Strictly Exposed: Part 1 [ #Surprise25 ]

 

[ TA Care . . .Break Room. ]

 

[ A somber morning, Tiesun is indulging

in her blueberry muffin when Rediki

enters the doorway. ]

 

TIESUN: Hey.  How did your play

time with the kiddos go?

 

REDIKI: It was fine.  A tad too much

excitement for first thing though.

 

TIESUN: Well, that was our goal. 

 

I bet you’re awake and ready to

conquer the day now.

 

REDIKI: Yeah.  Totally.

 

[ Walking across the room, he

moves a chair close to her and sits

down. His eyes fixed on her face. ]

 

REDIKI: First time I’ve done ‘Duck,

Duck, Goose’ in a suit.

 

TIESUN: Yeah, the owner likes us

to be dressed well.  It set us apart. 

 

REDIKI: I can’t say how much I

appreciate everyone giving me a

chance here.  

And your help especially.

 

TIESUN: We’re happy to have you.

And you seem to be adjusting.  It’s

like a family here at TA.  

You’ll learn that soon. 

 

In fact, I just got an invitation to

the nominee’s brunch on Saturday.

 

Would you like to be my plus

one?

 

REDIKI: That sounds intriguing.

 

I’d love to.  I have to get going

though.  I have a counseling

session at noon.

 

TIESUN:  Oh right.  See ya.

 

[ He leaves for the parking lot. ]

[ Yaz’ Apartment . . .Later That Day. ]

 

[ Erme & Yaz are cuddled together on

a bench, looking over the view off her

balcony. ]

 

YAZ: As much as I enjoy your company

here every day, don’t you want to go home

some time and visit with your animals?

 

[ Erme drops her hand, standing up fast. ]

 

ERME: Not right now.

 

YAZ: Why?

 

YAZ: Then don’t.  Tell me the real reason.

 

ERME: My parents don’t want me around

them.  They think I’m doing things to the

animals.

 

YAZ: Doing things?  Like what?

 

ERME: As in sexually.

 

[ He looks away from her. ]

 

ERME: Look, I was.  But I stopped.

 

And I don’t need any help for it.

 

[ She stands up, backing away from him. ]

 

YAZ: I don’t know what to say. 

 

[ Erme turns around, grabbing her hand. ]

 

ERME: I’m going to change.  I promise.

 

I already have.  Just please don’t think

about leaving me. Like everyone else has.

 

[ Yaz can see his emotions taking over

with the look in his eyes. ]

 

YAZ: I won’t. 

 

[ She kisses him on the cheek

and whispers into his ear. ]

 

YAZ: I know what will take

your mind off this. Come on.  

 

[ Erme follows her back inside. ]

[ Conscious Professional Office . . .That Afternoon. ]

 

[ Caleb hears a loud knock on the door. ]

 

“Come in.”

 

[ He stands up, shaking his client hand. ]

 

CALEB: Hey man.  How’s it going?

 

REDIKI: Pretty good actually. 

 

[ He sits down in a chair while Rediki

gets comfortable on the couch in front

of him. ]

 

CALEB: Great!  You know that’s the

first time I’ve heard you say that.  I

take it you’ve found Care to be a

good fit for you then.

 

REDIKI: Yeah.  The people there are

nice and comforting.  It’s been cool. 

 

CALEB: Good to hear that. 

 

So today we’re going to be trying

something a little different.

 

REDIKI: Okay.

 

CALEB: The first couple sessions

I spent some time getting to know

you and your situation but now we’re

 going to dive into some techniques

that can help you better cope with

the issues you face.

 

It’s called dialectical behavior therapy.

 

REDIKI: Sounds complicated.

 

CALEB: No, no.  It’s essentially just

being able to focus, center your thoughts

and manage them in an effective way. 

 

Let’s get started with some examples.

 

[ Rediki sighs, lying back with his

feet up. ]

[ The Aisles . . .Back Break Room. ]

 

[ Scott & Brian are excited about a

joint discovery when Maxx comes

in. ]

 

“It’s been a whole decade!”

 

[ He sits dejected by his friends. ]

 

MAXX: Am I ever going to get

nominated?

 

[ They immediately change their

expressions to saddened. ]

 

BRIAN: Don’t worry buddy. Your

time will come.

 

MAXX: Oh, excuse me.  Mr. Best

New Employee 2014.

 

[ He looks at Scott. ]

 

MAXX: And 2015. 

 

SCOTT: Hey, at least we’re getting

our ten-year trophies Sunday.

 

MAXX: So? I don’t get to go on

stage for that.

 

SCOTT: I didn’t get nominated this

year either.  But I did get this!

 

[ He takes out a shiny decorated envelope,

waving it in Maxx face & Brian joins him. ]

 

MAXX: No way. You get to present.

 

I hate you both!

 

SCOTT: Yeah. In the category we won.

 

BRIAN: Wait a minute.  Did you see who

is on the noms list?

 

[ Maxx comes over to look. ]

 

‘Ermensau Towne’.

 

SCOTT: What the hell?  He’s only worked

here for three months.  

[ Back At Care . . .Manager’s Office. ]

 

[ Jenni is looking over paperwork at

her desk while Kaori cautiously comes

by. ]

 

KAORI: Just doing some quick copying.

 

JENNI: It’s fine.

 

[ They stay in silence except for the sound

of the machine. ]

 

JENNI: Look, I’m not proud of the way

I acted when I found out.  And I want

to be there for you.

 

KAORI: It’s okay.  Really, I know what

you’ve been going through. 

 

JENNI: Have you decided what you’re

going to do?  Maybe you would

consider working things out with Jai.

 

KAORI: Yes, I have.  And no, I’m not.

 

I wasted many years on Jai. Wanted

him to take us seriously and move

forward with our relationship but

I’ve come to terms with the fact that

he never will.  It’s not in him.

 

 

KAORI: That’s why I’m giving the

baby up for adoption. 

 

I don’t want to raise his child. 

 

[ Hearing a crash, they turn around.

Seeing that Jai has dropped a box of

supplies and is staring at them. ]

[ Syria & Hahn’s House . . . Evening Hours. ]

 

[ Syria, Ricky, and Kira are sitting at the

dining room table drinking tea and

chatting. ]

 

RICKY: Is everyone ready for the

Milestone Awards?

 

[ She states then remembers Hahn’s

firing. ]

 

SYRIA: Yeah, I’m not sure that

would be appropriate. 

 

Hahn is already starting to spiral

out of control but he thinks that

I haven’t noticed.

 

KIRA: That’s too bad.  Where

is he now?

 

SYRIA: Who knows. But I do

know many employees are

furious with him including

Mark.  So it is best he stays

away. 

 

[ The front door opens and Hahn

walks inside.  Making his way to

the dining room, he enters showing

off his purchase in an open bag. ]

 

“I got a new suit for Sunday. Can’t

wait to match it with one of your

dresses.”

 

HAHN: Oh, hey girls. 

 

SYRIA: You really think that’s

a good idea?

 

HAHN: I was nominated and got

an invitation.

 

Why wouldn’t I go?

 

[ Hahn shrugs, hauling his revenge

suit off to his closet. ]

[ Magic Springs Event Center . . .Saturday Afternoon. ]

 

[ Tiesun and Rediki arrive in the meeting room,

seeing the long banquet set up with various brunch

items down the middle of the table.

 

Many fellow TA nominees sitting around

with Mark and Acer placed at the head. ]

 

[ Acer stands up and everyone quiets down. ]

 

ACE: Mark was supposed to give this speech

but since he’s already been drinking since

this morning, I’ll step in.

 

[ He pats his best friend on the shoulder. ]

 

ACE: Once again, I’m proud to say that

TA-MS has the most nominations this

year with a whopping thirty.

 

Let’s make that the most wins too!

 

[ Everyone drowns off into their on

conversations. ]

 

SCOTT: I still can’t believe he got

one.

BRIAN: Well, you know Mark. He’s

like in love with him.

 

[ At the other end of the table. ]

 

YAZ: Waffles or french toast?

I can't decide.

 

ERME: Hold on.  My Dad is calling.

 

“Hey. I need you to get home right

now.”

 

ERME: Why, I’m with Yaz? At the brunch.

 

MERRILTOWNE: That’s fine.  Bring her too.

 

But come right now.

 

[ He ends the call. ] 

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