SOMERSET EPISODE 9
Written by Steve Ungrey
Original Airdate Thursday July 24, 2008
SCENE ONE
FADE IN -- Washington, D.C.
We
see stock footage of the Washington D.C. area, with the accompanying
title below that says the city’s name, as the Capitol can be seen in the
background and Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.
DISSOLVE TO -- A Washington hotel room
Nick
is just checking in with people back in Somerset. He flew over early in
the morning to check into his hotel and start interacting with people,
and he is already finding some possible connections. Still, he can’t
shake the fact he finds conventions boring.
After checking his messages at City Hall, Nick dials Jack at Martin Enterprises. Joanne answers on the other end.
JOANNE
Martin Enterprises, this is Joanne?
NICK
Hey Jo, Nick Barclay here.
JOANNE
(Smiles as she turns toward her computer screen)
Well, good afternoon, Mr. Barclay. How’s the capital treating you?
NICK
Don’t ask. It’s just like I thought it might be. Do you ever get tired of saying Martin Enterprises in your sleep?
JOANNE
It’s just like Pam on The Office. You get used to it.
NICK
I bet. Is Jack around?
JOANNE
You’re lucky. He’s been in Johnson City all morning and he just got back an hour or so ago.
NICK
Good deal.
JOANNE
I’ll put you through. Hold on a second.
CUT TO -- Jack’s office
We see Jack studying some folders when the phone rings. Picking it up, Jack springs into action.
JACK
Yes, Joanne? (Pauses) Ah, the prodigal city manager reports. Put him through.
The line clicks twice before Nick says hello.
JACK
And how are you? How’s the Rensslaer Hotel’s accommodations? I trust your suite is pretty good?
NICK
Well,
you didn’t pay for it. This is strictly out of the City Hall account.
I’m allotted an amount of money for seminars and training.
JACK
And I can’t add anything to it, I know. I know. How are things?
NICK
Well, I just wanted to let you know I'm among the living down here... if the seminars aren't putting me to sleep, that is.
JACK
Oh come on. You haven’t been to too many of them, have you?
NICK
A
couple this afternoon, one in the early evening, and then a few more
tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m going to go enjoy myself thoroughly in
the interim.
JACK
(Sits at his desk with coffee, scanning some sheets)
Well, you left so early today to get down there and I didn't have a chance to say goodbye before you did.
NICK
I
had to get out of here quickly, so I called a couple chits in with a
friend at the airport and he got me a seat on this morning’s puddle
jumper to Chicago. I flew to Washington from there.
JACK
And got in just in time, I take it?
NICK
Yes.
And don’t worry about not getting to say goodbye. You’ve had your hands
full with your dinner guests and then the stuff in Johnson City this
morning. Is everything OK there?
JACK
Oh yes, everything is
just fine. Sam and Lahoma left earlier today and I still haven't heard
if anything went wrong. I did hear Zachary Cleypool is in the hospital,
though.
NICK
Dear Lord, as a result of the car accident no doubt. George isn’t going to let Susannah and the Lucases forget that.
JACK
Well, don’t worry about that. You leave Susannah and George and company to me.
Jack smiles as a little fun, sinister music plays to take us into the opening credits.
The
theme begins as we see an overhead shot of downtown as the camera is
pulling away. The Somerset logo pops into position and goes toward the
center of the screen.
BILL WOLFF
This… is Somerset.
This
portion brought to you today by Ivory soap, the soap without a lot of
extra ingredients. For a pure and natural kind of clean, lather up with
Ivory.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCENE TWO
FADE IN -- Jack’s office
We continue the conversation between Jack and Nick about the convention.
JACK
You just bring back some knowledge on how to further your political career and we‘ll get along just fine.
NICK
Jack,
that’s what I don’t understand. We don’t have a mayor here in Somerset.
I’m essentially the head honcho. How can the youngest city manager ever
in Somerset go even further? It would involve leaving the area.
JACK
Nicholas,
you could run for anything! Mayor, yes, if they'd decide to create a
mayor's position. You could run for state office. You could be a United
States Senator.
NICK
I can dream about the latter, right?
JACK
Illinois has to turn red someday, doesn't it? (Pauses) Now how long do the seminars go today and tomorrow?
NICK
There's
some stuff tonight and tomorrow. In all seriousness, it's all right, if
you call seminars for city managers your cup of tea.
JACK
Well, by all means, have fun in Washington and make sure you sample some of the nightlife tonight.
NICK
I
may sneak out to a bar and grab a drink or dinner. The Nationals are
playing Florida tonight, so I might head out and watch the game.
JACK
That’s the spirit, my boy. Let me know how things go, OK?
NICK
You bet. Take care.
Nick puts down the phone on his end and then rests his head on his hands.
NICK
If I don’t die of boredom first.
Light music plays as Nick laughs to himself as he sips coffee.
DISSOLVE TO -- Somerset Hospital
The
outside of Somerset Hospital appears, as we fade in on Zachary's room.
Patrick, who just got to the hospital to make patient rounds, is
examining Zachary's ankle.
PATRICK
Zachary, I didn’t know you wanted to stay here so much. Here you were all set to leave our care, and...
ZACHARY
And like an idiot, I stumbled. I think I may have twisted my ankle in the accident…
PATRICK
The tests we ran last night indicated no problems with your ankle. Did you have any other injuries in the last year?
Zachary thinks about it and then it dawns on him.
ZACHARY
Dammit…
I suffered a foot injury last year when I was playing a pickup game of
basketball with some friends and my doctor at the time told me that if I
didn’t take it easy with the foot then something could happen.
PATRICK
Well,
in your defense, I think you banged your foot against the bed at just
the right point. Something inside shattered and now we have to find out
just what happened.
Off-camera, a voice can be heard yelling “Where is my son?”
ZACHARY
Oh God, the cavalry’s here. Get ready.
Zachary covers his face with his hands, shakes his head and waits as George bursts into Zachary’s room.
GEORGE
What the hell did you do to my son? (He yells at Patrick) You call yourself a DOCTOR?
PATRICK
Mr. Cleypool, need I remind you this is a hospital and there are patients trying to rest?
GEORGE
This
is a HOSPITAL? I thought it was the Somerset Country Club, tee time was
at 9 and roast quail was being served for dinner. (Sheds the sarcasm)
Of course I know this is a hospital, you insufferable…
PATRICK
Do
you care to know how your son is or are you more interested in talking
about the finer points of how we don’t treat patients well here?
George looks at Zachary’s new injury and back at Patrick, wondering how they could have let this happen.
GEORGE
Well, the last I knew he was supposed to be discharged this morning following the accident.
ZACHARY
And I still will be, Dad. Just a bit later on today. They're running a few tests.
Victoria
has her nurses’ clipboard as she comes in the room, but she goes to a
corner for a second while the drama plays out by Zachary’s bedside.
Light music plays as Victoria looks at Zachary and George going at it.
BILL WOLFF
We'll return to Somerset in just a moment.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
(We see “On The Road Again” title card)
A
rolling stone collects no moss, but what if it travels in a circle and
comes to rest where it started? Coming home is never easy after being On
The Road Again. Coming weekdays this fall to the Daytime Royalty
lineup.
(We see “Somerset” title card and hear a soft version of the theme)
BILL
WOLFF: And now, following station identification, we’ll return with the
second half of Somerset. This portion is presented by Tide Total Care,
the detergent that takes care of your laundry in seven different ways.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCENE THREE
FADE IN -- Somerset Hospital
The dramatic conversation continues between Zachary and George
GEORGE
(Looking at Patrick and Victoria)
And then he can go, right? Away from any further poking and prodding...
ZACHARY
Dad.
I did this on my own. Remember last year when I busted up my foot
playing basketball? Remember the doctor said it didn’t quite heal
properly? Well, I banged my foot against the bed and it caused the
injury to recur.
GEORGE
I should take that motorcycle away from you…
That last line gets Zachary, who has finally had enough.
ZACHARY
And
what, Dad? Give me back my tricycle? My building blocks? Put me back in
kindergarten?? Dad, I’m not two years old again. I’m over 21.
GEORGE
You think I don’t know that? I can't do anything because you're free and over 21 years old.
ZACHARY
You keep thinking I'm a child, in other words.
George sees he’s going to get nowhere arguing, so he gives up the ghost.
GEORGE
Well,
get the hell out of that bed as soon as you can. I'm just headed
upstairs for a board meeting. I’ll be upstairs for a few hours.
PATRICK
Mr. Cleypool, by the time your meeting is over, your son should be ready to go.
GEORGE
Good.
George
turns and walks out of the room, and Victoria takes a couple steps
forward. She’s gulping and swallowing a bit after seeing George in
action.
VICTORIA
Is your dad always like that?
ZACHARY
I'm
sorry you had to see that. You actually helped me out this morning when
I fell. When you came back in you were actually pretty gentle in
getting me back up on my feet.
VICTORIA
Hey, it’s all in a day's work. I'll be back in shortly.
Victoria leaves Zachary’s room and heads out to the nurses station. The phone rings just as Victoria reaches the counter.
VICTORIA
Timed just perfectly, whoever you are. (Picks up phone) Fourth floor, Nurse Petterino?
As
Victoria is on the phone with a caller and writing something down on
paper, Alana enters the station and checks her cubicle for messages.
Alana sees Mike’s note when she opens it up and laughs to herself.
Victoria finishes up the call.
VICTORIA
OK, I'll make sure Dr. Kettering gets this note immediately. Thank you.
Victoria puts down the phone, looks up and smiles as she puts the paper in Dr. Kettering’s cubicle.
VICTORIA
Reading your latest love note?
ALANA
(Shakes her head)
Don't tell me you read this. If you did...
VICTORIA
I most certainly did not. If he’s he's whispering sweet nothings to you... (giggles)
Alana whacks Victoria over the head with her cardboard folder.
ALANA
See
if I ever invite you over for mint chocolate chip ice cream again! For
your information, Tori, he just wondered if I'd be free for coffee some
night this week. And if not, he'd be happy to come to the hospital for
coffee in the cafeteria.
VICTORIA
Well, isn’t that nice. Sounds like all he wants is to have a little coffee with his favorite nurse.
ALANA
Personally, if you ask me, I think the man is lovesick.
VICTORIA
Well, after some of what you told me last night… I think you might be too.
A bit of surprise music plays as Alana gets an incredulous look on her face. The picture fades to black.
We'll return to Somerset in just a moment.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCENE FOUR
FADE IN -- Somerset Hospital
The conversation between Victoria and Alana continues.
VICTORIA
Alana, did I strike a nerve?
Alana quickly regains her senses and shakes her head.
ALANA
No,
no, you didn't. Is it that obvious? Tori, I can get along just fine
without someone in my life. You're doing just fine without one.
VICTORIA
Career comes first for me, for now at least. And besides, I didn’t say you had to marry the guy now, did I?
ALANA
No,
you didn't. It just seems like ever since Mike got roughed up a bit
when there was that protest demonstration downtown and I checked him
out, he's been smitten.
VICTORIA
I don’t think he’s smitten, Alana. He just wants to share a cup of joe with his favorite nurse.
ALANA
I should see if Taylor’s looking for a date. Might you be even interested? (Laughs)
VICTORIA
The
last I knew, Taylor was working through some stuff… and me, I’m content
pouring through books to study. My exam’s coming up in another several
weeks, after all.
ALANA
That it is. All right, I’ll be down the hall checking on some patients.
As
Alana takes her clipboards and disappears, Victoria shakes her head and
laughs, thinking Alana is obviously missing out on something. Playful
music is heard as the scene changes.
DISSOLVE TO -- Martin Enterprises
Joanne
is at the desk sorting through some folders to give to Jack. As she
stands up at her desk, ready to go inside, the elevator doors open and
Susannah steps off.
JOANNE
Susannah! Good to see you again!
SUSANNAH
Good to see you too, Joanne. I might be seeing more of you if Jack and I have a good enough conversation.
Joanne’s face brightens.
JOANNE
Are you thinking of taking Jack up on his offer?
SUSANNAH
I just want to talk to him first. Is he available?
JOANNE
One second.
Joanne sits on the edge of the desk, picks up the phone and punches one button.
JOANNE
Jack, Susannah Lucas is here to see you. (Smiles) Thought so. OK.
She puts down the phone and motions with her hand.
JOANNE
Go right on in. He’s happy you’re here. Would you like anything before you settle in to talk to Jack?
SUSANNAH
Cup of coffee, maybe?
JOANNE
I was just about to get one myself, so I’ll bring two more with a tray.
SUSANNAH
Thanks. Wish me luck.
Susannah goes toward the door and opens it to find Jack at his desk, deep in paperwork.
JACK
Ah,
Susannah! Thanks for rescuing me from this mountain of work. Did Lahoma
and Sam get off safely this morning? I was over in Johnson City.
SUSANNAH
Safely off back to Oklahoma City. I got a text message from Dad an hour ago.
JACK
Adjusting fine already?
SUSANNAH
Well, I thought I’d begin my life as a single gal by coming over and safely asking you this one question.
JACK
Fire away.
SUSANNAH
Okay. (Pauses) Did Dad ask you to hire me?
The question catches Jack by surprise as the picture fades to black with accompanying closing music.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
The Somerset credits roll.
BILL WOLFF
This... was Somerset.
Mens suits by Brooks Brothers.
Jewelry by Monet.
Please stay tuned for Harpers Falls, which follows immediately over many of these same stations.
And join us each weekday afternoon at this time for the continuing story of Somerset. The preceding program was recorded.
