Post5.1: May the Circle be Unbroken

[BeatleMoe]

This episode is about Julia saying goodbye to Randa Oliver. Though she holds up well for the others, she's upset behind closed doors.

SCENE 1 (at Sugarbaker's)
SUZANNE: So where is everybody today?
CHARLENE: Julia and Mary Jo are over at the Hall's going over the new den and Anthony is taking Randa to the mall.
SUZANNE: I can't believe that they are taking that little brat out! It doesn't look right anyway.
CHARLENE: What doesn't look right?
SUZANNE: A white girl and a black ex-con, that's what!
CHARLENE: Suzanne! You have to stop those remarks. I get so sick of you making comments about Anthony like that, and you know that Randa has changed a bunch since Julia agreed to take care of her.
SUZANNE: Boy, you sure stick up for Anthony a lot? Are you having an affair with him or something?
CHARLENE: Suzanne, that is ridiculous! You know, the way you two spend your time together makes me wonder if you two have a thing going on.
SUZANNE: Charlene, that is just stupid. I find it to be normal for Anthony to come to my house and wax my legs and try out new skin moisturizers, don't you?
CHARLENE: No I don't. I find that odd and creepy. (Enter Mary Jo and Julia)
Oh hi y'all? How was the Hall project this time?
JULIA: Never mind the Hall's. Mary Jo will just go off on a tirade.
MARY JO: Tony and Cassandra Hall have to be the most annoying clients that we have ever dealt with. Californians living in Georgia! Is that not absurd?
SUZANNE: I find them to be nice.
JULIA: Suzanne, you find out that anyone with money is nice.
SUZANNE: What's your point?
MARY JO: Don't you like anybody that doesn't have money?
SUZANNE: No I don't Mary Jo. Money is everything.
CHARLENE: Speaking of money, are you still penning with that Emperor Hirohito's nephew?
SUZANNE: I don't know what penning is, but we do write to each other. I just think he is the nicest man that I have ever dated.
MARY JO: You haven't even dated him yet!
SUZANNE: Well we've "wrote" about it Mary Jo, OKAY? (enter Anthony and Randa)
RANDA: Julia, you should see some of the things that Anthony got! They opened an African-American history shop in the mall, and he got me a friendship bracelet!
ANTHONY: It was nothing.
SUZANNE: (glances at it) You got that right! Not a diamond in there.
JULIA: Suzanne! It's very nice Randa.
RANDA: Ooh, I better change for the game! (phone rings)
CHARLENE: Sugarbaker's...Yes, Mrs. Oliver she's here. Julia, it's Randa's mother.
JULIA: Hello...So soon?...Well yes I can have her ready. Actually she has a ballgame today, she's the starting pitcher. You know the place? Alright, we'll see you then. (Hangs up) I guess the Oliver's are back from Europe.

To be continued...

[BeatleMoe]

Scene 2: at the ball field...
CHARLENE: Mary Jo, why aren't you out there helping Julia coach the team?
MARY JO: I don't know why. She just wanted to do it this time. You know, ever since Julia got that phone call from the Olivers, she's just shut down.
CHARLENE: When is Mrs. Oliver supposed to pick up Randa?
MARY JO: After the game. Where's Suzanne?
CHARLENE: She's on guard duty. She put up a canopy to protect that stupid car from being hit by foul balls.
MARY JO: I don't understand why she just didn't ride over with one of us.
(A stuffy woman in furs arrives and sits next to Mary Jo)
MRS. OLIVER: Hello Mrs. Shively, I am Ronette Oliver.
MARY JO: Mrs. Oliver! Hello!
MRS. OLIVER: I am here to take Randa home.
MARY JO: Well she's in the middle of the game.
MRS. OLIVER: I can't believe that you all subjected my daughter to a common game like baseball.
MARY JO: It was just something to pass the time until you came back from Europe.
MRS. OLIVER: Well I am back. I believe that I will be taking my daughter home. (walks on out to the field, as Suzanne sits down next to Mary Jo)
SUZANNE: What's going on?
CHARLENE: Mrs. Oliver is here to pick up Randa. And she's trying to do it in the middle of the game!
SUZANNE: Well I won't have that! EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME! (heads out onto the field)
MRS. OLIVER: Mrs. Sugarbaker, I am here to take Randa home.
JULIA: Well if you could just hold on Mrs. Oliver, we have 3 more innings. Randa is doing a good job out there.
MRS. OLIVERpulls out her checkbook) I am afraid you don't understand. Your time with my daughter is through. I appreciate that you looked after her. How much will that be?
JULIA: I don't want your money.
MRS. OLIVER: Mrs. Sugarbaker, may I remind you that Randa is MY daughter, not yours? I brought her into the world.
JULIA: Mrs. Oliver, all I am asking is to let Randa finish the game.
MRS. OLIVER: Baseball! Such a common man's sport. She's the only girl out there. Randa! Come here. (Suzanne is heard shouting Excuse Me as she makes her way to the field)
SUZANNE: What is going on here?
JULIA: Suzanne it's okay, I got it.
MRS. OLIVER: Randa is going home now.
RANDA: I don't want to.
MRS. OLIVER: Don't talk back to me.
SUZANNE: Look! Randa is the star player for Sugarbaker's Interior Design. There are three innings left. That vampire will make us throw the game if you don't sit down.
MRS. OLIVER: I am more powerful than an...VAMPIRE!? Don't you mean UMPIRE?
SUZANNE: Well whatever. The point is sit down and watch your daughter play!
JULIA: Suzanne, that's enough.
SUZANNE: No Julia, it is not enough. (turns to Mrs. Oliver) While you were away on your European Vacation, Randa Oliver was sent from Governess to governess until she was sent to Julia's. By the way, that's clever listing our firm as an emergency contact. Anyway, she just lost the love of her life to a heart attack, she manages to tame that wild animal you call a daughter...You know, I am just going to speed things up here! (pulls out a pistol from her purse)
JULIA: Suzanne!
SUZANNE: I am more powerful than you. Now sit your highfalootin' butt down and watch your daughter play the game!

Scene transitions to Sugarbaker's.
ANTHONY: I never realized that stupid gun Suzanne carries could serve a purpose.
CHARLENE: Well, the hardest thing was seeing Julia give Randa back. I mean she knew it was temporary. But it brought her some joy over the last month. We haven't seen that from her in a long time.
MARY JO: When is Suzanne supposed to be released from jail?
CHARLENE: Well, she made restitution and she has to do community service.
(Enter Julia and Suzanne)
SUZANNE: I'm just suprised that you aren't going to yell at me.
JULIA: Suzanne, you're a big girl. I appreciate that you would stand up for me, but don't be bringing that gun with you anymore. (Pauses)
CHARLENE: Julia, are you okay?
JULIA: Oh yes. It's just...I'm alone again. But I am not alone. I have you all. I love you all so much. It's just going to be a little hard for a while.
SUZANNE: Well, I have a date with that Hirohito's nephew. Maybe his yin can buy me out of trouble.
MARY JO: You never learn do you?

End

[Kristen]

Perfect. I heard all the actress' voices in my head as I read. That's always a sign that you've got the characters down.