Tarnished Armor
Part 108

Chandler Mansion. Liza and Adam’s bedroom.

Adam is sitting on the bed. The box for Hayley is sitting next to him.

There’s a knock on the door.

Adam: Go home. Your checks are with my office.

The door opens and Hayley is standing outside.

Hayley tentatively enters the room.

Hayley: My checks?

Adam: Sorry. I thought you were someone else.

Hayley comes closer to the bed. She sees the box with her name on it.

Hayley: What’s that?

Adam: Some things I’ve meant to give you.

Hayley sits on the bed.

Hayley: Why?

Adam: Because they rightfully belong to you.

Hayley opens the box and takes out the locket. She opens it.

Hayley: You and Uncle Stuart?

Adam: Yes.

Hayley: And your mother?

Adam: Lottie. You bear a great resemblance to her, don't you think?

Hayley: No ringlets, though.

Adam: No.

Hayley: Thank you for not having them question me on the stand.

Adam: For all the good it did. I’m sorry, Hayley, but I really need to be alone right now.

Hayley studies Adam.

Hayley: Dad, please don’t do this.

Adam: Do what?

Hayley: What you’re thinking of doing.

Adam: I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just doing a little spring cleaning. Getting my house in order. Houses. That’s all I ever had. God knows I never made a home for anyone. I’ve been wondering who could take those shells and make them into something more. I’d like you and Skye to share the beach house.

Hayley: What are you talking about?

Adam: You can trade off on weekends if you’re not getting along, but I really think you could both make something of it. And I’m sure one day Junior will make this house into some place warm and welcoming. There’s the villa in Tuscany for Liza. And Colby... Colby should have a nice English cottage. Never touched by my hands.

Adam reaches into his pocket. He takes out some photos and hands them to Hayley.

Adam: Isn’t it beautiful?

Hayley: It would be more beautiful if there was a picture of you standing next to it.

Adam: Aren’t you angry with me? Why are you here?

Hayley: I’m here because I wanted to say how sorry I am about Colby. Where’s Liza?

Adam: She left me.

Hayley: Oh.

Adam: I think you should too.

Hayley: Sorry. It doesn’t work that way.

Adam: You’re a great woman, Hayley. No thanks to me. It would be better for you to stay away from me.

Hayley: I thought you liked having me under your roof.

Adam: I do, but --

Hayley: It must be pretty hard for you to deal with not remembering everything. I mean, it’s bad enough when you can remember all your evil, but now it must seem like there are timebombs ticking all over the place.

Adam: Landmines. You told Liza they were landmines.

Hayley: And she said you planted them to protect your family, your home.

Adam: She was wrong. I plant them selfishly.

Hayley: I think maybe love is a little more complicated than that.

Adam: Well. You probably know a lot more about love than I do.

Hayley: Not anymore.

Adam: You and Mateo...

Hayley: Dad, no matter what you’ve ever done to me, what Mateo has done is worse.

Adam: I doubt that.

Hayley: We sure can pick them, can’t we? Must have something to do with being a Chandler. Sort of like all of those rare conditions that the royals pass down from generation to generation. At least Colby has a fighting chance.

Adam turns away from Hayley.

Hayley: I’m sorry, Dad. For what it’s worth, I think Colby belongs with you and Liza.

Adam: Colby belongs with Liza.

They sit in silence.

Hayley: Ever since Mateo and I have been apart, I keep going over and over everything. All of the mistakes we both made. And how one of us has always hung on even when the other seemed to be gone for good. I think that’s what makes a marriage.

Adam: A marriage takes two human beings. I’m afraid I’m not quite human, Hayley.

Hayley: What are you then -- a wombat?

Adam: I think we both know what I am.

Hayley: You’re a man who makes mistakes. Big mistakes.

Adam: Hayley, look at me. The grey hair --

Hayley: Silver --

Adam: Grey. Lines that are beginning to etch my face.

Hayley: Gives you great character.

Adam: I’m not talking about vanity. I’m talking about each little thing which shows how much of my life is gone -- lived through. And in all that time, I’ve never...

Adam looks at Hayley.

Adam: I have loved many people. I have been infatuated many, many times. And I have been in love quite a few times. But Liza is like -- was like -- the other half of me. When we were together, I was more than I am. When we were apart, I was empty -- except for the hope that we would be together again.

Hayley: So you’re saying there’s no hope?

Adam: I’m saying that what I have done to Liza is a crime. All the love, all of the trust, all that she gave me, I took and destroyed out of self-preservation.

Liza enters the room unnoticed.

Adam: So if I can’t love Liza the way she deserves to be loved, then I am incapable of loving at all.

Liza: I’d say that both of those theories are fact. You can’t love me and you’re incapable of love.

Adam looks up at Liza. Hayley turns to the door.

Hayley: Liza, this is not a good time.

Liza: Welcome to my world, Hayley. There’s never a good time.

Hayley: I don’t think you have any idea what you’re walking in on, Liza. You’d better go.

Liza laughs bitterly.

Liza: What I’m walking in on? I’m walking in on a pathetic excuse for a man. And a daughter who lets him wreck her life and then comes back when he plays on her sympathies.

Hayley: I hardly think you’re in a position to judge me or my father, Liza.

Adam: She is. She’s in a position to judge me.

Liza: I don’t need your permission or your protection, Adam. Now, or ever again.

Adam doesn’t speak.

Liza: I told you to stay away from me. I told you to leave me alone. But I forgot who I was talking to.

Hayley turns to Adam.

Hayley: Dad?

Liza: Here’s a warning, Adam. The next time you feel like playing dress-up, I will have Derek Frye slapping the cuffs on you. And it won’t be because of a restraining order either.

Hayley: Liza, what are you --

Liza: You think we both know what you’re capable of, Adam? Well, close your eyes and cast your memory back. And remember what I’m capable of, too.

Adam picks up the locket and looks at it. Hayley watches him and then rises from the bed.

Hayley: You’d better leave now, Liza.

Liza: I’ll destroy you, Adam. I will take away every shred of dignity you can muster.

Adam looks up at Liza.

Adam: Good.

Liza: You’ll wish you’d never been born.

Hayley takes a step towards Liza.

Liza looks Hayley up and down.

Liza: Charming. I’d like to see you try.

Liza turns on her heel and leaves.

Hayley closes the door behind Liza. Then she turns back towards Adam.

Hayley: Mind telling me what that was about?

Adam: It’s Liza’s story to tell. I’ve done enough damage.

Hayley: Yes, you have. And I don’t want to see anymore.

Adam: Then leave.

Hayley: No. Not now. Not ever.

Adam: Take your things and go.

Hayley: What things? A box of mementos? A small fortune? The beach house? The stables? No, Dad. That’s not what counts.

Adam: This box --

Hayley: This box is full of things that mean a lot. I understand that. But a locket with a picture of my aunt doesn’t tell me all I need to know. Just like Junior has all of his memories saved up of you and him together, there are memories that only you and your sister shared. And I am not going to be ripped off of those and a million other conversations we haven’t had yet.

Adam: I’m not going anywhere right now.

Hayley: I hear you, but I don’t believe you.

Adam: I have something to take care of that’s very important to me. So you see, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Until I can do this one thing, I’m not going anywhere.

Hayley: Well, I’m going to make sure of that.

Adam doesn’t answer.

Hayley: I’m moving back in.

Adam: No.

Hayley: Try and stop me. I’m as stubborn as you are. There are things I’ve already inherited that can’t be taken away.

Hayley opens the door and turns back to Adam.

Hayley: You can sit here with your bitterness and your self-hate, but I’m going to be sitting under the same roof with enough love for you to make up for all the hate you can point at yourself.

Hayley leaves the room.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Seven
Part One Hundred and Nine