Chapter 57

Llanview Marriott
Downtown Llanview
early afternoon

All or Nothing at All
written by Jack Lawrence/Arthur Altman

Duke is coming out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around him, having just taken a shower with his lover, a dark-haired ruggedly handsome male name Mark. Mark is sitting on the bed in his robe and is checking Duke's cell phone.

Duke: What are you doing? Did it ring again?

Mark: Your dad sent a text message. Something about a Clinton and that you should call immediately.

Duke (takes the phone): It could be important. (dials and get's his father's voice mail) Damn! He could be at the hospital already if it's Clinton.

Mark (eyes Duke lasciviously): This mean you have to go lover?

Duke: Yes if it's my Aunt Jessica and something serious with her baby.... I have to make sure everyone's all right. (Looks around for his clothes that are neatly folded on the dresser.)

Mark (approaches but is still in back of him): So, is Kelly going to be there?

Duke (slipping on blue jeans): I, I, I don't know. (Turns to look at Mark.) I told you. I ended it with her. It was a mistake.

Mark: Your dad is OK with the two of you.

Duke (is buttoning a shirt): Not quite. (Sighs) I'm the one who is ashamed. (Looks at Mark) I told you, the test was negative. I'm not her baby's father. (Slowly approaches Mark and then caresses his face) I don't want her. I was confused. I want you. (They kiss and look into each other's eyes) I gotta go.

He grabs his keys and wallet and then leaves. The phone rings. Mark picks up the phone and says, "Don't worry about it. I said, Shut the hell up!" He slams down the phone.

-----------------------------------------
The Buchanan Mansion

Dorian enters through the doors first and then Clint follows. She goes into the living room and then he enters the room and closes the doors. Dorian turns and watches as he pours himself a bourbon. He drinks the entire glass of alcohol and pours himself another drink.

Dorian (looks worried): All right. We're here on your turf on your terms and in private. (Clint looks devastated.)

Clint: A boy?

Dorian: Yes.

Clint: The baby, our baby! He's, he's dead?

Dorian: Clint, I thought.... (she stops.)

Clint (slams down his drink): The baby is either dead or he's not dead, Dorian! I want to know the truth! Tell me the truth! (He looks at her with anger.)

Dorian: All right (folds arms.) I thought our baby had died but he is alive.

Clint (looks annoyed): What? (pours more to drink.)

Dorian: Downing the booze won't drown the pain! (He looks at her and then throws his glass into the unlit fireplace. Dorian jumps. Clint looks at Dorian with a mixture of fury and hurt. Dorian steps toward him. She looks as though she is about to cry but suddenly has a look of toughness.) Are you finished?

Clint (has a long pause): No. I want to know the entire story from start to finish.

Dorian: I gave birth to your child while I was in prison for Mitch's murder and you were in Europe with your wife.

As time elapses, Dorian tells him about her visit from Asa at Statesville Prison. Clint curses in fury and Dorian has to stop talking until he is prepared for her continue. She tells him Viki has known about this secret, though she supposedly blocked it from her memory.

Clint and Dorian are now standing by the fireplace mantel. Clint says, "I'm sorry that you were, you were alone and that you felt as though, as though you couldn't, couldn't tell me, you couldn't tell me the truth."

Dorian: Why would I want to see you suffer?

Clint: Why? The pain, pain shared is lessened. I had, we had a son. You grieved him alone. And Pa! Asa (he grimaces, turns, has a flash of anger.)

Dorian: He didn't want to disrupt the matrimonial bliss. And Viki was pregnant with Jessica.

Clint (walks away from the fireplace and sits on the sofa): He denied me Cord, you know? And VIKI! (has look of ire.)

Dorian (joins him and sits beside him): She said that she didn't know, that she couldn't remember it, but then Asa confided in her on his death bed so she has known for quite some time!

Clint (takes Dorian's hand into his): Alive. Nevermind Viki for now. You said (he shakes his head in disbelief and with a look of confusion.)

Dorian: Clint, our son is indeed alive.

Clint stands abruptly. He exclaims. "Dear God! Dorian, wha?"

Dorian (stands and looks him in the eyes): My darling. Our son was at the hospital tonight.

Clint (frowns): You were at the nursery. You said, said, you said, Clinton, that he, that he.... Dorian are you saying our son, our son is Nash?

Dorian: The night that Asa shared the truth with Viki, she said that she pulled a picture from a nightstand. (Clint is looking at her and still shaking his head. She steps closer to him and rests her hand on his arm.) The picture Viki saw that night was of our blue eyed, blond haired son. Yes Clint. Our son is Nash.

Clint: Nash?

Dorian: I couldn't believe it.

Clint: Nash? Dorian are you sure? Nash?

Dorian: Oh well Viki claims that it was because she was uncertain and that she had to be sure that she decided to withhold the truth from the two of us for all this time but of course she wanted to prolong our suffering! (Clint still looks dazed; he turns away, trying to make sense of all that he has heard) I mean Nash was in the hospital he could have died and I, we, never would have known! Ugh, I hate her!

Clint: Nash? Wait, wait, back up. Why now? What makes Viki certain of the truth now? (He walks away from Dorian; he still has a look of confusion.) Why now?

Dorian: Echo! Echo threatened to reveal it all and that Viki knew the truth for YEARS and withheld it from us so Viki was forced to tell the truth!

Clint (murmurs): Echo! Ah the blackmail. (Clint recalls Echo's visit and their cryptic conversation at the Buke mansion.)

The Buchanan mansion, morning

Echo pauses, glances to see that Dorian is up the stairs, approaches Clint to wipe the lipstick stain from his cheek; he looks annoyed and moves her hand. She apologizes.

Clint (gestures toward the living room): Why don't you step inside and commence to telling me what was so important?

Echo turns, enters the room. Clint follows, closes the doors. Moments later, Dorian heads down the stairs, and cracks the double doors as she leans to listen.

Clint offers, "Coffee?"

Echo sits and replies, "Yes, please. Black."

Clint brings her the coffee and remains standing.

Echo (sips coffee, glances his angry look): Why are you so angry with me? I don't recall you being so angry all the time.

Clint: Angry doesn't begin to cover it. You knew that I was trying to find you in California and then you just took off!

Echo: I had to leave where I was stayin'!

Clint: I left word that it was about Nash! Nash could have died and you wouldn't have even caught wind of it until he was six feet under!

(Dorian, still listening, nods)

Echo (forcefully places coffee on the table in front of her and then, stands): I care about that boy, Clint! As much as any mother ever will!

Clint: That's good! You're his momma! He needed ya and you couldn't be bothered!

Echo: I don't care what you have to say about me Clint Buchanan! I love Nash! I've taken care of him for all these years and--

Clint: Oh really? What kind of trouble are you in, Echo?

Echo: Trouble?

Clint: Don't even try to deny it.

Echo: All right. No point in mincing words.... I have been... Your father..

Clint: Asa?

Echo: Asa and I have never really gotten along, especially after I staged my drowning and

Clint: I nearly went to prison. Go on! Go on!

Echo: There were other things..

Clint: Things between you and Asa?

(Dorian whispers, "Asa?")

Echo: I was on Asa's payroll, Clint.

Clint: You WHAT?! (Dorian looks angry as she leans into the door for a better listen)

Echo (steps toward him): Now Clint before you fly off!

Clint: Before I get angry at you slithering in here making up lies about my dead Pa!

Echo: I'm not lying! Will you just let me finish?!

Clint: I'll do ya one better than that! I'll do better than that! I can show you the door!

(Dorian backs away from the door)

Echo: What's the matter Cowboy? You afraid to hear the truth about your daddy?

Clint: All right. FINE! (Dorian moves back to the door) You sure as hell better start from the beginning if you expect me to believe anything outta your lying mouth in disrespect to Asa, who is no longer alive to defend himself!

Echo: You and I both know that Asa carried a lot of secrets with him to his grave.

Clint paces the room, glances at the door. His back is to Echo. He smiles at seeing the door move. He turns to look at Echo and suggests, "You said this had to do with Viki. How?"

Echo: Asa sent me the money.... for nearly 30 years.

Clint: AND?

Echo: You're making this difficult.

Clint: You aren't going to tell me are you unless I continue to pay you? (Squints eyes in anger) Well you can just get outta my Pa's house lady!

Echo: Clint, you aren't at least interested in what I have to say?

Clint: I could give a damn about your blackmailing my Pa! He's dead. For all I know you could be feeding me nothin' but lies! Wouldn't be the first time! I ain't doin' my pa's bidding. A fine young man like Nash doesn't deserve to have a gutter rat like you for a Ma!

Echo (chuckles at the remark, shrugs, has an indignant look): Nashby. (She is close to Clint now and looks him in the eyes) I'm going to watch out for him and me too while I'm at it. (Stares) The two of you look a lot a like. You. Nash... could pass for father and son.

Clint: We're not. (Clint grabs Echo's arm. Dorian watches, and impulsively moves to enter but stops herself.) Don't play games with me. I'll win.

Echo (attempts to remove herself from his hold): Your father took a secret to his grave that will change your life forever. I know what it is.

Clint: So you say. And Viki?

Echo(pulls her arm from his grip): Why don't you ask her? I've said all that I need to say. (Dorian sees her heading toward the door and scurries up the stairs.)

Clint has an annoyed expression, curses while Echo leaves the room. He hears Echo in the foyer yell to Dorian: "Coast is clear!" Echo slams the front door as she leaves.

Dorian questions, "Clint, Are you all right?"

Clint exclaims. "A cooked up buncha LIES!"

Dorian approaches him and then stops, "Lies?"

Clint: No, no I believe that you gave birth but no, Nash ain't our son. No Dorian, our son, our son died. And that witch is haggling to get money out me since my Pa is dead and she can't blackmail him anymore!

Dorian: No. I ... don't do this!

Clint: Look, it adds up!

Dorian: No, I don't believe that's true. Clint, I, well, what happened at the hospital with my donating blood. And Clint, the bond, the bond that the two of you have. Clint, Nash is your son! We have to tell him!

Clint (mutters): Jessica. Clinton. (He holds Dorian's hands, squeezes them.) I've gotta. I've gotta think, clear my head. (He is releases her hands, is about to leave but then returns and kisses her brow.) Riding. I've gotta clear head!

Dorian: Riding? (Shakes her head.) You're leaving to go riding at a time like this?

Clint: Dorian, I can't think! (He goes to the bar area grabs a bottle of bourbon and he leaves in the direction of the stables.)

"Clint!" Dorian exclaims. She is standing with a devastated expression and appears to be on the verge of tears but withholds them.
All Or Nothing At All
by Diana Krall

The scene picks up with Clint placing the saddle on one of the horses from the stables. He places the bourbon into the saddle pocket and then he somehow manages to climb on top of the horse.

Back at the Buke mansion, Dorian mutters, "All or nothing, cowboy!" She grabs keys from the bar area and then she races out the door.

Love the flashback, you have these two down to a tee. So Dorian is going to tell Nash the truth huh? Well it's about time! lol

Nash won't be finding out yet.

A girl can dream can't she!