| Wheeler
Estate: Napa Valley
"Have I interrupted you?" "I do have my hands full." Julia grins and shuts the door. "But I'm sure it can wait." "Good, because I need to talk to you. I heard you've been associating recently with Bobby Santadio." "And what business is it of yours whom I associate with?" Julia is frank. She puts an arm against the wall and taps it with her fingers. "Because the man is my father. And I think it would be wise if you didn't get involved with him." "Your father? But he's Italian. And his name is Santadio." "So is mine." Donna snaps impatiently. "Oh I see what this is about." Julia throws her hands up in the air. "You're being overprotective aren't you. Well you needn't worry. What small association we have is purely platonic." "It's not the nature of your relationship that bothers me. It's the fact that you're involved with him at all." "I don't have time for jealousy Donna. And I don't appreciate you butting in. Is this all you came for? Maybe it's Michael you're really concerned about." "Michael?" Donna crinkles her nose. "What's he got to do with this?" "Oh it doesn't matter honey. You'll find out soon enough." Julia pulls up one of the white shirt sleeves and glances at her watch. She follows this with a mocking yawn. "Now is that all?" "Fine. If you're not going to take me seriously. Just don't say I didn't warn you." "I wouldn't dream of it. Bye." Julia opens the front door and pushes Donna out. As soon as it is closed she places her back against it and lets out a sigh. What was she talking about? Julia runs the thought over in her head as she ascends the stairs back to her bedroom. When she walks in, she smiles to see Travis still lying in bed. He has his arms behind his head, flexing his muscles and Julia slides on top of him, running her hand over his chest. "I thought she'd never leave." "Couldn't Pilar have answered it?" "No, she was in the kitchen opening us a bottle of champagne. Don't worry, she'll make sure we're not interrupted again." "Good. Maybe we can go for another round." "Easy tiger. You'll exhaust me." "That’s what I'm aiming for." Travis pulls Julia in for a kiss and she grins seductively. "Adrienne doesn't know what she's missing. You should be thankful I was around to ease your frustration." "Lucky me." "Lucky you." Julia moans as Travis rolls over pinning her to the bed and beginning to kiss her again. They are interrupted by a knock at the door and Travis pulls away with an annoyed groan. "It'll just be Pilar with the champagne. I'll be back in a second." Jumping up, Julia goes to answer the door and smiles as she opens it. "Finally…Adrienne! What are you doing here?" "No need to shout!" Adrienne replies and heads into the room. Holding her breath, Julia follows the younger woman and puts a hand to her heart when she sees that Travis has disappeared. "What was it you wanted?" "I thought we could go out to dinner somewhere." "I'm really a little busy…" Adrienne notices the men's shirt that Julia is wearing and gives a knowing grin. "Oh! I see. So where is he?" "Who?" "The lucky man. It didn't take you long to bounce back did it? I was going to suggest talking so we could decide what to do about Isabelle. And I thought I could tell you about my afternoon with my lover." There is a thump from somewhere in the room and Adrienne's head instinctively turns. "What was that?" "What was what?" Julia scans the room to look for Travis's hiding place. She realizes where he must be just as Adrienne steps towards the closet. "You're hiding something in here aren't you. Or should I say someone…boo!" Adrienne yanks the closet doors open and her mouth drops open when she sees Travis standing there in his boxers. "What in God's name is this?" "Call it tit for tat." Travis snaps and steps out of the cramped closet. "You!" Adrienne spins around to Julia who just shrugs innocently. "You piece of trash!" "Hey!" Travis intervenes. "Don't talk to her like that!" "Oh I guess you must be thankful she fitted you in for a service. Is she hiding any more men in there?" Adrienne points to the closet. "Don't be ridiculous!" Julia scoffs. "Oh yeah, because it would be so damn unlikely wouldn't it!" Adrienne throws her arms in the air exasperated. "Oh my God you're such a slut. I'm leaving. I'll see you later Travis!"
San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco
"Anything interesting?" Lauren drops her purse to the floor and grabs a chair next to the bed. "Well we're not in it today." John jokes and folds the paper over, leaving it on his nightstand. "The doctor is going to be in in a minute to get started." "So soon? I was going to get here earlier but I think I overslept. I feel so tired." Lauren feels guilty complaining when her husband is about to undergo a painful medical procedure. "You're not sick are you?" "I don't know. I think it's best I don't see Adam just in case. I don't want him picking up an infection." John nods his head, "I agree." Lauren swings round when she hears the door opening and the doctor stands there with a clipboard in his hands. "I'm sorry Mrs Erikson but we're about to take your husband down. You can walk with us if you'd like." "No, I don't think that's a good idea. I'm feeling a little off color. I'll just go home and come back later. Good luck." She kisses John on the cheek and picks up her purse. As she steps out into the corridor, the hospital orderlies enter the room and pull John out on his gurney. She watches as the doctor walks with him and explains the procedure. I hope it goes well. She thinks to herself and begins to move away. Suddenly Lauren feels a pain in her head and hears something, "Where are you going? You can't escape from me!" She stops dead in her tracks and listens carefully. Who was that? "It was me. Ian." Lauren puts a hand to her head and closes her eyes. Why is she hearing these voices? "You're not really here." She says aloud. "Don't bet on that. You'll never be able to escape me Lauren." This is followed by a sinister chuckle and the voices disappear. Lauren becomes breathless and darts her eyes around the corridor. Was someone really there or were the voices in her head? "What's happening to me?"
Madison Central Sanitarium: San Francisco
"I've got a good teacher." Carrie replies timidly. They are sat in the recreation room, playing a game of chess as other patients move around them. The healthier ones are watching television or playing games and the less stable are sat silently, being constantly viewed by the guards. I can't believe I was like that. Stephanie shakes her head at the thought and notices a guard coming towards her. What have I done? "Stephanie?" The burly male guard booms. "Yes Mr Horton?" "You've got a visitor." "Oh…okay." Stephanie is a little surprised and quickly runs a hand through her hair. After making sure her uniform is clean, she stands and watches the guard bring a blonde woman towards her. "I'm Adrienne Wilder." The woman holds out a hand and greets a bemused Stephanie. She is surprised by how different David's ex-wife looks from the pictures she has seen. Her hair is much longer and her eyes even seem…softer somehow. Meanwhile, Carrie stares at Adrienne, intrigued by her expensive clothes. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?" "No, but we have a mutual enemy. Julia Wheeler?" Hearing the name, and remembering Stephanie's ramblings when she first arrived, Carrie scurries away leaving Adrienne to take her seat. "I don't know that I should be talking about this. I'm trying to move on with my life." Stephanie is adamant. "I'm not here to cause trouble. But I want to know more about her. You see…she's been sleeping with my husband." With a sigh, Stephanie drops down into her seat and pushes the chess board aside. "I'm sorry." Adrienne waves a hand, "Don't be. It's her who should be apologizing. But I want to know…what she did to you. David wouldn't discuss it." "That doesn't surprise me." Stephanie replies with a slight chuckle. "I'm going to be blunt. I know you tried to kill Julia. But I want to know why." "Alright. I was very ill and I did it…because she was sleeping with my husband." "But she told me that happened years ago. I assumed it was before you two were married." "No no no. We were still married. But that doesn't seem to matter to Julia. I have to admit though that my husband was as much to blame. I see now just what a lying snake he is. How do you know him by the way?" "Oh…" Adrienne is a little taken aback by the revelation about her lover. "My husband is a partner at his law firm." "Then he needs to watch his back." Stephanie remarks sharply. "I'm not being paranoid, just in case you thought I was still…crazy. But David would wrong anyone. Even his friends." Adrienne guiltily moves her eyes away and remains silent. "Oh no…you're sleeping with him aren't you?" "Excuse me?" "If I were you, I'd end it. David is not worth ruining your marriage over…and neither is Julia Wheeler." "Maybe you're right." Adrienne is taken aback by her direct attitude. "Listen, I've got to go. I'm glad you're doing better." "It was nice to meet you."
Masters Mansion: San Francisco
"Thank you Heather. I'll take it in here." "Sure." Isabelle watches as Greg leans across her and grabs the phone. He picks up the receiver and laughs animatedly. "Danielle? It's been so long!" Interested, Isabelle switches off the television that has been on and moves closer to her husband. "Of course I'll tell them...Is Will coming with you?..Oh that's a shame...I'm looking forward to it too...Bye." He puts the phone down and passes it to Isabelle who places it back on the table. "What was that about?" "Danielle's coming over for a visit. Isn't that great?" Adrienne's daughter…Hmm I'm ecstatic. "Wonderful." Isabelle forces a fake smile. "I'm so pleased for you."
Elliott House: San Francisco
"Great. I take it Greg doesn’t know about you and Travis." "No." Adrienne grimaces. "He noticed that we're sleeping in separate bedrooms but I didn't tell him why. I guess we're just going to have to play nice for a while if Danielle is staying at the house." David sits down on a chair at a right angle to his companion. "Hmm, I must admit out of all the people I thought Julia would go for, Travis wasn't one of them." "She went for you didn't she?" Adrienne blurts out. "A long time ago." Is David's immediate response. "Not so long ago actually. I visited your ex-wife today. She filled me in." Adrienne takes a sip of her drink and then begin to move the lime around with her finger. "Stephanie?" David blasts. "Why did you visit her?" "Because I wanted to find out more about Julia. You wouldn't tell me anything and she seemed like the perfect person. I'm not pleased you lied to me David." "I didn't want to complicate things any further than they already were." "I don't think that's possible. Anyway, I just thought I should tell you." After a silent pause, David looks up, "How was Stephanie?" "She's doing great. I couldn't see that there was anything wrong with her at all." David resists the urge to smash the glass he is holding, "I had no idea she was doing so well. Did she get angry at all?" "Nope. In fact she was very pleasant." "She's dangerous." David insists. "I don't care how she appeared. It's probably just a trick to get out quicker." I am not going to let her get out of that place. Why did she have to get involved? "If you say so." Adrienne shrugs and puts her drink down on the table. "But Jake's turned up alive and she's progressing. I doubt she'll be left in that place for much longer."
Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley
"I don't know! But I felt something there. I really think he could be the one for me." "Don't be ridiculous. For a start he's married." "In name only." Julia points out. "Nevertheless, Stephanie should have taught you a lesson in that department." "We'll see. He's going to call in a minute. Don't you have to be at the hospital soon?" "They're going to call when they have…" Jake is interrupted by the telephone ringing and he jumps up to answer it. "That might be them now." After picking up the phone he nods and hands it over to Julia. "Is it Travis?" She asks, accepting it. "Yeah." Jake watches his mother for the whole duration of the conversation and is suspicious when her smile fades to steely glare. After finishing, she puts the phone down on the table and picks up her coffee cup. "Well? What did he say?" "His daughter's coming home…and he's finished with me."
Richardson House: San Francisco
"Hi." The doctor coughs. "Is this Mrs Cassandra Wheeler?" "Yes." Cassie responds quietly. "Have you got the results?" "We have. You should come down here now. I'll be waiting for you. Jake Wheeler is already here but I won't reveal the results until you all arrive." "Thanks." Hitting the off button, Cassie puts the phone down slowly and takes a deep breath. "What did he say?" Guy jumps up and puts his hands on Cassie's shoulders, indicating the urgency of the matter. "They're ready. He wants us to go down there." Cassie turns her head to look at Lucas who is sleeping in a cot in the living room. "We're about to find out who his father is."
Sanderson House: San Diego
"About my husband?" Barbara Sanderson tilts her head and stares at her guest icily. "Yes. I know what happened to him." This grabs Barbara's attention and she brings her head upright. "Tell me what you know." Her voice trails off as Mindy pulls out two photographs and slides them over the coffee table towards her. "Do you know these two women?" Mindy asks with a smug grin. "Well this one…" Barbara holds one up. "Is Isabelle Wheeler. The other one I'm not sure…It's not…" "Lauren Wheeler. Yes." "They found her then." Barbara passes the pictures back. "What is the significance?" Mindy leans forwards and can not control the evil smile that creases her face. "The significance is Barbara…that these two women…were responsible for killing your husband."
Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley Switching off the bathroom light, Michael yawns and pulls back the bed covers. He ponders whether to read but decides against it and collapses, exhausted into the warm depths of his bed. Resting his head on the pillow, he listens to the silence and shuts his eyes. But to his side, he can feel something moving and his eyes immediately open again. In the darkness, he can see something wriggling under the sheets and he feels it brush against his leg, scaly and dry. "Holy shit!" He jumps out of bed and tears back the covers, gasping when he sees the cause of the distraction. Frozen in terror, he stands rigid as a snake draws back, startled. After a few seconds, it pokes its tongue back and forth, hissing and begins to move towards Michael.
Next on Power and Deception -Michael's life is in danger... -Barbara becomes embroiled in Mindy's campaign... -Lucas's father is revealed causing a violent showdown... -Danielle arives with a secret... -Lauren's irrational behavior causes concern... |
"Donna? What are you doing
here? Michael's at the office." Julia opens the door
and lets the woman in. Julia is dressed only in a man's
shirt and Donna raises an eyebrow.
Lauren pushes open the door to
her husband's hospital room and sighs. It seems so heavy
and her arms feel weak. She dismisses it with a shake of
the head and steps inside to find John sat up in bed
reading a newspaper.
"That's it Carrie. Move that
piece over there." Stephanie guides her friend with
her fingers and smiles when she makes the correct move.
"Well done. You're doing great!"
"Mr Masters?" The maid
enters the living room where Greg is sat on the sofa with
Isabelle. "Your grand daughter is on the telephone."
"That
was my father." Adrienne drops her cell phone back
into her purse as David hands her a gin and tonic. "Danielle's
coming to San Francisco for a few weeks."
"No, I want to take it."
Cassie wrestles the phone from her husband's hands and
puts it to her ear. Guy watches her. "Hello?"
"It's really quite simple
Mrs Sanderson. I have information for you." Mindy
crosses her legs and taps her fingers on the arm of the
couch. The woman opposite her is in her early fifties
with dark graying hair and a permanent scowl.