Episode 9
by Mylene Savard
LAD World
[Recap: Holly Colby visited her niece and was offered a TV station by Adam. Tad refused a date offer from Belinda who guessed that he`s really in love with Liza. The bank is breathing down Liza`s neck. Liza is 3 days overdue and getting nervous.]
Episode 9: The show of shows
The Cutting Edge studio.
Liza is taking notes while the crew is busy getting ready for the show. Liza suddenly drops her pen and grabs the coffee table in front of her, her face in great pain. The pain stops just as fast as Liza breathes easier again.
Rudy: Liza? (Liza surprised) Your pen? You dropped your pen. (Rudy hands her the pen)
Liza: Right. Thank you, Rudy. (Rudy runs off. Liza takes her belly) Come on, sweetie, just hold on for two hours, just more two hours.
Tad enters the studio with his guests.
Tad: Liza! Hi! (as Tad gets closer to Liza he notes her pale face) Are you all right?
L: Never better. (to one of the guests) Hello, I`m Liza Colby.
T: I`m sorry, Liza, this is Vicki Lord-Carpenter, from Llanview. Mrs Carpenter, this is my boss and owner of this station, Liza Colby.
Vicki: Nice to meet you.
L: Likewise.
T: And of course, you know Janet.
L: (shakes her hand) Janet, Hi! I`m so glad that you accepted to do this show. It`s an important show. It will show that mental illness can be cured.
Vicki: Well, I was a little hesitant at first. But your host, here, is very persuasive. I couldn`t say no. And he came with a very good recommendation from my oldest son, Kevin.
L: Yes, Tad can be very convincing.
Rudy interrupts.
Rudy: I`m sorry, but we have to get the guests to make up right away.
T: Yes, thank you Rudy. (Rudy takes Janet and Vicki away) Are you sure you`re OK? You look a little pale.
L: I`m fine. Now, about today`s show....
T: Forget it! I already read your memo and I am not going to ask them those questions about their killings!
L: And why the hell not?
T: Because.... Because it would be like ambushing them.
L: It`s not like it`s not already on public record.
T: Maybe, but I told them that the show is about recovery. Not their crimes!
L: Their crimes is background information. The audience wants those questions answer. They`re expecting it. And we can`t disappoint!
T: Why are you so gun-ho about this?
L: Look, for a month now, I`ve been receiving phone calls from a very nervous bank manager who wants to know where the next payment is going to come from now that my last name isn`t Chandler anymore. Rosen wants to see numbers, big numbers. He doesn`t care if it`s sweeps or not!
T: It`s getting that serious?
L: I don`t know, it`s just....
Rudy interrupts: Tad, you`re next in make up.
T (to Liza): Fine, I`ll do this: but I won`t get into this right away, just to make sure that they don`t walk out on me at the very beginning of the show.
L: Fine.
Tad walks away with Rudy and Liza has another small contraction, trying to be as discreet as possible, she holds on to her chair, breathing hard.
L: (to the baby) Don`t do this to me, all right? Hold on. What time is it? (pause, she looks at her watch) They`re 20 minutes apart. We`ll be all right. Sweetheart, I just need 90 minutes, OK?
Later: The Cutting Edge show has started and Tad is interviewing his guests, Liza is watching the monitor in the studio after being helped to her chair by Rudy.
Tad: Now, Mrs Carpenter, there were grave consequences to multiple personalities disorder, were there not? (long pause, Vicki is stunned by the question)
A loud scream suddenly breaks off the heavy silence as everyone`s eyes turn to Liza. Tad runs off to her immediately. The cameras follow him.
Tad (rushing to Liza) Liza!!!! Rudy, call an ambulance! Liza?? Is it the baby? (Liza nods, breathing hard)
Tad takes Liza to the stage`s floor.
Tad: Janet, can you hand me that cushion? (Janet does) Thank you. Rudy, turn off those cameras, go to a PA or something.
L: NO! Keep rolling.
T: Liza!
L: If it was anyone else, do you really think I would turn off the cameras?
T (sighs): Honey, are you sure about this? (Liza nods yes - Tad pauses and smiles) All right people, you heard the boss! Keep rolling and let`s make a great video for baby Coco to see when she`s older. Rudy, where`s that ambulance???
Rudy (on the phone): It`s coming.
Liza: I don`t think, it`ll be here on time, Tad (Liza screams and doubles up in pain from another contraction).
T: Remember the class, Liza, OK? Just breathe: hee-hee-hee (Liza follows his lead) Good, good!
L: I need to push. Tad, the baby...(another contraction)
Janet: Can we do something?
T: (trying to read Liza`s eyes) Looks like little Coco wants to make her entrance right now, eh? (Liza nods) OK, lets get into cliches: I need boiled water, clean towels and something sterilized to cut the cord. And Rudy, get in touch with Dr Cladder or any doctor will do at PVH. Put him on the air, all right?
People move around, to get what`s needed. Tad moves closer to Liza`s face and caresses her forehead.
T (whispering): I think we got ourselves a true Colby, here. The kid is going to pull a 50 share on her very first show. All we got to do is stay calm, OK? You`ll do just fine, OK? Trust me.
Liza nods and reacts to another contraction. She starts to push as Tad takes position to receive the child.
T: PUSH! (Liza screams) ...I can see a head.
Rudy (over the megaphone): Tad, Dr Cladder is on.
T: Dr Cladder, hi... looks like we`re having a baby here, can you see us?
Dr Cladder: Where are we at?
T: I can see a head, Doctor. (to Liza with a smile and tears in his eyes) It`s blonde.
Dr Cladder: Good, things are normal. Just make sure on the next push that the shoulders are in the right position. Once the shoulders are out, the baby will come easily with your help. Do watch for the umbilical cord so it is not around the neck.
Liza: It`s coming! (she screams, pushing)
A long silence fills the room.
Liza: Tad?????
Suddenly the silence is broken by a very high pitched scream, the baby`s.
Tad: Look at you! My God, look at you!
Liza: Is everything all right? Is she all right?
Tad: Everything is just fine, Liza. The baby is just beautiful.
Dr Cladder: Tad cut the umbilical cord. First, make a knot. And then, cut the cord.
Tad: I got it!
Tad very gently takes the baby, wraps it in a towel, kisses it and moves closer to Liza.
T (all teary, putting the baby in her arms): Liza Colby, meet your son. Coco, this is your mom.
L (confused): What???
T: It`s a boy. (The studio breaks out in applause)
L: A boy? It can`t be. Are you sure?
T: And oh! yeah! I`m pretty good about these things. (Tad laughs, kissing her on the cheek)
Rudy (comes into the studio): Right here!
The medics find their way into the studio and takes over the procedure.
Liza (cuddles the baby, crying softly): Hi! Hey, so you`re the one who`s been rumbling around? My boy. (Tad slowly wipes the sweat off her forehead and kisses it) We did it! Tad, we did it!
T: You did it. That was beautiful, honey! (to the baby) Hey you, cow-boy, you were in a hurry! Weren`t you? Great entrance, kiddo.
The medics takes Liza and the baby on the stretcher and rolls her away with Tad holding her hand.
Rudy: And cut to commercial.
End of part 9 -- --Millie AMC: LCAS - BABE - T&Lover - SPERM - NoHo! - FAC Chef Larry GL: FGC Tangie Hill - Rolly