An Impressive Offering

Video Clip: An Impressive Offering

Time: Later the same day

Characters: Mason, C.C., Kelly, and Peter

Premise: Mason and C.C. are standing at the gift table. Kelly has just let Peter in who is carrying a present. She has filled him in about the mysterious phone call she received from Ginger Jones.

Mason: Well, since no one else will say it, Peter, I'll just jump right in. Welcome, nice of you to drop by.

Peter: I, um, brought something.

C.C.: Thank you, Peter, just put it there in the pile. Embarrassing isn't it, more and more every minute. I'm going to have to make this a two-day affair, one for dinner and cake, and the other for opening these gifts.

Mason: You love every second of it.

C.C.: Well, I have to admit it is an impressive offering.

Peter: An offering (Laughs.) That's good.

(Mason and C.C. stare at Peter as if they found his remark not only unfunny but also strange.)

Kelly: (Uneasy for Peter, she takes his arm.) Maybe we better go-

Peter: Okay. (They start to leave, but C.C.'s intervenes.)

C.C.: Peter, you are planning to attend?

Peter: Attend?

Mason: (In the tone one would say, 'Duh'.) The party. I assumed Kelly did invite you.

Peter: (Awkward, uncertain and subdued.) Oh, yeah, of course. I'm looking forward to it. It should be a lot of fun.

C.C.: (Approaches Peter) Good, enthusiasm, (pats him on the back,) that's what I like to hear. Now you haven't given up yet, have you, Peter?

Peter: Excuse me?

C.C.: I jest, a small joke.

Peter: Oh.

Kelly: Instead of us just standing around here trading insults, I think the three of us (Looking at Mason and then C.C.,) need to have a little talk.

Mason: I think you and Peter need to have a talk.

Kelly: He knows about Joe and how I feel about him.

C.C.: Well, then, he's ahead of the rest of us.

Mason: Another time, Kelly.

Kelly: Why not now? Look, how long are we going to stand around here pretending?

C.C.: Sweetheart, there's no need to get upset.

Kelly: Daddy, everybody holds everything in, no one lets go. Ever since I was a child it's like I'm not allowed to express my emotions.

Mason: Kelly, it's dad's birthday. I don't think we need to get into it right now.

C.C.: Kelly, tomorrow, when the party is over, then we can give you our full attention. Well, if anyone needs me I'll be upstairs dressing. (Starts to head for the stairs.)

Kelly: Daddy. (She approaches C.C. and he turns to listen to her.) Daddy, I need you now.

C.C.: Sweetheart, tomorrow, huh? Now, fix Peter something cold to drink, looks like he needs it and I'll see you later. (C.C. goes upstairs.)

Peter: I really could use that drink.

Mason: Kelly, why don't you go see what Rosa has in the kitchen? (She flashes him a not too friendly look but leaves quietly.) Well Peter, I assume from the way you sent Kelly off on that little errand that there is something you would like to discuss with me?

Peter: Well, Mason, I know this might be difficult for you to believe but I need your help.

Mason: I don't know about difficult, laughable, maybe.

Peter: There's a friend of mine, a very close friend, in big trouble.

Mason: Pity.

Peter: In fact there's certain people who want to do him physical harm. I know who they are. I have enough information on them to put them behind bars. What I would like to do is to testify against them but somehow keep my name out of it.

Mason: You're too much, Peter. Why don't you just admit that this friend is you? What'd you do, Peter? Did you knock up a waitress, somewhere? Run a traffic light? You know if it's a ticket you want fixed I can-

Peter: Mason! I need your help.

Mason: I thought we were talking about your friend.

Peter: It's a debt, a rather large debt from a few years ago. (Mason stares at him and he answers the unasked question.) Yes, It's my debt.

Mason: I see. That mysterious phone call that Kelly received?

Peter: It had something to do with it, yeah.

Mason: Well, not that I have any intention of loaning you the money, Peter, but how much are we talking about? Now, don't be shy, Peter, I'm not frightened by large figures.

Peter: A quarter of a million.

Mason: Whoa, my, my, that is a considerable lump of capital. A gambling problem the family doesn't know about?

Peter: Yes, it's like that.

Mason: You have to be more specific than that.

Peter: Okay, they're going to kill me if I don't give them the money.

Mason: That's specific. Does Kelly know anything about this?

Peter: No, she has no idea, Mason.

Mason: Good. Let's see that she doesn't get involved because if anything were to happen to Kelly, you'll be in a lot more trouble than you are right now.

Peter: Mason, can you loan me the money?

Mason: I would like to help, Peter, but my pocket book is a little tight at the moment.

Peter: I would do anything, anything, just tell me.

Mason: Well, I do have one thought, but it's such a long shot, I don't think you'd be interested.

Peter: Mason! In case you haven't noticed, I'm desperate.

Mason: All right, get Joe Perkins back in prison, and I'll see what I can do about forwarding you the money.

Peter: Okay, you got a deal. (Holds his hand out to shake.)

Mason: (Looking at Peter's outstretched hand in disgust.) Must we do that?

Peter: I'd feel a lot better if we did.

Mason: (Takes Peter's hand and shakes.) Get Perkins back in jail and then we'll all feel better.

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