Episode #6: The Green Eyed Monster
As the scene opens up, Marissa is waiting for Ryan to pick her up after work outside of the studio on a Friday night. Wolfmother's "Mindseye" plays throughout the scene and gets louder when the speaking ends. She is standing with a co-worker who is quickly becoming a friend. His name is Branning. Branning's description: mid-20's, 6', dark brown hair cut close to the scalp, brown eyes, tan complexion, genuine smile, small build, works in the prop department Marissa does not see Ryan pull up and get out of the Range Rover because she is absorbed in her conversation. When Ryan walks up, he sees Marissa giving Branning a hug. He does not say anything, waiting to see what happens next, and then Branning kisses Marissa on both cheeks before turning to walk away. Ryan stops him in his tracks though when he yells out.
Ryan: Hey, where do you think you're going? (Branning is startled by the angry note in Ryan's voice and he also has no idea who this very confrontational man is. Marissa, meanwhile, did not notice the edge in Ryan's voice because she was just glad to see him. When she turns to speak to him, she has a smile on her face and walks towards him.)
Marissa: There you are! I was wondering what was keeping you. (She throws her arms around Ryan's neck and tries to kiss him but he pushes her off. Although she is puzzled why he acted so, she just assumes that he is uncomfortable behaving like that in front of a perfect stranger.)
Ryan: What the hell were you doing with my girlfriend? (Branning goes to answer, but Marissa speaks before he can.)
Marissa: Ryan, what are you talking about? Hey, come on, (She tries to grab his hand but he pulls it away from her rather roughly. The hurt she feels is evident in her eyes at once.)
Ryan: I'd like to hear what he has to say to my question, whoever the hell he is!
Branning: I'm Branning, I work with Marissa. I take you you're the wonderful boyfriend, Ryan? (When he speaks about Ryan, his voice is dripping with sarcasm.)
Ryan: Yeah, I'm Ryan; do you have a problem with it?
Marissa: Ryan, what are you doing? (She is becoming worried and emotional but he just keeps ignoring her.)
Branning: No, I don't have a problem, but obviously you do. What's up with you man?
Ryan: I don't know, you tell me. I get here to pick up my girlfriend and I see your hands all over her, hugging her and then, when you pull away, you kiss her, twice!
Marissa: Oh, you've got to be kidding me, Ryan, come one, quit it. I can't believe you're doing this! (She tries to get his attention by grabbing a hold of his arm and pulling him towards her, but, once again, he shoves her off.)
Branning: Yeah, I hugged her goodbye, she's a friend, and, yes, you're right, I kissed her twice…on the cheeks, well, not even, they were air kisses.
Ryan: I don't care what they were! If I ever catch you laying a hand on her again…. (Marissa interrupts him and finally gets his attention by standing in front of him and putting her hands on his chest.)
Marissa: Branning, I'll see you tomorrow, but if you don't mind, Ryan and I need to talk…in private.
Branning: Are you sure you'll be okay? (Ryan starts to go after him, but Marissa puts her right hand up to his face and pulls it back to her and pushes on his chest with her left hand to remind him to stay where he is.)
Marissa: Ryan would never hurt me, but he might hurt you, so just go, please! (Branning looks once more at his friend, and then turns his back and walks back into the studio leaving the fighting couple by themselves.) What the hell was that about!
Ryan: Don't start with me, Marissa; that guy's hands were all over you! (She takes her hands off of him and begins to walk towards the car.)
Marissa: Fine, if that's how you want to play this, I won't start with you. (He starts to run after her. Thinking she realizes he was right, he grabs her hand and pulls her around to face him and moves in and kisses her. She immediately pulls away from him and starts walking toward the car again.)
Ryan: What was that for? (Marissa does not answer him but waits beside the passenger door for him to unlock it.) What's this? You're giving me the silent treatment? What the hell did I do to you?
Marissa: You just acted like a Neanderthal back there, you yell at me, threaten my friend, and then act like you've done nothing wrong and expect me to fall into your arms as soon as you kiss me! I don't think so! Now open this dmn door so we can get home, and don't you dare say one word to me! I don't even want to hear you breathe right now, because I might just say something I'll regret in the future.
Ryan: Gladly! I guess this means we're not going out tonight. (He angrily unlocks the door, violently opens his door, gets in, and turns the car on. As he pulls out the parking lot, he turns the radio up as loud as it will go, and it just happens to be the same song, "Mind's Eye" that was playing before and it picks up at the exact same place. They drive home in complete silence as the music blares on.)
Credits and Commercial Break
It is Saturday morning. Kirsten is sitting in the kitchen reading the newspaper while drinking her coffee, and Zoe is in the family room engrossed in watching cartoons, so she cannot hear or see what happens in the kitchen. As Sandy comes in from surfing, he does not say anything to Kirsten. He goes to the coffee pot and pours himself a cup. Then he goes to the fridge and gets the cream cheese out to make a bagel. As he's making it, the phone rings, but he does not move for it even after Kirsten puts her paper down and looks at him, a look he refuses to return. Finally, she gets up and answers the phone.
Kirsten: Cohen residence. (Her tone definitely reflects the tension between the married couple. Only Kirsten's side of the conversation can be heard.) Oh, hi Nancy, what'd my Dad do now? He what? But, it's a Saturday. I'm not dressed; I'll have to arrange for a sitter. No, I'll, we'll be there…eventually. Thanks for calling. (She hangs the phone up, and her voice remains annoyed.) My Father has called an emergency board meeting for 11:00, which means we have an hour to both shower, get dressed, and find someone to watch Zoe. (Sandy keeps eating his bagel and does not look up at her since he has stolen the newspaper.) Sandy, are you even listening to me. (He shakes his head yes.) Fine, if that's the way you want to play this; I'm going to take a shower. You can find someone to watch Zoe, just be ready on time. (She twirls around and walks quickly out of the room because she is extremely angry. Sandy does not even look up from the paper now, but does salute her with his bagel before taking another bite. The camera leaves them and goes to the Newport Group offices as Caleb is sitting at his desk working on paperwork when there is a knock on the door.)
Caleb: Come in. (Jimmy walks through the doors and Caleb stands up and goes around his desk to welcome his guest and shakes his hand.)
Jimmy: These are quiet the swanky offices you have here Mr. Nichol.
Caleb: Glad you could make it, Jimmy, and what did I say about the name.
Jimmy: Right, I forgot, Caleb. You've got to remember though, I'm trying to break a twenty nine year habit here; it will take me a while to get used to the new moniker.
Caleb: Well, we'll just have to spend some time together, becoming friends again after all this time, and the formality will vanish. How about this tomorrow? Do you have plans, because I thought I'd take the sail boat out to Catalina, and if you would come with me, we could have lunch, catch up, share war stories.
Jimmy: You have no idea how good that sounds; I haven't been sailing…well, since Kirsten and I broke up all those years ago.
Caleb: It's settled then; you were a natural sailor, you have to get back out there. My grandson Seth also likes to sail. Maybe I'll invite him up to go with us.
Jimmy: Won't he be with his fiancée, helping her recuperate?
Caleb: Yeah, I guess you're right; I see you've spoken with Kiki though, that's good.
Jimmy: I guess; we ran into each other last weekend on accident, and since I had some apologizing to do… (Caleb looks at him wanting to know why he would have to apologize to his daughter.) because of the whole Marissa situation, I approached her. It turned into a very positive afternoon. Kirsten and I buried the hatchet, and not in my back which was a good sign, so I think we've made peace, she told me about Seth and Summer losing the baby, which I'm sorry about, Caleb, I really am, that's a horrible thing for your family to go through.
Caleb: Thank you. I appreciate that Jimmy.
Jimmy: And we also talked about Marissa, reached a settlement you might say. Oh, and she invited me to go out to dinner with her and Sandy, too.
Caleb: I hope you said no; no one should have to spend time willingly with that man.
Jimmy: No, I accepted, but I don't think that you invited me here this morning, Caleb, to make small talk. What is this cryptic meeting about?
Caleb: Work.
Jimmy: Work?
Caleb: Like I told you at Kiki and Sanford's anniversary party, there is always a job for you here at the Newport group, and I asked around, and from what I can tell, you haven't even begun applying for jobs yet, so I thought I'd offer you one before someone else snatches you up. A company can always use another good man, Jimmy.
Jimmy: Well, as much as I like the flattery, I don't buy it Caleb. I've only worked for a bank as a manager; I have no experience in helping to run a multi-billion dollar corporation. I know nothing about real-estate, sales, or development. From what I can tell, I'd only be a liability to this business, not an asset. So, what do you really want with me, Caleb, and if you don't mind me saying so, I want you to tell it to me straight. I want an honest answer, not some bullsh!t blarney. (Caleb laughs.)
Caleb: This is good, Jimmy, this is very, very good. I wasn't sure if I was making the right decision, but now, after that speech, I'm sure. You're not the same naïve, rich kid who use to date my daughter years ago, you have a back bone and some spunk to you now.
Jimmy: Recently acquired, I might add, thanks to my daughter and wife running out on me.
Caleb: Oh, I don't care about the reasons, and to be honest, I don't want to hear about your personal problems, but what I do want you for is very important. I need a spy, a right had man, someone to watch out for my interests. Basically, you'd be a glorified assistant, but I'd teach you what I know, groom you to run a place like this someday. The work could get a little…messy, you could say, at times. Do you have any objections to that?
Jimmy: (Completely understanding Caleb's intentions.) No.
Caleb: Good, then do we have ourselves a deal, and don't worry, you will be handsomely compensated for your hard work. (He stands up and puts his hand out for Jimmy to shake. Jimmy does.)
Jimmy: You have a deal.
Caleb: Good, because we have an emergency board meeting at 11:00 to announce you joining the Newport team. (He looks down at Jimmy's clothes.) Why don't you go find my secretary, her name is Nancy, and ask her to show you to my personal closet. You need to be wearing something more professional than that when you walk into that meeting, because not everyone, least of which will be my son-in-law, will be glad to see you.
Jimmy: Why you cocky, son-of-a-b!tch? You knew I'd accept this whole time.
Caleb: Dmn straight, only an idiot in your position would turn down the offer I just gave you, and of all things Jimmy, you've never been an idiot. Now, go and change, and meet me back here. There are a few things I want to discuss with you before the meeting. (Jimmy walks off without saying another word, knowing Caleb was not the man for pleasantries. Caleb sits back in his chair and goes back to work. After a moment he lets a small chuckle escape his lips and the scene goes to Seth and Summer. He has just walked into their room holding two cups of coffee. He gives the first one to Summer, puts his on his nightstand, and gets back into bed with her.)
Seth: So, what's on the agenda today? Some Saturday morning cartoons, perhaps? (Summer shakes her head no.) Alright, Jenga? (She shakes her head again, but this time it's more profusely.) A different game? (Still, she shakes her head no.) Comics?
Summer: NO! Cohen, can't you come up with something else, anything else other than your lame hobbies. We can do other things, you know?
Seth: Well, we can't do what I'd like to do, our normal Saturday morning activity, a sort of welcome to the weekend, at least, not for a while, so I'm out of ideas, except, I am not watching any more of The Valley. Oh, and I'm not going to paint your toes again, or brush your hair, read Vogue or Cosmo, no matter how interesting you make the sex stories sound, or, or, what am I missing? (Summer starts to interject, but he remembers what else he wanted to mark off the to-do list.) That's it! (He snaps his fingers as he realizes what else he did not want to do.) No more arm wrestling competitions! My uniceps, biceps, triceps, and quadceps are killing me! (Summer laughs but she does not even attempt to correct him; she had bigger issues at hand.)
Summer: Actually, Cohen, I don't want to do any of those things. In fact, I think you'll like my idea. Normally, I can't get you to stop, and, this time, I'm going to give you permission. (Seth looks at her puzzled.) Talk.
Seth: You want me to talk?
Summer: Not just you. I'm going to talk too. (Her tone is serious.)
Seth: Is something wrong?
Summer: No, no, nothing's wrong, per se, at least, not with us. You'll see, but before we get to that, we need to talk about work.
Seth: But, I told you, I'm okay with your job, more than okay, I'm really pumped (He flexes his arms to signify pumped, which makes Summer giggle.) for you. Besides, like any guy in Hollywood could ever compete with this. (He moves him arms up and down his body, showing her what those other guys could not beat. She laughs again, but pulls him by the shirt to her.)
Summer: You're too cute sometimes, do you know that? (She kisses him, but he pulls back with an extremely goofy smile on his face.)
Seth: You think I'm cute.
Summer: Shut it, Cohen, and kiss me. (He smiles again, she puts her hands on his face this time, and they move towards each other and share a passionate kiss. After a few moments, he pulls away.)
Seth: I think we better stop there. Otherwise, I won't want to stop at all!
Summer: Right. (There is a slight pause as they both readjust and settle back into the bed. Seth leans against the headboard and Summer snuggles into the crook of his arm and lays her head against his chest. They are both under the covers.) So, about work, are you sure you're okay with it?
Seth: Perfectly.
Summer: Good, because I'm going back next Friday. I called and talked to my doctor yesterday while you were running errands, and she said that as long as everything checked out okay at my check-up Wednesday….you haven't forgotten about it, have you?
Seth: Summer, of course not. Hello, I made it.
Summer: Oh yeah, I forgot about that, probably because it's a first. I always have to make both of our doctors' appointments, normally.
Seth: Well, this was a special situation, but don't get used to it. In a few days we're going back to irresponsible, care-free, lazy Seth, whom you have to take care of.
Summer: You know, and I can't believe I'm actually admitting this to you, because you'll never let me forget it, but I miss taking care of you. (He grabs her hand, entwines his fingers with hers, and pulls it to his lips and kisses it.)
Seth: Aw, Summer, that's sweet, and do you know what? I like you taking care of me!
Summer: I would have never guessed.
Seth: (He ignores her.) So, what'd work say when you told them you would be back…well, more like, there for the first time?
Summer: I haven't been able to tell them yet. The studio's closed, because it's Saturday, and I didn't decide when I was going back until this morning, so I won't be able to call until Monday morning. (Seth sits in contemplation for a moment.)
Seth: I have one question.
Summer: Shoot.
Seth: If your doctor's appointment is for Wednesday and you're probably going to get the go ahead, why aren't you going back until Friday?
Summer: Promise you won't make fun of me?
Seth: (He is extremely serious.) I promise. What?
Summer: (She looks away from him and her voice is very quiet.) I wanted you to go with me and you can't Thursday because you have classes. I mean, it's my first day at work, and I'm just getting over this huge event in our lives, and I wanted you with me….for moral support.
Seth: (He lifts her head up to face his and tenderly kisses her lips before replying to her request.) I'd be honored to escort you to your first day of work; hell, it would be my privilege. (She laughs.)
Summer: Yes, it would be.
Seth: We could make a day of it. I could wait in the car until you were done in the morning, and then I'd take you out to a celebratory lunch. Then I'd find something to do while you worked that afternoon until I could pick you up and then we could go out, spend a night on the town, just you and me.
Summer: That sounds great Cohen, but they'd probably let you wait inside. You, maybe, could watch us as we work, or, even better, I bet I get a dressing room, so you could take your Playstation 2, some games, some comics and make it your room, too.
Seth: Our little home away from home?
Summer: Perhaps…but, I work there, so no hanky-panky between scenes! (He just stares at her out of shock.) What? Why are you looking at me that way?
Seth: Summer, do you realize what you said?
Summer: Yeah, no sex in the dressing room. What, did you actually think we would? Please, Marissa will probably be in there a lot, too.
Seth: No, obviously we're not going to do it in there. I was talking about how you said it. (Summer looks at him clueless.) Summer, you called sex hanky-panky! I didn't even know that phrase was in your vocabulary.
Summer: I did not!
Seth: Oh, want to bet? Here, let me bring up the mental transcripts. (He pretends to be a court reporter, and searches through an imaginary piece of paper to "read" back what she said.) Oh, yes, here it is. "Perhaps…but, I work there, so no hanky-panky between scenes!" Oh, and if you didn't notice, that was definitely with an exclamation point.
Summer: You are so weird Cohen! Who does that?
Seth: The fiancée of a man engaged to a woman who says hanky-panky and then tries to deny it. (He says this with a straight face, but Summer gives up playing hardball, laughs, and moves on.)
Summer: Well, since that's covered, there's one other thing we have to talk about.
Seth: I think I know what you're alluding to.
Summer: Good, so you've noticed, too?
Seth: Noticed, how could I not? (They speak at the same time.)
Summer: Ryan and Marissa.
Seth: Me and my hair. (She glares at him after she hears that what he said didn't match what she said.)
Summer: Cohen! Your hair, seriously, you thought I wanted to talk about your hair? I can't believe you; how self-absorbed can you get?
Seth: Really self-absorbed.
Summer: Obviously!
Seth: Fine, we'll table the topic of me and my hair for our lunch conversation piece, and we'll talk about Ryan and Marissa now. Okay?
Summer: Better.
Seth: Actually, I have noticed them.
Summer: How could you not? They don't talk, they don't kiss, they don't even look at each other. The closest thing they did all night to communicating was slam doors, something they are both really good at. Do you know what's wrong?
Seth: You know Ryan. He keeps everything bottled up inside and won't talk to me.
Summer: Have you tried?
Seth: Do you really want to go back to the hospital with me as the patient this time?
Summer: He needs someone to talk to. Besides, with all the workouts this week your uniceps, biceps, triceps, and quadceps have gotten from arm wrestling me, you could probably take Chino. (Seth gives her his classic Cohen grin.)
Seth: I know, I know, but really, I don't want to embarrass the guy. I mean, that's his thing, being the tough one, and if I took that away from him, what would he have left?
Summer: I don't know, his looks, his intelligence, his talent for design, his lack of Coheny Cohenisms,….
Seth: Which you love! (She glares at him.) Fine, woman, I'll talk to him. When do you want me to do it and where?
Summer: I don't know. Let me think about it. Now, get going.
Seth: What? (He's confused.)
Summer: You heard me, vaminos! (He starts to get out of bed but continues to look at Summer confused.)
Seth: But, Summer, what did I do? Where am I supposed to go?
Summer: You're going to pick me up some lunch. I've sick of take-out.
Seth: Well, what do you want, because you know all I can make are bagels and cereal, and there's no way I'm asking Marissa to cook! She might slam by hand in a door!
Summer: Ew, Cohen, like I would ever ask you to cook for me. Yeah right! I want fast food, cheeseburgers, French fries, and milkshakes. You may not have gotten it for me when I was in the hospital, but you're going to now.
Seth: Fine. (He says this dejectedly, fully gets out of bed, tucks the covers back in around her, grabs his keys, and leaves, but he is only gone a second before he runs back into the room.) Oh, and I forget to tell you. I love you. (Summer laughs.)
Summer: Cohen, I love you, too, but you don't have to tell me every time you leave a room. I know how much you care.
Seth: But you're wrong. I do have to tell you every time I leave the room, because if I learned one thing from this experience it's that you never know what could happen, so we always have to leave each other on a good note. Now, bye. (He runs out of the room before Summer can say anything. When the camera pans back to her, there are tears in her eyes while she quietly laughs at Seth. The camera leaves her and goes back to the Newport Group offices. Sandy and Kirsten have just arrived, and although they rode together, they are still not speaking. Despite her dire predictions, they are still early. When they walk into the board room, Caleb is not there and neither is Jimmy, although they aren't expecting him. However, there are various people sitting around the table, five in fact, four men and one woman, all in business appropriate attire and with unpleasant expressions on their faces. When they see Kirsten and Sandy walk in, they still don't say anything. Sandy and Kirsten look around the room and then he motions for her to follow him back outside of the door and closes it before speaking.)
Sandy: What the hell is your father up to?
Kirsten: So now you'll speak to me?
Sandy: Look, I realize we have some issues to deal with, and we will, but for now, I think we need to present a united front. I don't know what this meeting is about, I have no idea what your father has up his dirty, designer sleeve, but I now it's not good.
Kirsten: I have a feeling you're right.
Sandy: So, we may be in rough patch right now, but no matter what, you and me, we're an unbeatable combination. If we stick together, we might just be able to head your father off before the pass and keep whatever mess he's made this time from exploding in our faces.
Kirsten: What do you have in mind?
Sandy: I say we wait out here for him, ambush him, and make him talk to us before we go in there and face the other hungry, hungry, un-holy hippos.
Kirsten: And how do you propose we get him to tell us anything?My Dad's not exactly the most open and honest man alive.
Sandy: Oh honey, you don't have to tell me that. (When he calls her honey, Kirsten smiles, but Sandy does not see her face for he is looking down the hall looking for Caleb.) I think our only option is blackmail.
Kirsten: Do you have something on him? (She is surprised.)
Sandy: Unfortunately, this is one time when I'm fresh out of scandals involving your father.
Kirsten: You may be sorry, but I'm not. His scandals turn into gigantic messes, which you have to clean up, we suffer, and he, somehow, ends up smelling like a perfume afterwards.
Sandy: I was thinking you'd use your feminine wiles and means of persuasion and manipulation to get him to speak to us. You could pull the injured daughter card; it's seemed to work well in the past.
Kirsten: Yeah, but in the past, I really was an injured daughter angry at my Dad.
Sandy: So, you have lots of practice; channel your anger, and as Summer says, go all rage-blackout on his ss! (Kirsten laughs as they both scan the hallway looking for Caleb. The camera moves into his office. There he is sitting with Jimmy, talking.)
Caleb: So, do you understand what I want you to do?
Jimmy: Sit there, keep my mouth shut, and defer everything to you, that's not so hard to remember or understand for that matter. I am your puppet, and you're my puppeteer.
Caleb: Good. Now, how about a drink? Scotch?
Jimmy: It's not even 11:00 in the morning, Cal.
Caleb: What's your point? I say we deserve a drink to commemorate your new position. Besides, I'd like something to brace myself before I have to go and speak with that tree hogging, liberal, Mary Jane toking harpy I have to call a son-in-law. (When Caleb says Mary Jane toking, Jimmy starts to laugh, but hides it from Caleb, whose back is turned pouring the drinks. Caleb turns around and takes a glass to Jimmy as he sits down behind his desk once again.)
Jimmy: (He takes a drink.) So, is this what it's going to be like working for you? Boozing it up in expensive, designer suits, mocking Sandy, and attending top-secret board meetings, because I have to tell you, a man could get used to this. (Caleb laughs.)
Caleb: Not quite, but trust me, we'll do this often enough. Drink up, and when you're finished, go see my secretary, Nancy, again, and ask her to show you into the waiting room. You'll remain there until I call her and she'll show you to the board room.
Jimmy: Alright, but quick question first.
Caleb: Shoot.
Jimmy: Is there anything I should know about who'll be at this board meeting? How many members, their names, their weaknesses, their secrets, because we both know everyone in this town is hiding something, and I have a feeling, you know everything about your employees and fellow businessmen? (Caleb laughs again.)
Caleb: Your enthusiasm is refreshing Jimmy, and I can see already that we'll work well together, but there are too many skeletons in the closet to reveal them right now, all in due time; all in due time. As for who will be there, you might recognize a few of them from the anniversary party a few weeks ago or even from when you still lived here, but it really doesn't matter. They're really insignificant. I'm the Newport Group, so I'm the only one who really matters, but besides the two of us, Sanford, and Kiki, there will be five others present.
Jimmy: (He finishes off his drink, stands up, and puts it back on Caleb's bar.) I still can't believe that Kirsten married a man named Sanford who's from the Bronx, is Jewish, and is a radical. I would have loved to have seen you the day of their wedding!
Caleb: Why? I was in the Caribbean working on a business deal.
Jimmy: You didn't go to their wedding?
Caleb: You actually think I would?
Jimmy: But, you love Kirsten…
Caleb: And marrying him was the biggest mistake of her life, one I'm still working on fixing.
Jimmy: Didn't she want you there, though?
Caleb: Of course she did, but I kept scheduling business meetings so that I wouldn't have to go. They ended up rescheduling it for me three times and then gave up.
Jimmy: Who walked her down the aisle?
Caleb: She walked herself, but it's not as if it was some big production. It was a very small-scale wedding, and don't think his mother was any more thrilled about the union than I was. In fact, I think she was angrier.
Jimmy: Did she go?
Caleb: (He sits back in his chair and looks off, thinking wistfully, before replying.) I'm really not sure. (He shakes his shoulders.) Hm, it really doesn't matter now though does it? (Jimmy is deep in thought.)
Jimmy: Yeah, I guess. (When Caleb speaks, Jimmy snaps out of his revelry and to attention.)
Caleb: Well, you finished that drink a while ago, Jimmy. Don't you think it was time for you to go hunt up Nancy?
Jimmy: Right. (He leaves.)
Caleb: (He laughs to himself.) This is going to be even easier than I thought. (He stands up, goes to the bar, pours himself a refresher, tosses it down, puts the glass back on the bar, buttons his coat, and leaves his office with a slight smirk on his face, pleased with himself.)
Commercial Break