Back Home **** East Side Episode one, Shattered Dreams Chapter Five Written by William-Charles Wenham **** East Side Apartments… The night is now silent. The air is calm. But the darkness of East Side Apartments is interrupted by the light inside the Baldwin apartment. Aimee Baldwin is in her room, searching for clues to her father’s death. “I know there has to be picture of him somewhere!” she says as she frantically tears apart her dresser. I know I have seen his face before.” She had been sleeping minutes earlier in her warm blanketed bed, but woke up needing the comfort of her absent mother, Sky. “Mom! I what did you do with the picture?!” she screams out loud. “ I am going to find out what happened to my father if it kills me!” Aimee quietly slinks out of her bedroom and tiptoes across the hall to her mother's dark room. “I can’t let my mom see me if she comes home…” She fumbles in the darkness as she finds the light switch. She flicks the switch on and rummages through her mother's closet for clues of her father's death. She pulls on the string dangling from the ceiling of the closet as she spots a journal - a locked diary. “What’s this?” she whispers. The girl tries to open it hurriedly but to no avail. The book is locked. “Damn!” Aimee sighs, tossing the book to the floor. **** GMI Fashions… Sammy Ingrid, Sky Baldwin's fiancé, stands dumbfounded. He looks at Carl. “Do I know you?” “We’ve never met. I’m Carl Berlman,” he announces, sticking his hand out, as Sammy shakes it, unable to spit out the right question. “Sky’s told me so much about you. I feel like I’ve known you for years!” “Funny,” Sammy mumbles. “She’s told me nothing about you…” Sky suddenly bounces over to the two, and tugs on Sammy’s shoulders, backing him away from Carl. “Honey,” she innocently smiles. “This is Carl Berlman, president of Curie Bank,” she explains quickly. He looks at his fiancée and gives her a look of bewilderment. “But wait a sec…I thought Ellen Curie was the –“ “Oh well, those were her words, weren't they? Not mine. See, Samuel, she was more or less, presiding as president while I was out of town for a few years,” Carl interrupts. “Does she know this?” he sarcastically remarks. Sky gives him a big hug and smiles. “Honey, see, Carl was away for personal reasons…” she gives a quick glare towards Carl. “His father had awarded him the position when Ellen’s father disappeared.” “Seems to be credentials of running a bank…first Max disappears, than you…” Sammy snidely adds, pointing a finger at Carl. “Well, I’m sure it all sounds confusing to you, but well, I’m sure you could never understand what it takes to be a businessman, Mr. Ingrid,” Carl replies, tugging on Sammy’s California Cabs coat that he is wearing. Sammy slaps his hand away. “Carl was just leaving,” Sky intrudes, pushing Sammy away. She spins her head around to face Carl. “Weren’t you, Carl?” “Yes, it is getting late. And I’m sure you two lovebirds would like some time alone.” He flashes a quick smile at the nervously shaking Sky. “We can talk later,” he adds as he walks out of the office. Sammy turns to Sky as the door shuts behind them. “I don’t know him and I don’t like him already.” He looks at his watch. “Where were you tonight? We had a date tonight I thought.” Sky moves towards her desk and sits down as Sammy stands by the window, looking out at the busy traffic below. “I'm so sorry...I got tied up here at the office,” she lies as she shuffles some papers in her hands, and places them in a nearby file cabinet. “One of the girls had me look over some layout ideas for a shoot tomorrow afternoon and –“ Sammy looks away from the window at his beautiful fiancé. “It’s alright.  I was just kidding. We can do it some other night. I just wish you would’ve called, that’s all.” “Well, your little romantic night will have to wait, unless we make it your place, ‘cuz Aimee’s home right now,” Sky sighed, as she pulled Sammy towards her chair in for a kiss. “Wasn’t she supposed to be at Tammy’s?” he asks as he gives her a deep kiss. “Mmm…was,” Sky replies inbetween kisses. “But it got canceled, you know kids.” Sky gets up from her chair and gives Sammy a sly smile. “Well, now that we’re alone, how about we just skip your place and…?” Sammy’s mouth drops, as he looks towards her office door embarrassed. “But Carla’s right outside!” Sammy blushes, excited. “Don’t worry.” Sky walks up to her door and seductively closes the blinds and she smiles at Sammy. The two kiss passionately as they wind up on Sky’s desk as Sky unbuttons Sammy’s shirt. He smiles and takes suit as he pulls on the strings of Sky’s dress, as it falls to the floor, leaving her standing only in her black bra and underwear. He kisses her shoulders as she closes her eyes. “Oh, I love you,” she purrs. “I love you too,” he replies. The two continue kissing as Sky lays down on her desk, as Sammy begins to kiss her neck. Sky turns her head to the side, and opens her eyes and notices a picture sitting on her desk. She gasps and pulls away from Sammy and she reaches down at the floor and pulls her dress back on, much to the surprise of her fiancé. “What? Now what? What’s wrong?” he sighs as he watches her get dressed. She rubs the side of her face and stares at him. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” He begins to button up his shirt. “Did I do something wrong?” “No, it’s not you. It’s not.” “Then what is it?” he demands. Sky looks at the picture as Sammy sees what is troubling her. He picks up the picture off Sky's desk. It is a picture of Nick Baldwin, her deceased ex-husband. “How did he die, again?” “War...” Sky replies, as her eyes wander around the room, avoiding eye contact. “Mmmm...how?” “What do you mean ‘how’”? she snaps back, pushing him away. “God I can’t believe you! You’re as bad as Aimee!” Sky grabs the picture out of his hands and sets it back on her desk. Sammy keeps his hands out for a second or two, as if he is unaware that he is no longer holding the photograph in his hands. “She feels she needs to know everything about her father's life and death. She was just a little girl when he died. I mean, she doesn’t need to know…” “Well, actually, it would probably be better if she did know,” he argued. “I barely knew my father before he drank himself to death. I kinda know how she's feeling.” “No, you don't!” Sky went up to her window and sadly looked down at the streets below. “You couldn't possibly understand...” He quietly makes his way towards her and puts a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. She violently spins around and slaps his hand away. “Just get out!” “Why don’t you want me to meet your parents?” he questions. “Is that what all of this is about?” she laughs. Her eyes narrow as she makes her way towards her desk. “Fine! You know what? That's it! You want to meet my parents? Fine, I'll call them up and we can have dinner at Rosemary's right now if you want!” She picks up her phone from the receiver and hands it to Sammy, to challenge him. She drops the phone and begins to tremble and cry hysterically. Sammy bends down to pick up the phone and stares at Sky.” “Rosemary's is closed,” he calmly reminds her as he stares at her wide-eyed. “What's your problem?” “My problem is - my past is my business.” “I told you all about my life,” he argues. “Yeah. You and your stupid Alan-Michael AIDS victim brother. Good for him!” Sky snaps back. She suddenly realized what she said and tries to give him a hug, but he pushes her away. “What has gotten over you?” he asks. Sky begins to shake nervously. “Is it about Curt?” “Carl!” she cries out. “His name is Carl!” Sky's sour face changes to her normal self once again as she gets closer to Sammy and gives him a massage that turns to a full hug. “I'm sorry, Honey,” she apologizes. “It's just work and then Aimee with school. She feels since she’s in high school she doesn’t have to do her homework and...” “It's something more than that, isn't it? How can we get married if you won't let me into your life?” “I do love you. I want us to be together...please, don't make this an issue...” she begs. Just then Carla Fields opens the door as she interrupts their conversation. “Goodnight, Ms. Baldwin.” Sky wipes her eyes and smiles at her as Carla suspiciously frowns and turns around and shuts the door behind her. Sky looks at Sammy. “We should probably be leaving ourselves. It's getting awfully late, wouldn't you say?” Sky Baldwin slinks past Sammy as if he would remember nothing she had said once they left the office. She turned to give him a quick smile, something that gave Sammy chills up his spine. He knew there was more to Carl Berlman. Something that linked the man to his fiancee's past. And he was going to stop at nothing to find it out. “Honey, could you please turn the light off on your way out?” she asks him with a smile. Sammy walks out of the office and gives the office one quick once-over and grabs the door and turns the light off. The picture of Nick Baldwin, Sky's deceased husband and Aimee's father is not an ordinary picture however. It sits on the edge of Sky’s desk as the moonlight shines on it. The photo inside the glass frame slowly begins to creep across as if it were small waves of an ocean. **** East Side Apartments… As Aimee Baldwin sets her mother’s secret diary between her legs, she continues searching for clues of her father's death. All of a sudden a picture of Martin Silverman falls down from the top of the heavily cramped closet. The picture means a lot to Aimee, as she brings it close to her heart. “God. Martin, I love you so much...” she whispers. All of a sudden there’s a knock at the door. Aimee shoves everything into her mother’s bedroom closet and slips the book under her arm. She makes her way to the living room, pulling on a t-shirt. She opens the door, and there stands her best friend, Brenish Ivy. “Martin ran away today,” Brenish quickly explains as she stares at Aimee. “Whoa, whoa – what?” Aimee replies, confused. “I’ll explain on the way. Come on!” she demands. **** The two girls rush out into the parking lot where Bruce Silverman is waiting for them. Aimee gets in the back seat of Bruce's car as Brenish sits up front next to Martin's father. Aimee has the diary in her hands. “So where are we going, Ivy?” Bruce asks, as he looks over at Brenish. “Um, St. Joseph's,” she sighs. Aimee moves forward and puts Sky's diary on the seat, but when Bruce starts the vehicle it slides onto the floor, with one of Martin's T-shirts, falling right on top of it. Aimee is too involved in the conversation to notice this. “Oh, my, God. That's where he is?” “It's where he always goes,” she replies. **** St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, downtown Lawrenceville… Bruce's car drives up to the curb by the church. Aimee and Brenish step out of the vehicle from the right hand passenger side doors, with Bruce stepping out from the driver's seat. He is still somewhat drunk and fumbles to shut the door to his car as he stares up at the majestic church, listening to the entrancing hymns. “So why would my kid go here? He has never gone to church a day in his life...” Aimee pulls Brenish to the side. “How do you know he’d be here?” “We’re best friends, that’s all,” Brenish replies. “Why?” She looks at her friend’s accusing face. “Oh no, you don’t think that I…” “Oh my, God! You like him!” Aimee interrupts, shocked. Brenish quickly turns away and enters the church. “You little bitch!” **** “Oh, Jesus Christ!” Martin exclaims as he turns around in his pew to see his father and two best friends. He quickly goes to the back of the church where Bruce meets him. “Get in the car!” he orders. Martin shakes his head. “Marty, what’s wrong?” Brenish asks. Aimee’s eyes narrow in hatred. “Did you drive here?” Martin asks, looking at his father. “Look at you – you’re practically drunk!” “Marty, what are you doing here?” Aimee whispers, stepping between him and his father. “I had to get away from everything, Aim. I had to…” he explained, holding back his tears. “How'd you find me?” He lowered his head in embarrassment. “I knew you'd be here,” Brenish responded. Aimee piped up. “I had to come too, Marty! I still care about you…” Brenish didn’t notice her friend’s jealousy and continued. “I knew this was your secret place to go, ever since the…” But she stopped mid-sentence, realizing this wasn't lunch hour at school, and his dad was standing beside her. “Look, I'm sorry about this morning,” Bruce added, remembering when he bent Martin’s finger backwards. Martin just shook his head. “Why did you come here?” he demanded. Brenish motioned for him to be quiet, as the congregation started turning their heads towards the back of the church. Aimee pulls her friend away from Martin. “What?” Brenish cries out. As Aimee is about to answer, Martin’s eyes begin to glow with evil, as Martin grabs his son’s arm and tries to force him out of the church. All of a sudden, a violent wind pushes Bruce through the glass doors of the church, as glass shatters everywhere. “What the…?” Brenish gasps, holding onto Aimee. Aimee looks over at Martin and catches a glimpse of his eyes. “Oh my God…” she whispers. Bruce gets up as the congregation starts to get out of the pews and come over to see what all of the commotion is about. The priest stops mid-sentence as he looks over at the four in the back of the church. Bruce wipes off the glass on his shirt and begins to wail on Martin. “Get off me!” Martin screams at the top of his lungs. The priest appears out of the crowd of people. “Stop!” he cries out, stepping in between the two. “Stop! This is a church!” Brenish look on in shock as Bruce backs away from Martin who is now covered in blood from his broken nose. Aimee backs away from everyone and gives herself a hug as she nervously shakes her head in disbelief. “No way…” she whispers to herself, remembering Martin’s eyes. “It can’t be…” **** The police arrive as Bruce is hauled off to the Lawrenceville Police Station. The three teenagers are given a ride home by officers. The moonlight shines on the floor of Bruce’s car. Underneath a t-shirt, a corner of Sky’s diary can be seen. Aimee has forgotten all about her mother's book. The book that contains all the secrets to her mysterious yet-to-be-revealed past… **** East Side Apartments… Aimee however is fast asleep and is having a nightmare as her face is twitching and she is moaning in fear. Her dream starts out at in a beautiful mansion. Aimee can feel herself being pulled up to a balcony where a young man and a woman are. She can hear them arguing about something but a baby can be heard crying somewhere in the background, blocking out their voices. The baby’s cries get louder and louder. The faces of the couple are blurry. Where is that damn baby, Aimee wonders, as the cries get closer and closer. The crying becomes deafening. All of a sudden, Aimee begins to concentrate once again on the couple. The man violently slaps the woman. He turns around, as he yells out something. The woman stands in the stairway, frightened, and catches a glimpse of a flower pot. She picks it up and smashes it aside the man’s head. He collapses and stumbles over the side of the balcony and plummets to his death. The room goes dark for a second. Suddenly a ray of light appears as Aimee finds herself next to the body. She kneels down beside him. The baby has stopped crying, as Aimee puts her hands on the floor, wondering who the couple is and who just died, but she feels something underneath her hands. She slowly touches her fingers together and notices the wetness. A bolt of lightening brightens up the room as Aimee looks down. Her hands are covered in blood. The man is dead… Aimee wakes up in a cold sweat and trembles with fear. She sits up quickly andlets out an ear-piercing scream. “MOM!!!!!!” (To be continued in “Episode Two: Buried Lies…”)

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!