125
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Okay, now that we know that Charlotte’s
kidnapping and subsequent rescue was
all just a dream that Kathy had, we’d
better get back to the real thing and pick
up where we left off in Charlotte’s office.
Friday, July 11th, 1986, 9:21 P.M.
CHARLOTTE
I’m not interested in Belinda’s love
life, okay? Really, I’m not.
KATHY
I thought you had
a thing for him.
CHARLOTTE
I did.. I don’t know, maybe I still
do… But, it doesn’t make any
difference now, anyway. He’s with
Belinda.. and I’m not gonna try
and get in the way of that.
KATHY
Yeah, she’s with him now…
But what about down the
road… Maybe she’ll find out
that she can’t stand the guy.
Then you’ll be back in.
CHARLOTTE
If she can’t stand the guy,
maybe that’ll be a good
indication for me to stay
away from him too. Ever
think of that?
KATHY
Good point…
You’re always so quick.
CHARLOTTE
I’ve got more important
things to think about.
KATHY
Good.. I’m glad to hear it.
Why make things messy?
CHARLOTTE
Is that what this is
all about?
KATHY
What?
CHARLOTTE
This whole.. drama of yours…
This whole presentation that
you’re putting on.
KATHY
I don’t know
what you mean.
CHARLOTTE
No, no, no, don’t try and hand that
shit to me. Don’t try and act all
innocent now.. You want something.
You’ve got something up your sleeve—
Now what is it?
KATHY
(hesitantly)
I want in.
CHARLOTTE
Want “in” what?
KATHY
I want in the business.
CHARLOTTE
(shocked)
That’s it?!
That’s what you want?!
That’s what this whole..
THING.. is all about?!
KATHY
Not entirely.
CHARLOTTE
(amused)
Let me.. Let me see if I got this
straight… You thought you were just
gonna waltz in here… Acting all
coy and all bad-ass and everything…
Make yourself a little drink… Take
me up to my office here, tell me that
my chair is one-fifth yours, order me
around like some tough.. authoritative
chick from “Knots Landing”… and
think that I was just.. gonna cave-in with
some .. lame-ass information that you
got from a dead lawyer.. about off-shore
accounts?! You thought that was gonna
work? You thought that was gonna
intimidate me?
KATHY
(embarrassed)
That’s not everything, Char.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, well, goody-goody gumdrops,
there’s more.. I can’t wait…
Seriously, though, Kathy, let’s
make this quick. I’d like to get home.
Kathy is now reaching into
her imaginary front pocket
to pull out her one, last,
Barney Fife bullet. The only
problem is, she waits so long,
Charlotte begins talking again.
CHARLOTTE
Ya’ know, Kathy, if you want me
to teach you about business, I’ll
be happy to do it. In fact, I could
probably use a good, reliable
business partner that I can count
on… I’ve tried to run things past
the other girls from time to time,
but none of them seem interested.
Kathy is not listening to
any of this. She only has
one thing on her mind.
With a blank expression,
she changes the subject.
KATHY
Belinda wouldn’t
sleep with Khudobin.
CHARLOTTE
(eyes widening)
I’m sorry? …
What was that?
KATHY
I said—
Belinda wouldn’t
sleep with Khudobin.
Instead of blowing up,
Charlotte remains calm.
CHARLOTTE
I see…
So.. we’re back
to that again…
Kathy continues
in the same manner.
KATHY
That man did not
die of an overdose.
CHARLOTTE
(remaining calm)
Apparently he did.
It’s time for
the shit to
hit the fan.
KATHY
Ya’ know, Charlotte…
I could really give two
shits about burying
some guy in our back yard…
What I care about is what
you did to Belinda.
Charlotte is
becoming
furious. The
truth is
coming out.
CHARLOTTE
(seething)
Be careful, Kathy.
KATHY
(resolute but calm)
No.. I won’t…
I’m through
being careful…
I wanna know the truth.
CHARLOTTE
I don’t have to sit here
and listen to any of this.
I really don’t.
Charlotte looks
like she’s
preparing to
leave.
KATHY
Why were you drinking
at the mansion?
Charlotte is
frozen.
CHARLOTTE
Excuse me?
KATHY
You were drinking at the
mansion.. Along with other
things, I presume… That’s
what I heard from everybody
else, anyway… Why? … Aren’t
you worried about relapsing?
CHARLOTTE
I know what I’m doing, Kath..
I know how to control myself…
I appreciate your concern, but..
try and stay out of my personal
life, okay? You don’t know what
you’re talking about.
KATHY
I just wanna know why?
CHARLOTTE
Because I was upset, okay?!
We just got done burying a guy
in our back yard.. and I was a
little uptight, alright?! I think
I deserved a drink at that moment…
Kathy cuts
her off.
KATHY
You were drinking
before we discovered
the body.
CHARLOTTE
(angry)
If you’ll let
me finish…
KATHY
(pauses)
Go ahead.
CHARLOTTE
I just needed to unwind a little bit,
is that okay with you? Besides, you’re
one to talk! You got a drink in
your hand right now AND you
offered me one when you made it !!
Isn’t that a little bit like calling
the kettle black?
What if I accepted, huh?
Wouldn’t you be feeling like a
horse’s ass right about now?
Kathy has been
spanked hard.
She pauses, then
continues…
KATHY
I’m sorry…
I shouldn’t judge you
like that…
It’s just that…
CHARLOTTE
What?
KATHY
It’s all part of
a point I’m trying
to make.