10x15 - The Spin Doctor

[bunniefuu]

Do you think Laura would have you raise her child?

Well, she doesn't have much to say about it anymore.

Does she? She's dead.

Whether you're sane or out of your mind.

I am not going to let you hurt Val

or the twins or anybody else.

You're just scared to grow old.

You can leave the table now.

Do you think some new baby's gonna make you feel young again?

I am not gonna let you do to Meg what you've done to me.

-Olivia and Meg there? -No, why?

Olivia took Meg out. They've been gone for hours.

[theme music]

[man] Now, Greg would like nothing more than to sit down

and have a two hour lunch with you.

But we have a scheduling problem this week.

Yeah, we have to cancel all the interviews.

He's flying up north.

Yeah. No, I'm--

Yeah, I'm-- I'm really sorry, Al.

You'll be the first one he speaks with

when he gets back.

Thanks for understanding.

Bye.

You expect them to buy that lame excuse?

Write a follow up letter of apology to the reporters.

Okay.

Did you talk to Mack?

Yep.

-What did he say? -What do you think he said?

When are you going to get her back?

You can't do any more interviews until you do.

Your opponent has plants in the press corps.

First question they're going to ask

is why did you give her away?

The only acceptable answer is it was just temporary.

There was a good reason

and now the kid's back home fat and happy.

Okay.

[laughing]

Give me my homework. Come here.

You guys-- Give me that.

Come on.

[groans]

Hi, honey.

Hi.

[kisses]

Let's go do our own homework, okay?

Let's see. Okay, you got it?

How was work, Dad?

Good.

Good.

[Meg babbling]

Okay, you do it?

A dinosaur.

A dinosaur?

I like that color.

Do you like big balloons?

Big balloons? Yes.

[Meg] I like tiny balloons.

You know, you could be a great artist.

Would you let me hang this picture up?

Hmm?

Would you like me to hang it up in the bedroom

or on the refrigerator?

Bedroom.

[Karen] In the bedroom?

I'm going to get some Scotch tape.

[kissing]

[Karen exhaling deeply] Okay.

[instrumental music]

Karen.

Here it is.

Karen.

What?

Nothing.

I should never have let you tell him yourself.

It's too hard on you.

From now on you let George Morris handle it.

That's what you pay him for.

Hello, it's George in?

It's too hard on you. It's too hard on me too.

And I certainly don't underestimate the impact

this is going to have on Mack and Karen.

And they lived in this real nice house

on a cul-de-sac.

Yeah, that's the street that goes,

you know, and they had,

they had friends on that street.

There was an elephant named Deedee.

And then there was Joe.

Joe the dog faced boy.

He walked, talk, chewed c*ck

and crawled on his belly like a reptile.

[exhaling] And...

Aer mommy and daddy loved her very, very much.

And they took good care of her.

They changed the diapers.

Told the stories.

Rocked her in her chair.

Kept her real safe.

What's the matter? Did she have a nightmare?

[chuckles]

No.

I love that smell.

Oh.

You know what?

I'm too tired to stay up.

So, I'm gonna go to sleep.

Goodnight, guys.

[kisses]

Goodnight, ma.

[chuckles]

[birds chirping]

-Where's the coffee? -I didn't make coffee.

We have herbal tea.

Do you want lemongrass or liquor spice?

Ew.

Yeah. I can't stay anyway.

I'll get some coffee on the way to school.

Lemongrass.

Mom, what is with this health kick?

I've been reading.

You know, about nutrition?

I don't think I fed you guys properly

when you were little.

I suppose we have Meg to blame for that.

You do, you do!

Yeah, well.

I got my eggs and bacon.

Looks like Meggie is stuck with Jerusalem artichokes

and bran flakes.

[Karen mocking laughter]

-[Michael] See you later. -Bye.

Hey, you Mack.

-Come here. Come here. -Paige.

Paige. Do us a favor, take a break.

Sure. Let's go get dressed.

-There you go. -[Paige] Sweetie.

Bye.

Didn't you sleep at all last night?

You just look awful.

[chuckles]

-You want some herbal tea? -No.

[Mack clears throat]

Karen...

Greg wants Meg back.

[pouring tea]

[birds chirping]

You're serious?

Yeah.

When did he tell you?

Yesterday.

Yesterday...

And I didn't have the heart to tell you.

What did he say?

Why is he doing this?

Yeah, because he's married now and...

You know, and he has-- He wants his family.

We're her family now, Mack!

We are her family.

He's not going to take her, Mack.

You told him, didn't you?

Of course I did.

[sobbing] That he can't take her.

[Karen sobs]

Yes, could you tell me how much it'd cost

to rent a hospital bed?

Is that per month?

And do you always have them or should I book in advance?

Well, I don't really know because I haven't scheduled

the date of surgery yet.

Ah. Oh, that's great. Thank you very much.

[dramatic music]

Okay, Julie, we're ready.

Are you going to let me ride your horse?

-You bet. -Thank you.

Let me help you mount.

[grunting]

This is great.

Are you sure you don't want to come with me?

[chuckling] I'm still sore from last time.

Peter's gonna ride with you.

-Okay. -[Peter] Let's go.

Just walk or slot. Don't gallop.

[Julie] Mom!

[eerie music]

-Not my day. -Why? Too much caffeine?

No, too much Jill. Can't quit thinking about her.

Well, breaking up is hard to do.

Yeah, especially when the person you're breaking up with

is just a little bit crazy.

No comment.

[exhaling deeply] Diplomatic.

You know, I talked to this doctor about her.

Told her she had problems.

She seemed convinced that I was the one with problems.

I mean, I got about as much respect

for the medical profession as I do with lawyers.

And why are we talking about Jill?

Well...

Gosh, what a cute horse.

Well, gosh, what a friendly guy, huh?

Hi, horse.

Listen, Gary, you don't have to entertain Julie and me.

I can always take her to a museum for a change.

No-no-no. I really like having you two out here.

Takes my mind off things.

[horse neighing]

-Good. -Anyway.

Julie is terrific

and she's turning into the perfect horse woman

or actually horse person?

[Pat laughing]

Gary, it's Julie.

She fell.

Oh, God.

Where is Julie?

I'd like that piece right over here

in front of the fireplace.

But back about a foot or so.

And a little more that way--

-How dare you? -Karen.

Where's Greg?

He's not here.

I'll arrange the rest of the furniture. Thanks a lot.

-Did you do this? -What?

Was it your idea to get Meg back?

[exhaling deeply] Of course not.

Why is he doing it?

I don't think we ought to talk about this here.

I will not let you have her.

[exhaling deeply] She's Greg's daughter.

Despite what you might think, he is doing this in her best--

It is in her best interest to stay with us,

Karen. Look.

I think the fact that you and Mack

took Meg in is wonderful.

I really do. She couldn't have had a better home.

But the only reason you had her

was because Greg was so upset about Laura.

-That is not true. -It was a temporary arrangement.

He told us to raise her as if she were our own.

We never would have taken her if it weren't permanent.

Well, things change.

Greg is starting a new life now.

Now, I love children.

I'll be a wonderful mother to Meg.

I promise you.

Do you think Laura would have you raise her child?

[laughs] Well, she doesn't have much

to say about it anymore, does she? She's dead.

[smacks]

Thank God she only broke her arm.

I'll get you some juice, honey.

I'll want some too.

-[chuckling] Okay. -Darlings, darlings.

Will you stop crawling all over her?

She's in pain.

Well, it's not that bad.

The doctor gave me a shot.

A shot! Bleh!

[all laughing]

[Val] We're gonna be leaving soon.

I just wanted to see how Julie was.

I can't believe you let this happen.

I didn't let it happen.

-I wasn't there. -Why not?

You know she's too young to go off by herself.

She wasn't by herself. She was with a ranch hand.

[phone ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

Gary, here. Phone for you.

Juice.

There you are babies.

This is for you. Here is for you.

Yummy.

-What do you say? -Thank you.

-Hello. -[Peter] Gary, it's Pete .

Someone cut the off billet.

I didn't check this morning 'cause I soaked it

just a couple days ago.

[exhales deeply] I don't believe this.

There's a slice right through the leather.

I don't have any idea how this could have happened,

but I don't think anyone of our guys would have cut the saddle.

No, I don't either.

You weren't warned. This was deliberate.

[Peter] Do you know who could have done it?

No. No, I don't.

Well, I'm really sorry.

It's my fault. I should have checked it.

Don't worry about it.

Look, Pete, I've got to go.

Thanks for calling, all right?

[indistinct chatter]

Um, listen, I've got to go. Are you feeling better?

I am. Thank you.

Could you send me any bills for this?

Absolutely not. We wouldn't think of doing that.

Okay. Take care.

-Thank you. - [all] Bye.

Hello, babies.

Gary. Wait a minute.

Gary.

Gary.

Gary, listen to me.

Wait.

It wasn't your fault.

-That's not it. -It was an accident.

Don't blame yourself.

I said that Bobby could stay for a while.

-Good seeing you again, Gary. -Me too.

-Oh, sh**t. -What happened?

It's nothing, I'm just having a little problem with the gate.

When did it start?

-I don't know. -Why didn't you call me?

Gary.

Why didn't you get it fixed?

I don't know.

I was going to call someone.

Well, then do it and find out how it happened.

Oh, it happened. Gary, it's ten years old.

It probably just rusted through.

I will find somebody in the Yellow Pages.

Come on, honey. Let's go in the house.

How could you let this go? Anybody could get in here.

Gary, please don't do this.

I don't want you acting like this around the kids.

Just get the gate fixed. All right?

All right.

[car door shut]

Looking for that catalog?

Here.

Greg, I want you to know I thought about what you said,

that lecture you gave me before you got married.

And I took it to heart.

I understand why you wanted Abby.

I mean, she's bright and aggressive and...

And she can manipulate any situation to her advantage.

And I know that's important to you and to your career.

Glad to hear it.

But what I don't understand is why you'd want a woman like that

to raise your daughter.

[dramatic tense music]

You did what?

-I slapped her. -You slapped Abby?

I know it was the wrong thing to do, but I--

But nothing.

-You slapped her. -Peggy.

You don't think they're really going to try to take her to you?

How do I know what they're going to do?

What are we going to do if they do, Mack?

I don't know.

-I'll talk to Greg. -What are you gonna do?

-Slap him too? -It's not funny.

I'm not trying to be funny.

Maybe we should talk to him. I don't know.

I think he'd understand.

He didn't understand when I talked to him.

Mack, it's for you.

It's an attorney.

George Morris, he says he's representing the Sumner family.

Mack McKenzie.

Hello, Mr. McKenzie. I'm George Morris.

I've been retained to represent the interests

of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Sumner.

[George] In the matter of the custody

of their daughter.

Their daughter Meg.

According to my client, Meg has been temporarily

residing with you and your wife.

[George] Is that correct?

We need an attorney.

[door knocking]

[Gary] Open up.

[door knocking]

-[Gary] Let me in. -What's the matter?

You know damn good well what's the matter.

-What? -You cut my saddle.

Your saddle?

Gary, I don't know what you're talking about.

You damn near k*lled Julie Williams.

Gary, I haven't seen Julie Williams in days.

And calm down, okay?

[door knocking]

Now what is going on?

Oh, it's you.

Do you want me to call the police?

No, I'm fine.

You know, I don't know what your problem is

and why you let this man treat you this way,

but I don't have to tolerate it.

Now, if you continue it to allow him

to harass you or to disturb the other tenants,

-I'm going to have you evicted. -I'm not harassing her.

Could you excuse us a minute, Mrs. Strong?

Well, now, if there's any more yelling,

I'm going to call the police.

Call whoever the hell you want, lady.

Thank you.

Gary, why are you doing this to me?

To you?

Jill, you're not rational. You need help.

I need to be left alone.

I've done everything I can to keep you people

from hounding me.

I went to see a psychiatrist.

I had a lie detector test.

Good God, Gary, I feel like I'm in the middle

of the Salem witch trials.

I'm perfectly normal.

And everybody around me is acting crazy.

There is one thing you have to understand,

whether you're sane or out of your mind,

I am not going to let you hurt Val

or the twins or anybody else.

Can you understand that?

I can't believe how much you've changed.

[door shuts]

[sighs]

[Mack] Yeah, thanks for the referral, Harry.

[Mack] Yeah, good night.

[Mack] Well, he won't take the case,

but he referred Iris Kornberg

and gave me her home number.

[instrumental music]

Why is it so hard to find somebody?

Don't lawyers like to work?

It's a hard case Karen

and attorneys just like to take cases they can win.

Hi, yes, this is Mack McKenzie for Iris Kornberg if she's home.

[dramatic music]

Yes, this is Mac McKenzie.

I was referred to you by Harry Oppenheimer.

I understand your specialty is family practice.

Are you ready?

Hi. For what?

[Mack] Let's see.

Do I have to run date?

We were supposed to babysit tonight.

I'm sorry.

[Mack] We were told that it was

a permanent arrangement.

We canceled dinner. We're not going out.

Well, even though you canceled dinner,

you and Mack still got time to make a movie or something.

We've got nothing to do.

Yeah, that's a great idea.

[Mack] Substantiating witnesses.

Thank you very much. Good night.

She'll see us tomorrow.

Good.

What's going on?

[instrumental music]

Gregory Sumner wants his daughter back.

I can't believe it.

Well, I'll talk to my mom.

She can talk him out of it.

I talked to her already.

Did she promise to talk to him?

She wants Meg too.

[dramatic music]

Meg is asleep and I've got to go check on her.

Popular kid, huh?

I want to spend the night.

-What? -On the couch.

I want to spend the night on the couch.

-Why? -I don't trust Jill.

[Val] You don't trust Jill? Gary. I have--

I don't think it's bad idea if a man stays over.

Jenny, look, you don't understand about this, okay?

Now, Gary. Jill has finally started to leave me alone.

If she found out that you stayed here overnight,

it could start the whole nightmare all over again.

-Don't you understand? -What about the kids?

Think of the kids.

Honey, I think you should let him do it.

Both of you. Would you stop?

He is not staying here now.

Gary, look, it's late. I am freezing cold.

Would you please leave?

You know, I don't know who's crazier,

you or Jill.

That is a terrible thing to say.

Yeah, well, you won't let me do anything.

Gary, I don't need you to do anything.

Valene.

Valene, honey, you shouldn't make him feel so helpless.

It hurts his pride.

Jenny.

Let's just go to bed, all right? Come on.

Oh, his aura is terrible.

That boy is so upset, it's practically red.

[tense music]

[tense music continues]

Come on, Gary.

[tense music continues]

[car engine starts]

[engine revving]

[thinking] We should sell the ranch, Gary.

Get away somewhere.

Take your mind off all these terrible things

that people have been saying about me.

[tense music]

[engine revving]

[sighs]

[dog barking]

[engine revving]

[Pat] Gary.

[Pat] Gary.

Gary.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Fine.

So what are you doing here?

Um... I was watching Val's House.

Oh.

Well, come on in, Gary.

Have a cup of coffee.

Uh... No, thanks.

Pat, is everything okay?

Oh, yeah.

Gary was just watching Val's house.

It's no big deal.

Have you been out here all night?

Gary, you can't spend every night

in front of Val's house.

Yeah, I know. I just want to make sure the kids are safe.

-Everything okay? -Everything's fine.

Just fine.

Why are you here?

He sat in his car all night and watched Val's house.

Yeah, well, Gary, what good is that going to do

if you sit here all night?

[car engine starts]

His aura has turned to black.

Good morning.

What is this, the crack of dawn brigade?

Guys, better get a move on.

I'm going to the stable.

[Abby clears throat]

Aren't you gonna kiss goodbye?

[Greg chuckles]

It's been so long.

Bye.

Don't forget I have a art class after school.

Okay.

You came in late last night.

We were working at the office.

Trying to figure out how to get Meg back?

[horse neighing]

Meg?

Where did you hear about that?

From Karen.

Well, we all have a slightly different perspective

about this situation.

I don't think Karen is particularly objective.

Why would you want Meg?

You know, I was up late last night

thinking the same thing myself,

trying to understand why you would want to take her away.

Not take her away.

Olivia, she's Greg's daughter.

You know, Brian's almost grown,

and I'm going to be out of here in a year.

Why do you want to start all over

and screw up some new kid's life?

That's enough, Olivia.

I realized

that you're just scared to grow old.

You can leave the table now.

Do you think some new baby's

going to make you feel young again?

Yeah. I am not gonna let you do to Meg what you've done to me.

Oh, I am a terrible mother, aren't I?

Look at the way I got you off of drugs.

And isn't it just awful that I don't want you

to be engaged to a criminal?

Why do you think I started drugs to begin with?

Would you just stop?

You know you have done nothing for months

but try to hurt me.

Well, I won't tolerate it anymore.

From now on, as far as I'm concerned,

you can eat and sleep in this house,

but anything you say to me has to be polite.

Come on, Brian. I'll take you to school.

-You're awful. -I'm not going to let her do it.

I'm not.

[dramatic tense music]

[dramatic tense music continues]

[music continues]

[Gary sighs]

[Gary sighs]

You take this little doggie here.

Look at that doggie.

Look here. Look at how pretty that dog is.

You see that?

You train the doggie

and I'll take that yucky old calculator.

Okay? Let's do that.

Oh, right.

What a trade.

She's so cute.

Yeah.

I really can't study here.

I should go back to my dorm.

Oh, no, don't go.

No, she'll take a nap soon.

When are your parents getting back?

I don't know. They had to meet with some attorney.

-Why? -Family problem.

[door knocking]

Maybe that's them.

[Michael sighs]

-Hi. -[Gary sighing] Hi.

-Is your mom here? -No, she isn't.

She's with Mack

and they had to see some attorney.

Olivia, this is my friend Ellen.

Ellen, this is my cousin Olivia.

-Hi. -Hi. Nice to meet you.

So, are you going to stay here and wait for her?

I guess so.

Oh, you think you could play with Meg for a little while?

Ellen and I have been trying to study

and it's been impossible.

You don't think Karen would mind?

No, of course not.

Maybe I could take her for a walk.

Do you know where her stroller is?

Great idea. Yeah, I do. Let me get it.

So how are you guys, cousins?

Uh, we're first cousins.

So his father and my mother were brother and sister.

Michael seems to have a really great family.

Yeah, he does. And mine's a disaster.

Okay, Meggie,

here we go.

Come on, let's go for a walk.

Here we go.

-[Michael] Here you go. -Sit in there.

We're going to go for a walk. Okay? Let's go for a walk.

Thank you, Olivia. I appreciate this.

I owe you one.

-Bye. It's nice meeting you. -Bye.

-Bye, Meggie. -Bye.

Okay.

[Michael sighs] Okay.

Where were we?

I think we have a chance.

-A chance? -Mrs. Mackenzie.

The other side has a good case.

Our case is at least as good as his.

But you didn't actually adopt Meg.

-Oh, we wanted to. -But you didn't.

We can argue that it was a de facto adoption.

But they can argue that Mister Sumner pointedly

and specifically refused to make it legal.

What I am saying is that I will fight for you

with everything that I have.

I am not saying that I can guarantee

that you'll end up with custody of the child.

[dramatic sad music]

What kind of a man...

use his child with someone for that length of time

without taking her back,

without, without visiting?

Without calling?

Without checking up on her?

[dramatic sad music continues]

Without even checking up on her.

All that will be part of the case.

I'm not saying lose,

but I'm just not promising we can win.

[Mack sighs]

[clears throat]

Okay, so.

What are our chances?

I'd say 50-50.

[dramatic sad music continues]

I can give you two guards on a 24 hour cycle.

Each shift lasts eight hours.

That's three shifts in a day.

I just don't want them obvious to her or the neighbors.

I don't see how I can post my men and women.

-I use women too. -All right, it's okay.

I don't see how I can put them

any nearer to the house than this

without attracting attention.

I can cover the street from about 20 feet back

from that corner and, say,

ten feet back from over here.

That way we can spot anybody going on to Seaview Circle.

Now, if we see anyone that looks odd

my people will follow them in.

But chances are sooner or later we're going to be spotted.

Well, I'd rather have them spotted

than have my children k*lled.

How'd it go?

Not great.

-It's okay. -Hi.

-Hi. -Hi.

Where's Meg? Is she asleep?

No. Olivia took her for a walk.

[Mack] Oh, good.

When?

They've been gone over three hours.

-Three hours? -Wow.

I didn't realize it had been that long.

Do you think?

Something has happened?

No, I'm sure she just took her to the park or the zoo.

She would have told you.

[dramatic tense music]

It's too late for a two year old to be out.

I'm going to call Abby to see if she heard anything.

[dramatic tense music continues]

[Abby] Yes?

Hello, Abby.

Are Olivia and Meg there?

No.

[Mack] Have you heard from them?

No. Why?

Well, Olivia took Meg out and they've been gone for hours.

-Where did they go? -I don't know.

Didn't Karen, the Saint of all mothers,

ask where they were going?

Abby, I don't need your crap.

[Mack] Olivia said she was taking Meg for a walk.

It's too late for a walk now.

Now, I'm going to take a ride around.

I'm going to look for them.

If you hear from them, you call me here at the house.

[Mack] Abby, you call me?

Sure.

Bye.

It's getting late, sweet pea, and I'll take you back.

Well, it's not that late.

We'll take Meg home and you can come back here

and stay for a while.

Call your mother and tell her you can have dinner here.

I don't want to take Meg back.

Aww. Are you feeling down, honey? Hm?

Tell you what, we'll call Karen

and see if we can keep Meg for dinner.

How's that?

You know, if I take Meg back, my mom could get her.

I just don't want that to happen.

Okay, we'll call Karen

and tell her we're going to be late, okay?

[phone ringing]

Harold, just just let it ring, okay?

[phone ringing]

I just want to sit here.

I'm gonna finish your braid okay?

Okay, Meg?

[dramatic music]

I didn't find her.

No one's answering at Harold's.

I'm sure she'll be okay.

I mean, they probably went to the mall and lost track of time.

I'm so scared.

[Olivia] Hello.

[Michael] What happened?

I just didn't realize how late it was.

-I'm sorry. -Hey.

[Karen sighing]

Oh, you!

[Karen laughs] Oh, Meg.

You've got a cold nose. Hey, you.

You better call your mother. She's scared to death.

So where you been?

Kidding? We were here then went over there...

Pete.

Hey, Miss Williams.

Thank you for finding my glasses for me.

I was looking everywhere for them.

You're welcome. Hey, how's Julie doing?

Oh, she's fine, thanks, Pete.

She's going to have the cast off in six weeks.

Well, I owe you an apology.

No, you don't.

Now, that was my fault.

If I'd been there with her.

I mean, I could have prevented her

from at least going so fast.

Well, she wouldn't run that fast.

Saddle hadn't been cut,

well, she wouldn't have fallen off.

Cut?

Mr. Ewing didn't tell you?

No.

It was deliberate?

Yes, ma'am.

We still don't know who did it.

Would you say hi to Julie for me?

I sure will, Pete.

Pete...

Do you know where Gary is?

Yes, ma'am. He's around back the stables.

Thanks.

[dramatic tense music]

Jill.

[dramatic tense music continues]

Jill.

[dramatic tense music continues]

Gary, Gary.

I just saw her.

-Saw who? -I saw Jill.

She was here,

she was at the ranch, she was by the boathouse,

and I went over to talk to her, but she disappeared.

Gary, you didn't tell me about the saddle.

I didn't want to upset you.

You think that she did it, don't you?

I mean, that's why you stayed in your car

in front of Val's house all night.

This is crazy.

[Pat sighs]

She's a lunatic.

I'm shaking.

I just keep thinking that

my daughter

could have fallen off that horse another way, Gary.

She could have been k*lled.

Pat, I'm sorry.

I can't believe this. I mean...

I'm more upset now than when it actually happened.

It just gotta stop.

There's one sure way to stop Greg.

-How? -Take it to the press.

No.

If we fight back, if we tell the reporters

that he gave us his child for good,

for life.

And now he wants to steal her back?

Forget it, his career is over.

I can't do that.

For Meg?

No.

No matter what happens,

she'll be affected by the publicity

for the rest of her life.

People will criticize her

or they'll pity her.

They'll say good or bad,

however she turned out is a result

of being torn apart as a child.

I won't do that to her.

-Even if it helps us. -What's the alternative?

How is she going to be affected if we give her back?

Can we not talk about that now?

Can we just approach this?

One step at a time.

Karen...

If we don't play hardball, we lose.

Isn't there any way you can get the Mackenzie's

-to agree to this? -Thank you.

Sure, we could hack the kid in half.

That'll make everyone happy.

You can't wait.

You have to go to the press

with your side of the story.

Here's the angle.

You talk about your wife's death,

how she left you alone against your wishes.

How it was her idea that you give Meg away.

The only reason you did was because she was dying.

Think of the awful position you were in.

Anyone could understand.

I will not go to the newspapers with a sob story about my wife.

I will not use my daughter for cheap publicity.

[dramatic sad music]

He could lose the election.

Look, I understand this is deep background.

And I'll only use you as an unnamed source.

Do you mind if I use a tape recorder?

Yes, I do.

It's just my own records.

And we talked about this already.

No recorder. I'm sorry.

All right.

We'll have to do this the old fashioned way.

Now, you wanted to discuss the baby?

-Yes. -Your paper may not know that...

My husband is at a very tragic personal life.

[narrator] Next on Knots Landing.

"Mackenzie's Fight for custody." Those headlines will m*rder us.

But if we can stay out of the news

for seven more days, I think we can win.

Let's have a surprise. Okay?

Let's not tell anybody that you saw me here, okay?

I thought we were talking about

what was best for Meg here. Not your ego--

You're not interested in keeping Meg out of the news.

You're interested in keeping a custody battle

out of the news. That's all.

I am not going to keep letting her do this to me.

-We'll take care of it. -I mean it. I'm not.

[Val] Are you afraid?

Are you listening to me? Have I got your attention?

[theme music]