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.