CHAPTER TWO: WELCOME TO THE RAVENSWOOD

AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THERE ARE PRESS AND REPORTERS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL NETWORKS. THEY ARE WAITING FOR ANSWERS FROM NEWLY ELECTED GOVERNOR, MR. FORD DEAN, TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE DR. LISA DEAN AND HIS CHILDREN RANDON AND PENELOPE DEAN. DR. LISA DEAN IS ONE OF THE HEAD DOCTORS OF RAVENSWOOD HOSPITAL. RANDON DEAN IS THE OLDEST SON AND A THIRD YEAR COLLEGE STUDENT WHO ARE STUDYING MEDICINE. SAME AS TO PENELOPE DEAN BUT SHE IS IN HER SECOND YEAR COLLEGE IN RAVENSWOOD MEDICAL SCHOOL. GOVERNOR DEAN IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE HIS DAUGHTER TO THE PRESS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT PENELOPE WILL BE THE NEXT OF HIS THRONE AS GOVERNOR. PENELOPE IS SMARTER THAN RANDON. SHE IS PERFECTIONIST AND GOAL-ORIENTED OPPOSED TO THE CHARACTERS OF RANDON. HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE LIKE HIS FATHER BUT HE DOES WANT TO BE A DOCTOR JUST LIKE HER MOTHER. THE ONLY REASON WHY HIS MOTHER LOVES HIM SO MUCH. DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, RANDON YAWNS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS. ALL OF THEM ARE LAUGHING EXCEPT FOR GOVERNOR DEAN AND PENELOPE.

RANDON: OH, MY APOLOGY.

PRESS: ARE YOU NOT INTERESTED IN THIS RANDON?

RANDON: NO, I MEAN, A BIT. I THINK I AM JUST HERE FOR MOTIVATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MY FATHER.

THE PRESS AND REPORTERS LAUGH THEN HIS MOTHER COVERS HIS MESS BY TAPPING HIS BACK SLOWLY AND GENTLY.

DR. DEAN: WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY IS THAT HE APPRECIATES HIS FATHER'S VICTORY AND PROBABLY, WE ARE TOO, ARENT WE?

GOV. DEAN: THANK YOU MY DARLING. NEXT QUESTION PLEASE.

AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THERE IS ANOTHER MEETING FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS OF RAVENSWOOD. DR. DEAN AND HER CHILDREN LEFT HER HUSBAND AND DECIDED TO GO HOME. BUT RANDON ASKS HIS MOTHER TO DROP HIM BY AT THE BIG BILLY'S DINER.

DR. DEAN: BEFORE YOU GO, RANDON, HAVE DINNER WITH US LATER. WE ARE CELEBRATING.

RANDON: OKAY, MOTHER. WELL, PEN HERE WILL REMIND ME LATER. RIGHT PEN?

PENELOPE: ASSHOLE.

DR. DEAN: PEN, WATCH YOUR WORD.

RANDON: YES PEN, WATCH YOUR WORD.

PENELOPE: JUST GET OUT FROM THE CAR, BROTHER.

RANDON: OKAY, I WILL. THANKS MOM.

DR. DEAN: JUST DONT BE LATE.

HE ENTERS THE BIG BILLY'S DINER AND HE SEES HIS FRIENDS, LARRY AND ASHLEY.

LARRY: HEY, RAN. HOW'S THE CONFERENCE GOIN'?

RANDON: BORING. SO, WHAT'S THE CATCH BETWEEN THE BOTH OF YOU? YOU GUYS SEEM TOGETHER LATELY.

LARRY: SHE'S NOT MY TYPE.

ASHLEY: HELL YOU, LARRY!

RANDON SEES PATT ENTERING THE DINER. HE CALLS PATT'S ATTENTION BUT PATT NEVER RESPOND.

LARRY: RAN, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED, HE NEVER SPEAKS TO US.

RANDON: I KNOW. I JUST NEED A TALK TO HIM. IT SEEMS LIKE HE BLAMED HIMSELF ABOUT IT.

ASHLEY: LET HIM BE, RAN. HE NEEDS TIME.

LARRY: THAT'S A LOT OF TIME, ASH. HE NEEDS TO MOVE ON. WHAT ABOUT YOU, RAN?

RANDON: ME? WHAT ABOUT ME?

ASHLEY: ARE YOU BLAMING YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TOO?

RANDON LOOKS AT THEM SILENTLY AND LARRY CHANGES THE DISCUSSION.

LARRY: ASH, THAT'S NOT IT. WHAT I AM ASKING IF RANDON IS SEEING SOMEONE, DO YOU RANDON?

RANDON: NONE.

ASHLEY: NONE? MEANS NONE AFTER VERONICA?

RANDON: IT MEANS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, GUYS. I AM HUNGRY. CAN WE ORDER OUR FOOD NOW? WAITER?

SOMEONE IS RESPONDING THEIR CALL AND GIVING THEM THE MENU. THEY NOTICE HER AS A NEW WAITRESS AND A NEW TENANT OF RAVENSWOOD. RANDON LOOKS AT HER NAME TAG, HER NAME IS ELISE.

ELISE: CAN I TAKE YOUR ORDERS?

ASHLEY: YEAH, THE SPECIAL AND NO PICKLES ON IT.

LARRY: THREE BOTTLES OF BEER, BARBECUE, MEDIUM RARE AND FRIES.

ASHLEY: NOTED, ANYTHING ELSE?

LARRY AND ASHLEY OBSERVE RANDON'S STARES TO ELISE. ELISE OBSERVED IT AS WELL, SHE IS AVOIDING AN EYE CONTACT WITH RANDON.

ELISE: MAY I HAVE YOUR ORDER SIR?

LARRY: RANDON? ORDER?

RANDON: WHAT CAN YOU RECOMMEND, ELISE?

ELISE: FISH AND CHIPS, CAESAR SALAD AND FOR A DRINK, COSMO. THAT'S THE MENU FOR TODAY, SIR.

RANDON: SINCE IT'S LUNCH AND YET EARLY FOR ALCOHOL

LARRY: I ALREADY ORDERED THREE BOTTLES OF BEER.

RANDON: SCRATCH THAT AND MAKE IT TWO, PLEASE.

ELISE: NOTED. ORDER?

RANDON: AMERICANO, BECAUSE I AM TIRED AND A BIT SLEEPY.

ELISE: THAT WILL DO, MAY I HAVE THE MENU BACK?

RANDON: OFCOURSE, HERE.

ELISE: YOU'LL HAVE YOUR ORDERS FOR A BIT SIR. THANK YOU.

ELISE TURNS AROUND TO GIVE ORDERS TO THE COUNTER BUT RANDON STILL SPEAKS TO HER.

RANDON: WELCOME TO THE RAVENSWOOD, ELISE.

ELISE: THANK YOU SIR.

RANDON: RANDON, JUST CALL ME RANDON.

ELISE: THANK YOU FOR THE WELCOME, RANDON.

ELISE TURNS BACK AGAIN AND HEADS TO THE COUNTER WITH THE ORDER SLIPS. SHE GIVES IT TO THE OWNER, MR. BILLY BRAN. HE ALSO NOTICED HER REACTIONS FOR RANDON AND HIS FRIENDS.

BILLY: HEY, ELISE.

ELISE: YES, SIR?

BILLY: BE CAREFUL WITH THAT BOY

ELISE: BUT WHY? IS HE A CRIMINAL?

BILLY: NO, BUT HIS FATHER DOES

ELISE: HOW? WHO IS HIS FATHER?

BILLY: THE NEWLY ELECTED GOVERNOR OF THIS TOWN. YOU KNOW HOW POWER WORKS, RIGHT?

ELISE: YES, SIR. I KNOW. THANKS FOR THE TIP.

SHE LOOKS BACK TO RANDON SUSPICIOUSLY. THEN, SHE CONTINUES SERVING THE OTHER DINERS AND FINDING WAYS TO BE AWAY AS POSSIBLE TO RANDON'S TABLE.

LARRY: DUDE, DO YOU LIKE THAT WAITRESS?

RANDON: SHE'S NEW HERE, A NEW BEAUTIFUL FACE.

ASHLEY: OH NO, VERONICA WILL FREAK OUT TO THIS NEWS.

LARRY: ARE YOU MAKING ANY MOVES NOW?

RANDON: NOT NOW, MAYBE SOONER.

AFTER HAVING THEIR LUNCH, RANDON HAS A FEELING THAT ELISE IS AVOIDING HIM. SO HE DECIDED TO WAIT IN THE COUNTER BUT BILLY WAS THERE.

BILLY: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?

RANDON: I HAD LUNCH WITH LARRY AND ASHLEY. THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD.

BILLY: YOU ORDERED ONLY AMERICANO, RANDON. YOU CANT FOOL ME. ARE YOU WAITING FOR SOMETHING? OR FOR SOMEONE?

RANDON: (LAUGHS) BIG BILLY, HOW CAN I EVER HIDE A SECRET FROM YOU?

BILLY: LIKE YOUR FATHER'S?

RANDON: WHAT?

BILLY: NOTHING. I AM JUST JOKING.

RANDON: (LAUGHS) YOU ARE A GREAT JOKER, BIG BILLY.

BILLY: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HER, SHE'S OFF ALREADY AND I DONT NEED TO GIVE YOU HER PERSONAL INFORMATION. JUST GO.

RANDON: BIG BILLY, COME ON?

BIILY: YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME. STOP FREAKING MY NEWLY HIRED WAITRESS OUT OR ELSE I WILL NOT MAKE YOU ENTER IN TO THIS DINER AGAIN.

RANDON: ARE YOU KIDDING ME AGAIN?

BILLY: THIS TIME, I AM SERIOUS AND IF YOU ASK ME AGAIN ABOUT HER.I WILL DO IT, BOY.

RANDON: OKAY, I QUIT. YOU WON, I LOSE. IT IS MY TIME TO EXIT.

RANDON GRABS A TAXI TO WAY HOME. IN HIS PARENT'S HOUSE WHERE HE SAW DR. DEAN AND PENELOPE ARE COOKING FOR DINNER, HE OFFERS HIS HANDS FOR HELP.

RANDON: HI, MOM. SMELLS DELICIOUS.

DR. DEAN: THANK YOU, DEAR. WE ARE COOKING SOME OF YOUR FATHER'S FAVORITES. HOW'S YOUR LUNCH WITH YOUR FRIENDS?

RANDON: WELL, ASHLEY WAS SEEKING HELP WITH LARRY FOR HER RESEARCH. THEY ARE ALL FINE.

PENELOPE: RESEARCH ABOUT WHAT?

RANDON: A LOT, PROFESSOR GALLEN TOLD ME LAST TIME THAT YOU GOT A PERFECT GRADE FOR YOUR RESEARCH ABOUT BLOOD TRANSFUSION.

DR. DEAN: REALLY, THAT'S GREAT, PEN.

PENELOPE: NO BIG DEAL, MOM. MOST OF IT MADE FROM GOOGLE. BY THE WAY, VERONICA CALLED ME THAT SHE SENT HER REGARDS TO YOU.

DR. DEAN: ARE YOU BOTH STILL NOT OKAY? I MEAN NO CLOSURE AFTER BREAK UP?

PENELOPE: THAT'S THE PROBLEM, MOM. RANDON RAN AWAY.

RANDON: RAN AWAY? SIS, YOU DONT EVEN KNOW THE TRUTH.

PENELOPE: WHAT IS THE TRUTH THEN, RANDON?

RANDON: WELL, ITS BETWEEN VERONICA AND I. I GOTTA GO SHOWER.

DR. DEAN: OKAY SON.

RANDON WALKS TO HIS ROOM AND TURNS ON HIS RECORDED VOICEMAILS FROM VERONICA'S. HE LISTENS TO IT AWHILE AND LAYS DOWN TO HIS BED. HE CLOSES HIS EYES AND REMEMBERS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM. HE FOUND OUT THAT VERONICA WAS SNEAKING WITH ANOTHER MAN. HIS SISTER WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL ABOUT RUNNING AWAY, HE RAN AWAY FROM THE PAIN HE FELT FOR VERONICA. HE DECIDED NOT TO MEET HER AT THE AIRPORT WHEN THE DAY SHE WENT TO LONDON FOR CONTINUING HER BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COURSE. THE TRUTH BEHIND THEIR BREAK UP IS STILL UNSPOKEN, KEPT AS A SECRET INSIDE OF RANDON'S MIND.

A MINUTE LATER, HE IS ASLEEP. HE DREAMS ABOUT HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST AND HE COUNTS FROM ONE TO FIFTY. HE IS SEARCHING FOR HIS FRIENDS AND FINDING THEM ONE BY ONE. THEN, HE HEARS A BOY'S VOICE, SCREAMING FOR HELP. HE IS TRYING TO FOLLOW THAT VOICE UNTIL HE HEARS IT NO MORE. HE WALKS NEAR TO THE HILL AND FINDS THE OTHERS. THEY ARE LOOKING DOWN FOR SOMETHING, NO, FOR SOMEONE WAS FLOATING TO THE WATER LIKE A LOG. IT'S HIS FRIEND WHO ARE FLOATING. HE CRIES FOR A HELP BUT NONE OF HIS FRIENDS ARE HELPING HIM. THEY ARE ALL LOOKING TO HIM AND TO THE FLOATING BODY. HE HEARS ANOTHER VOICE BUT THIS TIME A VOICE THAT AWAKEN HIM FROM HIS SLEEP. HE OPENS HIS EYES AND HE SEES PENELOPE.

PENELOPE: RAN, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

RANDON: YEAH, I HAD A NIGHTMARE.

PENELOPE: DO YOU STILL DREAMING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

RANDON: I CANT FORGET THE VOICE, PEN.

PENELOPE: I THINK WE ALL ARE. DAD ARRIVES, BETTER GET READY.

RANDON: PEN, DONT TELL ANYBODY ABOUT THIS, OKAY?

PENELOPE: YOUR SECRET IS MY SECRET BROTHER.

PENELOPE LEAVES HER BROTHER. MINUTES LATER, HE JOINS THEM FOR A DINNER.

GOV. DEAN: HOW WAS THE ONE MAN SHOW?

DR. DEAN: HONEY, DONT START.

GOV. DEAN: DONT START? HE STARTED IT ALL AT THE FIRST PLACE. IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO BE ATLEAST INTERESTED INTO MY WORLD, SON?

PENELOPE: DAD, WE ARE HAVING DINNER.

RANDON: NO, DAD. IT IS NOT HARD.

GOV. DEAN: REALLY, THEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER?

RANDON: IS IT VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE PRESS AND REPORTERS LOOKED AT YOU PERFECTLY?GODLY?

GOV. DEAN: WATCH YOUR MOUTH, BOY.

RANDON: I AM JUST CURIOUS DAD. BECAUSE YAWNING IS A BIG DEAL FOR YOU.

GOV. DEAN: SHUT THE HELL UP OR ELSE..

RANDON: ELSE, WHAT? ARE YOU GONNA PUNCH ME AGAIN JUST LIKE WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AGAINST YOU?

DR. DEAN: RAN, PLEASE.

GOV. DEAN: IF YOU ARE MY EMPLOYEE, I AM TOTALLY PUNCHING YOU ON THE FACE RIGHT NOW.

RANDON: DONT WORRY DAD. YOU ALREADY DID. EXCUSE ME, BUT I AM DONE WITH MY MEAL. THANKS FOR TONIGHT MOM.

DR. DEAN: WHERE ARE YOU GOING, RANDON?

RANDON: SOMEWHERE PEACEFUL.

RANDON DRIVES AWAY FAR FROM HOME AND PARKS HIS CAR AT THE ALLEY WAY AND THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE RAVENSWOOD HOSPITAL. HE STAYS IN HIS CAR AND SMOKES SOME WEEDS. HE CALLS LARRY FOR COMPANION BUT HE WAS OUT OF TOWN WITH HIS PARENTS. THEN, HE CALLS ASHLEY.

ASHLEY: WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? WHAT ABOUT LARRY?

RANDON: HE'S OUT OF TOWN WITH HIS FAMILY AND I AM SMOKING WEEDS HERE INSIDE MY CAR. A REMEDY AWAY FROM MY PROBLEMS.

ASHLEY: ARE YOU ALRIGHT, RAN?

RANDON: FATHER AND SON RIVALRY

ASHLEY: DID HE HURT YOU AGAIN?

RANDON: NO, BUT BEFORE HE DOES THAT, I DROVE AWAY FROM HOME TO CLEAR UP MY MIND.

ASHLEY: YOU KNOW YOU CAN CALL VERONICA FOR THIS MATTER, RAN.

RANDON: COME ON, ASH. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. YOU ARE SELLING HER TO ME, AGAIN.

ASHLEY: I AM SORRY FOR IT, RAN. YOU AND VERONICA ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. I HOPE EVEN IN FRIENDSHIP, YOU CAN STILL HAVE IT.

RANDON: I HOPE SO. BUT SOMETHING CHANGED, ASH. WE NEED TO ACCEPT IT.

ASHLEY: OKAY, I AM NOT ARGUING YOU WITH THIS BECAUSE I AM NOT HELPING YOU TO FEEL BETTER, AM I?

RANDON LAUGHS AND AS HE LOOKS OUTSIDE, HE RECOGNIZES A VERY FAMILIAR FIGURE ALONG THE ALLEY WAY. IT IS ELISE.

RANDON: ASH, THANKS FOR TONIGHT BUT I HAVE TO GO NOW.

ASHLEY: OKAY, GOOD NIGHT. SEE YOU AT SCHOOL TOMORROW.

RANDON: OKAY. BYE.

HE STARES ELISE FOR A MOMENT THEN HE DRAGS HIMSELF OUT OF HIS CAR AND WALKS TO ELISE. ELISE GETS NERVOUS AND SCARED TO HIM.

ELISE: WHAT THE!! ARE YOU STALKING ME?

RANDON: NO, I PARKED MY CAR HERE AND I SAW YOU WALKING ALONE. SINCE YOU ARE WALKING ALONE AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS, YOU CAN HOP ON TO MY CAR AND CAN DRIVE YOU HOME.

ELISE: (LAUGHS)

RANDON: WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?

ELISE: YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN HONESTLY HANDLE MYSELF AND I AM REFUSING TO TAKE YOUR OFFER.

RANDON: I KNOW YOU CAN HANDLE YOURSELF BUT YOU CANT HANDLE UNEXPECTED HAPPENINGS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN FOR THAT.

ELISE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN BUT I AM STILL REFUSING.

RANDON: I SWEAR THAT I WONT HARM YOU.

ELISE: KILLER WONT SWEAR.

RANDON: I AM NOT A KILLER OR MAYBE YOU ARE THE VANISHING HITCH HIKER. ARE YOU?

ELISE: (LAUGHS)

RANDON: YOU'RE LAUGHING AGAIN.ITS EMBARRASSING.

ELISE: I AM NOT THAT KIND OF MYSTERIOUS, RANDON.

RANDON: THEN, I'LL DRIVE YOU HOME.

ELISE: WHEN I SAID NO, IT MEANS NO. GOOD NIGHT.

RANDON: WHEN WILL I SEE YOU THERE?

ELISE: WHAT?

RANDON: AT THE BIG BILLY'S DINER, WHEN WILL I SEE YOU THERE?

ELISE: (SMIRKS) COME AND FIND OUT.

SHE SMILES AT HIM AND WALKS AWAY. HE CAN ONLY SEE HER SHADOW FROM THE LIGHT UNTIL IT DISAPPEARS. SO, HE DECIDED TO GO HOME. WHILE STEPPING UPSTAIRS, HE SEES HIS FATHER, WAITING FOR HIM.

GOV. DEAN: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN THE WHOLE NIGHT?

RANDON: DRIVING AND COOLING MY MIND. GOOD NIGHT.

GOV. DEAN: SON, I AM TRYING TO BE A GOOD FATHER TO YOU. JUST LET ME.

RANDON: MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY IT HARDER, DAD.

RANDON ENTERS TO HIS ROOM WHILE HIS DAD IS DRINKING HIS GLASS OF RUM. HE NOTICES PENELOPE'S REACTION FROM THE LIVING ROOM WHILE HOLDING HER BOOK.

GOV.DEAN: I HAVE TRIED.

PENELOPE: AT LEAST, YOU HAVE TRIED, DAD.

GOV. DEAN: HOW CAN I BE A GOOD GOVERNOR IN THIS TOWN IF I CANT HANDLE MY OWN SON?

PENELOPE: IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT, DAD. DONT PRESSURE HIM.

GOV. DEAN: AFTER THE FUNERAL, HE ACTS LIKE THAT. BEFORE, HE ADORES ME A LOT. BUT NOW, IT BLOWN AWAY.DID HE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PEN?

PENELOPE: NOT EVEN A HINT,DAD. WHAT ABOUT YOU? DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING WHY HE ACTED YOU LIKE THAT?

GOV. DEAN: NOTHING, NOT AT ALL.

PENELOPE: I SHOULD GO TO BED DAD. I HAVE CLASSES TOMORROW. GOOD NIGHT.

GOV. DEAN: GOOD NIGHT, PEN.