A Scrapper in a Three-Piece Suit

Video Clip: A Scrapper in a Three-Piece Suit

Time: Right after the break-in to Channing's room

Setting: The guest room at the Capwell mansion

Characters: Mason and Cruz.

Premise: Having recovered from their first chat, Mason has returned to confront Cruz.

Mason: (Enters guest bedroom) How we're doing?

Cruz: (Lying in bed) Not bad actually. Have things calmed down outside?

Mason: Yeah, the police are gone. It's frustrating though.

Cruz: It's damn incompetent, if you ask me.

Mason: (Nods). Yeah. Cruz? I, um, I been thinking about some of the things you said to me the other night.

Cruz: And?

Mason: And, I was surprised when you said them. I mean, I had intended to be nothing but courteous and pleasant to you while you're here. You are a houseguest. Recuperating.

Cruz: But, you changed your mind?

Mason: Yeah. Clearly, you're recovered and you're strong enough to sling arrows at me. So, I'm force to believe that you're strong enough to take a few.

Cruz: (Smiles) Sling away.

Mason: You have, befriended Joe Perkins-

Cruz: -Mason, Joe Perkins and I go way back.

Mason: And you have allowed that friendship to come between any warmth or any friendship that my father and I might have to offer to you. You have in effect, smeared us for hating the man who killed my brother.

Cruz: I hardly meant to smear.

Mason: The death of my brother very nearly devastated my sisters and my father.

Cruz: I can understand that, but I know that Joe didn't do it.

Mason: We had to pull together to form an even tighter family unit. Just in order to survive. Just living was an ordeal.

Cruz: I know.

Mason: See, we do support each other when we have to. We've had to.

Cruz: And I have to support my friend. Friend, hell, he's like a brother. We grew up together. I threw footballs at him through high school. He made me look great. We won the CIF championship together in my senior year.

Mason: Cruz, I don't really give a damn.

Cruz: (Closes his eyes briefly and then opens them). I know you don't, Mason. I know, ( Gets out of bed and continues to talk as he goes sits on a sofa in the middle of the room), because you don't know him. Joe has always been a special guy. He had a chance to go places. He just needed to believe in himself a little bit. When he hooked up with Kelly (snaps fingers), it was like magic. They were a great team.

Mason: I think as soon as you're able, we're going to want to get you out of here.

Cruz: He loved your sister, man. And she loved him back. He would have never done anything to blow that. I don't get it, Mason. You think enough of me to put me up like a king, but when I do you the favor of telling you the truth, you're gone.

Mason: It isn't the truth.

Cruz: Shall I get out now?

Mason: I don't think we can tolerate it much longer.

Cruz: What can you do about it?

Mason: Well, I'm not sure, but we may have to retaliate in kind.

Cruz: Your father has offered me a great job. That's your idea of retaliating?

Mason: Well, my father is a very interesting man, Cruz. Very fair, you help him, he believes in returning the favor.

Cruz: Your father is a gentleman.

Mason: Yeah, I guess so. I'm more of a scrapper than he is.

Cruz: A scrapper in a three-piece suit.

Mason: Yeah. See, I-I fight openly. I, um, he's always been a fighter, but, he's always once removed. You know what I mean? I come in straight, and hard, when I have to.

Cruz: I think I'm being threatened.

Mason: I think so too.

Cruz: And what are you threatening me with?

Mason: (Pats Cruz on the shoulder). I'll know more in a couple of days.

Cruz: Why don't you give me a clue?

Mason:(Laughs) Well, Cruz, there are rumors about you.

Cruz: There are rumors about you, too, pal.

Mason: They're not pretty rumors, and they have to do with when you left town, and went to Texas.

Cruz: I went to Texas to work with Red Adair's team.

Mason: Well, they have nothing to do with Red Adair either. These are yours and yours alone.

Cruz: Mason, you're just blowing smoke.

Mason: Yeah. Well, as I recall, nobody wanted to believe those rumors at the time. I don't have anything concrete yet. When I do, I'll-

Cruz: When you do, I suppose we'll have another little chat.

Mason: When I do, you won't know what hit you.

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