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Continued from page 76…
Friday, July 11th, 1986, 9:21 P.M.
Kathy was now convinced that she was dealing with an imposter. There were too many inconsistencies with her language and her behavior. Charlotte simply would not act this way. Naturally, she would defend herself against any prevailing accusations, but she would never be so abrasive and mean-spirited like this. Kathy figured that whoever hired this woman to impersonate Charlotte must have an incredible reason or reasons to do so. It couldn’t just be for the money. There had to be much more to this whole ordeal. It must obviously be tied-in with Charlotte’s whereabouts, Kathy thought to herself. Wherever she was being held captive must be the additional reason for her kidnapping, Kathy continued. She also assumed there must be some sort of a timetable on this whole charade before someone discovered the true identity of this woman. Kathy decided she would quiz this phony-baloney one last time to make absolutely sure she was an imposter, and then make the move to expose her. The only problem was that Kathy did not have a gun in her purse. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “What’s a good, wholesome Texan doing without a firearm in her purse?” Well, Kathy has been living in California for the last ten years and she has forgotten her manners. Besides, when she left her house, she wasn’t even sure if her suspicions were correct. At this moment, all she had was her trusty Buck knife that she carried around with her at all times for protection. She would have to get the blade right up against this chick’s jugular…
KATHY
I remember a time…
A long time ago…
Maybe before you even
arrived..
Fake Charlotte
widens her eyes
ever-so-slightly.
She seems to have
remembered her
history of the band.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Before I arrived?
I thought you were
the last to arrive?
Damn!
She got it right,
Kathy thought
to herself. Still..
She said it in an
awkward way.
KATHY
It’s not important…
What’s important
is the lesson.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Which is?
KATHY
Belinda was in love once
before. A while back…
And she told me that
she couldn’t cheat on the guy.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I’m not sure I follow.
KATHY
My point is… I find it very hard to
believe that Belinda would jump
into bed with a total stranger…
when she’s in love with someone
else… Don’t you find that a bit
peculiar?
Fake Charlotte
swallows
nervously.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
You seem to be jumping
ahead in your story
a little bit.
KATHY
No, I don’t think so…
I think I’m right on
target… I think I’m
making a very valid point.
CHARLOTTE
Belinda’s unpredictable.
KATHY
(stands up)
Unpredictable, my ass…
You put that body in
her bed, didn’t you?
Kathy grabs
her purse and
starts to walk
around to the
front of the desk
where Fake Charlotte
is sitting.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Get the fuck
outta’ here, Valentine…
Why would I do something
like that?
KATHY
I don’t know, you tell me…
Maybe to make her culpable…
Maybe to make all of us
culpable for your crime?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
What crime are you talkin’
about? If you think funneling
money over to offshore accounts
is some kind of a heinous crime,
you’ve got another…
KATHY
I’m not talkin’ about that shit !!
I’m talkin’ about murder !!
Fake Charlotte
is now glaring
at Kathy and
gritting her teeth.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
That man died
from an overdose.
KATHY
Oh, he died from an overdose, alright…
But not from cocaine… No, he died
from something a little more potent
than that… Like, maybe, strychnine?
You poisoned that poor bastard, didn’t
you? Then you stuck him in Belinda’s
bed… DIDN’T YOU?!!
FAKE CHARLOTTE
You’re outta’ your
fuckin’ mind,
Valentine.
KATHY
I’m callin’ the cops.
Kathy reaches
for the phone.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Callin’ the cops for what?!!
You’re in on this too!!
All of us!! You call the cops
and we’re ALL going to jail !
I know you don’t want that.
Kathy forges
ahead with
her plan.
KATHY
I don’t care…
I can’t live
with this anymore.
Kathy starts
punching in
the numbers.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I wouldn’t do
that if I were you.
KATHY
Well, you’re not me…
And I’m sick of your shit…
I don’t care what you think
about culpability…You did
the dirty deed and that’s
all there is to it.
Kathy continues
to punch in the
numbers.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Put down that phone.
KATHY
You’re going
to jail, honey.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I said…
put down that phone.
Kathy looks
over and sees
Fake Charlotte
pointing a .356
snub-nose directly
at her. Kathy slowly
puts the receiver
back in the cradle.
KATHY
Who are you?
Where’s Charlotte?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Just shut your
trap, Jaco, and
step back.
Kathy eases
off the desk
and steps
backwards.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Get over there
in the corner.
Kathy slowly
walks over to
the corner of
the office behind
the desk. When
she gets there,
Fake Charlotte
just stands there
and stares at her
for a while.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Kathy Valentine…
KATHY
Charlotte… North Carolina…
I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch
your full name.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
That’s not
important to you.
KATHY
Ohh, sure it is…
I like to keep a
scrapbook of all the
psychos I meet…
And.. believe me..
in show business..
that’s quite a few.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Just get your hands
up where I can
see them.
KATHY
Get my hands up?
Look, lady, as you can
plainly see, I don’t have
a holster and a six-shooter…
My arms are gonna get tired.
Fake Charlotte
continues to
stare at Kathy.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I don’t know what
to do with you…
Maybe I should just
kill you on the spot.
KATHY
Sounds like every
man I’ve ever dated.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Boy, you really are a
smart-ass, aren’t you?
KATHY
That’s what they
tell me.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Naturally, I’ve seen you on that
stupid T.V. show of yours. You’re
pretty funny. How come they give
you and that cornball drummer of
yours all the funny lines?
KATHY
Oh, well, Gina, ha-ha..
you see…
we’re attached at the hip…
We have to be…
We’re the rhythm section.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Must be nice to have that
kind of comradery.
KATHY
It’s the best…
So, tell me, how did
they brief you on becoming
Charlotte?
What did they teach you?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
They just told me to run the
business and act maternal
to all of you… Along with some
basic facts about the history
of you dip-shits… I understand
she acts very motherly to you guys.
KATHY
Yeah… she does…
We love that
about her.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I wish I knew what
that was like.
KATHY
Oh?
Did your mother fly away
right after you were hatched?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Let’s just say, she wasn’t
around very much when
I was a kid…
I had to grow up in a hurry.
KATHY
Tell me about it…
And how did you
manage to land a date
with Jeff Joniak?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Oh, that was easy…
He was flirting with me
constantly… It was a piece
of cake getting him
up here… And we had
a good time…
If you know what I mean.
KATHY
I’m happy for ya.’
FAKE CHARLOTTE
You want me to let
you in on a little secret?
KATHY
Sure, why not?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I think he
likes you more.
KATHY
Oh, really…
He talked about me
while he was fucking you?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Oh, no, no, no,
that was before…
While we were warming up with
some drinks… A woman knows
how to read between the lines.
KATHY
There now, ya’ see?
That’s another area where
you blew your cover…
I heard you were pretty much
smashed the entire time you
were over at the mansion…
Charlotte doesn’t do that
anymore.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Nobody seemed to mind…
Except for that Belinda chick…
She gave me a few lectures…
Actually, I think I upset her quite a bit…
I like her. She’s got charisma…
You could all learn a lot from her…
You’re lucky to have
her around in my opinion.
KATHY
I’m glad you think so…
You know…
it’s not too late to turn things
around in your sordid life of crime…
You could start by letting me go.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
I’m afraid I
can’t do that.
KATHY
Why not?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
It’s not up to me…
It’s up to Mr. Big.
KATHY
Mr. Big?!
You actually have a guy
named Mr. Big?!
What is this, 1954?
I suppose next you’re
gonna tell me you have
a partner named Lefty?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Alright, let’s move out.
KATHY
Where are we going?
When do I get
to see Charlotte?
FAKE CHARLOTTE
In due time, Plucky.
Now, move out.
Kathy starts
to move out
from the corner
of the office as
Fake Charlotte
motions with
her gun.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
You ever been
to Greece?
KATHY
No, but I’ve had
a gyro once or twice.
FAKE CHARLOTTE
Well, you’re going to
meet Mr. Cassadine…
I think he’ll have a
nice room for you…
You might even get
to meet your friend.
KATHY
Cassadine? …
Why does that
name sound familiar?