ACT TWO
INT. PHOENIX COFFEE SHOP (SCENE IN PROGRESS BETWEEN GINNY AND STANHOPE. HE IS HAVING COFFEE, SHE HAS A COKE. HIS MIND IS OBVIOUSLY ON JERI CLAYTON AND HE IS RATHER DISTRACTED)
GINNY: So, anyway, I've changed my mind about summer camp. I thought I'd hang around the house, take some tennis lessons, and just hang loose. What do you think?
STANHOPE (coming back to the present with a start): Sorry, dear, what did you say?
GINNY: What's wrong, Dad?
STANHOPE: Nothing, why?
GINNY: You haven't heard a thing I've said for the last fifteen minutes.
STANHOPE: Business problems.
GINNY (with a grin): The red-headed lady?
STANHOPE: All right, Ginny. I don't find that particularly amusing.
GINNY (a little startled by his tone): Sorry, Dad, I was only kidding.
STANHOPE (softening): I'm sorry too. Now what's all this about summer camp?
GINNY: I'm getting too old for that scene.
STANHOPE: You are?
GINNY: Dad, I'm practically grown up. I'll be sixteen nexth month.
STANHOPE: Ancient.
GINNY: Would you mind if I stayed home this summer?
STANHOPE: Can you put up with the twins?
GINNY (with a grin): Why not? I've done it practically all my life.
STANHOPE (smiling): If you can take it, I guess we can stand it. But check with your mother before you make a final decision.
GINNY: Unless you two want two weeks alone this summer.
STANHOPE: What are you talking about?
GINNY: The twins were going away to sleep-over, too, this year. You and Mom would have two heavenly weeks without any kids around.
STANHOPE: We'd be lonely.
GINNY: Wouldn't it be kind of romantic? Or are you and Mom too old for romance?
STANHOPE: Thanks a lot.
GINNY: Well, what I mean is, I never see you...you and Mom...well, you know what I mean.
STANHOPE: Don't worry. We're reasonably well-adjusted.
GINNY: You're laughing at me.
STANHOPE: Do I ever do that?
GINNY: I can tell by your eyes. When they get a glint in them.
STANHOPE: It just never occurred to me that you'd be concerned about our love life.
GINNY: Kids wonder about things like that.
STANHOPE: I suppose they do.
GINNY: Did you sweep Mom off her feet?
STANHOPE: Did I what?
GINNY: Isn't that what you called it in your day?
STANHOPE: What are you trying to do? Make me feel over the hill before my time?
GINNY: That's another one, isn't it, "over the hill."
STANHOPE: Another what?
GINNY: Slang from your day.
STANHOPE: You keep this up and I won't be able to walk home. I'll feel too old and decrepit.
GINNY (a lightbulb going off): That's it!
STANHOPE: You lost me. What's it?
GINNY: The red-headed lady. Did you say her name was Mrs. Clayton?
STANHOPE: What if I did?
GINNY: Wouldn't it be exciting if she were Trish Clayton's mom?
STANHOPE: Now, Ginny...
GINNY: Trish told me once her mom had red hair...
STANHOPE: Clayton's a very common name.
GINNY: Is she from out of town?
STANHOPE: I really don't know her that well.
GINNY: Gosh, Dad, if it could be Trish's mom, the least we can do is call her in Salem.
STANHOPE: Look, Ginny...
GINNY: Please don't get mad at me...
STANHOPE: I'm not mad.
GINNY: I never could figure out why you were so down on Trish...
STANHOPE: You know why. I don't like to have you pick up strangers, that's all. Even nice girls like Trish.
GINNY: Dad, we met in broad daylight.
STANHOPE: You never can tell what kind of trouble a stranger can bring into your life.
(CAMERA STARTS MOVING IN ON HIS FACE, AND WE CAN SEE THE STRAIN HE IS UNDER)
GINNY: All she wanted was to be friends. What was so terrible about that?
(FROM STANHOPE'S FACE, SLOWLY DISSOLVE TO: INT. BROOKE'S APARTMENT)
Brooke Hamilton
Trish Clayton
INT. BROOKE'S APARTMENT. (CLOSEUP OF TRISH. AS SHE PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCH ON A WALL. SHE STANDS BACK TO ADMIRE HER HANDIWORK.)
TRISH: There. That's perfect.
BROOKE (looking around): It does look better, doesn't it?
TRISH: The draperies Mrs. Horton gave you helped a lot.
BROOKE: Yeah, even though I don't like charity.
TRISH: Oh, come off it Brooke. Mrs. Horton isn't like that.
BROOKE: Don't mind me Trish. I'm a little uptight, I guess. Kind of tired of wearing the same old clothes.
TRISH: You make enough to get some new ones, don't you?
BROOKE: I've got Mama's doctor bills. Except that I can't get a bill out of Neil Curtis, which bugs me.
TRISH: Afraid of more charity? So you're broke and people want to help out. What's so bad about that?
BROOKE: Mama and I are going to make it on our own.
TRISH: Okay, okay (glances at wacth). Look, I've got to run.
BROOKE: You still haven't heard from your mom, have you?
TRISH: I couldn't stand sitting around watching the phone, so I came back here to paint. But I think I'd better split so I don't miss the call.
BROOKE: Trish, whatever happens...
TRISH: Yeah...
BROOKE: Don't be too hard on your mom. Maybe James Stanhope is your father.
TRISH: Sure. Maybe.
BROOKE: What would hurt more? If he is, or isn't?
TRISH: I don't know. I guess I'm kind of scared to find out.
(DISSOLVE TO: INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL OFFICE)
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL OFFICE (SCENE IN PROGRESS BETWEEN BILL AND TOM. BILL'S ANGER IS BARELY UNDER CONTROL)
BILL: I'm asking you to give it to me straight, Dad. What is going on? Why am I being kept off the surgical schedule?
(AND TAKE IT OUT ON TOM'S TROUBLED FACE. FADE TO BLACK FOR COMMERCIALS # 5 AND # 6 (2 minutes, 3 seconds)