Tarnished Armor
Part 105

McKay’s. Hayley is sitting at a booth with Ryan.

Ryan hangs up a cell phone.

Ryan: Man, things can’t get any worse.

Hayley: Liza will calm down. I’ve seen the syndrome about a hundred times before. W ith my father and with Liza.

Ryan: I don’t know, Hayley. She could lose the station, and it’s my fault.

Hayley: First of all, she won’t lose the station. And if she does, she’ll probably end up owning a network. No matter how far she falls, Liza seems to always end up back at the top of the heap.

Ryan: Well, that still doesn’t fix the other problem.

Hayley: Your job?

Ryan: My job, my apartment, -- you name it, I’m up a creek.

Brooke enters McKay’s and sees Hayley.

Hayley: Me and the creek are old friends. Take it from me, flotation devices work.

Hayley leans in towards Ryan.

Hayley: Would you feel better if I bought you a life-jacket that says, “Who needs a paddle?”

Ryan laughs.

Hayley: You can hang it on the wall and let people wonder.

Brooke goes over to Hayley and Ryan’s table.

Brooke: Hi, Ryan. How are you?

Ryan: Been better, but I’m hanging in there.

Brooke: This town is good for that, isn’t it? I’m sure it will all work out.

Brooke turns to Hayley.

Brooke: Hayley? Do you have a second?

Hayley: Actually, Ryan and I were just in the middle --

Ryan: No, no, that’s cool. I’d better get going. I need to buy a newspaper and start checking out the help wanted ads.

Hayley: If you’re sure...

Ryan: I’m sure.

Ryan gets up and reaches into his pocket.

Hayley: I’ve got it.

Ryan: Hayley...

Hayley: I’ve got it. Trust me, if there’s one thing I have too much of, it’s money.

Ryan: Well, thanks.

Hayley: Don’t mention it. I’ll catch up with you later.

Ryan: Okay. And next time, I’ll pay.

Hayley: It’s a deal.

Ryan: Well, I’m off. Bye, Brooke.

Brooke: Good-bye.

Ryan leaves. Brooke sits down across from Hayley.

Hayley: What’s up?

Brooke: What’s going on with Ryan? The help wanted pages?

Hayley: Liza’s in a foul mood these days.

Brooke: I see. Well, Tempo's always looking for good salespeople.

Hayley: I'll let him know. You wanted to talk to me about something?

Brooke: Listen, I have a feeling that this may be a sore subject with you, but I wanted to talk to you about Adam.

Hayley: Trust those reporter’s instincts, Brooke. It is an incredibly sore subject.

Brooke: Well, my instincts are telling me something else.

Hayley: I’m not interested.

Brooke: Hayley, I don’t know where else to go. I’m not the right person to handle this, and you’re the only other person who will understand.

Hayley: Understand what?

Brooke: Jaime tells me that Adam has fired all of his staff at the house.

Hayley: They’ll be back next week. I’ve been there before.

Brooke: He’s all alone and not talking to anyone.

Hayley: He’s never been the great communicator.

Brooke: Listen, he’s all alone. All alone.

Hayley: Where’s Liza?

Brooke: Not with him, apparently.

Hayley: Liza always was the type to cut her losses and run.

Brooke: Adam and Liza lost temporary custody of Colby. He hasn’t been to the office since the custody hearing. He told Junior that he destroys everyone he loves, and has asked Junior to stay away from him. Adam is sitting at home, mostly in the dark, and he won’t talk to anyone. Even Stuart. Sound familiar?

Hayley sits silently for a moment.

Hayley: If you’re right -- and I’m not saying that you are -- what makes you think that I’m the right person to help him? I practically torched the custody proceedings. I haven’t been the most loving daughter in the world lately. Where do I fit it?

Brooke: You’re the last person left to help him. That’s where you fit in.

Hayley plays with her fork.

Hayley: I’ll think about it. I’m not promising anything.

Brooke: Think about how you’ll feel if I’m right.

Hayley doesn’t answer.


******


Belinda’s apartment.

Belinda and Liza are both seated on the couch.

Belinda: Why didn’t you report him?

Liza: I had a better use for him at the time.

Belinda: Such as?

Liza: Such as Gillian Andrassy was trying to “lollipop” Scott into marriage.

Belinda: So you switched grooms using blackmail.

Liza: Yes.

Belinda: Okay. But why now? Are there any advertisers who might be looking for revenge against the willful Liza Chandler?

Liza: Liza Col--. Just Liza.

They sit in silence.

Belinda: She exists, Liza. You can’t will her away.

Liza: I know.

Liza grows quiet.

Belinda: If it wasn’t an advertiser, our problem may not be such a big one.

Liza shrugs her shoulders.

Belinda: Well, if you can keep all of your advertisers happy, how can the FCC prove anything? Unless there are receipts and cancelled checks lying around as proof.

Liza doesn’t answer.

Belinda: Are there?

Liza: No.

Belinda: So you only have one potential problem.

Liza: Only one? I admire your optimism.

Belinda: Liza, I know this is difficult for you. I know this is the last thing you want to be thinking about.

Liza: Not quite the last.

Belinda: But if you can just hang in there for another five minutes, then you won’t have to talk about WRCW anymore.

Liza looks at her hands and notices her wedding ring. She takes it off and tosses it on the coffee table. Belinda and Liza sit in silence. Then Liza turns to Belinda.

Liza: You were saying?

Belinda stares at Liza.

Liza: The station. Potential problem.

Belinda: A renegade advertiser coming out of the woodwork and testifying. Anyone fit the bill?

Liza: My advertisers love me.

Liza gives an ironic smile.

Liza: Love.

Belinda: Even Erica Kane?

Liza gets up and walks away.

Liza: La Kane won’t dare open her mouth.

Belinda: Why not? You know how she feels about you -- and your role at WRCW.

Liza: Erica likes wearing accessaries. She doesn’t like being named an accessory -- if it means she’ll end up in Statesville. She doesn’t care for the apparel there. Very drab. And at this point I can name her as an accessory to a crime that would put her in prison.

Belinda raises an eyebrow.

Liza: It will be between Erica and me, once she gets back in town.

Belinda: Is that why she left town?

Liza: I don’t know why she left town. I don’t care. I wish she’d stay where ever she is.

Belinda: I don’t follow.

Liza: That woman feels like she can play judge and jury any time she wants. As long as it concerns...

Belinda stares at Liza.

Belinda: A child?

Liza doesn’t answer.

Belinda: Am I right?

Liza: I don’t want to talk about it.

Belinda: I think you should.

Liza doesn’t speak for a moment.

Liza: Please, Belinda. Let it go.

Belinda studies Liza.

Belinda: Okay. For now, I’ll let it go.

Liza sinks back into the couch.


******
Chandler Mansion. Adam’s study. Morning.

Adam has a box in front of him. The box is almost full. Adam takes a gold fountain pen from his desk and puts it in the box. Then Adam takes his watch off and puts it in the box.

He opens the top drawer of his desk. He takes out a framed antique photo. He puts that in the box as well.

He puts a cover on the box, and seals the box. Then he takes out a marker and labels the box “Junior.”

Adam leaves the room.

 

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Four
Part One Hundred and Six