Chapter 51

The Buchanan Mansion
Clint is on his cell phone while Nash and Echo whisper in conversation.

Nash (leans and whispers to his mother who is sitting across from him on a sofa): What did you mean when you said that it's time that I care about the Buchanan millions?

Echo: Ssh! He can hear you! What do you think it means? (She stretches her eyes)

Nash: I don't know! (He looks at Clint, who seems involved in phone conversation, then he glances at his mother again.) By the look on your face it looked like more than your usual rhetoric when it comes to schemes and scams!

Echo: Well, I'm not going to talk about it now, Son!

Clint (on phone): OK, Kevin. Understood. You'll keep me informed of the results. OK. Fine. Give me a call. (Hangs up phone and turns to them.) Duke's been located.

Nash: That's great!

Echo: Clint, you've gotta be relieved.

Clint (studies Echo, who appears uncomfortable): I am. I am. What's the matter Echo? Did I interrupt the two of you when I came in the room?

Echo: Oh why NO, Clint! Right Nash?

Nash: Ah I don't feel up to playing games. Yes you did interrupt us, Clint!

Echo: Nash!

Nash: My mother was just telling me how fortunate I am to be involved with such a generous family.

Clint (laughs): I figured as much. You mean the Buchanans' are loaded and you've got an inside with me. right son?

Echo (looks annoyed): That's not what I meant!

Clint: Oh Echo who are you trying to fool with that phoney outrage?

Nash: Oh Ma, I love ya--especially when I see your eyes just light up like slot machines at the mention of money.

Echo: Nash you've hurt my feelings.

Nash: C'mon, Ma? You're a lot tougher than people think!

Echo: And more sensitive than I like to show. Besides which, I brought you up with better manners! (Stands, looks slightly annoyed.)

Clint: What's the matter, Echo? You been called out on ya scheming?

Echo: I can see that Nash is in good humor and on the mend. (Leans to kiss Nash's brow. She looks at him lovingly and squeezes his hand.) I'll be back later. (Nash smiles at Echo and says, "OK.") Clint. (She nods.)

Clint: Echo.

Echo passes by Clint as she leaves. After she is gone, Clint asks, "You think we were kind hard on her?"

Nash: No.

Clint (laughs): I don't think so, really.

Nash: We both know that she is after something when it comes to your family, Clint.

Clint: I won't deny that I picked up on that.

Nash: I want you to know that I told her in no certain terms that I won't have any part of it.

Clint: What do you think she has in mind?

Nash: I don't know.

Clint (sits): Son, you know anything about Asa mixing it up with Echo at anytime out West?

Nash: An affair?

Clint: I wouldn't put it pass Asa but that's not what I meant. More along the lines of phone calls or letters?

Nash: No. We moved around a lot.

Clint: Must have been rough?

Nash: What can I say? I adjusted.

Clint: She was with some fella name Mackie, right? He was kind of a father to you? (studies his reaction.)

Nash: Yeah. (long pause.) Mackie used to beat her and me too until I got big enough to take him. Let's just say, well let's just say, I put an end to it.

Clint: Nash, I'm sorry.

Nash: Me too. Toughened me up and smartened me up so it's not all bad. Old news and from what I hear Mackie got involved with the wrong crowd and is somewhere in a large pool of water with cement blocks tied to his ankles. So, why do you ask about Asa and Echo?

Clint: Your mother says that Asa has been paying her off for years.

Nash: For what?

Clint: She wouldn't say. Wait let me correct myself. She was willing to tell me for a price.

Nash: Dammit! Clint, I'm sorry about that.

Clint: Why? It's not your fault!

Nash: Maybe it is. (Sighs) If I hadn't have shown up in Llanview and gotten involved with Jessica, she wouldn't be back in Llanview and trying to insinuate herself into your lives like a leech.

Clint: You knew Jessie as Tess and you had no idea that we were her family.
Echo's just looking to continue to get paid what Asa was paying her when he was alive. I don't know what this secret is. I tried to pretend like it didn't bother me but it might involve Dorian somehow.

Nash: What makes you think that?

Clint: Just a hunch. Anyway, I aim to get to the bottom of it.

Nash: How?

Clint: Oddly enough, by doing something she suggested. Echo seems to think Viki knows something.

Nash: About why your father was paying Echo off?

Clint: I don't know. Looks that way. I just left Viki and Dorian together. (Nash raises his brow, smirks and asks, "The two of them together, alone?") Yeah. Tell me about it. Anyway, I'm starting to wonder if Echo wasn't telling me the truth about Viki knowing something.

Nash: So what are you going to do?

Clint: What I intended to do days ago--ask Viki.

Nash: What about Dorian? Aren't you going to talk to her about what Viki may have said to her?

Clint: Of course I am. But I'm also going to speak to Viki. It's called covering your bases, son.
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LaBoulaie

Dorian: Clint and I have a son who lives in Llanview? (Is getting more upset. Her eyes water)

Viki: Yes Dorian as bizarre as it sounds. You have met your son. You know him.

Dorian (has look of disbelief and shock): But I don't! I don't know him at all. I won't accept that I've met someone who I brought into the world and didn't recognize him! Why are you trying to hurt me?

Viki: Oh Dorian I promise you that is not what I am trying to do. Please, please....

Dorian: All right. All right, then who is he?

Viki: Before I tell you his name.... Dorian let me assure you that I had no idea about any of this until... well before Asa died...

Dorian (cuts her off and walks toward the terrace doors): Asa! Well now I know it's a lie! You and Asa. The man hated me! (Turns and looks at Viki.) Asa came to visit me when I was in prison for Mitch's supposed death! I have had dreams about it lately, nightmares I suppose is what one would call it. (She recalls in her memory as she recounts Asa's visit to Viki:

Asa: So you're pregnant with a bambino?

Dorian: I suppose I can't hide the truth from you. My baby is a Buchanan.

Asa: So you claim. I need proof.

Dorian: I don't owe you any proof. Cassie told me that Clint is in Europe.

Asa: With his wife.

Dorian: I don't, I don't know what's going to happen to me but what happened with Mitch was in defense of my daughter. I am carrying Clint's child. Clint will want to know that. He'll help me get out of here even if his father won't lift a finger.

Asa: A man's dead. (Glances at her loose fitting prison outfit that conceals her bulging stomach). You're responsible for it. If that baby of yours is a Buchanan. I will see to it that he or she is taken care of. You say it was self-defense or to protect your child; that's gonna be hard to prove. Didn't your attorney try that defense? You're outta luck lady.

Dorian: I'm pregnant, Asa. I'm pregnant with Clint's baby. Are you going to let me rot here?

Dorian: He'd rather I be dead than spoil the happiness of the newlyweds.

Viki: You mean Clint and me?

"The thing that I remember, remember within the files of my mind is a prison riot in the eating quarters with food flying," Dorian tells Viki. "There is chaos. I, I, I am I think hit, hit....from behind! I... fall (Is getting emotional) I fall! I can't breathe (Viki comes to Dorian. She places her hand on Dorian's shoulder.)

Viki (whispers): Dorian, you do not have to put yourself through this.

Dorian: When I come to (Dorian looks into Viki's eyes) I am in the infirmary. (Dorian feels her stomach as she did at that moment years ago) Something is wrong! I look into the doctor's eyes (Dorian starts crying. Viki comforts her.) Wrong! My baby! Clint's baby is dead! (Viki continues to comfort her for awhile. Eventually, Dorian looks up at her.) Is my son alive, Viki?

Viki: Yes.

Dorian (attempts to regain her composure): How?

Viki: I do not know.

Dorian: Who is he?

Viki: Dorian your son is, is Nash Brennan.

Dorian is stunned.

Yet ANOTHER GREAT chapter!!!!!! I especially loved how you showed that even though Dorian and Viki are enemies that the still have a really deep connection, and that when one of them is really hurting bad they can sometimes put aside their differences and lend a shoulder.