(The town of Somerset is slowly drawn on screen line-by-line as the music swells to its climax)

This… is Somerset.

SCENE ONE

The imposing Cleypool mansion is shown from a distance as the camera pans in. We see George sitting at his study table taking a look at some financial statements when Zachary comes in wearing a walking boot on his right foot and ankle.

ZACHARY: Hey, Dad. I’m back from the hospital.

GEORGE: (Takes a look) What the heck did they do to you, wrap your ankle in thousands of pieces of bandage?

ZACHARY: No, it’s called a walking boot. It’ll help me get around. The doctors told me I wrecked my ankle worse than I thought in the motorcycle accident, and this is the best way I can get around for a while.

GEORGE: Well… at least you’re in one piece.

ZACHARY: It’s going to involve weekly therapy sessions. Do you think you can get along without me here at the house for that long?

GEORGE: (Looks up from his paperwork) You know better than to ask that question.

ZACHARY: (Smiling) I know. I was just testing. I’ll be upstairs if you need me. (Turns to head up the staircase)

George shakes his head, wondering how he raised such a mischievous son. He’s turned back to his paperwork when Fenwick walks in, holding a package.

FENWICK: Delivery, Master Cleypool.

GEORGE: Oh, good. (Taking the package, he looks inside) Just what I was waiting for today.

FENWICK: And what good would a newspaper clipping be?

GEORGE: (Looks up) Did you look at this?

FENWICK: No, sir. I don’t snoop around in what you’re doing… and besides, any old oaf can see that’s a newspaper in the package.

GEORGE: (Realizing the paper shows through the package itself) Uh… right. Okay, Fenwick. Thank you as always.

FENWICK: No problem, sir. (Turns and leaves the room)

GEORGE: (Taking a newspaper out of the package… we see it is an older edition of The Kansas City Star) This is just the ammunition I need. (Smiling as he prepares his plan)

CUT TO: The Petterino household, where Rose and Giovanni are at home after a day at the restaurant.

GIOVANNI: You know, I’m glad we have a capable night staff that can step in and manage the place if we decide to have a night at home.

ROSE: You bet. And with Victoria working at the hospital and heading out with a couple of her girlfriends later on, the house is all to ourselves.

GIOVANNI: (Comes over and sits on the couch next to Rose) Did I ever tell you that you’re as delectable as the moment I laid eyes on you in college?

ROSE: All the time. But do it again.

GIOVANNI: Okay.

He leans in to kiss Rose and soon their passion has them heading up the staircase with the music rising and the picture fading to black. The Somerset logo reappears.

Somerset… brought to you today by Sunshine Fresh Gain, the laundry detergent with the sunshine-fresh scent for clean clothes… and by dark, sparkling Folger’s Crystals. The coffee that tastes as rich as it looks.

SCENE TWO

We fade in on the Register offices, where Mike is busy working on his latest masterpiece… only he doesn’t think it’s one and his editor, Norman Vickery, senses his displeasure.

NORMAN: (Checking in at Mike’s cubicle) How’s the city commission story coming?

MIKE: Good, but it’s not going to be an award-winning story, if that’s what you’re wondering.

NORMAN: No one expects it to be.

MIKE: Good, because it’s done. (Pushes button on keyboard to send the story over to editing). Take a look at it and see what you think.

NORMAN: Fair enough. (Peruses computer screen) This isn’t bad, Mike. Granted, it’s city commission votes…

MIKE: How the heck did reporters like Steve Slade investigate the mob in this town and I end up with the city commission?

NORMAN: You know the answer to that, Mike. Somerset isn’t the town it was 30-some years ago, and be grateful for that.

MIKE: Oh, I know. I’m just waiting for a big story to come along. Any story that I can sink my teeth into and give it a good ride. I wish Jack Martin would hurry up with details of his proposed Project X.

NORMAN: And what makes you think Jack will be your savior?

MIKE: He has the backing of a lot of people in this town… well, with the exception of one, and even he’s not as big a problem as he could be.

NORMAN: (Laughs) Just wait, Mike. Eventually you’ll get your front-page scoop and a trip to New York to work your dream job. (Walks away)

MIKE: (Settling back into the cubicle) And it can’t happen soon enough.

The music builds and the scene changes to Bernard’s Restaurant, where Scott is in nursing a beer and talking with Bernard about the goings-on in Somerset.

SCOTT: You been having any problems with the graffiti-mongers out there, Bernard?

BERNARD: Naaa. For the most part they leave me alone. They know that this restaurant draws a good crowd and they stay away.

SCOTT: I wish that we didn’t have this problem here. If we didn’t, then my track record as lieutenant would be spotless.

BERNARD: You know it beats the old days. When you’re dealing with kids spraying paint cans on walls, then the crime rate isn’t that bad here.

SCOTT: I hear you. (Finishes beer) You have a good evening, my friend. Are you out of here yet?

BERNARD: Naaa, I’m here a little while longer. I’ll keep your seat warm if you choose to come back.

SCOTT: Think I’ll go home, read the Register and count my blessings. (Waves goodbye as he leaves) So long.

Bernard wipes the table down as we cut to outside the restaurant. As Scott is about to get in his car, he sees a red convertible sportscar speeding down the street going 60 in what is easily a 40 zone.

SCOTT: What the heck? (Goes to his dashboard to pull out the radio) All units on duty, be on the lookout for a red convertible that may be speeding toward you. The car looks like it’s going about 20 or 25 over the limit.

The music builds and the picture fades to black.

We’ll return to Somerset in just a moment.

SCENE THREE

In the Petterino house, Giovanni and Rose are upstairs basking in the afterglow after a round of lovemaking.

ROSE: I always can tell when you love not having the kids around. You turn into the lothario you always were when we were younger.

GIOVANNI: Hey… is it my fault I have the libido like a bodybuilder? It’s us passionate Italians, you know.

ROSE: And I’m glad we came home early tonight. It’s a great feeling to (hears a rattling noise downstairs and she sits up)… what the hell?

GIOVANNI: Hey, don’t worry. The security alarm didn’t go off, so everything’s probably all right. (The alarm goes off) Forget I just said that. I’ll go check it out.

ROSE: Hurry back.

Giovanni hurriedly dresses and takes a baseball bat downstairs with him, a bat that he uses in just such an emergency. He heads downstairs, where he sees a shadowy figure trying to mess with the security system.

GIOVANNI: Hands up, you… (The lights come on and Giovanni’s face drops) Oh, my…

CUT TO: Bernard’s Restaurant, where Bernard is serving a customer when Nick walks in.

BERNARD: Hey, Nick. What’ll you have?

NICK: Make a mean Manhattan. I sure can use one.

BERNARD: Coming right up. (Goes to the booze while Nick looks forward at the wall)

NICK: Kinda slow around here tonight?

BERNARD: Naaa. It’s picked up in the last hour.

As Nick is nursing his drink, he hears a familiar voice in the background.

WOMAN: Hey, hot stuff… want to enjoy a vodka with me?

Nick slowly turns. He can’t believe his ears. Could it be? As he turns to look, he sees the mystery woman from the bar. How did she find him?

WOMAN: (Crosses legs, poses seductively) Why don’t you come back and share your Manhattan with me?

NICK: No better time than the present, right?

He runs from the bar toward the woman’s table.

NICK: I can’t believe you found me… we didn’t even…

About halfway across the room, Nick runs into what appears to be an imaginary wall. He hits the wall with a thud.

CUT TO: Nick’s bedroom

We see that Nick was in bed but has fallen with a crash to the floor. He tries to get up and notices that he has blood on his head. He quickly takes out his cell phone and dials 911 before being overcome and collapsing again to the floor. The picture immediately blacks out.

Join us each weekday afternoon at this time for the continuing story of Somerset. And on most of these same computers, be sure to enjoy From These Roots, which soon moves to another network but not without ending its SONBC run with a bang. The preceding program was pre-recorded.