ROCKLAND COUNTY -- EPISODE 2 – March 30, 2005 “SUBURBAN SECRETS”

 

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK

 

Written by Roger Newcomb and Gregori J. Martin

 

INT. PAUL'S HOME -- DAY

Paul and Barbara are sitting at the dining room table having breakfast.  Paul seems a little spaced out.

 

BARBARA

Paul.  Paul?  Earth to Paul.

 

PAUL

Oh, sorry, Barbara.  I just have something on my mind

 

BARBARA

Is it Dante?  When are the two of you ever going to make peace?

 

PAUL

We’ll make peace when he decides to grow up and come to work at L&R Construction.

 

BARBARA

Paul, he’s 22 years old.  He hasn’t even finished college.

 

PAUL

I allowed him to drop out of school because he promised to come to work for me.  You know it’s been a lifelong dream that my son take his rightful place by my side at my company.

 

BARBARA

He’s just out there having fun.  Maybe you should give the kid a break.

 

PAUL

Having fun my ass.  According to security, he brought yet another girl home last night.  They stayed in the guesthouse together.

 

BARBARA

You’re telling me that you weren’t just like him when you were his age?

 

PAUL

That’s beside the point.

 

BARBARA

OK.  If you don’t want to talk about Dante, why don’t you tell me what’s going on with your cousin’s house and that Styles woman.

 

PAUL

No, why don’t we talk about you.  Tell me about the book you’re reading.  You must be finished by now.  You’ve come to bed late the past three nights.

 

BARBARA

Oh, it’s just a silly romance novel, Paul.  You wouldn’t be interested.

 

INT. PAUL'S GUEST HOUSE -- DAY

Dante is sitting on the couch downstairs when Arden comes out of the master bedroom and downstairs

 

DANTE

Good morning, Arden.

 

ARDEN

(yawning)

I didn’t want to get up.

 

DANTE

That’s alright.  You seemed exhausted last night.  I didn’t even expect you to get up this early.

 

ARDEN

Well, I want to head back into the city and try to track down my brother.  I left a note on his door, or what I think is his door, but he has no way to reach me.

 

DANTE

Is it too much to ask for a few more details here?  Why is it that you’re not sure where your brother lives?  And why do you need to see him so bad?

 

ARDEN

Dante, if you don’t mind.  I’d rather not get into any of that.

 

DANTE

Fine.  I won’t press. 

 

ARDEN

Do you think you could drop me off at the train station or point me in the right direction towards the city?

 

DANTE

I can do one better.  I’ll drive you in, AFTER we have breakfast.

 

ARDEN

Dante, you’re too kind.  But that’s not necessary.  You’ve already done more than enough for me.

 

DANTE

But I insist.  Let me buy you breakfast and then we’ll head into Manhattan.

 

ARDEN

Alright.   If you insist.  I really do appreciate all this.  No one has ever been so nice to me.

 

DANTE

I’m just happy to help a beautiful damsel in distress.

 

INT. THE ROCKLAND COUNTY PSYCH CENTER - DAY

Dan Levin is asleep in his bed.  Dr. Angela Givens walks into the room and pulls open the curtains.

 

ANGELA

Rise and shine, sleepyhead.

 

DAN

(Half asleep)

Is it morning already?

 

ANGELA

Yes.  And you have to take your medication.

 

DAN

I'm not taking any medicine.

 

ANGELA

Yes you are.  It's for your own good, Dan.  We don't want you to have any more outbursts, now do we?

 

DAN

Fine.  Only for you.

 

Angela hands Dan a Dixie cup with water and two aspirin.

 

ANGELA

Thank you.  You know Dan, I know you're not happy to be here, but I'm really glad you’re back.  We missed you around here.

 

DAN

Dr. Givens, why are you so nice to me?

 

ANGELA

Why shouldn't I be?

 

DAN

Well, all the Doctors at the Westside Hospital treated me like a first class nutcase.

 

ANGELA

Well you are a nutcase.  But you're my favorite nutcase.  Besides, between me and you, from what I hear about Westside, the staff there is nuttier than the patients.

 

DAN

You could say that again.

 

ANGELA

So tell me, what's new in your life, anything?

 

DAN

Well for one thing I'm in love.

 

ANGELA

Oh really?  Who's the lucky lady?

 

DAN

Her name’s Adriana.  I met her at Westside.  Unfortunately she doesn't feel the same.

 

ANGELA

Well, that's her loss.

 

Just then CYRUS CONNER, 22, a hospital intern enters the room.

 

CYRUS

Excuse me, Dr. Givens?

 

ANGELA

Yes, Cyrus?

 

CYRUS

May I speak with you for a moment?

 

ANGELA

Sure.  Excuse me, Dan.

 

Angela follows Cyrus out into the hallway.

 

ANGELA (Cont'd)

What is it?

 

CYRUS

There's a visitor here to see Dan Levin.  I wasn't sure if he was allowed to have visitors.

 

ANGELA

Of course he can have visitors.  Who is it?

 

CYRUS

A Caroline Hart?

 

ANGELA

Caroline?  Hmm.  Caroline was a woman Dan was very close to at one point.  But after her sister died, Dan was a prime suspect.

 

CYRUS

Oh, wow!  Guess that's a “no” then.

 

ANGELA

Well, than again, I remember, she and Dan always had a really close relationship.  Caroline was one of the few people who actually came to see Dan, and one of the few people Dan really trusted.  I think we should send her in.

 

CYRUS

OK.  You got it, boss.

 

ANGELA

Thanks.

 

Cyrus walks off to get Caroline.  Angela walks back in the room.

 

ANGELA

Dan, I have good news for you?

 

DAN

What?

 

ANGELA

You've already got a visitor.

 

DAN

I do?

 

ANGELA

Yes.  And I think it's someone you'll really be happy to see too.  She's a good friend of yours, Dan.

 

DAN

I don't have any friends.  Who is it?

 

Just then Caroline Hart enters the room.

 

CAROLINE

It's me, Dan.  We need to talk!

 

 

INT. BRIAN MORGAN’S MANHATTAN APARTMENT

DR. BRIAN MORGAN has just returned home from an all night shift at St. John Hospital when he sees a note on his apartment door

 

BRIAN

Hmmm.  I wonder who this is from.

 

Brian takes off the note and begins to read.

 

BRIAN

(reading)

Dear Brian.  I desperately need to talk to you.  I don’t have a way for you to contact me, so I’ll be in touch soon.  Please do not tell anyone you’ve heard from me.  Arden.

 

Brian is puzzled to have heard from Arden.

 

BRIAN

(to himself)

Arden was here?  What the hell is going on?

 

 

INT. THE ROCKLAND COUNTY PSYCH WARD - DAY

Caroline Hart has just entered Dan Levin’s Room

 

DAN

Get out!

 

CAROLINE

What?

 

DAN

(Yelling)

I said get out of my room!  I told you I don't wanna see you!  I don't wanna talk to you!

 

ANGELA

Dan, calm down!

 

DAN

No!

 

CAROLINE

You need to tell me what you know!

 

Dan flips his bed over.

 

DAN

I said, get out!

 

ANGELA

Caroline, you need to leave now!  I'm sorry!

 

Cyrus Conner rushes into the room.

 

CYRUS

What's going on?

 

ANGELA

Cyrus, please escort Ms. Hart out of the room.

 

CYRUS

Yes, Doctor.  Come with me Ms. Hart.

 

CAROLINE

I'm leaving.  I'm leaving.

 

Caroline quickly leaves Dan's room.  Dan crawls up into a ball in the corner of the room and begins to cry.

 

ANGELA

Dan, what just happened here?

 

INT. THE ROCKLAND COUNTY PSYCH CENTER - HALLWAY - DAY

Caroline is quickly walking down the hall.  Cyrus follows her.

 

CYRUS

Ms. Hart, are you all right?  Did he hurt you in anyway?

 

CAROLINE

No, he didn't touch me.  I'm fine.

 

Just then, Cyrus pauses for a moment.

 

CYRUS

Oh my God!

 

Caroline looks back at him, startled.

 

CAROLINE

What?  What is it?

 

CYRUS

You're in danger, Ms. Hart.

 

CAROLINE

Huh?  What are you talking about?

 

CYRUS

I just had a premonition.

 

CAROLINE

Excuse me?

 

CYRUS

I'm a psychic.  And you're in serious trouble!

 

 

INT. PAUL'S GUEST HOUSE -- DAY

Damien Givens has just arrived as Dante and Arden prepare to leave for breakfast

 

DAMIEN

It looks like the two of you were about to leave.

 

DANTE

We were actually on our way to breakfast and then I’m taking Arden into the city.

 

DAMIEN

Ah, ok.

 

ARDEN

You’re welcome to join us if you’d like.

 

DANTE

No, I think Damien has some other things to do today.  Right Damien?

DAMIEN

Yeah, sure.

 

ARDEN

My stomach is growling.  I guess I was hungrier than I thought.

 

DANTE

Then we should go.  Damien, you know your way around here so you can let yourself out.

 

DAMIEN

You got it.  Have fun.

 

ARDEN

If I don’t see you again, thanks for everything last night.

 

DAMIEN

It was nice meeting you, Arden.  And somehow I get the feeling I’ll be seeing you again.

 

ARDEN

Maybe.  You never know.

 

DANTE

Catch ya later, buddy.

 

Dante and Arden leave.

 

DAMIEN

(to himself)

I believe my man is smitten.

 

Damien’s cell phone rings.  He takes it out of his pocket and answers.

 

DAMIEN

Hello.

 

BARBARA

Damien, it’s Barbara. 

 

DAMIEN

Hello hot stuff.  Didn’t get enough of me last night?

 

BARBARA

Look honey, I can’t see you tonight. 

 

DAMIEN

What?  Why not?

 

BARBARA

Paul questioned me about staying up so late the past few nights.  I don’t think he’s suspicious, but I can’t take any chances.

 

DAMIEN

Barb, you know he can’t give you what I can.

 

BARBARA

Yes he can, Damien.  He can give me millions of things that you can’t.  Billions in fact!

 

DAMIEN

Is it all about the money? 

 

BARBARA

I have to do what I have to do.  I’ll call you later and hopefully we can meet up again tomorrow.

 

DAMIEN

OK, I’m cool.  Just don’t keep me waiting too long.  You know I’m not a patient man.

 

BARBARA

I’ve gotta go.  Bye.

 

Damien hears a click on the other end of the phone.

 

DAMIEN

(to himself)

I hope you’re not playin’ me, Barbara.  Or you’re gonna to be sorry.

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...