DISCLAIMER: I do not own Beverly Hills 90210 or any of the characters involved in this story.
A/N: Not really a whole lot to say here. So I guess I'll just jump right into it. We're coming down to the home stretch of this story. Just a little bit further to go and then after a brief break, I'll start on the next saga of my 90210 fandom writing which takes place in season 5.
Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter. And please take a moment to review.
Brandon and Steve get ready to walk into the Peach Pit after their basketball game. Brandon has a perturbed look on his face while Steve rushes up and slaps his best friend on the shoulder in a playful manner with a slight grin on his face.
"You know, I seriously can't believe that we lost to Muntz and Artie. Nobody ever loses to Muntz. He's like the least athletic guy in the entire fraternity. It's like losing to the Bad News Bears." Steve rambles in a complaining tone.
"Sorry bro, it's my fault. My game was a little off." Brandon says.
"A little off?" Steve repeats in an exaggeratingly sarcastic tone. "Brandon, you missed four lay ups, I'd say you were more than just a little off."
"Look Steve, I'm sorry, okay. But I think there are more important things in the world than you losing a meaningless basketball game to two of your KEG brothers." Brandon says, with a slight hint of annoyance in his voice, but still in a friendly manner.
"That's what you think. You don't have to see these guys all week." Steve says. "Besides, name me one thing that's more important."
"Well for starters, how about what I'm going to do about Clare and this whole prom thing?" Brandon asks.
"Brandon, I told you. Just go to the lousy prom. It's one night, what can it hurt? You go, you show her a fun time, and you stay in the Chancellor's good graces. How hard can that be?" Steve says.
"Plenty hard. Believe me bro, you don't know Clare. You don't know what she's like. Besides, that's not the point." Brandon replies as the two reach the front door. "My plans for Saturday Night have been completely shot all because some high school girl with overly excessive hormones and an eye for me is using her father as leverage to more or less blackmail me into taking her to prom. And if she does ruins my plans for this weekend, who's to say she won't do it the following weekend, and so on and so on?"
"Look, you only got another few weeks with this task force until you go to Washington to meet the President right?" Steve asks as Brandon nods in the affirmative. "So just play along with Clare until then. Humor her as best you can. Then once the task force is done and the trip is over, she loses her leverage on you and you can tell her to go jump in a lake, end of story." Suggests Steve
"So you're saying I should continue to let her lead me around on a leash until the task force is over?" Brandon asks in an annoyed and disbelieving tone. "Sorry Steve, but unlike you, I still have an ounce of pride. No bro, enough is enough and it's time I grab the bull by the horns." Brandon says assertively as he opens the door to the Peach Pit and much to his and Steve's surprise, sees Clare standing standing behind Nat who is sitting down in a chair. Clare is giving him a neck massage.
"Oh yea, that hits the spot." Nat groans as Clare looks up at Brandon and Steve who just came in. Steve leans in to whisper to Brandon.
"Looks like the bull is grabbing something else at the moment." Steve whispers to Brandon with a snicker as Brandon elbows him. At that point Nat looks up and sees Brandon and Steve.
"Oh, hi guys." Nat says. Brandon stands there, looking over at Clare, clearly not happy to see her at all as he seems to run into her no matter where he goes.
"So Nat, is this a new way of letting people settle up on their dinner tab? By letting them do certain other favors for you" Steve jokes.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Steve. She told me I looked all wound up and she said she knew just the thing to relieve the tension. I have to say it worked. My muscles haven't felt this good in years. Thanks Clare." Nat says with a smile as he hops up out of the chair and goes back to the business of tending to the Peach Pit.
"You know, Brandon, you look a little tense yourself. Maybe I could interest you in a nice massage to help alleviate some of the stress and tension your currently feeling?" Clare suggests to Brandon as she leans up against the chair in a cute and seducing manner.
"Somehow, Clare, I don't think anything that involves you putting your hands anywhere on my body would accomplish the goal of alleviating stress. In fact, I'm quite certain it would only have the opposite effect." Brandon says in a direct manner. Sensing the mood becoming more tense, Steve quickly searches for the quickest excuse he can find to leave.
"Well, I can see you two have a lot to talk about. So you know what, I'm just going to go over there and check out the juke box." Steve says with a grin as he walks away leaving Brandon and Clare alone.
"You know, Brandon, if getting a massage here makes you uncomfortable, we could always go someplace a little more private and intimate to really work out the kinks." Clare says with a smile as she leans over the chair, looking at him and biting the end of her finger. Rather than beat around the bush, Brandon decides to jump right to the point.
"You know, Clare. It is generally considered proper etiquette, at least in western civilization, to ask somebody to go out with you before you start announcing it to other people, especially if it involves taking you to your senior prom." Brandon says
Clare shrugs. "What would have been the point of doing that? You would have just said no."
"So if you knew I was going to say no, why did you tell your father I was taking you?" Brandon asks as he stares straight ahead.
"Well, it was the only way I could think of to get you to go with me." Clare replies.
Brandon smirks in disbelief. "So just like that, huh? You can just manipulate somebody's entire weekend and get what you want? You know, Clare, it just so happened that I had something really important planned for Saturday, something I had been looking forward to for weeks. And now I'm going to have to break those plans, for something I wasn't even asked if I wanted to do." Brandon says
"Aw, you'd do that for me, Brandon?" Clare says in a cute and lovey tone as she tries to nuzzle up to Brandon. "Brandon, you're so sweet."
Finally getting fed up with Clare's antics, Brandon throws his hands up in the air and backs away from her. "That's it, I can't take this anymore. You're a fruitcake, Clare. I'm out of here." Brandon says as he gets up and walks out the front door.
"Me too. I'll follow you." Clare says giddily as she follows him out the front door and around the building to the parking lot.
"So tell me something, Clare. Just how far are you planning on taking this?" Brandon asks.
"How far am I planning on taking what?" Clare asks.
"Oh come on, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I drive you to school, I take you to prom. What's next? You kidnap me and drag me to Vegas and force me to marry you at gunpoint?" Brandon asks in a sarcastic tone. Clare chuckles and shakes her head.
"No, I'm far too young to even start thinking about marriage right now. After all, I'm still in high school." Clare responds in a perky upbeat tone. "No Brandon, I don't want to marry you. I just want to have my way with you a few times. And it would be really nice you at least liked me."
Brandon shrugs. "I do like you, Clare." he responds casually. "And I like you even better when I can't see you or hear you."
"Well, we'll just have to work on that now won't we?" Clare responds. "So this Saturday, pick me up about when? 6:30?" Clare says. "Till then, my love." Clare says after kissing Brandon on the cheek, to which he closes his eyes and endures.
"Clare, just one more thing." Brandon says as Clare turns around. "In a few weeks this whole task force thing will be over and you won't be able to hold that over my head anymore. What will you do then to get your kicks?"
Clare smiles. "Well, I'm kind of hoping you will have come around by then, Brandon. But if not, I'm sure I'll think of something." Clare says as she walks off. Brandon watches her leave with a disgusted look on his face as he now knows there's no way he's getting out of this. And unfortunately he's going to have to break off his plans with Kelly, something that he knows probably won't go over very well.
In the backyard of Casa Walsh, Brenda has just finished reading some lines to Dylan. He's trying to be encouraging but both he and Brenda have long looks on their faces. They both know that time is running out. Rehearsal is tomorrow and while Brenda knows every line of the play backwards and forwards, there is still something that they both feel is missing.
"That was better. You're getting there." Dylan says, clearly lying, but trying to put a positive spin on things.
"No I'm not, Dylan. That was terrible." Brenda says. "Let's face it; I'm just not ready to be a leading actress yet. I should just be thankful to be Laura's understudy and call it at that."
Dylan immediately gets a sour look on his face. "That's crap, Bren, and you know it. You've never been more ready for this. Your time is now. You just don't know it yet." Dylan says.
"Dylan, we've been at this for days. I just can't do it anymore. I don't have it in me. I mean this play has been such a trial all ready, and we haven't even gotten to rehearsal yet. Look, I appreciate everything you've done these last few days, working with me and all. But if I'm not ready now, I never will be." Brenda whines. At that point Dylan stands up and begins to pace around the back yard, trying to figure out something that will help to free Brenda's mind and make her stop thinking about all the drama she's been through recently and just free her mind.
"Let me ask you something, Bren." Dylan says as he has his back towards Brenda, looking up at the sky. "When was the last time you were happy?"
"What?" asks a confused Brenda. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Just answer the question. When was the last time you remember being happy? And I don't just mean in a good mood, I mean truly happy, like everything in your life was exactly where you wanted it to be." Dylan says.
"Gosh, that's not an easy question, Dylan. Let me think." says Brenda as she sits pauses for a moment. "I would have to say that the last time I was truly happy was that last trip you and I took to Baja. You know, the one that I lied to my parents about and we wound up getting caught at the border when I didn't have my passport." Brenda says.
Dylan smiles. "Yeah, that was a fun weekend. Well, most of it anyways." says Dylan.
"Yeah. Everything up until the part where we got stopped by the border patrol was absolutely perfect." Brenda says as she and Dylan smile at each other.
"So tell me. What was it about that trip that made you happy?" Dylan asks.
"Well, I didn't realize it at the time, but that was kind of like our last truly great outing before everything came crashing down. You know before Paris happened, then Kelly, and so on and so forth. I look back now, and think about where we were at that time and everything seemed so simple. And the only thing we had to worry about was getting caught. I guess sometimes you don't realize what you have until it's gone. What we thought were problems back then, they were so little and insignificant when you look at what we face today. But I look back on that weekend and sometimes wish we could just go back there and freeze time."
"Right there. Right there, Brenda." Dylan says assertively. "That is where you need to go when you do these scenes."
"What?" Brenda asks with a confused look on her face. "Dylan, I don't understand."
"You're Maggie the Cat, a woman who has been scorned and has had her fair share of problems in life. But she can remember times that were better and that's what helps get her through, that and the hope that things will be better again someday. That's part of what makes her the woman that she is. That's who you need to be, Bren. When you act out Maggie, I want you to go back. Go back to Baja in your mind. Go back to that weekend, back before the days of getting arrested, trying out for plays, and especially before I made an ass out of myself at that restaurant that caused you to break up with me for the last time. You just need to go back to that time, to that place. You think you can do that?" Dylan expresses with intense passion as he grabs Dylan's shoulders.
Brenda nods with an unsure look on her face. "I'll try."
Dylan lets go of Brenda's shoulders and backs up a few steps. "Okay, let's do this. Try that scene again, only this time, don't think about anything but that weekend in Baja. Pretend we're back there right now, and just say your lines." Dylan says as he backs up and takes a seat on a lawn chair and watches as Brenda takes a moment and closes her eyes to imagine herself back in Baja. She finally opens them and begins to rehearse her lines.
"You know, Brick, I've been so right down disgustingly poor all my life." Brenda says in a deep southern accent with pure emotion behind it. Dylan grins. "I always had to suck up to people because they had money and I was as poor as Job's Turkey. You don't know what that's like. Well I'll tell you, it's like what you would feel if you were a thousand miles away from that drink and you had to get back to it on your broken ankle, without your crutch. That's how it feels. You have to suck up to relatives because they have money and all you have is a bunch of hand me down clothes. The dress that I married you in was my grandmother's wedding gown." Brenda says as she walks toward Dylan and then stops before she gets to him. "You can be young without money. But you can't be old without it. You got to be old with money. Cause to be old without it is just too awful. That's the truth, Brick." Brenda says with intensity in her voice.
Dylan rises up out of the lawn chair and begins clapping. "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about." Dylan says with excitement as Brenda smiles uncomfortably.
"Was that good?" Brenda asks.
"Good? Brenda, that was excellent. You stepped out and truly let yourself go. You were her. You were Maggie the Cat. This is what you have to do if you want to get that part. I'm telling you, if you do this at the audition tomorrow, Laura won't know won't hit her. Man, I can't wait to see the look on Sanders face when his little protégée doesn't get the part." Dylan says with excitement expressed on his face. At that point, Jim walks out into the backyard.
"Uhm, sorry, I don't mean to interrupt." Jim says.
"Hey, it's cool. We were just about ready to take a break anyways. I'm telling you, Jim, your daughter was born to be an actress." Dylan says. Jim grins slightly and then turns to Brenda.
"Honey, you got a phone call." Jim says as he hands Brenda the large cordless phone.
"Who is it?" Brenda asks.
"It's Scott." Jim answers.
"Oh my god." Brenda replies as she covers the phone. "I've been so wrapped up in this audition; I almost completely forgot that I agreed to go with him to his senior prom on Saturday. I haven't even bought a dress yet." Brenda says with concern to Dylan who shrugs.
"Relax, you still got time." Dylan says.
"Dylan, I don't mean to be rude. But can you give me a minute?" Brenda asks.
"Sure, no problem. Actually Jim, if you have a moment, I have something kind of important I need to talk to you about." Dylan says.
Jim looks at Dylan and nods. "Sure. Why don't we go upstairs to my study?" Jim suggests to Dylan who extends his arm to signal to Jim to lead the way. Jim and Dylan walk back into the house to leave Brenda alone in the back yard to talk to Scott on the phone.
"Hello, Scott?" Brenda answers.
"Hi Brenda. I'm not disturbing anything, am I?" Scott asks.
"No not at all" Brenda answers. "I was just practicing with Dylan for the audition tomorrow."
"How's that going? Are you ready?" Scott asks.
Brenda takes a deep breath. "Yeah, I feel ready. Dylan's really been helping me out. I just hope I do well." Brenda says.
"Listen Brenda, that's part of the reason I called. I really want to come to watch you audition. But unfortunately tomorrow is my parents wedding anniversary and I've been called upon to look after Spencer and my other brothers and sisters." Scott says. "I'm really sorry."
"Oh Scott, you don't need to apologize. You've done more than enough for me already." Brenda says. "I mean you spent a lot of time helping me rehearse and you were the only friend who was truly there for me when I got arrested."
"Well, in any case, Brenda, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. I know you'll be great." Scott says.
"Thank you." Brenda replies.
"And I wanted to make sure you're still on for going to the prom with me this Saturday, cause if you're not, I can…." Scott starts getting cut off in mid-sentence.
"Scott, I'm totally there. Trust me." Brenda says.
"Okay good. Cause I actually just made dinner reservations at that nice restaurant you really like. You know the French one?" Scott says
"Oh Scott, you shouldn't have." Brenda whines
"Well Brenda, I didn't do it so much for my prom as I'm planning on it being a celebration of you getting that part." Scott says.
Brenda smiles. "Well, that's sweet. But I think your assumption may be a bit premature. Laura's going to be awfully tough to beat." Brenda says
"Brenda, I just know you're going to get that part. I can just feel it. You've worked too long and hard on this." Scott says.
Brenda takes a deep breath as she stares out into her yard. "I sure hope you're right." she says.
While Brenda talks to Scott on the phone, Dylan follows Jim upstairs to his study as Jim closes the door behind Dylan so they can talk in private.
"What's on your mind, son?" Jim asks.
Dylan takes a deep breath and exhales before sitting in a chair as Jim sits in another chair across from him. "A lot actually." he answers. "I want to help Kevin start his own company."
"Kevin?" Jim asks, not knowing initially who Dylan is talking about, but then remembering. "Is that Suzanne's boyfriend?"
"Her fiancée actually." Dylan corrects Jim. "Soon to be her husband."
"Ah, I see." Jim says. "What does he want to do? Start a restaurant? Open a hardware store?" Jim asks, assuming it's something small as he knows virtually nothing about Kevin.
Dylan shakes his head. "No. Kevin's an environmental chemist. And he was working on a project that I think is not only very big, but also very important." Dylan explains as Jim looks at him funny. "He was developing organisms that can clean up pollution in the ocean. And he's onto something huge."
"You say he was working on this project? Was? As in past tense?" Jim asks.
Dylan nods. "The company he was working for didn't appreciate him and didn't want to develop his product, so he quit. And now he wants to continue his worn on his own, and I want to help him get started." Dylan explains.
"So you want to help him finance his own environmental research company?" Jim asks. "Dylan, something on that scale would cost millions of dollars. I mean, we're not talking about buying the Peach Pit here. We're talking about opening a high tech science lab and trying to get government contracts. It would literally cost almost everything you have to get this off the ground."
Dylan shrugs. "To take care of my family, it's worth it." Dylan says.
"Dylan, you got a big heart, son. But when it comes to stuff like this, you have no idea how this game is played. Just because an idea sounds good to you, you can't just run out and throw money at it and expect it to happen exactly like you want it to. You have to look into things, check them out, check out the people you're doing business with. You have to proceed with a degree of caution. I mean, you came this close to giving millions of dollars to that college professor, what was her name, Lucinda, to try fund some film she wanted to make. Didn't that teach you anything?"
Dylan nods. "It did. It taught me to know what I was investing in. I know what I'm investing in here. I've seen it." Dylan says with passion as Jim sits back with a dubious look on his face. "Jim, will you relax. I'm not planning on throwing all my money into this. Not yet anyways. I was thinking of another way."
"What did you have in mind?" Jim asks, his voice calming down just a bit.
"Well, I know you have plenty of friends in high places. And surely a guy with your reputation must know plenty of investors with a lot of money who are always looking for new adventures." Dylan says. Jim lets out a sigh of a relief as he nods.
"Okay, I see where you're going with this." Jim says. "And I must say it's quite a relief. It's good to see you starting to use your head and not throwing caution to the wind. Look, Kevin's probably a good guy and everything. But I can't get behind anything he has until I've had a chance to meet the guy and get to know more about him and this thing you say he has."
"That's exactly my point behind this entire conversation, Jim." Dylan says. "I'd like you to meet the man, talk to him, get to know him and let him tell you what he has. That's all I ask. Then if you like what he has to say, we can discuss our financial options then."
"And if I don't like it?" Jim asks with caution in his voice as he wonders just what will happen if he refuses to get behind this.
"Well, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Just have an open mind." Dylan says calmly and cheerfully.
Jim takes a deep breath and nods. "All right. How about if I invite Kevin, Suzanne, Erica, and yourself over for dinner sometime next week?" Jim suggests.
"Next week's a little too long." Dylan says. "Kevin's out of work at the moment and we kind of need to get this thing rolling ASAP. Look, I hate to be pushy, Jim, but it is what it is."
Jim closes his eyes for a second, and then smirks. "Would tomorrow be better?" he asks.
"Tomorrow is Brenda's final audition. I'm planning on being there for morale support. I was thinking more like the day after tomorrow." Dylan says.
Jim nods. "Fine. Is seven o'clock okay?" Jim asks as Dylan nods in agreement. "Just one thing, Dylan. Be careful. Remember, I told you a long time ago when you came into all this money that you have got to be cautious of everyone. A young guy like you who's a good kid, but a bit naïve, and has a lot of money is a prime target for many scam artists."
"I know that, Jim. But this is my family we're talking about here. And with all due respect, I really wish you would stop being so judgmental. My father was a much better man than what you gave him credit for. The same goes for my family now." Dylan says as Jim just stares back at him not saying anything, but very unappreciative of the defensive tone Dylan is using.
Brandon is walking on the campus of CU when he sees Kelly who has just sat down at a table in the Condor's nest with a cup of coffee. Kelly opens one of her text books and begins reading. Brandon frowns slightly as he realizes that he can't put off the inevitable any longer. He knows he has to tell her.
Brandon slowly makes his way across the foyer of the student building. As he gets closer and closer to Kelly, he ponders how he's going to lead into telling her that he's going to have to cancel his date with her for Saturday night.
Just before Brandon gets to the table where she is sitting at, Kelly looks up and instantly smiles. "Hey you, I was hoping to see you sometime today." Kelly says as Brandon stops at the table and looks down at Kelly.
"Hi Kel." Brandon says in a not so enthusiastic tone.
"Have a seat." Kelly suggests as Brandon pulls out a chair and takes a seat across from her. "I wanted to tell you that I went out last night and picked out a dress for Saturday."
"Yeah, about that…." Brandon starts as Kelly cuts him off.
"Oh Brandon, I'm so excited. Our first real official date and we've only known each other for what four years now. And as it turns out the timing is perfect."
"Huh?" Brandon asks, not really sure what she's talking about.
"Well, Donna and David were chosen as senior chairmen for the entertainment committee for the Mardi Gras festival this year. And Saturday night, they're holding all night auditions for bands trying out. So I'll have the beach apartment all to myself." Kelly says. "So I was thinking, maybe once we've gone wherever it is that you're taking me, we could go back to the beach apartment and….." Kelly says getting cut off.
"Kelly!" Brandon says loudly as he holds up his hand to cut her off. "We need to talk."
"Uh oh." Kelly says, her facial expression changes instantly as her smile immediately disappears. "Whenever anybody says that, it's never good news."
Brandon sighs. "Listen Kel, I'm really sorry. But I'm going to have to cancel our plans for Saturday Night."
"Cancel? What do you mean cancel?" Kelly asks with a perturbed look on her face. "Brandon, you've been building this up for weeks. You got me all excited. I even went out and bought a new dress just for this occasion." Kelly complains.
"Yeah, I know." Brandon says as he puts his elbows on the table and folds his hands. He looks down at the table with a look of disappointment. "I'm sorry, Kelly."
"You're sorry? Brandon, You got me all psyched up, and now with just a few days left you say you have to cancel?" Kelly replies, clearly upset at the way things are going.
"Something's come up, okay? Something I had no control of." Brandon says in a disheartened tone as Kelly looks down at her hands. "Chancellor Arnold wants to meet with me to iron out some of the fine print for the task force." mutters Brandon as he hears himself blurt out the lie that he came up with to tell Kelly because he couldn't bring himself to tell her that he was really being involuntarily forced into taking Clare to her senior prom.
"And he couldn't do this any other time but Saturday night?" Kelly asks.
Brandon shakes his head. "The chancellor is a busy man, Kel. I'm not exactly in the position to make demands, especially if I'm to go to Washington."
A disappointed Kelly looks at Brandon. "Okay, well you've come this far, Brandon. Don't quit now when you're this close to getting what it is you want." Kelly says.
"Please don't be upset, Kel. This can't be helped. Believe me, I'd much rather be with you on Saturday than anywhere else in the world." Brandon says.
"I'm not upset." Kelly replies as Brandon shoots her a look to say 'You're lying.' "Okay, I'll admit, I am disappointed. But I understand."
"We'll do this some other time, Kelly. I promise." Brandon says.
Kelly throws up her hands in a disbelieving manner as if to say "Yeah right" in a sarcastic manner. "Sure, whatever. Listen, I have to go. I want to catch Brenda's audition. I'll talk to you later." Kelly says in a quick, abrupt, and cold manner as she storms off.
"I'll call you later, all right?" Brandon shouts as Kelly walks off. She completely ignores him and keeps on walking. A frustrated Brandon clinches his fist and pounds it at his side. As he watches her back get smaller and smaller, he begins to seriously have doubts as to whether this entire task force was even worth it as all it's been so far is a lot of work and it has stood in the way of a lot of other things he's wanted to do.
Laura and Steve stand just outside the CU theatre. Steve is extremely confident that Laura will get the part given how well she's performed and the way Brenda nearly botched her entire audition when she and Scott did the scene at the previous audition. Laura looks out and spots Dylan and Brenda walking toward the theatre.
"There she is." Laura says as she spots Brenda, then sees Dylan walking with her. "Isn't that Dylan with her? But I thought he was Kelly's friend?"
Steve smirks. "He is, but he and Brenda have a real long history together. In high school, they were practically inseparable." Steve explains
"But I thought….." Laura begins.
"Laura…" Steve interrupts as he grabs Laura's shoulders and looks her straight in the eye. "Don't worry about Brenda or Dylan, they're totally irrelevant. All you need to do is focus on your lines and remember everything we talked about. Trust me, you do as good as you have been doing, and we'll be celebrating in a few hours when this is all said and done. I promise." Steve says encouragingly with a cocky grin.
Meanwhile, Brenda and Dylan are walking up toward the theatre as they spot Steve and Laura.
"Oh god, there's Laura, and there's Steve." Brenda says in a worried tone.
"Who were you expecting, Sonny and Cher?" Dylan replies jokingly to try to ease Brenda's mind.
"Well, I was kind of hoping maybe Laura came down with the flu. Nothing serious, but enough to keep her from showing up today." Brenda says with a slight nervous giggle.
Dylan makes a clicking noise with his cheek and shakes his head once as they continue to walk towards the theatre. "No such luck, I'm afraid. But don't worry, this is going to make it all the more sweeter when you get the part." Dylan says. "Look at Sanders up there right now talking to her, standing all tall with that stupid 'cat that swallowed the canary grin' of his. I know what he's telling her. 'Don't worry, babe. You got this in the bag.'" Dylan says doing his best Steve impersonation. "I can't wait to see the look on his face after you get the part. That will show him for going against you, a loyal friend, and helping some crazy wacko who almost accused him of rape." Dylan says. Just as they reach the bottom of the stairs, they are met by Kelly who comes walking up to them from the side.
"Hey Brenda." Kelly says as Brenda, caught slightly off guard, turns to look at her.
"Kelly, what are you doing here?" Brenda asks in a surprised tone.
"I just came by to wish you good luck." Kelly says cheerfully. "And to let you know that you got at least one fan out there cheering you on." she says as she looks at Dylan. "Well, make that two, I guess."
"A little late to be mending fences, don't you think, Kel?" says a skeptical Dylan.
"Dylan." Brenda speaks up as her way of saying to let her handle this. She turns to Kelly, doesn't smile, but shoots her an approving look. "Thanks Kelly, I need all the support I can get."
Brenda and Dylan walk up the steps to meet Steve and Laura as Kelly follows them.
"Hey guys, glad to see you made it." Steve says to Brenda and Dylan.
"Yeah, sure you are." Dylan replies back to Steve in a sarcastic tone.
"So Brenda, you ready?" Steve asks.
Brenda sighs. "As ready as I'll ever be." Brenda says.
"Well, good. It's good to see that you are seeing this through to the end." Steve says. "And just remember, no matter how things turn out, there is no shame in second place. I mean, think about it, being Laura's understudy, you'll get to learn from the best." Steve says with total confidence in his tone.
"Steve." Dylan says as with a perturbed look on his face as he folds his arms.
"Yeah? What is it, Dylan?" Steve asks.
"Do everyone here a favor, will you? Shut the hell up." Dylan replies. Steve's happy and confident demeanor disappears as his face grows sour.
"What's with you, McKay? I was just joking around." Steve says.
"Yeah, well your joking around is starting to piss me off. You've been strutting around acting like Laura already has the part sewn up, trying to get inside Brenda's head and make her think she's already lost. Well, I'm getting sick of it. You know the last time I looked; Brenda's brother was your best friend."
"Hey, take a chill pill, all right. It's called friendly competition, Dylan. Jeez." Steve complains.
"No, Steve, it's called being an ass. And you're doing it quite well." Dylan says. "So let me say this one more time. Shut up, before I knock your teeth down your throat and shut you up myself."
Dylan raises an eyebrow with a no nonsense look on his face, telling Steve that he's not playing around. Brenda and Laura just stand there and watch them as Kelly keeps her distance. At that point, before anything else can ensue, Roy and Eddie make their way up the steps and walk over to Brenda and Laura.
"Good afternoon ladies. It's so good to see you here, nice and early I might add. Good practice for Randolph's rule number one." Roy says in his English accent.
"Randolph's rule number one?" Laura asks.
"Yes, you'll learn that come rehearsal time. But don't worry about that right now. Right now we have an audition to perform." Roy says as he looks at Dylan and Steve and then sees Kelly. "And it looks like we have an audience, I presume?" Roy asks as they nod. "Good. The more the merrier I always say. After all, if our two lovely leading ladies here can't perform in front of their own friends, who can they perform in front of?" Roy says with a laugh. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the theatre beckons." Roy says as he signals for everyone to follow him in. As they all walk in, Steve glances at Dylan with a confident grin on his face as Dylan just glares at him as if to say he's pushing it.
Dylan, Kelly, and Steve are sitting out in the auditorium, not right next to each other but in the same general area. Roy and Eddie are directly in front of the stage as Laura and Brenda are both up on stage, each wearing a white dress that is indicative of Maggie the Cat.
Both of them look nervous. Laura looks at Steve who grins and gives her a fist pump, trying to fill her full of confidence. Brenda begins wringing her hands as she gazes around the auditorium. She then looks at Dylan who gives her a soft grin and mouths one word to her. "Baja."
He is telling Brenda to go back in her mind to that weekend in Baja. Let everything else around her fade away. Pretend that nobody else is there but him and her and set her mind free. Brenda shoots him a more confident smile as Roy begins to speak.
"Okay Laura, Brenda, this is it. I'm going to ask each of you to perform one scene for me. You're both going to do the exact same scene. It is a monologue from near the end of Act 1, right when Brick begins to swing his crutch at Maggie and you're going to start with the line 'And in that way I destroyed him by telling him the truth' and you will continue until you hear me say cut. Now you won't have anyone up on stage with you to perform Brick's role, so you will have to improvise. You must improvise that Brick is there and enraged by what you are saying as he swings his crutch wildly at you. Now, this is one of the most emotional parts of the entire play, so I expect you to go all out when displaying the emotions that Maggie the Cat would be feeling at that very moment. Do you both understand?" Roy says
Both Brenda and Laura shake their heads. "Are there any questions before we begin?" Roy asks. Brenda and Laura again shake their heads no. "In that case, Laura, I would like to start with you. Brenda would you kindly step off to the side and let Laura have the entire stage please?" Roy says. Brenda moves off stage to allow Laura to do her scene.
"Okay Laura, you may begin when ready." Roy says.
Laura takes her time getting ready as she walks to the center of the stage that is set up and begins to speak very loudly at the couch.
"And in that way I destroyed him by telling him the truth about his world." Laura says loudly in a heavy southern accent nearly screaming. "The truth that he was raised in your world and he couldn't be told. And after that, Skipper was nothing at all but a receptacle for liquor and drugs. WHO SHOT COCK ROBIN? I WITH MY MERCIFUL ARROW!" Laura screams at the top of her lungs, almost being too loud to understand as her voice echoes all throughout the auditorium. Roy doesn't flinch, but Eddie covers his ears for a second as it is nearly too loud for him. Steve smiles as he feels Laura is putting on a flawless performance. Dylan and Kelly both look on. Laura lets out a scream as she backs up.
"You missed me!" Laura yells. "Brick, I'm not trying to whitewash my behavior. I'm no good. I don't know why people pretend to be good. But I'm honest, give me credit for that will you please?" Laura says as she falls back onto the bed and yelps. Roy continues to watch on with an emotionless expression.
"Born poor, raised poor, will probably die poor unless I can get us something from Big Daddy when he leaves and dies of cancer." Laura says as she jumps off the bed. "BUT BRICK SKKKKKIPPPPEEERRR IS DEEEEAAADDDD! I AM ALIVE! MAGGIE THE CAT IS ALIVE! I AAAAMMMMM ALLLLLIVVVVEEEE!" Laura bellows at the top of her lungs. Eddie once again covers his ears as Laura begins to cry. Steve grins as Dylan glances over to see Eddie covering his ears and tries to judge Roy's facial expression, but he can't see her clearly.
"Okay Laura cut." Roy says. Laura catches her breath and turns to look at Roy. "That was really good. You got the lines and the emotions down pact. Only thing is, I think you can ease off a little on the screaming. Don't you think so, Eddie?" jokes Roy with a scream
"Yes indeed." Eddie replies. "I enjoy all of the five senses I have including the sense of hearing. I'd like to keep it that way." Eddie says. A look of concern grows on Laura's face.
"Yes, work on that a little bit, Laura. Other than that, you were great." Roy says. Laura looks out to Steve who smiles and motions with his hands not to sweat it. Dylan also grins slightly as he sees this small error on Laura's part as an opening for Brenda, but he knows that she'll have to be flawless in her delivery. Brenda peeks out from the off stage area and sees Dylan who again silently says the word "Baja" to her. She smiles and then goes back behind the curtain.
"Okay, thank you, Laura." Roy says. "Brenda, you're up." Roy calls out as Brenda knows this is it. It is now or never.
Brenda goes out on stage as Laura exits. She inhales deeply and then lets out a big exhale as she looks out into the audience. She spots Steve, then Kelly, then Dylan who is leaning forward intensely with his elbows on his knees and his hands folded.
"Okay Brenda, same scene. You may begin whenever you're ready." Roy says.
Before Brenda starts, she and Dylan lock eyes once more as she begins to imagine she is back in Baja with him and it is that weekend again. She then looks out into the darkness of the theatre and begins to say her lines with the same raw intensity that Laura had, but in a bit more subdued manner.
"And in that way I destroyed him by telling him the truth about his world." Brenda says in a deep southern accent as she steadily moves backwards, the truth that he and his world, he was raised in his and your world and that he couldn't be told." Brenda cries out. Steve begins to look a bit more uncomfortable as he realizes that Brenda is actually performing this scene much better than he thought she would. Dylan grins as he begins to realize that Brenda is in her zone. Kelly watches on and nods in approval.
"And after that, Skipper was nothing as all but a receptacle for liquor and drugs. Who shot Cock Robin? I with my merciful arrow?" Brenda yells in an intense voice, but not a scream at the top of her lungs like Laura did. Dylan pumps his fist in approval. Brenda jumps back improvising that Brick took a swing at her with his crutch.
"You missed me." Brenda says loudly. "Brick, I'm not trying to whitewash my behavior. I'm no good. I don't know why people intend to be good. Nobody's good." Brenda says as she starts to crawl backwards on the floor. "But I'm honest. You give me credit for just that. I was born poor! Raised poor! I expect to die poor unless I can get us something from Big Daddy when he leaves or dies of cancer." Brenda says as she stands back up and once again pretends to duck a swinging crutch from Brick.
"But Brick, Skipper is dead!" Brenda screams, not at the top of her lungs but very loudly so her voice is heard throughout the auditorium. Roy is grinning and Eddie is just watching on intently. "I am alive! Maggie the cat is alive! I AM ALIVE!" Brenda screams with emotion as she puts her hand on her chest.
"Cut!" Roy yells. Brenda turns to look at him with intensity. "You've been practicing, haven't you?" Roy asks as Brenda grins. "That was fantastic."
At that point, Steve takes a deep breath. Laura pops her head out to look at him, and he shoots her a grin to hide his own insecurity. Dylan sits there nodding and grinning. Brenda looks over at him and sees him smile and instantly a feeling of calm comes over her. She knows not that there is nothing more she can do. She gave it everything she had and put on her best performance. And if it's not meant to be then so be it, but she knows she gave it her best and she can live with it.
"You both were absolutely brilliant." Roy says. "Okay, why don't we all take five to get a breath of fresh air, use the restroom, and come back in and I'll announce the results." Roy says.
At that point, both Brenda and Laura walk off stage. Laura immediately rushes over to Steve who smiles at her.
"Steve, what did that mean?" Laura asks nervously, with a slight panic in her voice. "I need to ease off on the screaming? I thought Maggie is supposed to scream? We went over this scene three times. What does he mean I need to ease off?"
"Laura, relax!" Steve says, putting on a confident front. "You did just fine."
"Steve, he said Brenda was fantastic. He didn't say that about me." Laura cries.
"Laura, you did fine, trust me." Steve repeats.
Over on the other side, Brenda goes walking over to Dylan. "Well?" Brenda asks.
"Bren, you were amazing. Simply amazing." Dylan says with excitement.
"Do you really think so, Dylan?" Brenda asks.
"Brenda, you could not have done that any better. You should have seen Randolph when you were up there. He had a smile a mile wide." Dylan says
"Did he really?" Brenda asks as her face lights up. Dylan nods. With excitement, Brenda hugs Dylan who hugs her back. At that point, Kelly goes walking over to her.
"Brenda..." Kelly says as Brenda turns to her. "You were great, that was an amazing read."
Brenda looks at Kelly, reluctant to show gratitude at first, but then finally grinning and realizing that it doesn't pay to hold a grudge. After all, Kelly did show up to lend her support when she didn't have to.
"Thanks Kelly. That means a lot. And I'm really glad you came." Brenda says.
"Yeah, I'm glad I came too." Kelly says. "So, do you think you can forgive me? Or do I still need to walk on eggshells whenever I see you coming?" Kelly asks jokingly.
Brenda pretends to think. "Yeah, I think I can forgive you. It's too big of a pain to stay mad at you for so long." Brenda says with a grin as she leans in to hug Kelly who hugs her back. Brenda continues to talk to Kelly and Dylan while Steve continues to try to convince Laura that she did just fine.
"Okay, Laura, Brenda, can you both come up here please?" Roy says while up on stage as Eddie stands next to him. "The rest of you can come up to." Roy says as he motions with his arm for everyone to come up on stage.
Everyone goes up on stage as Laura and Brenda both gather around Roy. Eddie stands behind Roy while Steve, Dylan, and Kelly stand behind Laura and Brenda.
"All right, well you two didn't make this easy on me. You're both tremendously talented and I think you both have what it takes to make fine actresses. A big part of me wishes I could star you both in this production. But since rules dictate that I must pick a leading actress, the time has come for me to make what I assure you is a very difficult decision." Roy says.
"Brenda." Roy says as he turns his attention to Brenda. "From the few times I spoke with you outside the theatre, I could tell you were very passionate about acting and your desire to be an actress is very real. There were times when you didn't seem to be totally on target, but your desire and determination to get better and constantly improve has been very apparent right from the beginning. And that's what I look for in an actress." Roy says. Brenda nods as Dylan listens intently. Roy then turns his attention to Laura.
"Laura, you impressed me from your very first audition here as you really had the part of Maggie down. When you're on your game, you're really on. And you clearly go all out every single time you perform. The only thing I would question is whether or not you could learn to bring it down just a notch at times. Not every scene needs to be heartfelt drama. You need to know when to be casual, and when to really turn it on, so to speak." Roy continues to say in his mellow British accent. Steve watches with a concerned look
"So you both have talent and you both have lots of potential. So when it came time for me to decide which one of you would play Maggie and which one of you would be the understudy, it came down to one simple factor." Roy says as he puts one foot up on a chair and leans in to talk directly to Brenda and Laura. "I had to ask myself which one of you would be easier for me to work with, which one of you would follow directions with an open mind and be willing to learn and grow into the part. And after taking all this into consideration, I have come to my decision." Roy says as everyone leans in with intensity to hear what they've been waiting for.
"Laura…" Roy says. At that point, Dylan grits his teeth and jerks his head in disappointment. Brenda slumps slightly, while Steve leans forward grinning at hearing Roy say Laura's name first. "I have decided that you will be the understudy. Brenda, allow me to be the first to congratulate you. You will be Maggie for this production."
Brenda's face lights up as she raises her arms in excitement. Dylan pumps his fist in the air. Brenda runs over to Dylan and hugs him, then hugs Kelly. Steve shakes his head in disbelief as he was certain this part was Laura's. Laura's face immediately grows intense with anger. Brenda goes over to try to shake Laura's hand.
"Laura, don't feel bad. Personally I think you deserve the part more than I do. But I just want you to know, I really have enjoyed auditioning with you. I'd really love to rehearse my lines with you sometime." Brenda says with a smile. Laura just scowls at Brenda, not extending her hand or even bringing herself to congratulate her. At that point, Roy walks over to Brenda.
"Well done, my dear." Roy says as he kisses Brenda on the cheek. She smiles.
Laura walks over to Steve who tries to console her by hugging her, but she holds out her hand to say 'don't touch me.'
"Okay, before we adjourn for today, I just have one quick announcement to make." Roy says. "This play opens in just three weeks and we have a lot of work to do between now and then. So we're going to have to get started right away. Now I had planned to start on Friday, but unfortunately I had something come up rather last minute, so we won't be able to start on Friday. And I'm afraid to make up for that, we're going to have to work all day on Saturday instead."
"Saturday?" Brenda asks, remembering that she promised to go with Scott to the prom on Saturday.
"Yes, Saturday. I do apologize for the short notice, but I assure you it is absolutely necessary. Is this going to be a problem?" Roy asks.
"Well, I did have plans for Saturday." Brenda says. "But it's okay I understand. I'll be here."
"Good Brenda, very good." Roy says. "As the leading lady, you need to be here at every rehearsal on time and ready to go. I can't afford to have you miss even one rehearsal. I realize that you are going to have to make a few sacrifices to your free time. But an actress in this position must have the highest of commitment. And I believe you do." Roy says.
"I'll be here. What time?" Brenda asks. Roy turns to Eddie.
"We start at ten in morning. We'll break around three for lunch, then be back here at five p.m. and be prepared to work till as late as ten o'clock at night." Eddie says. Brenda frowns slightly as she realizes there will be absolutely no way she'll be able to go to the prom with Scott this Saturday.
"Laura, as the understudy, I expect you to be at all the rehearsals too. Cause if anything happens to Brenda, I'll be counting on you." Roy says.
At that point, Laura begins to grin in an almost evil manner. "Yes, I understand. I'll be here, you can count on it." Laura says. Steve pats Laura on the shoulder to try to ease her pain as he has no idea what is going through her mind at that point.
"Laura, I'm sorry." Steve says in an extremely apologetic voice. "You did the best you could. It's his mistake for not picking you."
Laura turns to Steve. "You said it was my part? This was to be my time." Laura responds as she glares at him.
"You'll get your time, Laura. Trust me." Steve says.
"Oh I will get my time, Steve. I will. No matter what it takes, people will see me perform. I can promise you that." Laura says, her tone and demeanor becoming increasingly dark as she turns around and sees Brenda continuing to look happy and celebrate with Dylan and Kelly.
Kevin walks into the Peach Pit to see Suzanne who is extremely busy waiting tables as it is an exceptionally busy night there.
"Hey, you have a minute?" Kevin whispers.
"Not really, we're kind of busy as you noticed." Suzanne replies bluntly as she delivers food to customers.
"It's kind of important." Kevin replies. "I'll be out back."
Kevin walks out back as Suzanne signals that she will be there in a minute. After several minutes of waiting in the dark area of the parking lot, Kevin sees the rear door to the Peach Pit open and Suzanne walks out.
"Over here." Kevin says softly as Suzanne picks up the direction of his voice and comes over to him. "We may have a problem." Kevin says as he looks around to make sure no one else is listening to him
"What?" Suzanne replies in an irritated tone.
"I spoke with Dylan earlier today. We've been invited to Jim Walsh's house for dinner tomorrow night, you, me, and Erica. Apparently he wants to talk to me about bioremediation." Kevin explains. Suzanne just stands there looking at him, waiting for him to get to the point.
"Yes, and?" Suzanne asks impatiently.
"Don't you get it? It's Jim Walsh, Brenda Walsh's father." Kevin says. "Suzanne, the girl is already suspicious of you, of us. How do you think we're going to float this idea to her old man? Especially if she's there."
"Look, Brenda has her head stuck on some play at school she's trying out for. She's so into that, she doesn't care about Dylan or what goes on with us anymore." Suzanne says. "All you have to do is exactly what we planned. Besides, Jim Walsh isn't important in the grand scheme of things."
"What are you talking about?" Kevin says. "He's Dylan's financial advisor. He doesn't give me a dime without his approval."
"Look as long as you Dylan's convinced, that's all that matters. I've seen enough of him to know that he's got too much of his father in him. Nobody is going to tell him what to do. As long as Dylan's on board with this, Jim Walsh is totally irrelevant." Suzanne says.
"Yeah, well there's something else." Kevin says.
"And what is that?" Suzanne asks.
"According to Dylan, if Jim likes the idea, he's going to arrange to have financial backers, corporate sponsors with capital to invest their money." Kevin says fearfully. "Suzanne, these people will want to run background checks on us before they invest anything, make sure we'll legit. And if they do that, we can forget about this whole thing, we'll be lucky to keep our butts out of prison." Kevin says. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all."
At that point, the back door to the Peach Pit opens and Nat walks out. He looks all around the parking lot before spotting Suzanne and walking over to her and Kevin.
"There you are." Nat says sternly. "I was just wondering, Suzanne, do you still work here?"
"Sorry, I was just talking to Kevin." Suzanne says. Nat looks at Suzanne with a look of distaste as he shakes his head.
"Do you not see all the customers in there? We're short one waitress to begin with cause Nicole called in sick, and now I find you out back yacking away with your boyfriend. You know, I'd expect that from some of the others, but you're the assistant manager. My other employees see you doing it, they'll think it's okay for them to do it too. You understand?" Nat lectures
Suzanne nods. "Yes. I'm sorry, Nat. I'll be right in." Suzanne says.
"You can socialize when we aren't busy. When we got customers, they're your number one priority. I didn't let Brandon get away with it when his friends were around, and I'm not going to let you either. Capeche?" Nat says as he turns around and walks back inside.
"Look, this is getting a little too hot. Maybe we should call it off." Kevin suggests. At that point, Suzanne reaches into her pocket and grabs a kitchen knife and holds it up to Kevin in a threatening manner.
"You listen to me, and you listen good." Suzanne says in a whisper but with malice written all over her face. "I have not spent the last three months slaving away here in this slop hole, listening to that old washed up coot lecture me every day only to lose it all now because my partner in crime decided to chicken out at the 11th hour." Suzanne says. "We are going to go to dinner tommorow night, and we are going to proceed exactly on schedule. There is no other alternative now, Mr. Weaver. It's all or bust. And don't think for a minute that you can just take off and leave me here. Because I promise, if I go down, I'm not going down alone. You got that?" Suzanne says as she holds the knife up higher, closer to his face Kevin holds up his hands and backs off.
"Okay, okay. Take it easy." Kevin says. Suzanne looks around to make sure nobody's watching and puts the knife back in her pocket.
"I have to get back to work." Suzanne says. "Remember what I said. Don't even think about backing out now, Kevin. Or I can promise you, your family jewels will become my personal property." Suzanne smirks in an evil manner as she turns around and calmly walks back inside, pretending as if nothing happened.
Kevin stands there and takes a deep breath and grabs the back of his neck and rubs it to relieve some tension. There is no turning back now.
TO BE CONTINUED