Adam’s hospital room
Stuart stands at Adam’s bedside while Hayley hovers at the door.
Dr. Jensen shines a flashlight in Adam’s eyes while the nurse takes notes.
Adam: Get that blasted thing away from me.
Dr. Jensen: Just one more moment, Mr. Chandler. Could you look to your right?
Adam looks to the right and sees Stuart smiling. Adam scowls.
Dr. Jensen shuts the flashlight off.
Dr. Jensen turns to the nurse.
Dr. Jensen: Patient’s pupils, eye mobility and responsiveness -- all very encouraging.
Adam: Good. Let’s throw a bloody parade.
Stuart: Adam, you’re not being very nice.
Adam grunts.
Dr. Jensen: I’ll be back soon, Mr. Chandler.
Adam: I can hardly wait.
Dr. Jensen leaves the room.
Adam looks up at Stuart.
Adam: What are you staring at?
Stuart: You. Oh, Adam, it’s so good to see you -- even when you’re mean.
Adam: Thank you, Stuart.
Adam looks away, then hesitates, and then looks at Hayley and Stuart.
Adam: Have you seen the baby?
The room is silent for a second.
******
The hallway outside of Adam’s room.
Dr. Jensen is speaking to Liza.
Dr. Jensen: So for now, I think we should just take our cues from him. He’s extremely irritable, which is very common for a patient who has been unconscious from head trauma.
Liza: Poor Dr. Jensen.
Dr. Jensen: Beg pardon?
Liza: Dr. Jensen, I have to warn you. For Adam, irritability isn’t just a common symptom. It’s a way of life.
Dr. Jensen: Yes. Well. I’m heading back to my office for just a little bit. I’ll be back soon.
Liza: Dr. Jensen?
Dr. Jensen: Yes.
Liza: Thank you.
Dr. Jensen smiles and walks down the hallway.
Liza faces the door to Adam’s room.
Belinda comes around a corner. She sees Liza.
Belinda: Liza?
Liza turns around.
Belinda: Liza, I’m glad I found you. I heard about the accident this morning. Liza, I’m sorry.
******
Adam’s hospital room.
Hayley breaks the silence.
Hayley: I have. I’ve seen the baby.
Adam: How is she?
Stuart: Oh, she’s great, Adam.
Adam: What does she look like?
Stuart: Well, it’s kinda funny, but she looks like you.
Adam: What’s so funny about that?
Stuart: Well, I ...
Hayley: Well, your face goes better on a baby than any of us expected.
Adam laughs.
******
The hallway outside of Adam’s hospital room.
Liza and Belinda stand facing each other.
Belinda: I’m truly sorry, Liza.
Liza: Yeah, well, you know, Belinda, you’re not making it any easier.
Belinda: Liza, I was planning on coming here to see you, and I was actually on my way over when I got your message.
Liza: Shouldn’t you be out there looking for my daughter and bringing her back to me? You know, that’s one hell of a law practice you run.
Belinda: Now, I’ve spoken to Trevor, and I can assure you, he knows nothing about this.
Liza: Right.
Belinda: I know you’ve seen Trevor and Jake together, and I’m not at liberty to talk about what they discussed --
Liza: Well, if you’re not at liberty, I can take a guess. My guess is that they weren’t comparing bowling scores. They were talking about custody.
Belinda: Liza, I really can’t discuss this, but I can tell you that whatever they discussed had nothing to do with Jake’s actions this morning. Trevor knows nothing about this. He’s trying to track down Jake as we speak.
Liza: Trying to track down Jake? He doesn’t know where he is? The man has my daughter, Belinda! Are you saying they’re missing? They could have left the country. Last time I looked, kidnapping was a felony.
Belinda: Let’s not jump to any conclusions just yet. We don’t have all the facts. This could just be one huge misunderstanding.
Liza: Yeah, well, there won’t be any misunderstanding about what I’m going to do when I find Jake.
******
Ruth and Joe’s house. The doorbell rings.
Jake sits on the floor with Colby. He goes to get up. Ruth comes from the kitchen.
Ruth: That’s all right, Joey. I’ll get it.
Jake: Mom.
Ruth: What?
Jake: Jake.
Ruth: Jake.
Ruth opens the door.
Trevor is standing outside.
Trevor: Hiya, Ruth. Have you seen Jake?
Ruth: Hello, Trevor, yes, he’s right inside.
Trevor: Excuse me.
Trevor brushes past Ruth and goes up to Jake, who is still playing with Colby on the floor.
Jake: Hi, Trevor.
Trevor: Are you nuts?
Jake: What?
Trevor: Out of your mind, off your rocker, playing with a deck filled with jokers: nuts.
Jake: I don’t know what you mean.
Trevor: You don’t know what I mean? Well, let me tell you what I mean, pal. We never discussed nothing about taking no baby from her mother.
Ruth: Jake?
Jake: Oh, that’s ridiculous. I didn’t take Colby from Liza.
Trevor: Ridiculous? Let me ask you something. Did you tell Liza you were taking the kid?
Jake: I told the nurse.
Trevor: Well, that’s great. Real responsible. Did you tell Liza?
Jake: I told the nurse to tell Liza.
Ruth: You did what?
Trevor: I can’t believe this. I’m gonna have to spell this all out for you, ain’t I? Mothers don’t like when their babies up and disappear. They don’t like not knowing where the kid is. Especially when the father, who isn’t involved with the mother, has been making noise about custody.
Jake: Trevor, Liza knows I would never just take Colby from her.
Trevor: Does she? I don’t think so. ‘Cause I just got one hell of a phone call from Belinda.
Jake: Oh, geez.
Trevor: Geez is right. And now you’re gonna listen to me. You’re gonna take the kid, go to the hospital, and give the kid back to her mother.
Jake: Now?
Trevor: Okay, one more time for my buddy who didn't listen. You’ll do it right now, before we see some major visitation rights disappear. You’re gonna go to Liza, and do some major keister kissing. That means no justifications, a big apology, and -- most important -- no cracks about Adam Chandler. You’re out for world peace today. You got me?
Jake is quiet.
Ruth: Jake?
Jake: I got you.
Jake begins to gather Colby’s things.
******
McKay’s
Marian sits in a booth with a seedy-looking P.I.
P.I.: And that’s the last time anyone saw him?
Marian: I think so.
P.I.: I’ll get to work.
Marian: Now, darling, this must be kept quiet. My daughter is a little touchy about getting help from me.
P.I.: Gotcha.
Marian: When you find Jake Martin, come directly to me.
The P.I. nods.