The Ties that Bind, Part 10

Scene 1
Setting: Mustang Sallys

Steven is in Nicole's office sleeping, The club is beginning to bustle with patrons. The band on the stage is Easy Street, Sal is the main singer and his 3 back-up singers are Sydney, Steph and Lauren. Sally is at the bar talking with Nicole.

Sally: Is he still sleeping?

Nicole: Yep, like a log, that little guy was beat.

Sally: One determined little man I'd say, I wonder what this Jake is like.

Nicole: (with a smile) From my brief encounters with him, on the outside he's one handsome man, but on the inside he's broken, he's hurting Sally, hurting bad. I think this Vicky has a big job ahead of her to make it right.

Sally: You're too wise for your age girl, too wise.

Nicole: Well, it takes one to know one. (they both smile)

Shari: (coming up to them) boy, were doing some kind of business tonight, can I get you guys anything?

Nicole: Thanks, I'm fine for now, maybe when Anne gets here we can have a couple of drinks before she goes on.
Sally: Sounds good, we need to do some celebrating.

Shari: What for?

Sally: Life, girls, just life indeed! …………… Shari, how's Heather working out?

Shari: She's got some to learn, but that girl's got spunk, I tell you, spunk! A couple of good old boys were trying to hit on her and she gave them a mouthful!

Sally: Good that's what we need in here!

Nicole: Shari, have you seen any sign of our friend Jake yet?

Shari: Nope, not yet, but I'm looking.

Just then Jake comes rushing through the door, still carrying Vicky, he's carried her for
Several blocks now and he's tired, he gets to the bar and plops her down on a stool.

Vicky: hey, easy there, I'm not some piece of meat!

Jake: (still trying to catch his breath, gives her a look, then looks at the bartender)
Water please, can…I…..get ……some……water???

At the other end of the bar Sally, Shari and Nicole have witnessed this entrance by
Jake and Vicky.

Sally: (to Nicole and Shari) Two guesses who they are.

Nicole: (laughing a bit) Yep, you guessed it, come on girls let's check this out.

Shari heads down to the bar where Jake and Vicky are.

Shari: Hey Jake, how ya doing?

Jake: More water please..(between breaths)

Shari gets him another glass of water and he proceeds to gulp that down as well.

Vicky: Where's Steven??? (looking around the place)

Nicole: (coming up to them) He's fine, he's in my office sleeping right now.

Vicky: (to Nicole, looking relieved) he's alright then?

Nicole: Yes, yes, safe and sound.

Vicky: How'd you find him?

Nicole: Well, when I was leaving Jake's apartment, I ran right into him.

Vicky: (looking at Nicole) Oh really, (to Jake) Didn't wait long, did you???

Jake: (turning around) What??

Nicole: (interrrupting them) you must be Vicky? (she puts her hand out to shake it, but Vicky refuses. Nicole drops her hand)

Vicky: (sarcastically) and …….you must be Nicole.

Nicole: The one and only!

Vicky: I bet!

Nicole: (ignorning Vicky's attitude) Let me introduce you to Sally, Mustang Sally .

Sally: Hi Vicky, your son, Steven, sure has told us a lot about you and Jake.

Vicky: That kid, when I get my hands on him….

Sally: That young man is very wise for his age.

Vicky: too wise!

Sally (looking at Jake) And this must be Jake!

Jake: (to Sally) hi there, (he then gets off the bar and gives Nicole a hug) Thanks Nicole….

Nicole: Whatever for???

Jake: For being there for Steven, we don't know what we'd have done.

Shari to Vicky: Hi Vicky, I'm Shari……(Vicky cannot hear what Shari is saying because she is staring at Jake hugging this woman, who she doesn't know and feels that she's got some competition) Hi, uh Hey..

Vicky: uh…uh…what? (finally realizing that someone is talking to her) what?

Shari: I'm Shari. Can I get you something? you look like you've hurt yourself.

Vicky: (Ignoring Shari, looking at Jake) hmmm, excuse me, hello? My ankle??

Both Nicole and Jake turn around to see Vicky, pointing to her foot…


Fade out.



Scene 2
Setting: Carlino's

Amanda and Derek on now having coffee after dinner.

Amanda: So tell me how you and Jake know each other so well….What's the story behind this.

Derek: (laughing a bit) I have a feeling you wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Amanda: knowing Jake the way I do, I probably would believe anything.

Derek: knowing Jake the way you do hmm? And how well do you know him?

Amanda: I've seen him chase after Vicky for years and she keeps hurting him, I'm just waiting for the love sick fool to wake up!

Derek: Sounds to me like you haven't been very lucky in the love department?

Amanda: What's it all worth is all I wanna know, I mean all the heartache, the sleepless nights, the wondering if he's gonna change his mind, stop loving you and leave you in the end. That's what they all do you know, leave you in the end. I've got my daughter who loves me unconditionally, right now that's enough.

Derek: Hurt real bad before haven't you? I just don't think you've met the right man.

Amanda: (laughing) Met the right man? Come on, I don't think there are any right men left!

Derek: I think there's room for debate there!

Amanda: You know what I think?

Derek: (smiling) Can't wait.

Amanda: (looking at his eyes for a moment)……… I think your avoiding my original question, and that is how'd you meet Jake, he never talked about you before.

Derek: Good journalism there, always asking questions…….. so what degree in journalism have you?

Amanda: I knew it! (slapping her hand on the table) You don't want to answer my questions, well mister I answered yours quite freely might I add, now come on spill it!

Derek: Well…… Jake saved my life once is all.

Amanda: (shocked) Saved your life……. how???

Derek: It was nothing.

Amanda: (putting her hand on his arm) Come on tell me Derek, I want to hear this.

Derek: (looking at her hand on his arm, then up to her eyes) Oh alright, It was several years ago when I was on assignment in the Middle East. I was falsely arrested and accused of being a spy for another government, they were going to hang me….and he…

Amanda: (disbelief) …. hang you?

Derek: (putting his napkin on the table, getting ready to get up) …. I told you wouldn't believe it, come on let me walk you back to the office.

Amanda: Oh no, no you don't, sit back down and finish….I …I believe you.

Derek: Well in their custom, hanging was the offense for spying?

Amanda: And were you……….. spying that is?

Derek: Now do I look like a spy to you?

Amanda: I reserve comment for later…..continue please.

Derek: (a look of amusement on his face)……..anyway they were going to hang me, but Jake stopped them, you see he was there also for some interview with this Prince and we met one night in this local bar and became friends, a few days later he found out I was arrested and came and visited me in jail and helped me get out of the predicament I was in. Ever since then we've remained in contact, in fact he came to see me in Canada before I went to Europe a few years ago and all he talked about was Vicky.

Amanda: No doubt it was about that two timer……… very facinating story, I do have a feeling that you're leaving out some details though.

Derek: (laughing) ….I'll tell you all you want to know (thinking for a moment)…… ………..On one condition.

Amanda: Oh making conditions now are we?

Derek: Hey, I haven't called you Red all night now have I?

Amanda: No, you've been quite the gentleman, okay what's the condition.

Derek: (serious look on his face) First that you realize I'm only here to help with the Herald and secondly (with a smile) ……that you allow me to change your mind about there being a right man out there.

Amanda: (after some thought) I'll accept the first condition, but the second one well…..

Derek: (smiling) hey, I'm NOT just doing this for me, but for all the Canadian men out there who haven't been given a chance.

Fade out.


Scene 3
Setting: Bay City, at the dog food plant, protest.

Nick is there with Patti trying to get someone to talk to him, while Patti is snaping pictures.

Nick: Hey Patti, getting any good shots?

Patti: (taking the camera away from her face) You bet, You see that woman over there (points to this young women standing with a picket sign that says. "No justice, No Peace") I bet she would have something to say!

Nick: (looking at the woman) You know your right I bet she would, I'll go over and see if she would like to make some comments for the Herald.

Nick (walking up to the women) Hi, it looks like you've got a good protest going on here! I'm with the Herald, do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?

Dee: Sure, my names Dee Campbell. That's with a "D"

Nick: (taking notes) Okay Dee, What's this all about? (waving his hands around)

Dee: They decided to eliminate 50% of the jobs here and move the company out of the country, and we won't stand for it! They have a home office in New York City, me and my friends are going to rent a bus and take this fight right there! (in a softer voice) plus gives me a chance to see a couple of good friends while I'm there)

Nick: hmmmmm interesting, I agree that's not good. A bus ride you say. Tell me more about that…..

Dee: okay..well we thought we'd stop in…….

Patti (looking on at Nick and Dee) that boy's got talent! (She focuses on them through her lenses and takes a couple of shots.) ….real talent!.


Scene 4
Setting: New York, Mustang Sally's

Vicky is in Sallys office where she was taken after she saw that Steven was okay and still sleeping. Sally's office is decorated in true blues fashion, we see pictures of gold albums, autographed pictures of famous blues singers, B.B. King, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt. You can faintly hear Easy Street playing. Vicky is sitting in overstuffed chair with her foot up on a cushion.

Sally: So what's the verdict Dan?

Dan: (One of Sally's regular's who happens to be a physician) Well it's a pretty bad sprain, she's gonna have to stay off it for awhile.

In walks Steven and Nicky. Steven stands back a little bit.

Steven: uh, Hi Mom?

Vicky: (looking up) Steven! (she tries to get up) ooch (sits back down)

Steven: (going to her) Mom, are you okay?

Vicky: Okay? Am I okay? I'm fine (she gives him a hug) Young man! You and I are going to have quite a talk.

Steven: I know, (looking around the room) where's Jake?

Jake: (just coming into the room with Nicole) Right here, my man, right here.

Steven: Jake (runs to Jake, he takes him in his arms)

Jake: (setting Steven down) What do you think you were doing? Do you know how worried you got your mother?

Steven: (looking at Vicky) I'm sorry, mom.

Dan: (interrupting) Well I need to get back to the office, (looking at Vicky) you need to stay off your feet for a few days, no traveling!

Vicky: So I need to say here for a few days?

Jake: What? she can't travel back to Bay City.

Dan: I would strongly recommend that she stay here and off her feet.

Nicole: I think that's a good idea, you could certainly stay with Jake at his Apt.

Jake: Listen I don't think that's a good idea.

Vicky: That's my apartment too!

Steven: Why not?

(Jake looking at Steven then Vicky, silence for a moment)

Sally: Come on Jake, she's not going to be able to take care of herself, and Nicole says your apartment has plenty of room.

Jake: That's not the point.

Steven: You wont let us stay with you?

Jake: (running his hands through his hair, then down across his face) How can I say no to you little man.

Steven: Alright!

Sally: Steven why don't you come with me and I'll show you around and introduce you to a few of my friends.

Steven: Is it okay mom?

Vicky: alright, but don't you forget you and I are going to have a talk young man!

Steven and Sally leave

Jake: (looking at Vicky) A few days! And it doesn't mean anything else, you got me!

Vicky: I know, I know…..