PREVIOUSLY

Nora: Ok. As long as you're alright now.

Rachel: (From the stairs:) I'm fine, Mom.

RJ: Do you need a lift?

Rachel: I'll be fine, Uncle RJ.

[Scene ends.]

**************************************************************************************************

[Scene: Nora's house. Early afternoon.]

Nora: (Doorbell rings.) Hold on. (Crossing to door. Opens it:) Hank, hi. Did Rachel call you, too?

Hank: (Looks around the livingroom.) Is she upstairs? Is she ok? Hello, RJ.

Nora: She's fine.

Hank: Her message sounded upset. Is she upstairs?

RJ: She's already gone off again.

Hank: What happened, exactly?

Nora: She took Matthew out for a stroll, ran into some narrowminded biddy who assumed she was Matthew's Nanny, and proceeded to ream her for the assumption. She isn't exactly invisible, and began to feel after she'd called everybody that she'd maybe over-reacted a bit.

Hank: Oh. She's ok now?

Nora: She seems to be... Sorry you missed her. She decided she wanted to see Tea. I guess she decided she really needed to speak to her old friend about this.

RJ: She also called me.

Nora: Yes, and RJ wasn't able to really calm her down much. She put up a good front, but I guess she really wanted a friend to talk to.

Hank: Why is it that Ricky always turns to RJ?

Nora: Because he's not her father. And she also turned to you after she couldn't find me.

RJ: That's my cue to leave. (Passing Hank, curtly:) Henry.

Hank: Randy.

RJ: (Leaves.)

Nora: We all failed her, Hank, don't forget that. She isn't likely to.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Palace Diningroom, Lunchtime that day.]

Rachel: (Sitting in a chair as Tea sits down in her own chair across from her.) Are you sure this was a good idea?

Tea: Yeah. We both need to eat, and this seems like a good place. I wanted to treat you to a nice lunch. You know, since lunch was my idea, choose anything you want. (Grinning with her patented catlike grin of pleasure:) I was thinking about lobster, myself.

Rachel: It must be nice having so much money, finally.

Tea: Oh, it is, let me tell you. Sometimes I splurge, but a lot of times I realize with relief that I no longer need to. I can buy what I need when I need it. Then I turn around and my sweet husband has gotten me something nice or pretty but usually wholly unnecessary. Or a new car.

Rachel: You make him sound like nothing more than a rich romantic, and we both know that's not the case with Toadboy.

Tea: (Laughs.)

Rachel: (Smirking a little awkwardly:) Well, you took that well.

Tea: (Smiles at Rachel.) I doubt you two will ever be friends, especially not after Georgie, but he's different now. He's still moody and volatile and at times violent, but he's still changed. He's not nearly as much of a toad... not usually, anyway.

Rachel: (Laughs.)

Tea: (Smiles at Rachel sweetly.) He really isn't. A lot has been happening.

Waiter: (Appearing at their table, pad in hand:) Hello, Ladies. Are you ready to order now? Or would like something to drink while you decide?

Tea: Rachel?

Rachel: Nothing for me, thank you.

Tea: Well, I'll have a glass of white wine to start. Oh, and we'd like a basket of your wonderful garlic bread to start, also.

Rachel: That sounds lovely, Tea.

Tea: (Smiles at Rachel.) Would you like what we discussed for lunch?

Rachel: I'd love lobster, yes.

Tea: Two lobster platters, then. (Looks to Rachel:) Baked potato ok?

Rachel: Yes, that would be great.

Tea: Baked potatoes for each of us. Sourcream, Rachel?

Rachel: Definitely.

Waiter: And what would you like on your salads, Ladies?

Tea: Rachel?

Rachel: Italian, please.

Tea: The same, thank you.

Waiter: Anything to drink with luncheon?

Rachel: Water, please.

Tea: Water, also.

Waiter: I'll be back in a moment with the garlic bread, salads and your glass of wine, Mrs. Manning.

Tea: Thank you.

Waiter: (Hurries off to place order.)

Tea: That's another thing. Sometimes when salespeople don't know who I am, that I have enough money to buy most things I could want in cash if I wanted, they see a Latina at their counter and I do get treated differently. It's like the old days. Those times I take it out on them. I'm a lawyer, you don't cross lawyers. I'm a rich lady, you don't cross rich ladies. I'm a Latina, and they pretty much expect a firey, disruptive temper about it, so I'm usually icey-cold, something for which Blair remembers me.

Rachel: She still blames you for the end of her marriage?

Tea: Yes, but even she knows she's wrong. Her lies are what destroyed their marriage and left Todd an emotional cripple. The end of that relationship shattered him and he is still struggling to recover from it.

Rachel: Does he still make those nasty comments?

Tea: Todd? Which? The ethnic ones he sometimes made?

Rachel: Yeah.

Tea: Not in a long time. He really only does that sort of thing to push people's buttons. He could care less what colour someone is.

Rachel: Sometimes I wonder.

Tea: Well, I gather his father was quite a piece of work. Todd is trying to learn how to avoid being like him.

Rachel: Is it working?

Tea: More than you'd think.

Rachel: What's it like being married to a white guy? Especially knowing he bought you the first time you married him.

Tea: Well, he doesn't speak Spanish, he's pretty much areligious, and he thinks I'm the most beautiful girl in the world. I guess it's not so bad some days. He's gotten to the point where he can tell me he loves me, which for him is a huge thing for him to come out and say out loud.

Rachel: Really?

Tea: Yes. It's a huge thing for me to hear that someone I care so deeply about also cares deeply about me.

Rachel: Then why does he keep pushing you away? Why is he so vicious to you?

Tea: The short version?

Rachel: Yeah.

Tea: Abject terror, of being hurt, of hurting me. A deep need to protect me from what he sees as the worst about him, some of which he's right about. He's done some terrible things.

Rachel: Yes, he has. One thing he didn't do is kill Georgie.

Tea: I know.

Rachel: What was it like when you were little, being different? Being poor?

Tea: Probably not much better than it was for you being mixed and with just your Mom. We had a little, often dark, apartment in the basement. I had my own room, although it was barely larger than my bed. My three brothers had to share a room, and then there was the Master Bedroom for our Papi. Once Mami was gone, he had it all to himself. Eventually, he let my brothers have it, and he took their smaller room. We didn't have much. When I took dance lessons, my father and brothers all chipped in for them, I was the only non-white student. They harassed me, called me names under their breath during class so the teacher wouldn't hear, tripped me, took my dance clothes or my street clothes. It was like being constantly hazed. She took me under her wing often, she knew they were doing things because she saw them in the mirrors during class.

Rachel: That's what being Black is like, only the only place I didn't get that was with the family. I got the same ignorant treatment in the park today with Matthew. I'm glad my brother's too young to understand this, because he's going to have to defend me all of his life, and defend Mom's decision to have a child with my father. He's also going to have to defend himself, as a Jew. He'll know my Dad, so he'll know they did the right thing having me, but he'll learn about racism in a very odd way. He's a Jew, so he may come up against that kind of prejudice, but his big sister's Black and that's much more obvious. Unless someone knew my Mom, or saw us together, not everyone realized I was mixed. Once they knew, it was sometimes an asset to be so dark-skinned. Some day I'll have to explain to him what all that really means.

Tea: If he spends any time with RJ, I think he'll learn.

Waiter: (Brings Tea's wine, a basket of garlic bread, and their salads.) Here you are, Ladies. (Distributes things.) I hope you enjoy your meal.

Rachel: Thank you. (He leaves.)

Tea: Anyway. (Starts to nibble on garlic bread, smiles happily at the taste.) Have some, this is wonderful, you haven't had any in ages. C'mon.

Rachel: (Starts nibbling on garlic bread as she talks.) You can blend in, because you're a light-skinned Latina and you "pass"; Matthew will blend in even if Mom makes him wear a yarmulke, but I can never blend in. This town is white enough that my Dad, my Uncle, me, we all stand out and everyone can spot us. No matter what I do I'm always under a microscope, in a fishbowl. This is wonderful garlic bread.

Tea: Isn't it? So is Todd, but for different reasons. That sense of differentness and constant exposure is something I relive everyday, living with Todd. I do understand that, Rachel. There's sometimes a tremendous weight of shame when you're under so much constant, suspicious, discourteous scrutiny. I think Todd feels a lot more of it than I do. He could blend in, but then the changes he made would make him not himself and he isn't about to lose himself again. (Starts in on her salad.)

Rachel: You told me. Does it ever bother you that being with him makes you such a moving target?

Tea: (Looks at Rachel, who has also started her salad.) As long as we're together, I don't care about it all that much. Do you remember before I first met him and I did all that research into his past?

Rachel: Yes. And I warned you against him.

Tea: Yes, so did my brother Del, and for similar reasons. In some ways you were right, but in a lot of ways you both were wrong. He isn't who you see him as, although people's assumption that they're right about him serves him well much of the time. He can intimidate people who expect him to be Todd The Terrible more easily, and he has the clout and the money to follow through on his threats if need be.

Rachel: You're not helping your cause, Tea.

Tea: Maybe not, but this is part of my reality. I married a very rich man who is volatile and angry and protective and even paranoid. I can't hide any better than you can, Rachel. The closest I come to being able to is in Angel Square, and even there I'm well known, for good or ill. I "pass", as you say, I'm as light as Todd is and he's not that pale. Darker-skinned Latinos are jealous of me for it. I get accused more than enough for having sold out "my kind" by marrying a gringo. I bet your parents got that, too. I bet you got it growing up.

Rachel: More than once I got the sense that to some other people, not all, my very existence was an insult; something to be wiped away, ignored, denied, or attacked and destroyed. It wasn't bad enough that I was Black, but that one parent was White meant I was some sort of freak to some people, to be treated like an animal by some people. It was still worse when they found out we're Jewish! Black Jews just don't happen. It was incredibly demeaning those times I did have to face such people.

Tea: It's ugly and uncalled-for, but it's variations on a theme you and I live with every day of our lives.

Rachel: (Sighs.) How has Roseanne been? I mostly know her from your letters.

Tea: She still hates me. She's one of the ones yelling the most about my deserting "my kind". She hasn't got a clue who she is, she has no right to judge me for marrying my husband. She doesn't have a clue who Todd is. She's been carrying on quite shamelessly in chasing after Cristian, I don't know if you heard. I didn't talk about it much in my letters. I usually prefer not to think much about her, I only get angry these days.

Rachel: I heard Sam's kid came to town. Did she go after him, too?

Tea: Yes. She got flak for it from some of the kids in Angel Square so she went back to stalking Cris. If Antonio weren't up to his eyeballs in work, he said he'd be here to set her straight himself. Jessica's ready to tear her limb from limb these days, but you know Jess. She'll do it in a well-mannered way, like Viki, and Roseanne will be irreparably damaged before she knows what hit her.

Waiter: (Inobtrusively lays out their luncheons.) Enjoy your meals, Ladies.

Rachel: This looks wonderful. Thank you.

Waiter: (Smiling sweetly at Rachel.) You're welcome. (Takes serving platter and disappears.)

Tea: (Giggles lightly.) I think he has a crush on you, Rachel.

Rachel: (Rolls her eyes.) Oh, please.

Tea: This was a good choice, wasn't it? I love lobster.

Rachel: This is quite a delicacy for me.

Tea: Oh, I can imagine. Things will get better for you, I promise, Rachel.

Rachel: I only want to think about this creature right now. (Cracking her lobster open and beginning to eat.) Mmmmm......

Tea: (Laughs, digging into her lobster also.) Nummm. (They laugh together.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Saybrooke Mansion. Next morning.]

Kelly: (Obviously on her way out the door. Opens it, comes face to face with Asa Buchanan about to ring Dorian's doorbell.)

Asa: (Drips icy sarcasm:) How good of you to be home, Kelly.

Kelly: (Icily professional:) What do you want, Asa?

Asa: I'll get right to the point. Did you spill that little story to Nigel?

Kelly: (All feigned innocence, with a glacier below it:) Why, Asa, what story? There are so many I could have told him about you, but he knows most of them firsthand. Why would I tell Nigel anything?

Asa: And he told you none of this? You really expect me to believe you, Cramer?

Kelly: What would he tell me I didn't already know, Asa? Are you about to offer me some sort of scoop on your life? Come on, Asa, you're an old man, you must have volumes more stories to tell.

Asa: I have nothing to tell you, Cramer, but you have plenty to tell me.

Kelly: Oh, do I? Like what?

Asa: Like how that witch of a shedevil cousin of yours came up with such a cock and bull story as me faking insanity. That's Manning's game, not mine. You've got a story to tell me, don't you?

Kelly: From the depths of my little blonde head and shallow, short, sheltered little life? What stories would I have amassed in my short life, Asa? Was I a robber-baron oilman? No. Did I marry ten times yet only have two children I know of? No. No, you're the one with the stories, Asa, volumes of them. Enough to probably fill the Library at Alexandria. Many have been chronicled in the local papers over the years.

Asa: Lies and damn lies, and you know it!

Kelly: I don't know anything of the sort, Asa, considering that I lived through some of those very events and I know which of the published reports are true or false, or partially false. Remember, I was once almost a member of your family and I've dated two of your grandsons for years. I buried one. I'm close enough to your life to know what is and isn't true. I couldn't make up most of what I know about your life, or you, Asa.

Asa: You've made up plenty, Cramer.

Kelly: Have I? Everything in that article is true, Asa, and you know damn well it is. Trying to intimidate everyone you think was involved in writing it in any way is just plain stupid, Asa, and you know it. If you want more trouble, keep going after everyone. I heard that Clint moved out. Bo's barely speaking to you, Drew's dead, I've left the family fold; Kevin, Joe and Jessica are all so busy with their own lives they're not speaking to you by default, and you're not all that civil to Viki since her divorce from Clint. And Nora, you're still angry at her for dating Sam and breaking up with Bo. The only ones you have left are Renee and Nigel. I didn't do this, Asa. You did this to yourself. Now, get out of my house!

Asa: Not so fast, little lady.

Kelly: I could have Bo come and arrest you for trespassing. He might enjoy that at this point.

Asa: (Smooth as silk:) Go ahead, call my boy. I'd like to see him.

Kelly: He isn't your "boy", Asa. I'm sure you'd like to see the inside of the holding cell, too.

Asa: You'd do that?

Kelly: Try me.

Asa: Did you buy yourself that backbone, Cramer? You sure as hell couldn't grow one of your own before.

Kelly: A lot has happened, Asa. I'm not who you assume I am anymore. Now, get out.

Asa: If I find out that you've been snooping around in my personal life --

Kelly: Why would I bother? I could just go to the archives there's so much now. Or ask around. I can get info on you, accurate info, trivially easy. Your life is an open book, Asa.

Asa: No it isn't.

Kelly: I'll consider that a scoop, and a challenge for later. Now, GET OUT! (Manages to get him out of the doorway by shoving him out far enough to slam the door in his face and lock it. Leans up against the door, facing camera, livid, and blows her bangs off her face in annoyance.) I'll get you, Asa. I don't know how, and I don't think I care how, but I'll get you for all of this. (Dials cellphone.) Joe?... Yeah, look, I'm going to be a little late. Your Grandfather was here, spoiling for a fight... Uh-huh... No, I need a moment to cool down and then I'll head out to your Mom's office... Ok. I'll meet you at the carriage house and we'll go together... Yeah... love you, too. (Hangs up, takes a very deep breath. Walks away from the door, towards the camera, not looking into it but seeming far off in thought.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Buchanan Mansion, Asa's office. Mid-morning.]

Asa: (Sitting at desk, at work on computer and phone.) All right. Because these numbers are not adding up... He doesn't? Why the hell not? He was supposed to hand you those numbers himself yesterday!.... Now? Well, then tell him to sit down and go over every digit personally with you and make certain he hasn't made any more accounting errors or I will be there to personally hand him his walking papers! (Hangs up the phone.)

Nigel: Sir?

Asa: Ah, Nigel. Have a seat.

Nigel: No, thank you, Sir. I came to enquire if you will be in for dinner tonight, or if you and Mrs. Buchanan have made other dinner arrangements?

Asa: We were planning on eating in tonight.

Nigel: Fine, then I will prepare the menu and return with it for your approval.

Asa: Before you go off, Nigel...

Nigel: Yes, sir?

Asa: Did you speak at all with Blair Cramer about that matter we discussed before?

Nigel: You asked me if she had been here in the past, I believe you asked if it was, month. She hasn't been here in months, Sir.

Asa: Did you speak to her in the past month or so?

Nigel: Yes.

Asa: Here?

Nigel: No.

Asa: You said you didn't speak to her!

Nigel: You only asked me if she had been here and if we had spoken here, Mr. Buchanan. We met over luncheon one day in a quaint little outdoor cafe on the other side of town. Most enjoyable, I must return and speak to the chef, the pastries were glorious, ambrosial, the --

Asa: Nigel!

Nigel: Sorry, sir. You were saying?

Asa: You talked with Blair Cramer. What did you discuss?

Nigel: I'm afraid she seemed to already know about this story, from what source or sources I have no idea, and seemed to simply be attempting to follow up on rumour.

Asa: She said that?!

Nigel: She indicated that to me, yes. I did give her a few additional details that had vexed me sorely since the events transpired.

[Renee pokes her head around the corner and ducks away, with an expression that indicates she may feel this is a private confidence being divulged.]

Asa: (Clearly annoyed:) And that is....?

Nigel: Really, Sir! Calling me your "Little Buckaroo" and making me wear those little-boy style cowboy outfits was going quite a bit too far. To know you were faking! Mr. Buchanan! You should be ashamed of yourself! Yes, I told Miss Cramer, but she seemed to already know. And you are not my "Grandpa-pa", despite your insistence that you be called that at the time.

Asa: You're FIRED, Nigel!

Renee: (Behind the wall in the hallway, can be heard giggling loudly. Enters room laughing outright now.) Asa! (More laughter.) Oh, the look on your face is priceless! You're not going to fire Nigel, if you know what's good for you. (Icily:) Because if you fire him for something you've done, I'm leaving also. You know you can't afford to lose all of us.

[Scene ends.] [Scene: Hallway at The Sun. Half hour or so later.]

Asa: Cramer!

Blair: (Stops walking, wheels around.) What do you want, Buchanan? And what're you doing in this building? You're trespassing.

Asa: Who cares?

Blair: You'd better.

Asa: You got to Nigel, you little witch!

Blair: What if I did, old man?

Asa: Where did you hear all this cockamamy bull about me? He said you knew already and were confirming rumours.

Blair: Wouldn't you like to know, Asa?

Asa: What's Manning's part in this? He the Mastermind?

Blair: No. This is my article, start to finish.

Asa: Where'd you get your information, Cramer?

Blair: Confidential, Asa.

Asa: I could have you subpeonaed.

Blair: Go ahead. Why don't you try asking your ex-granddaughter-in-law?

Asa: Who?

Blair: My cousin, you idiot.

Asa: I knew she was holding out on me! I'm not done with you, though. You'll tell me what I need to know before this is through.

Blair: Oh, I doubt it, Asa. Get out, before I call Security.

Asa: Fine, but I'll be back in your face so soon you won't know I was gone.

Blair: (Flips her hair.) Whatever. (Watches him leave.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Carriage House, Llanfair. About a half hour later.]

Asa: (Barging in:) Cramer!

Joe: Hello, Grandpa. You looking for Kelly?

Asa: I've already found Blair, yeah, I'm looking for Kelly.

Kelly: (Coming down the stairs.) What do you want this time, Asa? More harassment?

Joe: He's been harassing you, Kelly?

Kelly: He seems to follow me all over town now. Don't you have a business to run, old man?

Asa: This is my business.

Joe: Is it, Grandpa? I don't think so.

Asa: Kelly knows something.

Kelly: And just what is it I'm supposed to know, Asa?

Asa: That this cock and bull story of Blair's is a lie. I didn't fake insanity.

Kelly: I could believe you didn't, except I know you did.

Asa: So, you did talk to Nigel!

Kelly: You forget what I overheard, Asa. I overheard you telling Max you had faked it, and I overheard Max talking to you about it like he'd known all along.

Joe: What?!

Kelly: Yes, Joe.

Joe: Grandpa! How could you lie to all of us about that?! You had us all worried then, believing you were crazy and all probably secretly scared we'd inherited it. Actually, I was scared for Dad, Uncle Bo, and my sister.

Asa: You're real Buchanans, you and your brother.

Joe: No, we're Rileys, and this is one time I'm glad of that.

Asa: You're still my Grandsons.

Joe: Not by blood, and we all know that.

Asa: I couldn't love you anymore if you were.

Kelly: How sweet, Asa. Now, get out.

Asa: Why, Kelly, I thought we'd laid down our arms for a moment there.

Kelly: You may have.

Joe: I suggest you leave, Grandpa.

Asa: All right, Joey, for you. I'm not through with any of you yet, though. Count on it. (Leaves.)

Joe: (Shuts front door.) This is all true?

Kelly: Every word in that article.

Joe: Mom says every word in that article about child abuse is true, too.

Kelly: I know. It still doesn't leave me very sympathetic to my Boss.

Joe: He's my Uncle, and while I don't really like him very much and we don't have time for each other, I do feel a little compassion for the kid he once was.

Kelly: That little boy was treated unbelievably badly. That man treats everyone around him unbelievably badly. I don't have much sympathy for him. Look at all the trouble he causes.

Joe: True. He's good to my little cousins, though. I see the way he looks at Tea when he thinks no one is watching, or when they look at each other. It's like they become the whole world to each other, when they're not fighting. It's hard to make sense of him. It's like there are two Todds, you know?

Kelly: There're more than two, if you recall.

Joe: (Chuckles.) Ok. Are we up to 5 or 6 now?

Kelly: That sounds like your Mom.

Joe: No, that was 9.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Banner office, same day. Mid-day.]

Viki: Tea? Can I ask you a favour, this is for Todd, actually.

Tea: Depends on what it is.

Viki: Todd and I have a sister, his full-sib Tina. She and her children are in town to see Todd, but I haven't told him yet and they've been here about a week now.

Tea: Ok. I think I'd like to meet her, he's mentioned her once in a great while. They're not friends.

Viki: No, they're not. What Tina and I have been talking about is having her children stay at Llanfair with Jess and me, and Tina staying with you at the Penthouse.

Tea: That's a lot to ask, Viki. What if they fight?

Viki: Then Tina stays with me and our children.

Tea: Ok. How did you keep this such a secret? How do we ease him into this?

Viki: Years of practice keeping secrets worse than this one. I was thinking of having you over for dinner, say tomorrow night?

Tea: You call him. I'll work on him from my side. Maybe we'll even show up.

Viki: (Laughs.) And maybe he'll even stay long enough to have a bite of dinner.

Tea: (Seriously:) Actually, he's not eating much again, I hope we can get him to eat a whole sit-down meal. Once this week wouldn't be too bad.

Viki: Sounds like you have part of your argument ready right there.

Tea: He's going to be angry when he realizes all his "womenfolk" have ganged up on him. We'll bring Starr, of course.

Viki: Oh, that will be marvelous. He behaves much better around my niece. If Starr decides she wants to stay, he'll stay for her.

Tea: I think we have a plan. (Grins mischievously at Viki.)

Viki: (Grins back.) Ok. Go back to work, I'll call him now.

Tea: Bye, Viki. (Leaves.)

Viki: (Dialing phone:) Todd? Me. Your sister!... Right... Well, actually... Oh, yes she is, Todd! She came here specifically to see you, in fact, and to lend her support... Yes, they are... They'd like to see you, too. How about you and Tea bring Starr and we can have a family dinner at my house tomorrow night?... Now, Todd. Starr has barely met them, they do need to get acquainted... Ok. I'll call with the time tomorrow... Yes, I'm cooking. (Laughs.) It's not that bad, Todd... They all survived it fine. I'll be in touch tomorrow, ok?... Todd?... I want to see things work out for you... Ok. (Hangs up.)

[Scene ends.]