Episode 15: “ABOUT CHRISTOPHER "
(part 1)





SC.1: EXT. –INT. – SUITE OF THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL, IN L.A., CALIFORNIA

(Establishing shot of the place and travelling into the suite where Pamela Ewing, talking on her cell, is staying at...)
Pam: Bobby? Can you hear me...?
Bob: Yeah...How are you?
Pam: I´m more concerned about Christopher than myself, that is why I´m here...
Bob: Do ya think that you´re gonna find our son all alone after 7 long months being missing? Not even the police was able to do it...
Pam: Bobby, I didn´t call you to have an argument, just wanted to tell you that I´m gonna do whatever is in my hand to track my son down, and if it means to stay in California for awhile, maybe I will.
Bob: That´s great. Where does it put me exactly?
Pam: I can´t tell you what to do. I´m gonna meet Chris´s natural aunt, Lisa Alden, Farraday´s sister. Upon a letter that he showed me once, she was living with her family in San Diego...
Bob: I don´t believe that Lisa is a reliable person, at least she wasn´t when she came around to take Chris´s custody away from me...
Pam: ...Which she eventually gave to you, didn´t she, Bobby? Look, I will keep ye informed about any news, just think that I´m doing it for our son and us too. See you soon, Bobby...(hanging up)
Bob: ...Pam, just missing you so...(looking languid and up to nowhere...)
Pam: (laying the cell phone down on the bed-table, she sits down on her bed...) Oh Bobby, I wish you could understand it... (she whispers)




CO-STARRING:

DAVID MARSHALL GRANT (WILL)
AUDREY LANDERS (AFTON)
KARI MATCHETT (LISA)

SPECIAL GUEST STARS:
HALLE BERRY (DEBBIE)
SUSAN SARANDON (MADELEINE)

INTRODUCING:
DAVID BOREANAZ (JULIAN)
MIA KIRSHNER (SHANIA)

and
RICHARD GERE
as ALEX

STORY AND SCREENPLAY:
TONI DÍAZ

MUSIC SELECTION:
PAM´S TWIN SISTER

INSPIRED BY CHARACTERS CREATED BY:
DAVID JACOBS




SC. 2a: INT. - BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL SUITE

(Pamela looks sadly at his son Christopher´s picture...and caresses it with one of her fingers)

SC.2b: EXT. –INT. – FLASHBACK: DUOMO HOTEL SUITE IN MILAN, ITALY

(Subtitle “Six months earlier”) (Establishing shot)
(Pam walks on by and turns around the corner, bumping into another guest of the hotel, who inadvertently pushes her handbag away, and she pushes his glasses off too...He is a white-haired man, about 50 years old, impeccably dressed, who puts on his knees to help her)
Pam: Oh, my God...I hope not to have smashed your glasses, I´m so sorry...”cusi...” (Pam looks up to him and recognizes the man in front of her, although she hadn´t seen him for the last 22 years) Alex?
Alex: Pam...Pamela Ewing?
Pam: Alex Ward...I just can´t believe it...



SC.3: INT. – FLASHBACK-INTO-THE-FLASHBACK: DALLAS RESTAURANT

(Subtitle “Thirty years earlier”)
(Pamela and Alex Ward dance and kiss in a lonely restaurant, with the only company of a live band)
Alex: Come home with me.
Pam: I can´t. You know I can´t.(She takes her handbag and is ready to leave alone. But Alex holds her arm and she turns around)
Pam: Alex...Don´t make it more difficult for me...My marriage is in enough trouble...
Alex: When you´re ready, I´ll be here...(he stands there watching her to go)

(The song “It Takes 2 To Fly” begins to play)

“In my dreams, I’d wish that I could learn to fly like a dove
Night after night, there was no hope, nowhere to go without love
Now I know that my heart it has wings,
that’s the miracle of you and me
I can’t deny it takes two to fly.”

SC.4 INT. – BARNES´ RANCH, NEXT TO THE SOUTHFORK LANDS

(Establishing shot)
(The song goes on:)

“When I’m down, your magic touch can lift me up
Can’t you see, you drive me wild
your tenderness well you take my breath from me
heaven’s only a heartbeat away
when I’m laying here next to you.
I can’t deny it takes two to fly.”

(1)

(Cliff is asleep in one of his armchairs, while his wife Afton´s first record is on. Suddenly his sleep is interrupted by somebody knocking on his door: it´s Bob)
Cliff: Doesn´t anybody know how to ring a home bell anymore? (looking moody)
Bob: Maybe if the owner would bother to fix it, the visitors could use the ring instead of hitting the door...Look...(Bob gives Cliff a torn piece of paper)
Cliff: What the hell is this? I´m gonna get my close-up glasses... Bob: Don´t bother, I´ll sum it up for you...She did it again...your sister...walked out on me...again.
Cliff: (turning to him all of sudden) You ain´t been drinking around, eh? (Bob falls down right before Cliff and he must call out Afton, who is at the next-door studio) Afton, babe! Help me to take Bob to the sofa! How years pass by, goodness, and not only for me, but also for those darned Ewings...Surely he´s had a couple of beers no more...
Afton: What´s wrong, what is that letter? (noticing the paper that Bob is still grabbing in his hand and ends up slipping into the floor)(Afton reads it and explains it to Cliff) Poor dear Bobby, Pamela has decided to go in search of Chris all alone and he is feeling just once again abandoned...
Cliff: With all these years handling the Ewings, this sis of mine is getting crazier than them...she thinks she Nancy Drew now...
Afton: (sweetly smiling) Your daughter sends you hugs, we were chatting online when you interrupted us...
Cliff: I´m really sorry my love...(kissing each other with passion)

SC.6 INT. – SUE ELLEN´S MANOR IN TURTLE CREEK, DALLAS

(The phone rings and Cally picks it up, from the pool: it is Lucy calling)
Cally: Hi darling, I´m so glad you called me... Lucy (concerned): Anything´s wrong babe?
Cally: Actually, I´ve been missing you since you moved out to your parents´ house in Galveston...
Lucy: Yeah, I´m so sorry, in fact the doctors thought that the best way to recover would be to keep myself focused on quietness and therapy...
Cally: How are you doing?
Lucy: Therapy went just fine but I´m fed up of quietness...I was surprised to hear your message in my voice box...You are sure that someone is stalking you, aren´t ya?
Cally: Right, this person seems to make me distrust of James and keeps on leaving me mysterious messages about Jimmy´s mother and other stuff...Since what happened with Michelle, I feel rather anxious sometimes...
Lucy: I´ve just figured out a plan...
Cally: This reminds me my dear old pal Lucy, from the “Fabulous Ewing Girls”...
Lucy: Just you wait dear...



SC.6 INT. – SUE ELLEN´S OFFICE IN DALLAS

(Establishing shot of the Shepard inc. Building. Middle shot of Sue Ellen and John Ross in the middle of a hot argument)
Sue Ellen: What? Flying to Switzerland seeking for the heritage your daddy didn´t leave you? It´s totally nonsense...
John Ross: How can you say that mother? You promised your support on every decision I would take...I know that my father left me a lot more than an old letter of Grandpa Jock´s, and we have an appointment with his Zurich Bank President, Mr. Steinmann, who advanced to us that there was something left in his safe box, something he didn´t give to us...
Sue Ellen: (turning away from his son) John Ross, my son...Your father was not an ordinary person, he was a master in manipulation, twisting and blackmailing people to make them do his way, and I understand that, even so, you loved him, because he was your daddy. (Turning to him again) But all he wanted all his life was pleasing old Jock, passing over Bobby, pushing Gary and Val away, and eventually Pamela too. When Jock was killed, his will confronted him against his brother in a fiery contest for Ewing Oil. You still were a too little baby to remember that...
John Ross: Don´t think so, I could hear your arguments from my bedroom...
Sue Ellen: I´m sure that J.R., before he died, planned something twisted to put you against James, or to test your worthiness as his and Jock Ewing´s heir. If you go to Zurich, be extremely cautious, I´m sure that J.R. left a lot of enemies alive and kicking who might be expecting the chance to take revenge on his sons...
John Ross: (holding his mother) We will wait for a month and then, James and I will fly to Switzerland, just as planned...It´s something I must do. Please understand it, mama...
(Sue Ellen twinkled a couple of times and nodded hopelessly)

SC.7 INT – QUORUM HOTEL PRESS-ROOM IN DALLAS

(Madeleine is about to announce an upcoming event, so she has called the most important journalists of the town, as well as the worst yellow press representation, knowing that her plan will work out that way. Dressed in a quite simple black Armani suit, wearing a stylish couple of close-up glasses, Madeleine walks up to a small stand where all the microphones and reads the following press-note:)
Madeleine: Dear Dallasites, it is a pleasure to me to communicate you that, next Halloween´s Day, November 1st, my manor Southfork will host a fundraising event to which I hope you all will come. The event in question is a masquerade gala in honor to the holiday, and the ticket´s price per person will be 20.000 dollars. You should know that the total of the raised funds will go to the Dallas Childhood´s Desease Research Center. We are looking forward getting a huge sum enough to improve our kids´ health and we trust on the Dallas society´s generosity. That´s all, thank you for being here. (Madeleine comes down from the stand followed very closely by Julian...Suddenly she turns around and says, after seeing they are alone:) Keep yourself away from me, Julian, as far as possible. The furthest the better. By now you will remain under contract as my bodyguard, but obviously spend a lot more of time guarding and caring another part of your anatomy...
Julian: But, Madeleine, if it has to do with the shop affair...



Madeleine: I want to hear nothing, you are pure scum and you´ll be back to your wrecking country. You bet your neck on that. (Madeleine turns around and Julian puts his hand over his forehead as he watches some of the people there present, including one, almost at the exit door, who happens to be Barbara Southworth...His look stares at her...until she walks out the place.



SC.8 EXT. – LISA ALDEN´S APARTMENT BUILDING IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

(Establishing shot) (Pam´s chauffeur stops in front of the apartment building she thinks Lisa Alden Farraday, Christopher´s natural mother, is living now)(She gets out of the car and heads to the main door. She rings the bell, though with no answer. Then she walks around the house looking for the rear door and she meets a neighbor there...)
Pam: Hello, good morning, I didn´t wanna scare you...
Woman: You didn´t sweetie, I got a “little pet” down there protecting me night and day (she takes a look at a puffing Doberman).
Pam: I´m looking for a blonde woman about 40, called Lisa Alden Farraday, she might have changed her last name when she married...I think that she´s got a couple of sons and they live in this house...
Woman: I do know her Lisa, but not those other last names. Lisa is Dr. Poynton´s wife, and she must be the one you´re looking for ´cause they got two kiddies, a sweet little couple.
Pam: What time could I find them home? I´m a friend of hers from her acting time.
Woman: Oh, Lisa left all that long time ago, now she works teaching self-assistance therapies, yoga, meditation and that stuff...Her man is a chiropractic by the way...
Pam (somewaht impatient): How long will the be off...?
Woman: Probably they won´t return until next Sunday, they left to the San Francisco Marathon, they are really sports people and in full shape, not like me, how how how (she says hitting her own stomach)...
Pam: The San Francisco Marathon...
Woman: If I wanted to track her down and fast, there I would go... (Pam´s face illuminates for a few seconds...)

- SC.9 EXT. – SHOPPING AREA IN DALLAS

(Lucy and Cally get out of the latter´s car, and park it right in front of the boutique) (The first of them doesn´t keep an eye off the car from inside, while Cally pretends to be interested in several shirts...) (Suddenly Lucy runs off the boutique as fast as she can)
Lucy: (calling out) Boys, go get him, don´t let him go! (Two tall bodyguards friends of Lucy´s pursue the person who has just left another anonymous note) (They eventually corner her and take her sunglasses off) (Cally and Lucy come on running and see the woman´s face)




Lucy: It´s unbelievable...
Cally: Who is she Lucy?
Lucy: Let her say it by herself.(Close shot of the woman, who happens to be Rose McKay, Carter McKay´s widow...)
Rose: (crying) I´m nothing, just the lover of a man who never loved me, and rather shoot himself than stay with me...A coward, two-faced man who was allied to James Beaumont in a certain time. That´s why I wanted to warn you Cally, that your husband could do a lot of things you can´t even think of...(Cally looks at a nervous Lucy and she tells the bodyguards away)
Cally: Be quiet Rose. We´re gonna help ye, but you must tell us what you really meant to say through the anonymous notes... (Fade to Black and End of First Act)



SC.10 EXT. –RENOIR HOTEL AT THE CASTRO NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN FRANCISCO

(Establishing shot) (Bobby is talking on the cell at the street)
Bobby: Sure Mama I´ll be fine. Just a short vacation, I told Uncle Ray about it. I left the truck at the Love Field Airport...Don´t worry if Lucy begins to have a normal life, that´s best for her, right? Hear mum, maybe you´d get yourself psychoanalyzed again, whatcha think? I´m losin´ ye Mama...Talkin´ soon...(Bobby hangs up the cell on purpose and heads to the hotel where Will Monahan stays, hoping to surprise him.)
Receptionist: How may I help you sir?
Bobby: I´m got an appointment with Mr. Will Monahan, but can´t remember his room´s number...
Rec: I´m so sorry but the house rules forbid us to ease this kind of information to uninvited people...
Bobby: (Handing him a 100 dollar note) It is very important for me, my daddy is dying and he doesn´t wanna be with the family, so I pray you to understand it and tell me his room´s number...(the receptionist looks at the note and gives it back to him)
Receptionist: Try with the bell boy (he says, winking an eye at him). (Bobby gets on the elevator only occupied by a bell boy and, once alone, he asks:)
Bobby: This must be a really lousy job, bad paid I mean, right?
Bell Boy: Yess, I´m saved by the tips...
Bobby: What about a 200-dollar tip just for telling me where is staying a guest called Will Monahan?
Bell Boy: Description pleease.
Bobby: Brown hair, thin but in good shape, wide jaw, not too tall, his ears graciously outwards...
Bell Boy: I know him already: the “married daddy in business trip”...That´s what he seemed to me. Fine tip but serious looking. He´s just received one guy since I´m here, a very handsome guy, tanned, muscled...Well you know what they say about San Francisco...
Bobby: Thanks...
Emmett: My name is Emmett.
Bobby: Thanks Emmett. Anyway I think I´d rather come over another day (running off).
Emmett: What about the room number? It´s n#12202! And you didn´t pay me by the way...but well, maybe next time I´ll can charge you in species...

SC.11 EXT. – LES SAISONS RESTAURANT IN DALLAS

(Sue Ellen is having lunch with Shania, with whom she friendly talks to)
Sue Ellen: Are you fitting o.k. in the town, Shania? Shania: Oh great, it´s like being born here, when I actually was born in another continent...I always fit in the place where I am...
Sue Ellen: You are developing an excellent job as my secretary, darling. I had a wonderful young girl years ago, Kelly, who got married and left to take care of her family. We looked like each other so much many people used to take us for sisters...
Shania: I was an only child but never felt spoiled, you know, I wasn´t given presents all the time nor was everybody´s little darling...
Sue Ellen: And did that cause you any kind of trouble emotionally I mean?
Shania: Oh no! But I did get trouble with boys. Eventually, I´ve always felt better among women than men.
Sue Ellen: You are lucky then, Shepard Inc. employs a higher percentage of women than of men...
Shania: Can I make you a personal question Sue Ellen?
Sue Ellen (looking serious): Of course you can.
Shania: During the group therapy, you used to speak of the emotional abuse you went through your marriage, but I just couldn´t understand why you didn´t leave him, especially when he seemed to have regular relationships with other women...
Sue Ellen (smiling cynically): What could be for J.R. “a regular relationship with women” was sort of a ruthless joke for the rest of us. Not even in our best ages, there was any stability, but always a Holly Harwood, a Serena Ward or a Mandy Winger to break down that stability...You couldn´t know how I grew to hate those women...
Shania (serious, pensive, as wrath-repressing): Sue Ellen, sometimes it seems that you haven´t overcome that relationship and J.R. has been dead for eleven years...You should trust more on people, on men...
Sue Ellen (smiling and drying a tear): Absolutely. I do trust on my friends and you too, my dear Shania... (Shania smiles and her bright purple eyes ooze mystery)



SC.12 INT. – SUNDOWN MOTEL, OUTSIDE DALLAS

(Cally knocks on the rickety door of one of the motel rooms)
Rose: (off) Get the fuck out of here, I want nothin´!
Cally: (in low voice) Rose, I´m Cally Beaumont, J.R.´s ex-wife.
Rose: Go to the hell!
Cally: Please Rose, I just came to help you, not wanna cause you trouble... (Rose half-opens the door, letting see her wrecked look and the glass of bourbon she is carrying in her hand)
Rose: Why would ye help me?
Cally: Because we were very much alike once, in several ways. May I come in? (Rose finally agrees and Cally walks into the messy room, where empty wine and bourbon bottles are lying on the floor, as well as food remains...) I guess that McKay didn´t leave you a good widow´s pension...
Rose: No pension when your hubby shoots at his head...Also Mac was completely broke after the WestStar fall and only left debts to his daughter.
Cally: I wasn´t living here but I read everything in the papers...I´ll go to the point Rose. You and me were both victims of our husbands, trophy-wives to flaunt around and they used us as they liked to. I won´t forgive you for sending those anonymous notes, above all ´cause I hardly knew nothing of what you´re hinting about James...
Rose: If ye ask me...I myself always thought of James as another real bastard like his daddy...When he died, James allied with Mac and did business together, and one good day, he appeared holding his son Jimmy in his arms with no mention to his mama...That made me suspect of Mac maybe helping James out to steal his custody to the mummy...
Cally: Rose, we must forget the past. That´s why I´m here. I know that you were the owner of a beauty parlor down in your town. I know some people in Palm Springs who´re looking for a responsible person to run a new parlor there, in Florida. If you are interested, here´s the two-way ticket to Palm Springs. The return just in case you wanna refund me the money when things go better for you...
Rose (sobbing): Oh, you are such a sweetheart, when I think that Mac only took notice at your curves...Oh sorry! I won´t disappoint you before your friends...
Cally: Believe me Rose, we all deserve a second chance...(Rose embraces Cally, over thrilled)
Rose: Oh thanks, not gonna let ye down. After all, we both must be feeling some guilt about our husbands´ suicides. It could unite us even cosmically...(Cally smiles somewhat astonished and, when she turns around to leave, she suddenly stops.
Cally: (innocently) But J.R. didn´t commit suicide, he shot himself accidentally as he was cleaning his daddy´s old gun...
Rose: You outta be long long away from here when that happened, honey, ´cause all Dallas was gossiping about it, ye know: the Ewings covering the affaire with money and making up the accident story. If you don´t believe me, just ask James, he was here and knows the truth... (Zoomed close shot of Cally, stunned...)

(Fade to black and End of Act Two)

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