Moonlighting
Chapter 11: Domestic Lies and International Secrets
THE SCENE OPENS AS Maddie wakes up in bed sweating and in a panic from a horrible nightmare. She looks around the dark room and feels relieved that it was just a dream, she looks at the clock, 3:03am, and then down at David sleeping next to her and suddenly a feeling of guilt washes over her. Reality begins to set in, and she starts to remember that the nightmare isn't just a nightmare at all. She's done something she regrets, something that betrays David and she doesn't know how she's going to tell him. She has a pain in her stomach. She wipes the sweat from her brow, lies back, holds onto David's arm and lays awake thinking for the next two hours. It seems that just as she falls back asleep her alarm goes off and she's awake again. David is already up and getting dressed for an early meeting he has about the new surveillance classes they're setting up at Blue Moon. When he hears Maddie's alarm go off he walks over to her side of the bed, leans over her and kisses her.
David: Morning.
His green eyes sparkle at her and he smells like aftershave and tastes like toothpaste, Maddie wants to grab him and hold him and confess everything, but she holds back.
Maddie: Morning.
David runs his thumb under her eye.
David: You look tired.
Maddie: (Shifts her eyes to the side.) Great, I'm not even out of bed yet and I look like I need more sleep.
David: (Pets her head.) You're still the most beautiful woman in the world though.
Maddie: (Turns her head to the side.) Don't say such nice things to me David I don't deserve it.
David: What do you mean?
Maddie: I don't deserve it; I'm not that nice to you.
David: Whadda you talkin' about?
Maddie: I'm a bitch David, like you always tell me.
David: When did I say you were a bitch?
Maddie shifts her eyes back to look at him.
David: You're challenging, strong willed, never listen to a word I say and just a tad high-strung and controlling, but hey, if that's being a bitch, I guess I like it.
He smiles at her and kisses her forehead and then walks away tying his tie.
David: You're in a weird mood today…
Maddie: Yeah?
David: Yep. Everything ok?
Maddie: (Unconvincingly.) Yeah.
David starts talking about the meeting he's going to and Maddie half listens with her mind a million miles away.
CUT TO: Later that morning Maddie sits in her office in deep thought when David comes bursting through her doors, makes his way to the corner of her desk and sits.
David: I just had a brilliant idea.
Maddie: (Tries to act normal.) A brilliant what?
David: Idea…happens from time to time. (Smirks.)
He opens a brochure and holds it in front of her face. Maddie reads.
Maddie: The Professional Private Investigators Association Conference in… Las Vegas!?
David: …PPIAC, a great excuse for us to get out of town!
Maddie: To Vegas? You want me to go to Vegas… with you?
David: I want us to go to Vegas together, get Blue Moon's name out there at this conference and then…I thought we could…stay for the weekend?
Maddie: In Vegas?
David: In Vegas, yes. Have you ever been to Vegas?
Maddie: No, but I can't imagine it would bring out the best qualities in David Addison.
David: Come on Maddie! It'll be fun! Besides, how much trouble can I get in if I'm with you …everybody knows you're no fu…(She shoots him a look. He grins.) I just mean, I can't go too crazy if you're with me, right?
Maddie: (Scoffs) You'll be with me? Right…what will really happen David is somehow you'll go missing for 24-hours and I'll spend the whole time checking back alley's and worrying that you've been abducted, run off with a band of Gypsy's or joined the gangsters union.
David laughs.
David: Come on Maddie, I'll show you a good time, I promise. Besides, Blue Moon is doing pretty good these days, we're making a little profit – I say we put the whole trip on the company's dime.
The words 'Blue Moon' and 'profit' send Maddie into a tailspin of thoughts and worry and she totally checks out of the conversation – David continues to ramble on. Then, after a few minutes he runs his hand in front of her face.
David: Maddie, Maddie…earth to Maddie!
Maddie: (Shakes her head and comes back to the present.) Oh, I'm sorry, what?
David: I said, who can we get to watch the kids?
Maddie: Oh…oh, um, when is it?
David: Next month.
Maddie: I'll call my parents and see if they want to come out.
David: Great! I'll have Agnes book the trip.
David walks out singing about Vegas and Maddie sinks back into deep thought.
The rest of the afternoon David and Maddie have one client meeting after another and then David goes out with Jamie and O'Neil to look at buying surveillance equipment. Maddie thinks back to a conversation she and David had a few months ago.
Maddie's Memory:
Maddie: I think it's a great investment that could bring us a decent return in a short amount of time.
David: I don't trust it, and I don't trust the source.
Maddie: Why? Because it's Lou LaSalle?
David shrugs.
Maddie: Well, we can't pass up on great opportunities because you're holding grudges about things that happened eons ago. That was then, this is now David.
David: It's not that I'm holding grudges, I just think that Lou LaSalle makes business moves and gets people to do things for him in business that benefit Lou LaSalle. Was he looking out for your best interest in the past Maddie when he tried to buy Blue Moon out from under us? No, he was trying to steal this goldmine we're sitting on.
Maddie: Ok David but this is different, he's not trying to take anything away from us…
David: (Overlaps.) He's not trying to take twenty thousand dollars from us?
Maddie: (Continues.) …he's trying to help us make money David…he's helped a lot of other people make money, why shouldn't we get in the game? He's a smart businessman who's made a lot of money over the years for himself too, he knows about investing and… I don't know…I guess I'm willing to take a chance on it.
David: Well, I'm not. I'm not willing to invest twenty thousand dollars of our hard earned money in something we really don't know that much about. I mean, what do you really know about all this?
Maddie: Well…he explained it to me…
David: Well, you're not doing a very good job of explaining it to me. Do you really want to hand this man $20,000 and not know exactly where it's going and have some guarantee of a return?
Maddie thinks.
Maddie: I don't know, I just have a feeling about it.
David: It's not a good idea Maddie. I'd rather not do it.
Maddie: (Clenches her teeth.) Ok then, we won't do it.
David: You're ok with that?
Maddie: We're partners right? We both need to agree. I'll tell him no.
The words ring in Maddie's ears as she then remembers the follow-up conversation with Lou and how she tried to tell him no, but he was so convincing that he could make them a lot of money quick that she went for it, invested the money without telling David, and now, within a few months it was all gone. Lou called her yesterday trying to convince her that it's common to lose money on the first go around and she should invest double now and make back all the money and more by the end of the year. She told him she'd have to talk to David about it and hung up feeling numb. Maddie had to talk to David today, she couldn't have one more sleepless night with this feeling in her stomach – but she knew David wasn't going to be happy and she was really dreading the conversation…just then she hears him singing out in the outer office. She buzzes Ms. Dipesto and has her send him in. A few minutes later…
David: $20,000!? $20,000!? This is a joke, right? (Looks around.) I'm on a hidden camera show right? Now I'm gonna fly into a rage and all of America will be laughing at me, right?
Maddie sits behind her desk with her hands folded in her lap. David paces around while everything she's told him sinks in and he gets angrier and angrier.
Maddie: I wish this were a joke David.
David: How could you do this? How could you go behind my back and give that man our money and not tell me? We talked about this Maddie!?
Maddie: I know! David, I screwed up.
David: Screwed up? This doesn't sound like a screw up, this sounds like something very intentional that didn't work out in your favor so now you're trying to talk your way out of it.
Maddie rolls her eyes and looks away.
David: (Walks towards her and points.) No. No…don't do that. Don't roll your eyes at me and act like since you're apologizing it should all be forgiven. That's what you do to me every single time Maddie and I'm sick of it.
Maddie: I don't think that! I know it's a lot of money David…
David: But it's not just the money…even if you told me right now that we doubled our money it still wouldn't change the fact that you went against a decision we made together to do it.
Maddie looks down at her hands.
David: You know what the worst part of this is? You have more respect for Lou LaSalle's opinion than you do for mine.
Maddie: That's not true…I…
David: No. It is true. I told you my opinion…as your business partner, as your husband…as someone who has the best interest of our future in mind…and you still went with what he thought was best for you to do. You know how that makes me feel? That after all this time you still look at me like dumb David!
Maddie: You're blowing this way out of proportion David.
David: I don't think so.
Maddie: I didn't let him convince me of anything, I just went with my gut. It was a feeling I had, it was my decision, not his, it just didn't pan out like I hoped.
David: You know how many hours we have to put in to make up money like that? Not to mention the time I log in sitting next to Viola listening to his beard grow while I'm away from you and from the kids? I've been busting my hump on this surveillance stuff to bring in more money and you're just giving it away.
Maddie sits looking sullen. She knows how hard David works and it makes her feel even worse about the whole situation.
Maddie: (Puts her hands up.) You're right. I'm not even gonna make excuses David, because you're right. OK? I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
David looks out her office widow at the skyline of Los Angeles.
David: This is one time I wish I weren't married to my business partner, because the last person I want to see tonight when I get home is you.
His words sting Maddie. David heads for the door.
Maddie: Ouch! David…
David pauses at the door with his back to her.
Maddie: I think we should talk about this…
David: No. Not now. I don't have anything else to say to you.
Maddie: I know I made a huge mistake, but as partners and spouses, we need to work through this, not run away, don't you think?
David pauses, then opens the door and steps out.
David: (Cold.) I'm gonna go out for a drink. I'll be home later.
He leaves her office and closes the door firmly behind him. Maddie sits for a few minutes feeling horrible. She looks at the clock, it's time for her to get Lily and Aidan and go home.
Maddie goes through the motions the rest of the evening with the kids – trying to act normal and happy when inside she's really miserable and filled with guilt. David doesn't come home that evening until after 10pm, Maddie's upstairs getting ready for bed. She waits a little bit but David never comes up, so she sneaks half way down the stairs and peeks into the living room. He's lying on the couch surfing channels on the TV, she decides to leave him alone and give him time to think. David never comes to bed that night.
The next day at work there is an employee meeting after lunch that Maddie and David have to lead together even though they haven't interacted since Maddie's little confession the day before. Near the end of the meeting Ms. Dipesto brings up the subject of buying a company car, which was discussed at a previous meeting, and begins to talk about the research she's put into which car would be most practical for the company.
David: (Cuts her off and is all business.) Unfortunately a company car will have to be put on hold for now due to some financial reverses.
Ms. Dipesto: But Mr. Addison, at our last meeting you said that money had already been put aside for the expense of the car and I should gather this information in preparation for a purchase.
David: Yeah, well…(looks down.) That money is no longer available to us.
Ms. Dipesto: I don't understand.
David: Well Agnes, I don't understand it all myself, but if you want a further explanation I suggest you speak with Mrs. Hayes-Addison. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think this meeting is over and I have some other pressing business.
David walks into his office and slams the door. All of the employees stare at Maddie who looks down sheepishly and makes her way into her office.
That night both David and Maddie are at home with the kids but they move politely around each other and only interact when they have to. Aidan notices their distance as they sit on the couch apart from each other when they usually sit together touching in some way. Maddie sorts through mail, David flips through the channels on the TV and Aidan stands next to David on the couch and leans on his shoulder.
Aidan: Daddy, kiss mommy.
David: Not now A.
Aidan pushes David's head towards Maddie.
Aidan: Give mommy a kiss! I want you to kiss her!
David playfully pulls Aidan on his lap.
David: (Teasing.) Hey, what business is it of yours if I kiss her?
He tickles Aidan and Aidan laughs. And then lays with his head back over David's lap looking at Maddie.
Aidan: Mommy, kiss Daddy.
Maddie: (Glances up.) I don't think Daddy wants a kiss right now Aidan.
Aidan: Yes, he does.
Maddie glances at David who has his eyes fixed on the TV.
Maddie: I don't think he does.
Aidan moves between them and pushes both of their heads together.
Aidan: Kiss!
David doesn't move his eyes from the TV, but puckers his lips. Maddie leans towards him and pecks him on the lips and they quickly pull apart. Aidan is happy and jumps off the couch. David can't help but feel a tingly feeling after having Maddie's lips on his for that brief second, but he pushes those sensations down because he's still so mad about her giving that money to Lou LaSalle behind his back.
Later that night Maddie puts the kids to bed and then gets ready herself; normally David is up there with her talking and teasing and asking a million questions, but tonight he never comes up. She walks back downstairs and sees David is lying on the couch reading a comic book with a blanket over him. She enters the living room and sits next to him on the couch; he doesn't look at her.
Maddie: Will you come to bed please?
David: (Continues to look at his book.) No, I think I'm gonna sleep here tonight.
Maddie: (pulls the top of the book back with one finger so he's forced to look up.)
David, you can still be mad at me, but I don't want to sleep apart.
David: Well, I don't want to sleep next to someone I'm so mad at.
Touches his arm.
Maddie: David…I'm sorry…
David: (Stops her and moves his arm.) Maddie…don't.
Maddie: Don't be so cold.
She stands up.
Maddie: Like I said, you don't have to forgive me or talk about any of it right now, but we need to sleep together. Aidan notices what's going on. We're husband and wife, it's not right.
David looks up at her.
Maddie: Why are you sleeping on the couch? We always said we'd separate business from personal David. This was business.
David: No, what you did crosses the line between business and personal, which makes it worse.
Maddie feels a knot in her gut. David looks away. She takes his hand and pulls at it.
Maddie: Come upstairs David.
He doesn't move.
Maddie: Please?
He pulls his hand away.
David: I'd rather stay down here, but thanks.
Maddie: (Serious.) Come upstairs David.
He doesn't respond. She grabs his hand again.
Maddie: (Getting emotional.) Come upstairs.
Nothing.
Maddie: (More upset.) Come upstairs David. (He looks up at her, she's teary-eyed and starting to sound desperate.) Come upstairs David!
Maddie seriously thinks she's going to lose it if David sleeps on the couch away from her one more night. She can't go back upstairs without him. David stares into her eyes. Through his anger, her emotional state touches him and he pushes the blanket aside, closes his book and gets up. Maddie holds onto his arm lightly and they go upstairs but he remains cold. When they get upstairs they climb into bed and turn off the lights. David lies on his side facing away from Maddie but she puts her hand on his shoulder forcing him to turn, and she continues to turn him and works her way close to him and pulls his arm over her so that he's spooning her. She blinks back tears and breaths in an emotional way stopping herself from crying. She wishes all of this would just go away. David feels her body shake and knows how upset she is. He looks up towards the ceiling and thinks about what he's going to do to resolve these bitter feelings towards her and move past this. Again, though he's very angry, he can't help but feel compassion for his distressed wife. He relaxes a bit and intertwines his fingers with hers and moves his arm to pull her closer. Maddie feels reassured by this gesture and for the first time has the smallest bit of hope that they can talk and work through this soon. She takes a deep breath and lies back against David's body. Somehow they both manage to get some sleep.
The next afternoon Maddie pays a visit to David in his office after he's been behind closed doors all day.
Maddie: (Pokes her head in.) Mind if I come in?
David points towards the couch and she enters and sits.
Maddie: David…
David: Maddie, I really don't know if anything you have to say will make a difference.
Maddie: I don't know if it will either, but if you could just listen.
David sits back in his chair and gives her his attention.
Maddie: David, I really don't have an excuse for what I did, I can only say I'm sorry and I know it was wrong. I made a bad decision. I just wish you didn't take it personally, like I made the decision on my own because I didn't trust you. It's the opposite David, your opinion means everything to me, but sometimes I need to trust my gut. I mean, the last person I want to hurt is you – and I'm angry at myself because I wasn't loyal to the agreement we have to make decisions together, as partners. And I'm scared too David, because I don't want you to doubt me in the future. It seems that every time I hurt you, it's deep. It must be something I do to sabotage myself when things are going well. Because, what we have, what we are and what we're going to be means so much to me…I mean, sure, we have our ups and downs, but at the end of the day I love you more than ever. I know you're disappointed in me, and I'm disappointed in myself. But I've learned a big lesson and I do hope you can forgive me and see that it wasn't done with the intention of hurting you at all, but with the hope of adding to Blue Moon which ultimately benefits us, our kids and our employees.
David just listens without saying a word.
Maddie: Anyway, that's what I wanted to say.
She gets up and walks to the door and then pauses.
Maddie: I love you David.
Maddie leaves and goes back to her office and puts her head in her hands. She feels better for at least getting it off her chest. Back in David's office he sits thinking.
Later that night Maddie and David are home with Aidan and Lily, they eat dinner early as a family mostly chatting with the kids and work politely around each other again and then David goes upstairs for a while. A little while later in the living room Lily is jumping around singing and dancing and Maddie is helping Aidan put together a puzzle on the floor when David enters.
David: Maddie, can I talk to you?
Maddie looks at David surprised, but gets up and meets him on the other side of the couch. He takes her by the elbows and leans into her ear.
David: I heard what you said today and I believe you weren't trying to hurt me. Let's just move on, ok?
Maddie closes her eyes and nods her head feeling relieved.
David: And I trust that something like this won't happen again?
Maddie looks him in the eyes with a bit of a pout and nods her head no.
David: Ok. I love you.
He kisses the side of her head and Maddie grabs the front of his shirt with one hand and pulls him closer to her and they kiss…and then kiss again and a few more times. Suddenly Aidan is standing behind Maddie on the couch and leans over her shoulders trying to stop them from kissing.
Aidan: (Tries to push their faces apart but they resist.) Ewwww, don't kiss. Yuk!
Maddie and David laugh lightly but continue to give each other a few soft kisses and press their foreheads together.
Aidan: (Whines.) Stop Mommy, that's yucky! Don't kiss Daddy!
David pulls Aidan between them.
David: (Teasing) And who are you? The kissing police?
Aidan: (Laughs.) Yeahhhhh (giggle, giggle).
David looks at Maddie.
David: I think we're gonna have to smother him with kisses.
Maddie and David each take a cheek and give Aidan tons of kisses while he squirms and protests and laughs. When they're done they hold Aidan between them and he gives them a perfect smirk – a carbon copy of his fathers.
Maddie: Look at the face David; if that look isn't you right now I don't know what is.
David laughs and they scrutinize Aidan's face talking about which features come from each of them.
David: This kid's definitely me from the nose down, but the light hair and blue eyes is all you.
Maddie: Lily's got your eyes…
They call Lily over and she scrambles up onto the couch and joins in the family huddle.
David: (David runs his hand lightly down her face.) My green eyes on your face and blonde curly hair. A great combination.
Maddie: …And I love these dimples; she pinches Lily's cheeks.
David: But the craziest part is Aidan has your personality and Lily's got mine.
Maddie: I agree. Lily is already being voted most likely to throw a party and get the cops called on her as a teenager. She's her own little party all the time with her singing and dancing.
David: And Aidan is Mr. straight and narrow…he plays by the rules. Last week when you were out with Patrice I told Aidan he could watch Twin Peaks with me but he said it's not for kids and went up to his room to read.
Maddie hugs Aidan.
Maddie: What a good boy. (To David.) Twin Peaks is a weird show David, don't warp his mind.
David: He's fine. (To Lily.) You'll watch it with me won't you Lily-bird?
Lily nods.
Maddie: No way.
Maddie hugs Lily.
David: Hey, when you're not home, I'm in charge…
Maddie: Oh, does that mean when I am home I rule the roost?
David smirks at her and rubs her shoulder.
David: Sure.
Maddie rolls her eyes.
David: Anyway, God gave us a crazy mix of kids. (He winks at Maddie and looks up.) Or whoever.
Maddie smiles.
Maddie: Well, we'll see what changes in the next ten years…who knows.
The kids get down off the couch and go back to their activities and Maddie and David kiss again.
Maddie: I think a nice relaxing bubble bath is in order tonight. (She looks at him seductively and runs her finger down his chest.)
David: I think it's long overdue.
Maddie: A lot of things are long overdue.
David smiles and looks her up and down.
David: (To Aidan and Lily.) Kids! You've gotta go to bed early tonight.
Lily & Aidan: No, no noooooo, nooo!
David winks at Maddie and she throws him her bedroom eyes. Later that night they finally get the kids to sleep after lots of stories, drinks of water and Aidan and Lily asking them to point out which parts of them look like Maddie and David again.
Finally Maddie and David sink into a nice hot bubble bath. As soon as they lie together in the tub Maddie can't resist turning to face David. She slides her wet, slippery body over his and let's her hands wander up and down and all around. David is instantly aroused and he runs his hands through Maddie's wet hair and kisses her neck and shoulders. Maddie pushes David so he's sitting on the side of the tub and gives him a blowjob – between the slippery surface and all the pleasure she's giving him, David has a hard time staying in one place, but it doesn't take long before he's letting out moans of pleasure as he comes hard and then they sink back into the tub together. After awhile they make their way to the bed and make love before falling asleep in each other's arms – both feeling relieved to have any bad feelings between them resolved.
CUT TO: The next week at Blue Moon David is out and Ms. Dipesto lets Maddie know a potential client is there to see them without an appointment. Maddie says to show him in and since Agnes has been wanting to get more involved in the cases Maddie asked her to sit in too. The man, Mr. White, suspects his brother in law, Mr. Abdul, of running an international ring that sells women as wives to men in different parts of the world and he wants Blue Moon to go under cover and pose as potential women to be sold so they can bust the ring wide open. Mr. White really dislikes his brother-in-law and would love to expose the ring and get him exported – and he's prepared to pay $20,000 for one nights work. When the man leaves, Maddie and Agnes sit in her office and talk.
Maddie: I think we should take it.
Agnes: I don't know Ms. Hayes, getting involved in some creepy underground international ring sounds pretty dangerous.
Maddie: (Deep thought.) Yeah, but…$20,000.
Agnes: Yeah, sure, it's good money Ms. Hayes, but shouldn't we see what Mr. Addison thinks?
Maddie: No!
Agnes looks surprised.
Agnes: No?
Maddie: No…if we take this case Agnes, I don't want him to know. I just want to do the job, make the money and tell him all about it after.
Agnes: But, I don't understand Ms. Hayes…you and Mr. Addison make all the company decisions together, so why would you take a case without telling him?
Maddie: Agnes, between me and you…remember the money we had set aside for the company car?
Agnes nods.
Maddie: Well, I made a stupid business decision without consulting Mr. Addison and lost a lot of money…$20,000 to be exact. So, I'm thinking…if we take this case and make the money back quickly, I can surprise David and Blue Moon will be back on track again and we can get our company car.
Agnes: I don't know Ms. Hayes, if it were any other case I'd agree, but this one sounds too dangerous to do alone. I'm sure Mr. Addison wouldn't want us putting ourselves in danger over $20,000 and I don't think Herbert would like it either!
Maddie: Agnes, don't you trust me? Besides, I wouldn't put us in this situation alone without any backup! We'll get some of the guys from the LAPD to assist so they can move in and arrest this Mr. Abdul when we bust this ring wide open!
Agnes thinks.
Agnes: We'll have police back up?
Maddie nods emphatically. Agnes thinks again and shrugs.
Agnes: The other thing is, Friday night will be kind of hard for me to get out of the house because Herbert still breaks out in hives every time he has to watch the baby alone.
Maddie thinks.
Maddie: Why don't we get all the boys to go out together and we'll say we're having a girls night and we'll have Mrs. D watch Nola Viola and I'll have Lily and Aidan stay at Walter and Terri's!?
Agnes: (Thinks.) Well, ok…I guess that would work, to help get you out of the bind you're in Ms. Hayes, I'm willing to pitch in and do the job!
She salutes Maddie and Maddie is excited about making back the money she lost quickly and making everything up to David. They continue to talk about a plan for Friday's undercover job.
CUT TO: Friday night, Maddie and David are both in their bedroom getting ready for their respective nights out. David's just getting out of the shower and Maddie is doing her hair in the vanity area.
David: So where you girls headed tonight?
Maddie thinks.
Maddie: Well, we're not telling you guys, we don't want you showing up and crashing girls night.
David: Oh, Please…you don't think we can find anything better to do on boys night out then show up where you girls are?
Maddie:(Walks towards him.)After you get a few drinks in you? I know you'll come looking for me David.
David scoffs, looks in the mirror and runs his hands over the sides of his hair.
David: You are suffering under a sever delusion my friend.
Maddie laughs sarcastically and walks away to get dressed; David follows.
David: So, no really…where you going?
Maddie: I don't know, where are you going?
David: Big's Billiards Club – remember that place? You and I went there a few years ago.
Maddie: Oh yeah…isn't Big's a little fancy for a boys night out?
David: Yeah, well…we decided we're gonna dress like gentlemen, drink martini's, eats steaks, do the whole thing real classy and then have a mean 9-ball tourney.
Maddie: Sounds fun David.
David: (Snide.) You won't show up will you?
Maddie: (Gives him a sideways look.) No, I won't show up.
David starts putting on a suit.
David: Of course, I wouldn't mind if you did show up.
Maddie: That's sweet, but tonight, you have your night…and I'll have mine. (She kisses him.)
David smiles and then looks down and notices that Maddie's pulled on a short skintight dress and reacts.
David: Whoa whoa whoa! Where you going in that thing!?
Maddie: What!?
David: You're not leaving much to the imagination Maddie.
Maddie: David…stop, it's just a dress.
David goes to Maddie's closet and starts sifting through her clothes, he pulls out a long sweater.
David: You've never worn a dress like that for me.
Tries to put the sweater on her, but she resists.
David: Here, put this on.
Maddie: I have too – now stop it.
She pushes him away and walks back to the vanity to put on earrings, David follows.
David: You're acting oftly shady Maddie!
Maddie is nervous about tonight's job and David's line of questioning isn't helping. She clips on her earrings and then turns to a concerned David standing behind her. She takes his tie and begins to tie it for him.
Maddie: What are you worried about?
David: I wanna know where you're going looking like that. There are a lot of crazy people out there Maddie – and when you show up looking like this, you're gonna drive them all nuts. Maybe we should all go out together.
Maddie: No! (Regains her cool.) I mean, David, I'm a big girl, I've handled myself out in the world all this time just fine! Really, there's no need to worry. (Maddie lies.) The girls and I are just going to Rosalie's Mexican restaurant and then to a lounge close to there for a few cocktails…I'm sure I'll be home before you! I'll page you if there are any problems.
David: (Calms down.) OK. If anyone looks at you cross-eyed, page me.
Maddie: (Kisses him.) Promise.
A little while later David is out with Richie, Troy, Bert, and two other guys that he Troy know from the gym. Maddie, Agnes, Patrice and Jamie and Linda from the office show up and meet with Mr. Abdul and quickly realize they are in over their heads when they are told they'll be auctioned off that evening to men from different parts of the world…before they can object or back out they are pulled onto a stage with about fifty other women and the auction begins. Their police backup in the van outside is having trouble hearing them – since neither Bert or David were in on this case, the wires weren't set up correctly. Maddie begins to panic; she looks around and searches for a way out, but can't find one. After about an hour, she and Agnes are put together on stage and bidding for them begins. When all is said and done Agnes is bought for twice the price of Maddie. Maddie is offended and yells at the crowd.
Maddie: Hey! Why'd she go for twice the price!?
The reason given is that Agnes looks like she'd be more fun. Maddie sulks, but is then snapped back to reality when she and Agnes are escorted off stage and put in a small room together as the sellers prepare paperwork to send them to their new husbands in Morocco.
Agnes: (Whispers; panicked.) Ms. Hayes! How are we gonna get out of this!?
Maddie: I'll think of something. (Frets.) Oh, I wish David were here!
Agnes: I told you it wasn't a good idea to do this behind Mr. Addison and Herbert's backs!
Maddie: I know Agnes, I'm so sorry…I'll think of something!
As they wait in the cold room Maddie notices a telephone line running under the door and out of the room and contemplates. She pounds on the door.
Maddie: Guard! Guard!
The guard comes to the door.
Guard: What is it!?
Maddie: (Flirts.) I have to use the ladies.
The guard looks at his watch and back at Maddie.
Guard: Not now, no one leaves their rooms while the auction takes place. He starts to close the door but she stops him.
Maddie: Please! I have to go really bad…(She bats her eyes.) Besides, I want to freshen up and look good for my new Moroccan husband.
The guard looks around.
Guard: All right, go! (Looks her up and down.) I knew you'd be high maintenance.
Maddie: Who me!? I'm easy.
He takes a step towards her and she recoils.
Maddie: But, not that easy.
Just then the guard is called away.
Guard: Go quickly and come right back to this room!
Maddie gives him a two-fingered salute.
Maddie: Scouts honor.
The guard hurries down the hall and Maddie throws Agnes a look and slips out. She follows the phone line to a small office down the hall and with her heart pounding in her chest she pages David.
Across town at Big's David is in the middle a mean game of 9-ball when his pager goes off with a number he doesn't recognize, and a 911 after it – which is he and Maddie's code for an emergency. He contemplates taking his next shot before he calls her back but something in his gut tells him he'd better find a payphone.
David: I'll be back boys…she probably left her lipstick in the car.
Maddie sits in the dark office tapping her fingers on the phone waiting for David to call her back – she's afraid the guard will return and catch her in there any moment. Just then the phone rings and she quickly picks up.
Maddie: (Loud Whisper.) David!?
David: Maddie!?
There is a lot of noise behind David.
Maddie: David, I need your help…we need your help. I got all of us girls in a horrible situation!
David: Maddie, where are you!?
Maddie: I'm at a warehouse across town, I'm actually working a case tonight and now we've all been sold into an international ring and soon I'll be the wife of a Moroccan Dictator if you don't get here quick and get us out of here.
David's confused.
David: You're what!? How did…Maddie…what is going on!?
Maddie: David, I can't explain now, you just need to get here and bust this thing wide open or soon we'll all be gone! Hurry David!
Maddie tells David exactly where they are and about the two cops that are supposed to be giving them back up but she hasn't been able to get in touch with them. Then she hears the guard coming and quickly hangs up and slips out the door – she comes face-to-face with the guard and plays dumb.
Maddie: (Sighs.) Ah. Much better.
The guard looks behind her at the door she just came out of.
Guard: That's Mr. Abdul's office.
Maddie: Oh, that's not the ladies!? Oops!
The guard shakes his head and points to the room Maddie is supposed to be in, she slips back in the room and huddles by Agnes.
Maddie: Ok, David and the guys are on their way.
Agnes: (Hopeful) They are!?
Maddie: Yeah.
Agnes: (Worried.) I hope they hurry Ms. Hayes; the auction is almost over!
Some time passes and the auction ends. All of the girls that were sold are gathered into one room and given passports and plane tickets – they are then escorted single file to a runway where a plane awaits.
Agnes: Ms. Hayes!? I thought you said they were coming! It's been almost two hours!
Maddie: I know Agnes, I thought they'd be here by now.
A guard shoves a gun in Maddie's face.
Guard: NO TALKING!
Maddie backs up into Agnes and they stand waiting to board the plane. After a few minutes the planes door opens and the girls start to board. But just then a helicopter hovers above and men start dropping from the sky and a major bust happens and all the men involved in the ring are arrested and all of the girls who were sold are saved.
After being questioned Maddie is taken back into a room where the other girls are waiting, she sees David across the room, they catch eyes and he starts towards her. They embrace.
David: Maddie!
Maddie sinks into David's arms and feels emotional for the first time that night.
Maddie: David.
David: Honey, what is all this about? How did you get mixed up in this and why don't I know anything about this case!?
Maddie explains about the client and the money and how she got the girls onboard to help – David shakes his head and puts his arm around her and they go to talk with the other girls, Troy and Bert. After a few hours they are all released.
CUT TO: A DINER AT 7am. Maddie and David eat a pancake breakfast while they re-cap the night.
David: Stupid, stupid, stupid! Don't ever put yourself in danger like that again…not over twenty thousand dollars, not for any reason!
Maddie: I know, it was stupid David, I don't know what I was thinking.
David: It's your need for perfection Maddie, it almost got you a new life in Morocco. You screwed up so you think by making up for it, you'll erase the mistake…but that's not how life works – nothing's perfect.
Maddie: (Pouts.) I just didn't want you to be mad at me anymore or disappointed.
David: Hey, guess what? I'm gonna be mad at you sometimes. But I'm never disappointed. You're human Maddie, you screwed up – yes, I was hurt, but I'm over that too. Don't ever put yourself in danger to make something up to me. I'm your husband, remember? I gotta take you warts and all.
Maddie: I know, I'm sorry David.
David takes her hand.
David: I'm just glad you're safe.
Maddie smiles shyly at him.
Maddie: And on the bright side, we made back the twenty thousand dollars, and are getting paid another twenty thousand dollars for the bounty on Mr. Abdul's head – turns out he was wanted in six different countries!
David: Yep, and guess what we're doing with that extra twenty thou!?
Maddie: What…
David: Vegas baby!
Maddie: Vegas?
David: Vegas!
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thanks Susan for your reads and edits! Much appreciated as always! :)