EPISODE 2:
INT. COUNTY GENERAL CITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER -- WAITING
ROOM - DAY.
ANASTASIA
You don't know who attacked Vivian,
do you, Mrs. Von Vial?
VERANDA
It's *Ms.* Von Vial. Victor and I
haven't been married since I found
out about Vivian. Call me Veranda.
ANASTASIA
Do you know who did it?
VERANDA
(coy)
I may have seen something. I'm not
Victor's wife anymore, but I'm
still his housekeeper.
ANASTASIA
I know, that seems really weird to
me.
VERANDA
It has its advantages-- I know
about all the dirtiest corners in
Victor's mansion. But if I did know
who did it, I certainly wouldn't
tell you, Euthanasia.
ANASTASIA
Anastasia.
VERANDA
Oh. Sorry, Anastasia.
ALTERNATING SLOW ZOOM on Anastasia and Veranda, awkward.
WAITING ROOM -- KLAUS DELACROIX, Police chief, approaches
VICTOR VON VIAL.
KLAUS
Mr. Von Vial?
VICTOR
Chief?
KLAUS
Victor Von Vial?
VICTOR
Yes?
KLAUS
Chairman and CEO of Von Vial Velcro
and Vitamins?
VICTOR
Just the chairman these days. My
bastard son is CEO now. I trust
you've got some answers? What
happened to my wife?
KLAUS
We had an anonymous call that she
was attacked. When we got there she
was unconscious, and had been
(reads from notepad)
bludgeoned, suffocated, poisoned,
and spanked.
VICTOR
Spanked?
KLAUS
(checks notepad)
Yes. And she wasn't alone. Do you
know a Reynaldo De Soto?
VICTOR
No.
VERANDA
Yes.
ALTERNATING SLOW ZOOM on Victor, Veranda, and Klaus, looking
at each other quizically.
5-SECOND COMMERCIAL BREAK: Bras! Baby food! Breakfast Cereal!
BACK TO SCENE:
KLAUS
So which is it? Do you know
Reynaldo De Soto?
VICTOR
I think we'd better let Veranda
answer that.
VERANDA
Of course I know him-- he's our
gardener.
KLAUS
And who are you?
VERANDA
I'm the housekeeper, Veranda Von
Vial.
KLAUS
Von Vial....
(checks notepad)
VERANDA
Victor and I were married, once.
(holds up a big ring)
KLAUS
Nice ring.
(to Victor)
You let her keep that?
VICTOR
She stole it. She's a thieving
whore!
VERANDA
I was your thieving whore.
KLAUS
And now you're his housekeeper?
VERANDA
Yes.
KLAUS
That's pretty weird.
VICTOR
She does a really great job on the
floors. But-- you found Vivian in
the West bedroom? With the
gardener?
KLAUS
Yes. He was also attacked. He's in
a coma.
VICTOR
The West bedroom is by the pool--
there's no gardening to be done
over there.
VERANDA
I've got a nice tight little bush
that he tended for me in there.
VICTOR
In the West bedroom?
VERANDA
In the West bedroom, in the East
bedroom, the Southeast bedroom, the
trophy room, on the helipad...
VICTOR
Not the study? I'm thinking of a
bush, but it's on the lanai,
outside the study.
VERANDA
The lanai! I think I'll try it
there. When we get another
gardener.
VICTOR
Why can't I picture this bush? What
kind of pot is it in?
ALTERNATING SLOW ZOOM on Victor and Veranda.
Enter SANDRA AND AMANDA DELACROIX, early 20s. They are
siamese twins joined at the back, facing opposite directions.
SANDRA
Rex!
REX
Sandra!
SANDRA
Is your stepmother going to be all
right?
REX
She's not my stepmother. She's my
long lost father's new wife. I
barely know her.
He turns away.
REX (V.O.)
But I knew enough to know she
deserved what happened to her, and
worse. Bitch.
AMANDA
(facing the other way)
If there's anything we can do to
help you, just let us know.
REX
What?
AMANDA
(rotating to face Rex)
If there's anything I can do...
REX
I appreciate that.
SANDRA
(rotating again)
Your family has been through so
much. It's not fair.
REX
God only gives us as much as we can
handle, I guess...
They hug.
REVERSE: Amanda has Rex's arms around her chest.
CLOSEUP ON AMANDA:
AMANDA (V.O.)
Slut. She will never have Rex. He's
mine. Vivian deserves what happened
for how she treated him, and my
sister will suffer the same fate if
she gets in my way.
AMANDA
Don't we need to get going, for
that thing you're throwing?
SANDRA
I guess we do. I organized a
benefit for hungry children and
it's just about to start.
REX
You're such a good person.
SANDRA
I wish I could do more. My charity
work gives me access to all the
city's secret files, and despite my
good intentions I'm very easily
fooled by a good sob story. If
there's anything I can do from a
clerical standpoint to help you,
don't hesitate to let me know.
AMANDA
(facing the other way)
Let's go, Sandra!
Amanda starts walking and Sandra is dragged along, still
facing Rex.
SANDRA
I'll call you in a while!
JEFFREY enters, returning from the candy machines, to Rex's
side.
JEFFREY
Hey girl, they didn't have any
Jujyfruits so I got you Skittles.
Who was that?
REX
Sandra Delacroix. She's a good
friend, and a good person. With her
help, I can avenge my mother and
take over my father's business once
and for all.
JEFFREY
I like her shoes. But that girl on
her back needs help, she's wearing
last year's boots.
SCENES FROM THE NEXT EPISODE
END.