The next scene begins Friday night. Caleb is working at his desk at the house, totally oblivious to anything going on around him. Julie walks in and watches him for a few moments hoping that he would recognize that she was there. He doesn't, so she has to break the silence to get his attention by speaking.
Julie: Cal, we need to talk.
Caleb: Must we, I'm trying to get some work done right now, and I really am in no mood to be interrupted only to listen to your incessant complaining.
Julie: Well I have a right to complain don't you think?
Caleb: Please, what could you possibly have to complain about? You live in my guest house, free of charge, I feed you, I clothe you, I pay for everything. Hell, I just opened up a checking account for you and put a hundred thousand dollars in there for you to use as you see fit. I gave you one of my cars to drive and a credit card in my name to use when you go shopping.
Julie: Yes, to pay for baby clothes that will be worn by your son or daughter or maternity clothes for me to wear because you got me this way.
Caleb: You could have warned me that you weren't on birth control! How many women your age don't use it?
Julie: (She smiles sweetly at him as she lays on the puppy eyes and lies through her teeth.) I thought that I meant something to you and I didn't want to tarnish our relationship with contraceptives. If we were lucky enough to have a baby, I thought you would be happy. Besides, (Her voice becomes biting.) who would have thought someone as old as you would even be able to produce sperm still let alone actually get it up! (He is fuming at her, but keeps his actions in check. The only release he has for his emotions are to grip the desk as tightly as he can and to grit his teeth.)
Caleb: What do you want Julie!
Julie: Aw Cal, do you know how touching I find that you're interested in my life and what I have to say. (She sits down in a chair in front of his desk and crosses her legs.) Now get comfortable because this could take a while. (He breaths in deeply to help calm down as she continues to ramble on.) So, I wanted to talk to you, among other things, about how you've been treating me. I may not be perfect Caleb, but I do deserve a little respect especially since I am carrying your child.
Caleb: I gave you all that money, what else could you want?
Julie: What about a little common courtesy? Oh, and I don't think that I should be staying in the guest house. What if I needed help one night when I got sick? No one is going to hear me down there, and walking up those stairs when I'm nine months pregnant is going to be nearly impossible. You have to a suite in the main house that I can use.
Caleb: Fine, pick one, I don't care which, just don't you dare go into mine.
Julie: And who's going to carry my stuff up for me? I can't be carrying luggage, not while I'm pregnant. What if something would happen to the baby?
Caleb: I'll have someone from my staff carry everything up for you. Is that all?
Julie: Oh, not by a long shot. (She stands up and begins to walk around the room as she talks, occasionally picking things up to get a closer look at them or stopping to examine herself in the mirror. In order to avoid her seeing his reactions, Caleb whirls his chair around and faces the window looking out of it into the dark of night.)
Caleb: (He speaks in a dejected tone.) What else?
Julie: I really am going to need to remodel this place. With all the sharp objects and corners that a baby could injure itself on, really Cal, what were you thinking?
Caleb: Oh please, this place is fine. Zoe used to come over here when she was a baby and nothing ever happened to her.
Julie: As far as you know.
Caleb: Julie, you're not remodeling the house and that is final.
Julie: Fine, but we are going to have to get a vehicle that I can drive with the baby, perhaps a Mercedes SUV or a Range Rover.
Caleb: Why don't we just wait on that a little while?
Julie: But Cal…
Caleb: Julie, you're barely pregnant. We have plenty of time to go car shopping. Look, if there is something you need to buy for this child, just charge it to the credit card. I don't want to hear about every dmn purchase. Now, if you don't mind, I'd really like to get some work done.
Julie: Actually, I do mind. (She whirls around to face him, and even though he does not do the same for her, she remains rooted in her position, hands on hips, staring into the back of his chair.) You have treated me like garbage now for weeks, why I'm not sure, and ever since you found out I was pregnant, you've been practically unbearable, and I'm not going to stand around and just take it!
Caleb: Look, Julie, I think we both know that we're not in love and that we never were, so I don't know what you're expecting.
Julie: How about some decent human kindness!
Caleb: Why can't we just avoid each other? You do what you want and I'll do what I want. We'll never have to see each other; we can live completely separate lives.
Julie: And what about our child? Does he or she deserve to grow up in a home like that? Do they deserve to be teased because their parents aren't married?
Caleb: Julie, I'm not having this discussion right now. As I told you I was working, and if you want to keep spending my money like you have been all week, then you better let me get back to what I was doing.
Julie: That's not good enough. Have you even told anyone yet that I'm pregnant!
Caleb: Yes.
Julie: Who, your lawyer?
Caleb: No.
Julie: Then who?
Caleb: Jimmy.
Julie: My ex husband!
Caleb: You're not divorced yet.
Julie: How do you know that?
Caleb: He told me that your final hearing is next week, and then he invited me out to celebrate his freedom from you.
Julie: (She laughs mockingly.) Anyone else?
Caleb: Sandy knows.
Julie: You told him! You can't stand him!
Caleb: Sanford might annoy the hell out of me, but he's good for advice.
Julie: Advice about what Cal?
Caleb: Everything.
Julie: Care to elaborate?
Caleb: No.
Julie: And what about Kirsten? Have you told your precious daughter yet?
Caleb: I'm going over there to see her tonight.
Julie: How about the rest of your family?
Caleb: They're going to be in LA this weekend.
Julie: Then we'll go with them.
Caleb: Marissa will be there, and she does not want to see you.
Julie: I don't care what that spoiled brat wants! You are telling your family this weekend and that's final.
Caleb: Fine, but we're not staying with them at the dinner. We'll give them all the news and then leave and go out to eat somewhere else.
Julie: Oh and Cal.
Caleb: What?
Julie: Don't tell Kirsten tonight. I want to see her face when she hears the good news. Plus, don't expect to take me to LA without letting me shop as well. Just thought I'd warn you. I'll talk to you tomorrow at breakfast and we can make our final plans. (The sound of her heals clicking out of the door signals to Caleb that she is gone. He shuts down his computer, locks his paperwork in his filing cabinet, grabs his jacket and keys, and leaves the house. The camera leaves him and goes to Jimmy playing video games in an arcade. As Sandy walks in to see him, his face shows just how incredulous he finds this whole situation that he has to meet a grown man on a Friday night in an arcade. He sees Jimmy and startles him when he approaches.
Sandy: This is a first, having a meeting in an arcade, and to my utter shock, you're playing.
Jimmy: (He laughs.) Of course, what else would I do here?
Sandy: I thought we were meeting here because it was out of the way where no one would pay any attention to us.
Jimmy: Well, no one will pay any attention to us because they're all so wrapped up in their own games, but that's not why I asked you to meet me here.
Sandy: Obviously, how long have you been here?
Jimmy: Since the PI's went home for the night. (He looks at his watch.) Since about four.
Sandy: And are you leaving any time soon?
Jimmy: No, why?
Sandy: What about dinner?
Jimmy: Oh, they serve food here, but thanks for worrying.
Sandy: How often do you come here?
Jimmy: Um…probably a couple of times a week, helps pass the night. If there's not a good game on, I'm here.
Sandy: And what about Caitlyn? Don't you spend any time with her?
Jimmy: She's always busy with her grandparents or her friends, and even if she wasn't, I wouldn't know where to even start talking to her. Marissa knows her; I don't.
Sandy: Well, now's your chance to get to know her. She's still here Jimmy, so that means it's never too late to be her Dad. (Sandy looks around the noisy room and crooks his head towards the door to get Jimmy to follow him out. Once they're outside again, the talk resumes.) Thanks, I couldn't hear myself think in there. How can you stand it?
Jimmy: That's what I like about it! The noise takes over and you get lost in the game you're playing and the rest of the world just disappears. It's awesome. (Sandy eyes him suspiciously.)
Sandy: Just try to spend a little more time with your daughter, if not for her own good, then for your sanity. Take her out to dinner just the two of you, go see a movie, whatever she likes, but you still have time to be her Dad. (Jimmy's face falls and he is suddenly depressed.)
Jimmy: I know what you're saying, but how can I just walk back into her life after 17 years of practically ignoring her?
Sandy: It will be easier than trying to do so in twenty years when you're all alone and you want your kids back, and by then it will probably be too late. Imagine never meeting your grandchildren or being a part of their lives.
Jimmy: Wait, what, Marissa is pregnant!
Sandy: No, but someday she will be, and what then?
Jimmy: I…I don't know.
Sandy: You better figure it out and quickly. (Jimmy doesn't say anything but just continues to stare out at the ocean. Sandy picks up on this and changes the subject.) So, about this nurse, what have you found out, anything new today?
Jimmy: No, we keep coming up with nothing .We've checked hundreds of old records to try and figure out who she is staying with.
Sandy: I might have a way to help you out there, (Jimmy starts to get excited, but Sandy keeps talking.) but I'm not telling you what it is until after I get everything arranged.
Jimmy: Fair enough. So, did Cal tell you that we decided to make the ring he's going to give Julie a fake. I have to just pick it up tomorrow. Surprisingly, it was harder to find a big, gaudy fake ring that looked slightly genuine than I thought it would be, but I got what I wanted or, to be more exact, what Caleb told me to get. How did Kirsten take the news?
Sandy: He hasn't told her yet. (His cell phone starts to ring. He puts his finger up to signal Jimmy that he will only be a moment.) Speaking of the devil. (He answers the phone.) Cal? (The scene flows between them as they talk briefly on the phone. Caleb is in his car driving while he's talking. Whoever is talking is shown.)
Caleb: Look Sanford, I don't have time for pleasantries. I'm on my way over to your house to talk to Kirsten, and I was hoping that you could be there for her and because I could use your help to set everything up.
Sandy: Fine. I'll be there in fifteen minutes, tops.
Caleb: Good, and Sandy….
Sandy: Yeah?
Caleb: Thanks…for all your help. I don't know why you're helping me, but I do appreciate it.
Sandy: What's that, what did you say?
Caleb: You heard me you ass, now hurry up! (He hangs up the phone, tosses it on the passenger seat, and chuckles to himself. The scene goes back to Sandy and Jimmy.)
Sandy: So, as you probably guessed, that was Cal. I have to get going because I'm meeting him at my house to talk to Kirsten, but think about what I said about you and Caitlyn. Oh, and if you hear anything, give me a call. (He runs off waving without waiting for a reply from Jimmy and heads off towards his car. Jimmy looks around himself for a few minutes, but then shrugs his shoulders and goes back into the arcade. The camera leaves him and goes to the apartment. Ryan and Marissa are working together in the kitchen preparing food. They are making appetizers as the meal is already prepared and cooking. She is straining spinach and he is chopping water chestnuts. As they work together, they, like the last time they were together in a kitchen, flirt and talk.)
Ryan: What is this for again?
Marissa: Spinach dip.
Ryan: Oh, spinach dip, and who's supposed to eat this?
Marissa: (She laughs at him while he turns up his nose.) It happens to be one of my favorite things to eat, and don't worry, I won't eat it all on my own. Even if the rest of you are too big of chickens to taste it, Seth will eat anything I make. Besides, you are trying this, and you're going to love it.
Ryan: You sound pretty sure of yourself. (He goes over and puts his arms around her waist and kisses her exposed neck.)
Marissa: I am, but aren't you supposed to be working. Who said you could take a break?
Ryan: I did, and I don't hear you telling me you're not enjoying it.
Marissa: If you don't get back to work and leave me alone, none of this is going to be ready when Branning gets here and whoever else this mystery guest is that Summer invited.
Ryan: I think Seth knows who it is.
Marissa: Hm. What are they up to?
Ryan: I have no idea, but it really doesn't matter if we finish this or not.
Marissa: Ryan!
Ryan: What, you've already made enough. I mean, look what's already out on the coffee table? There is a shrimp dip and a taco dip not to mention the pinwheel things you had me make and that garlic cracker snack mix.
Marissa: Which you didn't eat right?
Ryan: Hey, you don't have to warn me twice. Threatening me with not letting me kiss you is more than enough to keep me away from the garlic.
Marissa: Good, because after this little dinner party is over, I thought we could spend a little alone time together.
Ryan: You don't have to ask me twice. (She laughs.)
Marissa: But back to work for you or I'll spend the whole evening after Branning and the mystery guest go home writing.
Ryan: You wouldn't?
Marissa: Want to risk it and try me?
Ryan: (He laughs and lets go of her after dropping one more kiss on her neck.) No. (He walks back over to the water chestnuts and finishes chopping them while she finishes draining the spinach. They work in silence stealing glances at each other briefly before turning back to their work. When Ryan is done, which doesn't take long, he moves back to her with the chopped water chestnuts in his hand.) Now what?
Marissa: Dump them in the bowl and stir it please. (He listens to her, and as he works, they talk.)
Ryan: So when this is done….
Marissa: I have to frost the cake.
Ryan: How did you find time to make a cake this afternoon, too, after you got home from work? I mean, you didn't get off until four, right?
Marissa: I made the cake early this morning before I went to class.
Ryan: So that's where you were this morning.
Marissa: (She laughs.) Glad to see you missed me.
Ryan: I did! I woke up this morning holding your pillow in my arms, and I have to tell you that is not nearly as much fun as holding you. (She laughs again.) You're terrible do you know that!
Ryan: So, this cake, what kind is it?
Marissa: (Her face falls and she becomes very serious.) It's an apple cake with a cream cheese glaze. (He looks at her confused about her sudden mood shift. She sees the concern in his face and feels as if she should explain.) It was Caitlyn's favorite. I used to make it for her whenever she did really good on a test or had a good game. She played softball.
Ryan: You know that just because you don't want to have anything to do with your parents doesn't mean you can't see your sister. I mean, she lives in Newport, and I'm sure she'd love to see you. Why don't you try calling her sometime?
Marissa: I just don't want to be sucked back into their lives. Sure, I want to see her, I want to talk to her, but I can't be her Mom again, I can't take care of her, and if I let myself give in and reinitiate contact, how am I supposed to know that my Dad won't take that as a sign that I'm ready to take care of them again, that I want to come back. He needs to figure out how to be a parent to Caity on his own, and if I interfere, who knows what will happen. All the progress he's made, if he's made any, will be lost.
Ryan: Who said he had to know? I'm sure she has a cell phone, and you could always meet her somewhere public and just not tell your Dad.
Marissa: I can't ask her to lie to him.
Ryan: Just think about it. You did nothing wrong. There's no reason for you to not see your sister if you want to. (He leans over and kisses her softly, taking the spinach from her hand and dumping it in the bowl.)
Marissa: Hey, what are you doing?
Ryan: Freeing your hands. I think there is something better you can do with them. (He pulls her close to him and takes her hands and puts them on his ass. She laughs but just slips them into his back pockets of his jeans. He does the same thing with his hands to her and leans in and kisses her this time more passionately. As his hands leave her pockets and work their way to the edge of her shirt, they are both startled and jump apart when they hear the doorbell ring. Breathing in deeply they wait to see what happens.)
Summer: (She is outside of the kitchen yelling to let them know she's getting the door.) I got it. Keep working on the food. (As they hear that they don't have to answer the door, Ryan goes back to kissing her, but she removes her hands and tries to get away.)
Ryan: Hey, where do you think you're going?
Marissa: Did you forget about the cake?
Ryan: No, but this was more fun. (He laughs.)
Marissa: Uh-huh, you're right it is, but remember the sooner we feed them and get them out of our hair, the sooner we can start our own private party. (She leans into him to whisper, resting her body on his as she does so.) And for that I got us some pixie sticks. (He raises his eyebrows at her in a surprised way, questioning just exactly what she had in mind.) You'll just have to wait and see, but you only get your candy if you're good. Now, stir the dip. (She pushes herself off of him and goes to frost the cake. Before he turns around to stir the dip like she said, he looks her up and down, taking in her casual appearance and smiles to himself picturing what they could possibly be doing that night. The camera leaves them and goes to the living room where Summer is leading Branning in to sit. When they get there, Seth is eagerly eating the appetizers. Summer sits down in the chair while Branning sits on the couch with Seth and begins to eat as well.)
Summer: Cohen! Slow down for god's sake! There's more where that came from, and I'm so not in the mood to perform the Heimlich maneuver on you tonight!
Branning: Did you just say that there is more of this?
Summer: This is just the appetizers, and there is one more to come, but I'm not eating it, it's a spinach dip. Yuck!
Seth: Ye of little faith, how I love you, because if you're not eating it, then that means there is more for me. Marissa has never led me astray in the food department; I trust her skills explicitly, which means me and the spinach dip are going to be good friends before the night is over.
Summer: Good thing! Hopefully the spinach will have the same effect on you as it did Popeye.
Branning: What else is there? Did she make a meal, too?
Summer: Oh yeah. Let's see, there is crab stuffed sole, rice pilaf, some kind of vegetable medley, oh and there's a cake for dessert, too.
Branning: I'm not going to be able to eat for the rest of the weekend! This meal is going to exceed my calories limit for all three days!
Summer: Try eating like this everyday. It's a good thing that we go to that self-defense class now.
Branning: How is that going?
Summer: Ah, it's okay. Marissa's really into it; she's the "prize pupil". (She says prize pupil with air quotes.) At least Cohen and his chicken legs make it interesting. Whenever I get bored, I just watch him and I spend the rest the of the class laughing my ass off! He's so uncoordinated, it's hilarious! It's like watching Bambi trying to take his first steps again but on speed!
Branning: You have to tape it!
Summer: You should start coming with us. Besides, the instructor is hot! You could totally stare at him the whole time with me!
Branning: Is it really that good of a workout?
Summer: You have no idea! When I leave that place, I feel like I've been carrying Cohen here up a flight of stairs all day. He might not look like he weighs much, but he's long, lanky, and awkward. Trust me, carrying him is a workout.
Seth: If I didn't know better Summer, those comments could give me a complex, an eating disorder.
Summer: Oh please, at the rate you're going, the only problem with food you're going to have is obesity. (Summer and Branning laugh together. Seth stands up and goes to walk out of the room.) Hey, where do you think you're going?
Seth: I'm going to go and see if Marissa and Ryan need any help.
Summer: Oh, okay. (She waves her hand to dismiss him before turning back to Branning. Seth leaves the room and the camera goes with him. When he gets to the door to the kitchen, he stops and knocks on it first before entering.)
Seth: You two are just cooking in there right and not steaming up each other? (The camera stays on Seth, but Ryan and Marissa's voices can be heard.)
Ryan: Seth!
Seth: What, sorry, I was just joking. I came to see if I'm allowed to hang with you guys. Summer and Branning were harassing me, so I came to find better company.
Marissa: Oh no Seth, I don't think so! The last time I let you help me cook earlier in the week, you ate everything when I turned my back on you.
Seth: But I'm bored. (The door swings open and she puts the dip, which is in a crystal bowl resting on a plate with pieces of pumpernickel bread surrounding it, in his hands.)
Marissa: Fine then, you can help. Put this on the table please, and then go back into the living room and gather everything in there, Branning and Summer can help you, and then put that on the table as well. Ryan and I will be out in a minute with the meal, so we can begin. Oh, and who is this mystery guest?
Seth: Hasn't arrived yet.
Marissa: Oh, okay. (She shuts the door and leaves him there. He does what she says and puts it on the table. Then, when he goes into the living room, he picks up the shrimp dip and takes it with him to the table, yelling over his shoulder to Branning and Summer.)
Seth: Can you two grab the rest, please? Marissa wants us to make our way to the table, because she and Ryan will be out with the meal in a minute. (He walks out and Branning and Summer do as the were asked. When they reach the table, they put the food down and then Summer turns to Seth.)
Summer: (She is whispering.) Cohen, we can't eat. You know who isn't here yet.
Seth: (He whispers back.) Are you sure he's coming?
Summer: Of course he is dumb ass, his plane was probably just late or something or maybe he ran into some traffic. It is a Friday night, you know. (Branning sneaks up to them and startles them.)
Branning: What the big secret and who's the person you referred to Summer as you know who?
Summer: Ah, it's a surprise for….Ryan, an old friend from high school.
Branning: Oh. (He thinks for a second.) It's not an old girlfriend, right?
Summer: What? Girlfriend…Chino, I don't think so.
Seth: Yeah, he didn't really do girlfriends. I mean….he did them, girls, but….
Summer: He never really was in a relationship before Marissa. He just had random hookups.
Seth: But he did them.
Summer: Thanks Cohen, I think you'd made that clear before. (Just then Ryan and Marissa come into the room carrying dinner. As they set it down on the table, they look up at the three friends and then back and forth to each other in confusion.)
Marissa: Ah, what's going on? Is there something wrong? (Now it is time for Branning, Summer, and Seth to all look at each other awkwardly.)
Summer: No, nothing's wrong. Cohen was just being himself, an ass.
Seth: Yep, that's me, a big, huge ass.
Branning: See, nothing's up. (He looks at both Ryan and Marissa who are not buying it.) Why don't we sit down and wait for this mystery guest. (Everyone sits down warily. Just as they all get seated, the doorbell sounds. Summer jumps out of her seat and runs to the door, throwing it open and revealing Zach.)
Summer: Zach
! Come in, come in. (They walk over to the table where it just so happens that Zach will be sitting by Branning.) So everyone this is Zach, and Zach you know Chino and Cohen, but that's Marissa and this is Bran.
Branning: Bran?
Summer: Oh yeah, I gave you that nickname. I hope you like it. (She smiles at him overly eager. He catches on and turns beat red, Marissa and Ryan just look at each other confused, and Seth shakes his head and laughs out of enjoyment.)
Seth: Now this is what I call a Friday night! (He puts his hands behind his head and leans back in the chair to watch the events unfold around him, snickering the whole time and getting death glares sent his way from Summer. The scene fades out and ends.)
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