Chapters 22, 23, 24
Chapter 22
LAD World
[Recap: Holly Colby-Thorpe took over Liza`s TV station. Liza now works at Tempo. Tad was ordered by Holly to find out about Ray Gardner`s past and came back devastated. He also came back to find Liza and Edmund on a date and got drunk to drown his sorrows. Liza brought him home.]
(Ed. Note: for those who never watched GL, you can find a picture of Roger and Holly at: http://www.america.net/~gwp/mzexpo/pic5.jpg - Rolly is my second favorite soap couple, it`s a lost cause, unfortunately)
Episode 22: A chip off the old block.
Chicago - Tad is sitting in a bar, nursing a vodka on the rock. For a minute, his thoughts go back to Liza: the two of them face to face under her kitchen sink; in front of her house before they were interrupted by Marian; sitting in the staircase of his house as they were about to kiss. A man sits right next to Tad. In his 50`s, he has salt and pepper hair and bushy eyebrows.
Man: How`s the weather in Pine Valley these days?
Tad is startled and almost spills his drink.
Man: I`m sorry. I didn`t mean to....
Tad: No, please, I was lost, daydreaming....
Man: Dreams are good. I`m Roger Thorpe. (he offers his hand to shake)
Tad: Tad Martin. (he shakes his hand)
Roger: I know, I saw you on The Cutting Edge: once or twice. My stations are paying big money to broadcast your show.
Tad: It`s nice to finally meet you, Mr Thorpe.
Roger: Call me Roger, please.
Tad: You`re a hard man to reach, Roger.
Roger: Yes, I`m sorry about that. South East Asia can be murder on one`s communication links. What can I do for you?
Tad: Can I offer you a drink?
Roger: Thank you. (to the bartender) Scotch. Straight up. ... So how is ol` Pine Valley? You know I was born there. On Front street.
Tad: It`s changed since then.
Roger: How`s Liza? (trying to appear nonchalant)
Tad: Liza is doing okay.
Roger: And busy, no doubt. The last time I saw her, it was live, on The Cutting Edge and you were helping her give birth to her little boy!! My (he hesitates) grand... nephew. That was quite a coup. How is little Lawrence Martin Colby?
Tad: Marty is wonderful. He looks very much like his mother. I think they have the same temper too: very determined. And stubborn. And very smart.
Roger: What about Chandler? Is he giving Liza any more trouble?
Tad: Not where Marty is concerned. Your ex-wife on the other hand....
Roger: Holly is... (a look of regret comes to his face) something else, I guess (he smiles sadly) but I`m not going to bore you with my marriage misadventures. You didn`t come here for the gossip, did you?
Tad: No, you`re right. I have business to discuss.
Roger: Oh? Something in television? (Tad nods yes) Why don`t we go to my office??
CUT Back to Pine Valley - Liza`s office.
Liza looks tired, her head resting in her hands, staring into a pile of papers sitting on her desk. Her thoughts are elsewhere, daydreaming with Tad: under the kitchen sink, on the dance floor at Jacob`s dancing at the end of her shower party, in his staircase about to kiss the day before. Suddenly, she sees Dr Joe passing by, leaving Brooke`s office. Liza gets up fast to run after him.
Liza: Dr Martin!!!!
Joe: Liza? I forgot you work here now! How are you?
Liza: I`m fine, thank you. I`m glad to see you. Would you mind if we talk a little? It`s about Tad....
Joe: (going into her office) Oh? Is anything wrong?
Liza: (offering Joe a seat) When did you last speak to Tad?
Joe: A few days ago, maybe. He was still in Oklahoma.
Liza: Did he sound upset?
Joe: Stressed, maybe. Why? What happened?
Liza: He came back home the night before.
Joe: I thought, today....
Liza: I thought so too. You see, I found him the night before in the Valley Inn bar. Drunk. And very upset.
Joe: That`s not like Tad to....
Liza: I know.
Joe: It was about Ray Gardner. Wasn`t it?
Liza: His research in Oklahoma was very successful. He found this boyhood friend of Ray`s. A man called Thaddeus Simpson.
Joe: Simpson? Never heard of him....
Liza: Well, it seems that Ray was one ordinary little boy who used to get beat up every day by *his* father.
Joe: I`m not really surprised by this. It`s fairly common in child abusers, patterns do repeat themselves.
Liza: Well, that knocked Tad off his feet. Especially after he discovered this very old picture of Ray as a little boy. Ray looked very much like Jamie.
Joe: Oh dear. No wonder he was upset.
Liza: I just thought you should know.
Joe: Thank you, Liza, you`re a good friend... You know I always thought of Tad as my son. I couldn`t love him anymore if he were mine, biologically. But Tad never thought of himself as my son. He never thought he was good enough. Especially after he made mistakes. He thinks of me as his father but of himself as Ray`s son. And he hates that man so much that it makes it easy to hate himself.
Liza: I guess he saw Ray in a different light.
Joe: Could be. That`s the thing about fathers, Liza: any man can become one, the trick is to *be* one.
Marian knocks at Liza`s door.
Marian: Liza, darling, ready to go home? (she finally sees Joe) Joe? Hello.
Joe: Hello Marian. Well I have to go, Liza, thank you for the tip. (Joe leaves)
Marian: Good Bye Joe. Well, what was that all about?
Liza: Nothing, just.... nothing that concern you, mother.
Marian: It`s about Tad, isn`t it darling?
Liza: (changing the subject) Mother, I thought you wanted to go home.
Marian: Why do I get the very eerie feeling that you`re falling back in love with him again?
Liza: (annoyed, Marian could always read her too well) That`s because you`re losing your mind. Again!!!
Marian: Oh please, Liza don`t you try to hide it! I`m right!
Liza: Mother, I`m not going to re-run all those silly arguments we`ve had years ago about Tad.
Marian: I was right then too, you know. And I am right now. Darling, have you lost your mind?? Tad Martin may have been a good friend to you. But you and I know that being involved with that man is hopeless.
Liza: Drop it, mother, there`s nothing to discuss. Your theory is all wrong.
Marian: Where is he anyway? He hasn`t been around in weeks. Or has he started to sleep with Holly already?
Liza looks tired and annoyed.
CUT back to Chicago, Roger Thorpe`s office.
Roger: Well, it`s certainly an interesting offer, Tad.
Tad: It`s not bad, if I do say so myself.
Roger: I like your confidence. Which is why I`m giving you my official Okay. As long as Liza is in on this deal. One condition tho: no one should know about my involvement in this venture. Certain people may not be happy about our little partnership.
Tad: I understand. I don`t think Liza would have a problem with this condition.
Roger: I`m sure you`re going to be very convincing. Now let me get legal on this. I`ll be right back. Please, make yourself at home. Roger gets out of his office. Tad decides to take a little walk in Roger`s office to take a peek at his view. As he heads for the window, Tad accidentally knocks over a cigar box on Roger`s desk.
Tad: Oh damn!!!
Tad gets on his knees to pick up its content, but is surprised to find pictures in the box. Pictures of Liza as a little girl, with a new bike, or at Xmas opening gifts, Liza at her high school graduation, etc. Tad also finds this very old letter in Marian`s hand writing.
Tad: 1965??? (reading) ``Dearest Roger, I`m so very happy to announce to you the birth of a daughter into our little family. Liza is one happy little girl with her father`s smile. Seeing her and Larry together made me realized that I have made the right decision. The best decision for her. I can only hope that my mothering skills will get better in time. At the very least, you and I know that my little girl has a wonderful father. But I will keep my promise, Roger. Please in return, respect my wishes, for her happiness. All my love, Marian.``
Tad puts everything back in its box and gets up, and looks around Roger`s office, his eyes ends up on a picture of Liza and Roger at her college graduation, smiling.
Tad: What the hell???? Marian, what does this mean?
End of part 22
--
--Millie
Chapter 23
LAD World
[Recap: Liza works for Tempo with more or less enthousiasm. Tad decided to quit WRCW. Tad was devasted after finding out about Ray Gardner`s abused childhood and Liza comforted him. Tad went to Chicago and made a deal with Holly`s ex-husband, Liza`s uncle, Roger Thorpe. Tad found a box of pictures of Liza in Roger`s office]
Part 23: The merger
It`s a lovely May day in Pine Valley and Liza decided not to show up at work today: one of the perks of working at Tempo. She had her laptop with her and figured that she could accomplish just as much at home, with Marty. At Tempo, Brooke would show up every 15 minutes, *that* was very disturbing. Besides, if Liza had to hear to one more *Listen* from Brooke, she was going to scream. Now all she had to do is write a column on Ted Turner. So Liza was sitting in front of a blank screen with Marty on her lap, playing with him and teaching him the fine points of computer management.
Liza:... See these two keys are very important, to quit. There! (she pushes the keys) Finish! So you see, with your mother has a big headache with Mzzzzz English, she can always press those two buttons and *poof*. Brookie is gone! *Poof*
Marty who is more interested in tapping on the table gives the idea a big raspberrry.
Liza: Maybe you`re right. Any other ideas?? (she turns Marty around so he can stand on his two little legs on her lap, Marty responds by giving Liza a big smile, he likes this particular view). Gosh, you want to walk, don`t you Marty? You want to walk? (Marty shakes yes) Yes! Give it a couple of months, Martin, it will happen.
Marty: Ta! Ta!... (Marty looks straight at the door)
Tad is standing just outside the screen door, observing, a smile on his face. Liza turns around and sees him.
Liza: Ta?? Ta??? Eh? (to Tad with a smile) Hi! congratulations, you`re a first word.
Tad: (he enters the house) Happens to me all the time. Hi Marty!
Marty reaches out for Tad as Liza easily gives in to her son`s wishes. As Tad takes the boy he gives Liza a little kiss on the cheek. His touch feels warm to Liza. She couldn`t help but notice how natural this combo is. Marty on his part, decides to play with Tad`s tie.
Marty: (screaming) TA!
Tad: (giggling) Yes!
Liza: You`re back?!? Already.
Tad: Short business trip. (Tad sits on the couch with Marty) How`s my boy? (Liza follows him but decides at the last moment to sit on the chair next to the couch)
Liza: And how are you? (she wanted to sit next to him and give him a hug or something but restrains herself)
Tad: Much better. Thank you. My Ray Gardner neurosis is over. For now. (Marty forces Tad to stand him up) Geez, look at you, you`re growing up so fast!!! (to Liza) I came directly from the airport... well, except for a little stop at Belinda`s office.
Liza: So business was good.
Tad: Business was better. I went to Chicago.
Liza: Chicago? (feeling of panicky - Chicago???? Is he moving there???) What`s in Chicago? (trying to hide her worries)
Tad: (kisses Marty on his cheek and gets up to put his in his playpen) Roger Thorpe. You know since I gave my resignation notice to Holly, I had to think about doing something else, with my life, my work. I had a lot of time to do that in Oklahoma. And I came up with this plan. This idea. So I went to find financing in Chicago. (Tad watches Marty settle down and steps away towards the foyer).
Liza: Financing??? What are you talking about?
Tad: A production company. An independent TV production company. Something small, for now.
Liza: To do what?
Tad: Documentaries. Talk shows, what ever we want!
Liza: We?
Tad: My partners and I.
Liza: Roger?
Tad: And you.
Liza: Me???? Oh you must be kidding!
Tad: No! Liza, this is perfect. (Tad sits right next to Liza and takes her hand) We had this great partnership at WRCW, we make this great team. We can`t break this up. Why not give it another chance only on a smaller scale.
Liza: So you went to Roger? (Liza gets up to get some breathing room, his touch overwhelmed her)
Tad: I offered him a great idea. A great deal for him and for us. In return, we get some cash flow.
Liza: What`s the deal? (she stands behind him to give herself some distance, to give her some chance to think, clearly - sitting next to him was too much for her right now.)
Tad: (staying down on the couch) It`s a three way partnership. Roger gets 48 percent. We each get 26. But you and I get full creative power. Roger is your basic silent partner. Plus, I have this letter of intent from Roger stating that his 5 TV stations will buy any product we have to offer over the next 3 years. A letter that we can show to any bankers to get more financing.
Liza: This is all very interesting, Tad, but I already have a job!
Tad: That you hate.
Liza: I don`t hate it.. . I....
Tad: (getting up to her and interrupting) You loathe it! You wouldn`t be here if you didn`t hate it. I know you. You can`t stand just being an observer. You have to be in the game. You told me two days ago that you miss the action. I`m offering a way to get back into the action. Independently. With very little overhead. We could work here! Or at my house. We can rent what ever we need, hire who ever we need, whenever we need them.
Liza: (again she *escapes* Tad and walks around the living room, nervously) It`s risky.
Tad: So is crossing the street, I mean, so what? Since when is Liza Colby afraid of a little challenge??
Liza: What if we fail?
Tad: (feeling like he`s literally running after her) We get back on our feet, dust off and continue. Besides, failure??? The wonder team???? I don`t think so!! There is no way, we`re going to fail. I have complete faith in us... Come on, honey, where`s that confidence?
Liza: This is too good to be true.
Tad: There are two conditions to the deal tho.
Liza: <sigh> Here we go....
Tad: One, the deal won`t go thru if you`re not in it. Two, Roger asked to be left out of the official front office. He wants his involvement to be kept secret.
Liza: That`s his conditions? That`s all?? I don`t understand. Roger is not the type of guy to just give money for nothing.
Tad: We get his money. Independence. And he gets part of one of the most innovative tv production company in the country. (he finally catches up with her and makes eye contact with her, taking her arms) Look, for him, it`s a sure-deal, a money-maker, without him lifting a finger. On our side, we get to start our very own media empire, from the ground up. (Liza is tempted) You don`t have to decide right away. I gave the paperwork to Lindy, for her legal expertise. So you can talk to her, and see what she thinks?
Liza: I don`t know.
Tad: Trust me.
Liza: What about Tempo?
Tad: Brooke and Edmund will understand. I`m sure that they can see that your heart wasn`t into this magazine thing. What do you say? Partners? (he offers his hand to shake) hmm?
Liza: (she hesitates) Partner! (Tad rejoices) IF! If Belinda gives her OK on this (she takes his hand).
Tad: Of course! (he turns the handshake into a hug) This is great. This is so great. Liza, you will not regret this. We should celebrate.
Marian: Celebrate what? (Marian enters the house)
Tad: Marian? Congratulate us, we now have a brand new TV production company. Colby-Martin Productions (Liza winces at the name, Tad notices)... We`ll work on that name.
Marian: Well, Liza, is this true you`re leaving Tempo?
Liza: It looks that way, mother.
Marian: If it will make you happy, darling, then I`m happy.
Liza: I think so.... I`m going to track down Lindy. (Liza goes to her room upstairs)
Marian: Well (getting a little uncomfortable as she often did when she was alone in a room with Tad)... was this your idea?
Tad: Yes. But I had a lot of help, from Roger Thorpe.
Marian: (she tries to temper her shock) Really?
Tad: Well you know, Roger seems to be a good guy when it comes to Liza. Do you know why that is, Marian?
Marian: I wouldn`t know, I haven`t seen him in years.
Tad: But you keep in touch, right?
Marian: Not really. We`re ex-in-laws, strangers, really.
Tad: I don`t know, Marian, I think that writing letters and sending pictures of your daughter to this *stranger*.... well, I`d call it *keeping in touch*.
Marian: What are you talking about?
Tad: You want to tell me what`s going on, Marian? Or should I speculate. I don`t think you would like my speculations, Marian. What are you hiding?
Liza (walking downstairs): Belinda is at Jacob`s! If we go now, we can catch her....
Tad: Wonderful!
Liza: Mother, would you mind keeping an eye on Marty tonight?
Marian: Of course not, Liza!
Tad: Good, let`s go! Let`s go!!
Liza: (getting her coat and kissing Marty good bye) He has a bottle in the fridge, it`s all set up. (to Marty) You be a good boy for granny, all right. (she heads out with Tad) Bye mother.
Tad: (letting Liza go ahead) Don`t wait up, Marian.
End of part 23
--
--Millie
Episode 24
LAD World
[Recap: Tad and Liza bonded over their difficult birth parents. Tad found a weird connection between Marian and Roger Thorpe. With Thorpe`s help, Tad proposed a new business deal to Liza. She accepted if Belinda gave her OK. Miles Christopher was fired by Adam and left out in the cold by Belinda when she found out about his association with Adam].
Episode 24: The company
CUT to Jacob`s. It`s the dinner rush hour and the patrons are starting to fill the place. Belinda is at the bar, talking to Jacob and going thru some papers. Miles Christopher is there too, watching Belinda from afar. Holly is having coffee, watching Miles watch Lindy. Liza and Tad enters the restaurant, laughing. They briefly distract an annoyed Holly.
Tad: (giggling) Oh really??? You think so...?
Liza: Uh-huh! You never could hold your liquor.
Tad: Oh yeah??? (spotting Lindy) Ah! the woman of the hour... Mzzz Keifer!
Belinda: Who me?
Tad: No, I`m talking about the cigar girl!
Liza: Hi!
Belinda: You`re here.
Tad: Yeah (pause) So? (pause - Lindy looks confused) Did you look at the papers?
Belinda: You want my legal opinion, now? Are you always in this hurry?
Tad: Hey there are times when I like to take my time (Liza looks a little embarassed, remembering the night they last made love. He wanted to take his time then) But, right now?? I don`t think so!
Liza: Did you read it?
Belinda: Yes.
Tad: And..... ? (getting impatient)
Belinda: After two readings, I have to say.... it`s an amazing deal, my advice is: go for it.
Tad: YESSSSSS!
Liza: You`re sure? There`s no loopholes, no trap?
Belinda: It`s a very straight forward deal, Liza and a good one for all parties.
Tad: (looking at Liza) Well?
Liza: Okay.
Tad: (taking Liza to give her a big hug, he lifts her in the air) WOOHOO!!! All the patrons including Holly look at them, Tad slowly brings her back down, they both have this sudden urge to kiss. After a long, awkward pause, Tad breaks the silence.
Tad: Jacob, my man, champagne all around! We have just witness the birth of the Colby-Martin Production Company.
Liza grimaces at the name.
Tad: We need a better name for that thing, don`t we?
Liza is taken to the nearest table by Tad.
Tad: First thing on the agenda: finding a name.
CUT - Much later on, Tad and Liza are still looking for a name. Their table is filled with a few bottles of beer, one empty bottle of champagne, a bottle of wine and lots of empty glasses. Both of them are starting to feel the alcohol in their systems. Still, they`re keeping their distance, sitting across from one another. Jacob and Belinda are observing from the bar.
Tad: Ok... How about Crescent Road Production? Like the old neighborhood.
Liza: You must be joking!
Tad: Why not? It`s where we first met!
Liza: Why not call it Miss Crabapple`s class then (they laugh)?
Tad: I like that! (Liza doodles on some papers)
Liza: I got it! ... LAD Productions!
Tad: LAD???? What the hell is that?
Liza: A contraction: you know, Liza + Tad equal LAD.
Tad: We can`t do that!
Liza: Why not??? It`s ... cute.
Tad: Cute???? Who wants cute? And for one thing it rhymes with *mad*...
Liza: So?
Tad: Are you kidding? My mother already thinks I`m mad. More ammunitions for her. And on top of it, imagine if she knew ....(long pause) Tad stops himself from talking, biting his lower lip, trying to not make eye contact, his heart wanted to continue his sentence, it was screaming *imagine if she knew that I was in love with you, and that all I want is take you home and make love to you all night long and for the rest of my life*. Tad however, stays silent, frustrating Liza to no end.
Liza: If she knew what?????
Tad: You know, if she knew that I was the one who initiated the deal, in the first place. And Opal, well... (Tad taks Opal`s accent and tone) ``Oh Tad! Have you completely lost your mind. Associating with the likes of Liza `the snake` Colby?? After what she has done to your sweet sister, Jenny...``
Tad and Liza together: ``God Bless her sweet soul!`` They giggle.
Liza: (half-heartedly) I`m sorry. I shouldn`t do this.
Tad: Come on, Liza. Your feelings about Jenny were never a big secret.
Liza: Yes, well... that was bad. Childish.
Tad: Why did you.... feel that way?
Liza: I don`t know. Jealousy. And she was so damn perfect and sweet, I just wanted to scream.
Tad: I hardly knew her, you know? I mean, when I was a kid.... Ray was so protective of her. He loved her. And then he would turn around, take one look at me and beat the crap out of me. I thought there was something really wrong with me. I guess I was jealous. And then, he took me away and I didn`t have to think about that....
Liza takes his hand to comfort him. She always understood him so well, he thought.
Liza: (smiling) So: `LAD`, it is....
Tad: (giggles) Only because all that booze I drank tonight made me weak. An old Beatles song is playing *I`m happy just to dance with you*
Liza: (laughing) Dance with me!
Tad: Oh I don`t know ....
Tad feels weak, totally seduced by her - Liza pulls him away to the dance floor. The song is a happy tune that fits perfectly to their mood.
Lyrics start: ``Before this dance is thru, I think I love you too, I`m so happy that you dance with me``
CUT to Belinda and Jacob who are watching them on the dance floor.
Belinda: Do you think they`re ever going to tell each other how they feel?
Jacob: Maybe not in this century....
Belinda: Oh good, then we only have 18 months to go...
Jacob: They`re just scared.
Belinda: Considering their history, I`d say it`s kinda normal.
Jacob: Want another margarita? (Belinda agrees)
CUT to Miles, still observing from afar, nursing a beer. Holly comes to join him.
Holly: Don`t happy people make you sick? (he doesn`t answer) She`s very pretty... For a lawyer, I mean.
Miles: What do you want, Ms Colby?
Holly: Nothing. But I`m gathering that you want quite a lot, Mr Christopher. Or at least you want some satisfaction.
Miles: What does that mean?
Holly: (looking at Liza and Tad) Well, dear, sometimes you have to put the blame where it belongs.
CUT to Liza and Tad still dancing and having a great time.
The song: ``...And if someone tries to take my place, let`s pretend we just can`t see his face...``
CUT to later that night. Tad and Liza, a bit tipsy, decide to share a cab to get home. Tad walks her to her door. They`re happily talking business.
Liza: Now, wait a minute, I know that a show, a talk show, could be more expensive to produce. But it`s also the easiest sell. We could put your mug on this thing and the syndication would be like that! (she tries to snap her finger, and fails)
Tad: (giggling) Liza! A show, a daily show needs a staff, a base-station. And a huge budget. We don`t want that. Think small. Documentaries are the way to go.
Liza: You want to be the Ken Burns of Pine Valley????
Tad: Yeah!! No. Look, all we need is a good subject. Something juicy. And contemporary....
Liza: Headlines making stuff!
Tad: (taking her shoulders as he often did when trying to convince her) Exactly!!
Tad stops talking, looking at Liza like she`s the center of the universe, he wants her so bad, he could feel his heart beating faster and faster.
Tad: This is ridiculous. (Liza looks puzzled) Without a second thought, Tad kisses Liza.
It is a long, very soft kiss. Tad suddenly remembers how kissing Liza felt like. This time, somehow, it is sweeter. His right hand very naturally caresses her cheek, while the other one finds its way on her shoulder and her back. After the initial shock, Liza very much gets into the kiss. Her whole body is trembling. She wants to get closer to him, her hands, her arms reaches out to him, hugging him. She wants him. Slowly the kiss stops as Tad gently pulls back. He is trying to read Liza`s face but all he could see is a look of surprise. Quickly, he feels like a fool and sobers up.
Tad: (averting eye contact) I`m sorry... I shouldn`t ...
Liza stays speechless altho all she could think of is inviting him upstairs, to her bed. Somehow the words elude her.
Tad: The cab is ...hum... waiting.... Good night. (he runs off)
Liza: (still stunned) `Night...
End of episode 24
--
--Millie
