Dad's Day Out part 10
Bo had no idea where he wanted to head first. His head wanted to rush to Lindsey’s gallery, his heart wanted to run home and hold Nora. He followed his head, he didn’t know what to expect when he got to Lindsey’s, and he wanted to spare Nora any more pain. He called Hank on his way to the gallery.
Bo: Hank!…I got it! I know where Matthew is!
Hank: Bo! That’s great, tell me and I’ll send the squads and I’ll meet you there! (Nora who was sitting near Hank bolted up and rushed to him) Yeah, she’s here…hang on…(Hank hands the phone to Nora)
Nora: Bo?
Bo: Nora…You ok?
Nora: No…no I’m not…
Bo: (pausing) Me neither…I’m going to get our son (pause)…I’ll have him home to you soon…
Nora: Please get him, Bo…Bring him home, to our house (pause)…our house…Bo…
Bo: Yeah…
Nora: I love you (her voice trembling)…I love you, Bo…
Bo: We’ll talk later…(he hangs up)
He was amazed at how her voice could touch him so deeply.
Nora: Hank…where was he going?
Hank: He has a lead…
Nora: Hank Gannon…you can’t hide things from me…where is Bo going? (looking him straight in the eye and pointing into his chest) where is our son?
Hank: He’s heading to the gallery…
Nora: Oh my God…(she falls into the chair again) no…not Lindsey…
Hank: No…not Lindsey…Melanie…she was released on bail about a week ago…Lindsey is behind bars…
Nora: I have to go…
Hank: NO! No…you let Bo take care of this…
Nora: Hank! This is my son!
Hank: And Bo’s- Nora…please let Bo do this…please…he’s Matthew’s father…he’s also the police Commissioner…
Nora: I don’t know Hank…(she puts her head in
her hands and exhales) I don’t know.
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As Bo speeds toward the gallery, he tries to formulate a plan. He has no clue why Melanie has his son, or what condition either of them will be in. He, for the most part, doesn’t even know Melanie, except for what he’s read in reports. He plays out many different scenarios, finally settles on a calm, reassuring persona, rather then the tough cop one. He sees the house, but it is uncomfortably dark. Bo stop in front and bolts up the walkway. He knocks on the door, no answer. He goes around the side delivery entrance and knocks on the door, nothing. He gets an uneasy knot in his stomach. He pulls out his phone as two squads arrive. The officers exit their vehicle and approach Bo.
Officer 1: Commissioner…
Bo: Looks like no one is here. I need to get in and check it out…
Officer 2: Hang on. (the officer pulls out a jimmy tool and goes to work on the lock) there you go sir…
Bo upholsters his gun and readies it. He and the officers
cautiously enter the dark gallery. Bo motions for the officers
to go to the left, while he goes to the right. The only light
is being cast from the small exit sign over. Slowly Bo creeps
around the closed gallery and into Lindsey’s residential
quarters, he holsters his gun when he realizes no one has occupied
the building in a few days. Downhearted, he calls the officers
back to himself and they retreat.
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Matthew: Mommy! (terrified) Mommy!!!!
Melanie: (rushing to Matthew’s bedside) sshhhh…. there, there sweetheart! (she cradles him in her arms and begins to rock him to sleep) It ok…I’m here…I’m here…
Matthew: I want my Mommy! (begins to cry again when he realizes he’s not with Nora) Mommy!
Melanie: Matthew…calm down precious…
The harder Matthew cries, the more anxious Roy becomes, running back and forth in the small room…
Matthew: MOMMY!!!! MOMMY WERE ARE YOU!!!!
With that Roy begins to bark and growl.
Melanie: Matthew! Come on…don’t you like our home?
Matthew: This is not my home!! I want my Mommy and Daddy!
Melanie: Well…(she begins to panic) I can’t get your mommy! She said she didn’t want you or your dog or you daddy any more!
Matthew: Mommy!!!!!
Melanie: Oh! (getting very frustrated) Oh! (she gets up from the bed and paces, what with Matthew crying and Roy barking) Stop!! Stop!!! STOP!!!!
Matthew looks terrified and puts his hand down for Roy to come to him. Roy jumps on the bed and takes a stance in front of Matthew and begins to growl at Melanie.
Melanie: You make him stop!
Matthew: I want my Mommy!
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Bo is heart broken. He wants to find Matthew, he wants to go to Nora with their son, he wants to go to Nora. His heart was aching with out his family; his arms wanted nothing more than to hold his family. He mind raced back to the day in the park, when he leaned against the tree, Nora sitting in front of him, holding Matthew. That picture was etched in his mind. This was his family, and he was now more determined than ever to find his son. And what ever problems Nora was going through, he was going to see her through it and be there waiting to take her in his arms when she was ready. He was going to get his family back; he just didn’t know where to start. Just then his phone rang…
Bo: Buchanan..
Hank: Bo! They got a call at the station…Pine Valley…Pine Cone in…a child crying, a dog barking, a woman yelling…Bo…
Bo: Hank! Thank you! I’m on my way!
Hank: I’ll be right behind you!
Bo: Call Pine Valley PD I am on my way!
Hank: Got it…
Bo: Thanks Hank…
Hank: Anytime…anytime…go get your son. (Hank hangs up)
Bo: (to himself) Dad’s coming buddy...dad’s comin’
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An hour later, Bo pulls up outside the small motel. There are four squads out side room 11, the officers have been keeping an eye and waiting for Commissioner Buchanan to arrive.
Bo: (to nearest officer) Anything?
Officer: A dog barking occasionally…
Bo: And the desk clerk?
Officer: Confirms McIver has booked the room on a weekly basis, no confirmation of the child or the dog—but that now stands corrected.
Bo: Thank you.
Hank pulls up with a couple Llanview officers. Hank gets out of the car and walks over to Bo.
Hank: You see him yet?
Bo: No…I’m going to the door now.
Hank: You want back up?
Bo: Just out here…I don’t know what I’ll find…
Hank: You will find you son…don’t think otherwise …
Bo: Where’s Nora?
Hank: She’s at home with Rachel…waiting for you…
Bo: (taking a deep breath and wiping his mouth) Thanks
Hank: She’s hurting, buddy…she needs you…and Matthew…
Bo: I’m going to get him.
Bo walks toward the room. It is quiet. The glow from the television cast a blue light on the room that shines out the slits on either side of the draperies. Bo knocks on the door, lightly, calmly…he doesn’t want to rile her. Melanie walks to the door, opening it with the chain still in place.
Melanie: Oh my God! (she closes the door, removes the safety chain, swings the door open and throws her arms around Bo’s neck) I knew you loved me!! (kissing him) I knew they were wrong about you!! You love me!!! (she kisses him deeply on the mouth)
Bo: Melanie…Is Matthew with you?
Melanie: Silly! Where else would our son be? (still hugging his neck as he walks into the room) We were waiting for you to find us! I love you Bo…
Bo: (the words “I love you Bo” are echoing through his mind, but its Nora’s voice) Where is he?
Melanie: He’s in the bedroom…Bo…I knew you loved him…I knew you loved me…now we can be a real family…
Bo: I want to see my son…
Melanie: Bo…lets leave Llanview…start our lives over…just you, me and our son…lets go to the ranch you used to tell me about…
Bo: (walks over to the bedroom, Melanie is mere inches behind him) would you go sit down…I want to be with my son for a minute…
Melanie: Alright...but don’t be long…we have lots of making up to do!
Bo: Yeah…(he walks into the room and closes the door behind him…he hears Matthew whimpering quietly. Roy lifts his head, sees its Bo and springs to his feet, wagging his tail.)
Matthew: What is it boy? (he sits up) Daddy!!!
Bo: Sshh! (Bo walks to the bed and hugs his son. He holds him and takes in the scent of his hair. Roy continues to wag his tail and pace on the bed) It’s ok buddy…dad’s here…I’m here…
Matthew: Daddy, why doesn’t Mommy want us anymore?
Bo: Matt…Mommy was just upset with Roy…she still wants him…
Matthew: No Daddy…aunt Lanie said Mommy doesn’t want me or you or Roy…all of us…
Bo: Matthew, that is a lie…you remember what I said about lies?
Matthew: Yes…
Bo: OK…just know it is a lie. Your Mom loves you very much…very much…now, you and I need to get out of here…so I need you to be a good boy and listen to me…
Matthew: I will Daddy…
Bo: This is going to sound very weird, but I am going to push you out through the window there…once you and Roy are out, Uncle Hank is out there waiting for you…you go to Uncle Hank…got it?
Matthew: Ok…
Bo opens the small bedroom window and pushes Matthew and Roy out. He then opens the door and walks into the main room where Melanie is waiting on the bed in a provocative pose.
Melanie: I’ve missed you baby…
Bo: Melanie, we have to talk…
Melanie: I know…I should have called you when I got Matt. But I knew you’d find us…and he was so happy with me…just like I knew he would be…
Bo: Melanie, you cannot take someone’s child…
Melanie: He’s our child Bo.
Bo: He’s my child…but he is not yours.
Melanie: But…when we get married, it will be the same thing…Bo, I waited so long for tonight…
She starts to crawl across the bed and gets on her knees in front of him.
Melanie: I wore your favorite teddy…do I still look
cute in it? (She begins to unbutton his shirt)
I want you to make love to me Bo…
Bo: (gently pushing her hands down and away from him) Melanie…(he rubs his forehead) Melanie, I am not the same man that you fell in love with…That man was not me…it was an imposter…you told the court you understood that…
Melanie: I know it was just Colin and Lindsey playing a trick…
Bo: No, it wasn’t. The man that you were going to marry was Kristoff Hesser…I am Bo Buchanan…
Melanie: You love me!
Bo: No, I’m sorry (he tries to remain calm and keep her calm) I am not in love with you. Melanie, I barely know you…
Melanie: Bo…please don’t say that…I have always been here for you…I know you had some problems…(she puts her arms around his neck) but now…now we can be together…
Bo: (removing her arms from his neck) Melanie…let’s go have some coffee and talk…
Melanie: I don’t want to talk…I want you…
Bo: Come on…let’s go talk…
He walks towards the door. He hears the familiar click of a revolver behind him. He slowly turns around. She is standing at the foot of the bed.
Melanie: I won’t live without you…(she has the gun pointed at her head)
Bo: Melanie, please…listen to me
Melanie: All I want to hear you say is you love me…that’s all I need…
Bo: Melanie…
Melanie: And I won’t let anyone else live a life with you…(she turns the gun on Bo)
Bo: Shhh…baby…you passed the test…
Melanie: (her voice cracks) I passed? (she begins to cry) You love me?
Bo: Yes…I love you…with all my heart…I love you…
She drops the gun and sits on the edge of the bed.
Melanie: Hold me…
Bo retrieves the gun and goes to sit with her.
Bo: Melanie, listen to me. I am Bo Buchanan…I know the man you intended to spend your life with looked like me. But he was not me…I barely know you, everything I know about you I read off a rap sheet at the station. Now, let’s get out of here…
Melanie: No! (starts to get hysterical) I love you!
Bo: I tried…I tried very hard to do this in a calm manner, but now (he stands up) now I am getting a little upset…now I will ask you once more, please come with me (he holds out his had)
Melanie stands up and takes his hand. He places a robe around her shoulders and heads to the door. He opens the door and waves his arm to signal its him and he walks out. He heads over to Hank. Two female officers take Melanie.
Bo: (to the officers) Wait! (they stop and look) she needs to go to the hospital…she needs medical attention…(one officer signals for a paramedic. To the medic) I think she needs to be admitted for observations. Tell the hospital I will be calling…
The medics take Melanie away and place her on a stretcher. They load her into the ambulance and take her away.
Bo: (to Hank) Where’s…
Hank: Back of my car
Bo: I’m taking him back to his mother…
Hank: She’s waiting…for both of you.
Bo: We’ve got a lot to talk about…
Hank: Talk…but don’t give up. You’ve both been through so much to get back to each other. She loves you beyond words…you and Matt, you guys are her dream…her world
Bo: Then why is it she acts as if I am the scourge of Llanview, sent to reek havoc on her life?
Hank: She’ll open up when she’s ready. If you love her, you’ll be there.
Bo: I don’t know Hank…I don’t know…
Hank: Funny…you two even sound the same…
Bo opens Hank’s car door and find Matthew, sound asleep on the back seat. Bo scoops him up, carries him to his truck and covers him with a blanket. He thanks Hank and takes off back to Nora’s
Rachel fell asleep on the couch. Nora continued to watch out the window. By this time, Asa and Renee, Vicki and Jessica and a couple of Rachel’s close friends had arrived at the house. They all wanted Nora to be with family, just in case things didn’t have a happy ending.
Renee: (Walking up behind Nora and placing her hand on her shoulder) Sweetheart, you’ve been standing here for an hour…come rest…have some tea.
Nora: I’m sorry Renee, I want to stay here, watch for Bo…
Renee: Ok…just stay calm…
Nora’s eyes grew wide and she turned and bolted to the door. By the time she got it open, his truck was making its way up the drive. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she watched him get out, walk around to the passenger side, open the door and slide Matthew out into his arms. Matt was barely awake. Bo’s heart pounded madly in his chest as he looked at Nora standing in the doorway. God how he loved her! As he neared her, she held out her arms to take Matthew, Bo placed the boy in her arms and she held him. She held him as if she would never let him go again.
Matthew: (sleepily) Mommy?
Nora: Its me baby….its mommy..(she kisses his head and walks into the house. She turns and looks at Bo) Thank you…
Bo: Anytime…
He watches her walk into the house. He knew she wanted him
to follow, but he hesitated. He had that feeling again. After
he promised himself he wouldn’t. He felt less than father
material. Less than husband material. He watched her walk into
the living room and the family gather around her. They all hugged
her as she continued to hold Matthew.
Roy was still in the truck. As Bo approached it, Roy began to
pop up and down excitedly. Bo gets into his truck.
Bo: What’s up boy? (petting the dog) Huh? (talking to the dog, but more to himself) C’mon…let’s get outta here…(looking at the house) I love you Red, I always will…
He puts the car in drive and pulls out.
To be continued.
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