Adam’s study. Morning.
Adam is wandering around the study, speaking into a handheld tape recorder.
Adam (into tape recorder): And don’t forget to ask about Tempo. Why isn’t it listed in the holdings anymore?
Adam is over by the bookshelves, and something catches his eye. He takes it off the shelf.
Adam: Our second wedding. Which wife? No, no, must be Liza.
Adam walks over to the VCR and takes the video from its jacket.
Winifred enters the study.
Winifred: Mr. Chandler? Dr. Hayward is here to see you.
Adam: Who?
Winifred: David Hayward. But you had told me never to allow him in the house, especially when Mrs. Chandler and the baby are here.
Adam: Why would I do that?
Winifred: I can’t really say, sir.
Adam puts the video down.
Winifred: Sir? What should I do? Should I send him away?
David walks into the room.
David: Send me away? I’m hurt, Winifred. Hello, Adam.
Adam: Hello...
Adam fumbles for the name.
Adam: Dr. Hayward.
David smiles.
Adam: Winifred, could you ask Lucretia to prepare Mrs. Chandler’s breakfast? She slept in this morning.
Winifred: But sir --
Adam: It’s all right, Winifred. You can go.
Winifred leaves.
David: So, Liza slept in this morning. She must be very tired. I understand that the both of you have been very busy lately. Have you been busy lately, Adam? It’s a lot of work, amnesia.
Adam: Amnesia? Where did you hear that?
David: I knew it. No amnesia. Just more tricks from the sleeve of Pine Valley’s greatest magician. And I am Pine Valley’s greatest physician. So we do have something in common besides keeping your secret.
Adam: Secret? What are you talking about?
David: You know, it would be a shame for me to have to spell things out for you, Adam. Especially with Liza being so close by.
David sits down on the couch and settles in.
David: How’s Colby?
Liza comes into the study, dressed in her robe and carrying some photo albums.
Liza: What are you doing here, David? You know you’re not welcome in this house.
David: Liza. Always a pleasure.
Liza: Get out.
David: My, my, my. Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Although I would doubt that there’s a right side to Adam’s bed.
Adam: How dare you speak to my wife that way.
David: Oh, I’m very daring.
Adam: No, you’re rude.
Liza: I think it’s time for you to leave, David.
David: Sure I can’t stay for breakfast?
Liza: We just bought some fresh arsenic at the farmer’s market, David. If you’d like, I can serve it to you cold.
David gets up.
David: You know, I’m beginning to get the feeling that I’m not very welcome in this house. I’m hurt.
Adam: Well, go salve your wounds elsewhere.
David: All right. I can take a hint. I'll go. Adam, it’s a pity we couldn’t speak at greater length. Liza, always a pleasure.
David leaves.
Adam: Who was that?
Liza: Are you sure you want to know? I’ve been trying to forget him since I’ve known he’s existed.
Adam: Why?
Liza crosses the room and puts the photo albums on the desk.
Liza: Do you remember anything about him?
Adam: No.
Liza turns to face Adam and leans against the desk.
Liza: Well, maybe you’d better sit down for this.
Adam: No, thank you. I prefer my melodrama straight up.
Liza: David Hayward almost killed you.
Adam: Almost killed me? I don’t even know the man!
Liza: Believe me, that’s not a deterrent for the good doctor.
Adam: Is this true? Or are you playing an angle?
Liza becomes exasperated.
Liza: You know, Adam, at some point, you’re just going to have to trust me.
Adam: Well, that remains to be seen.
Adam goes back to the VCR and begins to put in the wedding video.
Liza: What’s that?
Adam: It’s the tape of our second wedding.
Liza jumps up and goes to the VCR.
Liza: You know something?
Liza takes the video from Adam’s hands.
Liza: I think we should start with some of these photo albums I brought in for you. We can work our way up to the video.
Adam: Why?
Liza: Why? Because I think maybe we should work chronologically. Things might make more sense.
Adam: I don’t think things could get any more confusing at this point.
Liza: Well, that’s debatable.
Adam considers.
Adam: All right.
Adam walks over to the desk.
Liza returns the video to its jacket and places it back on its shelf.
Liza goes over to Adam and puts her hand on his arm.
Liza: Adam? I just wanted to thank you for last night.
Adam: I don’t think we need to talk about it.
Adam looks at Liza in her robe.
Adam: Don’t you think you should get dressed? It’s a little chilly in here.
Liza stays where she is.
Liza: I’m fine.
Adam turns around and finds himself thisclose to Liza. He pulls away and goes around the desk.
Adam: How about some breakfast? Why don’t you go see what Lucretia has for you?
Liza sits on the desk and begins to shuffle through the things on it. Liza picks up Adam’s tape recorder.
Liza: Working?
Adam: In a manner of speaking.
Adam takes the tape recorder back from Liza, and then something occurs to him.
Adam: Liza? What happened to Tempo? I don’t see it listed among my holdings.
Liza: You gave it to Brooke and Edmund.
Adam: Why would I do that?
Liza: Adam, what’s the last thing that you remember? Something that hasn’t just come to you since after the accident.
Adam sits in his chair.
Adam: I had come home from Pidgeon Hollow -- visiting with Junior. You and I argued -- nothing new there -- and I left the house.
Liza thinks back.
Liza: Okay. That would’ve been right around the time of the crash of Flight 149.
Adam: What about it?
Liza: Relax, Adam. You know I know all about Corview. You thought you were responsible for the crash, and you gave Brooke and Edmund Tempo as a means of settling with them.
Adam sinks back in his chair. Then he looks up.
Adam: How is Edmund?
Liza: He’s managing. Adam, the crash wasn’t your fault. There had been explosives carried on board.
Adam: What?
Liza: Remember Jim? Brooke’s latest boyfriend? It turns out he was dabbling in explosives, among other things.
Adam: If it wasn’t my fault, why don’t I have Tempo now?
Liza: That’s a question for the ages. I don’t know. You'd think the upstanding Brooke English would've given it back. But maybe you still felt guilty for hiding things for so long.
Adam is suddenly very tired.
Liza: We don’t have to talk about this now.
Adam picks up a photo album and pulls it closer to him.
Liza: Those are pictures of Colby from when she was first in the hospital after being born.
Adam opens the album. Adam smiles.
Adam: She’s so tiny.
Liza: Believe me, she was big enough. Childbirth was no picnic.
Adam: I can imagine. But still. I wish I could have been there.
Liza: You were.
Adam looks up at her and they hold each other’s gaze.
Then Adam breaks the gaze, closes the book, and picks up his tape recorder again.
Liza: Well, I guess now’s as good a time as any to talk to you about Chandler Enterprises.
Adam: What about Chandler Enterprises?
Liza: We had some difficulties while you were in the hospital. Rumors had gotten out about the accident.
Adam: And no one told me?
Liza: I’m telling you now. I dummied up a press clip which categorically denied any problems. I put some footage of you on there which seemed to stop the freefall in its tracks. But the whispering is starting again.
Adam: Well, then I need to stop it.
Liza: My thoughts exactly. How would you like to go on the air in a new exclusive WRCW interview?
Adam rests his chin on his hand.
******
The Valley Inn
David sits at the bar. Donald Steel sits a few seats down. Both are watching the television set above the bar.
Donald Steel notices David and moves to a stool next to David.
Donald: David Hayward, right?
David: Who wants to know?
Donald: Donald Steel, author and journalist.
Donald Steel offers his hand to David.
Donald: I’m a good friend of your mother’s.
David does not take Donald’s hand.
David looks at the bartender.
David: Would you mind turning up the sound?
The television gets louder. Tad is speaking from the T.V.
Tad (on the T.V.): Now, earlier this week, we showed you footage from our exclusive interview with Adam and Liza Chandler. Today, they join us again to answer some more questions.
Donald: The high and mighty Chandlers. Always good for selling tabloids.
David looks at Donald, and then back at the T.V.
Tad (on the T.V.): Mrs. Chandler, there’s been a lot of talk about your recent car accident. It’s been called words like "tragic," "violent," and "harrowing."
Liza (on the T.V.): Well, when you live a public life, you expect more than a little exaggeration.
Tad (on the T.V.): So things weren’t as bleak as they were originally reported to be?
Liza (on the T.V.): Not at all. The accident was not harrowing. The only tragedy was that the driver responsible for the accident had been drinking, and lost his life as a result of drunk driving. I think there’s a lesson to be learned from his mistake.
Tad (on the T.V.): A lesson that can never bear too much repeating. Mr. Chandler, how are you feeling?
Adam (on the T.V.): I’m feeling like I have a new lease on life. My darling wife and my beautiful child are safe, and all is right with the world.
Donald: His world, maybe.
Tad (on the T.V.): And the reports of your memory loss? I know we covered this before, but for the new viewers at home: are you in any way suffering from head trauma? We’ve heard that you were unconscious for a while, and that the effects of that unconsciousness were devastating.
Adam (on the T.V.): Completely inaccurate. You know, I wish more press members were as diligent and as truthful as my wife. There was no head trauma, and certainly no unconsciousness.
Liza (on the T.V.): You know, maybe we shouldn’t talk about this at all. It only dignifies the rumors. What’s important is that people know that we are safe, we are healthy, and we are looking forward to many, many more years together.
Tad (on the T.V. screen): You’re right. That is the most crucial part of your story. I’d like to thank you for joining us.
Adam (on the T.V. screen): Our pleasure.
Tad (on the T.V. screen): For all of us at WRCW, thanks for joining us, and good night.
David summons the bartender.
David: I’d like to buy a round for me and my friend here.
Donald: Thanks, Dr. Hayward.
David: Anything for a friend of my mother’s. You know, it’s strange that the Chandlers would be so adamant about proving the accident wasn’t serious, don’t you think?
Donald: How do you mean?
The bartender places new drinks by David and Donald.
David: Well, it would be a matter of public record, wouldn’t it? All someone would have to do is get a copy of the 911 tape that was made the night of the accident, and see how the Chandlers’ story holds up.
Donald takes a sip of his drink.
David: I mean, if their story holds up, no harm done. But if it’s inconsistent, someone could be sitting on a major scoop.
Donald: You know, you may be right.
David: I might just be at that.
David takes a sip of his drink.