The Ties that Bind, Part 7

Scene 1

Derek is in Jake and Amanda's office looking over a copy of stories that are ready for the next edition. In walks one of his assistants.

Linda: Sir, I have the home office on line one, they say they cannot get the shipment of your office supplies out here until next week.

Derek: (looking around the office) Well, I guess this will have to do for now. Get me Meg on the phone I need to see if she has run down that story that I want to do on the local businesses here.

Linda: Certainly, I will go and work on that right now, but in the meantime what should I do about Miss Cory's assistant, Maria.

Derek: Well, since we all are going to be working together for awhile I would like for you and her to get together to go over the ropes. MARIA, get in here!

(Maria comes through the door looking a little surprised)

Maria: Yes, Mr. Uuh Summerfield?

Derek: Just call me Derek.

Maria: (looking uncomfortable) Okay…… Derek, what can I do for you?

Derek: Well, since Red isn't in yet . . .  by the way what time does Red show up, around lunch time, is it?

Maria: No sir, ooh I'm sorry, Derek, you mean Miss Cory?  She is usually here by now.

Derek: I would like for you and Linda to…

(Just then Amanda walks in the office and sees all these people working and talking half of whom she doesn't know)

Amanda: Am I in the right place?? What the? (she walks into her office) WHO are you and WHAT are you doing behind my desk?!

Derek: (looking amused) Hi Red so you finally showed up did you?  I thought this was Jake's desk.

Amanda: I asked what you were doing here.

Derek: I guess Jake never got a chance to call you then, did he?

Amanda: Maria, what is he doing here?

Maria: I, umm, he, hmmm well, (looking confused, and not sure who to answer to) I, hmmm I, I better get with Linda.

Amanda: WHO's Linda?

Linda: I am! (looking at Amanda) I'm Derek's Assistant.

Derek: Now listen Red, if you would just…

Amanda: DON'T call me RED!

Derek: No need for you to get upset.

Amanda: Upset!  Mister, you haven't seen upset yet! I want you (pointing to Linda) and you (pointing to Maria) out of my office right now.

(both Linda and Maria look at Derek)

Derek: Go on you two, I will take care of this.  Red, oh sorry, I mean Miss Cory and I will settle this. Linda, remember, I need Meg on line 1 ASAP.

Linda: Certainly Derek, Come on Maria you can show me where I need to sit.

(Maria and Linda leave, its just Derek and Amanda now, Derek sits down in Amanda's chair)

Derek: Now what did you want to talk about??

Amanda: (doing all she can to keep her cool) Talk about? What do I want to talk about? Well, for starters I want to know what you are doing here?

Derek: Well, Red..(Amanda looks at him with fire in her eyes) Oh sorry, Miss Cory.   As I was trying to tell you, Jake apparently did not let you know, but I'm taking his place while he is taking a short- term leave of absence from his job.

Amanda: WHAT??? (throwing her briefcase on the desk) I cannot believe that Jake is doing this to me, I'm going to kill him when I finally get ahold of him. Just because he has a wife he cannot keep under control he thinks he can run out and let just anybody take over while he's gone.

Derek: Anybody? Excuse me I'm not anybody lady, I happen to have a degree in journalism from Boston and I've just gotten back from several assignments in Europe, so I'm not just anybody!

Amanda: Whatever! I don't…

(just then Chris comes through the door)

Chris: Derek, I heard you were here, Man, it's great to see ya, (he goes over and they hug each other) how ya doing, Man? Got yourself a wife yet?

Derek: (for the first time looking a bit embarrassed) No, no man from what I hear has been happening to Jake ol' boy, I don't think I could handle that right now.

Chris: Well, if you have ever meet Vicky you would know that she is a lot to handle, but well worth it! Well worth it man!

Amanda (rolling he eyes and then chimes in): Well, now that you two old buddies have reminisced enough, can we get back to why you are here?

Chris: (ignoring Amanda) I suppose Jake called you to help him out while he's gone, didn't he?

Derek: Yep, he sure did, and after what he did for me it's the least I could do for him. I need a bit slower pace after all the conflict I've seen in Europe.

Chris: I'll bet you've seen enough for awhile, come on let me introduce you to some of the staff. (he takes Derek by the shoulders and leads him out, laughing) Remember the time you, Jake and I got ourselves arrested at that bar??

Amanda: (looking really perturbed now) wait, wait, we're not through here, mister, I don't want you sitting at my desk, do you hear me? (she's standing at the door and they don't hear a word she is saying)

Fade out..

Scene 2
Setting: Apartment in New York City.

Jake went running out the apartment without even saying goodbye to Nicole.

Nicole: (to herself, after Jake went storming past and looking around the room again at the sign, flowers, etc..) And that man says he's through with Women, he loves his family all right. Well, back to the club to see how Shari's holding the fort down…

(she walks out of the apartment and closes the door behind her, and as she does she runs into Steven)

Nicole: Hey there, little man, where do you think your going in such a hurry?

Steven: Who are you? Isn't this Jake McKinnon's apartment?

Nicole: Well, I believe so, and who might you be?

Steven: I'm Steven, I'm one of Jake's boys.

Nicole: Ooh, I see, well, Jake isn't here right now, but I think he is looking for you.

Steven: Well, I'm looking for HIM! Do you know where he went?

Nicole: No, I'm sorry, I don't, but why don't you come and stay with me until he gets back.

Steven: No, I have to find him, it's important. (he turns around to leave)

Nicole: Well, Steven, it sure does seem pretty important but I have a feeling Jake wouldn't want you running around this big city all by yourself.

Steven: I can take care of myself!

Nicole: I'm sure you can, but you look like you could use something to eat and I need some company. Now come on, when we get to my place you can tell me all about it, because between me and my friends we know a lot about Jake in such a short amount of time and I think we can help you fix this mess. Come on now, let's go catch a cab..

Steven: I guess if you know Jake it will be okay.

(they head off to where else, but Sally's)

Fade out.

Scene 3
Setting: Carlino's

Chris and Derek are having lunch at Carlino's, the waitress is taking their order.

Chris: I'll have the spaghetti, and my friend here will have, what, just the antipasto?

Derek: Good memory, yep that sounds good, thanks

Chris: Okay, now tell me what's going on with you since you left Canada.   And what are you doing here in this small town?

Derek: You haven't lost your touch, have you? I just want to take it easy, I've seen enough action in Europe to last me awhile.

Chris: Really affected you, didn't it?

Derek: It was tough let me let's just say, but when Jake called me it was a perfect opportunity for me to take a break. How's Jake doing?

Chris: Not good, man, not good.  He's hurting and you know when he's hurting the crazy things he does.

Derek: Worse yet the people that he involves as well. (they both laugh) It's a shame I never met this Vicky. I know he talked and talked about her when he came to see me in Canada a couple of years ago, is it the same woman?

Chris: The one and only, he's just too dumb to realize it.  She made a mistake and he's not forgiving her for it.

Derek: You mean, Jake, not forgiving (mockingly) Come on now, our Jake?

Chris: he feels like she made a fool of him.

Derek: Did she?

Chris: I don't know the details but I do know that she loves him and man, when you see the two of them together they light up the room, it's like the energy has been turned on, it's so magnetic.

Derek: Hmmm, wish I could find that energy.

Chris: What? (laughing) I think you may not have noticed, but I certainly did, I do believe that you turned Amanda's lights on.

Derek: Amanda? Oh, you mean Red… she is one beautiful woman with a temper.

Chris: Temper, Man.   I think you have just enough guts to tame that one.

Derek: (hold his hands up) My taming days are through, love doesn't seem to be in the cards for me. If its not going to work for Jake then it certainly won't work for me.

Chris: (shaking his head) You're wrong there, my man, wrong there, it WILL work for Jake, he just needs to get over this hump because they are what love should be, they fight with the best of them and love with the best of them. They have it all and one day I'm gonna have that kinda of love that just lifts you off your feet in the morning. And as for you, you may not realize it, but I know electricity when I see it I've seen it with Jake and Vicky and I do believe, yes I do believe I see it with you and Amanda.

Derek: Come, lets eat, too much talking is going on here, I've got work to do and I'm gonna need your help to take care of Jake's paper while he is gone. (Derek's cell phone rings) Derek here…Hey Patti, how are you doing? Did you arrive safely? ……..yes..hmmmmm…. ok, I see, well, why don't you meet me at ..Uh, just a second, Chris what's the name of this place?

Chris: This joint? Its Carlino's, best food in Bay City.

Derek: Okay, Patti, the name of the place is Carlino's. Iit should be easy to find, come on over and I will tell you what I would like for you to do.

Chris: Patti, hmmmm, sounds pretty.

Derek: Beautiful! And one of the Best photographers I know, she's freelancing now and I thought we could use her for awhile.

Chris: I suppose you didn't clear this with Amanda?

Derek: If she would have given me a chance, I'll try and talk to her again when we get back?

Chris: Your neck, not mine! (laughing to himself)

Exit

Scene 4
Setting: The cottage

Donna has taken Kirkland to her place for the night, Paulina is trying to calm Vicky down after Vicky heard Nicole on the phone.

Paulina: Joe said that we should stay here, and he would let us know what he found out. We need to stay put, okay honey?

Vicky (pacing the room) I can't do nothing, I have to go look for him..

Paulina: No, now come on, I want you to tell me what happened when you called Jake? Do you really think Jake would be with someone already? You know what I think?  I think he found Steven and Steven is safe with him.

Vicky: (still pacing) Well, where is he then? He must have saw my note and thought it was just a ploy to get him home. I wouldn't do that, not with the kids I wouldn't use them. (beginning to yell)

Paulina: I know that and so does Jake, he must of…

Vicky: (sarcastically) He must have been way too busy having the time of his life, I'm sure he's having a ball not having to worry about me and the kids now. (she picks up a pillow on the couch and starts slowly punching the pillow, pacing back and forth by the door) How could he do this to me?  It's not all my fault, you know, he has to take some of the blame, too. (hits the pillow again) (changes her voice into a higher women's voice) "Hello, this is Jake's place." aarghh!  Who does she think she is? "This is Jake's place" Well, it's MY place too!! (she continues to punch the pillow, her voice getting louder) I bet he was in the shower, I know how much he likes water! Hmmpff!! He's not a free man yet!! (she throws the pillow just as the door opens and it hits Jake right square in the face)

Paulina: Jake! You're here? (Vicky turns around and realizes that she just hit Jake with her pillow)

Both Vicky and Jake look at each other and say: Where's Steven?

Vicky: I thought you found him?

Jake: No, I just got back from New York and came straight here, what did you do?

Vicky: Excuse me? What did I do?  I wasn't the one who left! And by the way what? Your schedule of women wouldn't allow you to get here sooner?

Jake: uhh? What? (looks confused) I'm here for Steven, no one else.

Vicky: Obviously, you cared a great deal to take your sweet time getting here!

Jake: What? I came as soon as I found out! (looks at Paulina) Paulina, what's Joe doing about this?

Paulina: I think you both need to take a breath, and lets worry about finding Steven right now.

Jake: (looking at Vicky) That's what I'm here for! I want to know exactly what happened.

Vicky: (starting to cry, Paulina comes over and puts her arms around her) … Steven left a note, saying that he was going to bring you home, or back I should say, but he doesn't know that you were in New York.

Jake: (sitting on the couch) Oh my god.. (putting his head in his hands)

Fade out.