Adam and Liza’s bedroom
Adam looks at Junior asleep on the bed.
He’s puzzled, and then takes a closer look.
His face changes into a look of recognition, and he gives a delighted quiet laugh.
He sits down on the bed next to Junior.
Adam: Junior?
Junior sleepily opens his eyes. Then he bolts upward.
Junior: Dad!
Junior hugs Adam tightly. After a moment, Adam hugs him back hard.
******
Adam’s study.
The room is empty and the door ajar. A small light shines from the desk.
Liza enters the room. She has a coffee pot in one hand, a mug in the other, a clipboard and the baby monitor under her arm, and a donut in her mouth. She takes her right foot and closes the door with it. She’s momentarily off balance, but then walks behind Adam’s desk.
She unloads the coffee pot, the mug, the baby monitor and the clipboard onto the desk. With her now-free hand, she grabs the donut. She takes a bite, and then places the donut on a blank sheet of paper.
Then she begins rifling through the files on Adam’s desk.
Liza (muttering): Gregson. Gregson. Gregson Takeover? Takeover?
Success. She picks out the file she’s looking for and drops the rest.
Liza: Gregson Takeover. Okay. Talk to me, Adam.
Liza opens the file.
******
Adam and Liza’s bedroom.
Adam pulls out of Junior’s hug.
Adam: Junior, what are you doing here? Don’t get me wrong -- it’s great to see you, son -- but how did you get here?
Junior: Easy. I rode my bike.
Adam looks at Junior in astonishment.
Adam: Your bike? All the way from Pidgeon Hollow?
Junior laughs.
Junior: No, not from Pidgeon Hollow. From Mom’s house.
Adam: Mom’s house.
Junior: You know, kinda small with the wacky looking golfball in the living room?
Adam: Tad’s house?
Junior: Gee, Dad, are you tired or something? You’re not thinking too quick.
Adam: Dixie’s back in Pine Valley.
Junior: Yeah. And me too. You know that. Dad? Are you joking around with me?
Adam: I’m afraid not, son. I have something to tell you.
Junior: Okay. But first you gotta tell me why you disappeared.
Adam: Disappeared?
Junior: Yeah. Dopey Jake said you disappeared. He said people were looking for you.
Adam: Oh. That. Yes, well, I did a very bad thing. I left the hospital without telling anyone. But I shouldn’t have done it, and don’t you do it if you ever have to be there.
Junior: Dad.
Adam: What?
Junior: I’m not a little kid. You don’t need to tell me that.
Adam: Well, I’m not a little kid either, and someone should have told me. God, you look great!
Junior: So do you, Dad. I was looking all over for you. You’re not going to get all sappy on me and cry, are you?
Adam: I wouldn’t dream of it.
Junior: Okay. So what’d you want to tell me?
Adam gets a serious look on his face.
******
Adam’s study.
Liza is reading through Adam’s Gregson file. She gets to something important, and realizes that she doesn’t have a pen.
She opens a desk drawer, and then stops in her tracks.
Liza takes out the wedding ring from her first marriage to Adam.
Liza: There you are. I was wondering about you.
She brings the ring closer to her face in order to examine it. She notices a new inscription.
Liza: “Love is eternal.”
Liza sits back in the chair and toys with the ring.
Liza: Yes, it is.
Still holding the ring, Liza looks at a wedding photo from her second wedding to Adam that’s sitting on the desk.
She smiles.
Then she gets up and stretches, and then walks over to the Couple of the Year plaque hanging on the study wall. She touches the plaque. Her cellphone rings.
Liza reaches in her pocket and takes out the cellphone. She pushes a button.
Liza: Liza Chandler. .... Yes, Barry, I’m working on it right now. .... yeah, I found it. .... I don’t know. It’s going to take me a while to work through everything. .... Come on, Barry, Adam’s a financial genius and he’s been working on this for months. I’ve had a couple of hours. I want to make sure that I’m making the decision that Adam would have made. .... Barry. Quit nipping at my heels. Sheesh, I can see why Adam’s in such a bad mood so often. .... Sorry, but I’m doing the best I can. .... I’ll have an answer for you in the morning. .... Barry? Good night.
Liza hangs up the phone.
Liza: The man is relentless.
Liza goes back to the desk. She puts the ring back in the drawer and takes out a pencil.
******
Adam and Liza’s bedroom.
Junior and Adam sit on the bed.
Junior: What is it, Dad?
Adam: Junior, something happened to me. I’m not sure what, some sort of accident, I think. But I can’t remember a lot of things now.
Junior: What kind of things?
Adam takes a deep breath.
Adam: The last two years.
Junior: Really?
Adam: Really.
Junior thinks about this.
Junior: Wow. What are you going to do?
Adam: Well, I’m going to work very hard, and try to start remembering everything. But I’ll need help.
Adam looks Junior squarely in the eye.
Adam: Do you think you can help me, son?
Junior: Sure. I have a great memory.
Adam: You do?
Junior: Yeah. Ask me anything. Go ahead.
Adam: Junior? Who named Colby?
Junior: You did, Dad.
Adam: I did?
Junior: Yeah. And you had this goofy look on your face when you told me.
Adam: I did.
Junior: Yeah.
Adam: Oh. Junior? Does your mother know you’re here?
Junior looks guilty.
Adam: Junior?
Junior: No, sir, she doesn’t.
Adam: Ah. Don’t you think we should call her and tell her?
Junior: I might get in trouble.
Adam: I know the feeling. Let’s see if I can talk to her, and get your sentence reduced. Why don’t you give her a call now?
Junior: Do I have to?
Adam: Yes, you have to.
Junior gets out of bed and goes over to the phone. He dials a number and then waits as the phone rings.
Junior (into phone): Mom? It’s Junior. .... No, I’m over at Dad’s. .... At Dad’s. Dad’s here too. .... I think she does.
Junior covers the mouthpiece and whispers to Adam.
Junior: Does Liza know you’re here?
Adam: Yes, she does.
Junior (into phone): Yes, she does. .... Yes, I know. .... I’m sorry. .... I’m sorry. .... I’m really sorry. .... Uh-huh. .... Well, can I stay here tonight? Just tonight. With Dad. .... I promise. .... Really. .... Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow. .... Night. .... I love you too.
Junior hangs up the phone.
Junior: Guess what? I get to stay!
Junior runs back to the bed.
******
Adam’s study.
Liza yawns and shuts the folder. She takes out her cellphone and dials.
Liza: Barry? It’s Liza .... Gee. I’m so sorry to disturb you. .... Yeah. Raise the bid by the smallest increment. .... I know everyone else is lowering their bids. Adam knew they would too. .... Raise our bid. .... Okay. .... You’re welcome. .... Good night.
Liza puts the folders back in order, tosses the dirty sheet of paper from the donut into the wastepaper basket, grabs the coffee pot, the mug, the clipboard and the baby monitor, and heads out of the room.
******
Adam and Liza’s bedroom.
Liza cracks open the door.
Adam is on the bed with Junior, watching Junior sleep.
Liza (whispers): Adam?
Adam looks up and smiles. Liza takes note of Junior.
Liza (whispers): Does Dixie know?
Adam nods.
Liza turns to go.
Adam (whispers): Liza?
Liza turns around.
Adam (whispers): I know you didn’t lie to me. About the baby’s name.
Liza (whispers): Ever swift on the uptake.
Liza turns back around and heads towards the nursery.
******
Pine Valley Police Station.
Derek is sitting at his desk.
A uniformed cop comes over and hands Derek a file.
Derek looks up.
Derek opens the file.
Derek: This is what we've been waiting for.
He grabs his coat and leaves the station.