Sandy and Julie had made their way into the kitchen and were currently standing at opposite ends staring at each other.
Sandy: What is this all about Julie?
Julie: I've been doing some thinking, Sandy, and it occurs to me that I am not entirely satisfied with the job you've been doing on Caleb's case.
Sandy: Julie, I already told you…
Julie: No Sandy! Let me make this simple.
Julie pulled a folder out of the large purse she was carrying over her shoulder and plopped it down on the counter in front of Sandy.
Julie: You figure out a way to get Caleb off the hook, or I'll make sure Kirsten goes down with him.
Sandy: You can't do this.
Julie smiled a malicious smile and looked down at the folder, which Sandy hadn't touched.
Julie: The way I see it, half of the company belongs to Kirsten, therefore half of the guilt lies on her shoulders.
Sandy: You obviously don't know much about the company.
Julie shot a cold stare at Sandy, who was equally standing his ground. Julie glanced down at the folder again and then back up at Sandy.
Julie: That folder holds everything I need to lock Kirsten up right next to her father.
Sandy quickly looked down at the folder.
Julie: …don't bother trying to get rid of it; the Orange County Police already have copies of everything.
Sandy stood stunned as Julie looked like she had just won a war. Time stood still in the kitchen as silence took over in the room. Sandy slid the folder towards him and slowly opened it, eyeing the documents inside. Julie watched Sandy intently, but what Julie did not know, was that somebody else was eyeing her intently. After Marissa had spotted her mother's car, her and Ryan doubled back, and watched Sandy and Julie walk into the kitchen. They both positioned themselves outside the kitchen doors, so they could hear what was going on. Both had been listening intently to their conversation, and now Ryan had his eyes on Sandy as he read over the documents, and Marissa was staring coldly at her mother.
Marissa: (Whispering) She is evil.
Ryan turned his head quickly and gave Marissa a comforting smile before reaching over and taking her hand.
Marissa: (Whispering) What are we going to do?
Ryan: (Whispering) I don't know.
Ryan and Marissa were snapped back to eavesdropping when they heard Sandy speak. Sandy looked up from the documents and stared at Julie.
Sandy: Why exactly are you telling me this?
Julie: Sandy, you're not as smart as I thought.
Sandy: Save it Julie.
Julie: You're quite the family man, aren't you Sandy? I know you'd never let anything happen to Kirsten, so consider this an incentive.
Sandy: Incentive for what?
Julie: (Shouting) For getting my husband out of jail!!
Sandy opened his mouth to retort but Julie beat him to it.
Julie: I don't want excuses or explanations Sandy. (Yelling) You figure out a way to get Caleb out or so help me God, Kirsten is going down in a fiery rage, hand in hand with her father!
Sandy took a step back as he saw pure hatred in Julie's eyes. Ryan and Marissa were still outside, they had both tensed up do to all the yelling. The kids were watching both of them intently, but there was silence in the room once again.
Marissa: (Whispering) I have to do something.
Ryan: (Whispering) What are you going to do?
Marissa looked over at Ryan then back into the kitchen and immediately stood up and charged into the house. Sandy and Julie were both startled at Marissa entrance and stared at her.
Marissa: I'm not going to let you do this mom.
Julie: Marissa, I don't know what you're talking about.
Marissa: Don't lie to me, Ryan and I heard you, we heard everything. (Yelling) Why do you have to make everybody's life miserable? (Screaming now) Why can't you just let other people be happy?!?
Ryan had been lingering in the doorway, but took a few steps in as he heard Marissa's voice rise. Julie stared at her daughter, and Marissa stared back. Sandy and Ryan watched the two, neither moving, and neither ready to back off.
Marissa: Drop this mom.
Julie: What?
Marissa: Drop it; this isn't Kirsten's fault. She's been more of a mother to me than you've been over the past year, and I'm not going to sit back and watch you try to ruin her life.
Julie: I'm not trying to ruin anybody's life.
Marissa: Really, well you did a pretty good job of ruining mine.
Julie: Oh, sweetie, you used to be happy, before he came along.
Julie shifted her glance towards Ryan who stared her down.
Marissa: You think I was happy?! I was going crazy, and Ryan…Ryan is the only thing that makes me happy. God knows you never did.
Julie: You're just a spoiled, ungrateful, little…
Ryan: (Interrupting) Hey!
Julie: Don't yell at me Ryan!
Ryan took a step forward.
Ryan: Don't yell at her!
Julie: I'll do whatever I want…
Kirsten: (Yelling to be heard) What the hell is going on here?
Everybody immediately turned around to see Kirsten standing in the doorway in shock of the sight she found in front of her. The kitchen became silent again and everybody looked around the room avoiding eye contact.
Kirsten: Well…what's going on?
Once again nobody said anything.
Kirsten: Sandy?
Sandy looked at his wife and tried to convey the "I'll tell you later" glance, but he didn't think it worked. Julie was watching the tension build in the room and decided she should probably get out of there.
Julie: Okay, well, I'll be going now.
Julie turned to leave without saying goodbye to anybody and started to walk past Kirsten, but she was stopped by Marissa before she could go.
Marissa: This isn't finished mom.
Julie turned on her heels and looked at Marissa.
Julie: Oh, I think it is.
Julie turned again and started to leave.
Marissa: You're forgetting one thing.
Julie stopped suddenly and quickly whisked around to eye Marissa once again.
Julie: And what is that?
Marissa: You seem to forget that I know you're dark little secret.
Julie's eyes widened as Kirsten and Sandy took notice and exchanged glances.
Julie: Marissa.
Marissa: Mother.
Julie was taken aback; her own daughter had pulled the rug out from under her feet.
Kirsten: Julie, what is she talking about?
Julie: Nothing Kirsten, it's nothing.
Marissa: Oh, it's not nothing.
Julie: Marissa, shut up.
Marissa: You do this, and I'll tell everybody…everything.
Julie: You wouldn't.
Marissa: Try me.
Kirsten: Okay…what the hell is going on?
Julie: She doesn't know what she's talking about
Marissa laughed and took a step towards her mother.
Marissa: You're right mom, there are a few issues concerning the legality of the subject that I was having some problems with, why don't I talk it over with Sandy…he's a lawyer, I'm sure he could explain it all to me.
Julie: That won't be necessary!
Julie gave an evil look towards Marissa, while Marissa coyly conveyed a slight smile. Julie was about to explode from rage, she looked at Sandy, then down at the folder, which was still sitting on the counter. Julie quickly picked the folder up and stuffed it back into her large purse, she then turned towards Marissa once again, gave her a cold stare and turned and left the room. Sandy and Kirsten watched Julie leave and then turned back to Marissa, only to find Ryan had already moved towards her, making sure she was okay.
Kirsten: Okay, I know this is getting redundant, but what just happened?
Sandy: Honestly, I don't really know.
Kirsten: Are you okay Marissa?
Marissa: Yeah, actually I feel better than I have in a long time.