Back Home **** East Side Episode one, Shattered Dreams Chapter Four Written by William-Charles Wenham **** GMI Fashions… The sky is getting darker as the day is passing. The shadows loom over GMI Fashions. There is a sign posted on the curved pillar next to the building. Sky Baldwin is sitting along in her office, looking at the Lawrenceville Daily Journal’s morning paper for at least the tenth time that day. She can’t believe Carl is back in her life. Her whole past that she has tried so hard to keep under wraps to protect her daughter, Aimee, and fiancé Sammy Ingrid, is now at stake. “That bastard,” Sky sobs to herself. “I should've killed him when I had the chance. I should've just known he would've found me. Pasts always catch up to a person.” She throws the paper on the edge of her desk. “Dammit! If Sammy finds out...everything I have done to protect my daughter...” She takes her head and drops it in her hands, silently sobbing to herself. Carla Fields, Sky’s receptionist is just outside the office, sitting at her desk. Huge illuminated head shots of the models of GMI Fashions line the walls of the lobby, looking on, as Carl Berlman enters the building. He notices Sky’s door and is about to open it, when Carla gets up from her desk. “Sir, you can’t go in there!” she orders. He ignores her, flinging the door open, as it bangs against the wall of Sky’s office. She turns around in fear, as Carla tries to chase him away, but her attempts are rebuked as Carl makes his way into her office. Sky shrieks as her face turns pale. “Sir!” Carla looks at Sky with concern. “I tried to stop him, Ms. Baldwin…” her voice fades away. “Hi, Pumpkin,” Carl says with a smile on his face, as he makes eye contact with the trembling Sky. He points at his picture in the paper. “Bad angle, I know. I tried to tell them. But no. Do they ever listen?” Sky looks at her receptionist and nods. “I-it’s okay, re-really,” she stutters. Carla looks on with wide weary eyes. “You can go. You can leave us. Please shut the door on your way out.” Carla leaves, as she shuts the door. Sky gets her thoughts together and looks at Carl calmly. “Do I know you?” “Honey – it’s me!” he replies. “Actually, I should be asking the same question. You’ve…what’s the word…changed since that drowning incident that you supposedly died in. But hey, no complaints here. You look great for a dead woman!” Sky realizes there’s no time for small talk. “Alright you bastard! How did you find me?” He waves his hand towards the paper. “Still only looking at the pictures I see.” He quickly adds, “I live in Lawrenceville. Too bad it's a big city. I've missed you all these years.” “They were the best twelve years of my life,” she responses with a sly smile. “Well, obviously. Though I do feel ashamed you've left your vows and are now engaged.” “What? Who told you?” Carl starts to move in towards her. She keeps her distance. “I had a little chat with Ms. Curie earlier this evening. You and her are friends I hear. In fact, you’re best friends. Well, Ellen and I have a long history together, to put it mildly. But not as involved as you and I are.” He backs her into her office window. “Remember New Orleans? Mmmm. I miss that place. I miss your lips, your sweet caress.” He tried to kiss her, but she manages to escape his grasp and moves over to her desk. “Get away! Get out of my office!” she screams, shaken up by his advances. “And here I thought you loved me. I’m not going to lose you a second time.” He grabs the paper off her desk and rolls it up in his hands. “Well, that is, unless it’s a real funeral this time.” “Why are you here?” she questions. “Well, as a business man, of course you must know that I am not here for you. It’s strictly business. I am booting your friend from her father’s bank and taking control over what was given to me.” He sighs, “She out on the street as we speak. All packed up and no place to go.” Sky moves in and grabs the paper out of his hands and throws it in the garbage. “Sammy and I are getting married,” she informs him. “So if you don’t mind, Mr. Berlman, I’d appreciate it if you would leave before I have to call security.” “Oh, I’ll leave, but I’m not leaving your life. You are my wife. You will always be my wife.” He takes hold of her wrist and pulls her in close to him. “How about one quick kiss before I go?” She tries pulling away again, but this time he has the better of her. She is so much stronger than she is, and she knows it. He leans in for a kiss, and this time, she can’t escape. “If you love Sammy, would you feel anything if I did this?” He passionately kisses her as she tries to struggle away from him. He releases his grip and moves his head away to look at her horrified reaction, as she wipes her mouth. “Nothing,” she cries. Being stubborn he rubs her back. “We're going have to work on it, huh?” He turns to head for the door, and quickly looks back. “Oh and one quick question before I go…does Aimee know what happened to her father?” He laughs. Sky feels her whole body quiver in fear as she starts to feel faint. Her whole past is about to destroy her life. She opens her mouth to respond, but the door opens. Sky’s mouth drops open, as Carl turns to look to see who it is. “What about my father?” Aimee Baldwin asks, closing the door. She looks as her mother curiously, as Sky opens her mouth to answer, and then shuts it quickly. She turns to look at Carl, who just devilishly smiles, and nods his head towards Aimee. **** Rosemary’s Supper Club… Sammy Ingrid is waiting for Sky to show up at the supper club. He called her earlier, but he doesn't realize that she is getting sidetracked from an unexpected visitor. He looks at Rosemary as she is about to walk away from the bar after telling the bartender something funny. She laughs once again as Sammy grabs her arm as she walks past him. She smiles, “Sammy. Hi! I haven’t seen you in a while.” She leans over the bar. “Having yourself a good time?” He pushes his drink away. “Not really. Have you seen Sky anywhere?” He looks over at the dining room once again. “We were supposed to meet here.” “No actually. Why? Is something wrong?” she questions. He slams some money on the counter and grabs his coat and walks out of the supper club. “Where are you going?” Rosemary calls out, but it’s too late. Sammy’s already gone. She grabs the money and hands it to the bartender. She breathes in deep. “No that’s love,” she whispers. “But it’s no where close to the love Robert and I will share…” **** East Side Apartments… Bruce Silverman is on the phone in his living room. “Dammit! I don't know what he was wearing...No, obviously I don't care about...Well, sorry if I'm a little uptight! My son has been missing all day and nobody at your office seems to give a damn and will help me.” He slams the phone down, and lets out a sigh. Brenish Ivy opens the apartment door and sees Bruce. She heard from someone at school that Martin ran away. Bruce sits on the couch talking to himself, as he sips a beer. “Wait 48 hours. That's just great...Yeah, he'll be god only knows where by then...What if someone sees him and he used his…” He looks up and notices Brenish. Bruce starts to break down in front of the high schooler. “He ran away. I told him everything. And he ran away. I don't know what to do. My whole life is for shit. God. What did I do to deserve this?” Brenish looks at Bruce with comfort as she stands awkwardly in the middle of the living room. “Mr. Silverman,” Brenish says with a nervous shrug, “I think I know where Martin is...” **** GMI Fashions… Sky thinks of a way to tell her daughter the truth, but quickly decides to avoid the question. “Honey? What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at Tammy's house?” “Got cancelled. You know how it goes.” Aimee looks at Carl. “Who's he?” she asks her mother. Sky pushes him towards the door. “He was just leaving.” “Was I?” Carl questions, stopping dead in his tracks. “Why were you talking about Daddy?” the girl asks, narrowing her eyes.  Sky starts to explain. “We weren't. We were just saying…” Carl clears his throat and tries to help out. “I just asked your mother here if she was ever married and she told me once, but he's gone now.” Sky sighs at Carl's recovery. Aimee buys it and turns to the door. “Well, I gotta go. Tammy's sis is gonna take me home. Sky looks at her daughter lovingly. She grabs her and pulls her in for a kiss. “Aw, come here you!” Aimee gives her mom a big hug and a kiss as Carl watches their affection. Sky looks up at Carl and notices his reaction. She pats Aimee on the head. “See you when I get home,” Sky says with a smile. Aimee waves. “Alright. Love ya. Bye.” She heads out the door and waves goodbye to Carla. “Bye, Miss Fields.” Carla looks up, “See ya, Sweetie.” Just as Carl and Sky look at each other long enough to know it's time to end the conversation, Sky looks at the clock on the wall. “Shit! I was supposed to meet my fiancé half an hour ago!” She gathers her things and starts to put on her coat. Carl heads out the door and runs right into Sammy, who walks into the office. “Sammy?” Carl questions. Sammy looks at his fiancée “Sky!” She looks at the two men in her life and lets out a sigh. “Oh god…” **** Rosemary’s Supper Club… Rosemary and Robert are cleaning up the dishes as everyone else has conveniently left the building. Rosemary stops drying one of the spatulas to look at Robert. He leaves his hands in the soapy water as he stares at her. “What?” he asks with a laugh. She laughs. “Don't start that again,” she says, referring to their last conversation. “What?” he asks again, looking into her eyes. “I was just wondering…I was just thinking how nice it would be if you were to kiss me.” Robert’s eyes grow wide. “What?!” he asks, shocked. “Oh come on! You know you want to.” She moves in closer to Robert and massages his back. He moves away from her. “Look, I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea of me working here to replace Antonio, but I'm happily married.” “Are you?” she gushes. “Yes,” Robert responds, with a slight tremble in his voice. “No,” Rosemary replies. “Are you really? I mean, I know you are married, but, don't you feel it? Don't you see it?” Robert pulls his hands out of the sink and reaches for a towel to dry his hands. Rosemary stops his. He looks at her again. “Rosemary, I couldn't…” “Try,” she insists. “Please. I won't tell. I mean, it's just us two. Who's gonna tell? Besides, I know you’re just as lonely as me deep down inside.” Robert shakes his head and moves away from the sink. “Mary trusts me!” he cries out. Rosemary smiles and whispers, “So then she won't expect a thing...” “I can't...” he calmly repeats. Rosemary runs her finger over his lips. “Shh…” she whispers. “I do love Mary…” he replies. She nods her head. “I know you do.” Rosemary gets closer to him and puts her arms around him and gives him a gentle hug. He hugs her back, and Rosemary looks into his eyes and then pushes herself onto him pushes him against the wall and kisses him. **** Mary opens the unlocked front door of the supper club, hoping to see Robert. She fumbles with her car keys and takes off her long coat, and places it on the black bar top, and lets her oversized purse fall onto a nearby barstool. She looks up and through the window of the kitchen door, see Robert and Rosemary kissing. Robert is getting intense with the kiss, but his eye catches Mary as she quickly grabs her purse and coat and runs out of the restaurant, crying. Robert races out the door as he pushes Rosemary to the side, causing her to fall on the kitchen floor. “Oh my, God!” Robert cries out shocked. “Mary! Come back here!” He runs out of the building as Rosemary starts to cry. “Robert!” she calls out desperately. “Come back! Robert! You’re supposed to be chasing me! Robert!” **** Mary fumbles with her car door lock as she searches for the right key. Robert flies up to her and slams his fist on the top of the car as Mary turns to face him with tears streaming out of the corners of both her eyes. “Mary, I can…” She looks up at him angrily. “How could you?” her voice cracks. “Mary…” “I mean, how could you?” She tosses her coat onto the top of the vehicle and finally gets her door open. She pulls her coat into the front seat of her car and begins to cry. “After everything we've been through, you pull something like this?” Robert tries to explain. “No, Mary…” “Don't even talk to...” He tries to wipe away her tears with his finger but she slaps it away. “Get away from me,” she screams frantically. “Don't touch me!” “Mary,” Robert softly replies. “I can explain...that...” He looks back at the restaurant. Through tears Mary shakes her head. “Explain what? I saw it! No need to explain anything. It pretty much speaks for itself, Robert.” Robert looks down as Mary is about to get into her vehicle. He pulls her away before she can even sit down. She is still crying as he thinks of a way to explain this situation to her. “I'm sorry...I don’t know what came over me…honestly.” She slaps his face. “Oh! ‘I'm sorry,’” she repeats with a laugh, as she continues to cry. “Is that the best you can do? Come on, Robert! Seventeen years ago, maybe that would have been accepted, but come on, be a little more original!” Mary wipes her running nose with her coat sleeve. “I’m sorry. Yeah. That's a good one. And if only I had a dollar for every time I heard that one come out for your mouth.” “I said I'm sorry,” Robert repeats. “You know,” she starts with a laugh, “I never thought I would live to see the day Rose could tell me, ‘I told you so.’ God. Fine, Robert, I'll make this really simple for you. You want her?” “No...I…” “Fine. You got her. She's all yours. Hell, and if you don't want Rosemary or Rose, you could always cheat on them with Ellen. I'm sure she still has a crush on you the size of Texas!” Mary gets into her car and looks up at Robert, accusingly. “Mary…” “Robert!” shouts back. She pauses and continues. “Look. Whatever you have to say, I don't want to hear it. I've heard enough lies to last me a lifetime. So you know what?” Robert stands in the parking lot dumbfounded. “What?” he whispers, holding back tears. “You know what - I - we – I,” Mary cries spitting out the words. “We’re getting a - I want a divorce.” She turns the key and starts up the car. Robert shrieks, “What?!” Robert looks down in the blackness to see her crying face. “You heard,” she sobs. “I want a divorce.” “You can't!” Robert yells out. “I'll be going to my lawyer in the morning,” she calmly replies. “I suggest you do the same. Good night, Robert.” She puts the car into reverse, yet still has her foot on the brake pedal. Robert is no longer leaning on the car door anymore. “Oh, and if you do even bother coming home, um, well, you get the couch.” Robert gives her an angry and confused face of emotion. Mary lets her foot off the brake as she heads onto the highway. “And you better get used to it,” she yells out. Robert kicks another vehicle in the now near empty parking lot as he hears Mary drive away.

A failing marriage. A woman with a past. A man seeking revenge. And this is just the first season... Lawrenceville is a big city, with even bigger secrets, just waiting to explode!