Episode 26 - The Arrival Of Michelle's Father

Due to the sensitive nature of parts of this episode, this episode may not be suitable for some readers. As such, reader discretion is advised

Due to the sensitive nature of this episode, this episode may not be suitable for some readers. As such, reader discretion is advised.

SCENE ONE - The Law Offices Of Stanley A. Finch

As we open up this episode, the kniving Cassandra Whitmore has just received a call from her new attorney Stanley Finch asking her to come into his office. As we pick up the scene now, we see her approaching the door to Stanley's office. She is carrying little Christopher with her.

CASSANDRA (Confirming to herself that she has the right office suite) - Yep this is it.

Cassandra walks in only to find that his receptionist isn't at her desk. Given this, she decides to approach the door to Stanley's office. As she does, she hears what appears to be Debbie Stevens, whom he had spent the night with, trying to hit on him. Wanting to know what's going on, she barges into Stanley's office.

CASSANDRA (As she enters the room) - What the hell is going on here? (To Debbie) - What are YOU doing here?

STANLEY (Trying to explain himself) - I was just trying to tell that I had some work to do and that I had a client coming in.

CASSANDRA (Unimpressed and hardly fooled with Stanley's explaination, though looking more at Debbie with her suspicious eyes than at Stanley) - I can see.

STANLEY (Wondering how Cassandra got passed his receptionist) - Where's my receptionist?

CASSANDRA (Still staring at Debbie with her suspicious eyes as she answers Stanley's question) - Dunno. Wasn't there I arrived. (Now walking toward Debbie) - Maybe the tramp here PAID her to take an early coffee break.

DEBBIE (Having just about enough of Cassandra's looks and overall attitude while obviously sporting one of her own and not afraid to show it off either) - I'm not a tramp, which is which is A LOT considering what I can say about you. (Now noticing Christopher's prescence in the room as she reaches to-toe-toe range of Cassandra) - Ohh wait a minute. Not only are you a fuckin' tramp, you're a fuckin' babymaking slut as well. How's the little babymaking factory of yours these days? Business still good?

Cassandra puts Christopher down on the floor and prepares to take a swing a Debbie

DEBBIE (Putting her hands on her hips & shaking them from right to left in a pompant, arrogant manner, daring Cassandra to take a swing at her while Cassandra's fury continues to build) - Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that IS your son, right? And Leo McFadden IS his father, right? Tell me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that's what you're here to see Stanley for, right?

STANLEY (Attempting to break the ladies up) - ALRIGHT LADIES. Now I don't know what sort of past the two of you share, nor right now do I even care. But whatever it is, it won't be carried out here. So, why don't we just forget this all happened.

Cassandra and Debbie don't even hear Stanley and just look at each other as they mimmick each other's "Bring It" facial expressions and body movements, still standing toe-to-toe as well.

STANLEY (Trying to wedge himself between the two of them to get Debbie's attention) - I'll talk to you later sweetie?

Debbie doesn't answer. Instead she just slowly - Very slowly - Backs away from Cassandra, still staring at her with her "Bring it" face and mimmicking her head movements as Cassandra does the same while standing still. Debbie ultimately exits - Walking backwards as she does. Stanley then turns to Cassandra, wondering just what he saw and just what, if any, impact, their grudge will have on her case.

SCENE TWO - Cedarville Memorial Hospital

Trish is laying on a stretcher in the ER and is frantically if not hysterically crying as she shows reaction to the physical trauma she sustained as the staff tries to figure out what happened to her. As we pick up the scene, she's laying on the stretcher in an almost near-fetal position

TRISH (Crying) - Get them out of me

FEMALE EMT #1 (Noticing the others are just as perplexed as she is) - We don't understand. Get what out of you?

TRISH - THEM!!

FEMALE EMT #2 - Who's the them you keep referring to?

TRISH (Thinking these must be a bunch of clueless idiots, but not realizing they are just simply doing their jobs) - The monsters who RAPED me bitch! Who else could I be talking about?

FEMALE EMT #2 (Apologetic, but also trying to explain proceedure) - We're sorry, okay? But unless you tell us these things, we don't know for sure. That's why we ask, okay?

TRISH (Crying and not really caring for the EMT's reason given above) - Whatever. JUST GET 'EM OUT OF ME!!!!

FEMALE EMT #3 - Okay, we'll get started as soon as we can. We just need to call in another doctor. A specialist for your case.

FEMALE EMT #3 instructs one of the nurses to call the Gynecologist on-call and have that person report to the ER stat.

FEMALE EMT #1 (With rape kit in hand) - In the meantime Ms. Martin, we need to take some samples for the lab and the police.

TRISH (Horrified at the thought of dealing with them) - Ohh please don't bring them into this.

FEMALE EMT #1 (Apologetic yet simply pointing out a fact) -I'm sorry ma'am, but the law requires it.

Trish just cries softly. Meanwhile the three EMTs prepare themselves and get the neccessary equipment setup for the sample taking and are now ready to prepare their patient

CUE ATS STANDARD OPEN

SCENE THREE - Office of Dr. Holly Madison, OB/GYN

Channel 4 Action News Investigative Reporter Stephanie Blanton has just gone in for a checkup to see what is causing her stomach pains which she's had in the mornings for the last few days. As we pick up the scene now, we see her and her gynecolegist Dr. Holly Madison in an examination room. Stephanie has just explained to her where she's feeling the pain, how bad it is, etc. Holly is now explaining how she plans to address the issues Stephanie could be facing and laying out her options.

DR. MADISON - Now what I plan to do is administer a battery of tests, okay.

STEPHANIE - Okay.

DR. MADISON - Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this.

STEPHANIE (Thinking that Dr. Madison has no idea how RELIEVED she would be) - Ohh that would be sssssooooooooo WONDERFUL.

Just then, one of the office nurses peeks her head inside

NURSE - Dr. Madison, you have a call from the ER.

DR. MADISON - Thank you. I'll take it in the other room. (In a near-whispering fashion as she approaches the door in preparation to leave the room) - Meanwhile, call the lab and have a pregnancy test sent over.

NURSE - Yes doctor.

DR. MADISON (Being honest, yet not wanting to get Stephanie's hopes up or throw her into a panic as she doesn't know Stephanie's social life beyond what she needs to know to treat her) - I'm having a pregnancy test sent over.

STEPHANIE (A little mystified, yet realizing that Holly is just covering all the bases, starting with what could be the most obvious) - Okay...

DR. MADISON - Hopefully that's all it is. If so, then you've got a little bun in the oven. If it isn't, we're gonna have to take some more extreme measures. Either way, I gotta take this call. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Dr. Madison exits before Stephanie can get a word in edgewise. Meanwhile Stephanie thinks she smells news and decides to do a little snooping. As Dr. Madison enters the room next to her, Stephanie puts her head to the wall, making sure to face the door in case someone walks in. Stephanie can hear Dr. Madison talking on a telephone in the room

DR. MADISON (To the ER Staff member on the phone as Stephanie listens in from the adjacent exam room she's in) - This is Dr. Madison....Yes.....Really?......How long ago?.....Are you sure she's a possible rape victim?....Have you started a rape kit?.....Okay, I'll be over there in a few minutes.......I've got a patient right now.....As soon as I discharge her, I'll be over there.....Thank you.

The call ends and Stephanie returns to the exam table as though she did nothing since Dr. Madison left. Just then, the nurse walks in and tells Stephanie that it'll take a few minutes for the test to arrive, but that it will be administered once it does. Meanwhile Stephanie, who is torn between finding out who was raped and what the potential story could be and waiting to deal with her own medical issues. Stephanie decides to wait, figuring that in all likelihood that since the patient is in the ER, they'll be moving at a near-snail's pace anyway.A minute later, she hears Dr. Madison talking to one of the nurses telling her that Stephanie can go once she's taken the pregnancy test. The nurse then walks into the examination room where Stephanie is and tells her she can leave as soon as she takes the pregnancy test as per instructed by Dr. Madison.

SCENE FOUR - Stacy's House

Brad & Stacy are enjoying their breakfast. Michelle, having already had breakfast, is enjoying a cup of coffee. As we pick up the scene, the doorbell has rung. Stacy goes to answer it and finds Michael standing on the other side.

STACY (A little, but pleasantly, surprised) - Michael.

MICAHEL (Dry & serious) - Can I come in?

STACY (Opening the door to let him in) - Ohh of course. Where are my manners?

Michael steps inside.

STACY (Continuing) - Can I get you anything? A cup of coffee perhaps?

MICHAEL - No, but you can get me Trish if she's here.

STACY (Wondering what Michael is talking about and knowing she hasn't seen Trish all morning and has the surprised to show for it) - I haven't seen or spoken to her all morning.

MICHELLE (Overhearing the conversation) - You mean she never came home last night?

Brad walks into the living room just as Michelle spoke and now has a disturbed look on his face unaware of the fact that Michael was at the Fon Du Lac till closing the night before

MICHAEL (Somewhat surprised at Michelle's prescence, but nonetheless continuing) - No. Her bed doesn't even look slept in or anything.

MICHELLE (Now with a worried look on her face) - Boy that is worrysome.

BRAD (Confused & wanting to know what's going on) - Wait....Wait....Wait. Would either of you two care to tell me what's going on here?

MICHAEL (Frankfully & sighing as he begins) - I was at the Fon Du Lac from about a little after 7:00 PM till closing last night. I had a date with Trish. For some strange, inexplicable reason, she never showed up. In fact, this morning, I woke up only to discover that her side of the bed didn't even look slept in.

BRAD (Still confused) - So?

MICHAEL (Thinking that Trish's own brother must be DENSE or something) SO?? Something's wrong. That's gotta be it. But what?

STACY (Trying to be calm and thinking there must be some rationale reason as to why her best friend would even consider doing such a thing to Michael) - Well okay, but what sort of proof do you have?

MICHAEL (Pulling out from his leather jacket pocket the note he found atop the fireplace earlier) - This note.

Brad, Stacy & Michelle each read the note as they pass it on to each other after reading it themselves.

MICHAEL (Continuing) - I went to that store before coming over here. It's a crime scene.

STACY (Trying to keep calm and trying to rationalize the situation) - Well maybe it became a crime scene before Trish even got there.

MICHAEL (Thinking Stacy must REALLY be dense) - Stace....If that were the case, don't you think Trish would be safe & sound by now?

MICHELLE (Getting one of her infamously accurate really bad feelings on the whole situation and is about to hit the proverbial panic button) - Well either way, this is REALLY troublesome guys. I've got a really bad feeling about this. And Stace, you know me well enough to know that when I get one of those, I'm usually right about these things.

STACY - All I'm saying is let's not hit the proverbial panic button here. Let's just wait till we know more.

BRAD - Well Stace, if Trish is in some kind of trouble, we need to help her. Only question is HOW???

STACY - I don't know.

MICHAEL - Well I DO know. And since she's obviously not here, I'm going to the one place where she can go to get help - The police station.

STACY - Sure you won't stay for a cup of coffee?

MICHAEL - I'm sure. Thanks.

STACY - Okay.

Stacy opens the front door and Michael exits.

SCENE FIVE - Cedarville High School Student Parking Lot

Aruba Al Faheed has just pulled into the student parking lot of Cedarville High School and parked his car. As we pick up the scene now, he is on his way into the school when he is approached by a gang of students who have bullied him in the past.

BULLY #1 - Hey! Just where do you think YOU are going towelhead?

ARUBA (Wanting to avoid another confrontation) - Inside to go to class. Excuse me.

BULLY #1 - Whoa man! You ain't leavin' this bomb in [i]OUR[/i] parking lot. This is for the student body to park [b]WORKING[/b] cars. Cars with bombs don't qualify.

All the other members of the group express their shared sentiment.

BULLY #4 (Noticing his car next to Aruba's) - Hey! You parked this bomb next to [b]MY[/b] classic beauty. This is a '67 Ford Mustang Fastback. My father drove this when he was a teenager. In fact, he was a graduate of this school.

ARUBA (Trying to be reassuring) - There's no bomb in or otherwise attached to my car.

BULLY #4 (Adamant & shouting) - HOW DO I KNOW THAT?

ARUBA - Trust me. There's no bomb.

BULLY #4 (Sarcastically laughing and sticking his thumbs up like The Fonz from Happy Days) - Trust him he says. Look man, Move it before I start moving some of your body parts - NOW DUDE

Just then Ashleigh, Aruba's girlfriend approaches.

ASHLEIGH (Adamant & Demanding) - Leave him ALONE!!

Aruba turns to look at Ashleigh with an embarrassed look on his face. Meanwhile Bully #4 stands toe-to-toe with Aruba with his football player body build and clenches his fists. Another bully who's a member of the school's wrestling team, stands alongside Bully #4. Aruba brazenly remains unfazed by their muscular builds (Not to mention the very presence of his girlfriend Ashleigh), however the others are laughing and saying things like Look who's come to your rescue and the like as they taunt Aruba and start turning their attention towards Ashleigh. Just as they do, Juaquendo and a few of Aruba's "other" friends show up to help turn the tides in Aruba's favor.

SCENE SIX - Cedarville Memorial Hospital

Trish is still laying on a stretcher in the ER and is frantically if not hysterically crying as she shows reaction to the physical trauma she sustained. A few minutes earlier, the staff treating her indicated they needed to call in a specialist - Gynecologist Dr. Holly Madison. As we pick up the scene now, Dr. Madison has just been briefed about Trish's case and has just walked into the cubicle where Trish is.

DR. MADISON (As she's walking in, not realizing that she's walking in on one of her patients) - Ms. Martin...

TRISH (Recognizing Dr. Madison) - Dr. Madison....Ohh god....Please help.

DR. MADISON - We're doing everything we can, okay? Just bear with us.

Dr. Madison steps out momentarily to confer with the staff treating her to get a status report on the rape kit and several other things, including the arrival of detectives from the Cedarville PD. When she returns, she returns with several ER staff members, one of whom has the rape kit in hand. Dr. Madison directs the staff on what needs to be done and advises Trish to that effect. Trish does what she can to comply with the requests, but stresses how difficult some of them are hard to comply with.

TRISH (As one of the staff members is retrieving tissue samples from deep inside her womb) - This is so hard.

DR. MADISON - We're just about done.



Meanwhile, back at Dr. Madison's office, Channel 4 Action News Investigative Reporter Stephanie Blanton decides to follow her nose for news by heading on over to the ER. As we pick up this portion of the scene now, she is seen leaving the room and taking the pregnancy test she has just taken over to the nurse, who then takes the test from Stephanie and then discharges Stephanie, again as per instructed by Dr. Madison.

STEPHANIE (Talking to herself) - Okay, now to get to the ER....

Stephanie makes her way over to the hospital and enters through the main entrance. She meanders her way through the hospital until she reaches the Emergency Department, which obviously houses the ER. She then starts looking for what she thinks might be the story she's looking for. Just as she's about to give up, she notices a bunch of people around a patient. But before she can get any closer, someone approaches her

STAFF MEMBER (To Stephanie, thinking she may be in need of help) - Can I help you?

STEPHANIE (Not convinced the staff member can be of any help, but thankful anyway) - No thanks.

The staff member walks away. As they do, Stephanie grows more and more curious about the crowd of staff members and the patient they are around. One staff member is seen almost kneeling as he performs a procedure while the others are simply milling around the patient. Then all of a sudden, Stephanie sees the patient's face and is now petrified.

STEPHANIE (Recognizing the face as likely being that of Trish) - Ohh my god. That can't be Trish. It can't be.

SCENE SEVEN

Michelle is now back at the FonDuLac Hotel. As we pick up the scene now, she is in the Grand Ballroom with a bunch of her staff playing traffic cop as it were by directing people where to go, what to do, etc.

MICHELLE (Directing traffic) - Put this over there.....Put that over here....No...No.....Move that....That's it....No, don't touch that.

Just then her father walks in

THOMAS (Admiring his princess as he walks into the room, half-surprised to see her) - Well....Well....Well. If it isn't my darling princess...

Michelle suddenly turns around at the sound of her father's voice

MICHELLE (Very surprised to see him - And only mildly delighted at that - With a strange look on her face) - Daddy? What the hell are you doing here?

The camera snaps over to Thomas, who has a puzzled and perplexed look on his face that says That's a hell of a greeting. The camera then snaps back at Michelle who still has the same strange look on her face as above as the camera fades to black.

On The NEXT Edition Of AGAINST THE STORM

* Cassandra gets word on her case from Stanley. Could she be headed for court?

* Now that Michelle's father has made his Grand Entrance, why is Michelle NOT excited to see him?

* Stephanie gets the results from her pregnancy test. Could she be?

All this & more on the NEXT edition of AGAINST THE STORM

CUE ATS STANDARD CLOSE (Windows Media Link)

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Episode 25 - Trish's Rescue

Due to the sensitive nature of parts of this episode, this episode may not be suitable for some readers. As such, reader discretion is advised

SCENE ONE - Alongside A Remote Highway



As we begin, we see Trish wandering as best as she can up a remote highway. A second later, two people, John & Martha Mahoney, spot Trish walking down the road alongside them. As we pick up the scene, Martha is trying to convince John to stop so they can pick up Trish.

MARTHA (Seeing Trish in the condition she's in) - Ohh honey...Let's stop and see if we can help this woman out. She looks like she can use it.

JOHN (In his usual New Jersey-style candor) - Are you kidding? She's a slut. Just look at her.

Just then, Martha notices what appears to be red spots on Trish's body.

MARTHA (Adamant) - Honey, she looks like she's been beaten to a pulp. I really think we should stop and help her out.

JOHN (Caving in even though he has no idea why he's even bothering) - Alright if you insist, though I have no idea WHY we're even doing this....

MARTHA (Fondly smiling) - Because after 35 years of marriage, I should know what you'll know by now.

John pulls the car over next to Trish as Martha gets Trish's attention

MARTHA (To Trish) - Can we offer you a ride?

TRISH (In response but also in denial and shame) - No. It's alright. Thank you.

MARTHA (Seeing the denial and shame) - I really think you should come with us.

JOHN - Honey....She said NO. What part of that word do you not understand?

Martha looks back at John and brushes him off.

MARTHA (Getting out of the car and opening the back door) - Here, you can have the back seat.

JOHN (Now pleading with his wife as Trish contemplates as to whether or not she wants to get in the car or not) - But honey

MARTHA (Fed up with John's pleading) - Ohh go blow it out your horn.

Just then, Trish sees the comfort Martha is trying to provide and realizes that she's in safe hands until she gets back to Cedarville. As such, she accepts the offer by getting in the back of the car. Back on the road again, Martha tries talking to Trish to get her to tell how she ended up alongside a road in the condition she's in.

MARTHA (To Trish) - Sweetie...What's your name?

Trish (Not wanting to reveal her real identity to a pair of complete strangers and still in shame for what happened to her) - Jane.

MARTHA - What happened to you?

JOHN (Before "Jane" can answer and in frustration over Martha's sudden obsession with their now equally-sudden back seat passenger and thinking that she should mind her own business) - Martha, what's with all the 20 questions? I think we have a fairly good idea what "happened" to her. Don't you think?

MARTHA - Not in the least. And if you had any sense at all, you wouldn't either.

Martha turns back to face Trish

MARTHA (Continuing) - Something happened to her. Question is WHAT?

JOHN - Well whatever IT is, it's no doubt NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.

Martha smirks in John's direction and sighs as Trish shyfully looks on in shame

CUE ATS STANDARD OPEN

SCENE TWO - Greg & Stephanie's House


Greg & Stephanie are seen in the bedroom of their house. As we pick up the scene, Stephanie awakens to a mysterious pain in her belly that's been bothering her for the last several days, but only in the mornings.

STEPHANIE (Grunting and groaning and semi-mumbling as she tosses and turns in bed) - Ugh....uhh....ehh...ohhh....

GREG (Laying in bed next to her and distubed by what he's seeing and hearing) - Steph? You okay sweetie?

Stephanie grunts and groans a few more times and then....

STEPHANIE (Yelling and now sitting up in bed awake, albeit barely, and doubled-over, and groping her belly) - OWWWWW!!

This sudden move scares Greg and has him concerned about Stephanie's well being. Meanwhile Stephanie is still reeling from the big throng of pain and is feeling like she had been hit by a mack truck

STEPHANIE (Still in a daze, half asleep, and looks over at Greg as if he was just a witness of a traffic accident she was just in) - You didn't happen to catch the license plate number of the mack truck that just hit me, did you?

GREG (Perplexed & puzzled) - Steph - What are you talking about?

Stephanie begins to snap herself to reality and wake up and realizes that it just felt as though she were hit by a mack truck

STEPHANIE (Starting to gather her wits & wake up) - Ohh... What time is it?

GREG (With a smile, knowing that everything is now okay) - It's time [Long pause] to get up.

STEPHANIE (Sarcastically and non-chalantly as she drops her head back down onto her pillow) - Ohh...Is that all?? Wake me up when the world comes to an end.

GREG - Honey, you really should see the doctor about this. She just might be able to figure out what it is and prescribe something for it.

STEPHANIE (Not in the mood for a fight with Greg over the matter) - Greg, please don't get me started. I'm not in the mood right now.

GREG - All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt to see the doctor on the matter. That's all.

STEPHANIE - I'll schedule an appointment.

GREG - You keep saying it, but you don't do it. C'mon, if you don't do it me, then do it for yourself - PLEASE???

STEPHANIE (Rising up in bed in anger & frustration and looking at Greg) - Ohh...ALRIGHT. I'll WALK IN and see her. Satisfied now?

GREG - For now, yes.

STEPHANIE - Great. Now can I rest a little longer to gather my wits before I start my day? (Putting the tips of her fingers to her forehead) - My head is still spinning and feels like it's on a fuckin' swivel.

SCENE THREE - Trish & Michael's House


Michael is seen waking up from a restful night's sleep after his "date" the previous evening. But as he wakes up, he is surprised to see that it looks as though Trish never came home and, as we now pick up the scene is left wondering what could've kept her out all night.

MICHAEL (To himself and now getting worried) - Her pillow doesn't even look slept on. What could've possibly kept her out ALL NIGHT?? (Shaking his head) - I don't get it.

He gets up & starts looking all over the house.

MICHAEL (Continuing as he enters the living room) - Yo Trish, you in here?

After noticing Trish is not in the living room, he heads for the kitchen

MICHAEL (Now frustrated, but still in his Philadelphia-style Italian sense of humor, thinking Trish is playing some game) - C'mon babe. This isn't fair. If you don't come out of hiding, I'm gonna find you. When I do, I'm gonna hug you and kiss you. (Jokingly) Then I'll ground you for life.

He walks into the kitchen, but doesn't see Trish

MICHAEL (Now giving up) - Okay babe, c'mon. Where....

He spots the note atop the fireplace

MICHAEL (Walking over to it) - What's this?

He picks it up and opens it

MICHAEL (Reading the note) - Gone to Mr. Gamble's. Will meet you at the restaurant at 7:30. Love, Trish

MICHAEL (Staring and the note and thinking aloud) - This was last night.

He folds the note back up

MICHAEL (Downplaying the significance of the note somewhat) - Ohh well. She's grown kinda fond of the ol' geezer. Maybe I'll go see him. Maybe he's seen her.

Michael goes back into the bedroom to get dressed, making certain to take the note with him

Meanwhile at David & Marcie's house....

Marcie strolls her way into the kitchen, where we see David, who has just spent much of the night watching TV and drinking coffee. As we pick up the scene now, Marcie strolls into the kitchen just as David is pouring himself YET ANOTHER cup of coffee.

MARCIE (Still half asleep and in her night gown as she mumbles to David) - Mornin'

DAVID (Pouring a cup of coffee and non-chalant) - Mornin'

MARCIE (Seeing the coffee) - Good. I need a fuckin' OCEAN of Starbucks today.

DAVID - I couldn't sleep a wink.

MARCIE - Yeah. I noticed.

DAVID - Too worried about Trish. She's out there. And the worst part of it all is we can't find her. And even if we could, we the Captain wouldn't let us within 10 feet of the case. THAT is what has me riled up.

MARCIE - Honey, I'd just assume not talk about that right now. Mind if I have some breakfast first?

DAVID - Go ahead. I don't see anyone stopping you. In the meantime, I think I'll turn on the morning news. Maybe there's something on there about it.

MARCIE - Alright.

Marcie grabs a coffee cup and walks over to the perculator, but notices that David took the last cup

MARCIE (Shouting to David in the living room out of anger and, predominately, frustration) - You HAD to take THE last cup, didn't you???

Marcie walks over to the cabinet where the coffee can is stored, slams it down on the counter and then takes the lid off in near-ripping fashion. She does the same thing to the coffee filters, taking out of those and later angrily inserting it into the coffee pot. Next, she non-chalantly scoops out some coffee and firmly puts it into the filter for perculation

SCENE FOUR - John & Martha's Car

John & Martha are enroute back to Cedarville with,unbeknownst to them, have picked up rape victim Trish Martin on the highway. As we pick up the scene, John & Martha are still arguing and are now trying to decide what to do with Trish.

JOHN - Look....All I'm saying is she could be a prostitute. Have you even considered that?

MARTHA - John...Have you even noticed the bruises on this woman's face?

JOHN - No because I'm too busy driving and getting us home alive and in one piece.

MARTHA - John, I think she's been raped.

JOHN - How do you know that?

MARTHA - I just do.

Trish begins to doze off to sleep

MARTHA (Noticing Trish's dozing off) - Poor thing looks like she didn't even sleep a wink last night.

JOHN - Not surprising. She probably partied all night in a wild sex party.

MARTHA - Ohh John... (To Trish, catching her in her last waking moment) - Sweetie, where would you like us to drop you off?

TRISH (Barely awake, but still able to speak) - Take me home. Please, just take me home.

Trish falls asleep, much to John's dismay, but not to his surprise

JOHN - Well....All I'm just saying is we don't know anything about this girl. And yet, you've got her in the back seat of our car. And now she's dozed off to sleep.

MARTHA - Well call it Women's Intuition.

JOHN - I prefer to call it STUPIDITY. How do we know she's not a fugitive or a terrorist or an axe murderer or something?

MARTHA - Ohh John....Does she look like someone who could kill anyone?

JOHN - I've seen psychos with nicer looks than hers.

As they travel further and further down the highway, they also get closer and closer to home. Before they know it, the Cedarville skyline can be seen off in the distance.

SCENE FIVE - The Al Faheed Family Residence

As we pick up the scene, Clarita & Khalil Al Faheed can be seen eating their breakfast. Khalil is also reading the newspaper.

CLARITA - Have you any plans today?

KHALIL - Yes. I have a very important meeting.

CLARITA - Ohh....With....Uhhh....What's his name....Michael?

KHALIL - Yes, the architect of the building my company is working on.

Just then, Aruba walks in and grabs a granola bar.

CLARITA (To Aruba) - Good Morning.

Aruba returns the greeting

KHALIL (Noticing that Aruba looks as though he's ready to walk out the door) - Aruba, aren't you going to sit down?

ARUBA - I have no time. Big day ahead.

CLARITA (Concerned about Aruba's apparent choice of malnourishment, not knowing he grabbed a granola bar) - No time for breakfast?

ARUBA - Yes. I've got some big tests today. Well...Gotta run. Later.

Aruba begins to leave.

KHALIL (Calm but firm) - ARUBA.

Aruba stops dead in his tracks upon hearing his name shouted out by Khalil

ARUBA (Not knowing what sort of trouble he got himself into) - Yes father?

KHALIL (Firm) - If there's tradition you will follow while under this roof, it is sitting down at the family table, enjoying the first meal of the day and discussing your plans for the day. I don't care what you have on your schedule. Do I make myself clear?

ARUBA - Yes father.

CLARITA - You're father's right, Aruba. When you walk into those classrooms to take those tests today, it's much better to show up properly nourished and ready to go than to go in there hungry and wishing you had eaten earlier. It's always better that way. I'll get you a bowl of cereal.

ARUBA (Resigned to the fact he's not going to be allowed to leave before he eats breakfast) - Alright, but I really don't have time, which is why I grabbed this granola bar.

KHALIL - Take it with you. You can leave the very second you finish your cereal.

Clarita returns with Aruba's cereal

KHALIL (To Clarita) - So, what plans do you have today?

ARUBA - Yeah Mom...

CLARITA - Ohh....Not much. My assistant and I will mostly be doing inventory to determine what's salvagable and what's not after the vandalism yesterday.

ARUBA - I wished some people here would just grow up and start treating us with more respect.

CLARITA - It's not us they hate. It's the people who claim to represent our best interests - but really don't - who just happen to be our brethren, that they hate.

ARUBA - I know. But between the people who always trash our front yard, the people who vandalized your store and the bullies at school, sometimes I wonder.

CLARITA (In near shock over Aruba's confession) - Aruba, are you being bullied?

ARUBA (Trying to show how much of a man he has become) - Mom, I can handle it.

CLARITA - Well still, you really should tell somebody at school. It's their job to deal with things like that.

KHALIL (Confirming what Clarita just said) - Your mother's right. You really should speak to someone at school. You should speak to your counselor.

ARUBA - Yesterday's incident got the attention of Mr. Beasley, the principal.

CLARITA - What did he say?

ARUBA - He said I should speak to my counselor.

KHALIL - That doesn't sound like a very bad idea.

SCENE SIX - Stacy's House

Brad & Stacy are seen playfully frolicking around in the kitchen. As we pick up the scene, Brad seems ready to pick up where he left off the night before while Stacy wants to eat breakfast first.

BRAD (Jokingly frustrated as Stacy moves about the kitchen, intentionally trying to evade him) - C'mon babe.

Brad finally catches up to her, hugs her body from behind, and begins necking her

STACY (Turning around) - C'mon Brad. Let me at least get breakfast down first.

BRAD (Humorously sarcastic) - You can have breakfast later.

STACY - Yeah well I'm not a hunk of a sex machine like you. Unlike you men, us women require nourishment.

BRAD - I wouldn't exactly call myself a sex machine. But I am INCREDIBLY horny.

STACY (Giggling) - That's obvious.

Just then, the doorbell rings

STACY (Wondering who it could be at her door since she's not expecting anyone) - Better get that...

Stacy heads for the door

BRAD - I'll get it.

STACY - No, that's okay. I've got it.

BRAD - Alright. I'll get breakfast then.

Brad gets out the pancake griddle, waffle maker and ingredients to make pancakes and waffles. Meanwhile Stacy answers the door and finds Michelle on the other side

STACY - Michelle. C'mon in.

MICHELLE - Thanks.

Stacy opens the door and Michelle walks inside

STACY - Can I get you anything?

MICHELLE - No...No thanks. I'm just here on a social call. You know....To take a break from the chaos that is my hotel right now.

STACY (Thinking how weird that sounds) - Ohh??

MICHELLE (Sighing non-chalantly) Yep! I've got 1200 people coming for some huge wildlife preservation convention. As such, as you can probably imagine, the preparations for it inside the place are chaotic to say the least.

Michelle's cell phone rings. She answers it as Stacy goes off to the kitchen to give Michelle some privacy and to check on breakfast

MICHELLE - Michelle here.....No I said 1200.....How many do we have?....700?....Ohh brother....Alright, alright....I'll call Brad and put him on it......Yeah, talk you later.

Michelle hangs up and flips her phone shut as she shakes her head in disbelief and puts her hands on her forehead and over her face as if she was experiencing a headache, but Brad, who overheard the conversation, doesn't pick up on this.

BRAD (To Michelle) - Put me on what?

MICHELLE (Disgusted & thinking Brad might've made a huge screw up) - You know who was just on the phone?

BRAD - Uhh....Well I think I have a fairly good idea.....

MICHELLE (Still showing her anger) - Well that was Rob. (Now wanting to determine if Brad indeed made a mistake) - Just how many of those customized plates did you order last week?

BRAD (Sensing Michelle's anger and wanting to set the record straight) - Well....To be on the safe side, I ordered 1500.

MICHELLE (Realizing Brad didn't make a mistake, but still nevertheless showing her anger) - Well, do you know how many of them showed up? Less than HALF OF THAT.

BRAD (Alarmed) - You're kidding.

MICHELLE (Calming down) - Heh...I wish I were. And here's the clincher - I have a confirmed head count of some 1200 strong coming. You know what THAT means Brad? It means that some 500+ people will be eating off plates which WE own.

BRAD (Wishing that something could be done) - Well there's nothing that can be done now.

MICHELLE (Trying to point out the significance of this disaster and its possible ramnifications) - Brad, you don't get it. Those people paid me to order those customized plates. WE DON'T OWN THEM. They do. And now they're gonna be some 500 short. That affects the hotel's bottom line. Not to mention our image.

BRAD (Trying to calm Michelle down) - Calm down. There's nothing we can do at this point. The convention is TODAY, like it or not. It's attendees are arriving TODAY, like it or not. So, like it or not Michelle, there's nothing we can do.

MICHELLE - Well either way, I need you to go into work and help Rob do damage control, though I haven't the foggiest clue how.

BRAD (Admitting this on a wing and a prayer) - Well I was kind of hoping you'd give me the day off.

MICHELLE (Floored & shocked at what she just heard) - Brad....Have you not been listening???

She begins fumbling for words before continuing

MICHELLE (Continuing, but still reeling from the bombshell Brad just dropped on her and in a panicky state of mind) - No....No.....No. No way Brad. I can't give you the day off. I've got 1200 people coming to the hotel for a convention which is already turning into a disaster. No...I'm sorry Brad.

BRAD (Resigned to the fact that he won't be getting the day off) - Okay...Okay. No need to have a cow over the matter.

MICHELLE (Apologetic) - I'm sorry Brad. Didn't mean to take it all out on you. But I am about to have a cow over the customized plates matter though. I mean HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY SCREW UP THE ORDER LIKE THAT??

Brad shrugs his shoulders. Meanwhile Stacy walks in wondering what could possibly be going on

STACY - What's going on here guys?

MICHELLE - It's nothin'. Just work stuff. Just got a bombshell dropped on me. By the way Brad, what you doing here?

BRAD - Spent the night here

Brad & Stacy wink and look at each other as Stacy pours the coffee for everyone..

SCENE SEVEN - John & Martha's Car

John, Martha & Trish are back in the Cedarville Metropolitan Area. As we pick up the scene, Trish is sleeping while John & Martha argue over where to drop her off.

MARTHA (Trying to be as quiet as possible so as to not wake Trish up) - John, she belongs in the hospital

JOHN (Also trying to be as quitet as possible so as to not wake Trish up, but is also tired of his wife driving him crazy as well) - Martha, she said she wants to go home

MARTHA - Well we don't know where that is so why don't we just drop her off at the hospital and let her get her own ride from there.

JOHN - Well why don't you just simply wake her and find out?

MARTHA (Stunned & shocked he would even make such a suggestion) - JOHN....

JOHN (Finally giving in to Martha in the hopes it'll shut her up) - Alright....Alright. We'll take her to the hospital. But if I catch heat for it from the ER staff, you won't hear the end of it.

Martha shakes her head. Meanwhile, a few minutes later, Cedarville Memorial Hospital is seen off in the distance. A few minutes after that, John pulls off the highway and heads for the ER area of the hospital and pulls in. Almost immediately, one of the ER staff members comes out with a stretcher.

JOHN (To the ER staff member) - We really don't need a stretcher. A wheelchair will suffice.

The staff member heads back in with the stretcher and returns with a wheelchair instead. John, Martha and the ER staff member all help a groggy Trish Martin transfer from the car to the wheelchair. They then escort her into the hospital.

EMT #1 (To John, jokingly) - What'd you manage to drag in this time John?

Other staff members chuckle at the joke. Meanwhile one of the female staff members visually examined

FEMALE EMT #1 (Forming an opinion of their new patient) - Ohh my god. This woman has been violated in every imaginable way possible.

One of the male EMT's takes a closer look at Trish and realizes the seriousness of the situation. As such, he to take the initiative to lead the charge of caring for Trish.

EMT #1 (Now barking out orders & taking charge) - Alright, let's get her on a stretcher and put her in an exam room. Which one is available.

FEMALE EMT #2 - Exam 5.

John & the hospital staff help Trish make the transition from the wheelchair to a waiting stretcher

EMT #1 (Continuing to bark out orders as he continues to take charge) - Alright, let's put her in Exam 5. (Pointing to an ER nurse) - You....Get a rape kit. We'll need one just in case. And get a photographer too while you're at it. The nurse acknowledges the request (Pointing to another ER nurse) - You....Call the police. Tell them we have a female assault victim. Possible rape. The nurse acknowledges the request. John....We're gonna need a statement from you and your wife.

JOHN - Don't worry, you'll have it.

John begins to feel guilty over the things he said about her without closely examining her while in the field

JOHN - My god....What that woman must be going through.

Meanwhile Trish begins to snap out of her sleepy state

TRISH (Confused) - Where am I? Where am I

FEMALE EMT #1 - You're in the hospital, Ma'am. What's your name? Can you tell me your name?

Trish gives the EMT her first name, but does so with great difficulty, which is brought by the shame and guilt she has for what happened to her.

FEMALE EMT #1 - Okay Trish, what's your last name? Can you tell me your last name?

Trish also manages to give the EMT her last name as well, but does so with great difficulty, which is brought by the shame and guilt she has for what happened to her.

FEMALE EMT #1 - Okay Ms. Martin, we're gonna take care of you, okay?

EMT #2 - Yes, we'll take good care of you.

The staff prepare and equip the room to treat Trish for any and all injuries she may have sustained. Meanwhile, one of the staff members speaks with John & his wife to find out what they know, which of course is nothing. The police have been called and a rape kit arrives from the lab

EMT #2 - Think we'll need it?

EMT #1 - I hope not. But just to cover all the bases, it's better that we do.

Suddenly Trish begins to scream out when she notices one of the male EMT's looking between her legs and poking around with his gloved fingers

TRISH (Screaming) - GET THEM OUT OF ME.....GET THEM OUT OF ME.....GET THEM OUT OF ME!!! Ohh god......

The male EMT jumps back and removes his fingers fearing that she was referring to his fingers, but Trish repeats the screams, which leads the staff to thinking she's referring to something else, but they can't figure out what. Meanwhile Trish just lays in the stretcher with her legs closed and crying

TRISH (Crying) - Ohh god. It's so awful.....

Staff members are now perplexed as to what she's talking about. As the scene closes, our virtual camera shows Trish crying as she lays in the stretcher with her legs still closed as the camera fades to black.

On The NEXT Edition Of AGAINST THE STORM

* The Al Faheeds are targets of more trouble. Could this be the thing they need to sit down with Stephanie?

* Stephanie complains of a series of morning sickness cases to her doctor. Could she be? Naah...Couldn't be. Could it?

* Cassandra gets word on her case from Stanley. Could she be headed for court?

* Michelle gets a surprise visitor to her hotel, but will it be a pleasant one?

All this & more on the NEXT edition of AGAINST THE STORM
CUE ATS Standard Close (Windows Media Link)

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DISCUSS THIS EPISODE ON THE NEW ATS MESSAGE BOARD

Episode 24 - Trish's Nightmarish Ordeal Continues

Due to extreme violence, adult language & graphic descriptions in and of some scenes and/or scene segments which may be offensive or sensitive for some some readers, Reader Discretion is advised.

SCENE ONE - Mr. Gamble's Grocery Store

At the end of the last episode, we saw Detectives David & Marcie Grant leaving the scene outside the Al Faheed residence for a robbery. As we all know, that robbery was at Mr. Gamble's Grocery Store, a small ma-and-pa style neighborhood corner convience store. As we pick up the scene, David & Marcie have just arrived and are beginning to get an assessment of what apparently went down

DAVID (To one of the many patrol officers on scene) - What have we got?

PATROL OFFICER (Responding to David's question) - Another robbery.

MARCIE - What'd they take this time?

PATROL OFFICER - Just about everything. Cleaned out the safe too. Though it looked like they were in a bit of a rush to do that.

DAVID - Ohh? How's that?

PATROL OFFICER - Left a few dollar bills behind on the floor. Looks like they just grabbed what they could and left.

MARCIE - Any idea who might have done this?

PATROL OFFICER - Not by name no. But they left a nice little surprise for you in the VCR in back. We decided to leave it as it was till you got here.

The patrol officer looks behind him and up at the video camera

MARCIE - I'll go check it out.

DAVID (To Marcie) - Alright. Marcie spots Mr. Gamble's body on the floor. Who's the stiff?

PATROL OFFICER - We think the stiff's the owner.

DAVID - Any witnesses?

PATROL OFFICER - Not a soul.

DAVID (Rolling his eyes nonchalantly) - Of course not. Why doesn't that surprise me?

MARCIE (Calling out to his partner and wife) - David

DAVID (In response) - Comin'

David races to where Marcie is in a back room where the security camera equipment is

MARCIE - There's something I think you should see - Sitting down.

DAVID - Sweetie, if there's something I should see, I'll see it standing up. Thank you very much.

MARCIE - Alright, but consider yourself warned.

DAVID (Thinking that Marcie is acting rather peculiar and gives her a look that shows his suspicion) - Warned? About what?

Marcie shows portions of the tape of Trish before the robbery and during the robbery through the time which Trish and the robbers are seen leaving the store. David looks on in shock and total disbelief

CUE ATS STANDARD OPEN (Windows Media Player Link)

DAVID (In a state of shock and denial) - No. That is not Trish. That couldn't possibly be my sister.

MARCIE (Being honest) - David, the camera doesn't lie. You know that.

DAVID - That has to be somebody else who just looks like her. You know she's incapable of taking part in a robbery.

MARCIE (Thinking that David just accused Marcie of accusing Trish of taking part in a robbery and in a half-whisper to avoid attracting attention) - I'm not saying she did take part.

DAVID - You think she was somehow kidnapped?

MARCIE - Would seem that way.

DAVID - Well.....Somebody had to have seen or heard something.

MARCIE - Yeah, well you know this neighborhood. People tend to stick to themselves.

DAVID - Yeah. That's the problem.

A patrol officer enters

PATROL OFFICER (To David & Marcie) - Excuse me. Captain's here.

DAVID (Rolling his eyes, knowing he's gonna have to find a way to explain to him that the lone witness is his sister, who is undoubtedly with the robbers-turned-murderers against her will) - Ohh brother.

Marcie stops the VCR containing the tape, gabs the tape, shuts off the machine and exits. David follows suit.

SCENE TWO - The Getaway Van

When we left our last episode, the driver of the getaway van and Rapist #1 (who also shot & killed Mr. Gamble back at the robbery scene) had switched places, with the driver now in back and Rapist #1 now behind the wheel. As we pick up the action in this scene, they are driving further and further down the Interstate and Rapist #2 and the getaway driver, who in essence has become Rapist #3, continue to have their idea of fun with Trish, obviously at her expense and disliking as heavy metal music rocks on in the background and Trish continues to whine, moan, wince and silently cry and beg for mercy while Rapist #2 bangs away with his massive manhood buried deep in her vagina and Rapist #3 continues to hold Trish by a large clump of hair as he calls her names and forces her to suck on his manhood

RAPIST #3 (To Trish) - Take that down your throat you fuckin' street whore.

RAPIST #2 (To Trish) - You love it this way, dontcha bitch?

RAPIST #3 (To Rapist #2 as he looks down at Trish's head with his massive manhood stuffed in her mouth) - Hell yeah she does. She loves gangbangs. All street whores love 'em.

RAPIST #2 - Well I think it's high time someone make a mommy out of this bitch.

RAPIST #3 (Sensing his buddy is about ready to ejaculate inside of Trish) - Ya gotta do it?

RAPIST #2 (Breathing heavy) - Yeah. I gotta DO this bitch.

RAPIST #3 (Laughing) - Do it man. Let's get this bitch pregnant.

Rapist #1 laughs knowing what his buddy in the back is feeling having just done it to Trish himself as he admires his other buddy's imagination and as he continues to drive the van down the road.

Meanwhile, Rapist #2 puts Trish in various positions, fucking her all the while. Trish reists to some extent, but each time she resists, she is physically assaulted in some way that quashes any further resistance. As the distance from Cedarville and hours both contunie to add up, both Rapist #2 and Rapist #3 each have their way with Trish. First with Rapist #2 finishing off what he started, then Rapist #3 (formerly just the getaway driver) takes his turn. All the while, Trish continues to resist, whine, moan, whince, silently cry and beg for mercy while the two men humiliate, batter, physically & verbally asault Trish in every conceivable fashion, sometimes with their genitals inside of her. It is as if they were rocking on with the music playing in the background. All of this is happening as they eventually cross the state line and Rapist #1 sort of looks on with pleasure as he drives down the road

SCENE THREE - Channel 4 Studios

It's now shortly after 11:00 PM and the station is on the air with its 11:00 PM newscast. Stan Morrisey & Lydia Johnson are the anchors. As we pick up the scene, they are about to mention the incident at the Al Faheed residence and use it as a lead-in to a series which Channel 4 Action News Investigative Reporter Stephanie Blanton has been working on - Legal Muslim-American citizens & how they are treated in this country.

LYDIA (The anchorwoman reading from the TelePrompter) - A sizable group of hecklers gathered in front of the home of a Cedarville family earlier tonight who are legal immigrants to the US. (Video from the incident starts to roll and is broadcast to viewers of the newscast) The racous was so large and intense that the Cedarville PD had to call the riot squad to bring things under control. It also also got the attention of City Councilwoman Lisa Gordon, who lives in the area.

COUNCILWOMAN GORDON (In an on-camera interview addressing her constituents, and utlimately all of Cedarville) - This is an outrage. This is UMAERICAN. I ask my consituents...How would YOU like it if they did the same thing TO YOU? You wouldn't like it too well, would you? Well, how do you think (Pointing at the front door of the Al Faheed residence) these people feel?

LYDIA (Continuing) - Police report over 50 arrests were made in the incident despite pleas to get the crowd to disperse.

STAN (The anchorman also reading from the TelePrompter) - And that leads us to a Channel 4 Action News Investigative Report on just how legal immigrants, particularly muslims and mexicans, are being treated in this country. Channel 4 Action News Investigative Reporter Stephanie Blanton now joins us in the studio and Stephanie, some of the stuff you've uncovered is pretty shocking.

STEPHANIE (To Stan & Lydia) - It is pretty shocking indeed Stan & Lydia (Now facing the camera as she continues) - Picture yourself in this situation. You're a minority. A Mexican or a Muslim. You've gone through all the hassle and filed all the paperwork and followed all the steps you need to in order to become a legal immigrant to the U.S. Now what? You find a place to live. Find some work or maybe even open up a business. You're paying taxes. You don't break any laws. You're proud of what you're doing and what you've accomplished. Then someone comes along and ruins everything. Unfortunately, in this highly charged political climate, this is the life legal immigrants have to face each and every day. But as you're no doubt aware, there's been a rash of hate crimes in the city against legal immigrants, particularly muslims, lately. One city leader says she plans to do something about it. We decided to go further. We decided to dig up some statistics. And suffice to say, it's pretty shocking.

The scene now shifts to Clarita's Fancy Furniture store, which was hit earlier by vandalism. Stephanie and her crew were there outside while police were inside investigating

STEPHANIE (Now on videotape from the furniture shop and slowly walking back towards the cameraman) - This is Clarita's Fancy Furniture. It is owned by this woman (See picture above) As you can see, it was hit by vandals. It is just one of many cases like this which are still currently unsolved and buried in the vaults of the Cedarville Police Department.

CEDARVILLE PD PIO (In an interview from the furniture shop) - It's a sad thing for us to admit, but Cedarville is one of the leaders in the country when it comes to hate crimes. It's unfortunate, but it's true.

STEPHANIE (Facing the camera and still at the furniture store) - And that, says one city leader, is a statistic, that must change.

COUNCILWOMAN GORDON (In a taped on-camera interview from the furniture shop) - Why true American citizens don't have respect and consideration for legal, tax-paying immigrants just.....eh....Boggles the mind.

STEPHANIE (Now seen back in the studio on live TV and facing the camera) - Now, we should add that Cedarville's statistics are currently WAY higher than the national average. In fact, hate crimes nationally have been on a decline over the past few years (Adobe Acrobat PDF Version Here) but Cedarville, for whatever reason, is lagging in that area. The U.S. Attorney General's office here in Cedarville told me this afternnon that this is a trend they want very much to change. (Now facing Stan & Lydia as the camera pans out) - Now tommorrow Stan & Lydia, we hope to be talking to this Muslim family in order to get a feel for what it's like to be a Muslim legal immigrant living in the United States and the challenges they face.

STAN (Facing Stephanie) - Alright. Sounds like an interesting follow-up. We look forward to it. Thanks Stephanie.

STEPHANIE - You bet.

The station's news music begins to play in the background as the camera now squares in on Stan & Lydia)

LYDIA (Now facing the camera) - Coming up next on Channel 4 Action News at 11:00, Joe Weinstein has your weather forecast and it's shaping up to be rather interesting.

STAN (Also now facing the camera) - And Cliff Jorgensen has all the sports highlights. So stay with us. You're watching Channel 4 Action News at 11:00.

The news music plays as we switch to the next scene

SCENE FOUR - The FonDuLac Restaurant

It is now 2:00 AM and Maitre' D' Rob Warren is talking to Michael Carlotti at the bar as he & owner Michelle Monroe prepare to close for the night. Michael had been at the restaurant since about 7:15 PM waiting for Trish to arrive. Meanwhile, Rob tries to convince him that he'd been stood up

ROB (To Michael) - Man, It's 2:00 AM. Time to close up. Time for me to get on outta here.

MICHAEL (To Rob - Certain that here has to be some logical explaination for Trish not showing up and looking somewhat depressed) - Why don't you just go on home man.

ROB (Trying to be helpful by pointing out a fact) - Hey....You ain't the first guy who's been stood up around here. And you certainly won't be the last.

MICHAEL - I wasn't stood up. I just wished I knew where she was. She could at least call. There's gotta be a reason. But what?

ROB - You know what I think? I think she's probably at that comfy little loft the two of you currently have trying to come up with an explaination, but she simply can't.

MICHELLE (To Rob as she walks up to the bar) - Ready. (Now noticing Michael) - You're still here?

ROB (To Michelle) - He hasn't left since he got here.

MICHELLE (To Michael) - Well you're gonna have to leave now because we're leaving and, as you can tell, there's nobody else in the place.

MICHAEL (Noticing the time & obvious lack of people in the place) - Yeah, I guess I'm gonna have to now. Ohh well. See ya guys tomorrow.

Michael exits

ROB (To Michelle) - What do you suppose happened To Trish?

MICHELLE (In response) - Darned if I know.

ROB - It's not like her to stand up a date like that. Especially Michael.

MICHELLE - Well...As my mother would always say....Live & Let Live. C'mon, let's get outta here and have a date of our own - between the sheets (Raising her eyebrows).

Rob gets the hint and follows her out the door.

SCENE FIVE - Just Outside Mr. Gamble's Grocery Store

When we left Mr. Gamble's Grocery Store, David was convinced he saw Marcie sister Trish in the store surveillance tape & had told Marcie as much. Captain Rick Goldman arrived a few minutes later. As we pick up the scene now, the Cedarville PD is just wrapping up their investigation of this robbery/homicide

RICK (To the lab crew who showed up to gather scientific evidence) - Thanks a bunch guys.

David & Marcie now exit the store, which is being reinforced with more yellow tape. The closed sign is then displayed in the window

DAVID (To Rick) - Well that about wraps it up.

RICK (Looking at the scene as Mr. Gamble's body is loaded into the coroner's wagon) - I want these bastards.

MARCIE - Well, if there's nothing else, I think it's time we get out of here.

Knowing there's nothing they can do at the scene till they go home and get some sleep, David & Marcie try to leave, but Rick stops them.

RICK (To David & Marcie) - Hold on a minute. I've been noticing something between the two of you.

MARCIE (To Rick - Curiously) - What could that be?

RICK - The two of you seem to be rather 'tense' throughout this whole investigation. Would one of you care to tell me why?

Realizing they can't hide it forever and she may have been caught trying to hide it, Marcie makes a confession

MARCIE (To Rick - Reluctantly & much to David's chagrin, who follows her, knowing what she's about to show Rick) - Follow me.

David, Marcie & Rick all head back inside the store to the back room where the surveillance equipment is. David activates a monitor, pops in the tape, queues it up to where he thinks Trish is seen just before the robbery and lets it play till Trish and robbers/murderers leave the store

MARCIE - The woman in the tape is David's sister.

RICK (Realizing what must be done) - Ohh brother. We'd better get hard copies of every face on that tape except the corpse and put out an APB for them. I'm afraid this includes the girl.

MARCIE (To Rick) - Given the timeline, they could be well across the state.

RICK - Which is why it'll be inter-agency. If they're anywhere in America, they'll be found. That leads me to this. Before we go expeinding all kinds of resources looking for your sister, I need to know one thing. Is there any chance at all that....

DAVID (Adamantly interrupting Rick) - ....NO. She's not that kind of person.

RICK (Feeling reassured about the woman in the video, whom we know is Trish) - Alright. That leads me to this. And neither of you are going to like it. As of this moment, I have no choice but to take the two of you off the case.

DAVID (Begging and in near shock) - But Captain....We can handle this.

RICK (Adamant) - No. It's done David. You're off the case.

David & Rick continue the diatribe. David insisting that he and Marcie can still handle the case and Rick insisting that he has no alternative but to take them off the case

DAVID (Really begging) - Captain, I can assure you we won't do anything to embarrass the department. We want these bastards just as much as you do. Just give us a chance.

RICK (With the strongest authority he can dish out) - No Detective. It's done. You're both off the case. Besides if I let the two of you handle this case now, I'd have everyone from IA to the mayor's office clamouring down my back. I'm sorry Detective. But you know the regs as well as I do. You're personally involved. Now go home and get some sleep so you can report to work tomorrow and work on your other cases. That's an order Detectives.

Rick storms out, taking the tape with him.

DAVID (Mainly to himself in disgust after Rick leaves) - Like hell we're off this case.

MARCIE (To David) - Honey, he's right. We can't handle this case. Not now

DAVID - I wanna solve this - For Trish. I'm gonna get these bastards.

MARCIE - Fine then, but if you insist on being the arresting officer of record and breaking the rules in the process, the least I can do is supply the handcuffs.

Marcie dangles her handcuffs in front of David in sarcasm

DAVID - As far as the paperwork goes, you'll be the arresting officer of record. I just wanna be there.

MARCIE (Shaking her head) - Whatever. Let's just get the fuck out of here and go home.

David attempts to grab the tape, but doesn't realize that Rick took off with it until he opens the VCR door

DAVID (In disgust) - Fuck. He's got the tape.

MARCIE - Well that really shouldn't be a surprise. Remember, we are off the case. Now let's just get out of here, go home and clear our heads. There's nothing we can do now but wait.

DAVID (Feeling desperate and wanting to do something - anything to find and, if need be, help Trish) - That's just it. I can't just go home and wait. I should be out there looking for her.

MARCIE - David, you heard the Captain. He's gonna have every cop in the country looking for her. EVERY BADGE. Now, let's just go home, get to bed and get some sleep so that we can go back to work tomorrow with clearer heads. Besides, we don't even know where she is, let alone where to start looking. Now, I'm going home. If you aren't coming with me, I'll meet you there - in bed sleeping.

DAVID - That's easy for you to do. You don't have a sister out there, most likely out in the middle of nowhere and probably fighting for her life.

MARCIE - No I don't. But I have a sister-in-law who is. Now, let's just go home. Okay?

DAVID (Feeling like he should be doing something other than going home) - Whatever.

Marcie walks up to comfort David as they leave together.

SCENE SIX - The back of the getaway van

When we last left Trish and her rapists, Rapists #2 and #3 were busy having their way with her. As we pick up the scene now, the van is pulled over to the side of a quiet road and the three rapists and Trish are all in the back. With everything quiet in the van and her attackers all asleep, Trish sees this as an opportunity to try to escape. She attempts to gather what little torn clothing she can and puts what is wearable back on. The rest of it, she just simply grabs and puts over her body. She is making noises all the while, which eventually gets the attention of one of her attackers.

RAPIST #3 (Reaching out to Trish, who had just begun to open the back door) - Hey babe. Where the fuck do you think you're goin'? You're so fuckin' easy. Kiss me bitch.

Rapist #3 forces his face into hers and his tounge into her mouth as he kisses Trish on the lips. Trish responds by slapping his face and spitting in it.

RAPIST #3 (As he slaps Trish in the face) - FUCKIN' BITCH.

RAPIST #1 (To Rapist #3) - What the fuck are you doin' to her man?

RAPIST #3 (In response) - This fuckin' bitch slapped me in the face and spit at me. (To Trish) - FUCKIN' WHORE.

RAPIST #1 (To Rapist #1) - So fuckin' what. Get over it. (To Trish) - Come here baby. You need your beauty sleep. Come lay down next to me.

Just to avoid being assaulted again, she complies. But over an hour later, she tries again to escape, again making noises that would awaken her attackers, but this time neither of them seem to notice it. Trish opens the back door of the van again. But this time, she gets out. Still dazed and confused from all the beating she took, she begins her walk to freedom. With nothing for footwear and very little for clothing, she slowly makes her way back in the direction of where the van had been, assuming that is the way home. As inches turn to feet, feet turn to miles, minutes become hours and as the sun begins to rise in the horizon behind her, Trish every so often squats down to the ground, trying to squirt out as much of the sperm her attackers dumped inside of her as she can. When she eventually realizes the amount of sperm there may be inside of her and the depths in which it may be located, she begins to fear that one of them may have dumped enough inside of her to get her pregnant. This fear is ultimately confirmed when she starts to feel sperm inside of her that just won't come out.

TRISH (Now beginning to cry) - No. Please god no. I can't be. I just can't be It's so wrong.

Our virtual camera pans out to an aerial shot of the area, with Trish being little more than a tiny speck alongside a road as her cry echoes out

TRISH (Now yelling) - NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Her cry is heard for miles as the area she is in is like a desert, only not as cold at night nor as hot during the day. Plus, she's at the side of the only road in the area.

On The NEXT Edition Of AGAINST THE STORM

* Trish is found and taken to the hospital. How will Michael react when he learns what happened to her? How will her brother David react?

* The Al Faheeds are targets of more trouble. Could this be the thing they need to sit down with Stephanie?

* Stephanie complains of a series of morning sickness cases to her doctor. Could she be? Naah...Couldn't be. Could it?

* Cassandra gets word on her case from Stanley. Could she be headed for court?

All this AND MORE On The NEXT Edition Of AGAINST THE STORM

Cue slow guitar instrumental version of Standard ATS Close

As the music plays and credits roll, we see Trish via an aerial shot continuing to make her way down the road toward what she thinks is home. We also see Michael all alone in the apartment he and Trish share and David at home laying in bed awake while Marcie sleeps and thinking how he should really be out there looking for Trish. These scenes rotate in alternating fashion until fade out.