Chandler Mansion. Living room.
Adam is sitting on the couch. The baby monitor is on the desk.
The doorbell rings. After a moment, Winifred comes in with an envelope.
Winifred: Mr. Chandler, this just came for you.
Adam: Thank you Winifred.
Winifred leaves. Adam opens the envelope. He takes out a letter and begins to read it.
Adam: What? But how...?
Adam goes to the phone at the desk, and dials. He’s obviously furious. After a moment, someone picks up on the other end.
Adam: Barry, it’s Adam. What in the blue blazes is going on here? I’m losing money in ventures that I never even knew existed. .... I’m not an idiot, Barry -- I know I’ve been out of the loop. But the decision on this Gregson thing was made this morning. How could you act without my say-so? Do you want to be fired, or are you just too incompetent to care? .... I’m listening, but this had better be good. .... Who?! .... She WHAT?
Liza enters the room.
Adam hangs up the phone.
Adam: So...I understand you’ve been busy.
Liza: I tried to get back as soon as possible. But I had a morning feed that --
Adam: Don’t be evasive, Liza. It doesn’t suit you.
Liza: Adam, I don’t know what you mean. I --
Adam thrusts the letter at her.
Adam: Care to explain this, darling?
Liza quickly scans the letter.
Adam: You know, it’s quite comical. Everyone is so concerned with my state of mind, and no one ever thinks to question YOUR sanity. And well they should!
Liza keeps reading the letter.
Liza: Oh, no.
Adam: Oh, yes!
Liza goes to the desk and puts the letter down.
Liza: Okay. I know how this looks --
Adam goes behind the desk.
Adam: How it looks? How it looks? It looks .... it looks like my darling wife is out to destroy me yet again!
Liza: But it’s not what it looks like!
Adam: Go with your gut, trust your instincts, Adam. That’s what I keep telling myself. And you keep saying, “No, you can trust me, you can trust me.” You’d never lie to me, eh?
Liza: I didn’t lie to you.
Adam leans across the desk.
Adam: Lying by omission is a lie nonetheless.
Liza: Adam, I was trying to protect you.
Adam: Right. Keep singing the song, lady, but the music ain’t getting any prettier.
Liza: Adam, you’d just gotten home from the hospital. A decision had to be made right away. There was no way that you could have absorbed everything you had to absorb in time for the decision.
Adam: Says who? My new shrink? The one in the well-polished pumps? Let me get this straight. I was too incompetent to figure out what step to take, but you were well-qualified?
Liza: Adam, listen to me. I went by your notes, I read your file, I made the decision you were planning on making.
Adam: No. I’ll tell you what happened. You finally got your hands on my fortune, and you stupidly lost a bundle. You’re the same as you always have been and ever will be: manipulative, conniving, a liar, and a wannabe well out of her league.
Liza: Oh, why do you have to be so pigheaded? I’m on your side. I’m sorry I made a mistake. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you. But I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant that I could protect you.
Adam: I don’t need your protection. I don’t need anybody. Especially not you.
Liza: Adam --
Adam: No! No more! That’s it!
Adam sweeps his arm across the desk, violently clearing it.
Adam: You’ve had your say. I’m going to my office to try and undo all of your “help.” I’ll expect you gone when I return.
Adam storms out of the living room to his study.
Liza stares after him. Then she turns to the desk and begins picking up the mess.