SOMERSET EPISODE 36

Original airdate: 09/03/07

Written by: Steve Ungrey

SCENE ONE

It is a new week in Somerset, but it’s still the same day – as we pick up the action with a visit to Giovanni’s. Nick has stopped in for a drink while waiting for a business appointment to arrive, and he sees Annabella at the bar. Nick stops over and takes a seat.

ANNABELLA: (Sees Nick) Hey there, Nick… welcome to Giovanni’s!

NICK: You sound like you’re trying out your hostess voice on me.

ANNABELLA: Can’t a girl be hospitable anymore? (Laughs) What’ll you have?

NICK: Considering I have to go over budget numbers with someone, ya better make it a scotch.

ANNABELLA: Yikes… the hard stuff this early in the day?

NICK: Oh come on… it’s only early afternoon. Can’t a guy start drinking this early?

ANNABELLA: (Reaches for a bottle and pours) I suppose. Hey, did I tell you I’m thinking about cutting the apron strings finally?

NICK: How so?

ANNABELLA: (Sets the glass in front of Nick) I’m finally looking at moving out on my own.

NICK: So where will you place your million-dollar mansion? Up on the hill by the Cleypools?

ANNABELLA: Very funny. No, I’m actually thinking about living downtown here and finding a roommate to hang out with – what do you think?

NICK: Oh, if only it were this easy all the time. (Laughs)

ANNABELLA: What do you mean?

NICK: (Sees his client coming in) Tell ya what… can we touch base again after my meeting? I got an offer you can’t refuse.

ANNABELLA: If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you were…

NICK: Trying to pull a con job on you? Not quite. I’ll explain.

Nick walks over with his scotch to greet his business appointment as the music plays. The scene changes…

CUT TO – The Cleypool mansion

George has the pictures of Zachary with Victoria in front of him and he’s looking them over. He shakes his head and looks out the window as Fenwick comes in with coffee.

FENWICK: Your coffee, sir.

GEORGE: (Looks up) Ah, thanks Fenwick. After seeing this package I wish you’d put a little something stronger in this.

FENWICK: That can be arranged…

GEORGE: (Holds up hand and shakes his head) No, I was kidding. I need my wits about me for the conference call I’m going to have later on today.

FENWICK: As you wish, sir. (Walks away) The pick-me-up is in the pantry if you need it.

George chuckles before he turns back to the photos and looks them over.

GEORGE: (To himself) Ah, Zachary. You told me you were interested in a nurse at Somerset Hospital but you didn’t tell me who it was – and now I see why.

He goes over to the window with his coffee.

GEORGE: (Drinks coffee) You have all your choices in front of you. A blue-blood girl with wealth and social standing. And yet you choose… a Petterino.

Sipping coffee, George’s face slowly furrows.

GEORGE: And I, for one, am not happy.

As George looks out the window, we hear the Somerset theme start playing.

We see an overhead shot of downtown, with the camera slowly pulling away from the buildings. The Somerset logo pops on the screen and goes into position at the center.

BILL WOLFF: This… is Somerset. This portion of Somerset is brought to you today by the man behind the shine, today’s Mr. Clean. Cleans your whole house… and everything that’s in it.

SCENE TWO

FADE IN – Martin Enterprises office

Susannah and Jack are at a table in his office going over some documents, including the Peoples Building floor plan.

JACK: So the Cleybank Corporation didn’t secretly purchase this building to make my life miserable?

SUSANNAH: Nope. Joseph says the last known owner is D. Whitehead and Associates.

JACK: (Looks up) That company went bankrupt six years ago! I wonder if the city took possession of the building?

SUSANNAH: Wouldn’t Nick know that?

JACK: (Picks up phone) I’m checking right now… (phone rings and it goes to voicemail before beeping) Nicholas, Jack Martin here. Can you see if the Peoples Building is listed among foreclosed properties in Somerset? The last listed owner is no longer operating and I don’t think George had a chance to buy this building. Give me a jingle back as soon as you can. Thanks. (Puts down phone)

SUSANNAH: Think he’ll know the full answer?

JACK: That’s what he’s getting paid the big bucks for, Susannah. If I can easily purchase the Peoples Building, the rest of the plan falls into place easily.

SUSANNAH: I wish I knew what had you so psyched about that building.

JACK: It was a jewel of its time, Susannah. Don’t tell me you can’t remember what that building looked like…

SUSANNAH: Do you remember how old I was when Mom and Dad left Somerset? What was I doing, just learning the alphabet and watching Sesame Street?

JACK: That’s right. I keep forgetting you were all of two when Lahoma split town with you in tow.

SUSANNAH: I can imagine, though. Oklahoma City’s got some nice architecture and if that building was anything like I think, it was beautiful.

JACK: Yes. It was beautiful, indeed.

The camera slowly focuses on Jack’s face as he remembers back to what the building once looked like. His view from the night he peeked in the window – that of a decrepit, old shell of a grand ballroom – is replaced by an ornate wood paneled room brightly lit with chandeliers and a grand spiral staircase.

JACK: People came from all around to attend events in this building. They could have been there for daytime conventions or lavish parties at night. But this was the central hub.

SUSANNAH: How did this building get into disrepair?

JACK: When this area fell into bad economic times. A couple of major Somerset companies used to have their corporate headquarters here, and there used to be a law firm on the ninth floor.

SUSANNAH: Law firm, huh? Maybe we can eventually hang our shingle in that building.

JACK: Who’s we? Are you and Donna planning on branching out into private practice?

SUSANNAH: Well… that IS what you wanted us to do.

JACK: Quite right. Anyhow… this building has been vacant for about 20 years, save for a few business going in and out on the ground floor. I’m going to have to sink some money into refurbishing and remodeling the entire building.

SUSANNAH: I think it can be done. Let’s see what happens.

As Susannah finishes her coffee, the music plays out of the scene and we find ourselves heading out to residential areas…

CUT TO – Petterino house

Rose is at the kitchen counter making zabaglione for Scott, who has agreed to be a guinea pig for her latest tweaking of a dessert recipe.

ROSE: (Holding out spoon) Care to taste now?

SCOTT: (Taking sample and licking lips) Thumbs up, Rose. You’ve done it again.

ROSE: I always like you coming out here when I’m preparing my dessert items. You always tell me when they’re made perfectly or whether they need a little something.

SCOTT: I figure I could put my time in doing this while helping Giovanni nurse the fact his children are getting older.

Rose chuckles as she takes the zabaglione to the counter and continues preparing the mixture.

ROSE: Is he giving you a hard time about it?

SCOTT: Naa. Rose, it’s understandable. Annabella is facing 30 and she’s doing it very well and Tori is having fun of her own finishing up school and embarking on a nursing career.

ROSE: Then there’s Johnny running his restaurant in Denver.

SCOTT: Doesn’t talk about Johnny much, does he?

ROSE: Not really. And it isn’t anything bad that Johnny did. I think it’s because Johnny is out of the house. Out of sight, out of mind. I’m worried that Giovanni won’t acknowledge Annabella or Tori by seeing their new places when they get them.

SCOTT: What I don’t understand is why. Giovanni’s always been such a good family man. Or is he worried that the family is splinting?

ROSE: One word, Scott.

SCOTT: And that word is?

ROSE: Grandpa.

Scott’s eyes get a puzzled look as the music plays out the scene and the picture fades to black.

We’ll return to Somerset in just a moment.

BILL WOLFF: The first part of Somerset was brought to you by Old Spice. Old Spice is the deodorant embraced by generations old and young. We’ll continue with the second part of Somerset following station identification.

ANNOUNCER: Casey Hughes is back, but he feels lost in Oakdale. A New World Turns, new to the MySonTV lineup weekdays.

Music plays over a still picture of the Somerset logo.

SCENE THREE

FADE IN – Giovanni’s

Nick has just finished his budget meeting and is checking his work voicemail. He happens upon the call from Jack so he rings up the office.

Cutting back to Martin Enterprises, we see Jack pick up the phone.

JACK: Thanks, Joanne. (A click on the other end, presumably Joanne hanging up) Nicholas! Thanks for getting back so quickly.

NICK: You’re welcome. I’m a bit puzzled. Didn’t I tell you the Peoples Building was in the hands of a holding company?

JACK: It may not be. I’m with Susannah and she said the last known owner of the building was D. Whitehead and Associates. I used to do business with the company but it went bankrupt in the last recession.

NICK: Are you thinking its properties were parceled out in court?

JACK: It could very well be. Nick, you weren’t city manager six years ago but obviously you can tell if the city bought the building at a bankruptcy sale or something.

NICK: Well, it’s worth checking out. I’ll get right on it. (Jack says something off-camera) You bet, thanks. I’ll be in touch.

Nick hangs up, puts his cell phone away and heads back to the bar. Annabella has just come out with someone’s order but she returns to the bar and rests her arms on the counter.

ANNABELLA: I’m all ears, Nick. What have you got to say?

NICK: When do you want to move?

ANNABELLA: Probably within the next month. It all hinges on finding a roommate.

NICK: (Smiles) What would you say if I told you I had someone in mind?

ANNABELLA: I’d be interested.

NICK: Good. It just so happens my friend Donna is looking for someone to share an apartment with when she comes back to Somerset.

ANNABELLA: Is this the mystery woman that had you perplexed for weeks?

NICK: The one and only. Still have the bump on my head to prove it.

ANNABELLA: I’ll have to meet Donna, but from what I hear she sounds like a sweetie.

NICK: She is.

ANNABELLA: You’re biased.

NICK: And that’s a terrible thing to be if you’re a politician, but not in this case. With your earnings and what Donna will be making, you guys could go condo and have a high-rise.

ANNABELLA: I have thought about that. I haven’t told Dad, but Jack’s filled me in on some nice properties in the north part of downtown.

NICK: I wouldn’t tell Giovanni. He’d go nuts.

Annabella laughs as the music plays out and into the next scene…

CUT TO – Cleypool mansion living room

George is studying a folder as Fenwick comes in to alert him.

FENWICK: Master Cleypool, your caller is on the line.

GEORGE: Ah, good. Thank you, Fenwick.

As Fenwick leaves the room, George picks up the phone and sits at his desk.

GEORGE: About time you got back with me. Can you come over to the estate sometime today? (Smiles) Ah, yes. I’ll make it worth your trouble.

George smiles as sinister music plays out into commercial. The picture fades out.

We’ll return to Somerset in just a moment.

SCENE FOUR

FADE IN – Petterino kitchen

SCOTT: Grandpa – oh. I get it. Is he afraid of becoming one?

ROSE: On the contrary. He would love to spoil grandkids rotten, but none of the children are in any position to do it for him.

SCOTT: And HOW long do you guys have to enjoy retirement?

ROSE: Precisely. I’ve told him that. But he wants to make sure that the kids are in the right position in life. I think it’s why he and I give you such a hard time about Bella.

SCOTT: Sure it is. (Laughs)

ROSE: Well, Bella has her head screwed on right when it comes to a social calendar. I don’t know if I can say the same about Tori.

SCOTT: Why not?

ROSE: For starters, she’s kind of seeing Zachary Cleypool.

SCOTT: (Eyes widen) Ah, an interesting choice of boyfriends indeed.

ROSE: They’re not quite boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but they’re getting there.

SCOTT: And your attitude is not good about it, I presume?

ROSE: (Laughs) You think? Bella asked me if George and I had an affair and it ended badly and I told her no way. I just can’t fathom how George treats people and I’m afraid he’d be all over those two.

SCOTT: Maybe not. You don’t know.

CUT TO – Cleypool mansion living room

George is still on the phone with his mystery caller.

GEORGE: Listen, I’ll be in touch to set up a meeting time. But I’m wondering if you’re ready to cause havoc in Somerset for some people.

Looking down at the picture, he adds one more line.

GEORGE: Well, one in particular.

As the camera slowly zooms in on the photo of Zachary and Victoria, the music carries the program out to a commercial and Somerset shuts down for the day.

Credits rolling

BILL WOLFF: Fashions by Junior Gallery. Jewelry by Swarovsky Design Group.

Join us each weekday afternoon at this time for the continuing story of Somerset. And stay tuned for Salem Lives, coming up next over most of these SONBC stations.

This program was recorded.