IN A HOTEL AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN
JAKE: No way
P. J.: I'm telling you man, she basically three me out of the house and Bruce, did, Nothing.
JAKE: pfft!,I knew he was a wuss from the moment I saw him, it's his fault...what kind of man gets married to a wealthier woman,come on,he practically begged for it (he said crossing his legs as he continued sipping his wine)
P. J: (sighs) Poor Bruce
A few hours later the video of the Press at the Lanes home is in Local news,With embarrassing headlines for Bruce and P.J, Bruce watched unmoved, Just then Layla and Nora come in bickering and Bruce with a tap on the remote switches off the TV before the girls saw anything
BRUCE: Girls , Girls, why are you yelling?
LAYLA: Nora drank all the milk again!
BRUCE: Nora ( he groaned)
NORA: But I was thirsty
LAYLA: You should have drank water
NORA: But I wasn't thirsty for water,I was thirsty for milk! (she sobbed)
BRUCE: Oh come on now,(bends down) hey...what did we talk about?
NORA: (sniffs) I'm a big girl
BRUCE: And?
NORA: Big girls don't cry for milk
BRUCE: exactly,so wipe your tears my princess
LAYLA: Dad, she's getting obsessed with it
NORA: (gasps) Daddy!
BRUCE: Layla..
LAYLA: (sighs) sorry
BRUCE: Layla please go get me my wallet from the drawer, I'll go get more milk
LAYLA: (Runs off)
NORA: Daddy..
BRUCE: Yes honey?
NORA: I'm not going to pee milk right?
BRUCE: (Chuckles) Ofcourse not sweetie, your sister's just messing with you
NORA: Promise I won't?
BRUCE: Promise. (he says with a smile)
Layla brings back Bruce's wallet and he heads over to the store to buy more milk, As he takes the milk from the shelf but couldn't help notice he was getting stares from other customers mumbling and giggling to each other.. Feeling tensed, he grabs what he needed quickly, payed and was about to leave,but as he walked out of the store,a group of men a little intoxicated outside begin to taunt him.
1ST MAN: Yeah you better hurry up now,we wouldn't want to get Eva upset ( he said as he laughed along with his friends)
BRUCE: Excuse me?
2ND MAN: What the hell did a gorgeous and sexy looking woman like Eva See in this.. deadbeat (he taunts and he staggered close to Bruce)
BRUCE: Hey watch the way you speak to me,This is harassment!
3RD MAN: Oh no, I'm so sorry, we'll stop, just please don't tell your wife on us
The men continued laughing as they Mocked Bruce, embarrassed,he walked away from the scene quickly,But as he leaves he is approached by a young lady
YOUNG LADY: Good evening Mr Lane
BRUCE: Um hello?,Can I help you?
YOUNG LADY: Yes, If you don't mind, I would like to discuss a delicate matter to you, concerning your wife.
BRUCE: (Scoffs) You reporters just don't know when to stop huh?
'Bruce says storming off,but the young lady follows behind him'
YOUNG LADY: I'm sorry If I gave you that impression,but I'm NOT a reporter
BRUCE: (Keeps walking away)
YOUNG LADY: Mr Lane I've seen the way your wife treats you,not just from the news,but with my own two eyes
BRUCE: Look, If you're here just to make fun of me,then I'm sorry,I do not have the time (he replied giving her a stern look)
YOUNG LADY: Yes many people see what's happening as 'funny', but I see it as nothing but Abuse
BRUCE: What? (he said as he stopped)
YOUNG LADY: Abuse of men is more common than we think.
BRUCE: Listen Lady, I am NOT Being abused (he replied as he looked around for stares.)
Are you Married?
YOUNG LADY: No.
BRUCE: Well if you were, you'd know all marriages always go through a rough patch
YOUNG LADY: So you're saying your marriage is just going through a rough patch?
BRUCE: Exactly,A rough patch.
YOUNG LADY: Well Mr Lane, Most rough patches in marriages Don't usually end well or it takes a bad turn,when that happens, feel free to call me (She said as she handed over her business card)
BRUCE: You're a Lawyer? (he asked surprised)
YOUNG LADY: Divine Walters,Nice to meet you
BRUCE: Last I checked if you have a problem you GO to a lawyer,they don't come to you,so what's this all about?
DIVINE: heh...there are so many people in the world today, who will never ask for help,even though they desperately need it. And I live by the old Philosopher's saying "Always be willing to lend a helping hand, cause you might be the only one that does...Have a good day Mr Lane.
Bruce ponders the young lady's words for a moment as she walked away. Getting back home,he prepares Dinner for the girls,but he didn't have any appetite to eat. The girls fall Asleep on the sofa while watching cartoons,Bruce carries them individually to their room and lays them gently on the bed,But as he layed Layla,she opens her eyes.
BRUCE: Go to sleep now honey (he said softly
LAYLA: But what about you?
BRUCE: I'm gonna eat till your mom gets home okay?,now sleep my dear
LAYLA: You're not gonna be up being sad right?
BRUCE: And who gave you that idea?
LAYLA: No one.. you didn't even eat
BRUCE: I'm not sad honey, Daddy is just..a bit stressed
LAYLA: Is it because of mom?
BRUCE: No Ofcourse not, it's not because of your mother
LAYLA: What then?
BRUCE: Oh you know,just work stuff,you don't need to worry my love
LAYLA: You always say that but yet I never believe you,I just want you to be happy Daddy.
BRUCE: (Sighs) Layla..
Their conversation is interrupted by the front door opening
BRUCE: That must be your mother
EVA: Sweetie why are you still up? (Eva says as she walked in)
LAYLA: I was just about to go to bed, Goodnight Daddy
BRUCE: Night sweetie,love you.
LAYLA: Love you too (she replied tucking herself in)
EVA: Goodnight Sweetie
LAYLA: ....Night.
Bruce gets up and walk to his bedroom and Eva follows behind him with a regretful look on her face
EVA: Oh Bruce,Don't tell me you're still mad at me
BRUCE: mad?,why would I be mad?,have you seen the news?, Congratulations,you single handedly managed to embarrass me in front of the whole city
EVA: Oh please you're being dramatic
BRUCE: Am I now?
EVA: Look I'm sorry the reporters made you look the way you did,but understand, that's how they are (she said with a shrug)
BRUCE: ...
EVA: You aren't serious about the divorce right?
BRUCE: (sighs) look, this marriage hasn't been working out for a while now
EVA: Oh come on Bruce,We just has a little fight
BRUCE: A little?...hmph!
EVA: Yeah I mean,things can still work out... Don't do it for me,Do it for the girls. They are way too young to handle divorce dramas, it'll hurt them a whole lot... don't you care about that?
BRUCE: Ofcourse I do,you know my daughters are my life
EVA: Then you should reconsider your decision...for them
'Concern etched on Bruce's face as he considers Eva's words'
EVA: Oh and my sincerest apologies to your little.. friend.
BRUCE: Do you really mean what you say?
EVA: Ofcourse I do,will you forgive me or not?
BRUCE: ...Apology accepted
Eva happily gives her husband a hug before heading to the shower, leaving Bruce last in thoughts
'THE FOLLOWING MORNING'
After having Breakfast,Eva prepares to leave
NORA: But it's the weekend, you're not supposed to work on weekends (She whined)
EVA: I'm not sweetie, I just have an urgent meeting with some investors
LAYLA: When will you be back?
EVA: Probably by noon or sooner,So I'll see you later okay?,kisses! (she said as she walked out the door)
NORA: Bye mom! (she saved)
After Eva left ,the girls run to their room to change,then they run to meet their father in his bedroom
BRUCE: Anddd,why are you both dressed up?
NORA: We're going with you!
LAYLA: Yeah, you're all dressed up too
BRUCE: Don't you wanna stay and play with the neighbors kids cause... between us,Adults can be very boring (he said leaning closer to them
LAYLA: Doesn't matter, we're spending the weekend with you!
BRUCE: (chuckles lightly) But you always spend it with me
LAYLA: Yeah but...we never go anywhere
BRUCE: hmmm...you just want me to buy you icecream right?
LAYLA: ahem! (she said nudging her sister)
NORA: Uhh I mean,that too but, hanging out with you is fun too
BRUCE: (chuckles) Okay, just help me out these clothes in the laundry basket okay?
The girls agree and both help out their dad sort out the clothes in the laundry basket,out of one of Bruce's jacket falls a business card and Layla picks it up
LAYLA: Divine...Walters? (she reads)
BRUCE: oh yeah, just put that in the closet dear
LAYLA: It's says she's a lawyer, I thought only mom had a lawyer
NORA: What's a lawyer anyway?
BRUCE: hmm, let's just say,If I ever get into trouble, she's the one I need to call, and that her card.
NORA: Her number is even on it (she replied jacking the card out of her sister's hand)
LAYLA: (Jacks it back)
BRUCE: If you two start but bickering again,we all stay home!
NORA: Fine,she can have it...but doesn't that mean when I grow up, I'm gonna have a business card too?
BRUCE: Depends, what do you wanna be when you grow up?
NORA: umm...an Archtech!
LAYLA: It's... ARCHITECT! (Layla corrects)
NORA: Yeah that...just like mom
LAYLA: Well I'm gonna be a mechanic,just like Dad
BRUCE: (laughs) Girls, it's sweet you wanna follow your parent's footsteps,but sometimes you just gotta follow your own steps
LAYLA: What?..I'm not following (she jokes and they all laugh)
BRUCE: What I mean is you should do what you wanna do,what... inspires you, something that makes you happy,is that okay?
'They both nod'
BRUCE: Promise you'll do that for me m
LAYLA & NORA: Promise!
BRUCE: Good, now give Dad a big hug
They all hug,and after finishing up they all leave the house happily,But Nora sneaks back in supposedly to pee. She gets back moments later and they all get in a taxi and leave
'IN AN UNKNOWN APARTMENT'
Eva knocks on room '47' at the apartment floor and a boldly looking opened up for her
MAN: I knew you'd come back for more, you always come back (he said with a proud smirk)
EVA: And..Is that a bad thing?
They both share lustful looks at each other before the unknown man pulls her in the room and shuts the door.
NEXT: Episode 4~Divine Walters
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