The Ties that Bind, Part 5

Scene 1
Setting: The cottage

Donna is pacing around the room, Paulina is in the room as well, Joe is on the phone talking to someone.

Joe: Okay, well let me know what you find out.  I want an all points bulletin on this kid you got it? …….good, call me here if you need me.

Paulina: (walking over to Donna) Donna, it's not your fault,

Donna: But if I had only been there earlier….

Vicky comes rushing through the door.

Donna: Vicky, Darling.

Paulina: Vicky…

Vicky: Where's Kirkland? Someone tell me where's Kirkland??

Paulina: Calm down Vicky, just calm down (she goes over to Vicky and puts her arm around her)

Vicky: Calm down? You want me to calm down when my Son is missing..I can't, where's Kirkland?

Paulina: He's all right, he's fine, right now he is sitting out in the treehouse.

Vicky: (looking a bit relieved) Donna, tell me what happened with Steven.   Now!

Donna: (tearing up) Darling, I don't know, I go to school to pick up the boys and only Kirkland is standing there. he's not talking.  I've tried talking to him. The only thing he said was that Steven was going to fix it all.

Vicky: What does he mean, fix it all?

Donna: He left a letter with Kirkland for you to read.

Vicky: Where's the letter? I want to see the letter NOW!

Donna: Kirkland has it, and he is waiting for you so he can give the letter to you.

Joe: Vicky, we're doing all we can right now.  we have everyone on the force looking for him…… we'll find him, I promise.

Donna: Did you find Jake?

Vicky: (in a soft voice) Ya, I found him,

Donna: Well, where is he? Doesn't he know what's going on?

Vicky: I left him a note.

Donna: Well he should be here! This is his family!

Paulina: Donna, Jake will come as soon as he finds out.  Jake knows this is his family (sounding a little irritated with Donna). Vicky, what do you want me to do?

Vicky: I have to go speak to Kirkland now.  will you be here when I get back?

Paulina: Count on it, Honey.   have you had anything to eat since you left New York?

Vicky: I'm not hungry.

Paulina: Well, I have to do something.  I will be in the kitchen making something for you to have when you come back in. Listen, its going to be all right.

Vicky: I hope your right. (Vicky heads out the door, Paulina goes over to Joe and he puts his arms around her)

EXIT

Scene 2
Setting: New York Blues/Jazz Club

Jake and Nicole are sitting at the bar still listening to the band playing.

Nicole: Good band, huh?

Jake: Yep, that singer, what's her name? She's too good to be in a place like this? (he looks around the room)

Nicole: Oh, that's Anne... I hear that she writes all her own songs, and she's trying to get a recording contract.

Jake: Hmmm, that must mean you come in here quite often then?

Nicole: Well, I guess you could say so since I own the place!

Jake: Oooh, that's not fair?

Nicole: What? just that I want to make sure I know if my customers like my place or not?

Jake: Well, that is one way to go about it. (without turning around) Hey, Jack, can I have another one?

Bartender: My name's NOT Jack, it's Shari, honey, and if you want another one I'd suggest you look at who you're calling Jack! (Jake turns around and looks at her)

Nicole: Now, Shari, is that anyway to treat a customer?

Shari: Yes! I don't like being called Jack, Joe, my name is Shari, sweetie, so just call me Shari. And by the way, who one the battle? (looking at Jake's bruised face)

Jake: (looking her square in the eye) Who do you think?

Shari: Honey, it looks like you lost a lot more than just a fight.

Nicole: As you can see she is one of our more feisty bartenders.

Jake: Shari, is it? Well, now that we have the names straight, how about another one?  whiskey straight up again?

Nicole: Don't you think you want to slow down?

Jake: Hey, you're making money off me right?

Nicole: She must have hurt you bad!

Jake: (indignant) Why do you think it was a she? Maybe I just had a bad day at work!

Nicole: (she smiles) I've been in this place enough to see that it's written all over your face.

Jake: All right you got me, it's a woman, but this time I'm holding my ground. I'm through with women, I tell you, through! Finished! Done! no more!

Nicole: You'll change your mind. (the music stops in the background, the band is taking a break, Anne the singer walks up to Nicole)

Anne: Hey Nicky, how was that set?

Nicole: Great as always.  hey are you ever gonna sing us any happy songs?

Anne: Hey, it's the blues.  that's what the blues are for.

Nicole: You're right! here meet my new friend, Jake, Jake, this is Anne, our up and coming singer.

Jake: Nice to meet you.

Anne: (Noticing his face, but not commenting) Same here, you know you remind me of an old boyfriend I had once.

Jake: That's not good news.

Anne: (with a smile) hmmmm, he was the one, but aah…. (she trails off) I guess that's why I sing the blues, huh?

Shari: Anne, you need a drink before your next set?

Anne: Thanks Shari, just water with lemon, please.

Shari: Water and lemon coming up.

Jake: Excuse me, I need to go make a phone call. What's the name of this joint again?

Nicole: Its called Mustang Sally's, but the regulars just call it Sally's

Jake: So there must be a Sally, right?

Shari: Smart too, aren't you? Yes, there is a Sally, she's not here right now, but when she comes in she will have some stories to tell, mister!  Stories to tell why she's called Mustang.

Jake: (talking to himself) of all the places I pick, it's a joint named after a woman, owned by a woman, and ran by a bunch of women. Go figure.. (he gets off the stool and heads for the phones)

(Shari, Anne and Nicole all huddle and watch him walk off)

Shari: He's hurting all right. . .

Nicole: He's got it bad. . .

Anne: He definitely needs some loving girls. . .

All three together: hmmmmmm yep he shore does, then they look at each other and giggle. . .

Scene 3
Setting: The treehouse.

Vicky: Kirkland, honey, can I come up?

Kirkland: Ya, Mom, come in!  I've been waiting for you.

Vicky: (she gets in, sits down next to him and hugs Kirkland) Are you alright?

Kirkland: Yes, Steven told me to stay so I stayed. I didn't tell Nana even though I wanted too. Steven told me it was important.  I did good, didn't I?

Vicky: (tears in her eyes) Well, Kirkland, that depends I guess…(she thinks for a moment) You know how much I love you, right?

Kirkland: right, mom

Vicky: And I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, but sometimes there are secrets that you just cannot keep.

Kirkland: But Mom, I promised Steven.

Vicky: I know you did, honey, but you know where Steven has gone and it's important that I know, because I don't want Steven to get hurt. now, would you want him to get hurt?

Kirkland: No, Mom, he said he would be careful.  he's doing this for us.

Vicky: I know that, but I want to help him. Now, do you know where he has gone?

Kirkland: Well, I'll tell you if you promise not to tell Steven I told you. I don't want him to think I was a baby.

Vicky: (smiling as best as she can) You bet..

Kirkland: He went to go find Jake.

Vicky: What??? Did he know where Jake is?

Kirkland: No, not really, but he was going to go to his office first. He told me to give you this letter when I saw you. (he reaches into his backback and takes out a envelope and hands it to Vicky)

Vicky: (Vicky takes the letter) Kirkland, why don't you go inside and see what Paulina is cooking up and I'll be right there, honey.  And sweetie . . . thank you for telling me and being so brave.

Kirkland: Okay, Mom. (he leaves the treehouse, as soon as he leaves we see Vicky tear into the envelope and start reading the letter)

Vicky (reading to herself, we hear Steven's voice)
Dear Mom,
I know you're going to be mad at me, but you have to understand this is something I have to do. Please don't get mad at Kirkland, this was all my idea.  Kirkland and I want Jake home and as the Man of the house now that he's gone I'm going to find him. I knew if I told you, you wouldn't let me so I've decided to go on my own, don't worry about me.   As soon as I find Jake I'll let you know.

Vicky: (she drops the letter, tears in her eyes again) Oh Steven, what have you done?  You don't even know where Jake is.  Oh, Jake, where are you when I need you so much? How am I going to find our son?