Misguiding Light

Episode 1

Monday January 21, 2008

Written By: Dan Gobble

“Look out!” Tony Santos yells as he grabs a suspicious backpack from the floor of the WSPR studio. He lobs the pack down the stairwell where it suddenly explodes.

Chaos ensues as the studio filled with the screams of the crew and studio audience.

“Get the bomb squad in here!” Gus yells into the radio. “Levy, go down in that stairwell to see if anyone was hurt in the blast!”

Josh rushes to Reva’s side to see if she’s okay. “Reva, I think we should forget this idea. The stalker obviously knows what we are up to. It just isn’t safe.”

“What are you saying Joshua? That we should lock ourselves into the house and wait for the stalker to come after us? I’m tired of this. I ‘m tired of living with an armed guard at my door. This is going to end. Today.”

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And Now "Misguiding Light!"

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Frank walks out of the production booth and finds Gus and Harley. The bomb squad believe the explosion was from a pipe bomb, he says. Probably homemade.

“Levy went down the stairwell, but there were no injuries,” Gus replies. “We’ve got officers going through the building. If this stalker is still here, he or she couldn’t have gotten too far ahead.”

“Frank, what did the bomb squad say?” Josh asks as he and Reva approach them.

“It was from a homemade pipebomb,” Harley replies.

“Listen Reva, I think we should stop the show. For all we know, the stalker could still be here in the building.”

“Frank, I know you mean well, but I’ve made up my mind. The show must go on. But if you want to get rid of the audience, then fine. I’m staying here.”

“Fine. But if things get hairy again, we’re pulling the plug, okay?” Frank happens to glance at the audience and notices Holly sitting next to Ed, Blake and Ross.

“I thought you said Holly declined the invitation?” Frank asks.

“She did, but she told me that she came to clear her name.”

“I see,” Frank answers and walks over to Holly. “Hey Holly, could I talk to you for a moment?”

Frank asks her why she came to the station when she told Reva she wasn’t coming.

“I came because I’m not going to stand by while everyone flings accusations at me. I would like to clear my name.”

“Well, when you came to clear your name, did you happen to bring any backpacks?”

“What are you trying to say Frank? Do you honestly believe that I would destroy my own studio?”

“I’m not saying anything. Given your history of alcoholism, not to mention abducting my daughter, brothers, and your grandchildren. I’m sure you must have been pretty angry when your board of directors asked you to step down, weren’t you?”

“Holly—don’t answer that,” Ed interrupts.

“Ed. It’s okay,” Holly says. “Yes, I was angry, but I wouldn’t harm my studio, especially with me in it.”

“Maybe. But just in case, I think I’d like you to come down to the station after the show, if you will?”

Frank walks away and tells Harley and Gus that he’s leaving to find Edmund before the show. “Keep an eye on Holly, Harley,” he says. “Make sure she doesn’t leave the building.”

Harley nods. Reva returns and tells her that everything is ready for the show. Gus and Harley strap a wire on Reva. “If we find out anything, you’ll be the first to know. Once we get a call, it will take about a minute for us to trace the call. So keep everyone talking as long as you can.”

“Reva, you’re on in ten,” the director says. She makes her way to the stage as the theme music begins.

“Hello everyone and welcome to a special edition of the Reva Show.”

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Holly gets up from her seat and sneaks off down the hall. Ed spots her and follows her out to the hallway.

“What are you doing Holly?”

“I—I had to get out of there. Didn’t you hear Frank? Now they think I would be insane enough to bomb the studio, my studio!”

“Obviously, they’re wrong,” Ed smiles. “It makes no sense. Why would you want to go after Reva for?”

“The walls seem to be closing in on me and I can’t get out. I need to get away.”

“Holly, you know that running away will only feed into their suspicions.” Holly nods.

“It’s hard, I know, when friends don’t trust you. But remember, you don’t have to go through it alone.” Ed says as he kisses Holly’s cheek. “Come on, let’s go back in.”

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Phillip and Olivia return to from Cedars and find Alexandra glued to the television. Phillip asks what she is watching. Alexandra replies, “Reva’s show. Apparently, she has a stalker and is trying to fish him or her out on her show.”

“There goes Reva and Josh in yet another drama,” Olivia says as she rolls her eyes. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they are faking it just to be the center of attention again. It is almost sweeps isn’t it?”

“I certainly wouldn’t put it past her,” Alex adds. “ I don’t think her life is complete without a little melodrama.”

The commercial break ends and Reva appears on the screen. Olivia notices that Josh is sitting next to her and releases a small sigh, which Phillip hears.

“Do you have any… regrets?” Phillip asks.

“Regrets about what? About Josh and me?” Olivia pauses. “No. Frankly, I’m glad to be out of that mess…because despite how far apart emotionally Reva and Josh claim to be, anyone who gets in the way of their connection is already a third wheel. You can’t build a relationship when you are always playing second fiddle to someone else. I guess I learned that the hard way, didn’t I?”

Olivia stares at the television. “Those two deserve each other.” She caresses her stomach and excuses herself to bed.

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Harley and Gus remain in the production booth watching the show.

“The show’s almost over and the stalker still hasn’t called in yet,” Harley remarks. “The only calls have been supportive of Reva.”

Suddenly, Harley’s cell phone rings.

“Oh God,” she replies. “Thanks Frank.”

Gus asks her what happened and Harley answers that Frank lost track of Edmund. The two cops glance at the monitors and see Reva on the set.

“Thank you so much Sara. I’m glad you called. Thank you everyone for joining me. I’m sorry that we weren’t able to make contact—Oh, I’ve been told we have one final caller on the line. Who is this?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know Reva?” a distorted voice cracks. “I see my little present hasn’t stopped the show. You thought you got rid of me, didn’t you? But I’ll always be around,” the voice hisses as the show fades to black.