After Midnight

---

Gentlemen, let's give it up for the Candy

Cat Club's featured dancer - Duffy.

You're beautiful.

Thanks, baby.

Be polite all you want, kid.

The only thing it's going to

get you is the poor house.

Sorry.

Next up on our stage, please

welcome the seductive Sasha.

All right. One for the money

two for the show.

You have no clue what I'm

about.

All you know about me is what

you see on the stage, okay?

And don't you ever think you

can put your hands on me again.

Stripper drama.

Hey! Slow down, honey. Okay?

Not now, Rikki, okay? Just

leave me alone.

Okay. Well, listen, enough of

the attitude.

All right. I am only trying to

help you, Duffy.

Well, if you really want to

help me

then just leave me alone for

awhile

because I'm a little freaked

out right now

and I don't want to talk about

it.

So what the hell's up with you?

Just let her be, Tina.

Because she's queen bee I'm supposed

to just mind my own business.

What a concept.

I will mess you up.

Come on, Tina.

You don't want the cops coming

down here again like before.

Okay. One more incident like

that and you're through.

She thinks she's some kind of

big shot.

Always draining every guy's wallet

before anybody else gets a shot at them.

She even took my best customer.

There ain't a dollar bill left

out there.

Do you want to talk about it?

Talk about what?

Well, all that screaming I

heard a couple of minutes ago.

No, I don't.

Okay, well... I'm here if you

need me.

I know, Zoe. I get it, okay.

Whatever.

It's really coming down out

there.

Weather man says it's going to be raining

cats and dogs until tomorrow afternoon.

Gary's always wrong. He's not

even a meteorologist.

That's why I watch Channel

Eight weather.

Is the copy in the prompter?

Done. Only breaking story right

now.

Murder in Tinseltown.

Well, what got dropped?

The piece about the cat that

plays the piano.

I liked that one.

Turns out he was faking. Ten

seconds, everybody. Here we go.

Five, four...

Good evening, I'm Constance Turner and this

is a Channel Six overnight news break.

Police are searching for clues

tonight

in the shooting death of a young

dancer outside a downtown strip club.

The shooting victim was shot

execution style in the club's

back parking lot just after

midnight.

Police released these photos of

the shooting victim.

Twenty-six year old, Ann Turner, who worked

as a dancer at the Candy Cat... police..

What's going on with her?

... are hoping that anybody...

I don't know.

...any...

police hope that anybody who has

seen anything will contact them

and... and we will be back

right after the break...

Spring is just around

the corner...

Constance, it's Doctor Hubbard.

I just saw what happened.

If you want to talk about it I'm here.

Hey, you okay?

Yeah. I just lost my place. And

I... I... just that...

I'll be fine. Let's... just let

me finish it.

You sure?

Yes. We're almost back.

Okay.

And it looks like the rain will

continue through tomorrow afternoon

so if you have any weekend travel plans,

make sure you give yourself extra time.

Okay. Good. Morning crew's going to

be here soon. You did a good job.

Thanks.

That story about the dancer?

Did you know her?

She was my sister.

Wow.

You know, she was the wild

child of the family, you know.

She was willful and headstrong.

She was always just so

determined to do her own thing

no matter what it did to my

parents.

Look, I feel like I'm prying

here now.

No. It's all right. Look, I am sorry.

I should have told someone.

I understand. I mean this has to

be incredibly difficult for you.

I... I... I should have reached

out to her more.

I should have been a better sister

and she did not deserve this.

Look, tell you what. This has

been a big shock for you.

Why don't I give you a ride home

and we can talk about it, okay?

Come on. Come on. Come on.

Thanks, John.

You're welcome. Watch your step.

So, maybe I should contact the

police. Tell them who I am.

No. Police can wait until

you've rested.

There's nothing you're going to say

now that's going to make a difference.

Maybe you're right.

I am right. Besides the world's

going to know soon enough.

And I just... I just wish it

didn't have to be you.

You're going to get through it,

okay?

And people will stop caring as soon as the

next big story comes along. Guaranteed.

Well, isn't that the problem, John?

That people always just stop caring.

That's the way it is, Constance.

And sometimes that's the way it should be.

I'm going home. I can drive

myself.

Hey? You going to be okay? I

can follow you.

I'll be fine. And if I'm not,

maybe that's the way it should be.

Look at that. Rain's all cleared up.

Told you that Doppler stuff was overrated.

A couple of sausage. Here we go.

And voil. Your breakfast, mademoiselle.

I appreciate you coming by but

you didn't have to.

Says you. I talked to Rebecca

and I told her what happened.

She said you could take some

time off if you need to.

I... I don't know how to say

this, John,

but I am capable of making my

own decisions.

I don't need anybody acting on

my behalf.

I know it was well intentioned, but I

stand on my own two feet. I always have.

Okay. I... thought I was

helping. So I'm sorry.

I know.

Just, now, I am going to be linked to

Annie's story and I have to face that fact.

You know everything's going to change and

if I hide it's just going to make it worse.

Maybe. For awhile. I do have

some sleeping pills

or something stronger if you

need it.

No. No, thank you. I... I

just... I don't take anything.

I didn't say you did.

Why are you trying to help me?

Because you're my friend and

I'm worried about you.

Fair enough.

So, I got some errands I got to do.

So I will see you at work tonight, I guess?

Of course.

Okay. Take care.

Doctor Hubbard? Yeah, can I

come by?

I saw your broadcast last night.

I became concerned about you.

You're not the only one. I guess I'm just

kind of walking in my sleep right now.

Did you take anything?

No. No. I wouldn't. You're my sponsor.

I would have called you.

I know. But I'm also your friend.

And you're right, you should have called me.

I'm sorry.

So what do the police know?

I got a call this morning from

some detective

but they don't sound that interested

in the death of a stripper.

I'm sure that's not the case.

I didn't tell anyone. You know,

that I had a... a sister.

Even John was surprised.

John, your producer.

Yeah. My producer and well,

he'd like it to be something more.

Um... how do I put this?

I... I don't want you to get

involved with a man right now.

Look, you've come so far in

reconciling your family issues

and I would hate for you to lose

sight of what's really important.

Your sister was a big reason

for all of this.

But she's dead.

Death is not the end.

For Ann to truly get out of your life,

you have to be willing to let her go.

You're so Zen. That's why I

like you.

Look, I'm just a counselor.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes