OPENING BILLBOARD

ACT ONE

Scene One
Mike's office.

Adam enters Mike's office, flushed and agitated. He has a copy of The Monticello News under his arm. Mike asks grimly if Adam has just learned the news. Adam replies that he can't believe it; it doesn't seem possible. Mike assures him that possible or not, Tiffany Douglas is dead. Adam stares out the office in silence. The newspaper story says that Tiffany fell from the window of an office building. Mike reminds him that newspapers generally use the expression "so-and-so fell or jumped", and in Tiffany's case, it was probably decided to not assume suicide until a investigation could prove it one way or another. Adam bristles at the word "suicide." Mike states that Tiffany was obviously quite depressed. Adam says that he saw Tiffany just a few days ago, after the conclusion of Serena's trial, and Tiffany seemed fine. Mike counters that people don't always visibly express their depression. Adam finds it hard to believe that Tiffany would kill herself over a man like Noel Douglas. A momentary impulse, Mike theorizes, while waiting in the office of her divorce attorney. Adam asks if anyone has spoken with Geraldine yet. Mike tells him about Nancy's visit to the house and how she decribed the "lost, terrible" look in Geraldine's eyes. Adam says that he's going to see Geraldine as soon as he clears his calendar. He must know how Tiffany died...and why.
CUT TO:

Scene Two
Warren Hubbell's office.

Bill and Luke are at Tiffany's divorce attorney's office to investigate the incident. Luke measures the window from which Tiffany jumped or was pushed. Luke states that the sill is exactly 48 inches from the floor. Bill responds that Tiffany was five-foot-six, and wearing heels, her height could be estimated at approximately sixty-eight inches... a two-foot difference. It will be very difficult to justify calling Tiffany's death an accident. Mr. Hubbell assures them that this is the first time anything like this has ever happened in his office. Bill asks if Mr. Hubbell remembers whether or not the window was already open when Tiffany arrived. Hubbell states that it was warm yesterday, and he doesn't like hot rooms. He nervously admits that he prefers fresh air. Bill asks directly if Hubbell opened the window. Yes, he admits, he did open the window when he arrived in the morning. Bill requests that Mr. Hubbell show them how high he raised the window. After Hubbell opens the window, Luke measures it at nineteen inches. Bill sighs, realizing the impossiblity that Tiffany accidentally fell. Hubbell states that from now on, he'll make sure the window is closed whenever clients are present. He slams the window shut.
DISSOLVE TO:
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT TWO

Scene One
Hubbell's office.

Bill explains to Mr. Hubbell that in an investigation of this type, it's very important that the police obtain all of the information they can and asks if he can speak with Hubbell's secretary Rose Kaufman. Hubbell calls Rose into his office. She enters reluctantly, a wary expression on her face. Before Bill can question her, she maintains her innocence, stating adamantly that she had nothing to do with Tiffany's death, and she shouldn't be blamed just because she left her desk for a few moments. Bill attempts to calm her, but she continues her shrill defense. She remarks that she knows this is typical police procedure -to act nice and polite so that people will relax and incriminate themselves. Bill looks at Luke helplessly. Luke smiles at Rose and calmy asks that they start over. He reassures her that the police don't hold her responsible at all. He appeals to her professionalism by remarking that they are required to prepare very detailed reports for the coroner's office. Her apprehension somewhat allayed, Rose relaxes a bit and begins to recount the day Tiffany came into the office. It was about 2:20 in then afternoon. Rose didn't notice anything unusual about Tiffany, though she does remark that she thought Tiffany wore nice clothes, and Rose particularly liked Tiffany's coat. Bill is more concerned with Tiffany's affect. Rose maintains that there was nothing out of the ordinary in Tiffany's demeanor, so she escorted her in Mr. Hubbell's office, reasoning that she'd be more comfortable left alone, as most divorce clients do. Rose admits that she left Tiffany alone for about ten minutes as she wanted to visit a girlfriend down the hall who had become engaged to be married the night before. Bill asks if Tiffany was completely alone during those ten minutes. Rose grows defensive again, asking how was she to know that Mrs. Douglas would jump out the window. Bill immediately questions how Rose, who by her own admission wasn't in the office, knows that Tiffany jumped. Mr. Hubbell interrupts to state that he has handled hundreds of divorces. It's been his experience that although no two divorces are ever alike, women are invariably depressed, especially on the initial visit. Bill asks if Hubbell believes that is the explanation for Tiffany's "accident." Hubbell confesses that it is. He theorizes that Tiffany must have been particularly despondent, confused about where to turn or what to do. She must have glanced at the open window and for a brief moment realized it was her only escape from a seemingly impossible situation.

Scene Two
Mike's office.

Adam enters Mike's office to let him know that he's leaving to see Geraldine. He couldn't work anyway; his thoughts are elsewhere. Mike commiserates. If it were a car accident or a plane crash, it would be nore acceptable, but for Tiffany's death seems so senseless, without reason. Adam states that he doesn't believe Tiffany's death was an accidental fall, yet at the same time, he's certain it wasn't suicide either. He has known Tiffany too long to accept that. Mike reveals that Geraldine thinks that Tiffany's despondency over Noel could have moved her to such a desperate action. Besides, what is the alternative? Does Adam really believe that someone crept up behind Tiffany and pushed her out of the window? Adam doesn't answer. Rather, he comments on the numerous files and books piled up on Mike's desk. Mike says that he spent all day in a meeting the previous day and let many things go during Serena's triall. Adam wants to know if the meeting was Crime Commission business. Yes, in fact, it was intended to be the final meeting, Mike laments, but unfortunately the syndicate is penetrating deeper and deeper into the state, and in ways that are not always apparent. Furthermore, Mike admits that a representative from the governor's office observed the meeting, and afteward, requested that Mike attend a special meeting Capital City. He frowns as he confesses that he has no idea why the governor would want to see him.
DISSOLVE TO:
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT THREE

Scene One
Mike's office.

Adam half-jokingly states that Mike has been ordered to Capital City. "I wouldn't call it an order," Mike laughs, but Adam reminds him that everytime Mike accepts an invitation to sit in on Crime Commission business, he ends up involved. Oh no. Mike is adamant that he's done his share, and anyway, he promised Nancy that he wouldn't become personally involved again. Adam teases him that he won't be able to resist saying yes. Mike counters that there comes a time when a veteran has to allow a younger man to take over.
DISSOLVE TO:

Scene Two
Whitney living room.

Nicole paces the living room. She isn't crying, though she is visibly miserable. Trudy enters, her eyes red from crying. She carries a tray with coffee and toast. Nicole sighs that Trudy shouldn't have bothered to prepare anything as Nicole is too upset to eat. Trudy says that it wasn't any bother. She needs to keep busy to take her mind off of Mrs. Douglas...not that she could ever forget such a wonderful woman. Nicole softly agrees. Tiffany was a lovely, considerate person. Trudy begins to cry again. She says that when John told her about the accident, it didn't seem real. She couldn't quite accept that Tiffany was gone so quickly and violently. Yet, when she awoke to a quiet house -Tiffany was always the first one down- it became real. Nicole attempts to console her. Trudy tells her that John is going to drive her to church later so that she can pray for Mrs. Douglas, only it won't be the same as when she prayed last winter for Geraldine because there was hope. Nicole reassures her that praying for the dead is a way of saying goodbye. Trudy laments the loss and wonders why so much tragedy should be inflicted on one family. Nicole asks how Geraldine is doing. Trudy admits that she attempted to put on a brave face and pretend it was a regular day, but now she's just lying in bed with a terrible expression on her face. Nicole insists that Geraldine will need Trudy's help, so she must be strong. By helping Geraldine survive this tragedy Trudy will be doing what Tiffany would have wanted. It's the same as lighting candles in her honor. They are interrupted by the doorbell. Trudy attends to the door and opens it to find Dr. Clay Jordan. Clay enters, a solemn expression on his face. He tells Nicole that he just heard and is in shock. He questions why Tiffany would do such a thing. He just saw her a few days ago and would have never suspected that she was contemplating suicide. Trudy reacts in horror to Clay's statement.
DISSOLVE TO:
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT FOUR

Scene One
Whitney living room.

Trudy bristles with outrage at Clay's comment. She insists that Tiffany's death was nothing of the kind. She won't allow him to say otherwise. Clay apologizes, adding that he heard the news hastily and must have misinterpreted the facts. Searching for a pretext to get Trudy out of the room, Nicole asks her to carry the breakfast back to the kitchen. After Trudy leaves, Nicole admonishes Clay for being so insensitive. Certainly someone like Trudy wouldn't see Tiffany's death as a suicide. Anyway, there's no way to prove it was. "You think your friend just fell out of the window?" Clay asks. He comments that children fall out of windows because they act foolish, but when adults fall, it's a result of jumping or being pushed. Nicole admits that it's obvious Tiffany jumped; however, sometimes it's kinder not to say things in front of peolple who obviously cannot accept the truth. Clay apologizes for his gauche behavior and tries to salvage himself by inquiring about Geraldine's state of mind. Nicole confesses that Geraldine isn't doing well at all. Furthermore, she wishes she had been more attentive to Tiffany's problems. Clay insists she not feel guilty because many people are unhappy, but most don't resort to taking their own lives. Nicole says that she is puzzled because Tiffany always seemed so stable, and she was particularly not the type to act on impulse. Mainly, she feared being alone. Clay reaches for Nicole's hand. He knows all about loneliness. Nicole quickly withdrwas her hand from his. This isn't the time for that. Besides, she thought he came to see Geraldine. Clay confesses that he'll never pass up a chance to see Nicole. That's why he's here -in this country, in this house. Geraldine Whitney has little to do with it.
CUT TO:

Scene Two
Hubbell's office.

Bill and Luke are alone in Warren Hubbell's office. While Luke completes paperwork at Hubbell's desk, Bill raises and lowers the window. He comments that with all of the windows in the world that stick, Tiffany had the misfortune to be opposite one that opened easily in her moment of panic, which is what it must have been. A momentary anxiety that was so intense, it swept her right out of a ten-story window. Luke is skeptical. The Mrs. Douglas he knew was an attractive, poised lady who had one problem... her louse of a husband Noel Doulglas. Bill counters that she was in this very office to correct that mistake. Luke wants to know where Noel was at the time Tiffany died. Bill asks if Luke still thinks Noel might have been involved. He replies quite simply that it is possible to be pushed from a window ledge. Bill tells him that the police put a tracer on Noel's whereabouts, but so far, there's been no information. Noel has practically vanished. Luke phones police headquarters to see if there are any updates on Noel's location. While on hold, Luke tells Bill that another thing bothers him about Tiffany's death. Statistically speaking, very few women commit suicide by violent deaths such as jumping out of window. Women are more likely to take an overdose of pills or cut their wrists. Luke reaches police personnel then grimly informs Bill that Noel has a seemingly airtight alibi. He checked into a Canadian hotel over a week ago and has been there ever since. Bill sighs. Now the coroner's jury won't have much difficulty reaching a verdict on how Tiffany died.
DISSOLVE TO:
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT FIVE

At the Whitney mansion, Clay persists that he's saddened by Tiffany's death, but wants Nicole to understand what his feelings are towards her. Nicole stiffly responds that although she appreciates his sentiments, she'd rather he focus on doing what he can to help Geraldine. Perhaps his meditative techniques can help her cope with what must be unbearable grief. Trudy ushers Adam into the living room. Clay extends his arm to shake hands, but Adam merely brushes Clay's hand and goes to Nicole. Clay states that he was just going upstairs to visit with Geraldine in hopes he could be of help. "Don't let us keep you," Adam retorts coldly. Clay doesn't want to leave Adam and Nicole alone together, but eventually goes upstairs. Nicole and Adam stand together quitely. Nicole breaks the silence by commenting that there's not much to talk about. Poets can put their feelings into words, but regular people cannot. Adam states that the only word going through his head is "why". Nicole replies that there is no answer to that question. Tiffany must have been terribly upset on a level that none of them understood. Adam questions how that could be. Surely they would have seen the signs. Nicole admits that she was so consumed by her own problems, she failed to recognize Tiffany's pain. She feels guilty, especially after the kindness and support Tiffany gave to her. Nicole ponders what sort of world they live in -where bad things happen to good people and God doesn't punish the wicked. Adam says that Tiffany's death doesn't prove He doesn't. Nicole cries that it's all so unfair. Tiffany is dead. Her beast of a husband is alive. And...just look at the two of them. Adam says ruefully that he knows he's a beast, too. Nicole insists she didn't mean it that way. She begins to sob and kisses him. Adam slowly responds to her kiss. Nicole intensifies it to the edge of passion, then -suddenly realizing what she is doing, abruptly pulls away.
FADEOUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK

CLOSING CREDITS