Tarnished Armor
Part 126

Tad and Dixie’s living room.

Liza is sitting on the couch, holding Colby. Liza is wearing her wedding ring. Junior sits with her. Jake is watching them from the breakfast table.

A woman is sitting in the armchair.

Junior: Colby loves the park. Mom takes her there a lot. I think they're going again tomorrow. To the park. Colby likes to watch the roller bladers in the morning.

Liza: That's great.

Jake: We’ve got about half an hour, and then I’ve got to run.

Liza grabs one of Colby’s feet playfully.

Liza: I know.

Colby tries to tug her foot free. Liza lets go for a moment and then recaptures it. Colby laughs.

Junior: What’s that?

Liza: It’s like “Who’s got your nose?”, but it gives her a fighting chance. Do you want to try?

Junior: Sure.

Junior lightly grabs Colby’s foot.

The doorbell rings.

Jake: Junior, could you get that?

Junior lets go of Colby’s foot and looks at Liza.

Junior: You take over. I’ll be right back.

Junior goes to the door and opens it. Adam is standing outside, holding a shopping bag in his hand.

Junior: Dad! Hey, what happened to your face?

Adam: I --

Jake rises.

Jake: Adam. What are you doing here?

Liza: I asked him to come.

Adam: If it’s a bad time --

Liza: No, we have half an hour left.

The woman in the armchair rises.

Woman: Mr. Chandler?

Adam: Yes.

Woman: I’m Mrs. Grant. The social worker for Colby’s case.

Adam: Social worker?

Jake: It’s getting a little crowded in here. I’m not sure this is comfortable for Colby.

Liza: Comfortable? She’s fine. You just said we had half an hour. Who would you like to leave?

Jake: Actually, it’s twenty-five minutes now, Liza. And those twenty-five minutes are for you. Adam is not part of the visitation appointments. You would know that if you bothered to come to court on the last day.

Junior: He’s my dad. He can visit me.

Adam stays where he is. Junior grabs Adam’s hand and leads him to the couch.

Adam looks at Liza.

Adam: Sorry.

Jake: Twenty-five minutes.

Liza: Look who’s here, Colby.

Colby reaches towards Adam.

Liza: Here.

Adam hesitates and then takes Colby.

Adam: Hi there, princess.

Colby grabs at Adam’s nose.

Junior: She grabs my nose, too.

Liza: Does she?

Colby begins to babble.

Liza: Adam --

Adam: In the bag...

Liza reaches into the shopping bag that Adam brought with him.

Jake: It’s too busy in here. She’s getting --

Liza gives a small stuffed duck to Colby. Colby is momentarily distracted and begins to squeeze the duck.

Adam and Liza rise from the couch and begin to go into the kitchen.

Jake: Where are you going?

Adam and Liza go into the kitchen.

Jake follows after them. Junior follows after Jake. Mrs. Grant follows Junior.


******


Tad and Dixie’s kitchen.

Adam is holding Colby and is lightly swinging her back and forth.

Liza is holding a baby bottle under the running faucet.

Jake comes in. He goes over to Adam.

Jake: I can do that.

Liza turns around. Adam gives Colby to Jake. Colby begins to cry.

Jake: It’s okay, Colby. Daddy’s here.

Colby reaches towards Adam.

Junior comes into the room, followed by Mrs. Grant.

Jake: It’s okay. I have you, princess.

Adam retreats to a corner of the kitchen.

Colby begins to cry harder. She reaches towards Adam again. Junior looks from Colby to Adam.

Liza takes the bottle from underneath the faucet and tests it.

She goes over to Jake and holds out her arms.

Jake: I can do it.

Liza gives the bottle to Jake. Jake gives the bottle to Colby. Colby stops crying.

Mrs. Grant: Mrs. Chandler, is she on a set schedule?

Jake: Yes, she is, but I always listen to her needs.

Junior: Liza?

Liza is looking at Adam.

Junior: Liza?

Liza turns to Junior.

Liza: I’m sorry, Junior. What were you saying?

Junior: I wasn’t yet. I was just wondering. How did you know?

Liza: About what to do?

Junior: Well, yeah.

Liza shifts uncomfortably.

Adam: Son, let’s go outside and I can explain it to you.

Jake: She was crying, Junior.

Junior: Not at first. But they --

Adam: Let’s go outside, AJ.

Adam and Junior leave the room.

Mrs. Grant checks her watch.

Mrs. Grant: My time is up. Mrs. Chandler, will you be available later today?

Liza: I’ll have to clear my schedule, but that shouldn’t be a problem.

Jake: I’m working for the rest of the day.

Mrs. Grant turns and smiles quizzically at Jake.

Mrs. Grant: Yes, I know. You gave me your schedule, Mr. Martin.

Mrs. Grant turns back to face Liza.

Mrs. Grant: It was nice meeting you. Mr. Martin, I’ll be in touch.

Mrs. Grant leaves the room.


******


The living room.

Adam and Junior are on the couch.

Junior: That’s it?

Adam: Yes.

Mrs. Grant enters the room.

Junior: How come Jake didn’t know?

Adam: Well, I guess he needs just a little more practice. I’ll bet you could help him.

Adam notices Mrs. Grant. He rises.

Adam: I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here.

Jake and Liza come out of the kitchen.

Mrs. Grant: I’m just on my way out. Mrs. Chandler has said she’ll be in touch with me later. But I have some time in about half an hour. Will you be available?

Adam: Available?

Mrs. Grant: For a meeting. I know it’s short notice, but --

Jake: Adam has no parental rights. His ...

Jake’s voice trails off as Mrs. Grant turns towards him.

Adam: I’m afraid Mr. Martin is right. I don’t ... That is to say...

Liza: I think Adam will be home.

Mrs. Grant: Thank you.

Liza: We’ll see you there.

Mrs. Grant nods and leaves.

Jake: Let’s get something straight. I am Colby’s father. Right now, you have no rights, Adam.

Liza: Junior, would you check and see whether there are at least five bottles in the refrigerator?

Junior: What?

Liza: Back-up, my friend. I just used one up, so --

Junior: Gotcha.

Junior goes into the kitchen.

Adam: Maybe it was a mistake for me to be here.

Liza: I asked you to come.

Adam: I know, and I appreciate that, but --

Liza: I asked you to come.

Jake: I’m sure you meant well, Liza.

Liza turns to Jake.

Liza: Have you always been this domineering?

Jake: Oh, no. You don’t get to be self-righteous, Liza.

Dixie enters through the front door.

Jake: You were the one who cared so little about our child that you couldn’t bother to show up in court.

Adam: That was my fault.

Jake: I’ll bet it was your fault.

Liza: I don’t want to talk about this right now. Junior is in the next room, and I think he’s seen enough.

Adam: I’ll go.

Liza: No, Adam.

Adam looks at Colby and then makes a move towards her. Then he checks himself. He turns to leave and sees Dixie.

Dixie: Hello, Adam. Liza.

Junior comes out into the living room.

Junior: Six. There are six.

Liza: Thank you, Junior.

Adam: Son, I was just leaving. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?

Junior: Sure.

Liza: Adam.

Adam leaves.

Liza looks at Dixie and Jake.

Jake: Liza, I know this was your last visit, but I think you should have cleared Adam’s invitation with me.

Dixie: Not now, Jake.

Jake falls silent.

Liza: How much time do I have left?

Jake looks at his watch.

Jake: It’s time.

Liza: Adam left the bag. It’s full of her favorite things. I’d really appreciate it if you’d --

Dixie: We’ll use them.

Liza goes over to Colby. She brushes her hand over Colby’s head.

Liza: I love you.

Colby reaches towards Liza’s hand and grasps her finger. Liza kisses Colby.

Liza: See you soon, Colby. I promise.

Liza gently pulls her finger away from Colby.

Liza: Bye.

Liza quickly leaves.

Colby begins to cry.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Twenty Five
Part One Hundred and Twenty Seven