EPISODE 208
Written by: Bre L. Drew
October 31, 2022
Last Time on Town and Country
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Despite Jordan walking in on Daniel and Dr. Toussaint, the men covered their tracks. In addition, Daniel contacted Gabriella for her to launch phase two of the plan to continue to drive Jordan out of her mind.
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Jacques is still pursuing Emma.
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Last year, Elijah, while drinking and driving, crashed his vehicle into a pole, nearly causing him to lose his life.
BARKER RESIDENCE
On this slightly windy Halloween evening, Lynn Lockhart makes the familiar turn onto the tree-lined street in the retro green Fiat where Elijah and his family reside. Kids were in costumes, eagerly carrying their plastic pumpkin buckets while parents and guardians were close by; outdoor house lights were lit, including the Barker residence, where she steered her car into the driveway.
Next to her, in the passenger seat, her boyfriend turns to her. "Thanks for coming with me."
"I wouldn't have missed it. I know the importance of tonight means to you, Elijah,"
Elijah takes a small object from his jacket pocket and stares at the one-year sobriety chip he received in AA this evening.
"Who knew Halloween last year would be my wake-up call?"
​
Last year, Lenny's friends and his parents organized an intervention to get him to stop drinking alcohol since he had been drinking a lot while trying to cope with the pressures of work and college. However, he couldn't cope with what he felt was everyone ganging up on him, and while driving to the bar that served illegal minors, he crashed into his pole while drinking. He soon was under arrest for DWI, and he had to go to court, possibly to be thrown in jail, though the judge gave him light advice, advising him to seek help, which he ultimately did.
"I was so scared when I got that call that you were in the hospital ... I know I don't say this often, but I care a lot about you, and I don't know what I do if anything would've happened to you," Lenny says meaningfully.
Elijah leans over to kiss his girlfriend.
The two soon get out of the vehicle and up to the front door, where Elijah uses his key to let himself in.
However, when he walks into the house, he moves into the dining room, decorated with a tropical theme, including the tablecloth and balloons, where he finds Tanner Lockhart, Aaliyah Gupta, and Presley McKnight decked out in hula gear.
They all burst into cheering when they see him.
Elijah grins at the sight in front of him as Lenny places her around her boyfriend.
HOME FARM
Tommy Covington and Jordan McKnight lie naked underneath the sheets of Tommy's king-sized bed in his bedroom, located on the second floor of the mansion on the Home Farm estate. Only moments ago, the two were having sex, which could be described as lustful with no strings attached.
While glancing at the time on his iPhone, he quickly moves out of bed and off the nightstand.
​
"Ready to get away from me already?" Jordan asks teasingly
The young man putting his pants on from the floor shakes his head."No, I lost complete track of time; I've got to get out of here."
"Some big Halloween party on campus at the frat house?"
Tommy grabs his change of clothes from his desk chair. "No, just a few of us getting together at Elijah's,"
"Guess my invite got lost somewhere."
Tommy couldn't tell whether she was joking or not until she cracked a huge smile.
"Oh my god, I had you there, didn't I?" Jordan replies jokingly. "Anyway, I'm taking a certain ex-girlfriend who will be there. You still care about her, don't you? "
Tommy stays silent for a few seconds, though it's obvious to her what the answer is.
"You and my brother can do better than her."
"Jordan, look, as the mother of my son, I respect you, but please don't comment on my personal life," Tommy tells her straightforwardly.
"I'm sorry," Jordan tells him. "Guess I'm still pissed off at what happened the other day."
"What happened?"
Jordan exhales while she decides to inform him. "When I went for my most recent therapy session, and uh, you'll never believe who I saw there."
Tommy sits back on the end of the bed. "Who?" he asks curiously.
She lowers her voice. "Your father was trying to get information on how I was doing, but Dr. Toussaint refused to tell him, then he left,"
Tommy gives a perplexed glare at her. "Why in the hell would he do that?"
"Because your father believes he has the right to do whatever he damn well pleases; look, it's over now; hurry up and get showered before I pull you back in for more."
He chuckles while he gets up from bed to take a shower.
While taking a hearty sip of his scotch, Daniel Covington collects his thoughts at the mini bar in the living room. This was on this night, his second phase of the plan to drive Jordan out of her mind. He is determined not to let the girl one day take that boy, his grandson, out of this house to God knows where.
The resonance of heels descending from the staircase gets his attention.
Deirdre Covington approaches him in a colorful long-sleeved floral maxi dress. "Are you drinking alone, or would you like some company?"
Daniel smiles affably, "You're always welcome, mother."
He fixes her a glass of scotch, which she graciously accepts.
"So how is that plan coming to get that girl out of this house for good?"
"If everything goes to plan, we will not only get that girl from under this roof, but Tommy will be raising Jeremy here like it should've remained before Jordan came crashing into town after being gone for all those months."
Deirdre remains standing while he takes a drink. "It cannot happen soon enough."
Daniel fiddles with his belt on his pants, "until it does, this stays between us. I don't need this to get out," He then quickly informs her about Jordan walking in on him and Dr. Toussaint and how they covered their tracks so she wouldn't find out herself.
"Your secret is safe with me," Deirdre winks.
Daniel paces over to the couch with the drink in hand. "Speaking of deception, what have you been up to lately, mother?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," she says coyly.
But in reality, she hired Jacques to seduce Emma away from Will Jackson, believing her daughter deserved better than him. In exchange, she will give him the funds to salvage his family's once-prominent shipping company.
"Yeah, right," Daniel says sarcastically.
Deirdre takes a seat on the couch while offering an assuring smirk.
​
"Oh, son, there's so much I still have to teach you,"
THE CLIFFE
Lorenzo Vidal captures the clubgoers on his iPhone in eclectic ensembles on the dance floor performing the "Cuff It Challenge" courtesy of DJ Fingaz, playing the Beyonce hit inside the club. Some were dancing to the rhythm, while others weren't, though it's evident they were all having fun on this Halloween night.
"This ain't somethin' you don't see every day in this town," Will Jackson says, standing next to him and watching them dance.
The club manager is decked as "The Joker" with a purple suit, green wig, and applied makeup.
"You tell me, but it will probably get good numbers on the club's socials," Lorenzo replies
The social media rep is in a skeleton costume.
As he bows his head in agreement, Will notices someone coming their way. At first, he isn't sure, but as he comes closer, he realizes it is Jacques Laurent.
"You gotta be kiddin' me," Will says under his breath.
"What?" Lorenzo asks him. He then sees who he is referring to.
The wealthy French man, or "James Bond," is wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie with equally expensive shoes.
"If you are here to start some shit, then you can walk on outta here," Will confronts him.
Jacques scoffs while he rises to his full height, towering over his former fiancée's current lover. "I know I'm somewhat foreign to American laws, but the last time I checked, this was a public place, Jackson,"
Will is about to square off with him as Emma Covington, or "Harley Quinn," whom she is dressed as, prepares to break up the fight.
"Hey, hey, what is going on?"
"I need to talk to you," Jacques tells her. The expression he gives her also indicates he might reveal that he might have had dinner with him the other evening, which Will doesn't know about.
She places a calming hand on her beau's arm to steady him.
​
"I'm going to talk to him,"
"You need me to handle it?"
Jacques smiles charismatically. "Emma never needed anyone to fight her battles."
Will is about to strike him, though she and Lorenzo prevent him from doing so.
"Go to the bar. I'll be over there in a bit," she warns Will.
He gives a somewhat cooperative nod while he watches them go up to her office.
"You, all right?" Lorenzo asks him.
"Depends on whether or not I get my hands around that bastard's neck."
​
BARKER RESIDENCE
By this point, Elijah had changed into a khaki Hula Girl Print Front Button short-sleeve shirt and a lei around his neck. The small gathering is now underway as the thumping bass of Tems' "Free Mind" casually played in the background via the Spotify App on the television in the living room.
"Oh, Lorenzo had to work tonight, or he would've been here, but he told me he'd call you later," Aaliyah informs her friend about her boyfriend.
"I thought you all would be at The Cliffe tonight," Elijah says
Tanner stands beside Presley and smiles with a cup of punch in her hand. "It's nowhere else we would rather be, especially tonight. You've been there for all of us through one crisis; or another, so it makes sense we come together to celebrate your sobriety."
​
"My sister is better with words than I am," Lenny jokingly remarks. "But I was the one who managed to get your parents to let us throw this little party for you and was able to convince them to go out to a movie."
A small round of laughter and applause comes from the group when the doorbell rings, which Elijah volunteers to answer.
When he opens the door, he finds Tommy Covington wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
​
"Hey, Lenny, want to help me in the kitchen with the snacks?" Aaliyah asks.
"Sure," Lynn replies.
The two young women make their move into the other room.
​
"Hey man," Tommy greets him.
"Hey," Elijah replies, somewhat uncertainly, knowing the space is about to feel uncomfortable since Tommy's ex-girlfriend's here with her current boyfriend, whose sister Tommy is sleeping with again.
Tommy moves further into the house as he spots Tanner laughing at something with Presley. Soon the two see him, not exactly keen on seeing him.
"Tread lightly," Elijah warns him.
"What are you talking about?" Tommy somewhat mocks.
The other day he remembers Tanner telling him that despite her being with Presley, she still was taken aback by the news that he was having sex with Jordan.
"Like I said, tread lightly,"
With that, Elijah towards the kitchen where his girlfriend is with Aaliyah. Meanwhile, Tommy casually makes his way into the dining room.
​
"Hey, you two," Tommy says casually.
Tanner remains silent while Presley nods informally.
"Sorry I'm late, but I lost track of time."
"It doesn't take long for Tanner to realize what he hadn't been doing while Presley shakes his head.
"Look, whatever is going on between you and my sister is none of my business, but if this affects her or my nephew in the wrong way, it will become my business."
Tommy scoffs at the thinly veiled threat as he moves away, but not before giving Tanner a sincere look.
"I'm sorry about that," Tanner tells her older boyfriend.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," Presley says to her. And thanks to telling me about Covington and my sister, I'm one of the few who can keep an eye on her without feeling like she's being overcrowded."
He places a strong kiss on her lips, which makes her smile with exhilaration.
"Let's say bye to everyone else and get out of here. We can get a bite to eat, "
In a way, Presley knows Tanner is still affected by what's happening with Tommy and his sister, but he agrees, deciding he has had enough company for one night.
THE CLIFFE
At that moment, DJ Fingaz decided to switch it up by selecting "All That Glitters" by Earl. Emma shuts the door of her office above the bar.
"What in the hell are you doing here, Jacques?" She questions him.
"To have a drink and see what this town considers a Halloween celebration," he says sardonically
Despite being lured to town by Emma's own mother, Jacques hadn't stopped thinking about the woman who almost became his bride, although his own greed made it not come to fruition.
"Look, I had a nice time at dinner, and yes, if things were different, perhaps I might be stupid enough to give you another chance, but I'm happy with my life right now,"
"So, you are satisfied with an ex-con who, unlike me, can't afford to give you the finer things in life?"
Emma exhales sharply at him.
"Last time I checked, I can buy my own things, and second, Will is more of a man than you will ever be," Emma retorts.
​
"Is that why you hadn't told him we had dinner together?"
Emma doesn't hide her confusion at that line of questioning.
Downstairs, Will is behind the bar as other customers obtain their drinks from the bartenders. He tries his best not to charge up there to tell Jacques to leave but manages not to.
"What can we do to get some service around here?"
The familiar person's tone behind that greeting makes Will realize that Martha Saunders and Samuel Gupta are now sitting across from him. The couple, dressed as Sonny and Cher, including wigs and a 70's inspired wardrobe.
"Hey, how did the little man do candy-wise this year?"
He knew that Martha and her boyfriend were come here after taking SJ out for trick-or-treating,
"He's got enough candy to last him until next year, but I managed to hide some of it. I didn't need him to get into a sugar high tonight." Martha says of her three-year-old son.
"How you doin', man?" "Will" addresses Samuel.
"I've been good, but now even better since I get a night off and spend it with this gorgeous girl."
"Words I will never get tired of hearing,"
Last year, Will recalled Martha having romantic feelings for him, though he knew something he'd do would cause conflict between them, and not wanting to ruin their friendship, he had her believe that he was involved with Emma, though he hadn't known they would become a couple in their own right. And Martha is now dating someone better for her.
Martha sees that Will keeps staring up at the office.
"What's going on up there?" she asks in her best Cher impression over the loud noise; she then tosses back the long brown wig too.
Will tells them that Jacques showed up wanting to speak with Emma.
"Wonder what for?" Samuel examines.
​
"If I had it my way, hopefully, he'd be tellin' her he's gettin on the first plane back to Paris."
"You don't think nothing is going on; between them behind your back, do you?" Martha discloses
Will meditates on what his mother said about not completely trusting Emma; though he knows she is far from perfect; she wouldn't be so desperate to fall for Jacques' bull.
Will glances up at the office. "That ain't gonna happen, that's for damn sure."
He changes the subject by asking what the two want to drink.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Emma fibs while she pretends to straighten her desk.
"You claim that Willie is more of a man than I am, but you haven't told him about our evening together. If he's such a man, then he would understand that nothing happened." Jacques notes, "I bet that bracelet I gave you will look incredible on your arm."
During their dinner at The Chateau, he gifted her an exquisite and pricey diamond bracelet that he knew was the most expensive thing she had gotten, which is something Will couldn't get her. Unbeknownst to Will, she still possesses the jewelry, though hadn't looked at it since,
Emma turns around with an unsatisfied countenance. "What do you want?" she asks heatedly, with her hands on her desk.
​
He inches closer to her, licking his lips with the confidence he has obtained when it comes to the opposite sex.
"You know what I want," Jacques says breathlessly.
Emma is left speechless while staring at him when Will, whose makeup is washed off, opens the door and enters as Jacques pulls back away. "Everything all right here?" He queries the two of them, who turn to him.
"Yeah," Emma says, finding her voice again. "Jacques was just going down to the bar to get a drink and leave, weren't you?"
At first, he is silent, but he opens his mouth.
"Of course, nice seeing you as always," he says, mainly to Emma. He then strolls out of the office, shutting the door behind them.
"Brotha needs to take a hint and roll up outta here. If I see him, I'm gonna tell him that,"
Emma wraps her arms around her lover's muscular arms.
Let's not let Jacques Laurent ruin the rest of our night. Do you realize it's been a year?" She looks at the couch suggestively.
Will is about to ask what she is talking about, until he remembers last Halloween. It marked the first time they had slept together.
"Well, let's not screw with tradition,"
They start making out passionately, which lands them on the couch, where they continue to enjoy one another.
HOME FARM
After taking a long, steamy shower in one of the many bathrooms upstairs, Jordan enters her bedroom while closing the door behind her. She checks herself in the mirror in her black satin robe while taking her comb through her wet hair.
She starts to think about her and Tommy together in his bed, and she couldn't help how good it made her feel.
"You're never going to be enough!"
The voice comes out of nowhere, startling the young woman while she places the comb on top of the dresser.
"What the hell?" she says to herself. Jordan opened the door to see if anyone was in the hallway, but no one was there.
When she goes back into the bedroom, she tries to understand what is happening as it reminds her of the other day, some weeks back, hearing the cries of a baby, which she mistakenly thought were from Jeremy, but wasn't. Now she is hearing voices, which doesn't make any sense.
"Is this some immature Halloween prank? Because if it is, it isn't funny," she expresses vocally.
"You're not good enough!" an unknown voice state. "You're not a good mother!"
Jordan shakes her head while she goes to her purse to obtain her prescription for sedatives, which she grabs and goes to the bathroom she showered in earlier. She places the pill into her mouth and lets the water from the faucet fill her mouth, which she uses to swallow. She then glances at herself in the mirror, trying to capture her composure.
"It's all in your head," she tells herself, hoping it's the truth.
​
***
As Gabriella goes to apprise Daniel, she reflects on using the voice changer device to disguise her normal tone to haunt Jordan, convincing her that she isn't enough from the storage closet, speaking over the vent located beside Jordan's bedroom.
No one will suspect her of going in and out of the closet since it's where the household staff maintains additional cleaning supplies. She elicits a wicked grin while picking up the pace to go downstairs.
​
END OF EPISODE
​
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