06x23 - The Forest for the Trees

[bunniefuu]

[Mack] What do you want?

Alright, you got yourself a deal.

Doesn't anybody carry cigarettes anymore?

How can you continue to have anything to do

with Ben or Gary at all?

I don't know what this has to do with...

You couldn't find either one of them

when those kids were born, and look what happened.

You know how best to work with Mrs. Ewing.

You find a way to undo the damage.

If there's still babies, it's not too late.

Call me.

You said we should talk later. It's later.

[opening theme song]

[soft music playing]

Ah, Gregory. Finding your way.

Just the man I want to see.

I guess I should have never lost my secret decoder ring, yeah?

[chuckles]

We publish reports in gibberish for public consumption.

Government officials and the like.

These, however, are in plain English.

For your eyes only.

All this stuff I can read.

But it's the same grade-A fertilizer, yeah?

Do you mind if I join you?

Too many decisions have already been made here.

You'll catch up.

Gregory does not catch up.

This project just simply doesn't go ahead without him.

Yes, well... company projections are

not your most immediate concern.

What is?

[John] Too many interested parties.

Gary Ewing, for example.

[Ruth] Yes, he's a charming man.

As long as he confines his talents

and his worries to grooming the landscape.

It's not his worrying I'm worried about.

Besides, I think MacKenzie

will prove to me to be our real headache.

I'm not gonna start leaning on MacKenzie.

It's not necessary.

With someone like MacKenzie,

you know that it eventually will become necessary.

Then I think we should act now before it becomes necessary.

You've been friends with Mack too long

to let this become a problem.

Why don't we clear it out now?

[Abby] Well, Mrs. Winfield, that's true,

but they'll be here too.

And we're really looking forward to seeing you at the party.

So many people have accepted already

and on such short notice.

Well, Senator Buchanan, the mayor, and, of course,

the lieutenant governor said he'd stop by.

Oh, good.

Well, we'll look forward to seeing you.

Thanks. Bye. Alright.

I don't know why you're making such a fuss.

All those dumb people here.

[scoffs]

Some of those dumb people happen to be our friends.

What about Cathy? Is she one of our friends?

Well, Joshua is marrying Cathy, so...

How could you let her back on the ranch after the way

she carried on with Gary?

I hope you're gonna be gracious about this party, Olivia.

I want everyone to have a good time.

[melancholy music playing]

All I'm saying is, I just wish she'd have asked, that's all.

I think it's nice of Abby

to throw an engagement party for you, too.

It's just a party, Cathy. What have you got against parties?

It's not just a party.

First, you tell me I'm going to sing on your show.

I don't like the idea, but I go along with it.

And then... then you announce to the world

that we're getting married, and you don't even ask me.

Well, I wanted it to be a surprise.

That's not the kind of thing you surprise somebody with.

I-I only want to take care of you.

It's only a party, Cathy. You'll enjoy it.

Look, you don't have to settle every disagreement

you'll ever have right here now.

Once you're married,

you'll work out your own special ways of getting along.

Little by little. You'll see.

If you don't want to go to the party,

-we don't have to go. -Oh, right.

-Go after her, Joshua. -No, no, don't interfere.

No, no, no, no.

If Val has something to say, I'd like to hear it.

Go ahead, Val.

[breathes deeply]

I think that Cathy needs...

Well, come on, Val. Spit it out.

Tell me what it is that Cathy needs.

You seem to know a whole lot more about it than I do.

Never mind.

[melancholy music playing]

[Eric] I told her eleven o'clock.

Marcia, would you try Lotus Point again, please?

-Sure. -Thanks.

She'll be here.

Your mother knows a good deal when she sees it.

That's why I can't figure this out.

Can't do better than Boots Connors.

I got more franchises than anybody in Southern California.

I know.

I just hope she's not holding out for more.

-Oh, I'm sure that's not it. -Better not be.

[sighs]

[announcement] Dr. Ackerman, get in there, please.

Dr. Ackerman, get in there, please.

-[Karen] Ahem, excuse me. -Mm-hmm.

A few months ago,

a friend of mine was brought in late at night

for an emergency delivery.

-She lost the babies, twins. -I work day shifts.

Well, I just thought you could tell me the names of the nurses

who were in the delivery room.

I'm not allowed to give out that information.

It was a traumatic experience, and she said some things

to the nurses she rather regrets.

She'd like to send each of them a note

or a gift to apologize for her behavior.

I'm sorry. We have a policy on personal information.

Oh, I can understand that,

but, my friend... is very distraught,

what with the loss of the babies and all.

We're really worried about her.

Do you think you could...

at least give me the nurses' names?

When did you say that was?

[Karen] November 24th.

That would be Collins and Wilson.

Collins and Wilson.

Are they working today by any chance?

Collins comes on duty in about 40 minutes.

Oh, thank you. Thank you. I'll just wait over here.

Doesn't look like much, does it?

Not yet. It will.

You weren't really gonna shut it down, were you?

Yeah, if I hadn't gotten some answers.

Well, you can always get answers from me, Gary.

-What's the problem? -Who says there's a problem?

[sighs] Let's just say that one of my strong suits

is insightfulness.

Besides, guys who spend their time relocating rocks

usually have a problem.

Paul Galveston got me into this thing.

I was supposed to be working with him now that he's gone.

I'm your new partner. Is that your problem?

Nope.

The problem is the unanswered questions.

-Like Westfall? -Yeah.

Look, Gary, I don't know how that happened or why.

In fact, I probably know less about it than you do.

All I know is that we're not gonna conduct our business

that way, right?

Look, Galveston's gone. It's up to us.

Maybe between the two of us,

we can make something worthwhile out of this.

I think we can.

[soft music playing]

Oh, that's great. Nothing like good, fresh air.

I needed that, man, to clear my head. [groans]

You gonna go to that dinner, really?

[sighs] Yeah, I'm gonna go there have a nice dinner, relax.

[scoffs] You're gonna go and have a disaster.

No, I'm gonna go there, have a nice dinner, relax,

sip a little wine.

-And beer. -Thank you.

-And beer. -Thank you very much.

You're gonna go to that dinner

and sit with Sumner's gorgeous mother on one side.

Your gorgeous wife on the other, any other man on the face of

this earth is gonna be very happy with that situation,

and you'll be thinking about the Tidal Basin murders.

-No business. -Uh-huh.

Lackeys will come parading in,

burying apes, ivory, and peacocks,

and this guy'll be crying into his chateaubriand

about the people in Westfall that got poisoned.

You know what we'll do tomorrow? We'll ride those boogie boards.

Boogie boards? Boogie boards. [chuckles]

My mom is never liked this.

[telephone ringing]

Could be she's trying to jack up the price.

It won't work. Not for Boots Connors.

It wouldn't be that. Your offer's good.

If I could, I'd sign the papers with you right now.

I wish it were that easy, Eric.

You tell your mother, I'll go up another $25,000.

But that's it.

[Eric sighs]

[telephone ringing]

Thanks, Carl. I'll try to make it in half time.

There's a lady here who'd like to speak to you.

Oh.

-Hello. -[Karen] Hello.

-Uh, you wanted to talk to me? -Yes, I did.

-My name is Karen MacKenzie. -Uh-huh.

And I'm a friend of Valene Ewing.

She was brought in here last November.

She gave birth to twins.

You were one of the attending nurses.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised. I do a lot of that around here.

Well, um, we were told the babies were stillborn.

Oh, for shame.

I don't recall losing a set of twins.

Are you sure I was on duty that night?

The nurse at the desk said you were.

-Uh-huh. -And, uh, Nurse Wilson.

Well, then, I guess I was.

Val, my friend.

She swears the babies were born alive.

-Oh, they all do. -But she heard them crying.

I'm sorry.

I don't really remember anything about that.

Dr. Ackerman was the attending physician.

Yes, I don't remember anything about that--

Could you check the records and maybe you'll remember?

She's my best friend.

[telephone ringing]

Alright. Just a minute.

[melancholy music playing]

Oh, here it is. Oh, yeah.

You remember?

Actually, I was called away before it was over.

They needed me in OR for an emergency cesarean.

They called you away in the middle of a delivery?

-Uh-huh. -Isn't that a little odd?

I can see that you've never worked in a hospital.

Well, then you don't know

whether the babies were stillborn or not.

No. I'm sorry. I've got to get back to work.

Well, just one, one, uh, nur-nurse Nurse Wilson.

Maybe she would remember what happened after that.

Maybe she would.

Well, what time does she get on duty?

Oh, she doesn't work here anymore.

Well, where then?

Try the nurse's registry.

[melancholy music playing]

[Karen] You sure surprised us, Greg?

[Greg] How's that?

Resigning your Senate seat.

-I had no choice. -Nice.

Galveston Industries is a very good,

handmade company with a brilliant future.

Unfortunately, my father compromised it

with his robber baron tactics.

-Like m*rder? -Among other things.

Actually, I'm looking forward to the challenge of cleaning

the operation up.

Are you really going to do that, or are you just going to put on

a fresh coat of whitewash and figure it out?

I thought you weren't going to talk shop.

Look, why don't we all have some coffee, okay?

-Oh, I'll do it. Thank you. -I'll get the wine.

[Mack] You don't mind

if I have one of these fine cigars, do you?

-Would you give that to Gregory? -Sure.

-You know, Karen... -Yes?

I admire your diplomacy, but I really think it's time

that Gregory and Mack did talk business.

Hmm. Okay.

Mack, I think you have something on your mind.

Come on. Out with it.

[sighs]

Well, I'm not talking out of school here.

It's about the Tidal Basin murders.

-What about them? -[Mack sighs]

[Mack] What's the real reason those women were k*lled?

-Not a valid question. -Sure, it is.

No, it isn't, because I can't answer it.

You don't want to answer it.

No, I mean, I can't answer it, because I don't know the answer.

You've got the m*rder*r in your custody.

Why don't you ask him?

The guy's a pawn. He doesn't know anything.

And you think I do?

I think you're in a position to find sponsors.

You knew the real reason was in Galveston Industries.

You were the one who steered me

toward the company in the first place.

That's right. I got you into Galveston Industries.

And you found Paul Galveston. You finally got your bad guy.

Gregory...

do you mean you really sent Mack in to drag down your father?

You bet.

[both chuckles]

Unfortunately,

it was a little late to bring him to mortal justice.

[puffs] Well, I still have you.

What are you gonna do with me?

You seem to forget that

the Tidal Basin murders happened long

before I came on the scene.

Listen, what happens if, uh,

when you're going through your research,

you find out that Galveston, uh, cheated on his income tax?

What are you gonna do, sick the IRS on me?

Alright, let's talk about Westfall.

Why was the whole town poisoned?

There you go. You're doing it again.

[Mack] Right. That's what I always do.

And I don't buy this desire to take over the family business.

I think you were in line

for the job right from the get-go.

And maybe the big crime,

the real reason these women were m*rder*d,

hasn't even been committed yet.

And when it is, I'll be there, Gregory.

Well, now that you two have defined your problem together,

you can come up with some answers.

Don't look at me. She's your mother.

[chuckles]

[Joshua] Cathy? Cathy?

I'm up here.

[Joshua] You still want to be alone?

Uh-huh.

You were right about the party.

Is that supposed to make things better?

-I-I just got carried away. -[sighs]

I wanted all of our family and friends to be there

when I gave you this.

Oh, Joshua.

It's beautiful.

I know that I should have made it a more personal thing

instead of announcing it like that.

Just you and me.

I want you to have that.

I want you to wear it.

I want you to marry me.

-Will you marry me? -Yes.

[soft music playing]

-Don't you want to put it on me? -Oh.

[both sigh]

Oh, it's so pretty.

[inhales]

I don't want to go to that party any more than you do.

But I feel like I have to because I work for her.

Okay. Then we'll go. Yeah.

I can show off my ring.

-I love you, Cathy. -I love you.

[breathes deeply]

[soft music playing]

Well, I'm off to bed.

Alright. [clears throat]

[Ruth] You should get some rest, too.

You know, uh, I've been invited to a party for Cathy and Joshua

and I'd really like it if you could go with me.

-And do what? -Act civilized.

He doesn't know the meaning of the word. But I love the idea.

We'll all go. We'll take John Coblentz.

We'll make a great entrance. [chuckles]

You get some rest. Night.

-Night, Mom. -Night.

[clears throat]

Isn't it time for her to go to a jaunt

to some far-off place like Tibet or Antarctica or...

[chuckles]

[children playing]

[knocking]

She ain't home.

[sighs]

Hi.

Well, uh, you know where she is?

Working.

Oh. Uh, over, over at the, uh...

Convalescent home.

You didn't know?

Oh, I-I thought she was still at...

[laughs] Practical nurses have to move around a lot.

-You know what I mean? -Yeah, sure.

-Edgecroft Convalescent Home. -Edgecroft.

Oh, boy, that Marjorie, she... It's hard to keep up with her.

Tell me about it.

-Well, thank you. -Bye.

-[doorbell ringing] -[vacuum cleaner whirring]

[singing]

♪ I'm just driving up to see ♪

Cathy?

Cathy?

♪ Don't you feel it? ♪

-Hey, Cathy, whoa, whoa! -[screams] Oh!

-[giggles] You scared me! -I'm so--

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Take, um...

-Oh. -[both chuckles]

-I'm sorry. -Let me out of here.

-You sounded really good. -Oh.

No, really, you're a good singer.

-[chuckles] How you doing? -Fine.

-Good. You look so cute. -Thanks. Thanks.

Um... I heard that...

you've decided to go to the party after all.

Yeah. Yeah.

-Ah! Oh, oh! -[chuckles]

When did he give you that? Oh, it's gorgeous.

Thanks. Last night.

-Oh. -[Cathy] Yeah.

[sighs]

Oh, your brother.

I love him so much, but I just want to smack him sometimes.

I really just want to smack him.

He's going through this thing where he wants to control me.

He wants to tell me what to sing,

when to sing, where to sing.

He wants to make all the plans.

Have you told him about all this?

Oh! I tell him all the time.

It just, uh... I don't know...

It just doesn't seem to do any good.

[sighs]

Could have stood up to him yesterday morning.

No. See, that's just it.

He always gets me at the wrong time.

I don't feel comfortable

discussing it in front of the family,

or in front of anybody, for that matter.

Well, the next time he starts pushing you,

you just push him back. Okay?

-Yeah. -I mean it.

[Karen] Excuse me, Marjorie Wilson?

Yes.

My name is Karen MacKenzie,

and I'm-I'm very concerned about a friend of mine.

I'm sorry, I can't take any new cases now.

Oh, no, that's not it. I-I live in Knots Landing

and you used to work at the hospital there.

That's right.

Well, you were in the delivery room when my friend,

Valene Ewing, gave birth to twins prematurely.

You'll have to excuse me.

I have a lot of beds to make up and patients to take care of.

My friend, Val, is convinced she heard the babies crying,

but the doctor said they were stillborn.

What do you want from me?

If anything happened that night

that you could shed some light on,

if there's anything you remember at all...

Look, I'm...I'm sorry for your friend.

I'm a good nurse,

but I can't change the outcome of a delivery.

I'm sorry I bothered you.

[melancholy music playing]

[camera shutter clicking]

[instrumental music]

Karen, why must you keep bringing up that terrible night?

I'm sorry, ma'am.

This is my son's engagement party.

I don't want to hear another word.

-Please, forget it. -I can't forget it.

Best wishes to both of you.

You know, we never miss your program,

so we were watching the night

that you announced your engagement.

Well, it's nice of you to take the time to join us.

-Is that Senator Buchanan? -And his wife.

Oh, isn't she cute?

Thank you so much, Senator.

Senator Sumner's limousine will be here any minute.

I want you to get plenty of shots.

-Shots of Sumner. I know? -No, of John Coblentz.

Mr. Coblentz is coming with the Sumner party.

I want you to get a lot of shots of him.

No interviews, just shots.

[sighs] You're the boss.

Oh, this is so nice.

Pictures of Cathy and Joshua on the Society page.

-[giggles] -[chuckles]

Where's Olivia?

Uh, she wants to see you in her office.

-Her office? -Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

[Abby] Laura, hi.

Hello, Greg.

-[Greg] Abby. -[Abby] Mrs. Galveston.

-How nice of you to come. -Hello.

Thank you.

Abby, I'd like you to meet my friend, John Coblentz.

-How do you do? -It's an honor to meet you.

As a matter of fact, I've always wanted to meet you.

Well, now I know that I've always wanted to meet you.

-Oh, that's lovely. -We're going to the bar, Abby.

[both clear throats]

Abby Ewing, the bride at every hanging,

the executioner at every wedding.

And, uh, which occasion is this?

I think it's both.

The handsome young man there with Mack and Gary...

Is he Lotus Point or cable TV or friend of the family or...

or something else?

[chuckles]

-Something else. -Oh.

[soft music playing]

I'd like to see the report

you've been working up on Galveston Industries.

You already know everything that's in it.

Yeah, I know, but I want to see it anyway.

Where should I put this?

Uh, there's a room down the hall

there's somebody to take care of it for you there.

[sighs]

-What do you want? -Everything.

I want to know everything.

Are you thinking of bailing out of Empire Valley?

No.

Where does your investigation stand?

I've got one m*rder*r, and he has to be tried.

And whatever rot is left in Empire Valley...

[Ben] Wait a minute, Mack.

Gary, I thought you liked Sumner.

Sure, I like him. He saved my wife's life.

I've just never worked with him before.

Look, for now, I'm going ahead with Empire Valley.

But I'm going into it with my eyes open.

If I turn up any rot, I'll let you know.

But it's got to work both ways.

[Mack] That's fine for me. It's between you two guys.

You finish your business and settle that other stuff.

Maybe we have a deal.

I can be a big boy.

Alright. You got yourself a deal.

Uh. Doesn't anybody carry cigarettes anymore?

Never mind.

-I hate her. That's all. -But why?

Cathy's so sweet.

Trust me, you'd feel better if you didn't.

I can't help it.

-She and... -She and what?

[Valene] What?

There's nothing you could do about it anyhow.

Well...

I tell you, you're missing a great party.

Some of your good friends and some real good food.

I just want you to have a great time.

I can't.

-[Valene] Why can't you? -I'm not dressed.

Oh, come on. That's simple.

We'll just pick something out together.

Hey. Come on.

-Okay. -Okay.

Attagirl.

Greg Sumner tells me that

you are the governor's special investigator.

[scoffs] Well, it's a job.

You don't mind if I borrow

Mr. Coblentz for a minute, do you?

By all means. So good to see you again.

-Excuse me. -Sure.

Who is that?

Lieutenant Governor. Want me to introduce you?

Is he here for the guests of honor

or some private reason of Abby's?

What difference does it make? You know, you look so good.

I've always had a crush on you.

I'm going to feel a lot better, as a matter of fact,

knowing that we're going to have your input.

My input? Where?

[chuckles] In Empire Valley.

I'm a partner, you know.

Ah, yes, the, um... the real estate development.

[chuckles] Yeah, the model community.

[chuckles] I did think I ought to tell you, though,

I have some reservations about, um, my FCC licenses.

I see.

Well, perhaps we should, uh, get together and discuss it

at a later point in time.

I'd like that.

-Isn't it beautiful? -Yes, it's very nice.

Gonna keep all the wolves away at Isadora's.

-I'm sure. -I know, there's so many.

She won't have to worry about that much longer.

What do you mean?

She's going to be just as pretty after you add the wedding ring.

Well, she won't be wearing it to Isadora's. Will you?

-Oh, of course. -Why not?

Well, it'll look great under the lights.

-You won't be under the lights. -[Laura] Wait a minute.

You mean after she starts singing on your show,

she won't be singing there anymore?

-She won't be singing. -Well, of course, I will.

Excuse me.

Why do you have to be so rigid about this?

I'm not being rigid.

Every time we have this conversation,

you only have one thing to say for yourself.

-I'm a singer. -I am a singer.

Well, why do you have to limit yourself that way?

I'm a singer, I'm a singer.

You're also a woman and you're going to be my wife.

You don't have to make a display of yourself

in public to win affection.

I love you. Isn't that enough?

-Don't worry. -I don't believe it.

Thank you.

Lilimae, you have to let me explain.

-Karen, please. -You have to understand.

For heaven's sake.

Lilimae, I think I can find out exactly

what happened to Val's babies.

Don't you think I'd give my life to bring them back?

As long as there's any doubt, we have to--

Wait, you are the one

who's bringing up these awful doubts.

Now, I live with Val.

I see her turn sad in a moment. I want it to stop.

I talked to one of the nurses who was on duty that night.

She's upset too.

-[Lilimae] About what? -She seemed scared.

-Did she say so? -[Karen] I saw it.

[scoffs] You probably scared her.

A stranger messing about her house,

poking into her business.

It had something to do with Val's delivery.

The first nurse I talked to, the one that was there

just in the beginning of the delivery,

didn't mind talking about it at all.

She said twins caused excitement in the labor room

because they were so rare.

But Nurse Wilson, the one that was there at birth,

she kept saying over and over again.

She didn't remember anything that happened that night.

Lilimae, you should have seen her face.

You never wonder if you could be mistaken, do you?

I'm going back to see Nurse Wilson.

Come with me. Talk to her.

Then tell me I'm wrong.

[music continues]

-Oh, I'll tell you. -Whoa!

-Smell something funny? -Yes, I do.

-Oh, good, you're here. -What's going on here?

Mom, Mack, this is Mr. Boots Connors,

the man who wants to buy Knots Landing Motors.

-[Karen] Eric. -Thanks for hanging in there

-with me today. I got a date. -Sure.

-Eric. -Oh, the sink's backed up, too.

-We tried the best we could. -[Boots] Have a good time.

She's terrific.

-Who? -His date.

Uh, I can't remember her name, but she's cute as a button.

Smart, too.

Uh, she came down to the dealership on Saturday.

Oh, really?

Yeah, uh, they had plans, but Eric canceled them

because we were waiting for you.

[clears throat] Oh. Let me take your wrap, dear.

Oh, thank you, dear.

Eric seems to think it would be okay for me to come by tonight.

Uh, sort of catch you on the run.

I know what a busy woman you are.

Oh, you want to talk now?

Well, I'd really like to close this deal as soon as I can.

You see the... the distributor is going to give me, uh,

a higher discount if I up my volume.

But I'm only going to need more volume

if I'm sure that we've got a deal.

-Well, I'm-- -[Boots] I'll raise my offer

$25,000. But that's got to be the limit.

Wouldn't want to play a couple of hands of poker, would you?

-Uh, some other time, maybe. -Mack.

Uh, Eric did give you my offer, didn't he?

[sighs] Look, Mr. Boots.

-Mr. Connors. -[Karen] Mr. Connors.

[chuckles]

It was really a very, very generous offer,

but I'm not interested in selling Knots Landing Motors.

[sighs]

Alright. $35,000, my last offer.

[melancholy music playing]

[knocking on door]

Well, to what do I owe the honor?

You said we should talk later. It's later.

Do you have any idea how exhausting

five hours of small talk can be?

Uh, you should try five weeks around the conference table.

Well,...

I just thought as long as we were in bed together

on this Empire Valley thing, we ought to be candid

with each other about everything.

Uh...

[water splashing]

Oh, boy. This place is a mess.

So did you close your big deal?

No, I don't want to close my big deal.

What do you say? Why did you let these drains go for so long?

Oh, when they're clogged, they're my drains.

What are you going to tell him?

-Who? -The guy.

His shoes, boots, whatever his name.

What are you going to tell him?

He doesn't seem to want to take no for an answer.

Let's face it. You never wanted to sell the agency anyway.

Let's face it. I never wanted to sell the agency anyway.

-Ooh. Does it bother you? -No, these drains bother me.

-Well, then I'll call a plumber. -No, you don't call a plumber.

-Mack will fix it. -Alright.

Alright.

You know, it's funny.

Anyone can send any electronic information they want

as long as they have the right antenna.

But we have to be licensed if we want to send.

You send very clear signals.

[inhales]

Paul Galveston wanted me to handle

all the licensing with the FCC.

[sighs] And I was glad to do it, of course.

But now that I know

how big Empire Valley really is

and what's really going on...

I'm not sure if it's something that I ought to be doing.

You do realize its importance.

[sighs] Of course.

I'm just not sure

if it's something that I want to get involved in,

even if it is a matter of national importance.

Mmm. Then think of it as a private enterprise.

That's the only way that it should affect you

and your husband... right in the bank account.

[chuckles] Well, it's not really a matter of money.

It's my name on those FCC licenses,

and you're asking me to risk them.

No, no, no, no. The risks to you are nil.

How do I know that for sure?

Abby, nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without risk.

Now, the rewards for the free world

with a communications network

that can intercept messages of w*r,

of m*ssile, and troop deployments,

of sabotage by t*rrorists, this is vital to our security.

[suspenseful music playing]

Karen? Oh, I'm glad I caught you in.

Um. I would like to see Mrs. Wilson.

Yes? I'll be right over.

I'll have to run out for a while.

-Will you tell Val? -[Joshua] Mm-hm.

-Good morning, sweet pea. -[Valene] Good morning, Mama.

[Lilimae] I'm just out for a little while.

[Valene] Alright.

[sighs] Are you in a hurry? Do-do you have a minute?

[Joshua] What do you need?

Well, I don't need anything. I just, um...

[sighs] Joshua, I don't want to put myself where I don't belong,

and I certainly don't want to fight with you,

but you must know how you've been behaving lately,

what you're doing to Cathy.

What am I doing to Cathy?

Well, you're not treating her with any respect

or any consideration for what she might want.

You're acting as if everything has to be done your way

when you want it, and I...

I-I just don't think that that's any way to start a marriage.

Uh-huh.

Are you speaking from personal experience, Val?

No, of course, not. It's just that it... it hurts me

when I see it happen, that's all.

Uh-huh. Well, if Cathy has a problem, she can come to me.

-Well, I think she wants-- -And in your own case...

I don't think your recent experiences

can illuminate much for anybody else.

It's not your fault, but let's face it, Val,

you wouldn't even admit that your marriage was over.

I love you, Val, but to watch you continue

to surround yourself with people who let you down

when you needed them most,

how can you continue to have anything to do

with Ben or Gary at all?

I don't know what this has to do with--

You couldn't find either one of them

when those kids were born, and look what happened!

So now you know why I'm not too receptive to counseling

from somebody who hasn't exactly worked out

their own life very well.

[melancholy music playing]

[breathes heavily]

[melancholy music playing]

[breathes heavily]

Oh, my God. Ms. Wilson!

I told you to leave me alone.

If I didn't think it was important, I wouldn't...

-I'm gonna be late for work. -[Karen] You've got to help us.

I don't care what you were promised or who your boss was.

What you're not telling us is hurting people.

Mrs. Clements has won.

[Lilimae] I've lost my grandchildren.

Now, I don't know if you had anything to do with that,

-but if you know something-- -Maybe you ought to help...

...cover up something terrible or look the other way.

Whatever happened is bad enough.

-Oh, please. Please! -I can't help you.

The loss of those babies every day to that family,

not just something that happened and is over with.

It's a sin against innocent people.

-If you could just help... -I really have to go.

-You have children, don't you? -Yes, I do.

Then you know why we're asking.

Here's my telephone number.

If there's still babies, it's not too late.

Think it over. Call me.

Please.

[melancholy music playing]

[car engine revving]

Heading back to Washington, are you?

Yes, I'll have my assistant call you with those figures.

Great.

-Had a visitor last night. -Really? Who?

-Abby Ewing. -Oh, you sly devil, you.

-God. -Sumner, I thought we're agreed

about the security on this project.

Too many people know what's going on.

You didn't discuss this with Abby Ewing, did you?

As if you didn't know.

I have my reservations about her.

-She doesn't know anything. -Of course, she does.

She discussed the direction of this project very knowledgeably.

And while I don't question her gifts,

I do think she's being briefed a little too extensively.

She's guessing. She doesn't know anything.

She faked you right out of your shorts.

The only thing Abby Ewing knows is that we need her

to expedite our FCC licensing. That's it.

No, it's not. She said to me--

Who cares what she said? I don't care what she said.

She doesn't know anything.

Unless you've told her so.

Alright. Very well.

You know how best to work with Mrs. Ewing.

You find a way to undo the damage.

[clattering]

[sighs] I know how she feels.

I just don't know what comes over him.

Maybe he's just nervous about getting married.

It wouldn't be the first time

a young man in a hurry got cold feet.

He doesn't seem to have any doubts about anything.

I know that's what bothers Cathy.

[sighs] It bothers me, too.

You think the fans are going to his head?

[banging]

-[yells] I don't know. -[groans] Excuse me.

[hammering]

Excu- excuse me.

Uh, how much longer are you going to be?

-Another half hour. -Oh.

That's what he said an hour ago.

You're really upset, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

Well, I think you're going to have to talk to him.

Karen, I just did.

Things he said to me. [inhales]

He was absolutely cruel to me.

Oh, honey...

[telephone ringing]

Hello? Oh, hi, Eric.

What? What?

You mean he's there right now?

I'll come in and talk.

[sighs] I'll be there in ten minutes.

Bye.

[sighs] Oh, I'm sorry, Val.

I have to go smooth over something at the dealership.

Two businessmen are angry at me.

One of them happens to be my son.

You go on ahead. It's okay.

[sighs] Could you, uh, pay the plumber

in case I don't get back in time?

Yeah, and I'll turn off the stove

and I'll lock the door if necessary. Now, just go on.

Thanks.

Don't worry.

[clattering]

[melancholy music playing]

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

Mrs. MacKenzie?

Uh, no, she's not here right now.

May I take a message?

What time do you expect her back?

[Valene] Actually, I'm not sure.

Who's this?

[chuckles] This is Valene Ewing. I'm a neighbor of hers.

Could I tell her who's calling, please?

Uh, no, it... I'm sorry, it wasn't important.

[ominous music playing]

[sighs]

[theme music playing]