From: wesley Subject: RotSoap - Hartfix Part 4 Writer's note : I still don't like doing summaries so that's why I still don't have one here, but I know there's been a lot of story told over the last three parts, so if there's anyone new here or has a faulty memory or has any questions, just e-mail me and I'll help you out. Again, please keep in mind this story is still taking place in early 1996, when the character of Hart Jessup and his story were still salvagable. Hartfix broke off the mainstream story just after New Year's, and only a few weeks have passed over the duration of this alternative drama. - Jo P.S. This story is almost over, and should be wound up next month. I would love to hear what everyone thinks about the story thus far. Hartfix By Jo Burgess fburgess@mail.kaien.com ---------------------------------------- **Scene 42 - Outside the Boarding House ---------------------------------------- Hart is frozen in place. He opens his mouth to speak, but the words are barely audible. "What are you doing Davis?" John: (smiles) Well I'm getting to know you're little boy. He really is an adorable child, so innocent and full of life. Children are a wonder don't you think? Hart: (trying to keep his voice steady) Put him down. John: (ignores him) I used to have children. I had such a loving family, until Roger Thorpe let me take a a fall for him. My family went on without me while I was in prison. When I got out, they wouldn't even take my calls. I thought once I got the money Roger owed me, I could have the means to get my family back, but Roger stiffed me. Then...well, you know the rest. Hart: John please, put my son down. John: (laughs) John?! I can count on one hand the number of times you actually showed me some respect by calling me by my first name like I asked you to long ago. Kid, you must be getting desperate. No matter, we're almost done here. (smiles at Peter) Go see your father little one. Davis sets Peter gently on the ground. Hart rushes forward and scoops the boy up in his arms. Hart: (to Peter) Peter I want you to listen very carefully and do what I tell you. I want you to go straight into the house, close the door and stay near your mother until I get there. Can you do that for me? (Peter nods) Okay good. Off you go. Hart kisses Peter's forehead before putting him down and watching him disappear around the corner. As soon as he hears the door clicking shut, Hart lunges at Davis, grabs him by the collar and pins him against the side of the house. Hart: (enraged) You son of a bitch, don't you ever, EVER go near my son again or I swear I'll... John: (challenges him) Or what kid? You'll kill me? If you could and thought you could walk away breathing you would have done it by now. Face it Hart, you like living too much, that's why we're both still here. (distangles himself from Hart's grasp) Hart: (glaring at him) What are you doing here? John: I came to give you a little present. (he reaches into his jacket, pulls out a small handgun and holds it out to Hart) Here ya go. (Hart looks at it like he's going to be ill; John snaps at him) Oh just take the damn thing already! It's not like you never had one before. Hart: I don't want it. Davis grabs Hart's hand and forces the gun into his palm. "Tough kid. You don't get a vote. I've waited long enough. It's time to move on with our plan." Hart: (still looks ill) It is not *our* plan! You want me to go out and kill somebody dammit! I don't want any part of this! John: SHUT UP! Keep your voice down, you certainly wouldn't want the nice people inside to hear you. And it's not just anybody you're going to kill, it's Roger. If I can't have my money then at least I can have his life, oh and whatever he leaves you in his will of course. (grins) Provided you don't get caught. Hart: (shakes his head) I won't do this. You can't make me do this. John: (sharply) Don't disillusion yourself kid, I've got you right here. (holds out the palm of his hand) So either Roger goes down, or you do. (swings his other hand to slam down hard on his outstretched palm; laughs; sees Hart's look of distress and clucks his tongue) Come on kid, don't be so bummed out. You have to look at this the right way. Getting rid of Roger would be ridding the world of a scumbag who steamrolls over people. Everyone hates him, no one will miss him, and people's lives will be better with him not around. Hart: (weakly) That's not true. John: Oh it is so! You've said all that yourself. Hart: That was a long time ago. John: So? Nothing's changed Hart. Look around, he still makes people miserable. Buck up, you'll be doing a puclic service. On the other hand, you've got a new life and a nice little family going for yourself, and it wouldn't be very good for them or your new image for your past to come sneaking up on you now would it. (shaking his head) That was awfully messy business out west wasn't it? What a shame if it came back to dump on you after all my hard work to clean it up for you the first time. Hart: (eyes filling with tears of rage) After you created it in the first place you mean? John: (smiles) Details, details. (clapping his hands together) Chop, chop kid. Let's get a move on. We haven't got all night. Hart: (confused) What? John: Well duh junior, what do you think I'm doing standing outside a public place giving you a gun for? Thorpe's working late at his office, so go over there and take care of him. Then get rid of the gun and go home. Oh and remember to be shocked and grief-stricken, well as grief-stricken as a son who hates his father can be, when you hear the tragic news. Point the cops in the direction of the pretty little lady inside should they be asking for your alibi. (makes shooing motions with his hands) Go on, before Roger leaves to go home to his bimbo. Why aren't you moving? Hart: (looks almost in shock) I...I need to say goodbye...to Bridget. John: Oh. Okay go kiss her goodnight. I'll wait here. Hart: No! I mean...no, I need to talk to her awhile. John: (in a warning tone) Hart... Hart: I won't be long. I'll talk to her, then I'll go to WSPR. You should leave before someone sees you. John: True. So I'll leave then. I think I'll go wait for you out at your farm. See ya later. (pauses) What to say here? Good luck? Break a leg? Shoot a father? (laughs) How about revenge is sweet? I like that one. (starts walking away, then turns around) One more thing, for heaven sake's don't let anyone see you arriving, shooting or leaving okay? (Hart nods) Good. (departs, disappearing into the shadows) Hart stands numbly starting at the gun in his hands for a few minutes, trying to collect his thoughts. Then gives his head a shake and walks toward the boarding house entrance, slipping the gun inside his pocket. ------------------------------------ **Scene 43 - Boarding House kitchen ------------------------------------ As Hart walks back in the kitchen, Bridget is coming down the stairs. She seems surprised to see him. Bridget: I'd thought you left. Hart: No. Where's Peter? Bridget: I put him to bed. Were you outside this whole time? (Hart nods) What were you doing out there? Hart: (gives her a blank look) I...was just getting some air. Bridget: (senses she's being lied to, but decides not to call him on it) Should I make us some coffee? Hart: No, I can't stay. I wanted to say goodnight and to say thank you. Bridget: For what? Hart: For everything. Our son. Being my friend. And for tonight. I had so much I needed to say, so many things I've kept bottled up for far too long. (quietly) I'm glad it was you who listened. I'm grateful. Bridget: (sees a faraway expression in his eyes; worried, she touches his arm) Hart, are you all right? Hart: (tries to smile) Sure. I have to go. Goodbye Bridget. (turns and walks out before Bridget can think of anything more to say) Bridget: (to an empty room) Goodbye Hart. ------------------ **Scene 44 - WSPR ------------------ Roger stretches, then rubs his eyes as he ejoys a brief rest from the piles of paperwork whoch has consumed him all day. He pauses momentarily before returning to his work thinking he may have heard something, but doesn't hear anything further, nor does he see anything out of the ordinary through the open blinds on his in-building office window. He shrugs and resumes studying the open report on his desk in front of him. The sound he may have heard was Hart coming through the door of the stair- well. He's moving very cautiously, very deliberately, making sure no one, especially the security cameras see him. Hart catches sight of Roger through the window. He carefully makes his way across the floor to stand in the shadows cast from a wall where he was also partly obscured by a large plant. Hart has a perfect view of Roger from his vantage point. He's sure should Roger look up, he wouldn't see his son shrouded in darkness across the building floor. Slowly, Hart pulls the gun out and raises it up to point at Roger's chest; his finger begins to tense on the trigger. to be continued..... >> >"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between mother and child." >--Former U.S Vice-President Dan Quayle on Republican Family Values.