Tarnished Armor
Part 128

Adam’s study. Three in the morning.

The door opens and Liza enters, dressed in her robe and carrying her laptop.

She turns on the lights. She looks up at the wall where the Couple of the Year plaque once was placed, and notices that the plaque is missing.

She notices the box for Junior on the desk. And she walks over and puts the laptop beside the box and opens the box.

She lifts Adam’s watch from the box and looks at it. Then she puts it back in the box and takes out the antique family photo.

Hayley enters the study.

Hayley: Insomnia?

Liza quickly put the photo back into the box and turns around.

Liza: Yes. What are you doing up?

Hayley: I’ve become a light sleeper since I’ve been staying here. I thought you might be Dad.

Liza: Funny. I once thought that too.

Hayley: Well, I can see you want to get to work, so ...

Hayley turns to go.

Liza: Adam’s been spring cleaning, I see.

Hayley turns back around.

Liza: The box. For Junior.

Hayley: For Junior. Not you.

Liza: Do you have a box?

Hayley: As a matter of fact, I do.

Liza: I see.

Hayley: No. I don’t think you do. Good night, Liza.

Hayley turns to go again.

Liza: Hayley?

Hayley turns back to face Liza.

Hayley: Yeah?

Liza: There’s a picture inside the box. It’s -- well, here.

Liza takes the photo out and extends it towards Hayley. Hayley walks over and takes the photo.

Hayley stares at the photo.

Liza: What is it?

Hayley: I’ve never seen it before, but I’m guessing that it’s Dad, Uncle Stuart, and Lottie.

Liza: That’s what I thought. Is Adam ... is he leaving town?

Hayley: Why? Do you care?

Liza: Well, no, it’s just that we have the custody hearing and I wanted to know if Adam was planning ...

Hayley puts down the photo and looks at Liza.

Hayley: Dad will be here for the hearing. He won’t let you lose Colby.

Liza: The plaque. The Couple of the Year plaque is gone.

Hayley: Couple of the Year?

Liza: Never mind.

Hayley: I don’t know where it is. I would guess it’s in storage. At this point, I think my father feels it would be insulting to you to have anything from your marriage in a box for Colby. But she has a box too.

Liza leans against the desk.

Liza: He put his watch in Junior’s box. Why would he ...? I mean, it’s his watch. He uses it every day. I mean, it’s his life, but...

Liza’s voice trails off.

Hayley: You want to know what the boxes are for.

Liza: Yes.

Hayley goes and sits on the couch. Liza follows Hayley to the couch and sits down beside her.

Hayley looks at her.

Hayley: Do you hate my father?

Liza: What?

Hayley: I’m not blind, Liza. I saw you when you came here to tear into him after you lost temporary custody. But then I saw you come back here after he had been beaten up, and I know you took care of him.

Liza: To tell you the truth, I don’t know how I feel about Adam.

Hayley: My father says he’s hurt you too much.

Liza: He has.

Liza gets up and goes to the door.

Hayley: You forgot your laptop.

Liza turns and goes to the desk. She picks up her laptop.

Hayley: Did you know that I tried to kill my father?

Liza turns to face Hayley.

Hayley: It’s true. I got a gun, and I found him and I had every intention of killing him. And Dad wanted to die. He was daring me to shoot him. Giving me more reasons. Agreeing with every horrible thing I said.

Liza: Well, your father’s still alive, Hayley. What does that tell you?

Hayley: She never even had a chance. This innocent life ... and he didn’t mean to do it ... but he did it.

Liza: Who?

Hayley: My little sister.

Liza: Colby?

Hayley: Anna Claire.

Hayley is overcome with tears.

Liza: What happened?

Hayley: Brooke showed up. Winifred had called her. Brooke handled everything. But when we both left, it was just Dad and the gun. And then Brooke had second thoughts about leaving him alone. She got back just in time. So when Brooke came to me this time --

Liza: This time?

Hayley: I had to see if it was true. And I found the box. My box. No servants around to get in the way. It was different this time. He was so matter of fact. He didn’t want any mistakes this time. No blame for anyone but himself.

Liza: When?

Hayley: You don’t know? You were there. In the bedroom. What was it you said? “A pathetic man.” You said he’d wish he’d never been born.

  Liza: No.

Hayley: Yes. You said it. I asked you to leave.

Liza turns away from Hayley.

Liza: What happened? After I ... I left.

Hayley: It wasn’t time yet. He said he had something he needed to take care of.

Liza: What?

Hayley: I don’t know. But you do. You were there. The night that you came back to the house, and he had been beaten. That was the night he left to do that one last thing. What was it?

Liza doesn’t answer.

Hayley: And the wall goes up in front of the great Liza Chandler. Well, think about this. You asked him to see Colby the next day. And he went. And then you moved back in. But the boxes are still packed. And he seems to be waiting. Haven’t you seen it? The look in his eyes?

Liza doesn’t say anything.

Hayley: Well. This house goes to Junior. You get the house in Tuscany. I think Colby gets an English cottage. A thatched roof covered with roses. You should see the pictures. And I hear the beach house is waiting for me and Skye.

Hayley gets up and goes to the door. She turns to look at Liza.

Hayley: It’s some inheritance, isn’t it? But still, I’m a very light sleeper these days.

Hayley leaves the room.

Liza looks at the door for a moment, and then looks at the box. She leaves the room, leaving her laptop behind.

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