ROCKLAND COUNTY – EPISODE #30 – SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 “NEW BEGINNINGS”

 

WRITTEN BY

Roger Newcomb

 

STARRING

Don Money as Dr. Brian Morgan

Stephen Seidel as Dante Ramos

Abby Wathen as Arden Morgan

Delaina Dixon as Dr. Angela Givens

Kelly Christopher as Karen Grissom

Erika Crocco as Caroline Hart

Rick Ojeda as Manny Ramos

Wendy Hammer as Miranda Phillips

Anne Sayre as Barbara Whitman

Barbara Thomas as Eve Morgan

 

INT. RAMOS GUEST HOUSE - DAY

DANTE has just walked in with BRIAN and ARDEN.

 

BRIAN

I don’t know if I like the thought of you staying here, Arden. 

 

DANTE

Brian, I promise you that Arden will be taken care of while she’s here.

 

BRIAN

I understand that you mean well, but my mother is out there somewhere, and I’m not sure if it’s the best thing for Arden to be working in Rockland County when I’m in Manhattan.

 

ARDEN

Hello you two.  I’m standing right here.  Maybe I have a few things to say about my own life?

 

DANTE

Go ahead, Arden.

 

ARDEN

Damien helped get me a job at Sutter’s Mill.  I will wait tables there and earn some money until I find a place of my own.  There’s no way I can ever afford a place in Manhattan so this is probably the best place for me right now.  Plus, Aunt Barbara’s here too.

 

BRIAN

Yeah, she’s staying at the main house while you’re here in the guest house.  And Dante’s father doesn’t even know that you’re related.  What’s going on with her?

 

DANTE

I’d like to know that myself, but I promised Arden I’d stay out of it.

 

BRIAN

Well, I’m not so sure that I can.  I just want Arden caught in the crossfire of any scheme that Barbara is cooking up.

 

ARDEN

Don’t be so cynical, Brian.  Barbara is not, Mom.  If she’s living with Dante’s father, it’s because she loves him.

 

BRIAN

Maybe I’m being an overprotective brother here.  I don’t know.  I just want to make sure you’re going to be alright.

 

ARDEN

Brian, if you patch things up with Angela, you might be spending more time in Rockland County yourself.

 

BRIAN

Well, it’s been a week since I called her and she hasn’t called me back, so obviously she thinks I’m some kind of stalker or something.  I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

 

INT. ANGELA’S OFFICE AT THE ROCKLAND PSYCH CENTER - DAY

ANGELA is talking to KAREN who has just arrived.

 

ANGELA

Should I call him again?

 

KAREN

No way.  The guy got ticked off at you, Angela, and then walked out.  If he can’t appreciate what a prize he found in you, then to hell with him.

 

ANGELA

Oh, Karen.  That’s so sweet of you to say.  You’re my best friend for a reason.  But, there was something special about Brian.  It’s hard to describe, but deep inside me I’m hearing a voice that is telling me not to just let him go.

 

KAREN

It’s your choice, Angela, but I’m trying to look out for you here.  I don’t want to see you get hurt again.  I haven’t forgotten how you felt when Manny walked out on you.

 

ANGELA

And you were the one that was there for me.  I’ll never forget that either, Karen.  What would I do without you?

 

KAREN

You’ll never have to find out.

 

ANGELA

But even if I can move on without Brian, there’s still one piece of unfinished business.  I still don’t know for sure who my secret admirer was.

 

KAREN

Maybe it’s best if you just let that go, Angela.  You haven’t heard from this person in a while so maybe he’s given up.

 

ANGELA

You know, I haven’t received any other notes since I had that fight with Brian.

 

KAREN

Then it was probably him.  And now he’s given up.  I know it’s hard, but you have to forget about him, Angela. 

 

ANGELA

That’s easier said than done.

 

KAREN

Why don’t we go to the movies tonight?  It’ll help take your mind off Brian.

 

ANGELA

Oh, I don’t know.

 

KAREN

Come on.  We always have a great time together acting silly during the movie.

 

ANGELA

You’re right.  I do need to think about something else.

 

KAREN

Great!  I’ll go look at the listings now. 

 

INT. CAROLINE’S OFFICE AT ROCKLAND CONSTRUCTION - DAY

MANNY has just arrived and is talking to CAROLINE who is sitting at her desk.

 

CAROLINE

Manny, it’s so nice of you to stop by.

 

MANNY

And of course I find you with your nose to the grindstone.

 

CAROLINE

That’s my life, work, work and more work.

 

MANNY

Caroline, I keep telling you this, but you need to have more fun in your life.  Go out to dinner, the movies, go dancing.

 

CAROLINE

It’s hard enough to break away from work, Manny, and I’ve been in this routine so long that it’s hard to get out of it.

 

MANNY

I know there’s a guy out there who would love to sweep you off your feet.  If you’re not careful, you’ll let that chance slip right past you.

 

CAROLINE

Manny, are you saying what I think you’re saying?  Because if you are, I feel the same way about you!

 

MANNY

Uh, Caroline, I was just speaking in general terms here.  What are YOU talking about?

 

CAROLINE

Oh.  I thought…

 

MANNY

Caroline, you and I are friends.  The best of friends.  And that’s all we can ever be to each other.  I hope you understand.

 

CAROLINE

(disappointed)

Oh.  Yeah, of course, Manny.  I hope you didn’t think I was suggesting anything else.

 

MANNY

Okay, sorry if I misunderstood you.  Dealing with my drinking problem and fighting my feelings for Angela, I just need a friend right now, and nothing more complicated than that.

 

CAROLINE

Well, then you have one in me.

 

MANNY

Thanks.

 

INT. RAMOS ESTATE - DAY

BARBARA is sitting in the family room with her head in her hands when MIRANDA walks in.

 

MIRANDA

Ms. Whitman, are you alright?

 

BARBARA

I have a splitting headache, Miranda.

 

MIRANDA

Can I get you some aspirin?  Or some water?

 

BARBARA

No, it won’t help.

 

MIRANDA

Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?

 

BARBARA

No.  It’s a tension headache and nothing helps these.  The only good part about it is knowing that my day can’t possibly get any worse.

 

The doorbell rings.

 

MIRANDA

I’ll get that.

 

Miranda walks to the door and opens it and sees Eve, Barbara’s former sister-in-law.

 

MIRANDA

Hi.  What can I do for you?

 

EVE

I’m here to see Barbara.