BAY CITY FOREVER




This is a work of fan fiction, written by Rochelle Theresa Brown for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit. All characters not invented by me are the sole property of Procter and Gamble Productions.
This work is under copyright.
BAY CITY FOREVER is rated TV-14 for an occasional mild expletive.



EPISODE 38



This episode begins where EPISODE THIRTY-SIX ended.

SCENE ONE
(The scene is The Tripodi Gallery. Rachel is talking with a female reporter. Amanda, Paulina, and Matt are standing nearby.)

REPORTER: I'm surprised that your husband isn't here.

RACHEL: He's feeling under the weather.

REPORTER: Oh? I heard some rumors that you were having problems.

RACHEL: Well, as a reporter, you should know that you can't believe everything you hear.

REPORTER: But where is the rest of your family?

RACHEL: They'll be here later.(Lydia approaches; Rachel is obviously annoyed.)What do you think you're doing here?

LYDIA: Why, Rachel (as she speaks, the camera angle widens, and we see Iris approaching.)I came to see your sculptures.

(Reporter listens intently)

RACHEL: I'd like you to leave.

LYDIA: Must you be so uncivil? After all, we do have a hus

(Iris, now directly behind them, coughs. Rachel and Lydia turn to face her.)

IRIS: Rachel, I need to talk to you.

RACHEL: Really? Do you think, after everything you did, that you could just come to my opening and talk to me, as though we were one big happy family?

LYDIA: Iris, what in the world

RACHEL: Don't tell me you two know each other. But then, why am I surprised?

AMANDA: (low voice, to Paulina and Matt) This is all Mom needs.

IRIS: Please, Rachel, there is something I need to tell you. It's about Carl.

LYDIA: What about Carl? Is he still trying to divorce

IRIS: No. Rachel, I went to your house today.

RACHEL: Why?
IRIS: I was hoping that we could put the past behind us, but, it's too late. At least, it's too late for Carl.

RACHEL: Of course it's too late, after what you did.

IRIS: No, Rachel, that's not what I mean. While I was there, Carl collapsed.

RACHEL: Is he all right?

IRIS: No, he isn't. I'm sorry, Rachel, but Carl is dead.

(Paulina, Amanda and Matt gasp.)

RACHEL: No! No! This can't be happening again! I wasn't with Mac when he died, and now... God help me, why didn't I believe Carl when he told me he felt sick? (Turns on Lydia) Why didn't I see to it that Carl divorced you? Why didn't I fight harder to save my marriage?

AMANDA: But you weren't legally married.

PAULINA: (fiercely) Shut up, Amanda. (Walks over to Rachel, puts arms around her.) Mom, if there's anything I can do, just name it.

(Camera angle widens, and we see Carl approaching, unnoticed by everyone except Iris, who gives a barely perceptible nod.)
FADE OUT



SCENE TWO

(The scene shifts to the exterior of the Carlino home. Joe is having an intense discussion,if it can be called that, with Grant)

JOE: So I either re-hire that rapist creep, or fire two of my best cops?

GRANT: Well, technically, Josie Sinclair isn't really a cop.

JOE: For now.

GRANT: Well, unless you re-hire Chip Rayburn, Josie Sinclair's career will be over for good.

JOE: What if I refuse?

GRANT: Refuse to re-hire Rayburn, or refuse to fire Burrell and Sinclair?

JOE: Both.

GRANT: Then I'll fire you.

JOE: What the Hell for?

GRANT: Insubordination. You have forty-eight hours to decide what you are going to do, Captain Carlino. (Grant turns and walks away)

JOE: Damn it!

(Door opens, and Sofia comes out)

SOFIA: Joe, Paulina is on the phone, and she says she has some really bad news.

JOE: (Looks up, thinks)God, give me strength.
FADE OUT



SCENE THREE

(The scene shifts to Josie and Gary's living room. Josie and Gary are talking.)

JOSIE: Gary, there's something I have to tell you, and it's not good.

GARY: Don't tell me Joe decided to fire you after all.

JOSIE: No, you know he wouldn't do that. But it does involve Joe... and me.

GARY: Well, what is it?

JOSIE: I was looking at message boards where I thought somebody else may have posted that rumor, and I found one about me and Joe.

GARY: What in the world could anyone have to say about you and Joe?

JOSIE: I printed it out. (reaches into her pocket, hands paper to Gary.)

GARY: What did Joe say about it?

JOSIE: He said that the people who really know us will never believe it.

GARY: He's right.
FADE OUT



SCENE FOUR: CLOSING SCENE
(The scene shifts to THE TRIPODI GALLERY. Paulina is standing to the side, talking softly into a cell phone; we do not hear what she is saying. The reporter turns to Amanda.)

REPORTER: What do you mean, your mother and Carl were not married? Are you saying that they were, to use an old-fashioned expression, living in sin?

AMANDA: No. It's complicated. You see, Carl was previously married to this (twists her mouth as she indicates Lydia) woman, and he thought they had been legally divorced.

REPORTER: And they weren't?

LYDIA: No, we weren't The divorce never went through.

(Paulina puts her cell phone in her purse and moves closer.) PAULINA: What's going on here? Start talking, lady, and I'm using the word lady very loosely!

LYDIA: Very well. After all, I have nothing to lose now that Carl is dead.

RACHEL: And what did you have to gain while he was alive? He would never have gone back to you.

LYDIA: (mockingly) Really? Do you honestly believe that that time you caught us at the Rosenthal Hotel was the last time your husband and I were together?

RACHEL: My husband?

LYDIA: Yes. Carl and I were legally divorced, and I was fighting to get him back.

RACHEL: If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would fight tooth and nail to keep you away from him.

(Carl walks up.)

CARL: Do you really mean that, my love?

(Everyone except Iris looks stunned.)

RACHEL: Carl? Is it really you? Are you really here, alive?

CARL: Yes, I'm really here, and really alive.

RACHEL: But why would Iris tell me you were dead?

CARL: It was all a ruse, to get you to realize that you still love me.

(Reporter writes furiously.)

RACHEL: Do you mean to tell me this was a set-up? Do you have any idea what you've put me through? (Slaps Carl's face) You bastard!
FREEZE FRAME

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