1. 756 W. 181ST, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, THE HERRERA APARTMENT
It’s the very next morning and Carla is up and ready. Paloma is gathering her things for school as she makes her first return back after the scandal with Daniel Evans. Though Paloma tells everyone that it’s all no big deal, she is very nervous about her first day back. Gabriella, who has let herself in, enters Paloma’s room.
Gabriella: First day back! Are you nervous?
Paloma: Nervous about what?
Gabriella: I don’t know. It’s your first day back after all this stuff. If I were you I’d be going crazy.
Paloma: Thanks. You’re not helping.
Gabriella: I’m just saying that it’s okay to be a little bit nervous. I have your back.
Paloma: I guess I’m just mad that some people actually believe some of these lies. If I go back today and they believe it too- I don’t know.
Gabriella: Don’t worry about them. Your true friends will be right there by your side no matter what and the ones who aren’t never were your friends to begin with.
Paloma: I guess that’s one way of looking at it.
Paloma and Gabriella start to head out into the living where Carla is seated.
Gabriella: Hi Mrs. Herrera.
Carla: Hello Gabriella. Off to school?
Gabriella: Yup.
The telephone rings. Carla gets up from the couch and answers the phone.
Carla: Carla Herrera speaking.
Victor: Mama, it’s me.
Carla: Victor? Where are you? I have been calling you nonstop since last night? I’ve been worried sick about you.
Victor: Mama, I’m in jail. I need you to come get me.
Carla: What?! Jail?
Paloma and Gabriella look at one another wondering what’s going on. They see the distress on Carla’s face. This family can’t take more bad news right now. Paloma steps in closer to her mother to comfort her.
Carla: I’ll be right there.
Carla hangs up the phone swiftly and grabs her purse. Paloma sees her mother rushing instantly without saying a word. She’s clearly on a mission.
Paloma: Mama, what’s going on? Who was on the phone?
Carla: It was your brother.
Carla lingers around the apartment frantically. She grabs her set of house keys from the living room table.
Paloma: What happened?
Carla: I don’t know. All I know is that your brother is in jail and I have to go to him. He didn’t explain anything else further. He said he’ll explain when I get there.
Paloma: I’m going with you.
Carla: No. You go to school. I can handle this myself. Besides it’ll be worse if you skipped school again. We need to get things back to normal as best we can. I’ll see you when you get out. I have to go.
Carla kisses her daughter on the forehead and hugs her as she leaves.
It’s the very next morning and Carla is up and ready. Paloma is gathering her things for school as she makes her first return back after the scandal with Daniel Evans. Though Paloma tells everyone that it’s all no big deal, she is very nervous about her first day back. Gabriella, who has let herself in, enters Paloma’s room.
Gabriella: First day back! Are you nervous?
Paloma: Nervous about what?
Gabriella: I don’t know. It’s your first day back after all this stuff. If I were you I’d be going crazy.
Paloma: Thanks. You’re not helping.
Gabriella: I’m just saying that it’s okay to be a little bit nervous. I have your back.
Paloma: I guess I’m just mad that some people actually believe some of these lies. If I go back today and they believe it too- I don’t know.
Gabriella: Don’t worry about them. Your true friends will be right there by your side no matter what and the ones who aren’t never were your friends to begin with.
Paloma: I guess that’s one way of looking at it.
Paloma and Gabriella start to head out into the living where Carla is seated.
Gabriella: Hi Mrs. Herrera.
Carla: Hello Gabriella. Off to school?
Gabriella: Yup.
The telephone rings. Carla gets up from the couch and answers the phone.
Carla: Carla Herrera speaking.
Victor: Mama, it’s me.
Carla: Victor? Where are you? I have been calling you nonstop since last night? I’ve been worried sick about you.
Victor: Mama, I’m in jail. I need you to come get me.
Carla: What?! Jail?
Paloma and Gabriella look at one another wondering what’s going on. They see the distress on Carla’s face. This family can’t take more bad news right now. Paloma steps in closer to her mother to comfort her.
Carla: I’ll be right there.
Carla hangs up the phone swiftly and grabs her purse. Paloma sees her mother rushing instantly without saying a word. She’s clearly on a mission.
Paloma: Mama, what’s going on? Who was on the phone?
Carla: It was your brother.
Carla lingers around the apartment frantically. She grabs her set of house keys from the living room table.
Paloma: What happened?
Carla: I don’t know. All I know is that your brother is in jail and I have to go to him. He didn’t explain anything else further. He said he’ll explain when I get there.
Paloma: I’m going with you.
Carla: No. You go to school. I can handle this myself. Besides it’ll be worse if you skipped school again. We need to get things back to normal as best we can. I’ll see you when you get out. I have to go.
Carla kisses her daughter on the forehead and hugs her as she leaves.
2. CHANNING MANSION
Kyle stands in the middle of the front door of the Channing mansion. He looks around the staircase and balcony of the second floor. Everything about this place has changed for him. A place that once was home now feels foreign and cold to him. His entire life has altered. Kyle closes the front door.
Rebecca: I was worried about you.
Kyle turns around and sees Rebecca standing in the corner. She crosses over to him. He avoids eye contact with her.
Rebecca: You didn’t come home last night.
Kyle: Well it’s not exactly home anymore.
Rebecca: Of course it is. This will always be your home Kyle.
Kyle: I have no home. I have no family.
Rebecca: That is not true. You may not be our son by flesh and blood but you will always be part of this family. You will always be my son.
Kyle: Don’t call me that! I have been lied to my entire life! I gave up everything in my life to be what I thought you all wanted me to be. A Channing! I devoted my entire life to a company because I felt proud to carry on the family name! You have no idea how I feel right now.
Rebecca: I know you’re upset.
Kyle: Upset? That doesn’t even begin to cover it. I have spent the past few years sacrificing everything for this family. I have faced ridicule for my actions while all I was trying to do is protect the family that apparently was lying to me.
Rebecca: Kyle-
Kyle: Just answer me one question. Why did this happen?
Rebecca: What?
Kyle: I was switched at birth with the real Channing boy. Who did it?
3. BROCK’S APARTMENT
Brock and Victoria are seated in the living room talking about the previous night’s events. Victoria has told her brother how Ivy discovered her and James at the Waldorf hotel. Brock isn’t at all stunned that someone has finally found out about the affair. Although he is rather surprised that Ivy is now blackmailing his sister for information to help her husband’s campaign.
Victoria: I’m torn. I clearly have to help her or she’s going to expose this entire affair. But then I’m helping her help her husband to win this campaign. That I don’t want. As I much as I hate Daniel I still want him to win this. I serve to gain much more in the divorce if he wins.
Brock: Only if he doesn’t find about this affair. You can’t really believe that he won’t find out at some point. You do know that even if you help Ivy and Daniel still wins, that she will still expose you. That I’m sure of.
Victoria: This is such a mess. How could this happen? I don’t understand how Ivy could have ever found out about this. We have been so careful about this.
Brock: Perhaps Ivy has some spies of her own.
Victoria: I never thought about that. It couldn’t be anyone from my side. The only person I’ve told anything about is you.
Victoria thinks again about what she just said and looks at Brock. Brock is completely dazed and mortified that his sister would even suggest such a thing.
Brock: Me? Thanks.
Victoria: I know you wouldn’t. But someone did. Who?
Brock: I would say your best bet is to ask James.
Kyle stands in the middle of the front door of the Channing mansion. He looks around the staircase and balcony of the second floor. Everything about this place has changed for him. A place that once was home now feels foreign and cold to him. His entire life has altered. Kyle closes the front door.
Rebecca: I was worried about you.
Kyle turns around and sees Rebecca standing in the corner. She crosses over to him. He avoids eye contact with her.
Rebecca: You didn’t come home last night.
Kyle: Well it’s not exactly home anymore.
Rebecca: Of course it is. This will always be your home Kyle.
Kyle: I have no home. I have no family.
Rebecca: That is not true. You may not be our son by flesh and blood but you will always be part of this family. You will always be my son.
Kyle: Don’t call me that! I have been lied to my entire life! I gave up everything in my life to be what I thought you all wanted me to be. A Channing! I devoted my entire life to a company because I felt proud to carry on the family name! You have no idea how I feel right now.
Rebecca: I know you’re upset.
Kyle: Upset? That doesn’t even begin to cover it. I have spent the past few years sacrificing everything for this family. I have faced ridicule for my actions while all I was trying to do is protect the family that apparently was lying to me.
Rebecca: Kyle-
Kyle: Just answer me one question. Why did this happen?
Rebecca: What?
Kyle: I was switched at birth with the real Channing boy. Who did it?
3. BROCK’S APARTMENT
Brock and Victoria are seated in the living room talking about the previous night’s events. Victoria has told her brother how Ivy discovered her and James at the Waldorf hotel. Brock isn’t at all stunned that someone has finally found out about the affair. Although he is rather surprised that Ivy is now blackmailing his sister for information to help her husband’s campaign.
Victoria: I’m torn. I clearly have to help her or she’s going to expose this entire affair. But then I’m helping her help her husband to win this campaign. That I don’t want. As I much as I hate Daniel I still want him to win this. I serve to gain much more in the divorce if he wins.
Brock: Only if he doesn’t find about this affair. You can’t really believe that he won’t find out at some point. You do know that even if you help Ivy and Daniel still wins, that she will still expose you. That I’m sure of.
Victoria: This is such a mess. How could this happen? I don’t understand how Ivy could have ever found out about this. We have been so careful about this.
Brock: Perhaps Ivy has some spies of her own.
Victoria: I never thought about that. It couldn’t be anyone from my side. The only person I’ve told anything about is you.
Victoria thinks again about what she just said and looks at Brock. Brock is completely dazed and mortified that his sister would even suggest such a thing.
Brock: Me? Thanks.
Victoria: I know you wouldn’t. But someone did. Who?
Brock: I would say your best bet is to ask James.
4. THE EVANS APARTMENT
Daniel is lying on the couch with a wet cloth over his head still stinging from the previous night. Lauren is seated in a chair near him.
Lauren: That man just came out of nowhere last night. He just went mad.
Daniel: It’s quite alright. I suppose I should thank him.
Lauren: Thank him? For what?
Daniel: For making his family seem more out of control. It’s only going to help back up my claims even more. I could part with the black eye but it’s a good price to pay for the good publicity he just gave me.
Lauren: Only you could see the good in this.
Daniel: It’s what I do.
Lauren: Is Victoria home?
Daniel: No. She ran out of here this morning like a bat out of hell.
Lauren: What does she think about it?
Daniel: Well you know Victoria. She couldn’t be concerned in the least. To say that my wife and I have a typical marriage would be a blatant lie.
Lauren: If you’re both so unhappy with each other then why do you stay together?
Daniel: Well for me it’s all part of the image. A married couple who has been together for so long looks good to the public eye. Especially to the republican eye. A messy marriage and potential divorce doesn’t go over so well. A man who looks unequipped to run his own home looks unequipped to run a state.
Lauren: I suppose that’s true.
Daniel: It’s the price you pay. You’ll see one day.
Lauren: Excuse me?
Daniel: I know you’re happily married now but you’ll see the toll this career can have on a marriage. Don’t think for a second I don’t see how you’re hoping for a bright future in politics. I can see your hunger for it each day. But nothing can prepare you for the toll it takes on your personal life. Nothing.
5. RIKERS ISLAND JAIL
Carla stands in the front lobby anxiously waiting for Victor to be released after posting his bail. It’s taken her a little while longer to get there having to travel across town and with train delays on the way. She sees Victor and immediately runs up to him. She hugs him strong and tight, never wanting to let go.
Carla: Are you alright? Were you hurt?
Victor: Mama, I’m fine.
Carla: I was so worried about you. What happened? Why are you here?
Victor: Let’s go outside.
Victor takes her hand and leads her outside. The weather is rather pleasant outside and there’s a slight chill. Victor takes in the fresh air after spending the night in jail.
Carla: So? You can’t keep me worrying like this.
Victor: I got into a fight.
Carla: A fight? With who?
Victor: I went to see Daniel Evans.
Hearing Daniel’s name stops Carla cold. She already knows that this story isn’t going anywhere good.
Carla: Tell me you didn’t?
Victor: I couldn’t help it.
Carla: Victor!
Victor: I couldn’t just let him keep telling these lies about Paloma and our family. It’s not right. I went there with the attention of just talking and setting him straight. But the more I kept playing his words in my head the angrier I got. Once I saw him leaving his building with his little smug face I just lost it. The only thing I could think of was hurting him.
Carla: You shouldn’t have done that. This man is cruel and malicious. He uses people to get what he wants and he’s going to use this now to make our lives even worse.
Victor: This would have never happened in the first place if he didn’t lie.
Carla: It doesn’t matter Victor. Don’t you see? This man doesn’t care about people like us. People like us are expendable to him.
Victor: I’m sorry. I really am. I can’t say that I’d take it back but I don’t want this to make more trouble for us.
Carla: It’s ok. It’ll be alright. Come on, let’s go home.
Daniel is lying on the couch with a wet cloth over his head still stinging from the previous night. Lauren is seated in a chair near him.
Lauren: That man just came out of nowhere last night. He just went mad.
Daniel: It’s quite alright. I suppose I should thank him.
Lauren: Thank him? For what?
Daniel: For making his family seem more out of control. It’s only going to help back up my claims even more. I could part with the black eye but it’s a good price to pay for the good publicity he just gave me.
Lauren: Only you could see the good in this.
Daniel: It’s what I do.
Lauren: Is Victoria home?
Daniel: No. She ran out of here this morning like a bat out of hell.
Lauren: What does she think about it?
Daniel: Well you know Victoria. She couldn’t be concerned in the least. To say that my wife and I have a typical marriage would be a blatant lie.
Lauren: If you’re both so unhappy with each other then why do you stay together?
Daniel: Well for me it’s all part of the image. A married couple who has been together for so long looks good to the public eye. Especially to the republican eye. A messy marriage and potential divorce doesn’t go over so well. A man who looks unequipped to run his own home looks unequipped to run a state.
Lauren: I suppose that’s true.
Daniel: It’s the price you pay. You’ll see one day.
Lauren: Excuse me?
Daniel: I know you’re happily married now but you’ll see the toll this career can have on a marriage. Don’t think for a second I don’t see how you’re hoping for a bright future in politics. I can see your hunger for it each day. But nothing can prepare you for the toll it takes on your personal life. Nothing.
5. RIKERS ISLAND JAIL
Carla stands in the front lobby anxiously waiting for Victor to be released after posting his bail. It’s taken her a little while longer to get there having to travel across town and with train delays on the way. She sees Victor and immediately runs up to him. She hugs him strong and tight, never wanting to let go.
Carla: Are you alright? Were you hurt?
Victor: Mama, I’m fine.
Carla: I was so worried about you. What happened? Why are you here?
Victor: Let’s go outside.
Victor takes her hand and leads her outside. The weather is rather pleasant outside and there’s a slight chill. Victor takes in the fresh air after spending the night in jail.
Carla: So? You can’t keep me worrying like this.
Victor: I got into a fight.
Carla: A fight? With who?
Victor: I went to see Daniel Evans.
Hearing Daniel’s name stops Carla cold. She already knows that this story isn’t going anywhere good.
Carla: Tell me you didn’t?
Victor: I couldn’t help it.
Carla: Victor!
Victor: I couldn’t just let him keep telling these lies about Paloma and our family. It’s not right. I went there with the attention of just talking and setting him straight. But the more I kept playing his words in my head the angrier I got. Once I saw him leaving his building with his little smug face I just lost it. The only thing I could think of was hurting him.
Carla: You shouldn’t have done that. This man is cruel and malicious. He uses people to get what he wants and he’s going to use this now to make our lives even worse.
Victor: This would have never happened in the first place if he didn’t lie.
Carla: It doesn’t matter Victor. Don’t you see? This man doesn’t care about people like us. People like us are expendable to him.
Victor: I’m sorry. I really am. I can’t say that I’d take it back but I don’t want this to make more trouble for us.
Carla: It’s ok. It’ll be alright. Come on, let’s go home.
6. CHANNING MANSION
Kyle: I was switched at birth with the real Channing boy. Who did it?
Rebecca: Why do you want to get into all that right now? I really think-
Kyle: No. I want to know who did it. Why did it happen? Tell me. I have every right to know.
Rebecca: I agree but I think at another time.
Kyle: I can’t think of better time. Who? Was it William?
Rebecca: No.
Kyle: James?
Rebecca: No.
Kyle: Then who?
Rebecca says nothing to Kyle but turns her head away. It takes him a while but he slowly realizes that it’s Rebecca that did it. Kyle’s emotions run wild from disappointment to shock to rage all at once.
Kyle: You did it. You switched me with someone else? I don’t get it. Why would you do that?
Rebecca: It’s very complicated.
Kyle: Try me then. I’m pretty damn smart. I’m sure I’ll get it.
Rebecca: It was a problematic time.
Kyle: Why? I don’t understand. How could you be giving birth to a baby but have the means to switch out your baby? Why would you even want to?
Rebecca: I wouldn’t.
Kyle paces around the room quite confused. He doesn’t follow what Rebecca is saying.
Rebecca: William was married to another woman before me. Her name is Olivia. I can’t get into the full details with you right now because it’s even more complicated. She was pregnant with William’s first child. Their marriage was a little bit of a sham on William’s part. I met him while he was still married. I knew he loved me and wanted to get out of his marriage but he was tied into it for business and money reasons. William needed a baby to fulfill his business needs. Without it he would never be where he is today. That’s where I came in. I was at the hospital that night. His wife delivered the baby but it died shortly after.
Kyle, who has been lost in a daze while listening to Rebecca, quickly wakes up at the news of the death of the baby. Just when the tale can’t get any worse it does.
Rebecca: I loved William and knew that he couldn’t succeed without that baby. So I took it upon myself to have the charts switched. I found you and switched your charts with their baby.
Kyle collapses from the complete blow of Rebecca’s news. Rebecca watches as he starts weeping on the ground uncontrollably. She wants nothing more to comfort him but stays back.
Rebecca: I’m so sorry Kyle. I don’t know what you want me to say. I thought I was doing what was right. I never in a million years thought about any of the consequences and I never wanted to hurt anyone.
Rebecca goes to ease Kyle. She places her hands on his shoulders and Kyle shoves her away hard.
Kyle: Don’t touch me! Don’t ever touch me! You’re dead to me.
Rebecca backs up after being pushed by Kyle. Her heart breaks for him right now. This is a day that Rebecca never thought would come.
Kyle: You did all of this for yourself. Don’t try to act like you did this for the sake of other people. You single-handily destroyed not only my life but an entire family. Two families. Somewhere out there is family who thinks they lost their son. A family that hurts every single day for the son that you took away from them. I bet you have never taken a moment to think about them, have you?
Rebecca: Kyle-
Kyle: No! You disgust me. I never want to see you again.
Kyle starts walking pass Rebecca as he heads for the front door. Rebecca follows after him crying and trying to stop him.
Rebecca: Kyle, don’t go. Please!
Rebecca’s voice echoes in the house as Kyle closes the front door behind him.
Kyle: I was switched at birth with the real Channing boy. Who did it?
Rebecca: Why do you want to get into all that right now? I really think-
Kyle: No. I want to know who did it. Why did it happen? Tell me. I have every right to know.
Rebecca: I agree but I think at another time.
Kyle: I can’t think of better time. Who? Was it William?
Rebecca: No.
Kyle: James?
Rebecca: No.
Kyle: Then who?
Rebecca says nothing to Kyle but turns her head away. It takes him a while but he slowly realizes that it’s Rebecca that did it. Kyle’s emotions run wild from disappointment to shock to rage all at once.
Kyle: You did it. You switched me with someone else? I don’t get it. Why would you do that?
Rebecca: It’s very complicated.
Kyle: Try me then. I’m pretty damn smart. I’m sure I’ll get it.
Rebecca: It was a problematic time.
Kyle: Why? I don’t understand. How could you be giving birth to a baby but have the means to switch out your baby? Why would you even want to?
Rebecca: I wouldn’t.
Kyle paces around the room quite confused. He doesn’t follow what Rebecca is saying.
Rebecca: William was married to another woman before me. Her name is Olivia. I can’t get into the full details with you right now because it’s even more complicated. She was pregnant with William’s first child. Their marriage was a little bit of a sham on William’s part. I met him while he was still married. I knew he loved me and wanted to get out of his marriage but he was tied into it for business and money reasons. William needed a baby to fulfill his business needs. Without it he would never be where he is today. That’s where I came in. I was at the hospital that night. His wife delivered the baby but it died shortly after.
Kyle, who has been lost in a daze while listening to Rebecca, quickly wakes up at the news of the death of the baby. Just when the tale can’t get any worse it does.
Rebecca: I loved William and knew that he couldn’t succeed without that baby. So I took it upon myself to have the charts switched. I found you and switched your charts with their baby.
Kyle collapses from the complete blow of Rebecca’s news. Rebecca watches as he starts weeping on the ground uncontrollably. She wants nothing more to comfort him but stays back.
Rebecca: I’m so sorry Kyle. I don’t know what you want me to say. I thought I was doing what was right. I never in a million years thought about any of the consequences and I never wanted to hurt anyone.
Rebecca goes to ease Kyle. She places her hands on his shoulders and Kyle shoves her away hard.
Kyle: Don’t touch me! Don’t ever touch me! You’re dead to me.
Rebecca backs up after being pushed by Kyle. Her heart breaks for him right now. This is a day that Rebecca never thought would come.
Kyle: You did all of this for yourself. Don’t try to act like you did this for the sake of other people. You single-handily destroyed not only my life but an entire family. Two families. Somewhere out there is family who thinks they lost their son. A family that hurts every single day for the son that you took away from them. I bet you have never taken a moment to think about them, have you?
Rebecca: Kyle-
Kyle: No! You disgust me. I never want to see you again.
Kyle starts walking pass Rebecca as he heads for the front door. Rebecca follows after him crying and trying to stop him.
Rebecca: Kyle, don’t go. Please!
Rebecca’s voice echoes in the house as Kyle closes the front door behind him.