From: fburgess@awinc.com (Frank Burgess) Subject: ROT-Soaps Facing The Facts Facing The Facts -Script by A- Open to Hollybend....it is dusk, Holly is wrapped up on a blanket, curled up on the sofa, making her way through a bottle of white wine at an alarming rate. She knows what needs to be said, but had hoped that the wine would give her the edge, a little push, but instead it had left her feeling melancholy, dreading what was to come next. The sound of the screen door opening, sends the heavy feeling of dread to the pit of her stomach, she picks up her glass and hastily downs the remainder, comforted momentarily by the warm sensation. Fletcher bounds through the door. Fletcher: Hi honey I'm home...(he sweeps through the room, and awkwardly embraces her...oblivious to her mood, he then bounds for the stairs....shouting as he goes) My darling little Meg Pie...daddy's home... Holly pours herself another glass, and finds herself focusing on how the light filters through the liquid. Not a minute passes, when she hears him thundering down the stairs... Fletcher: Red.. Holly settles into the sofa, willing it to swallow her... Fletcher:(more insistent) Red... Turns her head to look at him. Holly: I'm sorry did you say something? Fletcher: Where's Meg? Holly slowly takes a sip of wine. Fletcher: Oh did Barbara take her for a little stroll?(looks towards the door, notices Meg's stroller is gone) I hope they get back soon, I've missed my little girl. He moves over and sits beside Holly on the sofa...he smiles at her, and attempts to kiss her, but as he does she abruptly stands up...moving across the room and picks up a little party hat of the floor, somehow she must have missed throwing it out ,after the little party they had held in honor of Meg's 1st birthday the previous day. It had been a nice day, Blake Ross had their hands full with the twins, Fletcher had been in his glory, making a huge fuss over his little girl, it was hard to imagine a man more proud of his daughter. Oh what a difference a day could make. Holly walks over to the mantel...takes a deep breath.... Holly: She isn't coming home. Fletcher: Oh...you mean Barbara took her for the weekend? Well I'll miss her(he stands up walks over and hugs Holly from behind and nuzzles her neck) But I could go with a little quality time with her mom. Holly:(monotone) She isn't on a stroll with Ma... A warning signal goes off in Fletcher's head...he clears his throat...and gently turns her around. Trying to keep the fear out of his voice. Fletcher: Where is she? Holly pulls away unable to bear his touch. Holly: Don't worry she is being well taken care of. Fletcher: You didn't leave her with Blake...I mean I love Blake, but her and Ross seem to be on their last nerve looking after those boys...I think Meg will just get lost in the shuffle...why don't we go pick her up? He heads for the door... Fletcher: Come on Red...lets go get our Meg. Feeling really tired, Holly sits on the sofa. Holly: Fletcher, come and sit down... Fletcher: Lets get Meg first, we'll tuck her in bed and... Holly: Fletcher(sharply) she isn't with Ross and Blake. Fletcher: (slowly) OK.... He walks back to the sofa and towers over Holly Fletcher: Why don't you tell me where *she* is? Quickly tiring of avoiding the subject at hand...Holly rushes forth. Holly:(unable to meet Fletcher's gaze) I enrolled her in the Institute for Mentally Challenged and Damaged Children....I took her and Ma to the airport this morning...they made it without incident and Meg was admitted this afternoon. They will start her treatment and therapy tomorrow. Ma will stay with her for as long as they need her. Fletcher's eyes dilate, as he stares dumbfounded...not quite believing what Holly has related. Fletcher: Are you INSANE! You just sent my little girl away without consulting me...who gave you the RIGHT? Holly stands up Holly: She is my daughter too...and since you were unable to make the choice...I did the only thing I could do. Fletcher: Unable to make the choice? I chose not to send our Meg away, to a cold loveless institute that champions radical and unproven methods... Holly: Fletcher...you choose to live in a fantasy world...one in which Meg is perfect...well she isn't Fletcher: She *is* perfect to me. You just want her to be like every other child...you can't handle that she is different, so you deal with it by abandoning her..sending her away. Holly winces as his words cut into her very soul. Holly: That's not true Fletcher, I love Meg, but unlike you, I am not willing to be happy cooing and make a fuss.. living in a dream world...completely ignoring her situation. Fletcher:(coldly) Her situation is Downs Syndrome... Holly...they can't fix that! Holly: I know that she will never be like normal children Fletcher, but I felt I owed her the opportunity to reach her highest potential. What kind of mother would I be, if I didn't want that for my child? Fletcher: I hope you are not insinuating that I am a bad father, because I don't want to banish her...and pretend she never happened! Holly: Fletcher...the treatment is not life long, they usually experience results within 6 months to a year and a half...Meg will be back home with us. Fletcher: Yes she will, because I am going to go get her NOW! Holly walks over to Fletcher... Holly: Fletcher, the institute has had some amazing results, you've read the literature you've talked to the other parents...their results are proven...it really is the best that we can offer Meg. Fletcher: No Holly! That is not the best we can offer Meg, the best we can offer her, is our home, a loving environment... Holly(feeling exasperated) Fletcher...we can't ignore her condition, pretend it doesn't exist...you know the Institute experiences the best results with very young children, we have to think of this as giving Meg... Fletcher: Giving Meg what Holly? ....you know... save your breath, I should have seen this before, but like a love struck fool I choose to ignore it...this is a pattern with you Holly...a life long pattern. Holly:(looks at him with a genuine look of confusion on her face) A pattern? I don't understand. Fletcher: Well ...when things got a little rough and shaky with Blake, you sent her away to boarding school, so you wouldn't have to deal with her...but at least Blake was old enough to care for herself... my Meg is defenseless. Holly: How *dare* you compare what happened with Blake, to the choice I made for Meg...it is not the same thing at all. As the emotions overwhelm her, and the insecurities threaten to wear her down...the tears start to trickle down her cheeks. Fletcher: Sure it is Holly, you can't bear having a less than perfect child...so to preserve your delusions that the fault lies with the child, you send them away, so that you aren't reminded constantly of your inadequacies as a mother. I've wasted enough time on you...its time for me to go get my daughter. Holly(quietly...trying desperately to hold it all together) You can't do that...part of the program is signing a release that allows them to keep Meg for 90 days trial, you can visit, but you cannot remove her until that time has expired. Fletcher: Like bloody hell I won't....if I have to get an army of lawyers, I will get her back. Holly feels a sudden unexpected surge of her previous resolve. Holly: I had really hoped that we could come to some understanding on this. Fletcher just looks at her as though she is a stranger. Holly: I really don't want to do this Fletcher, but I feel Meg's best chance for the fullest life she can lead lies in this program, and I will fight to keep her there. Fletcher:(indignant) What exactly are you saying? Holly: If you feel it necessary to get a lawyer to remove Meg from the Institute, you leave me no choice but to get my own to ensure that she stays. Fletcher wipes the tears from his eyes...he glares at Holly for a moment... Fletcher: Well get ready lady...you are in for the fight of your life! Fletcher goes through the door and slams it so hard the dishes rattle. Holly takes another sip of her wine before hurling the glass at the wall...it smashes into a thousand pieces. She dissolves unto the floor, wailing, feeling totally alone, amazed that she had been able to stick to her convictions in the face of the tirade...were her convictions really worth losing the man she loved? It is at this moment she realizes that she will fight for her child, the costs be damned.