CHAPTER EIGHT: THE AFTERMATH

MR. KILM, GREGOR AND ELISE HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED TO THE PARTY WHERE EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR THEM ABOUT VICE GOVERNOR GIBSON'S DEATH.

BILLY: WHAT HAPPENED, GREG?

GREGOR: WE NEED TO BRING HER AT THE HOSPITAL.

GOV. DEAN: WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

MR. KILM: SHE FELL FROM THE HILL, SIR. SHE NEEDS TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY.

GOV. DEAN: BRING HER TO THE HOSPITAL, THEN.

GREGOR: WE ARE, GOVERNOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN.

DR. DEAN: LET ME HELP HER.

GREGOR: NO, THANK YOU MAAM. AS I SAID, WE WILL BRING HER TO THE HOSPITAL.

DR. DEAN: BUT SHE'S...

RANDON: MOM, DONT WASTE YOUR TIME. HE WILL NEVER FOLLOW SOMEONE'S COMMAND, NOT ONCE. LET THEM BE.

BILLY: DONT WORRY, DR. DEAN. I WILL ASSIST THEM.

DR. DEAN: THAT'S BETTER, BILLY.

RANDON: BILLY, PLEASE LET US KNOW ABOUT HER CONDITION.

ELISE LOOKS AT RANDON, THAT IS THE FIRST TIME TO SEE RANDON GOT WORRY FOR ELISE.

BILLY: DONT WORRY, RANDON. I WILL TELL YOU MYSELF.

RANDON: THANK YOU.

BILLY AND GREGOR BRING ELISE TO THE HOSPITAL. MR. AND MRS. LEIGH ASK THE GUESTS TO LEAVE FOR GOOD. GOVERNOR DEAN TELLS HIS FAMILY TO GO HOME FIRST.

DR. DEAN: WHAT ABOUT YOU, FORD?

GOV. DEAN: I'LL BE DEALING WITH THE POLICEMEN AND THE REPORTERS. DONT WORRY, MR. KILM IS WITH ME AND ALSO MR. LEIGH.

MRS. LEIGH: MRS. DEAN, CAN I ASK YOU A FAVOR?

DR. DEAN: OF COURSE, MRS. LEIGH. WHAT IS IT?

MRS. LEIGH: CAN WE STAY AT YOUR HOUSE FOR THIS NIGHT? VERONICA SEEMS UNCOMFORTABLE TO BE IN HERE.

DR. DEAN: YOU MAY STAY TONIGHT, MRS. LEIGH. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. RANDON, GO WITH VERONICA, SHE NEEDS YOU.

RANDON: OKAY, MOM.

RANDON VISITS VERONICA, ASHLEY AND LARRY. WHEN VERONICA SEES HIM, SHE HUGS RANDON FOR COMFORT AND HE LET HER BE.

VERONICA: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, RANDON?

RANDON: I JUST DONT KNOW, VERONICA. MAYBE SOON, WE WILL FIND OUT. YOUR MOM DECIDED TO STAY AT HOME TONIGHT.

VERONICA: THANK YOU, RANDON. THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL HERE FOR ME.

RANDON: LARRY AND ASHLEY, YOU CAN STAY AT HOME AS WELL.

ASHLEY: WE WILL.

LARRY: I CANT, I AM SORRY. MY MOM SCARED TOO, SHE NEEDS ME.

RANDON: I UNDERSTAND.

PENELOPE: BROTHER, LET US GO HOME.

THEY GO HOME AT DEAN'S HOUSE FOR TONIGHT. MRS. LEIGH AND DR. DEAN ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT'S EVENT. ASHLEY COMFORTS VERONICA IN THEIR ROOM. WHILE RANDON IS STILL THINKING ABOUT ELISE. PENELOPE VISITS HIM IN HIS ROOM.

PENELOPE: NOT TIRED YET?

RANDON: NOT YET, YOU?

PENELOPE: I HAVE TONS OF THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD TONIGHT.

RANDON: LIKE WHAT?

PENELOPE: ABOUT MR. GIBSON'S DEATH, ABOUT ELISE'S ACCIDENT AND TO PATT.

RANDON: THEY ARE ALL MISSING PUZZLE PIECES FOR ME, SIS. I CANT GIVE YOU ANSWERS FOR THAT.

PENELOPE:BUT YOU SEEM BOTHERED THE WHOLE TIME, WHY?

RANDON: ABOUT EVERYTHING AS LIKE AS YOU DO.

PENELOPE: WELL, I MUST GO TO SLEEP. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A HARD DAY FOR YOU.

RANDON: EVERYONE DOES.YOU MUST GOT TO BED NOW. GOODNIGHT, SIS.

PENELOPE: GOOD NIGHT

DURING ERALY MORNIG, BILLY IS DECIDING NOT TO OPEN THE DINER FOR TODAY.

GREGOR: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COSTUMERS, SIR?

BILLY: DONT MIND THEM, BOY. THEY DONT STARVE WITHOUT US JUST FOR A DAY. BY THE WAY, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE? HAVE YOU BEEN FELL TOO?

GREGOR: WE HAD A FIGHT WITH RANDON.

BILLY: HMMM, IT'S BEEN YEARS THAT YOU ARE IN YOUR SILENCE.

GREGOR: ARE YOU NOT MAD?

BILLY: I AM NOT MAD BUT IT'S NOT TOTALLY RIGHT, INHUMANITY. BUT SOMETIMES, YOU NEED TO HURT SOMEBODY TO BE AWAKEN.

MS. USHTER: GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN.

BILLY: GOOD MORNING, REBECCA. HOW IS OUR PATIENT?

MS. USHTER: SHE HAS A LEG INJURY, NOT SEVERE. BUT SHE NEEDS REST AND PROPER MEDICATION AND TREATMENT. SAD TO SAY, SHE WILL BE STAYING HERE FOR DAYS FOR OBSERVATION.

BILLY: AS LONG AS SHE'S OKAY.

GREGOR: BILLY, DONT WORRY ABOUT THE BILLS, I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.

MS. USHTER: NO NEED. GOVERNOR DEAN PAID HER EXPENSES HERE.

BILLY: IMPRESSIVE

MS. USHTER: BY THE WAY, GREGOR. MRS. LEIGH CALLED ME TO TELL YOU THAT SHE IS HAVING A MEETING WITH YOU.

GREGOR: ONLY ME?

MS. USHTER: PROBABLY WITH THE WHOLE TEAM, MEET HER AT HER OFFICE THIS AFTERNOON.MR. LEAFMAN AND MRS. SCOTT WILL BE THERE.

BILLY: I WILL WATCH FOR HER. DONT WORRY, GREG.

GREGOR: OKAY, SIR. THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME, MS. USHTER.

MS. USHTER: YOU ARE WELCOME, THAT GIRL IS VERY BRAVE LAST NIGHT. BILLY AND GREGOR, I HAVE TO GO.

BILLY:THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, REBECCA. GREG, GO HOME, TAKE SOME REST, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. I CAN MANAGE HERE MYSELF.

GREGOR: OKAY, SIR.

AS GREGOR CLOSES THE DOOR TO LEAVE, HE SEES PATT SITTING AT THE BENCH. HE IS STILL WEARING HIS SUIT FROM LAST NIGHT. HE IS WAITING FOR SOMETHING. GREGOR VISITS HIM.

GREGOR: PATT, YOU SHOULD GO HOME. IT'S NOT SAFE FOR YOU HERE.

PATT: I KNOW BUT I AM WAITING FOR MY FATHER'S ASH.

GREGOR: I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOST, PATT.

PATT: HOW IS SHE?

GREGOR: SHE HAS A LEG INJURY. SHE'S STILL RECOVERING.

PATT: I NEED TO KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

GREGOR: SHE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE SHE FELL, SHE SAW YOUR FATHER STILL CRAWLING FOR HELP. WHEN I FOUND HER UNCONSCIOUSLY FROM HER FALL AND WHEN WE WENT BACK TO YOUR FATHER BUT WE FOUND HIM DEAD WITH A KNIFE STABBED ON HIS CHEST.

PATT: HE WAS MURDERED. I KNEW IT FROM THE VERY START.

GREGOR: I DONT KNOW, PATT.

PATT: YOU ALREADY KNEW, IT IS OBVIOUS.

GREGOR: PATT, SOMETIMES WE BELIEVE WHAT WE THINK BUT SOMETIMES IT'S ONLY A THOUGHT.

PATT: WHAT IF THIS TIME A THOUGHT THAT I BELIEVED IS RIGHT?

GREGOR: WAHT WILL YOU DO, THEN, PATT?

PATT: TO FIND JUSTICE IN MY FATHER'S DEATH.

VERONICA WAKES UP WONDERING WHERE ARE THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE IS BEING QUIET BY ITSELF EXCEPT FOR ASHLEY AND PENELOPE, THEY ARE WASTING THEIR TIME AT THE MINI LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS. VERONICA JOINS THEM.

VERONICA: WHERE ARE THE OTHERS? WHERE'S MOM?

PENELOPE: THEY WENT ALREADY FOR WORK AFTER BREAKFAST.

VERONICA: WHAT ABOUT DAD?

PENELOPE: YOUR DAD AND MY DAD HAVE A MEETING WITH THE OTHER OFFICIALS AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

VERONICA: WHAT ABOUT RANDON?

ASHLEY: HE IS TAKING A SWIM WITH LARRY TO THE LAKE.

VERONICA: ASHLEY, LET'S GO A SWIM WITH THEM.

ASHLEY: I KNOW YOU WILL OFFER ME THAT, WHAT ABOUT YOU PENELOPE?

PENELOPE: NO, THANKS. I RATHER STAY HERE FOR A MOMENT.

VERONICA: OKAY, COME ON, ASHLEY.

ASHLEY: AS YOU WISHED, VERONICA.

THE GIRLS ARE PREPARING THEMSELVES EXCITEDLY FOR A SWIM TOGETHER WITH THE BOYS AT THE LAKE. AT THE LAKE, RANDON IS FLOATING HIMSELF ON THE WATER WHILE WATCHING THE CLEAR SKY SILENTLY. LARRY OBSERVES HIS SILENCE WHILE SMOKING.

LARRY: WHY ARE YOU SO SILENT, MATE?

RANDON: IS MY SILENCE DEAFENING YOU?

LARRY: OBVIOUSLY, I EXPECTED THIS LAKE VENTURE WITH YOU WOULD BE FUN AND LIVELY THAN TO YOUR BUILT EXPECTATIONS.I RATHER SITTING IN THE MINI LIBRARY WITH THE WOMEN AND SUPPOSEDLY DISCUSSING ABOUT THEIR ABSURD BELIEFS ABOUT ROMANTIC BOOKS THAN ROMANTIC REALITY.

RANDON: (LAUGHS) I DONT HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE YOU GOT THAT AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.

LARRY: IN MY OWN OFFENSE, I WAS HAVING FUN LAST NIGHT. UNLIKE YOU, YOU WERE FOLLOWING ELISE'S STEPS WHEREVER SHE MIGHT GOES, NO OFFENSE TO YOU.

RANDON: I AM JUST CONCERN TO HER, THAT'S ALL.

LARRY: REALLY NOW? IN WHAT FORM OF YOUR BEING SO CONCERNED TO HER THAT BOTHERS YOU THE MOST? DONT LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, RAN. I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING YOU SINCE WE MET THAT GIRL AT THE DINER. ARE YOU FALLING IN LOVE WITH HER?

RANDON: YOU KNOW THAT I AM NOT EASILY FALL TO SOMEONE, TO A STRANGER.

LARRY: I HOPE SO, RANDON. REMEMBER, SHE'S A STRANGER TO ALL OF US.

ASHLEY: THERE YOU ARE, CAN WE JOIN YOU?

LARRY: FINALLY, OF COURSE YOU CAN.

VERONICA: WE BROUGHT A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY. I HOPE IT IS OKAY FOR YOU, RANDON.

RANDON: IT IS FINE, JUST FEEL YOURSELF AT HOME.

LARRY: ASHLEY, LET'S GO FOR A SWIM

ASHLEY: THAT'S WHY I AM HERE, STAY HERE THE BOTH OF YOU.

RANDON: LARRY AND ASHLEY'S PLANS ARE VERY OBVIOUS AND PREDICTABLE.

VERONICA: PLANS? ABOUT WHAT?

RANDON: AND THERE YOU ARE, PLAYING MIND GAMES TO ME. QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWERS. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

VERONICA: FEELING FOR WHAT? FOR YOU? FOR TODAY?

RANDON: FEELING ABOUT LAST NIGHT, ABOUT YOUR SLEEP.

VERONICA: I AM FINE. HOW ABOUT YOU?

RANDON: SAME AS WELL.

VERONICA: YOU ARE A GOOD LIAR, RANDON. YOU CANT FOOL ME. SWIMMING AT THE LAKE AFTER WHAT HAPPENED, YOU ARE FIGURING THINGS OUT INSIDE OF YOUR HEAD. I KNOW YOU, RANDON.

RANDON: I AM THINKING ABOUT PATT. IT'S BEEN HARD ON HIM. PROBABLY, HE WILL BLAME MY DAD. I DONT EVEN BLAME PATT IF HE DOES THAT.

VERONICA: PAIN IS EVERYBODY'S POINTING OF BLAMES, ISNT IT?

RANDON: PAIN WILL MAKE YOU A MONSTER OF YOUR OWN AGONY.

VERONICA: IS THAT WHAT YOU FEEL? FROM WHAT I DID TO YOU?

RANDON: I HAVE BEEN LYING TO YOU IF I SAY IT'S NOT.

RANDON STANDS UP, WEARS HIS SHIRT AND GOES HOME. ASHLEY AND LARRY NOTICE THAT VERONICA IS CRYING. THEY WENT OFF FROM THE LAKE TO COMFORT HER. AS RANDON ARRIVES THE HOUSE AND INTO HIS ROOM, HE MADE A LOUD SLAM OF HIS DOOR THAT EVEN PENELOPE HEARS IT. SHE KNOCKS HIS DOOR.

RANDON: NOT NOW, PEN. I NEED TO BE ALONE. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

PENELOPE: OR WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE FOR A RIDE. CANT WE?

RANDON OPENS THE DOOR AND AGREES TO PENELOPE'S IDEA.

PENELOPE: BUT LET ME DRIVE THE CAR THIS TIME

RANDON: IT IS A RELIEF.

PENELOPE: LET'S GO

RANDON AND PENELOPE GET A CAR FROM THEIR FATHER'S. PENELOPE LEADS THE WAY FAR FROM THE HOUSE AS THIS MOMENT.