EPISODE 16 -- WELCOME HOME

SOMERSET EPISODE 16
DRtv airdate: August 4, 2008
Written by: Steve Ungrey

SCENE ONE

FADE IN -- Petterino house

The fourth week of Somerset begins with a direct pickup of Friday’s final scene involving Giovanni and Rose in bed together, with the dialogue replayed so that viewers can recall what took place.

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. Viagra’s not needed around this house.

ROSE
And I am so glad we came home early tonight. It’s a great feeling to…

We hear a rattling noise downstairs. The music instantly turns from light romantic to a sinister piano.

ROSE
(Sitting up bolt upright in bed)
What the hell?

GIOVANNI
Hey, don’t worry about it. The security alarm didn’t go off, so everything’s probably all right. It‘s so quiet in here sometimes we can hear rattling.

The security alarm suddenly sounds, and now Giovanni is a little concerned.

GIOVANNI
Forget everything I just said. I’ll go check it out.

ROSE
Hurry back. (Scared tone of voice) And be careful.

Giovanni puts a pair of pants on 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 alarm.

GIOVANNI
Hands up, you…

The lights come on and Giovanni’s face drops.

GIOVANNI
Oh my…

He breaks out into a wide smile.

We cut to a young woman standing by the security system, having finally disabled the alarm. She turns around.

It is Annabella, the Petterinos’ oldest daughter, who has sneaked back into Somerset without warning.

ANNABELLA
(Sheepishly grinning)
Uh… hi, Daddy.

Giovanni can’t quite believe his eyes. The music plays and the picture fades to black.

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 Pert, the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner for hair that bounces and behaves.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

SCENE TWO

FADE IN -- Somerset Hospital

We see the hospital’s outline at night, accompanied by dramatic piano music. A gurney is wheeled into the ER, with the camera rushing alongside it to give the viewer a sensation of being dramatically wheeled into the hospital.

Nick is on the gurney, having collapsed at his home in Friday’s cliffhanger. There is a white bandage on his head with red streaks indicating blood.

Patrick sees the gurney being brought in and rushes over.

PATRICK
Hey guys, what do we have…

He does a double take when he sees Nick’s face.

PATRICK
Oh my God… Nick! Nick, what happened?

Nick, who is struggling to stay conscious, mumbles.

NICK
Wh… where… am I?

PATRICK
It’s Patrick, Nick. Patrick Kurtz. You’ve been wheeled into the hospital. Do you know what happened to you?

Nick musters a faint smile.

NICK
I guess I’m…

Nick’s voice starts to tail off as he loses consciousness.

NICK
Not at Bernard’s anymore.

Patrick has a puzzled look on his face at what Nick just said. The gurney is wheeled into one of the emergency rooms.

DISSOLVE TO -- Taylor’s apartment

Victoria and Taylor are stumbling into Taylor’s apartment in the darkness. Taylor flips the light switch and for the first time we see Taylor’s apartment in the flesh.

Taylor, who lives in the Whispering Gardens complex just a few miles from Grant’s Preserve, has a modest but well-furnished one-bedroom apartment with a view of the edge of downtown Somerset.

Taylor puts down her purse and shuts the door.

TAYLOR
You sure you don’t want to stay the night? You’re more than welcome.

VICTORIA
Naaa, that’s all right. I may crash for a couple hours here and then sneak home to sleep in my own bed. Thanks, though.

TAYLOR
No problem. Tonight was a lot of fun.

Victoria turns and quizzically looks at Taylor.

VICTORIA
Was it?

TAYLOR
You act as if you didn’t have any fun.

VICTORIA
I did and so did you… until Joanne walked in.

Music plays as the picture fades to black.

BILL WOLFF
We'll return to Somerset in just a moment.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

(We see “For Now and Forever” title card)

The show you loved to watch is back. Join us for repeats of For Now and Forever, as part of our lineup. Weekdays.

(We see “Somerset” title card and hear a soft version of the theme)

BILL WOLFF:
In just a moment, the second part of Somerset. Presented today by the moist, delicious desserts of Duncan Hines.

We'll return to Somerset following station identification.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

SCENE THREE

FADE IN -- Somerset Hospital

Alana is in the nurses’ lounge taking one short break before finishing her 12-hour shift, and an unidentified nurse comes in looking for her.

ALANA
Hey, am I missing anything?

NURSE
I think they just brought your ex in here.

Alana suddenly appears worried.

ALANA
My ex… Nick, what happened?

CUT TO -- ER

Patrick is looking at Nick and he instructs a nurse to call Bernard’s.

PATRICK
I want to find out if Nick was at Bernard’s tonight.

Alana rushes toward the ER and comes through the door.

ALANA
Nick? Nick, are you here?

She sees Nick and rushes right over.

PATRICK
Calm down, Alana. I’m running some tests here shortly, but I think Nick’s just been the victim of a nasty bump on the head.

The police officer accompanying the gurney nods his head and agrees.

OFFICER
We got a call from Nick’s apartment but there wasn’t a response on the other end. Our tracing system routed the call back to his apartment. When we got there we saw no signs of a struggle. It looked like one of his drawers by the nightstand was hanging out slightly.

PATRICK
(Looks a little puzzled)
Nick, what the heck was going on at your place tonight?

ALANA
Poor baby. (She kisses Nick’s forehead) Hey sweetie, you awake?

Nick opens his eyes, albeit weakly. He softly talks.

NICK
I wondered how long it would take you to come running out here.

Alana strokes Nick’s forehead as the music plays to change scenes.

DISSOLVE TO -- Petterino home

Giovanni still has the bat hanging over his head.

ANNABELLA
Dad, you’re not going to look like Barry Bonds, no matter how hard you try.

Giovanni puts down the bat and opens his arms.

GIOVANNI
Bello figlia… welcome home.

Rose, who isn’t sure what’s going on, comes down the stairs.

ROSE
What’s all the commotion down here…

Rose turns and sees Annabella.

ROSE
Oh my… (Running over to hug and kiss Annabella) Bella, honey.

ANNABELLA
I missed you all like crazy. I couldn’t wait to get home.

GIOVANNI
I thought you weren’t coming home for a couple weeks, honey.

ANNABELLA
I thought so, too. Then they canceled a photo shoot I was supposed to do, and when my agents said I didn’t have anything left on the schedule I decided to make a couple plane arrangements on the sly.

ROSE
Well, you certainly surprised us. (Goes toward the kitchen) We need to make a pot of coffee.

ANNABELLA
Mom, don’t bother. I’m fine. I got some sleep on board the flight back. Don’t ask me how, but I did it.

ROSE
Well, we need some coffee. Right, Giovanni?

GIOVANNI
Speak for yourself, mia moglie.

ANNABELLA
I was able to get an earlier flight to Chicago. Then I got my car out of storage and drove out to Somerset. I figured I’d surprise you guys… I didn’t think you’d be asleep.

GIOVANNI
Oh, we weren’t asleep…

ANNABELLA
You weren’t…

She sees Giovanni’s smile and Rose snickering, and Annabella covers her ears.

ANNABELLA
Oh guys, more information than needed…

ROSE
(Changing the subject)
How was the trip back?

ANNABELLA
Not bad. The nice thing about getting in the skies and getting back to America is no one knows who I am here. It’s only when I get to Italy that I become Annabella, the supermodel.

GIOVANNI
Hey, a few people in the States know who you are. It’s not that bad, is it?

ANNABELLA
Naa. (Hears knock on door) Who could be… oh no, did I alert the police?

ROSE
You may have, I’ll check it out.

Rose goes to the back door and sees Scott there. She opens the door.

ROSE
Lt. Garfield! Come on in…

Scott enters the kitchen area.

SCOTT
Don’t mind if I do, Rose. I thought I’d check out the scene. The security company notified us there was an alarm tripped?

ANNABELLA
I’m afraid I tripped it.

Scott turns to see Annabella’s smiling face. Light music plays as we change scenes.

DISSOLVE TO -- Taylor’s apartment

Taylor and Victoria are in the middle of a conversation and Joanne’s name has come up.

TAYLOR
Was it that obvious?

VICTORIA
Well, when Joanne left and the other nurses got there everything started to kick up once again.

TAYLOR
I’m sorry if I appeared a little rude. I don’t want to talk about Joanne, if you get my drift.

VICTORIA
Nothing we can do to help out?

TAYLOR
No, Tori. It’s going to take an awful lot to fix. (Pauses) The less said, the better.

VICTORIA
So the best thing to do is just not talk about it. (Pause) Okay.

TAYLOR
I’m going to go crash for a while, all right? Wake me before you go.

VICTORIA
You got it. This couch looks comfy.

Victoria sits down and lays her head back on the couch arm as music plays. The picture fades to black.

BILL WOLFF
We’ll return to Somerset in just a moment.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

SCENE FOUR

FADE IN -- Somerset Hospital

Back at Somerset Hospital, Nick has awakened somewhat but is still very groggy. Patrick is looking Nick over as a light melody plays in the background.

PATRICK
I’d say we’re dealing with a concussion here, but I’m waiting for the diagnosis to come in from upstairs.

The nurse checking with Bernard’s comes into the ER.

PATRICK
Any word?

NURSE
The bartender on duty didn’t see Nick. They called Bernard and he also hadn’t seen Nick at the bar earlier tonight.

NICK
(Still groggy)
I feel like I fell from five stories.

PATRICK
Fell?

It now dawns on Patrick what really happened. He realizes Nick wasn’t attacked, nor was he even at Bernard’s.

PATRICK
(Leans down)
By any chance, you didn’t fall out of bed, did you?

Nick is slowly nodding.

NICK
I didn’t think adults could fall out of bed, but I see it’s possible.

PATRICK
What the hell were you doing to make you fall out of bed?

NICK
Just having a sweet dream.

It is now obvious to the audience that Nick’s crash out of bed was the result of a dream he was having about the mystery woman, and that she wasn’t even in Somerset.

PATRICK
(Looks incredulous)
You better have been dreaming about Jessica Alba to make you fall out of bed like that.

NICK
She wasn’t Jessica Alba. (Smiles broadly) But damn close.

Alana comes in with the test results.

ALANA
Here you are, Patrick. I think your diagnosis is correct.

PATRICK
(Looks at the test results)
Well, so it is. Mr. Barclay, slight concussion, nothing major. But it has earned you a stay tonight with us at the Skeleton Hotel. You’ll get room service, a free continental breakfast…

NICK
All the nurses fawning over me that I want?

Alana kisses Nick’s forehead and strokes his hair.

ALANA
Especially that.

NICK
How long am I going to be out of commission?

PATRICK
It shouldn’t be bad. You’ll be groggy for a day or so, then you should slowly improve. I’d say take it easy for a while, though, like say the next several days.

NICK
Oh, don’t worry about that. I don’t plan on going anywhere.

The music builds behind Nick, Patrick and Alana as the scene changes.

DISSOLVE TO -- Petterino house

Scott has seen Annabella for the first time and has given her a hug.

SCOTT
Well, I’ll be damned… Welcome home, Annabella.

Annabella gives Scott a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek.

ANNABELLA
I can see you haven’t changed much.

SCOTT
It’s only been four months since you’ve been gone, right? What’d you think I’d do, shed the suit for something different?

ANNABELLA
Don’t change. Whatever you do, don’t change. We like you just the way you are.

SCOTT
I like myself the way I am, too. By the way, Annabella, was that your sportscar speeding through downtown?

ANNABELLA
(Gulps) Oh, boy. I didn’t think anyone was paying attention.

Giovanni is worried by now.

GIOVANNI
Annabella Petterino… (wags finger) What did we say about speeding with the car?

ANNABELLA
You never said anything, Dad.

GIOVANNI
(Stops and looks at finger before putting it down) Well, so I didn’t. But you still know better.

SCOTT
I had an APB out on your vehicle because it was speeding through downtown Somerset. I canceled the APB just now.

ANNABELLA
Scott, in lieu of a fine or ticket I can make a donation to your favorite police charity. And don’t call that bribing an officer.

SCOTT
You know what that reminds me of when I see high speed.

ANNABELLA
I do. (Lowers head) And I’m sorry.

SCOTT
That‘s… all right. Also, let me take a good friend out for a drink when you’re up for it.

ANNABELLA
And a game of pool?

SCOTT
Pool it is. Listen, I don’t want to intrude on your welcome home, so I’ll let you celebrate in private.

ANNABELLA
I’ll hold you to that drink and a game of pool. Good to see you again.

SCOTT
You too, Bella. Bye, everyone. (He waves and goes out the door)

ROSE
Bye, Lt. Garfield.

Rose watches the door shut before turning to Annabella.

ROSE
Some things never change, right, Annabella?

ANNABELLA
Mom. We’re just friends and we always have been.

Rose smiles as Annabella defends herself, as music plays and the picture fades to black.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

The closing credits roll on Somerset as the theme music plays.

BILL WOLFF
This... was Somerset.

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Join us each weekday afternoon at this time for the continuing story of Somerset. And stay tuned for Harpers Falls, which follows immediately over most of these same stations.

This program was pre-recorded.