Jeremy

Written 8/13/03

Bobbie walks into Kelly's. She spots Zander behind the counter. He notices her walk in and flashes a nod and smile. She takes a seat while Zander brings over a carafe of hot coffee and a set of cups and saucers. He sits across from her.

Bobbie: "You guys are doing a great job with this place."

Zander: "We're definitely trying. Thanks for stopping by Bobbie."

Bobbie: "Well you said you needed to talk and the Brownstone is a little disorganized right now."

Livvie walks downstairs. Her eyes catch David and Robin in the corner. She's calmed at the sight of Robin finally eating something. It had concerned her for days. She decides to sit at the table next to Zander and Bobbie and read her collection of Shakespeare plays. While getting lost in her book, she can hear Zander's voice talking to Bobbie. She hangs onto to every word.

Zander: "I feel weird Bobbie."

Bobbie: "How is that?"

Zander: "I think I have a thing for Robin."

Livvie tries not to look up from her book at Zander. She starts to feel awkward not looking his way. She flips back in her mind to see whether or not she's given him the impression that she has a thing for him. She slides her body out of her chair and takes her book outside to a table in the corner. Jamal walks up to her.

Livvie: "Hey Jamal. Can I talk to you?"

Jamal sits at the table and focuses on her with his undivided attention.

Jamal: "What's up Livvie?"

Livvie: "Do you want kids?"

She feels like a total nerd asking such a dumb question. Jamal squints his eyes reaffirming the stupidity of the question.

Jamal: "Yea Livvie. One day, I'd love kids. I would be raising my daughter now if I had known about her. But she has a great life right now. I didn't want to interrupt that for her."

Livvie: "Uh well…"

Jack walks up to Livvie and Jamal. He plops down at the table.

Jamal: "What's up Jack?"

Jack: "I'm in soo much trouble."

Livvie: "Where is Christina?"

Jack: "I dropped her off at the PCPD. Can I talk to Jamal alone Livvie?"

Livvie gives up on telling Jamal. She goes back inside Kelly's.

Jamal: "What'd you do Dude?"

Jack: "I lost Christina."

Jamal: "What? Jack!"

Jack: "Shut up! Sonny found her. So now I owe him."

Jamal: "There has got to be more to this story."

Bruce and Pete walk up to Jack and Jamal. Jamal turns away pretending to not notice them.

Bruce: "What time is the race Jack?"

Jack: "We'll just meet at the field."

Pete: "Sounds good. (patting Jack on the back) The stuff was awesome."

Bruce and Pete walk inside. They scope out the room. Pete alerts Bruce to Michael sitting at a table reading a book with AJ. They walk over to Michael.

Bruce (to Michael): "How's The Cat In The Hat treatin' ya?"

AJ: "Who are you?"

Pete: "We're just friends of friends of Michael."

Michael ignores Bruce and Pete by staring at his book. They give up on getting his attention and meander upstairs. AJ notices Michael's lost interest in reading.

AJ: "Do those boys pick on you Michael?"

Michael: "Nope. We're cool. I have to get to ready for the race AJ.

Bobbie: "When did you start liking Robin?"

Zander: "I don't know. I guess I've always been attracted to the normal girls. Em was pretty normal. Robin seems like she's soo smart. I love smart girls. I used to have a crush on Hannah when she lived with us. She was always teaching me something. I loved that about her."

Bobbie: "Robin is very smart. She's a class act."

Zander: "She's also taken."

Livvie sits at a table behind Zander ingesting this information. She devises ways to impress him.

Bobbie: "Hey Zander. Sometimes a really strong friendship is the way to go."

Zander: "I agree Bobbie. I'm concerned for Kiya. Nahyla is back and she wants to be his mother."

Bobbie: "Just don't keep Kiya away from her. I learned from experience with Carly that keeping a child away from its parent is bad news. As a matter fact, is that AJ with Michael?"

Zander (looking behind him at AJ and Michael at the table): "Yeap. They're trying to build something. If Carly has a problem with that, it's her tough luck. Michael is really enjoying his time with AJ. I'd hate to see him lost in the sauce again."

Max enters the house to Brenda curled up on the couch staring at the mountain of toys left unpacked from Max's morning of shopping for Chloe. He stands over her with a warm coffee. She slowly stands up and takes the coffee.

Max: "You ok Brenda?"

Brenda: "It's just you and me Max. Spit it out. Where is Greg?"

Max: "I can't discuss Sonny's business with you. You know that Brenda."

Max wants to give in to her worry and tell her everything. Lois comes through the door as his saving grace.

Max: "Hey Lois."

Lois: "I'm so glad you finally started calling me Lois."

Lois winks at Max. He can't help but blush. He goes back outside. Brenda walks over to Lois and falls into her arms. She helps Brenda sit back down.

Lois: "You sounded horrible on the phone. I came straight from the airport."

Brenda: "I think Sonny killed my bodyguard. I just don't know why. I can't be responsible for someone's death."

Lois: "Brenda, there is no way you would be responsible. Sonny doesn't kill for fun."

Brenda: "How are you? Are you over Luiz?"

Lois: "You want the truth?"

Brenda: "Best friends tell the truth."

Lois: "I love him."

Brenda rolls her eyes and buries her head in her hands. She groans loudly. She pulls her head back up.

Brenda: "Lois you can't!"

Lois: "I know Brenda. Believe me. I know."

Brenda: "What Lois? What happened?"

Lois: "He showed up in PR."

Brenda: "Lois, you can't be involved with him."

Lois: "You Little Hypocrite."

Brenda: "I'm just saying Lois. Sonny is totally going to kill Luiz if you get with him. He still has my assets!"

Lois (frustrated): "Brenda!…

Nik walks in with Kristina ready to play. Brenda and Lois both look perplexed. Nik notices their expressions as Kristina dances her little dance in his arms. She knows seeing Brenda means seeing her Daddy too.

Brenda: "What are you doing Nik?"

Nik: "The visit? With Sonny?"

Brenda: "Right now?"

Nik: "I have things to do. I have business with Stefan."

Lois (walking up to Nik and taking Kristina): "It's fine Nik. We'll entertain her."

Nik: "Are you sure?"

Lois: "Of course."

Nik: "Ok. Bye Krissy."

Nik leaves the house. Brenda slumps down in the chair. Lois and Kristina stare at her wallowing in her misery.

Lois: "Look at her Kristina. She's such a big baby."

Brenda rolls her eyes at Lois. Sonny walks in. Brenda bolts from the couch up to Sonny demanding answers with her profound body language. He can see the desperation in her eyes. Kristina starts to scream in excitement distracting Sonny's attention from Brenda. He takes the baby and kisses Lois. Brenda goes back to her wallowing chair.

Sonny: "How are my favorite girls?"

Lois takes Kristina back from Sonny.

Lois: "I'm taking Kristina home. You and Brenda need to talk."

Sonny: "Talk about what?"

Lois: "Sonny. Talk to Brenda. (turns to Brenda) We'll continue our conversation later."

Sonny throws up his hands as Lois leaves the house. His frustration grows as he hears Kristina's cries of disappointment fade in the distance. He sits across from Brenda with her arms crossed and her body curled up in the chair.

Sonny: "I had a nightmare. It kept me from sleeping last night. I found out, in this nightmare, that Greg was a traitor. It was weird, because the nightmare shifted to me in the warehouse. I had him tied up begging for my forgiveness..."

Brenda: "Did this really happen Sonny? Are you speaking code?"

Sonny rests his elbows on his knees and looks at the ground. Brenda starts to understand what he's trying to do. He looks up at her.

Sonny: "I want out. I'm no better than Luiz or Greg or Marcello, but I wanna be. It's eat or be eaten Brenda. I can't sleep anymore…"

Brenda: "You're leaving aren't you?"

Sonny shakes his head with a no. He puts his hand over his eyes and closes them to rest his mind for a minute. He still has yet to sleep. He's so exhausted it hurts to stay awake.

Sonny: "You can't leave here. I respect what you do. You have a life apart from mine."

Brenda: "You are leaving."

Brenda starts to cry. She tries to build a plan in her head to make the best of her life without her family to be with Sonny. She realizes from years of struggle with herself that she loves him that much to isolate her life.

Sonny: "I'm not leaving Brenda. I can't disappoint Chloe. I really do think she'd miss me a little."

Brenda: "She'd miss you a lot. What made you feel this way?"

Sonny: "I ruined a little girl's fairytale last night. I didn't mean to do it, but I did. Don't worry about it. Doesn't really matter now. The fact is I can't sleep. Food doesn't matter anymore. All I wanna do is to live vicariously through my daughter. Life's so much easier that way. I don't have any expectations of her. I don't care if she's a doctor or a lawyer or a model or some nimrod's music manager. I just want her to use that smile, dance her little jig, and sing her little heart out."

Brenda: "You can't or you'll die."

Sonny: "This conversation is a nightmare in itself."

Brenda: "Can't we just take one day at a time?"

Sonny: "I just got the best idea. Sex in the stables at Wyndemere."

Brenda bursts out in laughter breaking the nervous tension and rebuilding a sense of sexual energy.

Sonny (with his dimples deeply engraved his cheek): "You think I'm joking?"

Brenda: "Actually, I think you're serious. I agree. I'd love to see Sheba squirm. We can go to Kelly's and pack a picnic dinner."

Sonny: "I think Alexis' sister would say something about being one with nature. Yin and Yang or something eclectic like that."

Brenda: "I'm yin and you're yang. Let's do it."

Sonny: "No worries?"

Brenda: "No worries."

Ned, Carly, Brooke Lynn, and Tommy congregate at L&B watching Lucky practice for his concert planned after the race. Lucky stands at the microphone while his audience views his mini-performance from the comfort of the couch.

Lucky: "Alright. I'm going to dedicate this one to Brooke Lynn. I'll meet you backstage afterwards Nookie Brookie."

Brooke Lynn cracks a smile and finds a comfortable spot on her back with her head in Carly's lap.

Lucky: "Here goes. One two one two three four…"

Lucky starts on his guitar and grabs the mic.

Lucky: "At home drawing pictures of mountain tops with him on top lemon yellow sun. Arms raised in a V. Dead lay in pools of maroon below. Daddy didn't give attention to the fact that mommy didn't care. King Jeremy the wicked ruled his world. Jeremy spoke in class today. Jeremy spoke in class today. Clearly I remember pickin' on the boy. Seems like a harmless little fuck. Oooh, but we unleashed a lion. Gnashed his teeth and bit the recessed lady's breast. How could I forget. And he hit me with a surprise left. My jaw left hurtin'. Dropped wide open. Just like the day. Oooh like the day I heard. Daddy didn't give affection and the boy was something mommy wouldn't wear. King Jeremy the wicked ruled his world. Jeremy spoke in class today. Jeremy spoke in class today. Try to forget this…Try to erase this…From the blackboard… Jeremy spoke in…spoke in class day."

Lucky ends the song with a fading guitar solo. He finishes his song and bows to his audience clapping for their small yet satisfying entertainment.

Lucky: "Sorry about the F-bomb Ned."

Ned: "Every great rock star says it at least once."

Lois walks in with Kristina still teary-eyed and fussy. Brooke Lynn lifts her body from the couch and runs over to her mother. She almost forgets that her mother may have been in Puerto Rico with a questionable man. She clings to Lois tightly sincerely missing laying her head on her mother's chest. Brooke Lynn kisses Kristina on the cheek bringing a smile to the baby's sad face. Carly stands to leave noticing Ned admiring his ex-wife. Tommy helps Lucky packs up his equipment.

Brooke Lynn: "I miss you Mommy."

Lois: "I missed you too Hon. I even brought you back a baby."

Ned walks over to Lois and kisses Kristina on the head. Carly is in a daze at him obviously fawning over Lois. She breaks out of her trance.

Carly: "You know what? I'm going to go Ned."

Ned (walking over to Carly): "Ok. I'll see ya later."

Carly: "Good. I'll see ya."

The tension becomes soo obvious that Carly makes a break for the door. Brooke Lynn pulls from her mother.

Brooke Lynn: "Can I please go to the race with Lucky and Tommy? JR will be there too! Please Mom and Dad! Please!"

Ned: "Ok Brooke you can go. (to Lucky and Tommy waiting to head out the door) You watch over my daughter."

Tommy: "We will Mr.Ashton."

Lucky: "Not a problem Ned. Let's go kids."

Lucky, Tommy, and Brooke Lynn leave L&B. Ned smiles at Lois with Kristina in her arms. Lois smiles at him admiring her

Lois: "Never seen a woman with a baby before?"

Ned: "I was just thinking how I miss seeing you with Brooke Lynn when she was as tiny as Kristina."

Lois: "I'm sorry. Is it hard for you to be around Kristina? I can find Alexis…"

Ned: "Oh no. I'm fine. I love seeing her. I left Alexis earlier today and she was very overwhelmed so Kristina might have much more fun hanging out with us. Have a seat."

Ned sits down and offers Lois room on the couch next to him. She places Kristina in between her and him.

Lois: "How is JR?"

Ned: "How did you know about JR?"

Lois (realizing her slip of the tongue): "Uh. I got the newspaper in PR. That's why I came home early. I was concerned. I feel responsible."

Ned: "You're not responsible. This is all Luiz's fault."

Sonny and Brenda walk into Kelly's stuck in their little world of intimacy. Sonny wraps his arm around Brenda's waist as they walk up to the counter to collect their callin order. Michael runs downstairs just as Sonny is about to grab the bag. He looks at Sonny not knowing how to react to him since it was he that ended the relationship. Sonny smiles quietly at Michael but continues on gathering the food. Michael jumps in front of Sonny and Brenda to prevent their escape from Kelly's.

Michael: "Hi Dad. Where you going?"

Sonny looks at Brenda. She expresses extreme desperation to leave in a flash and not ruin their mood. But even she knows that Sonny should acknowledge Michael in some way even if he said he would leave the boy alone.

Sonny: "Hey Michael. Brenda and I are going to have a picnic."

Michael: "Wanna have your picnic at the race course? I have to test out my new bike."

Sonny (looking at Brenda): "Not today Michael. It's actually getting a little late in the day. Maybe tomorrow you, me, and Chloe…"

Michael: "I don't want Chloe there!"

Sonny runs his fingers his hair with a perplexed look on his face. He's at a loss for words. AJ walks over hearing Michael's outburst. Brenda jumps in front of AJ to protect Sonny from any potential misunderstanding that would ensue from AJ's presence.

Brenda: "Hey Michael. Listen, like Sonny said, you, Chloe, him, and I can spend some time together tomorrow. Everything will be just fine. We'll get together then. We'll have a good time."

AJ stares at Sonny who stares back at AJ. They both allow Brenda to play the peacemaker with Michael. Bruce watches the exchange from the counter. Michael gives up and bolts upstairs.

AJ (to Sonny): "If you're gonna kick the kid to the curb, the least you could do is say goodbye."

AJ walks upstairs leaving Sonny dumbfounded. Brenda takes his hand and they leave Kelly's. In Zander's room, Michael sits in front of his video game with his racecar stuck on pause waiting to be driven. AJ comes in, picks up the red helmet, and hands it over to Michael

AJ: "Hey Michael. Don't think Sonny doesn't love you. Sometimes adults just need time alone."

Michael: "Since Chloe's here, I don't matter anymore. He went to his island and he took Chloe and not me. I always get to go to the island."

AJ: "Maybe he figured you didn't want to leave your mother alone. It is just you and your mom now."

Michael: "Yea. I can't wait till school starts AJ. Thanks for helping me finish my book today."

AJ: "That's what father's do. I don't wanna rush you, but I am your father. I'm just trying to get to know you."

Michael: "I know."

Michael allows AJ to give him a hug. AJ walks over to the door to give him some time alone.

AJ: "Be safe with that bike."

Michael: "I will AJ."

AJ closes Zander's door. Michael waits till he can no longer hear AJ's footsteps. He crawls over to the bottom drawer of Zander's dresser. He opens the empty drawer. He waits again to hear anyone coming upstairs. He pulls up the bottom panel of the drawer revealing the purple pills. He remembers how they made him faster and able to beat that racecar to the finish line of the stool at the counter. He was conquered once he hit the ground, but he got up so why not try it again. Didn't kill him the first time. He takes two of the pills and pops them in his mouth. He replaces the panel and quickly closes the drawer.

Ned and Lois sit on the floor playing with Kristina. She attempts to build a tower with her alphabet blocks. She watches Ned as she place another block on the stack. Ned takes his finger and nudges the tower till it topples over. Kristina screams with excitement over Ned's minor destruction of her tower. Lois helps her rebuild her tower to start again.

Ned: "How was Puerto Rico?"

Lois becomes flustered by the question. She wants to tell him the truth. She keeps telling herself, she did nothing wrong. He came on to PR on his own. But she remembers that ultimately she said those powerful words to him. She can't reveal that to Ned.

Lois: "It was great and relaxing. I think I'm over Luiz. I needed that to be over."

Ned (looks at Lois): "I know you were head over heels for him. I'm sorry you had to be disappointed. I hate seeing you disappointed."

Lois: "I'm fine Ned. But seeing Kristina makes me wanna have another baby."

Ned: "I was thinking that myself."

Lois: "Wanna do it?"

Ned looks at Lois startled by the seriousness in her tone. He cocks his head to the side to see if he heard her correctly. She stops smiling to let him know, she was dead serious.

AJ hangs out by the counter at Kelly's talking on his cell phone. Bobby walks over to him. He ends his conversation to give Bobbie his attention.

Bobbie: "Liz went to the race with Zander unless you were here to see Michael. Is Carly ok with that?"

AJ: "I think it's time Michael decides who does or doesn't see him."

Bobbie: "I agree AJ. I just want Michael to be comfortable with you. I care about his feelings most of all."

Carly walks in and over to Bobbie and AJ.

Carly: "Where is Michael? Why are you here AJ?"

Bobbie: "Michael went to the race up at the field. AJ was here for Liz. Carly, you, Kiya, and I are going to the Brownstone. We have a lot to talk about. Let's go."

AJ (walking away to avoid the wrath of Carlybabes): "Thanks Bobbie."

Carly: "Why are we going to the Brownstone?"

Bobbie (picking up Kiya): "We need to discuss your horrible mothering skills."

The sunset appears over the horizon of the muddy field. The spectators start to congregate. Lucky arrives with Tommy and Brooke Lynn. JR limps his way to the field. Brooke Lynn and Tommy run over to him and shower him with hugs and high fives. Zander, Liz, Livvie, and Michael show up together with the shiny red motorcycle. Lucas, Maxie, Georgie, and Lulu slide in through an opening in a wooden fence. Jack hoses down the field a little more to ensure its soggy state. Jamal walks over to Michael's bike and checks its safety. He points out to Michael where he'll be allowed to ride. Bruce, Pete, Ryan, and four other boys, Sam, Wes, Brian, and Kyle all ride up to the field ready to start. Bruce hops off his bike and greets Jack with the secret handshake.

Nahyla climbs up on the fence and sits soaking in the whole scene. She notices the boys from the alley that chased her all the way to the docks, but no one notices she's there. The separate arrivals start to fuse into one crowd of excited bodies exchanging names, checking each other out, and planning future "get togethers". Michael takes his bike and walks away from the crowd. He feels tired and awake at the same time. He can't get that damn racecar out of his head. For some random reason he remembers peeking under Sonny's door at the warehouse and finding the room dark, because Daddy took his favorite girl to the island and not him. He tries to remember the last time his mother gave him a hug. Sadly, he never finds that memory. Bruce walks over to Michael full of sarcasm as usual. Nahyla remains sitting on the fence and watches Bruce's every move.

Bruce (whispers in Michael's ear): "So your gangsta daddy doesn't want you I see."

Michael quickly turns to Bruce with a flair that made the hair on Bruce's neck stand at attention. He stares Bruce in the eyes. Michael can't control his heavy breathing mixed in with a little hurt and heartache. He decides to ride off the delusions. He hops on his motorcycle and takes off at full speed. The crowd continues to mingle, not noticing Michael's freak behavior. Michael circles around the crowd like a shark stalking his prey. He stops the motorcycle and stares at Bruce a couple of feet away. Bruce squats a little and motions his hands to say "come and get me punk". Michael lays hard on the gas and drives the bike towards Bruce. Finally scared for his life, he jumps away from Michael, not for a minute believing the boy would even dare try to hit him. Michael stops and faces Bruce again. Bruce starts to cough as if he's out of breath. He doubles over and starts to vomit from his extreme loss of breath. Jack and Pete walk over to Bruce.

Pete: "What's your deal?"

Bruce (leaning over): "Nothing. I think I'm having an asthma attack."

Jack: "You don't need to race Dude."

Bruce (stands back up): "I'll be fine. I'm not a punk like that little red shit over there. That little bitch tried to hit me."

Jamal (storming over to Bruce): "Hey! Stop saying shit about Michael!"

Michael revs up his bike again. He charges towards Jamal, Jack, Pete, and Bruce. Jamal, Jack, and Pete throw their bodies to the ground as Michael keeps speeding towards them. He misses hitting them by making a sharp turn away from the frightened bodies on the ground. The crowd goes quiet and they all run away from Michael who is obviously out of control. Bruce gets sick to his stomach again and Michael circles around him. He rides up to the top of the hill and speeds down towards Bruce. Bruce is too weak to move while Jack and Jamal yell at Michael to stop. Bruce can't believe his eyes as Michael hops the bike and rams the front tire into Bruce's chest. Bruce hits the ground and tries to get back up, but his asthma loses control. Michael attacks again by running over Bruce chocking on the lack of air and the blood fighting to pour out of his body from the blow to the chest. Zander, Lucky, Jack, and Jamal, on foot, chase Michael around the course. Brooke Lynn tries to go after him too, but Tommy, JR, and Lucas hold her back. Everyone clings to each other hoping the boys can rectify the situation. Jack hops on his bike and finally catches up to Michael. He slams his bike into Michael's knocking the possessed child to the ground. Jack stops his bike and kneels down to Michael who unleashes his anger through kicking and screaming every dirty word in the book of dirty words. Jamal, Zander, Lucky, Liz, and Livvie run over to help Jack calm Michael. Pete races over to them with tears of anger in his eyes.

Pete: "Bruce is dead! That little son of a bitch killed Bruce."

Everyone looks at Michael finally quiet and staring up at the sky. All he can remember is Liz's blue painting, sleeping in a crib with Jason reading him the Africa book, and Blues Clues. He thinks of Skye and the "twins" sleeping peacefully because of Liz's blue sky. He closes his eyes and just wishes he could die, float to the heavens, and sleep in one of those soft white clouds living amongst that serene azure. Azure? Where had he heard that one before? Maybe one those Ella Fitzgerald moments from Uncle Luke's collection that he chanced upon in Aunt Ruby's jukebox. Or was it Coleman? He thinks really hard and decides who the hell cares. Drifting, dreaming, in an azure mood. Stardust gleaming through my solitude. Here in my seclusion. You're a blue illusion. While I'm in this azure interlude, I'm not wanted. I'm so all alone. Drifting, dreaming, in an azure mood.

Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" used

Ella Fitzgerald "Azure" used