EPISODE 6
Written by : Bre L. Drew
Last Time on Town and Country.
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Daniel was surprised to find to his eldest son, Max Covington on his doorstep.
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Martha confided in Shauna about how scared she is to tell her parents that she is pregnant out of wedlock .
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Shauna tried to convince Antoine that she wasn't interested in having a committed relationship.
HOME FARM
In spite of not seeing his eldest son Max Covington, in the last six months, Daniel Covington still hadn’t let him step foot inside of the mansion.
Physically he still looks the same, of his three children he has his late mother’s light brown eyes that can look green or hazel depending on the sunlight.
“Dad are you going to let me in, or am I trespassing on my family’s estate?“ Max Covington asks in a sarcastic nature.
Daniel silently opens the door wider, allowing him to enter with three suitcases, as well as his backpack on his back.
Daniel narrows his eyes at Max. “How long have you been off the boat?" he inspects
“Almost a week, and by the way Dad, remember when I FaceTime you a month ago, You told me in your exact words,” When you come to your senses and decide to get off that ship, then I would more than welcome you to come to live here.”
For the past six months, Max has been working on a popular cruise liner traveling primarily through the Caribbean and South America. Adding to their already fractured father-son relationship. Before he left New York, Max denounced his father’s hopes of him going to work at the Covington Group as he always envisioned.
Daniel scoffs “You still got a smart ass mouth, don’t you? “
Max nods his head, “Sorry to disappoint you, dad “
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THE WATERFALL BAR
Shauna Jackson is feeling grateful for the slowness of business on her shift at The Waterfall this time of the day. As she is standing behind the bar; she couldn’t get her mind off the fact earlier today, her BFF Martha Saunders confided in her that she is pregnant, and is afraid of the outcome of having the baby. On top of that her best friend Antoine Hall wanting to end their casual sexual relationship for the sake of a monogamous one. Nevertheless, she told him she wasn’t interested at this time mainly because she wants to date other guys.
Shauna then notices that her grandmother is standing right beside her with the cordless phone in her hand.
“ It’s for you,” Mae informs her as she hands over the phone to her granddaughter.
“Hello,"
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FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
On this sunny weekday afternoon, Sarah Lynn Saunders is sitting on the couch in the living room folding laundry. Casually she glances at the television, which the midday news is broadcasting on.
Trying to keep some composure as she descends downstairs, Martha Saunders goes over to her mother, still feeling quite nervous about telling both of her parents that she is pregnant out of wedlock. But she knows she can’t keep hiding it to herself for much longer and she couldn’t keep it to herself anymore either.
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Both mother and daughter give one other quick pleasantries,
Sarah Lynn can’t help but notice something deep is on her youngest daughter's mind.
“Martha, baby what’s wrong?“
She refuses to answer her question, fearful that she will instantly get emotional.
“Is dad around?" There is something I need to tell you both, “ Martha says, trying not to get choked up over her words.
Normally, Sarah Lynn would ask again what’s going on?
She knew that this was not the time to do so. She obtains her smartphone from the coffee table, knowing he is more than likely working in the fields. Before she can search through the contacts in her phone, she turns to see Peter Saunders coming through the front door. Like it is some kind of fate.
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“What’s up?“ Peter Saunders asks casually taking in the sight of both his wife and daughter.
Sarah Lynn fills Peter in about Martha having to tell them both something which sounds quite serious.
“You okay baby girl ?“ he wonders as he takes a seat next to Sarah Lynn on the couch.
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“I know you two thought that I was making a mistake when I first moved to L.A., “ I thought I was going to become the next big thing in the world of music."
Both of her parents exchange a similar look of agreement on the fact their daughter wasn’t ready to move two-thousand miles away from home.
“Sweetheart, what are you getting at?“ Sarah Lynn inquires not understanding what is she telling them.
“First of all, I didn't tell you that my manager dropped me as a client, and let’s just say that I’m putting my music endeavors on hold for now.”
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She can see that her father is about to get off the couch to go hug her, but she held up her hand to stop him from doing, so knowing she has to continue to tell them the truth.
“Mom, Dad, I’m pregnant.“
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HOME FARM
Daniel is finishing up his call with his secretary Evelyn on his iPhone, informing her that he’ll be in the office in about twenty minutes. He then ends the conversation when he sees Max coming down the stairs after putting his suitcases in one of the ten-bedroom in the west wing upstairs.
Max is hardly in favor of living in such a stuffy place. He instead prefers the six-bedroom townhouse on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he has lived most of his life. Wondering if this move is part of his father's mid-life crisis?
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“Gabriella is out getting things for your bedroom as well as more groceries,” Daniel mentions
“Since you will be living here now, I think we need to chat about your future Maximilian. “he adds
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Max is about to verbally protest at his father’s statement when the front door opens when Courtney Covington walks in dressed a black & white long and lean fit blazer. Her sunglasses are sitting on top of her head, and she is carrying a black Coach carryall bag wanting to know, why is her father is still at home and not at Covington?
Courtney moves her head to make sure that she was seeing her big brother is standing in front of her. Max picks her up off the ground as the two embraces one another, both glad to see one another for the first time in six months.
“Oh my god, I’m so happy to see you,” Courtney says meaningfully.
“I will let you two catch up," Daniel says; he then kisses Courtney on the cheek, and a gives a limp wave to Max on his way out.
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“Did I interrupt something?“ Courtney asks sensing the tension in the room between her father and older brother,
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“You know how a father can be when he doesn’t get what he wants," Max replies.
“Uh oh, you’re in a corporate mode, Dad is molding you into his image.”
“Ha, ha very funny,“ she swats his arm playfully,
Courtney hugs him again. “I’m so glad you’re here, “
Being one of the only few people that knows the reason why he left home to go work on the cruise ship was to escape the grief of losing their mother affected him much more than he will care to admit.
“ Well, if Dad and I don’t murder each other in the next 24 hours then I guess I will be glad to be here too, Court. “ Max half-jokes
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THE WATERFALL BAR
In the stockroom of the bar, Shauna is standing there after getting off the phone unexpectedly with her mother.
Their conversation resembled two acquaintances catching up on their lives, rather than one of a mother and daughter who hadn’t seen one another in seven months. Of course, her mother gave her patented apology for missing her college graduation, because as usual a man with money offered her a trip of a lifetime. So she couldn’t disappoint him by saying no. She also claims that she mailed off a gift that Shauna should be getting soon. But knowing her mother’s flightiness, she can expect something in a month or two when it clicks in that her only daughter graduated college.
She puts the phone on the shelf when she sees Antoine coming down the stairs from the apartment.
“Who was that ?“ Antoine Hall asks, having to overhear Shauna speaking to someone downstairs.
“I thought you’ll still be asleep,” she replies, not wanting to answer him. Already, feeling the awkwardness of the two of them being alone in the room after what all occurred yesterday.
Antoine places his hand on her shoulder. “ I don’t like seeing you upset.”
“ It was Cassie telling me her latest excuse as to why she didn’t show up. “
“ Where did this man take her this time?“
“ Jamaica,”
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Water starts coming out of Shauna's eyes, which she quickly wipes off her face, she hates being seen crying,
“You would think after nine years I should be used to her disappointing me,”
The pair then look at one another, and before they know it the two of them kiss. Antoine then holds out his hand, which Shauna takes as he leads them upstairs to have sex.
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FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
If she was lucky enough both her parents would rush over to tell her they will love her and support her no matter what.
​What Martha didn’t expect, however, was a deafening silence in the living room that you a pin dropping would cause a major upheaval.
“ Sweetie, it’s gonna be okay, and whatever you decide, you will have our full support. ” Sarah Lynn declares
“ I’m keeping the baby, “ Martha responds.
Truthfully, she is worried about her father knowing he wouldn’t take the news well since he believes in old-school values. So being pregnant out of wedlock isn't ideal for him, especially for his daughter.
“ Are you kidding me? “ he bellows. "You come back here from California all secretive, then you tell your mom and me, that you’re pregnant. “ Peter says abruptly
Martha's eyes get misty, “ Daddy it was not like that, I was scared to tell you because I know you wouldn't take it well," she says
“ So is the baby's father involved in any way?” Peter barks
Sarah Lynn instantly senses the answer to that question from her youngest daughter’s face.
Martha mumbles “No he isn't,”
She knew that her father wouldn’t take the news well but she never expected that he will turn beet red either.
“That is enough!“ The Saunders matriarch says louder than she anticipated. She then gets off the couch to place a loving arm around her daughter.
“ Our daughter is knocked up by some boy we don’t even know, and you wanna bury your head in the sand, Sare. “ Peter hollers, then he makes his way out of the house in an explosive manner.
“Dad hates me.“ Martha cries
“No he doesn’t hate you, Martha,“ She then wipes tears from her daughter’s face.
The two women watch Peter leaving out of the house explosively. Martha had never seen him so angry in her whole life.
“It’s going to be okay.” Sarah Lynn repeatedly tells her.
She honestly doesn’t have the right words in this situation herself, but she knows more importantly that her daughter needed those words at this moment.
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END OF EPISODE
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NEXT TIME ON TOWN AND COUNTRY
Peter drowns his sorrows.
Steven and Courtney go on their first date.
Louise and Sarah Lynn worry about their family.
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