ROCKLAND COUNTY – EPISODE #6 – APRIL 27, 2005 “HAUNTED BY THE PAST”

WRITTEN BY ROGER NEWCOMB

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK

INT. RAMOS ESTATE- DAY

BARBARA is talking to PAUL in the family room when the doorbell rings.

 

BARBARA

I’ll get it.

 

PAUL

Let Miranda get it.  That’s what she gets paid for.

 

BARBARA

No, I need some air.

 

Barbara makes her way out of the family room and walks to the front door and opens it.

 

BARBARA

(gasps)

Oh my God.  How did you find me?!!

 

BENNY

Hello, Barbie.

 

BARBARA

You can’t be here, Benny.  You have to go.

 

BENNY

Ah, Barbie, I came all the way from Brooklyn to see you.  You wouldn’t really turn me away like that, would ya?

 

BARBARA

Please, just go.  I don’t know how you tracked me down, but if you’re looking for a welcome wagon, you’re at the wrong door.  Now scram!

 

PAUL

(yells out from the family room)

Barbara?  Who’s at the door?

 

BARBARA

Oh, no one, honey.

 

BENNY

Who’s that?  Found a new sugar daddy?

 

BARBARA

It’s none of your damn business.  Now go before I call security.

 

BENNY

Wait a minute.  That wasn’t the big dog, Paul Ramos, was it?  No way!  You snagged the richest cat in Rockland?!!  You’re really movin’ up the world.

 

BARBARA

I have a new life here, Benny.  I don’t want to see anybody from the old days.  Capeesh?  So whatever you’re selling here, I’m not buying. 

 

BENNY

Oh, Barbie, you’re makin’ a big mistake if you’re doin’ what I think you’re doin.

 

BARBARA

What’s that supposed to mean?

 

BENNY

It means that if your screwing big daddy in there, it stands to reason that he doesn’t know all the details of your questionable past.

 

BARBARA

What Paul does or doesn’t know is irrelevant.  I’m very happy here, Benny, ok?  Don’t try to come in here and ruin the first happiness I’ve found in my life.

 

BENNY

Oh please, Barbie.  Spare me the sob stories, will ya?  I heard a rumor that you were doin’ ok for yourself and I came to see if it was true.  That’s all.

 

BARBARA

If you’re here to make trouble for me, it’s not going to work.  I’m in a better place now.  Your threats don’t mean anything to me.

 

BENNY

Who’s makin’ threats here?  It’s just two old friends have a little reunion.

 

BARBARA

We’re not just two old friends here, and I hate reunions.  But if you came here to see how I’m doing, then you can see I’m just great.  Now I have to get back inside.  Please go.  Please.

 

BENNY

Fine.  I’m leavin’.  I’m real disappointed that you chose to be so unhospitable, Barbie.  This little visit leaves a real bad taste in my mouth.

 

BARBARA

You’ll get over it.  Goodbye.

 

Barbara slams the door and walks back inside to the family room.

 

PAUL

Who was that? 

 

BARBARA

Oh, it was someone I used to work with in Nyack.  Another event planner.   He had a job offer for me, but I wasn’t interested.

 

PAUL

I see.  So where were we?   What were you saying about a commitment?

 

BARBARA

Look, Paul.  I suddenly have a splitting headache.  I’m going to go upstairs and lie down. 

 

PAUL

Alright.  We’ll pick up this conversation later.

 

Barbara walks upstairs. 

 

PAUL

An event planner?

 

Paul picks up the phone and calls his security lead.

 

PAUL

Bruno, It’s Paul.  Can you get the license plate number of the man that was just here?  No, nothing to be alarmed about.  I just want that information for personal reasons.  Thanks.

 

INT. SUTTER’S MILL BAR - DAY

DAMIEN is sitting at the bar when MANNY walks in and see him.

 

MANNY

Damien?  Is that you?

 

DAMIEN

Manny!  When did you get back in town?

 

MANNY

A few days ago.  Look at you, you’re all grown up.  How have you been?

 

DAMIEN

I’m alright.  Does my sister know you’re back in Rockland?

 

MANNY

I stopped by the hospital the other day but she wasn’t there.  She doesn’t know yet.  Do you think she’ll be happy to see me?

 

DAMIEN

I don’t know, Manny.  Things were not good between you and Angela when you left town.

 

MANNY

A lot has changed since then, Damien.  I’ve changed my name to Ramos.  I feel like a new man.

 

DAMIEN

Manny, if you’re back to start some war with Paul Ramos, then I want you to stay the hell away from my sister.

 

MANNY

I’m not here to fight with Paul.  I just want what is rightfully mine.

 

DAMIEN

Dante Ramos is my best friend and I don’t want my sister in the middle of some feud between you and his father.

 

MANNY

I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Angela, Damien.  I promise you that.

 

DAMIEN

Look, Manny.  I know you’re a decent guy.  I liked you with Angela, really.  But you hurt her bad, man.  And I don’t plan on sitting back and letting you do it again.  So you better think long and hard about calling her up if you don’t have good intentions here.  Do you hear what I’m saying?

 

MANNY

Loud and clear.

 

INT. ROCKLAND PSYCH WARD – OUTSIDE DR. ANGELA GIVENS OFFICE - DAY

ANGELA is standing in the doorway of her office when she sees student intern, CYRUS, walking by.

 

ANGELA

Cyrus, hi.  Do you have a minute?

 

CYRUS

Sure, Dr. Givens.  What’s up?

 

ANGELA

Would you mind stepping into my office so we can talk?

 

CYRUS

No, not at all.  Did I do something wrong?

 

They walk into her office and she closes the door.

 

ANGELA

No.  Not exactly.  Look, Cyrus.  I’m going to be honest with you here.  There are some rumors floating around the hospital about you and I thought I should let you know.

 

CYRUS

I know what they’re saying, Dr. Givens.  And I don’t care.

 

ANGELA

They’re saying that you’re a psychic, Cyrus.  Or at least you’ve told people that you are.  Is this true?  Have you been telling people that you are having premonitions about them?

 

CYRUS

I have to tell them, Dr. Givens.  It’s not right to keep people in the dark when I know something terrible is going to happen to them.

 

ANGELA

So it’s true?  Cyrus, tell me exactly what’s going on with you?

 

CYRUS

I have visions, Dr. Givens.  I don’t know how to describe them exactly, just that I do.  Sometimes when I’m with someone I get a horrible feeling that something bad is going to happen to them.

 

ANGELA

And does this happen often?

 

CYRUS

Not really.  But the other day, with Caroline Hart, it was the worst one yet.  She’s in danger, I just know it.

 

ANGELA

And you told her so?

 

CYRUS

Yes.

 

ANGELA

And what did she have to say?

 

CYRUS

She thought I was a nutcase.

 

ANGELA

Cyrus, I’m afraid that’s the reaction you’re going to get from most people around here.  I can’t tell you 100% for sure that what you’re feeling isn’t real or why it’s even happening.  But for the sake of your future at this hospital, I think it’s best if you keep these premonitions to yourself in the future.  Can you do that?

 

CYRUS

I’ll try.

 

INT. BRIAN MORGAN’S MANHATTAN APARTMENT - DAY

ARDEN and BRIAN are talking as Brian prepares to leave for work.

 

BRIAN

Arden, I can’t even imagine how upsetting this must have been for you, but it was self defense.  He was coming after you.  You had no other choice.

 

ARDEN

I’m not so sure the police will see it that way.

 

BRIAN

Of course they will.  You have to go back home and get this straightened out.

 

ARDEN

You just want to get rid of me, don’t you?

 

BRIAN

I didn’t say that.

 

ARDEN

But it’s true.  You left home and never looked back and to hell with me.  I see how it is now.

 

BRIAN

Arden, look.  I know I haven’t been the greatest brother in the world.  But it hasn’t been because I don’t love you.  It was more out of self-preservation.  To get away from Mom and all her garbage.  I was never going to have a life if I stayed in Vermont.

 

ARDEN

I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to jump down your throat.  I appreciate you letting me stay here.

 

BRIAN

I know I don’t have much room, but you can crash here as long as you need.  But I honestly think you have to clear this up with the cops there.  You don’t even know what happened after you took off.

 

ARDEN

I just jumped into my car and drove as fast I could to get away from home.  I’m sure Mom hates me, not that she already didn’t.

 

BRIAN

From everything you’ve said, it seems like she’s gotten worse.

 

ARDEN

Without you being around, there’s no one to keep her in line.  She’s such a loose cannon.

 

BRIAN

I wish I had been there for you. 

 

ARDEN

I killed someone, Brian.  As much as I hated that man, I can’t lie down at night without seeing his face in my head.   I’m not sure I’ll ever get that image out of my mind.

 

BRIAN

The first step is to deal with it head on.  I wish I could get a few days off from the hospital, but it’s just not possible right now.

 

ARDEN

I don’t know if I can go back there and face all this.

 

BRIAN

You’re stronger than you know, Arden.  You’ll face it and then you’ll leave Vermont for good.

 

EXT. ANGELA GIVEN’S HOUSE - NIGHT

ANGELA has just arrived home and finds flowers on her doorstep.

 

ANGELA

Flowers?  Who could these be from?

 

Angela takes out the card and reads it.

 

ANGELA

For my dearest Angela.  Thinking of you.  XOXO.  Your beloved.

 

Angela drops the card.

 

ANGELA

(to herself)

First the letter and now flowers?  Who could be doing this?