Maggie: I’m glad.
Cut to:
Interior, Catering kitchen, Night:
Stack is working at one of the tables when Em storms in, crosses behind him, grabs an apron and puts it on.
Stack: Everything okay?
Em: (not looking at him as she steps up to the table beside him) The stripper story hit the paper.
Stack: Yeah, I saw.
Em grabs a mound of dough from a bowl, slams it on the counter, and starts pounding it violently.
Stack: Oh, hey. Easy on the food, lady. There is a bright side in all of this, you know.
Em: (a hint of sarcasm) Please, tell me.
Stack: You know how many people are gonna want a hot stripper caterer? Phone’s gonna be ringing off the hook.
Em: (giving him a sideways glance) Ha, ha. (pause) It’s not so crazy that I didn’t want my family to know where I worked, is it? I mean, I knew they’d freak out. My mom freaked alright. (Stack smiles to himself and shakes his head) What?
Stack: (with a shrug) No—nothin’. It’s jus’ . . . It’s just you might have a little problem with reality. (She looks at him questioningly, like WT???) I mean, you just don’t always come clean, that’s all. I thought your name was “Pam” the whole time we worked together.
Em is sullen, but she sees his point.
Em: Reality sucks.
They exchange small smiles. Stack has a point.
Cut to:
Interior, Morgan kitchen, Night:
Ben is getting a beer out of the fridge.
VOJ: One way that Dad and Max are alike: some things they just won’t let go. They’re close to the truth about me, and they’ll pursue it, even if it hurts.
Ben twists the cap off his beer, then sets the bottle on the kitchen island and leans bracing himself on both arms in thought. Max enters from the direction of the patio, carrying his coffee mug.
Max: (seeing that something’s wrong) Dad? What’s up?
Ben: We brought in that prostitute you found, that Darien.
Max: (very interested, a hint of intensity in his tone) You did? What’d she say?
Ben: Nothin’. She didn’t have to. It was all over her face. (Max looks . . . not quite stunned . . . but like this information is news to him.) Jake didn’t go there just for Eddie. He went there for her. I’d bet on it.
Max’s eyebrows crinkle. This doesn’t make sense. He himself leans on the island.
Ben: And I had her. (Shaking his head in disgust.) I had her. And she made bail.
Max: You just let her leave?
Ben: That’s the law.
Max: Yeah, but you guys can still question her, right?
Ben: She’ll be lawyered up.
Max: (his expression shifts to challenging, ready to jump back in, challenge the way things have gone) Then I’ll go talk to her.
Ben: (very firmly) No you won’t.
Max steps down a notch at his dad’s reprimand. Ben’s expression, too, shifts from reprimand to regret.
Ben: Besides, it’d never hold up.
Char enters from behind Max, crossing to the cupboard to retrieve a mug.
Charlotte: What won’t hold up?
Max: Dad’s just fillin’ me in on Jake’s case. I found this lead, but . . . (he rubs his eyebrow in frustration.)
Char is taken aback. Did she just hear what she thinks she just heard?
Charlotte: (to Max) You what? (She looks from Max to Ben, then steps to the island, watching Max.)
Ben: He heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy. That’s all. I told him to stay out of it.
Charlotte: (she can’t really believe what she’s hearing) Max brought you new evidence. This is what you’ve been working on?
Ben: Yeah, but it was a dead end. (He takes a pull of his beer.)
Charlotte: I—I can’t believe that you didn’t tell me that our son got involved in the case.
Ben: Well, Charlotte, you’ve been busy. I didn’t want to worry you.
Charlotte: (getting on a roll) Nononno. Next time tell me first! (Em and Daisy enter in the background) Let me be the one to decide whether to worry or not!
Ben: (nodding. The word is barely audible) Yeah.
Em: (timidly from the background) What’s going on?
Charlotte turns to see her daughters, then turns back to Ben (and dang by Max looks good standing there next to her).
Charlotte: What’s going on is that this family is falling apart, and I’ve only got myself to blame.
Ben: Oh, that’s not true.
Charlotte: No, I think it is. (pause) I’m gonna quit the race.
She makes a quick exit, leaving the rest of the family speechless.
Fade to BLACK
Act V
Fade up:
Interior, Max’s room, Next morning:
The camera pans across from one side of the room to find Max sitting on his bed. (Wardrobe notes: This morning he’s wearing a multihued brown/beige/tan striped button-down over a green T.) Em comes and sits down next to him.
Em: This is terrible, Max.
Max: (nodding) Mom seemed really upset.
Em: (fretful) I know.
Max: I hate seeing her like that.
Em: (with a shrug, grasping at straws) Maybe it’s the best thing, her quitting.
Max: (with a doubtful shrug of his own) I don’t know.
Em: C’mon. Maybe she’ll be happier not running around all the time thinking about all this campaign stuff.
Max: I mean, I wasn’t around much before she decided to run, but was she happier then?
Em: (quietly. Max has a point) No.
Max: Seems that now she gets excited about things, you know? Stuff to look forward to. That’s something.
Em: You’re right. That’s a lot.
Cut to:
Interior, Ben & Char’s bedroom:
Char is putting on her jewelry, getting ready for the day. Ben sits at the foot of the bed.
Ben: You sure this is what you want to do?
Charlotte: (nods) As angry as I was at those protesters, they were right. I’ve been so wrapped up in this campaign, I’ve been missing you guys completely.
Ben: Charl, they were dead wrong. Your kids know that if they need you, you’re there for them.
Charlotte: (bending to pick up her boots, she crosses over to the bed to pull them on) But I haven’t been. Max is involved with stuff with the case. Emily’s lying to us about her job. Daisy’s clinging to this dog, claiming that it’s a sign from Jake.
Ben: Yeah, well, it’s been a rough year. Kids are getting’ better every day.
Charlotte: (not convinced) Are they?
Ben: Yes.
Charlotte: Well, I just want to feel like I’m doing everything I can. It’s just too painful to wonder.
Ben: Wonder what?
Charlotte: If I could have done more. For all of the kids. For Jake.
(And now the lighting people are just showing off, what with the morning sun streaming into the bedroom, casting both soft glow and shadow on the two as they sit with space between them.)
Charlotte: (throwing up her hands) Look, I haven’t been the mother that I want to be. Not lately. I mean, I haven’t even been myself.
They both rise, Char in frustration, Ben to support her emotionally.
Ben: Charl, you know I’m gonna back you either way, but I’m not about to sit here and let you call yourself a bad mother.
Charlotte: (they are now facing each other) Look, I knew something would suffer if I ran. It had to. But this is just not the right time. The kids still need us. So I’m gonna announce the resignation tonight at the PBA dinner. Jonathan will be back in the morning, and he can help deal with the fall-out.
She exits the room.
Cut to:
Interior, Finn’s loft studio, Day:
The camera pans across a table strewn with photographic paraphernalia to find Max seated on the couch, bent over the coffee table, looking at negatives or possibly slides placed on an electric light board through a magnifying eyepiece. A knock draws his attention to the open door. It’s Whit.
Whit: (striding into the room with a smile) Heya, Max.
Max is a little surprised by the visit.
Max: Hey, what’s up?
Whit: Uh, nothing much. I’ve, uh, gotta go to New York for a while, but, um . . . (He takes a look around the studio, speaking with enthusiasm and interest) Hey, this is a nice place you’ve got here.
Max flips off the light board, rises, and steps around the table away from the couch.
Max: Yeah, it’s, uh, Finn. He’s a trip. You should meet him.
Whit: Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. (Stepping toward Max) Hey, listen, um, I was going to ask you a favor, actually.
Max: (hands in pockets, with a shrug) Sure.
Whit: Yeah, well, um. You know I got a bit tired of renting every time I came to town, so—so I bought a car.
Max: Yeah, the Beemer. I saw it outside.
Whit: Yeah, well, Maggie won’t drive it while I’m out of town. Claims that she’s a little, uh, accident prone.
Max: (with a smile and a chuckle) She’s not lyin’, man.
Whit: (sharing the chuckle) So, um, (he reaches into his pocket) why don’t you take ‘er out? (He holds the keys out to Max, who takes them slowly.) With this weather, make a nice alternative to that bike of yours.
Max considers (doing the “ducky lips” thing).
Max: It’s a nice car.
Whit: Oh, it is. (Casually looking at some pictures strewn on a work-height table, then back to Max) You should enjoy it.
Max’s eyes are wide with puzzlement and disbelief.
Whit: In fact, (stepping up to Max and looking him straight in the eye) think of it as yours.
Max: (with puzzlement) Alright . . .
Whit: I think you’ll find I treat my friends very well, Max. As long as they respect what’s mine.
And Max and I both get what he’s saying. Max huffs an ironic laugh as he looks at the keys.
Max: Oh, okay. So it’s a trade, huh? (He looks back at Whit, holds up the keys) A car for Maggie.
Whit: (with a smile, but he sees Max can’t be bought) Of course not. Maggie’s not yours to trade.
Max: (brow furrowed in frustration, and possibly disgust) Maggie doesn’t belong to either us, man.
He tosses the keys onto the table.
Whit: Don’t be so sure.
Whit and Max eye each other for a moment, Max looking disbelieving that Whit just tried to bribe him.
Whit looks at his watch, his attitude saying that he believes he won this round.
Whit: I have a plane to catch. But I’ll be back in a week or two, I imagine. (He picks up his keys.) Be good, Max.
He turns and leaves.
Blue wash to:
Interior, Jake’s room, Day:
Daisy has found the dog in Jake’s room, Jake’s trading card collection scattered across the floor. Daisy rushes in and kneels next to the dog and the mess.
Daisy: What did you do? (She picks something up and we get an insert shot of) Joe Montana’s rookie card. (It’s been chewed and torn.) This is Jake’s most prized possession.
VOJ: No way, dog. Not the rookie card.
Daisy sits herself cross-legged on the floor.
Daisy: You’re not a sign from Jake. A sign from Jake wouldn’t chew a rookie card. Give me fleas.
VOJ: After all this, I was kinda hoping Dais wouldn’t realize that. She seemed to be pretty happy with that mutt.
Em comes in to see the mess, jaw dropping open at the sight.
Em: Oh my God! What happened here?
Daisy: (petting the dog) We have to give him back to his owners.
Em: We have to find them first.
Daisy reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a “Lost” poster with the dog’s picture. She hands it to Em.
Em: Daisy . . . (She sits on a chair behind Daisy and considers her sister for a moment.) Dognapper.
Daisy: Shut up. (But there’s no bite to it.) I just . . . thought . . .
Em: I know. (She folds up the poster) Come on. Let’s get ready for this dinner thing. (She pats Dais on the shoulder as she rises and leaves the room.)
Blue wash to:
Interior, Banquet hall, the Sullivan PBA Annual Dinner:
The Morgans (minus Em) and Granddad are seated at a round table close to the podium. The mood is subdued. Char leans toward Ben to talk quietly to him.
Charlotte: My dad won’t even look at me.
Ben: Well, he’ll get over it, or I’ll drop-kick his ass.
Em and Stack are in their catering uniforms. Em tells Stack something before making her way to her family’s table.
Charlotte: (with a sigh) Okay, I better do this.
Em stands behind one of the chairs at the family’s table, holding onto the chair’s back nervously.
Em: (to the room at large) Excuse me. Dinner guests?
Charlotte: Em?
Em: (to her fam) I just want to say a quick word about how cool the PBA is.
Ben: Go ahead, Sug. (With an amused smile) Speak up a little bit.
Em: Right. (Trying again) Hi! Everyone?
Max looks around to see if anyone is giving Em their attention. Wardrobe note: Tonight he is wearing a white button-down with what looks like a Western motif stitched down the front.
Em: Quiet! Please?
Slowly the room starts to given her their attention. Stack looks a little confused.
Em: Hi. Thank you. Hi. (She smiles nervously) I’m a big fan of the Police Benevolent Association. It’s a great organization and has meant a lot to my family. (Noticing some to the confused looks around the room) Oh. Oh, I’m—I’m not just the caterer. I’m also Ben and Charlotte Morgan’s daughter. (Ben and Charlotte smile encouragingly.) As most of you know, it’s been a . . . really hard year for my family. At one point or another we’ve all wanted to lock ourselves in a room and just . . . (shrug) . . . hide. Somehow. We’ve had a really hard time moving on. And sometimes it’s felt like we can’t move at all. Like . . . (shrug) . . . Like we’re stuck. (Everyone is listening now.) But my mom’s a little different from the rest of us. She wasn’t hiding. When she decided to run for mayor, she was thinking about the future. And . . . and that—that may not seem like such a big deal to most people, but to me and my family . . . (she looks right at her mom) . . . it makes her a hero. (Char is deeply touched.) So I just wanted to say thank you to her. (Max watches his mom, then looks down and smiles to himself, proud of his sister and his mom.) For showing us the way. Even if we were a little slow to follow. (Mother and daughter share a smile.) (pause) That’s it. Thanks.
Applause all around. Stack especially seems touched and impressed. Char gives Em a big hug. Everyone at the table is proud of Em.
Dissolve to:
CU of hands shaking. The dinner is breaking up and the attendees are leaving. Charlotte is seeing everyone out, thanking them for coming.
When Owen (Granddad) and Char have a moment, Owen expresses his relief.
Owen: I am so glad you didn’t give the speech you’d planned to. And I hope you’re done with the idea of quitting.
Charlotte: (nodding) I am.
Owen: Good.
Char grabs his arm to prevent him from leaving.
Charlotte: Dad. I don’t think we should work together anymore.
Owen: (incredulous) Wh—what?
Charlotte: I appreciate everything that you’ve done, but I don’t like the way you handled Emily or her situation.
Owen: Oh, Charlotte, you’re not being realistic—
Charlotte: (looking her dad in the eye) Yes, I am. Maybe for the first time this whole campaign. I’ve been plowing ahead as if I were somebody else, a political machine, but that’s you, Dad, not me. My family is what’s important to me. That’s how I’m gonna run this campaign. It’s the only way I can fight the battles, whether or not I win.
She kisses him on the cheek, then turns and goes back to the table where her husband and her three children are seated. Owen considers her, but there’s nothing he can do.
Everyone at the Morgan table is smiling, enjoying each other's company and the way the evening turned out.
Cut to:
Banquet hall, Later:
Em, in her soiled catering jacket, is clearing away dishes and stacking them in a bus tub. Stack comes over to offer his assistance. He places a hand on her back and reaches for the dishes she is clearing.
Stack: I’ll get that.
Em: (with a smile) Least you could do.
Stack: Hey, that, uh, that speech to your mom. That was . . . that was cool.
Em: Yeah?
Stack: Yeah.
They share a smile.
Stack: (reaching into his back pocket) Oh! And this guy (he pulls out a card) wants us to cater his anniversary party. (He shows the card to Em.)
Em: Great!
Stack: You realize you’re gonna be filthy rich and famous soon.
Em: Oh, right, right, right. (She looks down at her dirty uniform.) Such a glamorous biz we’re in.
Stack: Yeah. (With a smile, he sticks the car in the front placket of her uniform before picking up the bus tub.)
Em is left to continue clearing with a smile on her face.
VOJ: We all keep things hidden. Hidden from other people, hidden from ourselves. Most of the time we’re better off when we let it go. When we find out the truth behind the lie. That’s when we can move on. Like Emily. Her secret is how much she cares.
Blue wash to:
Exterior, A front porch, Day:
Daisy has the dog on a leash and is ringing the doorbell of a house. The door opens, and an elderly man bends down to scratch the ruff of the barking dog. He’s delighted to get his dog back.
VOJ: And then there’s Daisy. Truth is she needed to pretend that dog was connected to me because . . . she was lonely.
Daisy makes her way off the porch to where Char is watching from the sidewalk.
VOJ: Only it wasn’t me she was lonely for.
Daisy drops a Charlotte Morgan campaign brochure in the mailbox before she and her mom continue down the walk, Char’s arm around her daughter’s shoulders.
Dissolve to:
Interior, Apartment hallway:
An elevator at the far end opens and Darien exits, making her way determinedly to one of the apartment doors.
VOJ: But for me and for Darien, it’s too late for the truth.
Darien looks nervously back the way she came, then knocks firmly on the door. The door opens, revealing a man, Eddie.
Darien: Eddie. You gotta get outta town.
VOJ: Sometimes, the lie is so big you have to do everything you can to protect it. No matter what the cost.
Darien and Eddie look at each other a long moment, then Darien dashes back down the hall the way she came. Eddie closes the door.
Blue wash to BLACK
End Credits