Scene XIV

The scene opens back to Hooch Central where Lady Pumpkin is snooping around.
Fred: Aw that dame has gone and done something to do her herself in, she spends most of her time drunk, it was only a matter of time before she did something stupid.
Hooch: Now Fred, she may be drunk all the time, but that hardly qualifies her to run around doing anything illegal
Syke: tell me about it, that there lady does nothing but mope around the plantation and hang around the bar here,
Sparky Renfrew: and hit on innocent handsome young men…
Fred: You only wish she hit on you Sparky
Sparky: Hey hey (he turns with a devilish grin to Fred) you're just jealous cause no one wants you
Mac: How much are you willing to bet that she finally got around to knocking off her husband?
We see Lady P. draw closer upon hearing Maccabees comment.
Skye: Now Mac why would you go and say something like that?
Mac: Oh come on, she's been wishing that old geezer would die from the moment they said I do. She only married him for his money.
Skye: (noticing Lady P at that moment) Is there somethan I can git fer you hunney?
Lady P: (somewhat taken off guard) Oh, ah, well, (most people at the bar have turned to look at her, and she puts on a air of superiority to hide the awkwardness of the situation) I don't suppose you would serve Avian here?
Skye: (mockingly) Avian? What do you think this is? A Yacht club? I can get you a glass of water, comes fresh outta the tap.
Lady P: (with a look of disgust) I don't trust the water in Port Caron enough to feed it to my dog, let alone drink it myself. (Realizing she's very unwelcome here, and now unlikely to get what she wants begins her retreat) I suppose I'll have to go to another establishment now (Turns and makes her way out of Hooch central)
Fred: (who hasn’t moved from his hunched position over the bar counter the entire scene) I trust her less than I trust the water
Hooch: The only thing you ever drink is beer Fred
Fred: Neither is very trustworthy
Skye: Now what do you suppose she wus snooping around here fer?
Sparky: Ah she probably just saw the cop car driving down here, and couldn’t stand not knowing what was going on, decided to come in here because she thinks she can hear the gossip from us.
Mac: gossip? That's what old ladies do over tea because they have nothing better to occupy our time.
Fred: that’s right Mac, we only have facts, no undue speculation or prattle
Mac: exactly, we don’t gossip.
The camera pulls away from the bar to get a full shot of everyone there before it cuts back to the booth in Hooch Central. Boo is just finishing up a conversation on her cell phone. Scout South and Sergey are still present with her at the booth.Boo: Alright Spook, I'll talk to you tomorrow, giver Bertie a hug for me all right? ok bye. (presses a button and then sighs) What horrible news.
Sergey: What is it Boo?
Boo: (Shaking her head) Bertie's father, he passed away tonight
Scout: (with an expression of shock) That's terrible, how is she doing?
Boo: not so hot, she's mostly in a state of shock; Spook is going to stay the night with her just in case.
A lull comes over the group for a few moments, and the camera spans through the booth getting a head shot of each of the occupants. Moving from Boo, to Sergey, to Scout, and then back to Sergey.
Sergey: You know, it could be because I'm am not used to this society, but it seems as though this town cannot go a day without some tragedy, or big event passing... Life here, it is never dull, but also it is very complicated.
Bertie: Here?(she responds but through a daze as if in some other realm of her mind)I think everyone's live are complex, and though we all wish it were simple, it is really our own doing that makes it complex. (sighs, and then blinks as if coming out of her daze) That's why I write novels, you take a simple story and tell it well. Everyone's life is ongoing story, full of challenges and quirks, I just take a short segment of that story and let the world know about it.
Scout: whoa, that was profound
Sergey: yes very much so... Did you read that somewhere?
Boo: No, you like it? I should write it in one of my stories, (getting excited) Oh this gives me a good idea for a plot line!

Scene XIII

The scene opens at the Cottonwood mansion where Bertie and Spook are sitting together on a couch.
Bertie: Now Deputy what is this all about?
Deputy: This is very difficult for me to tell you... (not really showing any signs of remorse) but earlier this evening Mr. Cottonwood was found dead in the library.
Bertie: (shocked) What?
Angel: (cutting in and still drunk) You guys have obviously got your information wrong, nothing can kill that man, believe me I've tried.
Bertie: mother! (flabbergasted, but then attempts to forget the comment, and in turn while shaking her head in disbelief addresses the Deputy) Are you sure there is no mistake officer?
Deputy: No, none, your maid found him while cleaning the house, I'm very sorry miss Cottonwood
Bertie: (tears now streaming down her face) How? How did this happen?
Deputy: We're not quite certain at the moment, we'll know in a day or two what the cause of death was.
Bertie: (very softly) thank you Deputy, you may leave now, I have some business to attend to...
Deputy: Right away ma'am, and like I said we are both very sorry for your loss
The camera zooms into Bertie silently and mindlessly nodding her head in response, the camera then change to the dining room of The Maine Yacht Club. Genevieve Woodlark is sitting alone at a table for two, with an impatient air she sips on a drink and occasionally checks her watch. We see Dr. MacIntosh enter behind her and somewhat rush over to the table.Dr.
Mac: (hastily seating himself in the empty chair) I'm terribly sorry that I'm late.
Genevieve: (her face lighting up with a mischievous smile) I've almost come to expect a delay when waiting for Port Caron's most renowned doctor. I suppose your going to explain why now?
Dr. Mac: There was an emergency at the Cottonwood plantation.
Genevieve: (concerned) Oh dear, is every thing all right?
Dr. Mac: There wasn't much I could do, (pausing slightly but continuing before Genevieve can interrupt) Mr. Cottonwood died earlier tonight.
Genevieve: No! Oh my,
Just then the waiter comes up to the table.
Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Genevieve: (hastily, quite snarkily) Not yet, give us more time
The waiter silently nods and walks awayDr. Mac: It was all very odd, it seems as though he choked, but there’s no evidence of what he could have choked on.
Genevieve: That is odd, (there is a slight lull in the conversation)
Dr. Mac: Well enough of my dreary day, how was yours?
Genevieve: Promising! Amalgamation Makeup is making a proposal to Bunda Burns (Seeing Willy's questioning look) the aerobic coordinator on 'Burn those Buns'. Anyhow we're hoping she'll endorse our products.
Dr. Mac: Aye, that's something special, so you think she'll take the offer?
Genevieve: I think so, but I have a back up plan if she's leery at all
Dr. Mac: Back up plan? What’s that?
Genevieve: Well (leaning forward as if revealing some deep secret) I've found out that my mechanic, down at Rusty Parts, is close friends with Bunda Burns, strangely enough. So we may be able to use her to convince Bunda if ever the need should rise.
Dr. Mac: Now how do you plan on convincing Rusty to convince Bunda
Genevieve: Oh I don't know. I'll worry about that when and if it comes up. I'd probably say something about boosting the economy of Port Caron.
Dr. Mac: (smiling as if greatly humoured by her ambition) Sounds like you have it all worked out
Genevieve: We really want this endorsement, Willy; it would really help our company.
The camera pauses on the expression on Genevieve’s expression and then cuts to Hooch Central where we see Lady P, haughtily walking through the front door, which James has opened for her. She is carrying her precious poodle and looking around down the tip of her nose, wondering where the best place to eavesdrop would be. Lady P approaches the bar upon observing its attendants talking concernedly. Sparky Renfrew, a grease monkey who works at Rusty Parts and Maccabees Montgomery are having a discussion with Fred, Skye and Hooch.

Scene XII

The scene opens up to the nervous expression of Bertie.
Bertie: (sighs) Well let's see what the deputy has to say. (She grabs her jacket and turns to leave but Boo is still in a trance with her computer) Boo, Boo I need to get by.
Boo: (looking around in confusion) Oh! I'm sorry, do you need to go to the bathroom Bertie?
Bertie: (looking at Boo in astonishment) Have you heard nothing? (shaking her head) Never mind, just let me out. I'll, or someone else will explain it later.
Boo: (sliding out of the booth, a confused and flustered expression on her face) Sure, Bertie.
Bertie: (gets out and walks over to meet the Dep. and Det) Deputy, Detective, my mother is over at the bar, I thought it best not to confront her of your desire to talk to us until you were here.
Dep: Let's go inform her and then go from there.
With Bertie leading the way they walk over to where Angel is loudly chatting it up with the others gathered there.
Bertie: (softly) Mother (realizing her mother isn’t listening speaks a little louder) Mother
Angel: (she is somewhat drunk) Oh! Hello, my darling daughter, have you brought these two men to help drag me home?
Bertie: well, no, actually, Deputy Grafton and Detective Grafton would like to have a word with the both of us.
Angel: (getting up clumsily) A word? Bertie, dearest are you trying to set us up on a double date? (smiling wryly at the Grafton Brothers) Silly girl, I'm still married, but I suppose Daddy's not here to ruin our fun.
Dep: Actually Mrs. Cottonwood, we need to speak to you about something of importance.
Dec: (leaning over to his brother and speaks in a hushed voice) Chips, I don't know that it's such a good idea to continue with her in this state. Who knows how she'll handle the situation, or if she'll remember what we told her…
Angel: (obviously overhearing his comment) Detective, I'm perfectly fine, Deputy Grafton, you don't need to play games, you already have my undivided attention.
Dep: In that case Ma'am, if you and your daughter could accompany my brother and I to the cruiser, we're going to take you home, and there we'll see if we can at least talk to your daughter.
Angel: Well if you insist on role-playing Deputy, I have no complaints (she slides off the barstool with great care and takes a clumsy step forward)
Dep: (ignoring Angels drunken stupor) Oh and Bertie is there someone you trust, someone you would like to come along, a good friend perhaps?
Bertie: (with an inquisitive look on her face) Ah yes, I suppose, (calling out) Spook?
Spook: (who of course was already paying attention) I'm coming!
Bertie helps her mother follow the Grafton brothers out of Hooch Central, Spook following behind them. We see them disappear through the door and the camera cuts to the angry expression of Cinnamon Blythe. The camera then pulls back further until we have a wide view of the office.
Cinnamon: Max E. Street! You dirty, unfaithful, jerk! (Storming into the office) Did you think I wouldn't figure it out? Do you think I'm stupid?
Kenya has now backed off into the corner
Max: (attempting to get up from the floor) dearest it's not what it looks...
Cinnamon: (she knocks him back to the ground) Don't dearest me, (turning to Kenya) And don't think I've forgotten about you! Max, don't even think about coming home tonight (all of a sudden bursting into tears) You heartless moron! How could you do this, to me? To the kids? All this time telling everyone you're a legit family businessman!! I should have known from the start that there was something fishy about that statement.
Max: (his face full of surprise and concern) But I AM a legit Businessman!
Cinnamon: Oh I don't want to hear it! And don't even think about coming home tonight either. If you and Miss Kenya need to 'work late' you can have all the time you need!
She then storms out of the office and after she is gone the camera switches to the hurting expression of Max, there it pauses (with some moving mood music of course) and then cuts to the front doors of the Cottonwood Plantation, were we see Dep Grafton’s Cruiser pull up. From a distance we watch him get out and open the door to the backseat and all of the car occupants file into the mansion. The camera switches to the family room as they are coming through the doorway. We watch Bertie help her mother to a chair, and then Bertie and Spook sit down together on a couch.

Scene XI

The scene opens once again back at Rusty Parts Auto shop
Gunnar: Know?
Rusty: I figured you would have known, seeing as how everyone's lives are common knowledge, well, at least what others think of everyone's life is common knowledge.
Gunnar: What are you ranting about?
Rusty: (appearing somewhat flustered) About how everyone talks about your issues in this crummy town, but no one talks to you about them.
Gunnar: (Concern is now once again inflicting his expression) So what is it that everyone knows? Or think they know, better yet, why don't you tell me what you know.
Rusty: (suddenly feeling embarrassed about her sudden burst of emotion, becomes somewhat sullen) There was one, I thought he was different from the rest of them…
Gunnar: But he wasn't?
Rusty: No he wasn't, (turns around to put her tool in it's place but continues quietly) I hate people talking about me, analyzing me. They think they know you by observing you for a matter of moments, but they never stop to ask, they never stop to think that maybe all that they see isn't all that it seems to be. (sighs) I don't know why I'm telling you this (she looks up at him) But you’re not one to share knowledge, or opinion, easily... (waving the white envelope) thanks, I suppose you'll be leaving town now.
Gunnar: (walking to his precious Harley) I'd say I can't tell you that, but it seems you already know the answer.
As he's speaking we see red and blue flashing lights of a cruiser passing by through the open garage door. Rusty and Gunnar exchange glances.
Rusty: See you later Gunnar, don't get into too much trouble.
Turns and walks towards the adjoining room
Gunnar: Always a pleasure, hey and Rusty, get out of the garage some time.
Gunnar revs the engine and then roars out of the garage, Rusty is simultaneously walking through the doorframe without looking behind her, leaving the garage empty. The camera pauses a moment, and then cuts to Max’s office, where Max and Kenya are still seated at his desk.
Kenya: Oh come on Max, (brushing her hand down his arm) you need to take a little break.
Max: (pushes chair away from the desk and Kenya, mouth gaping wide open) Kenya! ...I mean, oh my! Oh dear, I can't believe what's going on (throwing his hands to his head in unbelief)
Kenya: (getting off the desk and following Max) Oh Maxy poo, don't say no, you know you need it (she grabs his arm and throws him to the floor).
Max: (flabbergasted) Maxy poo! Need it!! What would my wife think!
Just then the door flies open and we see Max's wife standing in the doorframe. Max's wife Cinnamon Blythe, who kept her maiden name for personal reasons, looked incredibly disgruntled. The camera zooms in on her disgruntled expression and then cuts back to Hooch Central. Where we see Dep. and Detective Grafton enter. Dep. Grafton dressed in a police uniform, Detective Grafton dressed in a long black trench coat and both wearing sunglasses, despite the fact that it is pitch dark outside. The camera swings over to the nervous expression of Bertie.