ROCKLAND COUNTY – EPISODE #47 – DECEMBER 2, 2005 “TAKE YOUR PICK”

 

WRITTEN BY

Roger Newcomb

 

STARRING (in order of appearance)

Jeffrey Richardson as Dr. Brian Morgan

Delaina Dixon as Dr. Angela Givens

Kelly Christopher as Nurse Karen Grissom

Erika Crocco as Caroline Hart

Barbara Thomas as Eve Morgan

Angela Mazziotta as Arden Morgan

Ryan Chandler as Elijah Phillips

 

INT. DR. ANGELA GIVENS OFFICE AT THE ROCKLAND PSYCH CENTER - DAY

ANGELA is sitting at her desk talking with BRIAN.

 

BRIAN

What are you going to do, Angela?  You’ve told me that you believe me, but if you do, then that means Karen is lying.

 

ANGELA

I’m still trying to find another explanation for what happened between the two of you that night.

 

BRIAN

It’s not just that one night, Angela, where she said I was getting “physical” with her.  There was the night at Sutter’s Mill, too, when she said I was coming on to her.

 

ANGELA

It seems like you have a theory.  Would you care to share it with me?

 

BRIAN

Look, Karen is your best friend, and I don’t want to come between that.  But if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was trying to split us up.

 

ANGELA

Brian, why would she do that?  All she wants is for me to be happy.

 

BRIAN

That’s what you keep telling me, but something isn’t right, Angela.  And that night, with Cyrus, she completely changed when she saw him, so she could use him as a witness against me.

 

Angela hears a knock on her office door.

 

ANGELA

Hey, someone is at my door, let me call you back.

 

BRIAN

Okay.  I love you.

 

ANGELA

I love you too.

 

Angela hangs up.

 

ANGELA

(calls out)

Yes?  Can I help you?

 

Karen opens the door and walks in.

 

KAREN

Hey, I wasn’t sure if you were in or not.

 

ANGELA

Karen, I’m glad you’re here.  We need to talk.

 

INT. CAROLINE HART’S OFFICE AT ROCKLAND CONSTRUCTION - DAY

CAROLINE is talking with EVE, who has just been sent over by a temp agency to work as CAROLINE’S admin for the day.

 

CAROLINE

Eve, what a coincidence.  I never expected my temp to be someone I met at Thanksgiving.

 

EVE

It’s a small world I suppose.

 

CAROLINE

I’ve met your daughter, Arden, several times.  She’s such a sweet girl.

 

EVE

Yeah, people say we’re a lot alike.

 

CAROLINE

I see.

 

EVE

I actually just registered with this temp agency yesterday.  I think they’re a little desperate right now.

 

CAROLINE

Why do you say that?

 

EVE

Well, I’ve never actually worked as an executive admin before, but I do have secretarial experience so don’t worry.

 

CAROLINE

Okay.  I won’t.  It’s just for today, so what could go wrong, right?

 

EVE

So where can I find the coffee in this place?  I can’t do anything until I’ve had my morning cup of joe.

 

CAROLINE

It’s just down the hall and to the right.

 

EVE

Thanks.

 

CAROLINE

And when you get back I have a few letters I need you to send out.

 

EVE

Of course.  I won’t be long.

 

 

INT. RAMOS ESTATE GUEST HOUSE - DAY

ARDEN is home alone when she hears a knock on the door.

 

ARDEN

Maybe that’s Dante.

 

Arden walks to the door and opens it and sees Elijah.

 

ARDEN

Oh, hi there.

 

ELIJAH

Hello, Arden.  May I come in?

 

ARDEN

Uh, sure.  What’s going on, Elijah?

 

ELIJAH

I was up at the main house talking to my mother, and then realized that you were probably back here alone, so I thought I’d stop in and say hi.

 

ARDEN

(a little uncomfortable)

Oh, well, hi to you too.

 

ELIJAH

I don’t have any classes today, what are you up to?

 

ARDEN

I’m not sure yet.  I have to work tonight.

 

ELIJAH

I was thinking of going over to Piermont to check out some of the shops there.  Would you want to join me?

 

ARDEN

Elijah, we hardly know each other.

 

ELIJAH

Okay, okay.  I know you’re new in Rockland, so was trying to be friendly.  Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.

 

ARDEN

No.  I’m sorry.  I appreciate the offer.  Really.

 

ELIJAH

Great.  So what do you say?  Wanna hit the stores with me?

 

ARDEN

Well, I don’t really have any money.

 

ELIJAH

Hey, neither do I.  We can window shop.  It’ll be fun.  Come on.

 

ARDEN

Well, alright.  Why not?

 

INT. DR. ANGELA GIVENS OFFICE AT THE ROCKLAND PSYCH CENTER - DAY

ANGELA is talking with KAREN

 

ANGELA

Look, Karen.  No matter what you think happened between you and Brian, you’re wrong.  He didn’t come on to you, and he didn’t get physical with you either.

 

KAREN

Angela, Cyrus saw the whole thing.  How can you explain that?

 

ANGELA

I trust Brian, and I know he’s not lying to me.

 

KAREN

So what are you saying?  That I am?

 

ANGELA

No.  I don’t think you would lie either, but you’re confused, or I don’t know what, but can you help me understand this.

 

KAREN

Angela, there’s nothing to understand.  Brian is not the man you think he is, and that’s all there is to it.

 

ANGELA

No, there’s a lot more to it.  Brian thinks you don’t want the two of us together.  I know that’s crazy, but at least it makes sense.

 

KAREN

My God, Angela.  He’s turned you against me, hasn’t he?

 

ANGELA

Of course not.  No one could ever do that.

 

KAREN

But you believe him over me.  I never thought you would choose a man you’ve only known a few months over me, a lifelong friend.

 

ANGELA

I’m not choosing anyone, Karen.  I’m just trying to rationalize what’s been happening lately.

 

KAREN

Well, I don’t know what to tell you.

 

ANGELA

I want you to know that I’m not going to stop seeing Brian.  I love him, and we’re getting closer every day.

 

KAREN

(sarcastically)

Congratulations.

 

ANGELA

Karen, be honest with me here.  Is Brian right?   Is it possible that, even subconsciously, you are trying to keep us apart?

 

KAREN

Don’t be ridiculous.

 

ANGELA

Then I don’t know what I can do.  I need to be able to understand this, so I can do something to fix it.

 

KAREN

There’s no fixing this, Angela.  I’m going to lay it on the line for you.  If you continue to see Brian, then you’re choosing him over me.  It’s that simple.

 

ANGELA

Karen, don’t say that.

 

KAREN

I mean it.  It’s him or me.  Take your pick.