"It doesn't matter what I want. It doesn't matter what I need."- It Doesn't Mattter, Alison Krauss
Episode 5: It Doesn't Matter
Written By: Kelly Zollo
Scene 1: Harvell Estate
For the last eight years Helen Porter and Sharon Morris meet for brunch at Sharon’s house at least twice a month. This month has been slightly slower than others, with this being the first time they have been able to up hold the tradition. Kate stares out the window as they make their way up the driveway to the house. Vanessa is not expecting Kate’s visit but after an insistence from Helen she has agreed to come.
Placing the car into park, then glancing at her daughter with a smile Helen gets out of the car. She has felt guilty for the last few weeks ever since Cade had appeared in her office wanting her to help with his father. Truth be told since that time she has been avoiding her best friend, she doesn’t want Sharon to know yet. She is still in shock that Garrett Harvell has been institutionalized since his disappearance and that Cade has know for a few years.
Everyone had been comfortable with the thought of Garrett just walking out on his family and never looking back, disappearing into the night. She was never prepared to find Garrett with Cade in a seedy motel room, so far gone from reality. Seeing first hand his mental state Helen knows that keeping the secret is what is for the best. Cade was doing what he thought was the best for everyone and in turn the lie turned bigger than he wanted to the point, he began to believe it.
Sharon is already holding open the door for her and Kate as they make their way up the front steps. Leaning in Helen gives her friend a quick hug of support, Kate politely excuses herself to Vanessa’s room. The home is still as she remembers neat and tidy, sophisticated and intact; an expected outcome of a lawyer and the wife of a lawyer. Sharon is already on her way into the kitchen, as Helen follows trying to focus on her friend.
“I am glad that you could come, it’s been a while. Hospital must be getting busy again? I know this case at the office has everyone booked or blocked up,’ Sharon says, grabbing the orange juice before checking on the food that is in the oven. ‘Coffee?”
“No thank you. Kate and I grabbed some coffee this morning. Thanks for telling me to bring her, she’s been nervous about coming by," Helen offers, taking a seat in the stool by the island in the kitchen.
“Kate and Vanessa have been friends for years. Why should that change now? Seeing my daughter sulk in her room day after day is not something that I expected from her now that she is home," Sharon says, glancing over at her friend again.
Helen knows better to push the issue as Sharon moves around the kitchen gathering everything for the coffee and brunch. The phone on the counter rings breaking Helen from her thoughts and Sharon offers her a faint smile before looking at the caller id. With all the prank calls with the book and harassment, the phone is always ringing deciding to pick it up Sharon speaks.
“Harvell residence.”
“Sharon? Sharon Harvell? This is Dr. Hornock up at the Bridgewater Mental Institution. I was calling on behalf of your husband Garett,” The male voice on the other end says.
“I think you must be confused my husband is missing. If this is some sick, perverted joke that the press has come up with,” Sharon begins only to stop when the voice speaks again.
“Mrs. Harvell this is not a crank call your husband was admitted to our facility a few years ago by your son, Cade. Recently Garrett went missing insisting that he was better your son and a Dr. Porter returned him to our facility. I am calling to inform you that your husband is mentally stable now, on medication and ready to return home. Of course that is pending that you or your son can come up to our facility so that we can release him to your care,” the doctor continues.
Sharon is to numb to speak as she looks across the table to her friend betrayal and hurt evident in her eyes, as she looks at her best friend. Tears threaten to fall at everything, questions swirl in her mind, as she hears the shuffle of the phone in the doctors office. She can swear that her knuckles are white from gripping the phone and her free hand is shaking. Helen catches the gaze and knows that her friend now knows about Garrett, before she can offer her any word or an apology however a separate voice speaks to Sharon on the phone.
“Sharon, it’s me. I want to come home,” Garrett Harvell says quietly to his wife.
Scene 2: Harvell and Associates; Callie Morris’s Office
Closing her eyes to stop the migraine from coming on Callie leans back in her leather armchair, court had been draining from the beginning of the day. Ending in the case coming to a stand still with a recess from Judge Newman, citing that she needed it until tomorrow to deliberate. Not that she wanted to continue the case one way or the other but she knew that the firm was depending on her. Looking around the office as the air conditioning began to kick on and come down on her from the vent.
She hasn’t talked to Tyler in a while and she begins to wonder if it was for the best with everything that was going on with them as friends, or something more. She had eventually given up on the thought of them actually being something, it just wasn’t possible. The fact that her sister had been behind the wheel of the car that killed Hannah, she supposed hadn’t kicked in with him yet mentally. For her it had become a fact after the accident as they had been run off the road and their families had converged on the hospital waiting room afterwards. The knock on the door brings her out of her thoughts and she looks up as Tyler entered the office.
“Tyler, I didn’t expect for you to drop by today. We weren’t meeting today were we?” Callie asks, glancing up at him for a brief moment before focusing back on the case paperwork on her desk.
Tyler looks over at her as he closes the door behind him, he hasn’t been by in awhile since they were ran off the road. She hasn’t returned his calls, since the accident ignores his messages to the secretary out front. The case has hit a stand still, he has Greg’s permission to look into the case, provided that he looks out for himself and Callie. He has been over the case looking into find out where they can locate Ethan Levitt with no leads, it appears that he has become a ghost.
In truth he is slightly confused about her behavior as of late, she seemed fully interested in him they had went out a few times. He would venture to say that they were dating to an extent, only to have that drop after the accident. He knows that she may be having reservations with their arrangement with Hannah lingering over them, however he has no qualms or questions about it. She wasn’t a part of the accident and the more he looks into it it is looking more and more like a cover up to something bigger.
“No, you haven’t been returning my calls about the case. So I thought I would stop by in person,” Tyler states, glancing up at her before glancing around the office.
“I’ve been really busy with this case load. My mom has us all working a lot more hours with the case,” Callie states, not bothering to glance up from her paperwork with her response.
“I was thinking that we could go over a few leads about Ethan Levitt. Maybe, I’m missing something in what I’ve been able to track down by myself. We could do dinner at the country club afterwards if you wanted,” Tyler offers, with a shrug of his shoulders at her.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea. I’m really tied up here for the day.”
Tyler is quiet for a few moment as he takes a seat in the office to think over her words over time people have never referred to Callie as cold. He is beginning to see her in a new light since the accident, she is pulling away getting colder. Callie has always been known as the quieter, calmer, more confident of the Harvell children, the bitch title belonged to her sister. He has yet to see or speak to Vanessa since her release and has to wonder if Callie’s sudden change is because of that.
“Did you and Vanessa have a good time the other day at the mall?” Tyler asks, his tone sincere as he looks at her.
“If you count running into Elizabeth and Jessica being a complete bitch with my sister fun. Then yeah, we had a great time,’ Callie says, finally looking up at him. ‘What do you want Tyler?”
“I was hoping that we could go back to the way things were before we were run off the road. Working together, hanging out, going to dinner,” Tyler says.
“In case you haven’t noticed getting ran off the road to look into Hannah’s case isn’t appealing to me. I am sorry that dealing with Hannah being gone is hard for you and your family. I just don’t think it’s a good idea that I help you anymore.” Callie says flatly.
Before Tyler can answer her phone is ringing and she is making a move to pick it up. He pauses for a bit at the doorway as she talks on the phone going over her case. Opening the door he exits the office quietly, letting the door click shut on his way out. Callie glances up at the noise and fights back tears, as she concentrates on the phone call.
Scene 3: West Lake Country Club; Dinning Area
Richard doesn’t know why he has agreed to met his daughter and his ex for lunch at the club. The only thing that he does know is that Marla is concerned with their daughter’s irrational behavior. He on the other hand has more pressing issues to deal with at the moment, mainly the release of Vanessa and the questions being pointed at him. Picking up his water he takes a sip as Marla brushes into the club taking a seat across from him.
Marla Robins doesn’t know why she reaches out to Richard repeatedly with their daughter, the two hardly see eye to eye. However, she is concerned people have been talking about it for a few weeks now and with Vanessa being out she can’t help but get alarmed. Jessica has a colorful past, one that sending her away while younger was supposed to help with. It apparently hasn’t worked, Jessica is now more irrational than ever about her relationship with Jacob Donovan. Something that Marla knew from the beginning was not going to work out.
“Did Jess confirm with you that she was coming?" Richard asks, his tone slightly irritated as he looks at the menu.
The comment gets a glare from his ex.
“Nice to know that your concern for our daughter is your top priority,” Marla snaps back, her own stare icy, as she glares back.
The two cease fire as they see Jessica enter the country club and begin the walk to their table, over the years parenting together has been their main goal. Both of them want to see her happy and stable with her life, want to see her adjust from the bad period in her life. Richard raises from his seat to offer his daughter a quick hug and pull out the chair for her to sit down. Marla reaches over for a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek in greeting.
“Sorry, I was with Liz at he boutique again for a fitting. It ran a little late,” Jessica offers, glancing between her parents.
“It’s alright we haven’t even got to ordering yet. Your father beat me here and I was a few minutes late,” Marla replies, looking at Richard to start the pending conversation.
“How is work going? I hope that Alan isn’t bogging you down with a lot of pending clients. Your mother and I wanted to talk to you about your situation.” Richard says, getting straight to the point of the conversation.
Jessica sits back clearly angry at her parents for the set up about her current situation, something that she feels is not any of their business in the first place. The game plan has changed but the players are still the same in her mind, the phone call solidified that. Everything else was collateral damage in her mind, not that her father had any business trying to corner her or force her to give that up. Reaching for her glass of water she takes a drink, as she watches her mother play with the tablecloth.
“I’m fine,” Jessica says flatly.
“Sweetheart, we’re just concerned. We thought we had put his all behind us years ago,” Marla begins, to only be cut off as her daughter lets out a laugh.
“What are you guys going to do ship me off again? May of worked when I was younger but not now mother. Not like either of you have room to speak anyways. All of this could have been resolved years ago if you would have done your job.” Jessica says, the first part looking at her mother and the second at her father.
“It’s not that simple Jessica, I can’t control every judge in the county.” Richard says, his tone quiet as he looks at them knowing he should have pushed for the death penalty now.
The table falls to silence for a bit before Jessica finishes off her water as the waiter arrives. Grabbing her coat again and leaving the table not bothering to say goodbye to her parents again. Marla quietly tells the waiter that they won’t be doing lunch and with a glance between them, he is leaving the table. Richard runs a hand over his head realizing that things are quickly tail spinning out of control.
“Marla,” Richard begins, quietly not sure what to say.
“You’re certain that Vanessa doesn’t remember what happened that night before she got behind the wheel?” Marla asks, her tone quiet seeping with regret; her ex nods his head at her statement.
“Let’s keep it that way then shall we?”
Scene 4: West Lake Memorial; Emergency Room
Shane Porter is just about to go off his last twelve hour shift of the week, rounds are increasing in his final year of medical school. It hasn’t deterred him from sleep or functioning yet; it has however put a slight damper on his relationship with Paige. That or her secrets are beginning to get to him about what she is hiding. He has to remember that at the end of the day he can’t pressure her about any of it as Kate has already warned him. If you push the more someone will pull away.
Taking a heavy sigh he pauses for a bit over the chart looking around the hospital, thankfully it has been a calm day no real emergencies. He glances down the hall at his sister with a pediatrics patient and can’t help but grin, Kate would do well with children. Turning around he bumps into a paramedic that is standing beside him, slightly older a bit worn and to his knowledge new in town. Everyone knows most of everyone in West Lake he is certain of that, and this man is someone that he doesn’t know.
“Pardon me, I didn’t see you standing there,' Shane offers, extending his hand. ‘Shane Porter.”
“Ryan, Ryan Davidson," The man offers, taking Shane’s hand.
“You must be new. I haven’t seen you around before." Shane says, hoping to keep the other man engaged in some small chatter for the last few minutes of his shift.
Ryan looks up at Dr. Shane Porter, he seems like Paige’s type well cut and clean shaven. At least the Paige that he was first introduced to back in the city, a Paige that changed very quickly when they began seeing each other. He knows that is dangerous for him to begin to work at the hospital with Shane, no doubt Brian will object. However, his brother has been too laid back with answers as of late and truth be told he has missed torturing Paige. While the pictures have been fun rattling her in person will be more rewarding to him.
He waits for a few beats as Shane asks the questions after mentioning his name wondering if a connection will be made with Brian. When there is none and he has to wonder if his dear brother has been in fact hiding out in West Lake under their mother’s maiden name. Not that he looks down on his brother for Brian’s plan of action about the matter, he just would prefer to do things a different way. His brother and her, have both insisted that he keep his distance from West Lake but curiosity has gotten the better of him.
“Yes, I just got into town last week transfer from New York," Ryan offers, the lie coming off easier than it should have, he has been known for many professions.
“I hope that you like it. We run a pretty tight unit here," Shane says, passing the completed chart to a nurse on her way to check on his patient.
“You and your sister both work here correct? Your sister is dating that real estate guy Cade Harvell right? I do keep up with the tabloids," Ryan states, probing for his information without being so obvious about being nosey about the matter.
Shane doesn’t think anything of the information as he checks his watch ready to go ahead and clock out of the evening. He would be late for a date with Paige if he were to stay much longer and offers the new guy a wave on his way up the hallway. Ryan stares back at his retreating from up the hallway, his eyes wandering to the paper’s social column with Paige’s picture displayed by her club. Making friends with Shane will be the first thing on his list of course that will have to wait until a bit later, after he has paid his brother a visit.
Turning around has he finishes filling out his paperwork to give to the nurse behind the station he makes note about his newest run in, still completely in the dark about Paige’s past. Hopefully, things will go smoothly from here on out had his father not of sent him the hard drive years ago with the photos he would have never been able to get where he was with everything. Brian had a good idea, find out about the accident and then go from there, use Vanessa to get the information. Something that he warned his brother would take massive amounts of time, however he is sick of waiting. Playing with Paige’s memory on their past in the city and using the photos, however are something he is willing to do.
Scene 5: Alexander Publishing; Austin Alexander’s Office
Austin has been beside himself over the past few weeks as final preparations get underway for his wedding to Liz. Though that is not the only thing on his mind, the other half of his anticipation is the secret that he has from Paige. The photos are still daunting to him, still in the back of his mind wondering why his sister had went so far off the deep end when she was younger. Not that Paige has always been perfect or anything of that nature, but she at least had decency at one point in her life.
She had always wanted to fit in with the other girls mainly Hannah, Liz and Vanessa; eventually making friends with Jessica. Something that his parents highly disapproved of her spending time with, they had been proven right. Closing his eyes for a bit to focus on better things like his wedding to Elizabeth Jones, he loves her or at least he thinks he does. People who date for years on end are supposed to get married, have a happily ever after it is how it is supposed to work. Some however like Jacob don’t get to reach happily ever after.
“Austin, Kate Porter is here to see you, shall I send her in?”
The voice filters through his office door as his secretary peeks her head in to announce his visitor. He nods his head he could use the distraction.
Kate moves some hair out of her face and thanks the woman as he enters his office a small smile on her face. Finding herself in need of a friend with everything that is going on with her at the moment. She still hasn’t told anyone about what she had seen weeks before in the club restroom, ruining Austin’s day is not something she wants to do. Despite Liz’s obvious lapse in judgment about everything and turning to drugs, she doesn’t know what has compelled one of her closest friends down that path.
The office is much as she remembers it from years ago when they were last in the office fighting over the case. The final nail that encased their coffin on their relationship, not that it matters now he is getting married and she is with Cade. Taking off her black wool coat she takes a seat in one of the leather armchairs across from him, studying his face. He seems semi eager and glad that she has come to visit her and she smiles up at him as he speaks.
“Kate, I didn’t expect you to come by and see me. What a wonderful surprise.”
She can do nothing but nod her head at him for a bit finding words for him to try and get some words together.
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by see how you are. Getting any wedding jitters yet?” Kate asks, her best teasing smile flashing at him, garnering a good chuckle in response.
“No, none yet. I think Liz is going stir crazy with it coming up. She just wants everything to run smoothly," Austin offers, a shake of his head no.
“Have you talked to Jake yet about everything?” Kate asks softly, her tone sincere as she spoke.
“No, he hasn’t really been in the mood to talk lately.” Austin replies.
“I was speaking to Vanessa the today when I went to see her. She doesn’t want things to escalate with her being in the wedding party with him." Kate says, hoping to not cause a fight with him over it.
“I can’t force him to get along with her Kate, you know that. Besides the most they have to do is stand there while we say I do. They can move in there separate ways afterwards," Austin says, his tone unsure about where the conversation is going.
Kate taps her fingers on the armchair for a bit as she looks up at the boy that she once thought she would be marrying.
“You know, you used to be Vanessa’s friend too.”
Austin freezes for a bit in his chair at her words seeing the honesty in her eyes at the statement, as well as the slight sadness. Guilt instantly hits him at the thought, they all used to be friends until Hannah died, life was much more simpler back then. They all went to places together, they all were friends, told each other everything. Then the car wreck happened, stopping everyone in their tracks.
“How is she? Better yet how are you?” Austin asks, fully focusing on her for a bit as Kate shrugs.
“She’s doing alright I think. Cade doesn’t call anymore," Kate finally manages to get out, as Austin reaches his hand over his desk to cover hers.
Scene 6: 1298 Hollow Oak Way; West Lake, NY
Brian McAllister has set in for a nice evening alone of research, he had called Vanessa to stop on by to his disappointment she is spending the night with Kate Porter. He had hoped to get her over to the house, wine and dine her make her comfortable enough to see if something gauges her memory. Perhaps entrancing her to stay the night, after their encounter at the hotel room weeks before, nothing else has happened between them other than him getting slugged by Jacob Donovan. He tires not be irritated by that as best as he can, Jacob abandoned her and suddenly wants to just barge back in.
He shakes his head at the though for a bit before pouring himself a nice glass of Merlot and walking out on the deck overlooking the lake. Pulling out the manuscript for the book and going over a few details, as he takes a seat in one of the chairs. It is a nice night out, summer is ending and there is a slight chill and he lets his mind wander. Did his father sit out here after days in the classroom or having his students over?
Elliot, had never been one to stay faithful to his wife and that was part of the reason that the job effectively split their family. There were three things that his father loved his camera, his sons and the many students he seduced. He has never thought that made him a bad person, just not the type to remain faithful to his mother, something that she was content with. Taking out the photo again he studies the inscription; wondering if his father had perhaps changed his mind about wanting to make things work with his mother. His thought is invaded as he hears footsteps behind him on the deck and turns around in his chair his eyes wide that the visitor.
“What are you doing here?”
Ryan offers his brother a half smirk, as he stares his younger brother up and down sitting on the deck with the bottle of wine. He doesn’t say anything, as he takes a seat on the chair next to his brother, ignoring the glare on Brian’s face. He reaches over and grabs the photo from his brother’s hands, turning it back and forth between the picture and of course the inscription. His brother still wants to believe in the good that his father had to offer with their mother, something that he knows is pointless.
This is not his first visit to West Lake or it’s surroundings, nor is it the first time that he is connected to Paige and a few others. Reaching over he takes the Merlot from his brother’s chair to take a drink, placing it back down. Using Brian and the others to get what he wants doesn’t phase him, he wants justice for what happened or what he believes has happened. Looking out over the lake, he makes a mental note that getting in touch with Jessica is something he should do sooner rather than later, he doesn’t want her spoiling the fun to soon.
“You really think that you could keep me at bay for much longer?” Ryan asks, quizzically before he looks at the picture on the book of the girl who knew all of the secrets.
“I thought we agreed Ryan, that I would do this my way get what we needed to find out what happened that night. You were supposed to stay in the city and send the pictures,” Brian says flatly, unsure of what it is that his brother is wanting.
“Change of plans little brother, you’ve had your chance and apparently are still pinning for the girl. A girl, who barely knows that you exist other than to soothe her guilt at being behind the wheel. She isn’t talking and we have waited long enough,” Ryan says, his tone final as he stares out over the water.
“I don’t like using her like this,” Brian says, cut off as his brother rises from his seat to laugh.
“Shouldn’t you of thought about that two years ago when you and I decided to do this? We’ll get the information we need and then move on,” Ryan says, leaving it at that, as he walks down the deck and around the house.
Brian hears the car start and then pull out of the driveway and he closes his eyes, the plan is quickly going off track. His feelings for a certain brunette clouding his judgment on the matter at hand, clouding what he came here to do. He knows that he has to get his head back into the game for them to succeed, the only problem seems to be that he has discovered that he has fallen for her in the process. He tells himself to own up and get back in the game, as he rises from the chair before walking back into the house.