INSTALLMENT  3


Richardson household:
 

   Gillian Richardson is busily looking through her closet for the perfect outfit 
for her date with her boyfriend, Dale.  She has been counting on this date 
all week given how horrible her week had been.  All day, as she was 
showing numerous houses to prospective clients with no success, she was 
counting on her date with Dale.  
 
   Granted, she thought to herself, she wasn't in love with him but he was 
an up and coming junior executive working in the banking world.  She 
viewed that as her ticket to security since she wasn't getting that at work. 
Just as she settled upon a red cashmere sweater and sleek black trousers, 
her cell phone started to ring.  Looking at the caller ID she saw Dale’s name
and instantly knew why he was calling her.

   “Dale, I was just thinking about you.  How long are you going to be?" Gillian 
asked, hoping against hope that he wasn't going to be canceling 
their date.
 
   "That was why I was calling you hon.  Something came up at work and 
I'm going to have to take a rain check on dinner tonight.  I hope you 
understand and aren't too disappointed." Dale stated. 
 
   "Well, I was really looking for a distraction for just one night and was 
counting on dinner tonight with you.  And to answer your question, I'm 
not too disappointed, key words being too disappointed.  At least you called 
to cancel rather then ditch me so for that I’m grateful." Gillian said, telling her self 
to stay composed and pretend it didn't bother her.  She knew that she was 
doing poorly, but had to keep trying.
 
   "If I could control my boss, I wouldn't ever call to cancel on you.  Listen, 
I know you are disappointed and I’m very sorry.  I promise I will make it up
to you.  Perhaps we can go up to Lake Geneva for an overnight or even a 
shopping blitz on Michigan Avenue to your hearts content."  Dale knew that he
was disappointing Gillian again, but his job meant everything to him.
 
   "Make it a weekend trip to Lake Geneva with dinner at Popeye's 
and you have yourself a deal.  The question is when are you free?  Based 
on the last few weeks, I have a pretty open calendar, which is why I was 
so counting on dinner." Gillian knew that a weekend in Lake 
Geneva would be wonderful but in reality Dale would call to cancel
again.
 
   "Listen, I am sorry about what is going on at work.  I promise once I 
finish this deal that I will have plenty of free time for the weekend in Lake 
Geneva and to listen to what ails you." Dale said.  "I have to get going 
right now because I’m running late but I do love you.”  
 
   "I love you too, Dale.  Talk to you later."  Gillian hangs up 
the cell phone in disbelief at being right again and sits down on her bed . 
 "This is just not my day!" She hangs her cashmere sweater back on the
hanger and puts it back in her closet.
 

Falmont Living Room:
 

    George Falmont is sitting in his favorite chair drinking his glass of brandy,
reading his favorite classic novel, Catcher in the Rye, when he hears 
the front door slam.
 
   "Mom, Dad I'm home." Shouts Elizabeth Falmont from the hallway.
 
   "In here, dear." George calls from the living room. 
 
   "Hey Dad, how was your day out in the world?" Elizabeth asks. 
She makes her way to the bar to pour herself a glass of white zinfandel 
wine. "I had a very long day and I'm relieved that the end is here."  
 
   "As long as you had a productive day then it isn't for naught.  What
 caused your day to seem so long?" George asks with a touch of 
concern in his voice.
 
   "I had two meetings with advertisers and a dinner from hell at 
Oleary's with a client who believes women should still be barefoot and 
pregnant!  However, I did come across a very attractive man at Oleary's, 
so it wasn't a total waste.  Actually, I don't even know if I should be telling 
you this since you're my dad." 

Elizabeth sips her white zinfandel.  She admits to herself that she can't 
get the thought of the guy from Oleary's out of her mind and wonders
whether buying him that drink came across as desperate.
 
   "Granted, hearing about my daughter's crushes is the last thing I would 
expect to hear, but at the same time, it is nice that you still trust dear old 
dad enough to let me know what's going on.  Did you talk to this young
man?" George asks intrigued to hear his daughter talking about a guy.
 
   "I didn't get a chance to talk to him because both my client 
and table were ready, but I did buy him a drink.  I figure he definitely 
won't forget about me!"  Elizabeth mused as she continues sipping her 
wine.  She had to admit that even though she was telling this to her father,
she felt safe knowing that he truly was interested in her life as opposed to 
her mother.  
 
   "That's my girl!  Always get the attention of the other party by doing 
something unexpected.  That is how one succeeds in both life and business. 
Making yourself memorable so that the other person, or client, can’t get 
you out of their mind.  Granted, you need to do something positive to 
make that happen but I definitely see you have that talent down.  I always 
knew out of all my children, you were the one with killer instincts."  

George knows it is wrong to show favoritism to one of his children but he can't
help it.  He is proud of his oldest daughter, Elizabeth, for the success she has
achieved at Falmont Enterprises.
 
   "Thank you for the vote of confidence, dad.  Hearing that 
makes my job all the more worth it.  Listen, I’m going upstairs to change,
then settle in for a good night of googling.  I love you dad." Elizabeth 
gets up to give her father a hug.  She brushes aside her 
dark brown hair from her forehead and walks toward the 
staircase, ready to unwind after a hard day's work.  Her only regret is not 
getting that gentlemen's name at Oleary's.
 

Richardson House:
 

   Nina Richardson came through the front door of the house after a hard 
day of school.  She quickly makes her way through the living room, where 
she greets her parents, noting their reactions to seeing her.  She then goes
upstairs to start studying for a giant economics test she had the next day.
As she makes her way up to her bedroom, she is distracted
by the sighs from her sister Gillian from the room next to hers.  Part of her 
wants to start studying, but the sisterly part of her decides to talk to 
her sister, or else she'll be subjected to her heavy sighs all night long.  She 
knocks on Gillian's door and is shocked when Gillian instantly asks her 
to come in.
 
   "Hey there sis, normally I'd ask you if anything is wrong but I'm going 
out on a limb and assuming the answer is yes, so spill."  Nina 
sits down in the wicker chair facing Gillian's bed.
 
   "I'm not sure if you were aware but I was supposed to go out with 
Dale tonight.  However, he called just a little bit ago to say that he couldn't 
make our date tonight because of work." Gillian sits up from her bed.
"Sure, I know a date is just a date, but given my week, I was looking 
forward to something positive. Now, I am stuck home miserable." 
 
   "Look at it this way Gil, at least you aren't home alone on a 
Friday night." Nina jokingly said. trying to lift her sister's mood. "Besides,
this could be a sign indicating that you should keep your options open."
 
   "What would you know about keeping one's options open?  If I saw you 
doing something other then having your nose in the books, I would die of 
shock.  No offense, because I know you mean to be helpful, but hearing 
that I should keep my options open kind of signals that you don't believe 
Dale and I should be together." Gillian countered.
 
   "Ok, I never said that you and Dale shouldn't be together but he's broken
five dates with you in the last month.  I am saying this as an 
outside observer, it sounds like you are more disappointed at being 
alone tonight then you are with not being with Dale." Nina knows 
that she is speaking out of turn.  She has only heard one or two 
sentences but after talking to Gillian four other times about the same thing,
the pattern was becoming more and more clear.  "I mean, do you even 
love him?"
 
   "What kind of question is that? I've only dated him for like six or seven 
months. We are still in the getting to know each other stage.  I just wish 
that I could meet a guy who doesn't cancel on me every time he has to 
choose between a date with me or work." 
 
   "Oh, Gil!  Aren’t you the one who has expressed since we were kids how 
you wanted to marry a rich man?  How do you expect a guy to make a lot
of money if he isn't working?" Nina asks wondering how she 
and Gillian could have been born from the same parents.  She knew that 
they were sisters but sometimes she wondered.
 
   "Yes, Nina I know someone has to work to make money but wouldn't it 
be nice if the guy could make money and not have to be a workaholic to 
achieve financial security?" Gillian asks. Nina knows what is 
coming next. "I mean can you imagine if you were born in a family where
you didn't have to work unless you choose to work?  I mean look at all the
wealthy families in the world, their children don't have to work for security, 
and they have everything at their disposal!" 
 
   "Yeah, I am aware of those wealthy children, in fact, all the sex tapes and
DUI's make me wonder if being born wealthy is truly a blessing or a curse." 

 
   "Well, I can tell someone is taking Sociology 101!!! I'm just saying how 
nice it would be to be from a family with wealth.  To feel secure when times are 
rough and not fear your job could be terminated at anytime." Gillian sighs, 
"Now, I know you tried to do your best to help me out of this funk, but I 
would prefer you just leave me alone to have a moment of self-pity."
 
   "Listen, it isn't the end of the world that your date was called off tonight.
As I was saying there are people suffering from far more tragedies
then you are right now.  Besides, I think something is up with mom and 
dad."  Nina confides hoping to change the subject and get her sister's mind 
off her own problems.
 
   "What do you mean?  Do you know something I don't?"
 
   "When I came home from class, I walked by the living room 
and saw mom and dad talking.  Now, it wasn't the fact that they were talking
that bothers me, but the fact that they stopped the moment I came through
the front door.  I mean remember when Aunt Deanna was going through a 
divorce and mom didn't want us to know.  They would stop talking
anytime any of us entered the room." 
 
   "Ok, you  might have a point, but don't you think with all three of us
being over 18, maybe they were just talking about something 
that wasn't important?" Gillian asked. Nina is surprised at that statement
coming from Gillian's mouth. "Yes, Nina even this drama queen is surprised
that I'm being calm about this.  Perhaps, I should have more dates broken; 
I could become more subdued over time.  I know that the right guy is out 
there for me, perhaps it is Dale or someone else. I know that whoever it is,
he will feel the same way about me."
 
   "Only you would actually turn this around to yourself.  Listen, I hope you
feel better because I have a huge economics test to study for. By the way, 
if I am right and there is something going on, mom will insist all of us eat 
together as one big happy family.  Plus, if it’s very serious, she is going to 
call our brother Stephen from work to insist he eats with us as well. 
Just wait, talk to you later!"  Nina leaves to go towards her room and studying.
Gillian is thinking about what Nina told her when Lillian calls from downstairs.
 
   "Girls, please come down and join us for a moment."  
 
   Gillian stands up in surprise and meets Nina in the hallway. They both make 
their way toward the staircase.  Gillian realizes Nina was able to call it 
as she saw it.  She swears her sister is psychic sometimes.  She
will wait to see if Stephen arrives to determine how serious the
news will be. Whatever the news, she knows in her heart what 
she told Nina about security was going to turn out to be true.