>Bill and Ben's Unprecedented Imbroglio Part 2 >Starring Bill Lewis and Ben Reade >with Matt, Amanda, Vanessa, Peter, Fletcher and Holly, Ross and Blake, Marcus, Dinah > >Summary of Part I: >Bill and Ben overheard Amanda and Matt reveal incriminating information about their pasts. The boys wanted to know more so they did research at the library, tricked Blake into loaning them some wiretapping equipment, and sent fake notes to Amanda and Matt in order to get them to the Lewis Constuction shed, where the boys plan to eavesdrop on their conversation. >Author's note: >When we left our boys last month they were cramped under a desk in the Lewis construction shed; Matt was sitting on the desk above them. It was a cold December night, and after a whole month under the desk, the boys are more than ready to get on with this story. So, without much ado: > >Dec. 10 Scene I Lewis Construction Shed Sunday Night 11:30 p.m. >Matt sits on the desk; Bill and Ben, unbenownst to him, hide underneath it. Matt waits impatiently. >The door opens and Amanda enters the dark room, lit only by moonlight streaming in the windows. >Amanda: What do you think you're doing, sending me a letter like that? If you wanted to see me you could >have called me. >Matt: I don't know what you're talking about. >Amanda tilts her chin back like her Aunt Alex. >A: Don't be coy with me. I don't know what you're playing at, but in case you haven't figured this out yet, I >can be a very dangerous adversary. >Matt (puzzled) The only reason I'm here is because you said you wanted to see me. >Amanda (knits her brows): I don't get this. You're telling me I asked you to meet me here? >Matt: Well, you sent me a note. Didn't you? >Amanda: I did no such thing. Listen, if you're playing some sick trick on me.... >Matt: Believe me, I'm not. >Amanda: Well, then....you're telling me someone sent you a note and signed my name? >Matt: If you didn't write it then that's what happened. Do you still have it? >Amanda: Are you kidding? I destroyed it right away. >Matt: So did I. What did your note say? >Amanda: It just said to meet you, that we needed to talk about Malibu. >Matt: About Malibu....(a sick look crosses his face). Why would someone do this? I could understand if we'd gotten blackmail notes but this kind of thing doesn't make sense. >Amanda: Maybe it was his sick little way of letting us know he knew about us. Trying to scare us, shake us up. >Matt: So you think this is a blackmailer? >Amanda: It makes sense, doesn't it. My family is wealthy, you just married a very rich wife....and we both >have secrets we'd like kept that way. We're every blackmailer's dream. >Matt slams his hand down on the desk angrily, the boys jump at the sound. >Matt: Who do you think it is? >Amanda: I don't know. Someone from Malibu, I suppose. I certainly haven't confided in anyone since then-- >have you?? >Matt: No, absolutely not. >Amanda: Apparently, someone who knew us in Malibu followed us here and intends to cash in on our desire for secrecy. >Matt: Do you have any idea who it might be? >Amanda: If it's someone who worked for Joey--it could be any of them. They'd know about the films. Or it could be a one of those rich, older women--someone who misses your services? >Matt (shaking his head): I hardly think so. If it was....well, how would they know about your film career? I >never mentioned it to anyone...the film stuff was hardly the sort of thing I wanted spread around. I only did it cause I needed the money. And all I did was stunt work, martial arts stuff. I didn't take my clothes off. >Amanda (bitterly) Ah, and you really despise me because I did! Well, I >wasn't there so I don't know but I'd bet every red cent I have that you weren't so coy with your wealthy >benefactresses. I took my clothes off for the camera, you took them off for women, but in the end we were >both doing it for money. So don't think you're any better than I am. >Matt stares at her wordlessly, then swallows hard. >Matt: You're right. I'm sorry. Look, we're going to have to work together if we're going to outsmart this guy. I think this has something to do with Joey. So we need to be very careful, cause things could get very dicey if we're not. >Amanda: What do we do now? >Matt: We go home and wait for his next move. Call me if anything happens. >Amanda nods. He holds the door open for her as they exit. The boys hear the sound of the key in the lock. They stay under the desk for a few seconds, then crawl out cautiously, rubbing their stiff limbs. >Ben: Gosh! I can't believe this! Amanda was making skin flicks in Malibu?? >Bill: And Matt......I feel sick. I can't believe this. >Ben: This is really bad. I'm sorry about Matt. >Bill: What am I going to do now?? >Ben: I don't know....Do you think he married your mom for her money? >Bill: Well, he was making money off rich older women in California. I knew all along something was wrong. I >mean, he's way younger than she is, and.... >Ben: (trying to make Bill feel better) Well, maybe he's changed since Malibu, like he said. >Bill: Or maybe he's just a good actor. > >Dec. 10 Scene II Monday morning, breakfast at Chamberlain-Reardon household >Matt and Van are eating breakfast, Peter has smeared jam all over himself. Matt is worried but is trying to hide it. >Van: Honey, I spoke with Holly this morning. >Matt: (looks up, distracted) What? Sorry, I didn't hear you. >Van: I was just saying that Holly called this morning--she said she and Fletcher are going out to dinner with Blake and Ross, and she invited us to come. >Matt: Okay (he is having trouble paying attention to what she is saying). >Van: Good. I'll call and tell her we're coming. Matt, are you okay? >Matt: (looking up) Sure, I'm fine. (He smiles a strained smile). >Van: Matt, if you don't want to go this evening it's okay, we can stay home and watch a movie or....or whatever you want to do. >Matt (shaking his head): Sorry, I was thinking about the construction project we're starting. >Van: So.....Shall I accept or decline? >Matt: (leaning over to cup her face in his hands and kiss her) You know what? I don't care what we do tonight so long as we do it together. >Van (with a sly smile): Well, in that case, how about an evening at the opera? >Matt: (wincing ) Then again, I do have certain preferences. How about we stay home and I'll make dinner for you and we can go to bed very very early-- >Bill comes down the stairs. >Van: (slightly flustered at this interruption) Good morning, sweetheart! >Bill: Morning. >Van: Cook made fresh biscuits, I'll go get you some. >Bill: No, I just want cereal. >He sits down by Peter and pours cereal, looking daggers at Matt. >Van: Honey, is something wrong.? >Bill: (staring at his cereal) No. I just have to hurry or I'll be late. >Van: Is school going all right? >Bill: School is fine. It's just certain other things.....(he glances surreptitiously at Matt). >Van: What other things? >Bill: Don't worry. Nothing I can't take care of myself. >Van: Are you sure? >Bill: Yeah, I'm sure (staring straight at Matt, who looks back, a little disconcerted by Bill's hostility). > >Dec. 11 Scene III Monday evening Lindsey-Reade living room, where Fletcher and an enormously pregnant Holly are lounging on the plaid sofa. >Fletch: (laughing) Are we the picture of domesticity or what? >Holly: Would you rub my feet for me? >Fletch: Your wish is my command. (He pulls her feet into his lap and begins to rub them) How are you feeling? >Holly: I'm okay, just tired. >Ben appears. >Ben: Hey, aren't you going out to dinner with Blake and Ross? >Holly: (relaxing contentedly into the corner of the sofa) No, we decided to stay home and snuggle. It's >cold out and I'm tired. >Ben: You're pregnant, not an invalid. You really ought to get out more or your muscles are going to >atrophy. >Holly: (sitting bolt upright, her jaw dropping) Now listen here young man, I do my exercises every morning. >Ben: Sure, pregnant lady exercises. All you do anymore is pregnancy this, pregnancy that. Geeze, people >have babies every day. It's not such a big deal. >Fletcher: Yeah, but Baby Red is a very special baby and Holly is an, ahem, older mother, so we want to be careful. >Ben: Well, I just know if I were Blake I'd be feeling really hurt right now. >He stalks down the hall to his room. >Holly looks at Fletch. Holly: What was that all about? >Fletch: I don't know, but he seems pretty upset. >Holly: Well, maybe he's feeling a little left out--we've been putting a lot of emphasis on the baby. Maybe >we need to pay a little attention to Baby Red's big brother. >Fletch: And maybe to her big sister, too. >Holly: You really think so? Blake is old enough to understand. >Fletch: Even big girls get their feelings hurt sometimes. >Holly: You know, our reservations were for eight, there's still time to make it if we hurry. Run ask Ben if >he wants to come. >Ben: (wandering into the room looking moody) Come where? >Fletch: Come to dinner with us and Blake. >Ben: Oh, you changed your mind? Well, I can't go, I have a test tomorrow. >Fletch: We won't be out late. You could study after we get home. >Ben: Nah, I'll stay here and study. You go on and have fun. I'll be able to concentrate better if no one's home. >He wanders back to his room, looking rather pleased with himself. >Holly and Fletch look at one another, worried. >Fletch: Think we should stay home? Or should I go see what's going on with him? >Holly: Oh, its okay. Ben's a good kid. He probably just wants some time to himself. All kids do. >Fletch nods but looks uneasy. > >Dec. 11 Scene IV Monday night Hollybend >The boys sit in front of the TV, eating pizza and drinking soda.. >Ben: Gosh, I thought I'd never get Dad and Holly out of here this evening. >Bill: It's a good thing you did, we can hardly talk about this at my house. >Ben: So, what do we do, now that we have this stuff on Amanda and Matt? I hope you've thought of something. >Bill: What do YOU think we should do? >Ben: Well, the obvious thing would be blackmail. Imagine--all the pizza we wanted, Cds, video games, trips, cars..... with money left over for a college fund. >Bill: You can't be serious. We're talking felony crime here. Besides, I don't really need the money. >Ben: Well, I do. (Slight pause) Actually, if I need money I can always bum it off you. >Bill punches his arm, they wrestle playfully. >Ben: Well, we have to do SOMETHING with this information. It's too good to just ignore. >Bill: I know what I want to do about Matt. I want him out of our lives for good. >Ben: And how do you intend to accomplish that? >Bill: Well, I wrote a note--I don't know if it will work though. >Ben: Lets see it. >Bill hands him a folded sheet of paper. >Ben: (reading) Matt, If you want to keep your rich wife you'll get two million dollars ready. You'll be >contacted about the dropoff point within the next forty-eight hours. If you don't cough up the money your >wife will find out everything about your past. Do not contact the police or someone just might get hurt. >Bill: What do you think? >Ben: I thought you said blackmail was out. >Bill: Well, I figure there's no way Matt can get his hands on that much money, unless he asks my mom for it, >and then he'd have to explain. So he'll have to either stay here and risk being exposed, or else leave town. I figure he'll leave town. I can't imagine him hanging around to see everyone's reactions. >Ben: Don't you think your mom'll be hurt if he just up and leaves her? >Bill: It's better then finding out what he used to do for a living. >Ben shrugs: Okay, I guess it has a fair chance of working. What if he comes up with the money? >Bill: Then I'll take the money to my mom and tell her the truth, I guess. But I hope it doesn't come to that. I hope she never has to know the truth. >Ben: What are we going to do about Amanda? >Bill: I don't know, I don't want her money, and I don't care about what she does. >Ben: (laughing) Alex would go ballistic if she knew what Amanda had been up to in Malibu. >Bill: So you want to tell Alex? >Ben: No, not really. I like Alex. She's okay. And she'd be really bummed if she knew her niece used to make porno movies. (Pause) I wonder if there's any way to find out what films she was in. >Bill (shuddering) Thanks but no thanks. The last thing I want to do is see Amanda Spaulding naked. >Ben: (laughs) You know, I guess I'll just write a note like yours and see what happens. >Bill: No, Amanda would probably pay up and we don't want that to happen. Hold on, I have an idea. >Bill types away at Fletch's rickety typewriter on the dining room table. He groans, crumples up a sheet of paper and throws it into an already overflowing trash basket. Then he types some more. Ben waits impatiently. >Ben: So? >Bill: Okay, here goes: Amanda, Meet me in Rome as soon as possible. Don't worry about finding me, I >will find you. If you do not show up, copies of your acting work will be delivered to your family and friends >in Springfield. Joey >Ben: So what's the point? We get her to go to Rome? >Bill: (grinning) Why not? We have to ask her to do something. If we only blackmail Matt they'll get suspicious. >Ben: Okay, it seems kinda dumb but whatever. So when do we send these letters? >Bill: Tomorrow morning. And we have to be careful that no one sees us. >Ben: (grinning) No problem. I can't wait. This is gonna be good. > >Dec. 12 Scene V Tuesday morning 10:00 a.m. Company >Matt sits at a table in Company with Marcus. They are eating doughnuts, Maggie comes by and refills their coffee cups. >David comes in carrying a letter. >David: Hey, Matt, you got a letter--it came to the boardinghouse. Kinda strange, it wasn't mailed, someone must have brought it by. >Looking unnerved, Matt takes the letter and stuffs it in his pocket. >Matt: Thanks David. Uh, I've got to go. (He quickly leaves before anyone can ask questions) >Marcus: Did he seem to be acting strange to you? >David: Yeah, definitely.(he sits down at the table). >Marcus: He didn't even look at the letter. >David: Well, he said he was in a hurry. >Marcus: Or maybe he already knew what was in the letter. (He looks pensive as he finishes his coffee.) > >Dec. 12 Scene VI FollyBend Tuesday morning >Ben sits at Fletch's rickety typewriter, pulls the note Bill wrote to Amanda from his pocket, and reads it, a frown on his face. >Ben: (thinking aloud) What's the point of sending her this note? Who cares if she goes to Rome? The thing with Matt is cool cause it's to protect Bill's mom, but this doesn't make any sense. >Ben reflects a moment, then begins to type. He starts to grin, looking very pleased with himself. >Ben: Aha! This is more like it. Bill can hardly complain. He decided what to do with Matt--I should get to decide what we do with Amanda. After all, Alex is my friend and I should protect her from this, plus, Amanda tried to steal Blake's husband and Blake is my stepsister now, and families have to stick together. Bill would agree to that. Besides, Amanda deserves it. She's such a .......well, she's just very uncool. >Ben takes the first note out of the envelope, wads it up, and throws it in the trash. He then takes the new note out of the typewriter, puts it in the envelope, and seals it. >Ben (smiling): Now--I think I'll drop by the Spauldings and see if Alex is home (and slip this note into the mailbox while I'm at it). He grins to himself, holding the new note in his hands. > >Dec. 12 Scene VII FollyBend Tuesday evening >Ross, Blake, and Fletcher are decorating the tree while Christmas music plays. Holly sits on the couch, directing them. >Holly: Stop, stop!! >Everyone turns to look at her. >Holly: Blake, we can't put the star on till the very end. It's bad luck. >Blake: Bad luck? Give me a break, Mom. >Fletch: (retrieving the star) We'll save the star till the end. (He hands it to Holly.) Why don't you keep an eye on it. >Holly: I'm sorry, I know it might seem like I'm being a little picky, but I want our first Christmas together to be perfect. >Ross: Take it from someone who knows--Christmas is never perfect. That's part of it's charm. In fact, in some ways Christmas reminds me a lot of Blake here. (He grins at Blake, who takes a handful of tinsel and sprinkles it all over him) >Fletch: Great idea, Blake. We don't even need a tree, with Ross here. (He grabs the star and balances it atop Ross's head. >Holly grins. >Fletch (wrapping tinsel around Ross, who is trying to keep a straight face) Sorry you got "roped" into this. (Big grin). >Blake (helping Fletch wrap rope of tinsel around Ross) Hmmm, you know...its a pity you never did get your ears pierced. So handy for ornament hanging. Mom, you wouldn't happen to have a needle and some alcohol lying around somewhere? >Fletcher: Hey, great idea, Blake. And we could pierce his nose, too. This ornament would go great right there, hanging under his probiscis. And then we could pierce...... >Holly (holding her sides, giggling) Oh, stop! I can't take much more of this! >Ben walks in and surveys the living room, looking like he has walked in on a bunch of aliens. >Fletch: Hey, Ben, want to help decorate the tree? >Ben: The tree, or Ross? >Blake: We can't seem to decide. What do you think? >Ben: I think you guys are crazy. (He grins) I'd stay but I'm taking Liesel to a movie. >Fletch: (looking surprised) You have a date with Liesel? Aren't you in the middle of finals? >Ben: I only have one final left and it's the day after tomorrow. (Alarmed) You're not going to tell me I can't go, are you?? >Fletch: No, you can go. But pretty please bring her back here after the movie, so we can amuse ourselves by embarrassing you. >Ben: I think I'll go the safe route and take her out to the diner for burgers. (Grinning) Not that there's anything wrong with you guys, but Liesel might not understand the concept of decorating a grown man for Christmas. (He ducks out the door) >Holly: (eating for two) I don't suppose we have anything to eat? I'm starved. >Fletch: I think it's time to wheel out the refreshments. (He disappears into the kitchen) >Ross collapses into a chair, still covered in tinsel and ornaments. Blake climbs into his lap and they kiss; Holly picks up a teddy bear ornament and looks at it, smiling, her hand on her stomach, thinking of Baby Red, hoping she will be happy and healthy next Christmas. > >Dec. 12 Scene VIII Chamberlain-Reardon house. Evening >Matt is sitting on the living room couch reading a book to Peter, who is holding a toy giraffe. Ben knocks and Matt calls for him to come in. >Ben: Hi, how's it going? >Matt: Fine. You looking for Bill? >Ben: Yeah. >Matt: He's up in his room. Doing his homework I guess. >Ben: Oh, well, I'll see you later. Hi Peter. (He looks at Matt a little uneasily, then turns and runs up the stairs). >In his room, Bill sits on the floor fiddling with the wiretapping machine. He hears a knock and quickly pushes the machine under the bed. >Bill: Who's there? >Ben: It's me. >Bill: Come on in. >Ben: Where's the stuff? >Bill (pulling it out from under the bed) Here it is, and its all hooked up to the phone. I did it this afternoon after I got home--no one was around but Peter and the nanny. >Ben: (putting on the headset) I can't hear anything. >Bill: Well, that's cause no one's one the phone. Don't worry, it works. Let's just hope we catch them on the phone. >Ben: What if they called one another earlier? >Bill: Well, then we're out of luck. But I know he hasn't made any phone calls since he got home, except one to my mom--I listened in on it (he gives a wicked grin). If people knew how dumb they sound on the phone they'd be more careful about what they say. >Ben: There's no way they can catch us, is there? >Bill: I suppose if they knew to check the receiver, and stuff, but I hardly think they're going to be checking the phone for bugs. We aren't a Mafia family or anything. >Ben: So what do we do now? >Bill: We wait, and hope she calls. If she doesn't call, we tail Matt tomorrow to see if they meet somewhere. >Ben: But I have a history final tomorrow. >Bill: I have finals tomorrow., too. But this is my stepfather we're talking about. I mean, the guy LIVES in my house. If he's up to no good, I have to find out about it. >Ben: I know. You're doing the right thing. You know, I saw Matt downstairs this evening. You'd think nothing had happened. The guy is cold. I don't know how you stand it. If I were you I would have lost it by now. >Bill (shrugging): I've been trying to stay away from him. You now, last night I had a dream about him. I got up in the middle of Company in front of everyone and told them all what I knew. The thing is Matt didn't even seem to care. He just kept saying I was lying, and my mom believed him. >Ben: Gosh, you think she'd believe him over you if it came to that? >Bill: I don't know. >Ben: Well, maybe we'll get some sort of proof tonight. You are going to record these phone calls, arent't you? >Bill: (grimly) Yeah I'm recording them. I'm not taking any chances. >He rechecks all the settings on the equipment as Ben watches him. Then the two boys sit down to wait, staring at the equipment, tense and nervous. Suddenly they both jump as they hear a ring. >Bill: It's okay, it's not the phone--its the front doorbell. >Ben: Oh no! You don't suppose Amanda came in person, do you? > > > > > YEEAAAHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!