Power and Deception

Guy's Apartment: Napa City

Guy walks to the door as Cassie pulls on her loose fitting sweatshirt. He watches the storm outside and realises that he will have to drive Cassie back to the mansion.

"You ready yet?" he asks impatiently.

"Yes. Jeez...have an aneurysm why don't you. I can hardly walk out of your apartment half-naked...especially in this part of town. You wanna take me for a drink before I head back?"

"Isn't that a bit risky?" Guy opens the door as Cassie walks through. She smiles.

"If Jake hasn't found out already I don't think a drink in this neighbourhood will spill the beans." Cassie's foot slips on something outside the door. "What the hell is this?" She tears open the envelope. "Oh your paycheque. You better save it. I have expensive tastes."

Guy slams the apartment door shut and chases Cassie down the corridor.

Wheeler Esate: Napa Valley

Julia falls backwards as the cloaked figure of Stephanie stands deathly still.

"Stephanie what are you doing here?" Julia fumbles on the floor hoping to find something she can use against her rival.

"I told you. We need to talk about David. About you seducing him and trying to tear my family apart. MY family. There is no way I am going to let you continue. I will stop you...forever"

Julia screams as Stephanie pulls the sharp blade of a carving knife above her head...ready to plunge it down into her prey.

The Red Store Restaurant: San Francisco

Mark and Lauren are seated in a corner booth in the fashionable restaurant. Lauren swirls her white wine around in the glass and watches amused as Mark feasts on his steak. She is the first to speak.

"You think I should stay out of this David and Julia mess?"

"Hell yes. We have enough problems with that woman already without you antagonising her further."

"But what about Stephanie? You saw what she did to my desk this morning" Lauren leans over and whispers, "She's a complete psycho!"

"All the more reason not to get involved. What the hell is with this city? I thought Los Angeles was supposed to be full of whacked out adulterers yet as soon as we come here we get drawn into your family soap opera."

"It's not that bad. Is it? This is why I left the valley originally. Nothing in my family was sacred. The only thing they care about is money. At least Jessica is less affected by it."

"She's a sweet kid." Mark throws his cutlery carelessly on the plate and pushes it away.

"I know. God knows how with parents like Douglas and Julia. I just hope she doesn't get sucked in by it all."

"Not likely. She's too innocent. Mind you...did you see her with Tommy Elliott the other day? They were pretty into each other in the den."

"Young love. It's good for her. She needs experience."

"Uh huh. Let's just hope he doesn't break her heart."

Elliott House: San Francisco

Jessica seats herself on a stool at the kitchen counter. Tommy is preparing coffee for them both as she reflects on their growing relationship. Since he took her to the cinema and comforted her over Douglas, she seemed to be having feelings towards him. She didn't understand it and thought it was best not to push it. Tommy slides a cup over to her.

"Drink up. I'll take you home in a minute."

"Thanks. Where are your parents?"

"My dad is in Los Angeles I think." Jessica chokes on the coffee. That was where her mother was heading for that morning.

"And your mother?"

"I have no idea. The supermarket? A night class? She's kinda like any normal housewife. Family first. She should be back soon."

"Well I don't want to outstay my welcome when she gets here. Can you take me home now?" Jessica finishes her coffee quickly as Tommy grabs keys from the top of the refrigerator.

"Yep. Sure." Tommy scribbles a note for his mother and the pair get into his car heading off in the storm for the mansion.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Julia rolls sideways and Stephanie trips from the force of her swipe leaving her target time to run. Julia grabs the knife which Stephanie dropped and heads into the den. Silence fills the house and Julia keeps her back against the wall. Lightning continues to strike outside but there is still no sign of help. As a candle on the fireplace blows out, Stephanie swings open the double doors of the room and stands silently. Her cloak has fallen in the kitchen and she is unarmed. This does not allay Julia's fears and she grips the knife closely to her chest as Stephanie talks.

"All my life I wanted a decent man. All I wanted was to love. To be loved. And I have that with David. He loves me and we have a child. Don't you see?" Julia whimpers and Stephanie swipes china from a console table which smashes on the floor. "Don't you? You are a whore. A cheap and nasty slut with no morals. No integrity. You disgust me. And what about Jessica? Don't you care what you put her through by sleeping with every man who passes through this house?"

"I don't. That's not true. I love my children. I would never do anything to hurt them."

"Don't talk trash! You don't have a loving bone in your body. The Wheeler family are evil and if I could...IF I COULD...I would eliminate every last one of you. But no. I can only eliminate one of you. And that is exactly what I am going to do. Stephanie heads towards Julia who runs for the door. But Stephanie grabs Julia's hair and turning her round smashes her against the wall. The knife drops to the floor.

"Get off me!"

"Not until you pay! Not until you pay for what you have done!"

Julia whimpers, "You're crazy!"

"And you're gonna see just how much!"

The Red Store Restaurant: San Francisco

Morgan has been driven into San Francisco after her meeting with Julia, dressed in a smart red suit and receiver of a stunning makeover courtesy of Elizabeth Arden's. She knows that Mark would never be able to resist her in what she is wearing and spots him in the corner with his girlfriend Lauren. She is extremely beautiful with shoulder length blonde hair and only a hint of makeup. More of a natural beauty. Slowly, she makes her way to the table and Mark looks up.

"Hello?" he asks.

"Hi, I'm Morgan Janssen, your new editor. Capital Publishing flew me in this evening so we can collaborate on some ideas."

Mark stands up, "Oh yes of course. Morgan this is my fiance Lauren Erikson." He points to Lauren who also stands up and shakes Morgan's hand firmly.

"Pleased to meet you." Lauren looks at her watch and realises that she does not want to get caught up in an editor's meeting between Mark and Morgan. "Mark, I really have to get home. There are some phone calls I need to take care of. Have a good evening won't you."

As Morgan watches, Mark kisses Lauren and she strides away through the restaurant. Morgan sits in Lauren's seat. "Right, where shall we start?"

Dan's Tavern: Napa City

Placing a protective arm round Cassie, Guy leads her inside the notorious bar. A musky, masculine smell fills the air and several overweight factory workers watch a football game on the flickering television. The pair are soaking wet from the storm and Cassie rubs her hands to warm herself as Guy orders drinks. Guy buys them from the busty blonde waitress at the bar and brings them to the table where Cassie is sitting.

"So, Jake won't be expecting you home?"

"I would imagine he's still at the office. He'll probably book himself into a hotel or something. I don't see him driving back to the mansion in this weather." Cassie sips her vodka and almost chokes. Even though she is no expert, she can tell it is cheap. "What is this crap?" she splutters, "It tastes like paint stripper!"

"Be quiet!" Guy orders. "Someone'll hear you."

"Someone'll hear me alright when I call health and safety. God that's disgusting." She pushes the offending drink but it slides over the edge of the table and smashes on the floor. "Damn!" No one in the bar seems to notice so Cassie takes a handkerchief and places it over the broken glass. As she bends down she notices someone slumped in the far corner. It's a man but she can't tell whether they are sleeping or drunk. "Hey Guy look over there."

Guy puts down his lukewarm beer and turns. At first it hits him as a shock but then he begins to realise what an opportunity it is. Jake Wheeler is slumped unconscious on the ground with a bottle of scotch in his hand. "Oh my God!" He jumps up and races over to Jake as Cassie follows.

"What? Guy? Jesus Christ." She looks in disgust at her drunken fiance, sprawled embarrassingly on the disgusting floor of the dingy bar. "Jake? Jake?" She shakes him and he begins to stir.

"Cassie?" he mutters. His eyes start to cross and he puts his hand to his head which is thumping.

Guy whispers in her ear. "Now's your opportunity sweetheart. Now, it's time to marry him."

Cassie stares for a second taking it all in. Guy is right. She realises that she can get Jake to a chapel in Las Vegas and marry him tonight. Suddenly a thought hits which she relays to Guy, "Honey, there's just one problem. Can't he get the marriage annulled if he was drunk?"

"Why would he? You are going to be the perfect loving wife. Well for a couple of years at least." A grin creases Guy's lips.

"You got that right. Okay. Come on. Help me." Guy and Cassie stand either side of Jake and lift him off the ground dragging him through the doors of the bar. "Right Guy. Drive me to the private airstrip. It's time to get the Wheeler jet into action."

Tommy's Car

As rain pelts down onto the windshield, Tommy drives slowly towards their destination. Jessica is sitting upright in her seat watching the road carefully. As they stop at traffic lights, he looks over at her. She is so beautiful and so innocent. There isn't a bad thing about her. Maybe, if they take things slowly...

Jessica yells, "Tommy wake up, the light's on green."

Tommy surges forward as Jessica slips a CD into the car stereo. "I hope you don't mind." She says softly.

"No not at all." Tommy begins to speed up not noticing the bus pulling out in front of him.

"Tommy!" Jessica screams. Her cries are silenced by the squeal of brakes as the bus swerves and swings round towards their car.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Stephanie tightens her grip round Julia's throat and savours the thought of choking her life away. Desperately, Julia hits out but Stephanie is like an animal and in the struggle, glass smashes in the window.

Lauren pulls up outside the house ready to do battle. Spending an evening with the evil-troll-bitch from hell. Great. As she runs through the rain towards the darkened doorway she is stunned by glass smashing through the window and landing on the ground below. Thunder hits as she tries to listen for a sound so fumbling for a key, she frantically slides it into the lock of the door and flings it open. The house is dark...

"Please! Stop!" Julia chokes.

"Never!"

The pair hear the main door being swung open but Stephanie continues, determined to finish the job.

Lauren is in the hallway when she hears screaming and running like a lynx she bursts into the den where Stephanie is strangling Julia.

Julia begins to feel faint and waits for the inevitable darkness.

"Stephanie!" Lauren screams panicked. "Get off her." She races over and grabs Stephanie's arm but Julia' s attacker swipes backwards and hits Lauren in the head. Lauren stumbles back but puts her arm round Stephanie's throat and tugs her away. As Julia falls slowly down the wall to the floor, Lauren and Stephanie fly onto a glass coffee table which smashes to the ground.

Outside, Tommy and Jessica drive towards Lauren's car.

"That could've killed us Tommy." Jessica exclaims shaken.

"I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. Thank God nobody was hurt."

"I think it was more to do with luck than God. What's going on?" Jessica sees the huge oak door to the house swinging violently in the extreme wind. "Tommy you better come with me." Sheltering from the rain, they enter the house and hear groaning in the den.

"Mom?" Jessica calls out as they head towards the noise. There she stops. Her mother is collapsed on the ground and Lauren and Stephanie are struggling to get up from a sea of broken glass. A sharp kitchen knife lies beside Julia's slumped body and Jessica panics.

"What the hell is going on?" Tommy yells running over to his mother.

"She tried to kill me." Julia is able to mumble, struggling to point a well manicured finger towards the culprit.

"What? Mom? What is this?"

Jessica and Lauren both move over to Julia and pull her up from the ground whilst Tommy watches as Stephanie brushes glass off her clothes.

"Your mother was trying to murder Julia." Lauren finally says and realises how ridiculous it sounds.

"Why?" Tommy asks incredulously.

"She's a homewrecker! Tommy you've got to stop her! She is after your father!" Stephanie continues to mumble incoherently as Tommy silently drags her out of the house by her arm.

Jessica watches as their car speeds off through the rain and turns back to her mother. "You'e re after her husband aren't you."

Lauren speaks, "Jessica I really don't think we should get into this now."

"Neither do I." Julia snaps sharply.

"Are you going to press charges?" Jessica asks.

"You better not. It was your fault that she attacked you in the first place Julia." Lauren interjects.

"Thankyou for your support. I don't know Jessica. I'll see in the morning. But I can tell you one thing. If that lunatic comes near me again, I'll have her thrown in jail faster than you can say 'plea of insanity' "

Julia stalks out leaving Lauren and Jessica alone amidst the chaos of that night's events.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

It is the morning after the night before. Sun shines in the valley and its warmth strikes Lauren's face awaking her from sleep. She gets up, pulls on a negligee and walking down the corridor she notices a door to one of the guest bedrooms slightly ajar. Sleeping quietly in the double bed is Morgan, her hair tousled and expensive suit thrown haphazardly on a brightly upholstered armchair.

She walks downstairs and finds Mark in the kitchen pouring freshly squeezed orange juice whilst watching the morning literary gossip on an obscure cable station.

"Would you like a glass?" he asks breezily.

She ignores the question and heads straight for the pot of coffee which is sitting on the table. "You got in late last night."

"Yes you were in bed by the time I got home. Jessica told me what happened. Are you okay?" he notices a cut on Lauren's arm and frowns.

"Fine. Um, why is Morgan staying here?"

"It was too dangerous to drive around and she wasn't booked into a hotel so I invited her to stay here overnight. She might stay on for a few more days so we can get some work done."

"Right." Lauren turns her back to him and he moves up behind her.

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I just wondered, that's all."

A noise at the front of the house interrupts the conversation and they head towards the front door where Julia and Jessica are watching a hired limousine pull up outside. The chauffeur opens a door and Cassie steps out dres sed in jeans and a t-shirt followed by Jake who stumbles.

"Good morning Cassie." Julia shouts. "Perhaps you'd like to explain exactly where you two have been for the past...let me see...day?"

Cassie smiles and then holds up her hand to display a plain gold wedding band around her finger, "Vegas!" she says excitedly and starts laughing. Julia's face is contorted with horror.

"What the hell have you done?" Julia cries but Jake remains silent.

"We got married Julia. Say hello to Mrs Cassandra Wheeler!"

Lauren turns her face, desperate not to laugh but needing to hide the smile which has crept upon her.

"And I'll get prepared to say goodbye. You made a big mistake this time Cassie." Julia turns and walks inside.

* * *

Morgan spies Mark coming down the landing towards her guest bedroom and dropping her towel to the floor she steps naked into the steaming shower, leaving the bathroom door open. He walks into her bedroom and sees the towel on the floor. Picking it up, he moves into the bathroom and through the mottle glass he spies Morgan showering. She notices him watching and after a few seconds she turns off the water.

"Spying?"

He drops the towel stunned that he has been caught, "Sorry, I...I..."

Morgan grabs a robe and puts it on. "I know what you were doing."

"Sorry. I didn't realise that you would be in the shower."

"Really." She moves closer towards him as he begins to back out of the door.

"Look, Morgan, I'm engaged. I can't get involved in anything like this."

"Live a little."

He pushes her away and yells firmly, "No!"

Before she can reply they hear a scream from outside and rush to the balcony. Looking over they see Cassie leaning over the side of the swimming pool screaming and floating face down, motionless is Jake...

Next time on Power and Deception...

Michael and Lauren take a trip to New York to look into Douglas' business dealings but land themselves in danger...

Stephanie's plan to prove her husband's infidelity backfires...

Tommy confides in Jessica about his mother...

Morgan steps up her plans to seduce Mark...

The family deal with Jake's accident...

Episode 5