The Investigation: Part Three

 Picture day at Barbieville High.  

Gabriella: So then Charlotte tells my mom she's a bad sister!  Because she won't lie on the stand! 

Taylor: Will Charlotte leave town when this custody thing is over?  Please say yes. 

Gabriella: Probably not.  Mom thinks her real reason for coming back to town was revenge.  She wants to make this town pay for whatever she thinks it did to her.  

Phoebe: Looks good to me, but you're the photographer. 

Kenna: (to Samantha, who just sat for her photo) You can head back to class now.  Thank you.

Phoebe: Granger, Hermione. (looks towards the assembled students)  

Draco: She and her boyfriend are at home crying because his mommy died. 

Kevin: She's his stepsister, you moron, not his girlfriend. 

Ron: Losing your parent is horrible.  Of course they're sad. 

Draco: Oh, that's right!  You're an orphan, so you know all about what they're going through, don't you? Maybe you'll run over there after school and give them all hugs.  Have a giant pity party. 

Phoebe calls Alex Russo next, but Kenna turns to Draco. 

Kenna: Young man, your lack of sympathy is disgusting.  What I just overheard will be reported.  

Draco: Big deal.  

Kenna: Barbieville has some pretty strict anti-bullying policies.  I'm sure you just violated several. 

Draco starts to reply, but the intercom drowns him out.  He's being called to the office. 

Kevin: You know you're an ass when you get called to the office before they even know you did anything.

Draco: You look like a pimp. 

***** 

Mayor's office

Midge: It's the same person, I'm sure.  Both victims were hit at high speed by a large vehicle.  The same vehicle, or a very similar one.  Our second victim was thrown across the narrowest section of the inlet, from the park.  

Lynch: Your report gives a tentative make and model of the vehicle.  It's a very common vehicle.  

Rose-Grace: My family has three of them.  

Midge: Yes, but your vehicles don't match the paint transfer we found on the victims.  (weak smile) I think you're cleared. The question now is - Do we talk to the media again and how much do we tell them?  

Lynch: We don't want to create a panic. 

Rose-Grace: I'll put together a statement.  Dealing with the media and the public comes with being the mayor.

Midge: I'll practice my "no comment".  

Lynch: And my refusal to discuss an ongoing investigation. 

Scenes From A Lockdown

From the outside, Barbieville looks like a ghost town.  But there is lots of activity.

Fred: How long you gotta work from home?

Rose-Grace: I don't know.   The scientists are working hard to find a cure, though.  We just have to be patient and deal. 

Fred: What if they don't never and we end up like on Nikki's show?

Rose-Grace: Well, we won't have to worry about zombies, at least.  (chuckles)  Barbieville actually has a plan for that.  About twenty years ago, people thought all the computers would stop working, so they made a plan.  

Fred: Kin I help build the walls?

Speaking of Nikki's show... 

Taylor: So, if I do decide to watch, I'm going to need to know who all these people are. 

Nikki: You agreed to watch the first season and give it a fair chance.   Most of these characters aren't even in the first season.  

Taylor: And you'll do the same for my show?

Nikki: That's the deal.  

But they have to keep the volume down because Dad is sleeping.  Like most "essential employees", Pike is putting in long hours.

Others are getting aquainted with new friends over social media. 

Iggy: We sure picked a great time to move to a new town, didn't we? 

Rupert: At least you have a lot of siblings.  I just have one sister here and the cousins are still giving me the side-eye.  

Iggy: What's their problem?

Rupert: They think I'm sucking up to them because they're rich.  When their parents died, the whole family fought over custody, but most of them were just after the money.  Becky put it in a trust fund til they're 21.  

Iggy: Good thing for you we met on the plane, huh? 

Rupert: You have no idea.

And let us not forget the volunteers at the food pantries.

Ryan: Setting up here so people can drive through was a great idea.  Pocahontas is a genius.

Albus: She is pretty bright, isn't she?  

Draco: Seriously?  You two enjoy this? 

Ryan: Well, I'd rather be on a beach in Hawaii drinking out of a coconut and looking at girls in bikinis, but that's not real likely any time soon.  Why are you here, if it makes you so miserable?

Albus: His mother is trying to teach him a similar lesson to the one you recently learned.  (Notices a car approaching.) Get on your gloves and masks.  You know the routine by now. 

Sex, Drugs, and... Remodeling

At Barbieville Middle School, the day begins. 

Alex: I appreciate all the advice, but I really don't think it will be rough adjusting.  For one thing, I'm going to have my own room to hide in if it gets crazy.  

Hermione: It was all the boys in the house I had to get used to.  

Samantha: Having a stepsister is a godsend for me.  Raven has helped me so much since Charmaine did what she did.  (laughs) And now they've moved out of town, so I don't even have to look at her! 

Alex: Still gotta look at the piece of crap she did it for, though. 

Samantha: He's not to blame for her actions.  (Waves dismissively in Draco's direction.)  I heard your dad's team finally got a chance to investigate Witch's Cove?  

Alex: Yeah, and it was Pocahontas's idea!  I think he's more excited about that than the wedding!

Gabriella: ...then Charlotte told Courtney nobody cares and Mom said "Keep your mouth off my children."  

Taylor: No wonder y'all come to my house so much.  Beside helping your dad with the remodel, you can get away from that hag.  

Gabriella: Have you heard anything from Candy?

Taylor: No, and it's been over a week.  We're starting to really get worried.

Draco: You know, a decent school doesn't teach this stuff to boys and girls in the same room. 

Nancy: You and I have very different ideas of what a decent school does.  (Draco rolls his eyes.) If you have parental consent, you can turn in your book and take a study hall.  Do you have parental consent? 

Draco: You know I don't. 

Nancy: I suggest you discuss your discomfort with your parents.  In the meantime, please keep your complaints to yourself.  

*******

Pern is walking home from work when Pocahontas calls her over to a table in the park. 

Pern: I knew this was going to happen.  That you'd make me say it. 

Pocahontas: Pern, I'm not going to do this without your okay.  You've surprised me, to be frank, with your drive to stay off the drugs.  I really don't want to hurt you. 

Pern: It's just so hard to admit I failed that badly as a mom.  

Pocahontas: I'm sure it hurts.  I'm sorry.  

Pern (crying softly): But it'd be a bigger failure to stand in the way of what's best for him.  

Pocahontas:  You'll still be in his life.  Hell, if John's the mom and I'm the dad, you can be the doting aunt.  We've all come to love you, Pern.  Warts and all. 

********

At Windu Acres, Joe's short break is interrupted.

Mace: Did you have to make mine the ugliest room in the house? 

Joe: Hey, you left it up to Rose-Grace.  She told me to use repurposed materials from my warehouse.  Not my fault they ended up being contrasting patterns.  

Mace: I'm just messing with you.  It's actually kinda bohemian.  Makes me wanna invite Albus over and smoke some weed. 

Joe: I donated a few horse prints.  I'm a city boy, barely know one end of a horse from the other.

Mace: Thanks.  Hey, what say we go to Sunburst for lunch?  My treat. I can teach you which end is which. 

Any Requests?

Rayshawn Lucas came to Barbieville with a business proposition for his old colleague Billy's wife.  She insists on the most casual meeting ever.

Rayshawn: Went by the hospital to check on Billy.  He's looking good, all things considered.

Charlotte: Yes, his care has been excellent.  I honestly didn't expect him to last this long.   How long will you be in town? 

Rayshawn: I hope to be here long-term.  I want to buy you out on that lake front property. 

Charlotte: The Point? Oh, no, it is not for sale.  That's the first of the nails in this town's coffin. 

Rayshawn: What you're doing with that property is undermining everything else you're trying to do.  Losing money hand over fist is not gonna convince anyone to give you custody of your kids - or their trust funds.  In fact, you could lose everything.  

Charlotte: How do you figure that? 

Rayshawn: According to my estimates, you've already lost half a million on it.  The legal fights over zoning alone ate up most of that.  Factor in loss of revenue from a functional RV park, property taxes, all those things...  You've got a very expensive millstone around your neck.

Charlotte: You have no idea what I'm trying to do.

Rayshawn: You're trying to crush this town for wrongs of the past and keep your pretty little hands on Mary and Max's inheritance.  You'll be much better off - and get a better revenge - if you act as a savvy and rational business woman.  But this thing with The Point is neither savvy nor rational. 

Charlotte: You may be right.  Buy up the town bit by bit...  they'd rent from me, work for me, everything.  Rayshawn, you are a genius!  I could own them all.  

Rayshawn: First step, sell me that property.  Spin the tale somehow to make you look good.  

******

A very different sort of meeting is happening at the county seat, in the probation office.

Draco: I did my community service.  Are we done here?

Helena: Apparently not, if that's all the respect you have.  (To Bonnie) It doesn't appear my son's learned his lesson, Ms Carson. Any suggestions? 

Albus: He's done what the courts said he had to, Helena, but certainly you can volunteer him for more.  I can get you a list of homeless shelters, food pantries... 

Bonnie: Albus is right.  Once I enter this data into the system, Draco's obligation to the courts is fulfilled.  However, a bit of volunteer work with the less fortunate would do him no harm.  (To Draco) You've been very fortunate.  Don't mistake that for anything you deserve. 

Draco: Look, you ginger bim-- (Helena claps a hand over his mouth, and not very gently.)

Bonnie: If you'll send my next appointment in, Mrs. Malfoy? 

Helena leads Draco out, hand still over his mouth.

Albus (pauses in the doorway): Doctor Malfoy.  She has a PhD. 

Bonnie's next appointment is Pern.  

Bonnie: Everything looks good.  You're working, attending sobriety meetings.  Even got a fellow from the group a job at Sunburst?  Very nice.

Pern: Turns out, his fiancee is the aunt of one of our servers!  You should have seen her face when she realized who the new day cook was! 

Bonnie: I do have to tell you, it's quite unusual for an adult to bring relatives in with her.

Anakin: Oh, that's my fault, Ms Carson.  I wanted to ask Mommy and Pocahontas something, but I want you to hear.  You can give us advice about it, I think.

Anakin (to Pern): I been thinking about what can help you get better and I think I know something that is best for everyone, but I'm scared you're going to get upset when I tell you.  I don't want you to think I hate you or anything like that. 

Pern: I promise to hear you out, even if it upsets me.  

Anakin: I want Pocahontas and John to adopt me. 

Zenobia's Weird Day At Work

Draco and Albus have been working hard at getting Witch's Cove ready for the winter.  

Albus: You've done very well today, considering that you've never done manual labor before.  

Draco: I still don't understand why you wanted me to do it.  Why didn't you just send me to Juvie?

Albus: I suggested you help me as your community service because, like many who have grown up in privilege, you fail to understand that manual labor profits a man in non-monetary ways.  Did you feel a level of satisfaction upon seeing the results of your work?

Draco: Yeah... I guess I did.  But I destroyed your home.  Aren't you mad?  

Albus: Of course I am.  I'm not a fan of the prison system, though, and I feel you can learn a valuable lesson this way.  You saw today that, if not for people like me, you would have none of the things your wealth buys you.  Everything you eat, all your material goods, came from people like me.  

Draco: How much was the damages?  I know Dad offered to pay it.

Albus (chuckles): I hope that by the time you've finished your community service, you'll see that the dollar value means little to me.  The simple fact, Draco, is that I haven't given up on you.  I've only given up on one person in my entire life.

*****

At another table, Hank is waffling over what to order.  

Zenobia: You should try the taco plate.  Pern has already mastered that one.

Hank: Oh, well....  Wait?!  Who did you say?!

Zenobia: Pern.  Our new cook.  You know Anakin Nadekh?  She's his mother.

Hank jumps to his feet and runs out of the building. 

Zenobia: Um... Okay, then.... 

Tough Love Everywhere

In the early morning hours, Pern meets the other members of the Sunburst crew.  

Midna: Before we get started, I want to make a few things known. With Pern's permission, of course.  She's newly sober and wants to stay that way.  She's also new to the work force, so let's be gentle on her at first.

Pern: I can't thank all of you enough for giving me this chance.  This is my second try at living clean, I have no idea what I'm doing, but I promise to make my best effort.

Zenobia: I think I can hold off on the whips and chains until Thursday.  (laughter all around) No, seriously, we'll do our best to help as much as we can.

Esmeralda: But not so much you depend on us.  We can't turn you into a contributing member of society by contributing for you, can we? 

Jason (nods in agreement):  But first we gotta make sure all your paperwork is in order.  I'll take you to Violet. 

Violet: It looks like Midna got all the formalities taken care of.  Normally, I take care -- 

Pern: This is gorgeous artwork.  Did you do it?

Violet: My husband and stepchildren don't celebrate Christmas, so my stepdaughter painted that to replace my Merry Christmas one.  

Pern: She's good.  How old is she?

Violet (sternly): Midna hired you against my advice.  Fresh out of rehab, never worked before...  (smiles) I'd love it if you proved me wrong.  And Samantha is thirteen.  

Pern (confused): Okay?  Would challenge accepted be the wrong thing to say here? 

Violet: Absolutely not.  Now, Jason is waiting for you in the kitchen and I've got inventory to do.  

******

Doll County Courthouse, Judge's chambers

Bonnie: Your honor, the probation office has no objection to the proposed action regarding Draco Malfoy.  All parties involved have agreed to the terms.

Draco: Mother, tell them!  I didn't agree to anything!

Helena: You are a minor.  I agreed in your stead.  

Albus: I already have a list of jobs he can legally do at The Cove.  

Bonnie: I've reviewed that list with Mr. Dumbledore's employer and with Mrs. Malfoy.  It is a bit unusual for the defendant to do community service under the supervision of the plaintiff, but under the circumstances...

Helena: Albus Dumbledore is nearly the only person in the county who can't be swayed by the Malfoy name.  There's a very real concern that anyone else will be and that Draco will not learn the intended lesson.

Judge: Very well then.  We'll make it official in court this afternoon.

*****

As the third graders leave Suzie's classroom at the end of the day, they're a bit surprised to see Anakin coming in.

Roxy: Do you got detention or something?  

Dan: What did you do?

Anakin: I didn't do anything.  I just wanna talk to Mrs. Dean for a minute.  (He waits until they're gone.)  Is that okay, Mrs. Dean?  You said if any of us ever needed advice.... 

Suzie: Of course, Anakin, what's bothering you?  

Anakin settles in at a desk.

It seems like moments later when Nakoma taps on the classroom door.

Nakoma: Roxy told me you needed to talk to Mrs. Dean, kid, but it's been almost half an hour.  

Anakin: Oh, sorry.  (to Suzie) Thanks for talking to me.  Sometimes it helps to have somebody not, you know, family to talk to.

Suzie: I understand.  If you need to talk some more, I'll run your sister off.

Anakin: No, I'm gonna do what you said.  I think it's a good idea.

Anakin stops to hug her on the way out.  

Moving Out, In, and On.

Moving day for the Smith-Nedakh family. 

Tanner:  No place on the Jeep for the trailer to connect.  Fin?

Finnick: Nothing on the golf cart, either.  We're gonna have to use The Tank. 

Albus: Neither SUV has a trailer hitch?  

Tanner: The Tank's the only one with a hitch.  Grandpa Mace's truck had one, but Dad gave him a free pass to use The Tank for horse shows.  He sold the truck when Grandma got sick. 

John: Wish we'd known this before.  We could have made the move in one trip, using that beast. 

Nakoma meets them in the driveway of the new house. 

Nakoma: Change of plans.  One of the bunk beds goes into Anakin's room.  He's giving Roxy the lounge thing, since she's shorter.  Also it's pink. 

Albus (chuckles): I wonder what he'll do if they decide to have a pink wedding.  

Tanner:  Same thing I will.  Grin and bear it.

Nakoma: You're in the wedding party?

Tanner: No, but I'll have to look at y'all. 

*****

Meanwhile, at the police station.

Helena: Thank you, Chief Lynch, for driving Draco.  

Draco: Why did you have her do that?  It was humiliating! 

Helena: That's exactly why I asked her to do it.  If I had my way, you'd be in Juvenile Corrections until your trial.   

Draco:  TRIAL?!  You can't let this go to trial! 

Helena: I can and I will.  

Draco: What does Dad have to say about this? Where is he? 

Helena: Your father has protected you with his influence for the last time.  

Helena: Until your trial, you can consider yourself under house arrest. You will go nowhere but school.  Your phone will be taken and I've already changed the Internet password at ho --

Draco (stops suddenly): I need to use the restroom before we go. 

Helena: I've already seen the woman.  You are not going to avoid her. 

Charlotte: Well, fancy meeting you here.  Come to pick up your little angel? 

Helena: There's no need to be catty.  

Charlotte: I hope you don't think you can convince me to drop the charges.  

Helena: I wouldn't dream of trying.  Come along, Draco. 

Charlotte watches them go, thinking: She doesn't want me to drop the charges?  Or is this a reverse psychology thing?  What kind of mind game is Helena playing?  I wonder what she'd do if I did drop the charges?  If I convinced that old hippy to do the same?