EPISODE #13
Lily Questions Simon's References
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EPISODE # 13
MARCH 27, 2000 (M)

Scene 1:
Location: Lily Walsh Snyder's mansion.
Scene: Living room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Simon: No, Lily, I never lied to you.
>> Lily: That woman says you're a fraud. You lied to her. You lied to me.
>> Simon: No, I never did. I didn't.
>> Lily: You know her. You gave me the numbers as references.
>> Simon: Which is why this is so absurd.
>> Lily: I let you into my home. I let you around my children. I gave you a place to live.
>> Simon: And I'm grateful for that.
>> Lily: I don't even know who you are.
>> Simon: Of course you do.
>> Lily: No I don't. I only know what you've told me. But I want the truth and I want it now and I think I deserve that much.

Scene 2:
Location: Lily Walsh Snyder's mansion.
Scene: Living room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Simon: I should have told you this up front.
>> Lily: Tell me now.
>> Simon: She -- look, this is very embarrassing.
>> Lily: Oh, that's too bad.
>> Simon: Lily, it never occurred to me that Sheila would return your call.
>> Lily: Well, that is very obvious.
>> Simon: Sheila's husband, Mack, was familiar with my work. So he hired me. We agreed on the designs, and I oversaw the entire renovation of his house.
>> Lily: According to this woman, you're not even an architect.
>> Simon: Look, Sheila has issues. She was -- how can I say this -- she's just a little bit unstable.
>> Lily: She sounded close to hysterical on the phone.
>> Simon: Well, after only a few days on the job, she started hanging around the site a little bit more than was warranted.
>> Lily: So she had a lot invested in the project, so what?
>> Simon: That's what I assumed at first. Then one day, when Mack was out of town, she asked to see me privately. I assumed she had questions to ask. Until I turned up and she answered the door wearing only a negligee.
>> Lily: So what, she came on to you?
>> Simon: (Said like he just found the answer.) Yes.
>> Simon: Yes. I was seeing someone at the time and I told her that this just wasn't right.
>> Lily: What happened?
>> Simon: She finally claimed to understand, and I thought that was the end of it.
>> Lily: And what, Sheila, she threw you a curve?
>> Simon: She started sending me notes. She -- she started calling me at all hours, day and night. She wanted to see me privately again, and I refused, and things got ugly. Lily, I tried to be professional, but she was insistent.
>> Lily: And you, what did you do?
>> Simon: I finished the job as quickly as I could, and I got out of there.
>> Lily: And you never heard from her again?
>> Simon: No. No, I didn't, not until that message on the machine. It was an important project for me, Lily. That's why I stayed. I couldn't afford to walk away. But once the job was finished, she apologized for her behavior and asked me never to mention it to Mack.
>> Lily: Did you?
>> Simon: No, of course not. Nothing came of it. Lily, you heard her voice. She is over the top. And I'm not a fool. I would never give you a number to be called a liar. I assumed Mack would contact you. I swear to you, I have -- everything I have told you is true. I promise.

[Simon walks over and picks up Lily's white cordless phone.]

>> Simon: Call him up, Lily. Speak to Mack yourself. He knows my work. He hired me. He knows what I did on those renovations. We can clear this entire thing up right now.

[Fade to a commercial break.]

Scene 3:
Location: Lily Walsh Snyder's mansion.
Scene: Living room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Simon: Lily, don't take Sheila's word for this.
>> Lily: Why should I take yours?
>> Simon: No reason in the world, I guess.
>> Lily: I put myself on the line for you, Simon.
>> Simon: And I've done nothing to let you down. And I wouldn't.
>> Lily: I really, I really wanted to let Holden know that those references came through. I really did.
>> Simon: You still can.
>> Lily: I said to myself, I will never get fooled by anybody else again, it will never happen to me again.
>> Simon: You trusted me before Sheila called, didn't you?
>> Lily: Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was a fool to trust a complete stranger.
>> Simon: You've never felt like a stranger to me. This -- maybe that's why I keep overstepping --
>> Lily: I wish Holden, I wish he had been more involved in this project, because he knows people. He's a very good judge of people.
>> Simon: Call the Renfers again. Please, speak to Mack. Lily, give me a chance.
>> Lily: I have given you so many chances, Simon.
>> Simon: Then give yourself a chance. To prove that your instincts about me were right.
>> Lily: I hate being put in a position like this.
>> Simon: Fine. Fine, you know, the last thing I want to do is put you or your family in any difficulty. I'll collect my things and get out of here.

[Lily doesn't respond.]

[Simon leaves the room. Lily turns slightly.]

Scene 4:
Location: Lily Walsh Snyder's mansion.
Scene: Unfinished family room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Lily: You all packed?
>> Simon: Yeah, I just have to get a few things from cal's place.
>> Lily: Simon --
>> Simon: Look, Lily, I regret what's happened, but I'm so glad I got to know you and luke and faith. And I'm just sorry we won't get to complete our projects. I had high hopes.
>> Lily: Simon, wait. I owe you an apology.

[Fade to a commercial break.]

Scene 5:
Location: Lily Walsh Snyder's mansion.
Scene: Unfinished family room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Lily: I called back and I spoke to Sheila's husband. Mack raved about the work that you did on their house. He highly recommends you. If he had just returned my phone call instead of Sheila, none of this would have happened. I'm so sorry.
>> Simon: I am so sorry that you got exposed to Sheila's wrath.
>> Lily: You never told me that you studied with Mack at the university. He considers you one of his finest students.
>> Simon: Well, that's just a good mate. You know, laying it on thicker than ten men with a shovel.
>> Lily: I'm really sorry that I overreacted.
>> Simon: No, you didn't. Sheila sounded very convincing.
>> Lily: But I don't know her. I know you. So I hope you'll reconsider and stay and finish the room.
>> Simon: Of course. And the portrait?
>> Lily: If it's not too much to ask.
>> Simon: Not at all.
>> Lily: Good. I can't wait for Holden to see it.
>> Simon: Well, if it only captures half of what I want, I'll consider it a masterpiece.
>> Lily: I'm really -- I'm really sorry.
>> Simon: Lily, I am -- this is a really difficult time for you, what with Abigail returning and all your family obligations. The last thing that you needed was a hysterical Aussie domestic drama on top of it.
>> Lily: I'm glad we cleared everything up. No hard feelings?
>> Simon: Never.

Scene 6:
Location: Lily Walsh Snyder's mansion.
Scene: Unfinished family room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Lily: When I heard that woman on the phone and I thought that everything between us had been a lie, I was very angry.
>> Simon: Don't worry. Holden is definitely going to get this portrait of you.
>> Lily: It's not just that. You had me digging up my life. Putting the pieces back together and reliving the past. I found myself thinking about it all the time.
>> Simon: It is the past that makes us who we are.
>> Lily: And who our children are.
>> Simon: You know, Lily, I feel a part of something very special here. You know, something that matters. People who love each other and share the type of bond that few families have.
>> Lily: Like you had with your family?
>> Simon: You can tell?
>> Lily: Yeah. From the moment I returned your letters. So, kindred spirit, can we put today behind us?
>> Simon: Well, the sooner I forget that name Sheila Renfer, the better --
>> Lily: I'll let you unpack. I have some errands I need to run.
>> Simon: You drive safely.

[Lily mouths the words, "Thank you" at the door to the unfinished family room.]

[Lily leaves. Simon closes the door to the room.]

SIMON FRASIER ALONE.

>> Simon: Yeah, hi, mate. It's me. Yeah, I know. I know. But thanks to you, we're back on the inside. You made me out to sound like a regular Frank Lloyd Wright. But look, Mack, do me a favor, slap a shorter leash on old Sheila will you, she almost blew it. No. No, no, it's fine. It's covered. But, look, Lily is one smart lady.

[Simon looks at the black and white photo of a Victorian Lily in his bag.]

>> Simon: And every inch the looker. I almost feel bad doing what I'm doing. No, no. Mack, I said almost. Not even that beautiful smile is going to stop me getting what I want. Yeah. Look, thanks again, mate. Yeah, sure, I will. Bye.

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