INSTALLMENT  11
 
 

Falmont Living Room:
 
 
   An early evening breeze filters into the living room as Elizabeth Falmont 
lets herself into the house.  Putting her bags down in the entryway, she 
makes her way toward the living room to see if anyone is home.  She 
knew her father George was still at the office and that her brother 
Jonathan was still at the art gallery, but was hoping someone would be 
home to greet her.  The one week business trip had turned into a much 
longer business trip then she was planning on but was happy it was finally 
over.
 
   As she enters the living room, she is in dismay when she finds her 
youngest brother Henry pouring himself a glass of liquor.  She creeps up 
slowly behind her brother and touches him on the shoulder sending him 
jumping into the air and the liquor bottle almost falling to the floor.  Henry 
turns around and shows both relief and joy at seeing that it is his sister.
 
   "Liz!  When did you get back from New York?"  Henry asks as he hugs 
his sister while she eyes the liquor bottle.  "It isn't what it looks like Liz!"  
He states as he puts the liquor back in the cabinet.
 
   "Hmm, so you weren't going to drink that bottle of liquor thinking that 
everyone was out of the house, eh?  Thankfully, your big sister was here 
to save you from yourself.  So what is new around here?"  Elizabeth asks 
as she makes her way to the sofa.
 
   "Well, as if you could forget, mom's charity function is tonight at the 
country club."  Henry answers while Elizabeth looks as if she has forgotten 
that very fact.  "Don't tell me you forgot about that!"
 
   "Well, my business trip was extended so much that I was surprised I got 
back when I did.  I am going to assume that this function will be this 
weekend, right?  Please tell me that so I can catch up on some sleep."  
Elizabeth pleads to her brother who just looks at her like she was bonkers.
"Oh, God it's tonight isn't it."
 
   "Why honey, I'm so glad that you remember things that are important to
your parents.  I just hope when you have a child, that you get that same 
respect."  Lenore says from the doorway as she makes her way to the 
bar to pour herself a glass of wine.  "Surprised you even bother to come 
home considering that you were in New York for so long."
 
   "Nice to see you too Mother.  I trust you have kept yourself busy with 
the preparations for this function.  Of course, I'm going mother, I am just 
suffering from exhaustion from the flight home." Elizabeth coldly conveys 
to her mother as they have a formal hug before parting.  
 
   "Well, you are lucky I am in a good mood because I actually got your 
father to accompany me to the function tonight.  I assume you will be 
going solo tonight since you just got home and haven’t time to find a date."
Lenore snidely states while Henry is in awe by the cold icy exchanges 
between Lenore and Elizabeth.
 
   "Yeah, I guess spending time in New York trying to close a big deal leaves
little time for bagging a man.  Of course, you wouldn't know anything about
that, now would you mother!" Elizabeth snaps back.
 
   "I'm in the room guys!  I know you two want to be alone so I'll just go 
get ready for tonight , then I’ll go pick up my date."  Henry says as he 
makes a beeline for the stairs. "I am glad you are home sis.  We'll talk
later."
 
   "Well, you certainly how to drive someone away, perhaps this is why you
haven't settled down yet.  I wish you would have just let me help you."  
Lenore states as she also makes her way to the stairs.  "If you excuse me,
I have an evening to prepare for and a date to go with.  Guess I can’t say 
the same for you in regards to a date."  She states as she walks up the 
stairs.
 
   Elizabeth tries to calm herself down by taking three deep breaths and 
trying to remind herself that the other members of her family love her 
even if her own mother doesn’t.
 
  

Richardson Home- Lenore and Chase's bedroom.
 
 

   "I don't get why you are so nervous about going tonight dear.  It's a 
party for a good cause."  Chase states as he starts to prepare his outfit for 
that evening.  "I mean with the lack of luck finding a job, I know that I can 
definitely use the night out."
 
   "Chase, I know that you deserve a night out, but I don't know if going to 
the country club with a brunch of rich snobs is my idea of a good night."  
Lillian exclaims as she starts to brush her hair.
 
   "Well, it isn't as if we are going for fun or pleasure, this is your assignment 
to cover this function.  Do you want your boss Malcolm to see that you are
having doubts and aren't up to the job?"  Chase asks while Lillian shakes 
her head.  "I mean if you back out of this, he isn't going to give you 
another opportunity for a long time.  Believe me I know that for a fact."  
 
   "I know and it isn't the function or the country club setting that is the 
problem.  It is the people organizing it that I have a problem with."  Lillian 
admits to her husband.
 
   "Why do you say that?  Do we know who is organizing the function?"  
Chase asks as he looks over the newspaper article announcing the function.
"Let me see… Misty Mcdonnell and Lenore Falmont, I don't know them 
personally."
 
   "Well, I know Lenore or at least I used to know her once upon a time 
back in college."  Lillian replies while Chase looks at her in surprise. "What, 
like you tell me all the people you knew before we met and got married?  I 
highly doubt that."
 
   "No, but I find it interesting that you knew her all this time and have 
never mentioned it nor have even talked to her.  I know Hope Falls is a 
suburb, but I certainly didn't think it was that big of suburb.  How did you 
know her anyway?"
 
   "We actually used to be best friends in college.  She was my freshman 
year roommate and we had such a blast through most of college.  I mean 
we rushed together and even when I opted not to join the sorority, we 
were still pretty close friends."  Lillian answers thinking back to college life 
at UCLA.  "You never met her because by the time you came into the 
picture, we were no longer friends."

   "Oh, did you guys drift apart or have a big huge catfight or something?"  
Chase jokingly asks while Lillian kind of nods.  "Seriously, wow I think I just 
learned something new about my wife tonight.  Now I understand why you
are nervous about going tonight.  Though I have to wonder how we all 
lived in the same suburb all these years and haven't interacted."
 
   "Well, the Falmonts are very wealthy and run in a different circle then we 
do.  It can happen in any place if you want it to.  Anyway, I guess this night
was bound to come about, I just didn't think it would come so suddenly 
after all these years."

   "What exactly happened to you guys that stopped you from staying 
friends?  I mean maybe talking about it will make you feel better."  Chase 
offers having Lillian sit next to him and holding her in his arms.
 
   "Like you said, we just drifted apart as friends.  Besides, my life hasn't 
been any less fulfilling with her not in it.  I mean don't you have friends that 
you lost touch with?"
 
   "Yeah, but they don't live in the same town as I do, at least that I know 
of.  You've known she has lived here for years, and have managed to avoid 
her all this time.  This I find very intriguing and will be interested to see how 
you two interact tonight."
 
   "Well, from what Malcolm tells me, Lenore doesn't usually like talking to 
the features writer, that’s more Misty's job so I’m relieved in more ways 
then one."  Lillian says. "Now, we have a function to get ready for."
 
   "Did Gillian say what time she would be arriving at the country club?" 
Chase asks as Lillian shakes her head. "Well, at least one of us isn't afraid 
of going to country clubs, etc.  I mean what are Stephen and Nina going to
do tonight?"
 
   "I don't know, I assume go out with their friends.  Really Chase, they are
grownups they don't need parenting to that extent anymore."  Lillian says 
laughing as Chase realizes what he just asked.
 
 

Hope Falls Inn
 
 
   Thomas Norris adjusts his tie in the mirror as he gets ready for the 
benefit that night.  As he looks at himself in the mirror, he realizes that for 
the first time in almost a month, he is actually smiling and looking forward 
to something since arriving at Hope Falls.  Although he is still searching for 
an apartment, he realizes that life in Hope Falls isn’t so bad, especially after 
the phone calls stopped.
 
   Just as he finishes adjusting his tie, he hears a knock at the hotel door 
while wondering who could be paying him a visit.  Opening the door, he 
comes across a plain white envelope while looking around the hallway to 
see if anyone is around.  Seeing no one outside, he closes the hotel door 
and sits down on his bed to open the envelope with curiosity brimming 
inside him.  As he reads the note, his face turns ghost white as he reels in 
shock over the note which says:


RUNNING AWAY FROM THE PAST NEVER SOLVES ANYTHING ESPECIALLY 
IF RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR SINS.
 
 
   Thomas' good mood changes right then while deciding to distract him 
self while looking for something to do.  Just then his cell phone starts to 
ring while he hopes beyond hope that it isn’t that annoying caller.  As he 
looks at the caller ID, he doesn’t recognize the number but answers 
anyway.
 
   "Hello?" Thomas asks as he steadies himself trying to calm down.
  
   "Thomas?  This is Jonathan Falmont, hope I didn't call at a bad time."
 
   "No, not at all, what can I do for you?"
 
   "I was actually calling about our conversation from last week about the art exhibit 
at my gallery.  It is going to be tomorrow night at 8 PM, black-tie optional, and 
wondering if you were still interested in attending?"  Jonathan asks while Thomas
is still calming down.
 
   "Yes, I remember now and was wondering about that.  I knew I should 
have gotten your number last Friday when I was at your family's house 
for dinner.  You have an interesting family Jonathan, if you don't mind me 
saying so." Thomas replies while realizing that that remark might sound like 
a putdown.
 
   "No, I realize my family can be a little crazy and awkward at times.  So I 
will look forward to seeing you at my gallery tomorrow and even looking 
forward to seeing you at the benefit tonight.  Talk to you later."  Jonathan 
states while they hang up with each other.
 
   Thomas feels a lot better after his brief chat with Jonathan while deciding 
that he has a few things to do before arriving at the Country Club.
 
 

Mitchell household- Katie's Bedroom

 

   Katie Mitchell is getting ready for her evening out with Henry and thankful
that her sister Melinda has already left.  As she finishes putting the finishing 
touches on her face, she decides to implement her plan that very evening.  
She figures even if her plan doesn’t work that night, at least the seed would 
be planted.  As she dials her cell phone, she is complimenting herself on 
playing Cupid.
 
   "Yes, Katie?"  Nina asks as she answered the cell phone.  "What do you 
want?"
 
   "Nina, what are you doing tonight?"
 
   "Studying for my economics test, why?  Don't tell me you are going to 
forgo this party with this new guy to study with me."  Nina asked on the 
other end sounding a little annoyed at being interrupted.
 
   "No, of course not, even if I wanted to my sister would be pissed since 
she actually wants to meet this new guy.  Actually, my brother Wally was 
studying for that same exact test and was actually looking for a little 
company.  He was wondering if you wanted to join him or not."
 
   "Well, I wouldn't mind a bite to eat and to take a break from all of this 
studying.  However, why isn't he asking me to come over?"  Nina asks 
instantly suspicious.
 
   "You know how my brother can be shy about these things.  Just humor 
me and come keep him company.  I swear he is more of a hermit 
sometimes then you are and it would do you both some good to at least 
socialize with the member of the opposite sex."  Katie explains over the 
phone while trying to not raise her voice in fear that Wally would overhear 
her down the hall.
 
   "Ok, I guess I can come over and hang out with Wally tonight.  It does 
beat staying home alone on a Friday night."  Nina replied.  "I mean my 
parents are going to this function, Gillian is going with her boyfriend to it, 
and Stephen has a date with this new girl he met at Foxy's a few days ago."
 
   "Hmmm, well I wonder if Melinda knows about that." Katie thinks to 
herself when she hears about Stephen's plans that night.  "So you see, 
you have to come over and keep Wally company.  It'll do you both some 
good.  Trust me." Katie says to Nina.
 
   "I know somehow I will regret this but I'll be over in about an hour."  
Nina replies while saying her goodbyes before hanging up.

   Katie silently jumps for joy that the first part of her plan is working while 
realizing that Wally is the tougher of the two to crack.  As she makes her 
way down to his room, she could hear Coldplay playing in his room while 
knocking.
 
   "Yo, what do you want sis?" Wally asks as he lies on his bed with a book 
over his face dressed in flannel pants and old t-shirt.  He needs more help 
then she thought, Katie thought, as she removes the book from his face.
 
   "Just letting you know that Nina is coming over to hang out with you in 
about an hour and I thought you might want to make yourself a little more
presentable.  Just a little sisterly advice dear little brother." 
 
   "Only by seven minutes sis, besides what is wrong with the way I am 
dressed right now.  I think I look mighty fine for a night of studying."  Wally 
replies while Katie just rolls her eyes.
 
   "Well, Nina isn't coming over to study, she actually is going to take a 
night off studying and I figured since she wants to come over here that 
perhaps you would want that too.  Of course, what do I know about the 
matters of men and women!" 
 
   "Hmmm, well I suppose I could change and freshen up a little.  If she is 
coming over to chill with me, I do want to look my best."  Wally states as 
he starts to clean up his room a little and examine what he was going to 
wear.
 
   "Ok, well I hope you two have some fun tonight.  I'll leave you to your 
wardrobe selection."  Katie says as she closes Wally's door and heads 
downstairs.
 
   She knows that Nina will be here shortly so she quickly heats up some 
left over Cream of Chicken casserole and sets the table.  For added 
measure, she even takes out her lighter to light the candles and darken 
the room to a more sensual tone.  Not bad, she thinks to herself, as she 
makes her way toward the door when she hears the honking of the horn.  
She looks outside and is happy to see Henry while shouting good-bye to 
Wally before making her way out to the car.