WRITTEN
BY
Roger Newcomb
STARRING
(in order of appearance)
Angela Mazziotta
as
Anne Sayre as Barbara Whitman
Ryan Chandler as Elijah Phillips
Stephen Seidel as Dante Ramos
Crystal Rose as Ashley
Brandon Delaurentiis
as Ian Levin
Nick Sullivan as Paul Ramos
BARBARA
is talking with
So
you and Paul set a date?
BARBARA
Yep.
Valentine’s Day.
Can you believe it?
Isn’t
that a bit soon? I thought you were
having a big wedding with all the trimmings?
BARBARA
We
are, of course. But I’m an event
planner, don’t forget. I’ve been
planning this for a month already and we have a church and a caterer and I know
everything else will fall into place.
Are
you sure about that? You have to get a
wedding dress, send out invitations?
BARBARA
It’s
all in the works, so don’t worry. And
as my maid of honor, I know you will help keep all this together.
Of course. I’ll do whatever I can to
help. But Aunt Barbara, I’m sorry I have
to ask this, but does Paul know everything he needs to know about your
past? You had reservations about sharing
certain information with him before.
BARBARA
Arden,
Paul knows everything he wants or needs to know about me. And he loves all of it. So I’m not going to worry about any of that.
They
hear a knock on the door.
Let
me get that.
BARBARA
I
hope it’s not Eve. (
Elijah. Hi.
ELIJAH
(starts walking in)
BARBARA
Hello
Elijah. Look, I’m going to leave you two
alone and head back up to the main house.
I’ll
be there.
Barbara
leaves and shuts the door behind her.
ELIJAH
Sorry
to interrupt. I brought you a gift. For Christmas.
Elijah,
you didn’t have to do that.
ELIJAH
It’s
nothing big. Open it.
Okay.
Oh
my God, it’s the teddy bear we saw when we went shopping together.
ELIJAH
I
remembered that you liked it, so I wanted you to have it.
Elijah,
that’s so sweet. Thank you. But you really shouldn’t have.
ELIJAH
I
know it’s not much, but it’s all I could afford really. Seeing the smile on your face makes it worth
it.
Elijah,
you know that Dante and I…
ELIJAH
I
understand. I just want to be your
friend, Arden. I could really use a
friend like you right now. I totally
understand that you’re with Dante and I respect that.
Okay. I’m not so sure Dante believes that you do.
ELIJAH
I’ll
talk to him. Just accept the teddy bear
and accept my friendship. I only have
the best of intentions here.
DANTE
has just arrived and is talking with ASHLEY at the bar.
DANTE
Hi, Ashley. Is
ASHLEY
No. She actually switched shifts with me at the
last minute today. I think she’s at your
guest house right now.
DANTE
Oh. I didn’t realize. I had to pick something up in Suffern so I
thought I’d stop in.
ASHLEY
Well,
hey, don’t waste a trip. What can I get
for you?
DANTE
Oh,
I should probably head home since
ASHLEY
Come
on, you look hungry.
DANTE
(laughs)
I
do? And what does hungry look like?
ASHLEY
Well,
I saw you look at that burger over there when you walked in so that kind of gave
me a clue.
DANTE
Well,
you’re probably right. I might as well
eat while I’m here. Just give me a
double cheeseburger with no ketchup and fries.
ASHLEY
You
got it.
Ashley
walks to the back and puts in Dante’s order and then returns.
ASHLEY
It
should be out in a few minutes.
DANTE
Thanks.
ASHLEY
So Dante. Tell me more about
you. Are you in school?
DANTE
Not exactly. I’m sort of taking a break
right now. Although if
I don’t find a job in the next month or go to work for my Dad, I have enroll at
ASHLEY
Hey,
your family is loaded, right? So it’s
not like you have to work.
DANTE
Too
bad my Dad doesn’t share your philosophy.
He thinks I’m a bum.
ASHLEY
Oh,
parents are always like that. My mother
and step father are always telling me I’m going nowhere in life. But I don’t care. I’m going to be famous someday.
DANTE
Oh
yeah? How?
ASHLEY
I
haven’t decided yet. Acting, modeling,
who knows? But I know it’s my destiny.
DANTE
Well,
Ashley, I wish you nothing but luck.
IAN
has just arrived to see PAUL.
IAN
Thanks
for seeing me, Mr. Ramos.
PAUL
What
is all this about, young man? My admin
was ready to call security because you insisted on staying even though you
didn’t have an appointment. Lucky for
you, I’m in the Christmas spirit today.
IAN
I
need to talk to you about my father.
PAUL
Then
maybe you can tell me who you are exactly?
You said your name is Ian? Do you
have a last name?
IAN
Yes,
I do. It’s Levin. Ian Levin.
PAUL
Levin! (lev-in) Dan’s son?
IAN
Yes. So I guess that makes you my step-uncle?
PAUL
Something
like that. I
haven’t seen you since you were a baby.
What brings you by my office today?
IAN
Every
since I heard my father was back in
PAUL
What
kinds of things do you want to know, Ian?
IAN
Well,
first of all, how did you manage to steal this company away from my father and
aunt?
PAUL
Oh,
now Ian, I did no such thing. You
obviously heard that nasty little rumor from Caroline Hart. You need to know that Caroline hates me with
a passion, and you have to take everything she says with a grain of salt.
IAN
So
it’s not true that L&R Construction was left to the three of you and now
you are the sole owner?
PAUL
Well,
yes, that is indeed true, but Dee and Dan wanted nothing to do with the company. I bought them out and they were happy to
oblige.
IAN
So
where is all the money that they made from this sale? My aunt lives in a small apartment in
Nyack. She’s not exactly rolling in the
dough.
PAUL
I
can’t say for sure, Ian, but I believe most of that money has been used for
your father’s care. It’s not inexpensive
to keep him in the best hospitals with first rate care.
IAN
And
what’s my father to you? At one point
you were close, right? But what happened?
PAUL
Look,
Ian, your father’s condition worsened and we grew apart. It wasn’t because of any particular event.
IAN
Not
even your wife’s death?
PAUL
Look,
I’m not sure I should be discussing any of this with you. I don’t know what your family has told you
but I don’t want to overstep here.
IAN
According
to Caroline, you have no problem “overstepping” if there is something you
want. Are you sure there isn’t more to
my father’s story that only you know about?
PAUL
Dan
is not well, Ian. He’s under the care of
Angela Givens at the