From: wesley RotSoap Returning Problems Pt. 1B CUT TO: SCENE: ANNIE's new temporary apartment. [In this story, HARLEY--while spying on Annie at the psych ward--grew to feel pity, and even a strange sense of sympathy, for Annie. Harley, who, in this story, went by the name of Cheryl while she acted as a patient, never introduced her true self (so Annie did not know who she was, and that she was Josh's lover once), but she had several private conversations with Annie, and slowly looked past Annie's mental state and became very sorry for her plight. She even told Annie, in an emotional moment, "I understand." Annie then got extremely upset, and began this discourse: "How could you understand? How can ANYONE understand? I'm not insane...I'm NOT some violence-loving 'Annie Cunanan,' like someone here called me... Here's the facts, sweetie: I was madly in love with a man who lied to himself and me, over and over, day after day...then decided it was all right--it was FAIR--to turn against me. And then turn EVERYONE against me...even my--his children! I loved him...I never wanted to hurt him...but when I'M the one who's hurt, it's a really good thing and everyone's happy...and how dare I be upset about any of what I went through? HOW DARE I?!? So how dare YOU say you understand??" Harley, sullenly walking out of Annie's room for the last time, replied, "I do...believe me...I do..." Harley then persuaded Phillip, who also felt something for Annie and remembered their more pleasant conversations, to do what he could to get her out of the ward and into a brand-new life, far away from Springfield. He agreed, on one condition: That while she temporarily resides in a Springfield apartment he secretly rents for her, Alan Spaulding cannot be allowed by the downstairs guard into the building. This way, he and Harley can help her completely start her life over, with Alan's "help." Harley goes with the plan, and Phillip arranges everything--unbeknownst to Annie--including the spacious, comfortable apartment. Arriving there by a hired car, Annie immediately calls Alan (thinking he did everything) to thank him, but he's away on a business trip. She hangs up the phone, crying half-joyfully, half-depressed. That's where we pick up the scene. There's a knock at the door.] ANNIE (surprised, and a bit frightened, realizing Alan's away and wondering who else knows where she is): Wh-who is it? HARLEY: It's the next step in your new life, Annie. ANNIE: What? Who ARE you? HARLEY: Well, that's partly what I'm here about... ANNIE: I recognize your voice... (peers through the eyehole, then quickly puts her hands on her mouth and turns away) Oh, my God... HARLEY: Annie...open up, please... ANNIE (thinking her world's about to collapse around her again): No...no...what's happening? Why are you here...? HARLEY (pleading with her): Annie, I'm here to help. Please trust me. (pauses) And I can explain some--several things...please open up. (Shot of Annie opening her door slowly, from Harley's point of view.) ANNIE: WHAT can you explain? Why my life is horrible? Absolutely horrible? Why society has shunned--has banished me? (Harley stands there, becoming more and more transfixed.) Why the only man who I really cared for will never be a part of my life--ever--and why the one man who seemingly does care for me rescues me from that nightmare and then decides to skip town? Well--what do you think you can 'explain' to me, Cheryl? HARLEY: Wait--what do you mean, "skips town"? (unable to keep calm) Who do you think DID all this (moving her hand around the general area) for you? ANNIE (opening door more): Excuse me? What are you talking about? I'm here because of Alan...Alan Spaulding. Not that it matters to you... (opening eyes wider) unless he sprung YOU, too! HARLEY: Oh, damn, I was afraid of this... Honey, we have a LOT to talk about...including how Alan's NOT the only person who cares for you. There's a few things you really need to know. Now. Please let me in, Annie. Please. ANNIE (opening her door fully, motioning Harley inside): Get in here already...I simply can't resist hearing whatever you have to say. HARLEY (entering): Thank you. (Annie keeps the door open.) ANNIE (arms akimbo): Well? Spit it out. HARLEY: Annie, you were never this rough with me in the ward... ANNIE: Well, Cheryl, that was before you said--What was it?--"I understand." Wait one damn minute--is that what you're here for? To explain THAT friendly little statement? THIS I've gotta hear, honey! HARLEY: Harley. ANNIE: Wh-what? HARLEY (extending her hand): Harley Cooper, private investigator, at your (looks to her right as she does occasionally) well, service. ANNIE: But...but...oh, this is too much. Damn it...I should have known...You didn't even ACT crazy. And I can't trust anyone in THIS town, and certainly not anyone in a psychiatric ward. You little witch...next thing you'll tell me is that Alan hired you to check up on me while I was there. HARLEY: No...not exactly... ANNIE: Then who asked--or forced--you to talk to me so much? HARLEY: Not who--what. My conscience. My experience. (touching her chest) And my heart. ANNIE (laughing uproariously): Now I've got it--Hallmark sent you! HARLEY (seriously, and without hesitation): No, my love for Josh did. ANNIE (stunned, she is silent for a few seconds, and then...): Josh? JOSH?!? HE did this? What right does he--I'll kill him! I mean... HARLEY: Now THAT'S gratitude. No, Annie, he's not responsible, either... ANNIE (yelling): Well, I DON'T need his help...I don't need HIM!! I don't need him at all... HARLEY (now laughing herself): Ha ha...that's the same lie I told myself when he... ANNIE (eyes ablaze): When he WHAT? HARLEY (matter-of-factly): When he left me for Reva. (They stare at each other, each frozen for their own reasons...Annie in her state of shock and anger, and Harley full of fear and worry that Annie will lose it--but also relieved that she can finally be honest with her neurotic "friend.") ANNIE (backing into a chair): When he...left you... (sitting down, still staring at Harley) You... HARLEY: Well, I should mention she was dead at the time. And for a while, that's how I felt...dead. And that's why I understand--at least partly--how you feel. That's why I'm here. ANNIE (finally calming down, continues to stare at Harley): But, Cheryl...I mean, Harley...what did you do? And you're so beautiful... (Harley blushes, starting to smile, and glad she finally settled Annie's nerves.) ...how could he...? (pauses, looks down and grimaces) Well, I know the answer to that one. (looks up again) But how did you... (Suddenly, RICK enters through the open door.) HARLEY: Rick! I told you to wait in the car! (Annie shifts her stare right to Rick, who is dumbfounded.) ANNIE: What are YOU doing here? Wait--is this another INTERVENTION? No--you cannot DO this to me...I'd rather DIE! HARLEY: Annie, please...it's not, by any means...calm down... (sternly) Rick, please get out of here. RICK (shocked beyond belief--in this story, this is the first time he's seen Annie since the trial. He can't stand to see his old friend--and lover--so flustered, and he's bewildered as to why Harley's speaking with her.) I'm sorry...I just heard yelling through the window (points to Annie's window) and was worried. I-I'm sorry if I interrupted anything. Annie, are you okay? ANNIE (opening her eyes and growing angry again, glowering at Rick): It's you, isn't it? Man, they must be paying you well at Cedars...guess they saved money when I took off. So I guess you still care for me, huh? RICK (becoming visibly distraught over his friend's state): What? What do you mean? ANNIE: Well, old "friend," "Harley" here says Alan didn't spring me from that PRISON and pay for all this, like I was sure he did...and Josh apparently didn't, either--big surprise there--so it's got to be you! RICK (totally confused, but trying to stay strong): No...I'm sorry...I have my own life to concern myself with now, Annie... HARLEY (stepping in): Annie, it wasn't him... ANNIE: Then WHO WAS IT? If you know, TELL ME! HARLEY (trying to take Annie's shoulders, as Rick watches both of them): For the last time, calm down, Annie...please... ANNIE (pulling away violently): Tell me...now. RICK (attempting to help, but also interested in the truth): Maybe you should tell her, Harley. HARLEY (looking at Rick, surprised that he's taking Annie's side, although she's just realizing they had a history): I can't. I just can't. Not yet. But please...let's talk a little... ANNIE (not hearing Harley's words, turning to Rick): Then can YOU? RICK: I--I don't know about any of this...believe me... ANNIE (furiously): Then GET OUT. (Rick and Harley are both startled.) HARLEY: But, Annie... ANNIE: GET OUT--both of you!! (She grabs the door, and Rick and Harley barely have time to rush out before she slams it in their faces.) RICK (grabbing Harley's arm lightly): Harley, tell me RIGHT NOW what's going on... (Harley rolls her eyes.) CUT TO: (Shot of PHILLIP standing outside in the quickly darkening night, leaning against Rick's car. As ABBY sits in the front passenger seat, tapping her fingers on the dashboard, Phillip is looking up toward Annie's well-lit window, hands in his pockets.) PHILLIP (muttering through his teeth): Don't tell her it's me, Harley...I beg you... ABBY (looks out window, unable to read Phillip's lips): What's happening, Phillip? Do you know who Harley's visiting? PHILLIP (turning toward her): No...no, I've no idea, Abby. ABBY: I guess Rick doesn't know, either... PHILLIP (shakes his head, then grins): Well, now he does... ABBY: Just like he probably doesn't know why he left me in this CAR by MYSELF! (Phillip looks a bit stunned at her statement, as Abby shivers slightly.) I'm still frightened...still shaking inside...even though that horrible boy's in jail. I need Rick with me all the time, Phillip. I need him HERE. PHILLIP: Well, I'm here for now, Abby...and if there's anyone he'd trust you with, it's me... (pauses, smiles to himself, looking like he's saying "Maybe not..." to himself) And he does care for you very much...he always wants to be with you. He just likes to get himself involved in things...I couldn't stop him... ABBY: Well, maybe for a CHANGE, he can involve himself in ME. (Phillip stares at her for a moment, eyebrows raised and suddenly realizing something.) You know, Reva and Buzz always told me that Harley was a very smart girl, but wild and uninhibited...is that true? PHILLIP: Ohhh, yes. Very true--all of it. ABBY: Is that what you like about her? PHILLIP: Oh, I like EVERYthing about her... (hesitates) ...but we're just good friends. (Abby smiles, knowingly.) ABBY: Like you and Rick? PHILLIP (looking up at the window again, not sure how to answer): Sure...like me and Rick...exactly. ABBY (it's her turn to mutter): Well, I hope you can keep yourself from HIS bed... PHILLIP (hearing most of her words, he whirls around): What?? ABBY: Nothing, Phillip...nothing. (She laughs quietly to herself. Harley--waving farewell to the guard--and Rick exit the 12-story building. Phillip runs to Harley, who's standing in front of the building's front door, as Rick stands close to her.) PHILLIP: Tell me...you didn't tell her...she didn't figure it out... HARLEY: What, that YOU'RE behind her "freedom"? No, I didn't tell her...that would ruin the plan. (Rick, still standing there, looks increasingly befuddled.) PHILLIP: Thank you. Thanks for listening to me. ABBY (from car): Hey, everyone? Can we go? HARLEY (not hearing Abby): Well, I probably shouldn't have--and I almost didn't! PHILLIP (eyes practically popping out): You WHAT? HARLEY (flabbergasted): What, I have to calm you down, too? Listen, I know you said to just reveal who I was for now--take this step by step--but it looks like your great little plan has a great big chance of ruining itself! PHILLIP (puts his finger to his lips): Ssshhhh...she might hear you... HARLEY (points to Annie's window): She's 10 floors up, Phillip! RICK (interrupting): Uh, guys...what's going on here? HARLEY: Yes, Phillip, what IS going on here? Your best friend--and, apparently, Annie's friend as well--wants to know. You wanna clear it up for him, or should I? (Phillip and Harley glare at each other, as Rick looks at both of them, and the scene fades.) --------------------------------------- PART 2 of "Returning Problems" is coming soon! Please let me know what you think of the story so far...I'm at MarcEditor@aol.com. Thanks very much!