From cc4cfa3efa778c21b69bb32dfc66e8e06c46e43d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Matěj Cepl Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:20:58 +0200 Subject: Initial commit --- 12-DevilsNightPart1.rst | 1130 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 1130 insertions(+) create mode 100644 12-DevilsNightPart1.rst (limited to '12-DevilsNightPart1.rst') diff --git a/12-DevilsNightPart1.rst b/12-DevilsNightPart1.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c7129f --- /dev/null +++ b/12-DevilsNightPart1.rst @@ -0,0 +1,1130 @@ +Episode 3.12, Devil’s Night, Part 1 +----------------------------------- + +At the Lakeview Golf Course + +Will, Kevin, Wayne, and Don meet at the golf course. Tee time is 8:04 +a.m. They each introduce themselves, since this is the first time +some of them have met. Wayne is surprised to see Kevin in a +wheelchair, and is unable to prevent the shocked expression on his +face. He wishes Will had warned him, “Kevin, it must be difficult to +play golf from a wheelchair.” + +Kevin – “Oh, they have a single-rider golf cart that goes everywhere, +including the greens. I’ve even taken it into the traps. They only +have two, so as long as I reserve one ahead of time, I’m fine.” + +Wayne – “That’s great! What’s your handicap?” Wayne becomes +uncomfortable with what he just asked and decides to clarify, “I mean +in golf.” + +Kevin – “That’s okay, I knew what you meant. Mine is 18.” + +They each record their handicap and proceed to the first hole. + +At the Bethel AME Church + +The church is a beautiful wood frame structure, painted white with +traditional stained glass windows. The cornerstone states 1891, but +the building was rebuilt after a lightning strike in 1943 caused it +to burn to the ground. + +The rummage sale is in a newer building, a nice activity center built +on a lot behind the church. It is used for almost everything, except +for Sunday services. The volunteers have done a good job of sorting +everything, but it is still an adventure sifting through the piles of +merchandise. + +Lilly arrives at 8 o’clock and meets Rebecca, who has been there +since 6:30 a.m. Much of the merchandise has already been sold. + +Lilly – “This rummage sale is the largest I’ve seen in a long time. +We could spend hours here and not see it all.” + +Rebecca – “That’s why it’s fun. I always end up leaving with a few +things. What are you interested in?” + +Lilly – “You can’t come to one of these looking for something +specific, but I always peruse through the books, and I like antique +glassware and knickknacks.” They begin to browse. + +At Home + +Helen gets up with Will and Kevin and fixes them breakfast before +they leave for the golf course. Joan and Luke have just gotten up, +and they come downstairs with their stomachs grumbling. + +Helen – “Good morning!I have ham. Can I fix you some ham and eggs?” + +Joan – “Yeah, that sounds good. An omelet would be even better. Do we +have any hash browns or grits? + +Helen – “We have both. Which one do you want?” + +Joan – “Hash browns with an omelet.” + +Luke – “Yeah, that would be good. Make me one, too.” + +Helen – “You two can man the toaster. What are your plans for the +day?” + +Luke – “Friedman and I are going over to the college to meet with +Professor Steinholz. He has access to the school’s mainframe, and we +are going to play around. He’s a computer geek, too.” + +Helen – “Just be home for dinner. The Goetzmann’s want to meet you.” + +Luke – “Yeah, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. We can talk +about the molecular structure of mobile home parts and acrylic +paint.” + +Helen – “It’s only dinner. You’ll survive, and you’ll have Friedman +here after dinner, so you can hide in your room.” + +Joan – “What are we having for dinner?” + +Helen – “We are having your Aunt Olive’s paella. I’ll make two of +them, and that should be plenty for all of us.” + +Joan – “Can I help? I would like to learn how to make it.” + +Helen – “Only if you promise not to tell your father. Not knowing the +recipe really annoys him, and I love it.” + +Joan smiles, “Yeah, okay.” The toaster pops and they put a couple of +more slices in. “Adam is coming over in a little while. We’re just +going to talk. I don’t know, maybe here, maybe we’ll walk over to the +park.” + +Helen – “Well, have fun. It’s nice to see you two together again.” + +Joan – “Well, today won’t be fun, but it’s necessary.” + +Helen wants to ask why, but she can sense it’s not something Joan +wants to expand upon. “If you would like to talk later, let me know.” + +Joan – “Maybe, I don’t know… yeah, probably.” + +At the Lakeview Golf Course + +The game has been progressing as expected, with everyone scoring near +his handicap. Wayne and Dan are close to par, but Will and Kevin are +behind. Will will be shooting his next shot from a sand trap. + +Dan smiles, “That’s a tough break, Will. If only that tree had been a +little further to the left, it might have ricocheted onto the green.” + +Will – “Well, I’m still working on the angles. Golf is a lot harder +than pool.” + +Kevin – “I’ve made a few beaver pelts, but at least I’m close to the +green.” + +Wayne – “You guys are really doing well, considering you’ve been +golfing less than a year. I stank when I first started playing. But, +that last birdie was sweet.” + +Dan – “Hey, did you know the New England Journal of Medicine reports +that nine out of ten doctors agree that one out of ten doctors is an +idiot?” As he takes his shot, he calls out “Three!” + +At the Bethel AME Church + +Rebecca observes the collection of books Lilly has gathered, +“Harlequin Romances and Bible study, an interesting mix.” + +Lilly – “Don’t tell Kevin about the romances. It’s my secret. The +Bible and Nave’s Topical Bible are for Kevin’s sister, Joan. She +asked me about the Bible the other day. I don’t know if she wants +them, but they’re only a buck each, so I’ll get them for her.” + +Rebecca – “I read Harlequin Romances, and Regency Romances are good, +too. I haven’t told Dan, just because it hasn’t come up, but I don’t +care if he knows.” + +Lilly – “Well, I just feel a little guilty, so hush is the word.” + +They continue browsing and come upon several tables filled with +dishware and knickknacks. Most of it is junk, but Lilly finds a +statue of\ `Pallas +Athena `__\ . +It’s about a foot tall, made of green and bronze colored gypsum +stone. She checks the bottom. It says made in Greece. + +Rebecca – “First Harlequin’s, now Greek mythology. You really are a +former nun.” + +Lilly – “Oh, when I was young, we studied the saints in school. I +remember Pallas Athena because Saint Barbara is often referred to as +her Christian equivalent. Pallas Athena is the Goddess of Truth. This +is such a pretty statue. I’m going to get it.” + +At Home + +Joan has rearranged the living room so that a stuffed chair is facing +the love seat. She wants to face Adam when he talks. She has moved +the coffee table in and out between them three times before she +finally decided to leave it in place. The initial bowl of potato +chips has been changed to a bowl of pretzels. Two glasses of ice, one +with a 7-Up for Adam, and a root beer for herself are also in place. +A note pad and pen are on the table. ‘Should I get a tape recorder?’, +she wonders. + +She walks to the window again and looks out for Adam. Helen walks +into the room. “Mom, how do I look? Is my hair okay? Am I sweating?” + +Helen – “You look fine, but you are a nervous wreck. You need to calm +down.” + +Joan – “I can’t. Why did I ask Adam to do this? I am so not signed up +for this!” + +Helen – “Would you like to tell me what’s going on? Maybe I can +help.” + +Joan – “No one can help.” She looks out of the window again and then +back to Helen. “Ah… oh… Adam is going to tell me why he had sex with +Bonnie. No matter what he says, it won’t be good.” + +Helen gives her a hug, “I know this will be hard for you, but I think +you are doing the right thing. You and Adam need to talk about this. +That’s the only way you will be able to move on.” + +Joan – “Well, that’s sort of why I’m doing it, but I still don’t want +to.” + +Helen – “Hey, don’t you have some kind of yoga practice you could do +to calm down?” + +Joan – “Yeah, I tried it. It didn’t work.” + +Helen – “Well, you and Adam will be better after you get this out in +the open. Just keep that in mind.” She gives Joan another hug, “I’m +leaving now. I have stitch witchery on the list for your costume. Is +there anything else you need?” + +Joan – “A snack would be nice, something sweet. I really like those +frosted oatmeal cookies. Oh, and some crackers, maybe Ritz or Chicken +In A Basket, stuff for after dinner tonight.” + +Helen – “I already planned to pick up a few things. I’ll add your +wish list. I’ll be back in a few hours.” Just then, the doorbell +rings. Helen answers it, “Come in, Adam.” She looks back at Joan as +she walks out of the door, “Bye honey.” + +Adam – “Bye Mrs. G.” + +Adam walks over to Joan, and they take their seats, “Are you ready?” + +Joan – “Yeah, I guess so.” + +Adam – “I have been thinking about it all summer long, so when you +asked me to tell you why, it wasn’t hard to write everything down. I +think my problem started when you got sick.” + +Joan – “Wait a minute! You had sex with Bonnie because I got sick +over a year and a half ago?” + +Adam – “You said you wanted an honest and complete answer. I have to +go back to when it started.” + +Joan is not happy, but she says, “Okay, I’m listening.” + +Adam – “Actually, it started just before that. Remember when you came +to the hotel to see me?” + +Joan – “How could I forget that?” + +Adam – “Anyway, you came to have sex. Actually, you just wanted us to +become closer. We didn’t have sex, but being closer to you is what I +really wanted. You shared yourself with me, and I think that is the +closest we have ever been. But then you got sick, and everything +changed. + +I remember sitting in the waiting area while the doctor told us about +your disease. She said you had probably been sick for a long time, +but once the treatment was done, you would be back to normal. The +problem is, I never knew you when you were normal. + +Your parents went in to visit with you, and after awhile, your mom +came back out. She told us to go home, because you were too sick to +see anyone. Luke asked if you were hallucinating like the doctor +said. Your mom almost started crying when she told us that you were. + +Everyone else left, but I stayed. I just couldn’t leave, I had to see +you. So, after a while, I went into your room. You were asleep, so I +sat down and talked to your mom. When you woke up, we talked. Do you +remember that?” + +Joan – “Yeah, I remember.” + +Adam – “Well, you told me you had been talking to God, and you talked +about going some place in your head when we looked at that picture of +Rodin and Rose. You still looked pretty sick, and the doctor and your +mom had already told me you were hallucinating, so what was I to +believe? The only thing I knew for sure was that you believed it. It +really broke my heart when you told me that, because it meant the +feelings you had for me on that day at the hotel were a +hallucination. The Joan I fell in love with and who I thought loved +me wasn’t real.” + +Joan – “Adam, that’s not true. I did love you.” + +Adam – “Maybe, but that wasn’t the real you. That wasn’t the ‘normal’ +you.” Joan sees his point, and Adam continues. + +“During the summer when you were at camp, I began to wonder about +what you said. I started reading those books and realized that maybe +you were telling the truth. I convinced myself that it was true, +because if it was, then your feelings for me were also real. I was +ready to tell you when we met in the park, but then you said it +wasn’t true. When I brought it up again later, you refused to talk +about it. Hah, I remember exactly what you said, ‘I just want to be a +normal couple again. You know? You remember normal?’ We never had +‘normal’ together, and that’s the point! And I realized then that the +Joan I knew was gone. + +I didn’t know what to do. I wanted us to be together again, but you +were different. I didn’t know how to connect with you. Then, Judith +showed up. I know she was your friend and all, but she just took over +your life. You didn’t have time for me any more.” + +Joan – “No, that’s not true. We talked and spent a lot of time +together.” + +Adam – “You would only talk about the little stuff, and the only way +you could find time for me was if we skipped school together.” + +Joan – “I invited you to Judith’s party.” + +Adam – “At the party, you spent the whole time with Judith. It was +only when you got sloppy drunk that you decided you wanted to make +out with me.” Adam looks sadly at Joan for a moment before +continuing, “I’m sorry I got mad, but that wasn’t the real you. The +real you just seemed to be closed off somewhere.” + +Adam stops for a moment, because Joan appears to want to say +something. Joan just sits stunned, wanting to argue that he is wrong, +but haunted by what he just said. She remembers how when she came +back, God told her that she needed to reconnect. She thought he was +just talking about to him. In addition, God recently told her about +her problem with perception. Was he right? Could all of this have +been happening to Adam without her knowing it? At least it appears +that he believes it, and the truth is what she asked for. So rather +than argue, she looks at him and says, “Okay, go on.” + +Adam – “At the hospital, we talked, and everything looked like it +might get better. You promised we would spend more time together. I +said we could go to Mercer Creek like you wanted. But that very next +weekend, you and Judith went there together instead of us.” + +Joan – “Judith needed me. I thought you were okay.” + +Adam – “Well, I should have said something, but I didn’t. Anyway, I +started getting jealous of Judith, and it made me mad the way she was +treating you. That was when you were planting your garden, and I +really hated feeling that way, but I couldn’t help it. We almost +never got to be alone anymore.” + +Joan – “I knew you didn’t like Judith.” + +Adam – “At first, yeah, but that changed. Anyway, then you decided to +get Larry the cat. I thought it might be a way for us to spend time +together, but you didn’t want me to help. Then, when you had to get +rid of him, I took him, hoping you would come to visit. You did, and +I was really happy that you came, but still, nothing really changed +between us. + +When you decided to help Brian Beaumont get elected, it was fun being +able to help you, but you still spent most of your time with Judith. +It did really make me happy that you were pleased when I got the +internship at the graphics design studio. I thought that maybe we +would be able to spend more time together, but again, you spent your +time with Judith working on the clothing drive and getting yourself +grounded in the process.” + +Joan gets angry, “Wait a minute! You’re making this sound like it was +all my fault. If things were so bad, why didn’t you say something?” + +Adam – “It is my fault for not saying something. I was afraid of +losing you. And our time together wasn’t all bad, but it seesawed +back and forth, and slowly got worse over time. I kept hoping it +would take care of itself, but it didn’t, and I let it go on too +long. + +I decided that maybe the way to get closer to you was through Judith. +We started talking, and that’s when I realized that she was really a +nice person. What I liked most about her was that she loved you as +much as me. I told her how I felt, that I wanted to get closer to +you, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it. She is actually the one +who suggested we go out on a real date, but then, you got jealous, +thinking Judith and I were hooking up. In the end, you realized we +weren’t, but it upset me that you were jealous of me spending time +with Judith when you could never find time for me on your own.” + +Joan is getting madder by the minute, but she can see there is some +truth to what he is saying. She bites her tongue while Adam +continues. + +Adam – “With Judith’s help, we arranged our date, and everything +turned out perfectly, except Judith was murdered that same night. I +was really angry with Judith, mostly because of what she did to you. +I knew how much you loved her and how bad you were hurting, but you +closed yourself off completely.” + +Joan – “Adam, you’re right here. I really had a hard time dealing +with Judith’s death. I’m still trying to deal with it.” + +Adam – “I know it wasn’t your fault, but still, I was once again on +the outside looking in. I couldn’t even talk to you about it, because +you would always change the subject. When people really love each +other, and something terrible like this happens, that’s when they +should be able to support each other to make it through their grief +together. You wouldn’t let me in, and that was just another reminder +that there was still very something wrong with us. + +You finally got through it, and things looked like they were getting +better. When we worked on the play and began planning to go to +college together, I really thought that maybe we had a future. But +then, you decided that we shouldn’t even consider going to the same +college. You said it was because you loved me, but it sure didn’t +feel that way.” + +Joan – “Adam, you are so talented. You can go to any art college you +want. I didn’t want to hold you back.” + +Adam – “What about what I wanted? Why would you think I’d want to go +anywhere without you? It seemed more like you wanted to get rid of +me.” + +Joan again wants to say he was wrong, but decides to let him +continue. + +Adam – “Then you saved Dylan’s life. I’m glad you did it, but you two +became like Siamese twins. We couldn’t even have lunch together +without her butting in. I thought my work was going great, but it +turned out to be a disaster. I wanted to talk to you about it, but I +didn’t feel that I could. + +That’s when the hopelessness began to set in. I realized that I was +never going to have you the way I wanted you. I really wanted you to +need me. I thought that maybe if I made you jealous, you might +change. But instead, you hooked up with Roger. It backfired, and +instead of bringing you closer, I pushed you away.” + +Joan – “I told you, the kiss was nothing. It was a mistake. I was +confused.” + +Adam – “Well, what you didn’t know was how totally confused I was. +When we went to the concert, I thought that things could change for +us. If we had sex, then maybe the rest would follow. But that didn’t +work out either. It actually made things worse. Your mom… well… she’s +like my mom, too. Now both of you were mad at me. + +My life seemed like it was totally destroyed, and when you meddled in +Stevie’s life and destroyed it, too, it seemed like you were doing it +on purpose. Why did you hate me so much?” + +Joan – “Adam, I didn’t mean to wreck Stevie’s life, I was trying to +help her. It just all went wrong. And I didn’t hate you, I was just +mad at you.” + +Adam pauses for a moment before continuing, “Do you remember that day +you were framed for throwing eggs at Prices’ car?” + +Joan – “Yeah, that was so wrong.” + +Adam – “Well, that morning, I told you I was tired because I stayed +up all night studying. Remember?” + +Joan – “Yeah, that’s also when you told me about your Rhode Island +trip.” + +Adam – “Yeah, well anyway, I lied. What really happened is I was out +driving around. I wasn’t going anywhere; I just needed to think. Then +I saw Bonnie painting a mural under the overpass on 32nd Street. I +stopped to look, because it looked so incredible. We got to talking, +and she asked me to help her finish it. It took us most of the night +to get it done. + +While we painted, we talked. We talked about painting, and she told +me about herself, and I told her about me. When I mentioned you, I +found out that she already knew who you were, even though you had +never met. When we finished, I gave her a ride home. She invited me +in. She said she wanted to show me some of her paintings. Then it +happened. I knew I shouldn’t, but she wanted me. I just couldn’t +stop. I wanted to be needed so bad.” + +Joan – “Adam, you shouldn’t have. Didn’t you think about what you +were doing to us?” + +Adam – “No, not at that moment, and besides, I didn’t know if there +was an *us* anymore.” + +They both sit in silence for a while, then Adam continues, “Anyway, +the Rhode Island trip, you were right, it was a lie. Bonnie and I had +planned to spend the day together, and I needed an excuse. That +morning, we painted a mural under the Clifton Creek Bridge. When you +saw me later coming out of the music store, I was on my way to +Bonnie’s apartment. You knew something was going on, and even though +I lied, I knew you didn’t believe me. I felt guilty, so I went home +instead of going to Bonnie’s. + +The next day, I met you at your community service, because I really +felt guilty. I didn’t know what was happening to me, and I still +didn’t want there not to be an us, but I was totally confused. + +I didn’t know Bonnie would be there. After you went back inside, she +met me by the dumpster. She showed me the mural she had done. She +wanted me to go with her to her house, but I really had to go to +work. + +I felt bad about using her, so the next day, I took her to see your +mom. I asked your mom to let her join her art class. I thought that +might be a way to make it up to her.” + +Joan – “Art lessons in exchange for sex, sounds like a fair trade.” + +Adam – “I didn’t say it was right. It was just the only thing I could +think of to do. You know, it isn’t easy for me to tell you this, so +let me finish.” + +Joan – “Okay, go ahead.” + +Adam – “A couple of days later, you started talking about our +anniversary. You wanted to celebrate, have dinner together at the +Unurban. Once again, it looked like maybe we did have a future. I +knew I had to end it with Bonnie. I was never in love with her +anyway. It was just sex. + +I went to her apartment to tell her. She started crying. She begged +me to have sex with her just one more time. I said no, but she… well, +we ended up doing it anyway. I know I shouldn’t have, but it +happened. I told her that I loved you, and that I wouldn’t be back. +She tried to get me to stay, but I finally just left. + +The next day, she made that scene, and you figured out something was +going on. The rest you know.” + +Joan – “I don’t understand how when you went to tell her it was over +that you had sex with her again anyway. How could you do that?” + +Adam – “I don’t know. I made a mistake. I’ve made a lot of them, but +I want this chance to make it right. You said you would give me +another chance.” + +Joan – “That I did.” She pauses to think for a few moments. “I will +need some time to think about what you have told me. + +I wish I hadn’t set up our lunch with Roger for tomorrow, but I don’t +think we should cancel. Roger is a good friend, and he is in love +with Cee-Cee. I want you to help me to let Cee-Cee know that I am not +a problem for her. So tomorrow, let’s not make our problems their +problems. Okay?” + +Adam – “Okay.” + +Adam gets up, and Joan walks him to the door. She kisses him on the +cheek, “Thank you for being honest with me. I know it wasn’t easy for +you to tell me that. We’ll talk more about this later.” + +At the Lakeview Golf Course + +Will has had better luck since chipping his way out of the sand trap. +His and Kevin’s score are within a few points. Wayne and Dan’s scores +are much better, but they have each been playing for several years. +They are enjoying the challenge of each other, and each is struggling +to win. + +Dan’s ball is four feet from the hole, “Hey, you know what I learned +the other day? The limbic system of the brain controls the four F’s: +Feeding, Fighting, Fleeing, and Reproduction.” He lines up and sinks +his putt. + +Everyone gets a little grin, and Will comments, “Dan, you are quite +the comedian.” + +Dan replies, “I try not to take life too seriously, because no one +ever makes it out alive.” + +Kevin lines up his cart to the ball. He’s on the edge of the green. +He shoots, and it rolls just of the left of the hole and stops a foot +beyond. Everyone sighs for Kevin. + +Will – “Tough break! That was so close.” + +Kevin – “Maybe we should take up horse shoes.” He putts it in. + +It’s Wayne’s turn. His ball is still in the rough, but just outside +of the green. He shoots and it misses and rolls past the hole about +three feet. + +Dan – “Hey, you are losing your touch. You need to catch up to me.” + +Wayne – “I will, watch me.” He putts and makes par. + +At the Bethel AME Church + +Lilly found a wonderful\ `drawing of Joan of +Arc `__\ , +framed and everything, “This is really nice, and I love the quote.” +Lilly remembers, “When I was in grade school, we had to write an +essay on who we would most like to meet, if we could go back in time. +I chose Joan of Arc. She was such an incredible person, and I really +would have loved to have known her.” + +Rebecca – “Well, now you have this nice drawing to remind you of +her.” + +Lilly – “No, this is for Kevin’s sister. She spent the summer reading +a book about Joan of Arc. I’ll bet she would love this.” + +Rebecca – “Joan is cleaning up today. You must like her.” + +Lilly – “I do, I really do. She’s kind of hard to get close to, but +I’m working on it. She reminds me so much of my little sister.” + +Rebecca – “Oh, you have a sister?” + +Lilly – “Had, she died when I was twelve.” + +Rebecca – “I’m sorry to hear that. What was her name?” + +Lilly – “Rose… our mom really liked flowers.” Lilly wishes she hadn’t +thought about her sister, because now she feels depressed, “Hey, why +don’t we pay for this stuff, and then we can have some of those +brats. They smell so good.” + +Rebecca – “Yeah, sure, then we can come back and look around some +more.” + +At Arcadia College + +Friedman has been logged into Ryan’s computer, browsing around. He +begins reading his e-mails. He comes across one and asks, “Professor +Steinholz, what do you think this one means?” + +Professor Steinholz takes a look and reads it aloud, “Hope will burn +on Devil’s Night, followed by and Peter, Paul, and Mary.” He thinks +about it for a few moments, “Devil’s Night is tomorrow. That’s what +they call the day before Halloween. The rest, I don’t know. Hope will +burn? The answer is Blowin’ In The Wind.” + +Suddenly, Luke has an insight, “Could ‘Hope’ be a place?” + +Professor Steinholz – “I suppose, that would make it likely that +Peter, Paul, and Mary are places as well.” + +Friedman – “Peter and Paul are names of churches! Is there a church +called Hope?” + +Professor Steinholz retrieves a phone book. He leafs through the +yellow pages until he finds the directory for churches, “Church of +Hope on Broad Street.” He continues to leaf through the directory, +“St. Peter’s Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and . . . +hmm, there’s no St. Mary’s. That kind of blows our theory.” + +Luke – “St. Mary’s Convent, that’s where Joan takes dance lessons.” + +Professor Steinholz – “I think you’re right. You should give your +father a call.” + +At Home + +After Adam leaves, Joan picks up the notepad and pen and begins +writing down everything that Adam had said. By the time Helen +returns, Joan has everything written down, “Mom, how do you spell +‘idiot’?” + +Helen – “Well, that depends upon whether you are talking about you or +Adam.” + +Joan – “I don’t know, maybe both. I don’t agree with all the things +that he told me, but from his point of view, I think he was being +honest. How could I not have seen it? Am I that blind?” + +Helen – “Blind, no, but self-absorbed, sometimes. It’s not uncommon +for someone your age. It might help if you really start considering +other people’s point of view. Take Grace, for example. She has some +really radical ideas, but it’s good to at least understand them, even +if you don’t agree with them. It will allow you to gain a better +perspective of things. She is both your friend and Adam’s friend. +Perhaps you should talk to her about what Adam has told you and get +her opinion.” + +Joan – “Yeah, that’s a good idea, but I don’t know if she’ll want to. +Plus, I really don’t have time with Elizabeth coming over tonight, +lunch and the hayride tomorrow, and Halloween on Monday. Do you think +Adam will understand if I put this off for a while?” + +Helen – “I think Adam will be willing to give you a little time, but +don’t put this off too long.” + +Joan – “I know, I have to deal with this, but I want to do it right.” + +Helen – “I’m going to leave you alone with this, but I’m here if you +need me. If you want to talk or ask for some advice, just let me +know. Why don’t you come help me prepare some of the ingredients for +the paella tonight?” + +Joan – “Mom, I really want to learn how to make it, but I can’t do it +now. I need to call Grace. It looks like now is the only time I have +to do it.” + +Helen – “We can do it another time. Go call your friend.” + +Joan goes up to her room and calls Grace. Rabbi Polonsky answers, +“Rabbi Polonsky, this is Joan Girardi, may I speak to Grace?” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “Grace is actually on her way over to your house. +She’s rather upset now. I’m sure she’ll tell you about it when she +gets there.” + +Joan – “What is she upset about?” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “I’d rather let her tell you that when she arrives. +Joan, she needs her friends now.” + +Joan wants to ask what is going on, but decides to take Rabbi +Polonsky’s advice, “Okay. I’ll see what I can do.” + +At the Bethel AME Church + +Lilly and Rebecca have resumed browsing through the rummage and have +worked their way to the clothing section. They have both found some +jeans and blouses in good repair. Lilly has found the most, “These +are really great! I destroy so many of my work clothes by getting +paint on them or snagging them, it’s nice to find some so cheap.” + +Rebecca – “Well, I won’t be wearing these to work, but they will be +great for days like today. Dan wants me to start jogging with him. +The pants are loose enough to work fine.” + +Lilly – “Let’s go pay for these, and then we can come back and check +out the last few rooms.” + +At the Lakeview Golf Course + +Wayne is making a three-foot putt when Will’s cell phone rings. It +startles Wayne, causing him to shank the ball, “I think this warrants +a mulligan.” + +Will signals his approval as he answers the phone, “Will Girardi.” + +Luke – “Dad, we found something in Hunter’s computer. We think his +group is going to burn down three churches and St. Mary’s Convent +tomorrow. You need to warn them.” + +Will – “Which churches?” + +Luke – “The first will be Church of Hope on Broad Street, then St. +Peter’s Catholic Church, and then St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. I’ve +sent an e-mail with the information to your computer at work.” + +Will – “Thanks, Luke, I’ll take care of it.” + +At Home + +When Joan hangs up the phone, the doorbell rings.She runs downstairs +to let Grace in, almost knocking Helen over as she leaps from the +landing. Her heart drops into her stomach when she opens the door. +This is the first time she has ever seen Grace cry. Both Joan and +Helen give her a hug as she puts down her suitcases, “Can I stay here +for a while?” + +Both Joan and Helen say yes, and Joan continues, “Why don’t you go up +to my room? I’ll be there in a few minutes.” After Grace goes +upstairs, Joan says to Helen, “Mom, Grace needs me now. I’m not going +to be able to entertain Elizabeth tonight. Can you call them and +cancel dinner?” + +Helen was really looking forward to this evening, but realizes it is +necessary, “Sure, honey, I’ll take care of it.” + +Joan goes upstairs and the phone rings. Helen picks it up, “Hello.” + +Will – “Hi hon, I have a problem at the office and I’ll probably have +to work into the evening. I’m sorry about dinner.” + +Helen – “Grace is here and she has some big problem at home. Joan has +already asked me to not have the Goetzmann’s come over tonight. She +wants to spend time with Grace.” + +Will – “Okay, I’ll tell Wayne. Why don’t you call June? I’ll see you +later.” + +Helen – “Be safe.” + +At the Bethel AME Church + +Lilly and Rebecca have wandered into a room full of electronic +devices, mostly kitchen appliances. Lilly finds a DVD player, “Do you +know if this works?” + +Rebecca – “Yeah, it was donated by… ,” she thinks for a moment, +“Marilyn Brown’s son. He bought a DVR and didn’t need it anymore.” + +Lilly – “Good!I have a VCR, but not a DVD player. It’s getting hard +to find new movies on tape.” + +Rebecca – “It also plays CD’s, so you can use it for that, too.” + +Lilly – “Great!Last year I heard some Christmas music on the radio by +Mannheim Steamroller, but when I went to the store, they only had it +on CD. I love their version of ‘The Little Drummer Boy’.” + +Rebecca – “Well, it won’t sound as well in comparison to a real +stereo. TV speakers usually aren’t that great, but it will work.” + +Lilly – “This will be fine. Today has been wonderful. I’ve found so +many nice things, and I’ve really enjoyed your company. Hey, have you +been to the flea market on South Clinton Street? It’s by the auto +auction.” + +Rebecca – “I’ve driven by there, but I’ve never stopped.” + +Lilly – “Why don’t we go? There’s always a lot of neat stuff. I love +browsing.” + +Rebecca – “Sure, it’s still early. It sounds like fun.” + +At the Police Station + +Will gives Wayne the bad news about dinner, and both Wayne and Dan +offer to take Kevin home after the game. Toni had duty today, and +Will called her before leaving the golf course. The team is nearly +organized by the time Will arrives. + +Toni – “I have been able to contact Brother Jimi and Father Mallory. +Both have agreed to make sure their churches are empty and to lock +the doors until we arrive. I’m still trying to get a hold of someone +at St. Paul’s and St. Mary’s. We have two K-9 units ready to go and +Roebuck has the bomb squad ready if it is needed.” + +Will – “Send patrol cars to St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s, and have them +evacuate the buildings until we can get there. You have been doing +this quietly, right?” + +Toni – “Yes, we have been using land and cell phones to keep the +information off of the air.” + +Will – “Good, we don’t want anyone to know about it, in case these +devices can be remotely detonated. Go ahead and dispatch the K-9 +units to the Church of Hope and St. Mary’s. When they are done, have +them go to St. Peter’s and St. Luke’s.” + +Toni – “Carlisle and Daghlian are on the way in, and here is the +roster of officers on standby for today and tomorrow.” She hands him +the lists. + +Will – “Have Carlisle and Daghlian go directly to the Church of Hope +and St. Mary’s. I’ll be in my office checking e-mail and making +contingency plans for tonight and tomorrow.” + +At Home + +Grace’s sorrow has turned to anger, but Joan still doesn’t know +exactly what’s wrong. However, she does know that it is something +about Grace’s mother, and she has learned quite a few new expletives. +“Grace, can you tell me what happened?” + +Grace – “I just can’t deal with it anymore. I’m tired of the +promises. I’m tired of the lies. If she wants to kill herself, fine.” + +Joan – “Your mother is going to kill herself? Grace, you need to tell +me what’s going on. Maybe, I can help.” + +Grace – “My mom has all the help she needs. She just won’t take it. +She’s a drunk and will always be a drunk. I have enough problems of +my own. I can’t deal anymore with hers, not if she isn’t even willing +to try.” + +Joan – “I thought she quit! She was fine during our summer vacation.” + +Grace – “Well, she has been sneaking booze and I caught her. ‘It’s +only one little drink.’ For an alcoholic, that’s all it takes. I’m +not going back there… ever! If I can’t stay here, I’ll go to the ‘Y’ +or live on the street. Casper did all right.” + +Joan – “You can stay here as long as you want. I’m sure it will be +okay with my parents, but you are still going to have to deal with +your mother. What did your father say about it?” + +Grace – “He has always been a wuss when it comes to my mother. He +knows what needs to be done, but he doesn’t have the guts to do it.” + +Joan – “What do you want him to do?” + +Grace – “For starters, get her into rehab, the real kind, not just +‘AA.’” +Joan – “Did you tell them that?” + +Grace – “She doesn’t think she needs it, and Dad won’t make her.” + +Joan – “I think we need to tell my parents about this. My dad should +be home soon. Maybe they can have a talk with them.” + +Grace – “Do what you want, I’m through talking to them. Rehab is not +a request, it’s an ultimatum. I’m not going to live with a drunk +anymore.” + +At the Flea Market + +Lilly – “In the summertime, they have tents outside for the farmers’ +market. I buy most of my produce here. It’s fresh, and it’s usually +less expensive than in the stores. Everything is inside now.” + +Rebecca – “This is a lot bigger that it looks from the street. Where +do you want to start?” + +Lilly – “Let’s just start here and work our way to the back.” + +At the Church of Hope + +Lt. Daghlian and the K-9 officer arrive, and Mike is talking to +Brother Jimi, “Nobody is in the church, right?” + +Brother Jimi – “Yeah, it was empty when I got back from ASK. I locked +the doors as soon as I was finished looking around.” + +Lt. Daghlian – “Good, have you had anything delivered in the last +week or so?” + +Brother Jimi – “When the officer called, I immediately thought of +Mary, the Mother of Jesus. A statue was donated anonymously and +delivered this last week. It’s really a beautiful statue.” + +Lt. Daghlian – “Where is it located?” + +Brother Jimi – “It’s in the right front of the room, near the +lectern. I plan to get a pedestal for it.” + +Mike talks to the K-9 officer, and he and his dog enter the building. +He is only inside for a few minutes when he returns, “Sammy doesn’t +like the statue at all. The rest of the building is clean. You need +to call in the bomb squad.” + +At St. Mary’s Convent + +Carlisle and the patrol officer have begun the evacuation of the +convent. The Sisters were preparing for afternoon vespers, so all are +dressed in their traditional clothing. Carlisle and the officer stand +in the parking lot and observe as the nuns leave the building in +single file. Carlisle chuckles. He puts his hand over his mouth and +chuckles again. The officer asks, “What’s so funny?” + +Carlisle – “I’m sorry, I just can’t help it. I took my niece and +nephew to see\ `March of the +Penguins `__\ this summer.” + +The K-9 officer arrives, and together they meet with Mother Superior +Sister Agnes. + +Carlisle – “Has anything unusual happened in the last week or so?” + +Sister Agnes – “No, not that I can think of.Oh, wait, we did receive +a beautiful new statue of St. Mary. We receive donations of all +kinds, all the time. The only thing unusual about it is that it was +given by an anonymous donor.” + +K-9 Officer – “Where is the statue now?” + +Sister Agnes – “Right now, it’s in the rotunda, against the wall. We +plan to replace the existing statue tomorrow. Father Mallory will be +bringing the tools we need after Mass.” + +Carlisle – “Are all the doors unlocked?” + +Sister Agnes – “Yes, I think so.” + +The K-9 officer enters the building with his dog. He goes straight to +the rotunda and checks the statue. His dog alerts immediately. He +calls Carlisle, “This statue is hot. Better call the bomb squad. I’ll +check the rest of the building.” + +Carlisle calls Will, “Will, we’ve found a device. We need the bomb +squad here ASAP.” + +Will – “I’ll get them there as soon as I can, but they are still +working at the Church of Hope. What did you find?” + +Carlisle – “There is something inside a statue of St. Mary. It was +delivered last Wednesday.” + +Will – “Sounds like the same story as at the Church of Hope. Father +Mallory has confirmed receiving a similar statue at St. Peter’s. Keep +everyone out of the building.” + +Carlisle – “Everyone’s out except for Officer Cattrall. He’s checking +the rest of the building.” + +At Home + +Joan has convinced Grace to have lunch. Helen cooked a roast last +night, and they have made sandwiches from the leftovers. Helen has +joined them and the three are sitting quietly at the table eating. +When they are finished, Joan tells Helen, “Mom, Grace needs to tell +you something.” + +Grace – “Hey, I never said I would talk to your mother, you did. I’m +through. I don’t care what they do anymore.” + +Joan – “Come on, you know it has to be you. I can tell her, but I +only know part of it. You know everything.” + +Helen – “I don’t know what’s going on, but I would like to help if I +can. Please tell me what it is.” + +Grace looks at Helen and then to back to Joan. Joan’s nearly +nonexistent radar sputters on for a moment, “I have some poetry to +read for English. Why don’t I go do that now? I’ll be in my room.” + +Joan leaves and Grace begins to tell Helen about her mother. + +At the Flea Market + +Lilly and Rebecca roam through the flea market, not finding anything +they wish to purchase, but they find a woman with handmade quilts for +sale. This sparks a conversation, and Lilly learns that Rebecca +enjoys making quilts as a hobby. Quilting is something Lilly did +years ago with her grandmother, before she lost her sight. They leave +the market talking about some of the projects that they have done, +and in Rebecca’s case, a project she is doing. + +At the Police Station + +Toni – “Our two-hour news blackout is not going to be long enough.” + +Will – “Yeah, I know. Give me the numbers, I’ll make the calls myself +this time.” + +Toni provides the names and numbers, and Will calls the TV station +first, “Jim, Will Girardi. I need an extension on the news blackout.” + +Jim – “But this is big news! The public has a right to know what is +going on.” + +Will – “I know, but before, we only suspected the devices were +planted. Now we have found two and are pretty sure of the locations +of a third and fourth device. They have cell phones for remote +detonation. We have only disarmed one of them. If news gets out +before we are done, whoever planted them will likely detonate those +that remain. Lives are at stake here.” + +Jim is stunned by the news and pauses before responding, “Okay, but I +want a call from you as soon as the last device is disarmed. Deal?” + +Will – “Deal, and I’ll tell you as much as I can, without +compromising the investigation.” + +Jim – “Okay. Hey, good luck.” + +Will – “Thank you.” + +At Arcadia College + +Friedman – “Okay, you see this other computer on the network? It’s +receiving streaming data from somewhere. We need to find out what the +data is and where it is coming from.” + +Professor Steinholz – “We can try a network capture and see if we can +analyze the information. I have a program that will do that.” + +Luke – “Great! You take over, and let us know if we can help.” + +Professor Steinholz – “I have already figured out that what we are +doing is not legal, but this guy is obviously up to no good. How did +you two get involved?” + +Friedman – “The less you know, the better. Let me just say we are +members of an organization called ‘AoJ,’ and leave it at that.” + +Luke thinks to himself, ‘AoJ, Army of Joan, cute, Friedman!’ + +At Home + +Joan has been lying on her bed, reading her poetry assignment. She +doesn’t mind this one so much, because Emily is still her favorite, +“…and here they are, touching people 100 years later.” + +Grace comes in and sits beside her, “I told your mom everything. +She’s on the way to my house.” + +Joan – “Okay, but I kind of thought my dad should go, too. He and +your father are sort of friends now.” + +Grace – “Your dad had to go to work. Your mom said he probably won’t +be in until late tonight.” + +Joan – “I was thinking about calling Adam. He is your best friend.” + +Grace – “Both you and Adam are my best friends, just in different +ways, but I really want to talk to Luke. Where is he?” + +Joan – “He and Friedman are computer geeking with Professor +Steinholz. He’ll be home for dinner.” + +Grace – “Okay, I really don’t feel good. Do you mind if I lay down +for awhile?” + +Joan – “No, go ahead. Just come downstairs when you wake up.” + +At the Lakeview Golf Course + +Wayne, Dan, and Kevin finish their game of golf and eat lunch in the +lounge. Kevin enjoys Wayne and Dan’s bantering back and forth. Dan +beat Wayne by one stroke! Of course, Kevin is nowhere in their +league, but they all had a lot of fun. + +Wayne – “It’s too bad your dad had to go to work. He missed a great +game.” + +Kevin – “Well, at least he got to be here for the first part of it. +Did you see that smile on his face when Dan goaded him about his +ricochet shot?” + +Dan – “He’s a good sport. That joke he made just before he left was +good, ‘Being a cop isn’t all bad, but I do wish they would have more +music and less talk on the police channel.’” + +At the Polonsky’s + +Helen walks up the sidewalk and rings the bell. Rabbi Polonsky +answers the door, “Helen? I wish I could say this is a surprise, but +it is nice anyway.” + +Helen – “We need to talk.” Rabbi Polonsky invites her in, and they +sit in the living room. “Where is Sarah?” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “She’s taking a nap.” + +Helen – “Sleeping it off?” + +Rabbi Polonsky ignores her remark, “Sarah has a problem, and she will +deal with it.” + +Helen – “According to Grace, she hasn’t been dealing with it too +well.” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “This is just a little set back. I’m sure she will +come to realize her mistake and everything will be okay again.” + +Helen – “An alcoholic will always be an alcoholic. She needs to +understand that. I don’t think that Grace’s insistence that her +mother get professional help is unreasonable.” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “She refuses to go, and I can’t make her.” + +Helen – “Of course you can make her, and if you can’t convince her to +go on her own, I think you should.” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “You don’t understand the whole situation.” + +Helen – “I understand that your daughter is now living at my house +and she belongs here with you. She can stay for a while, but this is +not a permanent solution. You need to convince Sarah to get help or +convince Grace that she doesn’t need it, but I don’t think Grace is +going to budge on this issue.” + +Rabbi Polonsky – “I will talk to Sarah when she wakes up. Thank you +for allowing Grace into your home while we sort this out.” -- cgit