EPISODE 41
Written by: Bre L. Drew
Last Time On Town and Country
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Sean and Louise finally tell the girls that they're divorced. It's affect took an emotional toll on Tanner.
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Antoine starts seeing Nichelle to make Shauna jealous.
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Upset over her father's deception, Courtney moved into a suite at Miller's Inn.
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Mae found out that her son might be getting out of prison on parole.
UNIVERSITY CENTER BUILDING: APT #303
Nichelle Austin opens her door to her apartment on the third floor of the University Center Building to find her new friend Antoine Hall standing outside in the hallway with a charismatic smile on his face.
"Hey, beautiful." Antoine warmly greets her.
Nichelle places both hands below on her back. "I guess I should've invited you over a long time ago."
The two of them haven't seen one another in person since before Christmas. And since Nichelle had gotten back into town from celebrating the holidays with her family in her hometown of Detroit. They only had been in contact via the phone.
Antoine steps into the one-story dwelling, located on the Campus of Sampson University. The interior comprises of white walls and wood flooring.
"Nice place." he compliments
"Yeah it's all right, want anything to drink? water, beer, wine cooler? " Nichelle asks him as she treads into the small kitchen.
Antoine takes a seat on the silver sofa in the reasonably-size living room."A beer thanks."
Nichelle comes out of the kitchen with two bottles of beer she gives one of them to him. "It was about time I get you over here since my roommate is out for the day. "
"Where is she at?" Antoine asks. He then takes a few sips out of his beer.
"Taking her dental boards," Nichelle replies
Antoine looks at her face getting a sense that Nichelle has something to say but isn't sure should it just stay in her head.
"The reason why I invited you over here was to be upfront with you. " Nichelle states
"Be upfront with me about what? " Antoine says
"That I'm done with men playing games with me, are you planning to see someone else while we're together because if you are then I think - no I know you're wasting my time Antoine. " Nichelle admits
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HOME FARM
After finding out the terrible news that her parents had gotten a divorce, Tanner Lockhart wanted to cancel today's driving lesson. Though she realized it would mean more time instructing Tommy to go below 75 MPH on a residential street.
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She rings the doorbell to the mansion. When the door opens, she is taken back to see Daniel Covington. Usually, she is accustomed to the Covington housekeeper Gabriella. Daniel is typically outside of the house recalling the last time she saw him was the dinner from hell at her grandparents' house.
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"Nice seeing you again Tanner," Daniel says generously.
"Hello, Mr. Covington."
Daniel adjusts the collar of his suit jacket, he gestures for her, to come into the house.
The two walk into the living room of the grand estate.
"Tommy is changing, he was playing some b-ball outside."
Tanner nods deciding to mute herself about it being too cold outside to spend playing sports.
"There he is." Daniel vocalizes
Tommy Covington comes into the room in a black Ralph Lauren V-Neck tee with black pants and red sneakers.
"Hey" Tommy greets her.
"Hi," she says tensely.
"I'm going, but the two of you be careful and please Tommy slow down. " Daniel warns
He moves outside of the door.
Tommy notices Tanner seems more sullen than usual. "Is this about me almost forgetting to put the car in the park the other day?"
"I don't give a crap about that right now, " Tanner says without careful consideration.
Tommy goes over to the bar where grabs a bottle of water for himself. "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?"
"No, I didn't, it's just personal issues nothing you probably would care about." Tanner assumes.
Tommy drinks some water. "Try me Teach."
LAKEVIEW CEMETERY
On this cloudy afternoon, Mae Jackson walks towards the specific headstone. She places a handful of perennial flowers in front of the stone.
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Horace Lee Jackson
1951-2016
Always in our hearts
"Hello, my love."
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"I know I haven't been out here in a long time, I think you still know my heart well enough that I needed to come to talk to you about what's going on with our family." she acknowledges pensively. "Will might be getting out of prison on parole," I know I should be excited and a part of me is it's just that I am scared, you know how much I dislike feeling that way but I can't stop thinking that he is gonna do something that is going to land his narrow behind back in prison."
She remains there in the quiet basking in the peace.
"Not only am I'm worried about Will, Cassie still rather be with men for their money than to be there for her own daughter, Well I guess one good thing is that Shauna is doing so well, I know you're proud of her too I know you told me before you were gone that you didn't regret raising our granddaughter."
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Mae wipes water from her eyes in between smiling realizing she feels better about her current predicament in her life.
"I just don't know what to do about our son, " she says aloud.
Within her uttering those words it begins to snow, although it was forecasted on the news since yesterday evening. Mae understands what message her late husband is sending her. She puts her finger to her lips then places it on the headstone.
"Horace, there isn't a day that goes by when I don't miss you, I love you."
She goes back to her car whilst the flurries dance from the sky.
MILLER INN: COURTNEY'S SUITE
In her hotel suite, Courtney Covington has been on the phone with a realtor discussing business regarding potential homeowners of the residential cottages that the Covington Group our building. She concludes the conversation which ends the call. She puts her phone down on the desk before a knock at the door and announcement from the housekeeper.
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Courtney opens the door to find the housekeeper standing there with a cart of cleaning equipment.
"Miss Covington, do you mind if someone else helps me out with cleaning your suite? "
"Sure"
Expecting another woman in a similar uniform much to her surprise it is a man in a suit that pops up behind the housekeeper.
"Dad?"
"Hello, Courtney." Daniel Covington addresses her.
The two of them barely have seen one another since Christmas. Courtney has mostly been working from her room, and when she did have to go into the office, she would manage to avoid him.
"Could you give my daughter and I some privacy?" he asks the housekeeper.
The housekeeper nods as he hands her a twenty-dollar bill. The hotel worker pushes her cart down the hall.
"Can I come in? " Daniel questions
"You always get what you want anyway."
Daniel steps in the room mostly impressed with the set-up of the suite. Notwithstanding, Courtney is dressed casually, which is typically different than her usual attire. She is wearing a red and blue stripe silk blouse with a pair of designer jeans, and her hair in a ponytail.
Courtney closes the door behind them. "Dad, this isn't you to be so silent," Courtney says albeit sarcastically.
Daniel puts both of his hands in his pockets. "I miss you at home, and around the tower, I know what I did come off as wrong. "
Courtney rolls her eyes. "Dad, you tried to sabotage my relationship with my boyfriend, you damn near succeeded."
Daniel along with Esther Saunders conjured up a way to break their children up by using Steven's ex-wife and son. Yet, it didn't go the way they had planned which is the result of Courtney staying in a hotel suite for going on two months.
"Look, I am sorry the pain it caused you."
"Dad it's just not about me, I know you think I'm making some big mistake dating him, but he is good for me, and for the first time in such a long time I'm happy in a relationship, do you want me to be happy daddy? "
Daniel does his best to alter his criticism of Steven Sullivan.
"He is an older guy, he has been through a lot, marriage and fatherhood. and as long as you're seeing him, you're going to come in as a last priority sweetheart."
Courtney shakes her head at her father's statement, despite having similar thoughts. She starts to become upset, yet manages to compose her anger.
"Dad, I know you love me, but I'm not your little girl anymore, I'm an adult who can make her own decisions besides, you're not lecturing Max on how he is dating the wrong person, with me though you giving me the third degree."
Daniel shifts his mouth downwardly not being able to agree or disagree with her assertion.
"I love all of my children the same, but you're different because you're my only daughter, I can't help but be very protective of you."
Courtney folds her arms on her chest. "I'm tired of going around in circles I will agree to come home. "
Daniel starts to express his excitement by loosening his muscles.
"Only on one condition."
"What is that?"
"The next time you see Steven, try to be civil to him, that's all I am asking dad," Courtney responds
Daniel's muscles begin tensing up again, at the thought of being nice to his daughter's much older boyfriend.
"For you sweetheart, I'll agree to your terms. " Daniel replies.
Courtney couldn't clarify whether her father was taking her demand serious or not. ? She knows she is completely exhausted of the hostility towards him.
"I'll hold you to it."
Daniel looks around the room. "I'm going to go downstairs to give you time to pack your belongings."
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"It's not going to take me long to get everything together."
Daniel shoots her a look of begging to differ.
"Courtney, you literally brought half of your bedroom in this suite." Daniel says lightly.
Courtney tries to fight her laughter. "I will meet you down in the lobby ."
Father and daughter both stare at one another realizing that they're taking a step forward to repair what had come in between them.
HOME FARM
Tanner takes a seat down on the loveseat, and Tommy decides to sit next to her.
She rubs her hands on her legs not sure if she is going crazy or just needed someone to talk to about this that isn't related to her.
"Yesterday my parents told my sister and me that after twenty years of marriage they're getting a divorce, " she replies. Tanner begins to feel saddened again.
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Tommy is silent.
Tommy's face begins to change into more of a somber expression. "I really miss her, and I'm going to tell you something that might not sound helpful."
"What is that I need to grow up and stop acting like a baby? " Tanner asks in anticipation.
"Be grateful that both of your parents are still alive, even if they aren't together anymore. It's every day that I wish my mother was alive."
Tanner is shocked to hear something so serious from him.
The door opens with Daniel and Courtney bringing in a multitude of luggage.
"Your sister is back home." Daniel publicly broadcast to his son and his friend.
"Dad, you could've gotten one of the staff to help us. " Courtney insists
"I got it," Daniel says in between bringing in two rolling suitcases that seem to have Courtney's entire winter wardrobe in them.
"If only I had a strong little brother to help." Courtney says half-comically.
Tommy gets up from his seat. "All right, I'm coming."
Tanner watches him amongst his family easily picking up one of the bags. She laughs when she heard Tommy teasing his father about joining a gym. It seemed to made her forget about her own problems for a few minutes.
UNIVERSITY CENTER BUILDING: APT #303
Antoine gets off the couch to sneak a peak out of the window being able to see the parking lot among other buildings around them. He is taken back by her words since he started dating her so he could make Shauna envious. He turns his head to face her.
"I guess I hadn't thought about anything long term I mean we just started seeing one another. "
Nichelle puts her bottle down on the end table beside her. "All I'm saying is that I've been in enough relationships where men claim they want commitment yet when you're trying to reach them nine times out of than that they're with their side chick. "
Antoine recognizes by the tone of her voice that she has been hurt by more than one guy. He then plops down back next to her on the couch.
"It's true that when it came to being with someone I ain't been perfect but hurting you, is definitely not my intention you gotta believe that Nichelle."
Nichelle takes a considerable amount of liquid from the bottle in an attempt to instinctually detect if he seems sincere or full of shit? She gets up off the couch putting both hands on her hips. "At least you are being honest with me. "
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Antoine too stands up from where he is sitting. "How long your roommate is gonna be gone?"
"All day."
Antoine lowers his head to kiss Nichelle on her lips. She reaches on her toes to do the same. Nichelle began taking off his brown long-sleeve Henley shirt above his head revealing his tone body. He unhooks her bra, then kisses on her neck. The two of them making out whilst they head to her bedroom to have sex together for the first time.
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN & COUNTRY
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Baby Steven's christening takes place.
Elijah and Tommy bond.
Louise opens up.
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