"Echos and silence, patience and grace.”- Home, The Foo Fighters
Episode 2: "Echos and Silence"
Written By: Kelly Zollo
Scene 1: Harvell & Associates; Callie Morris’s Office
The, office is hot as Callie moves to open the window. Court got out an hour and a half ago, and Tyler was waiting for her as promised. Judge Newman was more than tough and strict but behind the cold exterior she seemed to make good rulings. Court had gone smoothly and her mother had been able to close smoothly by the time lunch came. The jury should reach a verdict by the following day; that meant that her research case load was silenced for the time being.
“So what was it that you wanted to discuss and go over with the case?” Callie asked, taking off her suit jacket and placing it on her chair as she took a seat across from Tyler.
Tyler had barely slept the night before, he was far to focused on Hannah’s case and finding out what happened. Going over testimony, crime scene photos, court records and transcripts, he finally passed out around four in the morning. He spent the following day at the courthouse waiting for Callie to get out of the courtroom, pacing the hallways. He found a few things that were off about the case and made it his goal to point them out to Callie when they met. He was staring at a court transcript when her voice came through his thoughts.
“Well, for one during the testimony, that officer Lee Sadler gave about the camera that was originally found in the car, this is what he said - ‘The camera that was found inside the car was returned to Hannah’s parents finding that it had no relevance to the case.’ I don’t remember anything being returned to my parents,” Tyler states, pointing out the testimony to Callie in the document.
“Also, did you know that from the entire line up of models on her car, not one tested for faulty seat belts? Yet ,the police expert they brought in stated that - ‘Upon further examination of the car and it’s contents, I found the belt to be unable to release.’ You would think that a car not even three weeks off the sales floor of Mercedes would have been tested for seat belt malfunction,”
Callie studied the documents closely looking for something to go off of wondering if her father had thought the same thing. Perhaps that was why Garrett Harvell was so insistent that his daughter was innocent in some capacity or another; perhaps that was why he engulfed himself in it even after Vanessa was found guilty. Thinking of her sister she bit her lip and looked at the document in front of her, Vanessa didn’t come back to the house.
“Tyler I don’t want to get your hopes up about anything. I guess a good place to start would be to track down Lee Sadler and see for sure what he remembers. We can look into finding out what the other witness remembers too.’ Callie says quietly, not sure whether she believes that they’ll find something or not. ‘Let me go and get us some lunch from down the street and we can go from there all right?”
Tyler nods his head at her. Thinking that working on an empty stomach would do more harm than good.
“Have you talked to your sister yet?” Tyler asks quietly.
“No, Greg called to say they got in safely and she checked into the motel. Mom is supposed to be meeting her today though,” Callie replies, her voice low and soft as she reaches for a twenty from her purse.
The room falls into a quiet silence as she makes her way to the door, to go and get the food. Once the door is closed, she closes her eyes for a moment to try to relax, not wanting to even think of the possibility that Tyler is right about the accident. Tyler watches her leave the room his brow furrowed, not sure if he feels relieved or some sort of silence before the storm at what they have just discovered.
Scene 2: West Lake Country Club; Dinning Area
Sharon Morris waits patiently at the table with the white linen and fine china for her stepdaughter. She hasn’t seen Vanessa in three months they last time they meet a glass window was separating them. It’s been nearly two years since Garrett disappeared off the map, two years still no answers. Part of her wants to blame her stepdaughter for that, the other part knows she cannot.
Garrett wanted to believe in his daughter’s innocence, and she had to support that no matter the circumstances. She still wonders if Richard’s motivation for being so hard on Vanessa stemmed from her calling off their affair. As the waitress approaches the table to ask if she is ready to order she shakes her head no. Perhaps Vanessa is running late or, perhaps she will not show. Glancing up she smiles as her stepdaughter approaches the table.
“I’m so glad you could come,” Sharon states, rising to hug Vanessa.
Vanessa doesn’t mean to freeze when her mother’s warm embrace engulfs her; it takes a few moments before she returns the gesture. She pulls back to glance at Sharon up and down even though she is not her biological mother, she may as well be, Sharon is the only mother that Vanessa has ever know. She takes a seat at the table her hand running on the tablecloth for a moment before folding her hands in her lap. She is still adjusting to freedom in a new world that; she is cautiously enjoying again.
“It’s good to be here again. To be back among society, thanks for inviting me,” Vanessa offers, moving her hair behind her ears as she looks at her mother.
“I was hoping that when you got in last night that, you would come back to the house. I got your room all ready for you. I was surprised when Greg called to say that you stayed at the motel,” Sharon says quietly, hoping to get insight why her stepdaughter felt the need to not come home.
“I wasn’t sure if coming home would be the best thing for me or if you and Callie would want me there,” Vanessa replies, she doesn’t state that she stayed with Brian for the night in his hotel room nor does she reveal that he slept on the couch.
Sharon stares at her stepdaughters statement blankly as she grips the menu. How Vanessa ever got it into her head that she was not welcome home shocked her. She would always be welcome home and as her mother Sharon had though that, she had more than established that. Placing the menu on the table she takes a sip of her water to quench the sudden dryness.
“You’re always welcome at home. I thought we had discussed this when I would visit. You grew up there, that is your home,” Sharon offers.
Part of her is still trying to find a reason to not return home eventually it comes down to the fact that she doesn’t have one or at least that is what Vanessa tells herself. She is deeply touched that her mother has kept her room, that she went through the effort for her. She wants to ask if anyone has been hassling her family since the night before the last thing she feels they all need. Her mind is set as she picks up her water to take a drink, she’ll return to the house for now.
“I’ll go ahead and grab the change of clothes from the motel and head over afterwards. How is Callie liking working at the office?” Vanessa replies, trying to keep the conversation flowing and not disappoint her mother.
“Callie is doing very well I think your father would be proud. We had court today and she helped in getting us the conviction. I went ahead and got you some clothes the other day as well they’re in your closet,” Sharon says, smiling at the waitress who comes over and she places an order for the best appetizer on the menu.
“I’m glad to hear that always knew she’d do well at the firm. Thank you for the clothes. Have you heard from dad?” Vanessa asks quietly, adverting her eyes as the waitress stares at her.
Sharon shakes her head no. No one has heard from Garrett Harvell in two years she doesn’t suspect that she will anytime soon either. She turns her attention bak to the menu before glancing around and noticing the stares they are getting. She supposes that she’ll get used to it now that Vanessa is free, looking up to see if her daughter is wanting to leave.
Vanessa feels the eyes staring at her as she dines with her mother. She knows that it will take the community time to get used to the idea of seeing her around. In the mean time however she stands her ground grabbing the menu to decide what she wants.
“So tell me then what has changed here that is good?” Vanessa questions, looking up at her mother to let her know that they’re not leaving.
Scene 3: Westlake; Shoreline
Paige Alexander doesn’t know why she felt compelled to take the drive up to the lake that morning. She guesses that is has something to do with the phone call she received the night before at work. She had went home with Shane, he had left early that morning for the hospital and she in turn had went to the bank. Withdrawing the five thousand dollars from her trust fund, the last dime that she swears they well get.
Over the years she has paid them off every time, that they have called to demand the money, she has no other options. Making the turn off the main road ,she follows the gravel pavement on the way to the lake. Sun glasses drawn over her eyes to block out the sun and the sting behind her eyes. She glances in the passenger seat at the dozen white calla lilies she has brought with her.
Hannah’s favorite that she can remember, the flower that Hannah’s parents selected for the funeral. She hasn’t been up to the lake in years, has never visited the place where Jacob had firmly planted the cross on the edge of the water. She left town shortly after the conviction and moved to New York. Running always seemed to catch up to Paige Alexander even in the city she was unsafe.
Parking the car as she reaches the edge of the lake, she takes off her glasses and wipes at a few stray tears in her eyes composing herself. Placing the sun glasses inside her purse, she opens the door pausing for a moment to reach for the flowers. She grabs a manilla envelope from the back seat in the process. Purse swung over her arm flowers and envelope in hand she stands in front of the cross.
She feels empty as she stares at the cross of the person that she used to call her friend and confident. Hannah was bright always knew the best advice to give, always had a way out for the trouble; a solution to the problem. This time though is seemed like someone stepped in and decided that it would be the end for Hannah. Whether that be God, Buddha or some other higher power no one would ever know.
She places the flowers gently on the ground next to the cross. The silence of the moment is engulfed in the sound of the water coming in and the crinkle of the paper around the flower arrangement. She takes a few moments to breathe; to will the tears that threaten to fall away before reaching for the envelope. Kneeling down by the lake she pulls a lighter from her purse, lighting the bottom right corner of the envelope. Of course it’s only a copy of what she is trying to hide and she knows that, but for now it seems to be the peace that she is looking for as she watches it burn.
She releases the envelope before it can singe her fingers, as it flutters off into the lake. She knows that she should go to the police and tell them everything, but she can’t bring herself to do it; not even years later. She rises from the side of the lake straightening her skirt, she looks over at Hannah’s cross for a final time. She knew that Hannah deserved better than this; better than her hiding the truth and running away from it. She can offer no explanation for the cross and her betrayal other than the guilt she feels over it.
“I’m so sorry, Hannah,” Paige manages to get out.
She turns and makes her way back to her car, starting the engine pausing to wipe at her eyes with a Kleenex that is inside the glove box. She takes a few moments to compose herself, as the wind echos in the trees. She takes it as a sign that Hannah understands or that Hannah forgives her for what she has done. Either way it seems to calm her enough to subside the tears, adjust her make up before she puts the car in reverse and makes her way back up the dirt road.
Scene 4: West Lake Town Hall; DA Richard Weston’s Office
The office is dark as Richard Weston mulls over paperwork of cases on his desk, his secretary has went home hours ago. Jessica has already stopped by to beg him to make Vanessa Harvell disappear if only he could again. To society and the legal system it isn’t possible she has served her time. Even though he had wished that it was longer something, he hoped that given the trial and conviction four years was nothing. He had wished for a tougher sentence and then like others was shocked at the minimal sentence.
He takes a turn in his leather chair to stare out the window and onto the street below. Teenagers out roaming the streets, families in the park spending time together. Time had passed him by and his decision to place his career first was something that he couldn’t take back. He couldn’t blame Jessica for resenting him he refused her existence publicly for years; until her antics got to much to bear in High School and she had to be sent away. He supposed at this point they would never be close or have an ideal relationship but, it was getting better.
He goes over the injunction that Karen Donovan presented to Judge Newman that morning, requesting the book on her daughters case not be published. Something that going in ,he knew wouldn’t happen because it involved the first amendment. Brian McAllister would get his book released and published. A book that he had wished he could get his hands on to read before it went public. The secrets the book could expose could end so many lives that is of course; if Vanessa Harvell’s memory had magically decided to reappear.
Rising from his desk he goes to his cabinets and the safe inside the office turning the combination on the lock. It’s been years since he has pilled through the safe, years since he has really thought about it. It seems fitting now that the book is about to come out and that she is home that he makes sure things are still in order. Reaching his hand inside, he feels the cold steel of the pistol in his fingers through the plastic bag and he takes it out passing it between his hands. The blood is still partly visible on the gun a reminder of what the gun had been used for. A time when he had to make a choice to be the compassionate prosecutor or make his mark on a case that got national attention.
Richard stares at the gun for a few moments reflecting on the situation as a whole, it was never supposed to get that far out of hand, but it did. There was now only a few people left who knew about the incident, he knew one thing if the book came out and even a hint was mentioned by Ms. Harvell, his career would be over. He makes it his mission as he replaces the gun in the safe and washes his hands to visit Vanessa and see if her memory has returned. If anything he has to ensure and cover his bases where the gun and blood are concerned.
Drying his hands he made his way back to his desk placing his case files inside that he needs to take home and go over. He packs carefully to make sure that everything is in order and the ringing phone on his desk distracts him enough to stop. Reaching for the phone he answers the call hoping that it is no his daughter. He doesn’t want a repeat of their conversation from earlier that day regarding Vanessa’s release, he is surprised when instead it is her mother, Marla.
“Hello Marla what can I do for you?” He waits for a beat, as his ex invites him to dinner he reluctantly agrees and the phone call is ended.
Walking to the door he flicked off the office light. Making made his way out of his office to meet Marla for dinner.
Scene 5: The Scorpion Bar & Grill; Dinning Area
The conversation from the previous night doesn’t seem to bother Austin Alexander as he wraps his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder inside the booth at the grill. Across the table he looks between Jacob and Jessica for a few seconds as the waitress comes over to fill their drinks. Talk around the grill is focused on one thing Vanessa’s release and return to West Lake, he wonders how long it is going to be before they need to leave. Instead he focuses back in on Elizabeth, as she talks about the wedding dress and completing the list with the caterer for the wedding.
“I think we should go with the filet mignon menu that the chef prepared. What do you think?” Elizabeth asks, gauging him for an answer on the subject.
Call him a horrible groom but picking between a chicken, seafood or beef entree doesn’t seem to make him get giddy with pleasure. He prefers the simple things it’s really up to her at the end of the day. Their parents are paying and he just wants to show up and say his vows. He plays with the glass that holds his beer before he takes a drink and looks over at her. He wondered if all grooms behaved like he did about getting married he knows the answer won’t be one she wants to hear.
“Whichever you chose I’ll be fine with,” Austin offers, with a shrug.
Elizabeth can’t help the small frown that passes her face at his reply, with the wedding coming up they need to make a decision soon. Her fiancee has been nothing but supportive from the time that they set a date. Letting her take the reigns, pick the colors, pick the location and the rest. She however wishes he would get a little more involved. She focuses on her wine glass for a bit as she wonders where the food is and her thoughts as well as the rest of the tables thoughts are interrupted by Jessica.
“I heard that she stayed at the hotel last night with Brian McAllister. Do you guys think she’s sleeping with him?”
Jacob is fairly sure that the color has all but drained from his face as he looked at Jessica who offers him a shrug. He then turns his attention back to Elizabeth and Austin who seem quiet about the matter. He has avoided talking about it, has avoided mentioning it until now. His fingers play with the tablecloth for a bit as he waits for his two friends to offer some sort of rebuke to Jessica’s statement. When neither of them do the table falls into silence again.
Jessica watches the reactions from the table closely, as she states her share of the latest in town gossip. Elizabeth seems quiet she probably knows it to be true and Austin looks like he wants to toss her out of the grill for opening her mouth. Jacob stares at her like she has grown two heads for daring to mention what has been on the mind of everyone at the table. She supposes the statement was off the mark but given her source on the information it is not likely.
“I think we could all find a better subject to talk about other than Vanessa Harvell? Wouldn’t everyone agree?” Elizabeth finally offers, through the silence.
Austin is already looking at the menu and casting his eyes back over at his best friend trying to gauge what Jacob is thinking. Jacob looks at Elizabeth grateful for the interruption she may still be friends with Vanessa, but clearly her loyalty at the moment is with Austin and making sure they all have a good time. Jessica looks between them all as they all seem to fall back into silence and she wonders if this is how the wedding reception in a few weeks is going to be. Awkward moments, complete silence with the echoing of the noises around them. Elizabeth shuffles her menu in front of her for a bit hoping that, the mood for the evening hasn’t been spoiled to much by Jessica’s statement. She perks up when Jacob takes charge in the conversation knowing that things may just look up after all.
“So how about that local baseball game a few weeks ago?”
Scene 6: 574 Shoreline Dr. Apt #5, West Lake, NY
Cade Harvell smiles, as he pulls Kate closer to him inside the comforts of her bed fully content at the moment. He knows now that the night has ended she has forgiven him for missing dinner with her the day before. He knew when she left that he would not show and like clockwork, he called to inform her that he would be working. She had remained strong and he promised to make it up to her the following night.
He had Marla clear his schedule for the afternoon and a few investors were upset he would need to call and make that up to them later in the week. He had stopped by the hospital a dozen wildflowers in his hand in an attempt to sway her, she had relented. He took her to dinner, indulged her in fine food and wine, when she pointed out that she would rather finish out their evening at her place, he was more than happy to comply. He doesn’t have to ask if she is sleeping as she speaks.
“Have you talked to Vanessa yet?”
Kate waits for an answer she had been beyond livid with him for blowing her off the night before but when she got home she understood why. She called Sharon Harvell to find out where Vanessa would be staying, to be told that she was a motel. She was shocked at the revelation. Sharon and Vanessa had always been close and she had always thought that Vanessa knew that. She had went every other weekend to see her best friend behind bars and from their meetings always offered her support when and if she were to ever get out.
“No, I’m not sure if I should or not or if she even wants to see me,” Cade replies his tone somber.
Part of him wishes that Kate would just let the entire thing drop but he knows that is not possible. Kate cared about his sister, she was close to her, had been best friends along with Hannah for years. He for the most part doesn’t like to think about the last time that his sister and he have spoken; they saw things differently on her involvement in the accident. He eventually gave up on her innocence and dropped out of law school instead transferring to business to escape his father’s obsession.
Kate remains silent for a few more moments her fingers trailing up and down his arm. She can hear the echo of a car pulling out of the apartment complex along with the silence that is dwelling inside the room. Taking a sigh she kisses his cheek for a moment, she grabs her robe to head get out of the bed and head into the bathroom to clean up for a bit. It is the only thing that she knows how to do at the moment given their circumstances with their situation.
Cade closes his eyes as she crawls out of bed and heads into the bathroom, he hears the water running debating about if he is welcome to join her or not. Deciding that unless he wants to return to his apartment for the evening it best that he gives her space, he takes out some paperwork to go over. His phone vibrates and he takes it out seeing his sister Callie’s number, he promptly presses the ignore button and goes back to his work. He doesn’t want to have her try to con him into coming over to see Vanessa or her mother at the moment, all that he really wants to do is work everything off.
Rolling his neck to get out a tense muscle he hears the water turn off and gives himself a few more moments before Kate will emerge and be ready for bed. She has a shift the following morning at the hospital and he will be busy most of the day at work as well. At least it will be the distraction he needs to distance himself from the situation some more; unless his family decides to visit him at the office. Kate emerges and takes her place back on the bed as his phone buzzes again.
“I thought that you might care to join me? Seems that you had something else on your mind or to occupy your time with though,” Kate teases looking at him for a moment.
Cade grins to her statement long enough to reach over and pull her into a kiss. Kate pulls back to place some lotion on her hands. The shower had been what she needed to relax and as she places the lotion on her skin she glances over at Cade who seems deep in thought over his paperwork and has no intention of grabbing the phone. Suspecting that he doesn’t want to answer it, she picks it up seeing an unknown number. By now she debates answering it long enough for it to return to silence again. Placing it back on the sheets she settles into the pillow as the phone begins to vibrate again, sighing she looks at him.
“Are you going to get that?” Kate asks irritation clearly setting in over the phone and it’s constant buzzing at the moment.
Cade reaches for the phone to open it looking apologetically at Kate.
“Hello?” Cade asks.
For a moment he can hear the sound of a semi pass and the static on the other end of the line. For a few more moments he can hear the echos of voices in the background for a bit as well, before the caller takes a deep breath. Cade is near ready to hang up the phone and turn the power off when the voice on the other end speaks.
“Hello Cade, it’s me.”
Cade stares at Kate mouth open in complete shock as he hears his father’s voice on the other end of the line. Garrett Harvell disappeared off the map two years ago, no one has seen or heard from him since. Yet he is here calling is son in the dead of night after nothing, after he walked out on his family. Leaving them to think he was dead for all they knew.