EPISODE 4/12/00
Simon Meets Iva

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April, 2000

EPISODE #20
APRIL 12, 2000

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

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND IVA SNYDER

>> Lily: Who is she?
>> Iva: This is darling. Look at this. Where did you have this done?
>> Lily: It's not a photo from a novelty shop. It's -- it's not me.
>> Iva: Well, then who is it?
>> Lily: Remember those letters I told you about?
>> Iva: Right, right, the ones you found by the pond. You told me on the phone a couple weeks ago.
>> Lily: Apparently, they were written by Simon's great-grandfather. And all of those letters were written to a woman only named "Beloved." And on the back of the original photograph there was an inscription to Simon, "Beloved."
>> Iva: And this woman is "Beloved"?
>> Lily: Evidently. At this point, I don't know if I believe anything that Simon told me. This photograph was with Simon's things, and he never mentioned it to me.
>> Iva: But, Lily, this is more than just a passing resemblance --
>> Lily: I know, I know. I'm thinking this just some guy who just happens to show up here in Oakdale? Now I feel like I've been had.
>> Iva: But why?
>> Lily: I don't know. But I have to find out, because time is running out.

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

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND IVA SNYDER

>> Lily: Iva, I have gone over this in my head a thousand times. Why would this man talk his way into my family, or in the trust of my children?
>> Iva: And if he is a fraud, what is in it for him?
>> Lily: Why didn't he just tell me about the picture? Why didn't he just say to me, "Lily, I had this incredible picture of this woman who looks exactly like you"?
>> Iva: You know, okay, so when do I get to meet this guy.
>> Lily: Now. He's at Cal's.
>> Iva: He's what? He's what?
>> Lily: I gave him a place to stay.
>> Iva: Call him right now and get him over here, please.
>> Lily: The sooner the better, but maybe you'll pick up on something that I haven't yet.

LILY WALSH SNYDER PHONES Simon FRASIER.

[Phone ringing.]
>> Simon: Hello.
>> Lily: Simon, it's Lily. Would you come up to the house for a minute?
>> Simon: Sure, what's up?
>> Lily: I'll tell you when you get here.
>> Simon: Okay, then, I'll be right over.
>> Lily: Great. See you soon.

[Lily hangs up.]

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND IVA SNYDER

>> Iva: So, why didn't you tell him that I wanted to meet him?
>> Lily: He's smooth. I think we should try to catch him off guard. With any luck, maybe something will slip.

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

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND IVA SNYDER

>> Lily: Now, we have to find out what he's up to, but we have to be very careful. Because if he suspects something is going on, he might leave town, then I may never know.
>> Iva: So enter the pushy mother from out of town, because if I grill him, he'll just think that I'm being overprotective and just a little nosy.
>> Lily: It's worth a shot.
>> Iva: Okay, all right, all right. Let's get started.
[Doorbell.]
>> Lily: Hide the photograph. I'll be right back.
>> Iva: All right, all right.
>> Lily: Careful.

Scene: Foyer.

SIMON FRASIER ARRIVES.

>> Lily: Thanks for coming right away.
>> Simon: Hi. No problem. Everything okay?
>> Lily: Everything's great. Come on in.

Scene: Living room .

>> Lily: I'd like you to meet my mother.
>> Iva: So, you must be Simon. You know, Lily has told me so much about you.
>> Simon: Oh, really? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, mrs. --
>> Iva: Oh, for heaven's sake. Iva. Just call me Iva, everybody does.
>> Simon: Well, it's obvious that beauty and charm run in the family.
>> Iva: Oh, for heaven's sake. You don't know me at all.
>> Simon: No, no, that's true, but I do know your daughter quite well.
>> Iva: Yes, yes, yes. So I've heard. And why is that?
>> Simon: Pardon?
>> Iva: I mean, what is it about my daughter that you find so intriguing?
>> Simon: I don't know. I guess I'm always fascinated by those I paint. I'm sorry, Lily. The portrait was supposed to be a secret.
>> Lily: Not from Iva.
>> Iva: You know what? I have a feeling you like secrets.

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

LILY WALSH SNYDER, IVA SNYDER, AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Simon: Me? Like secrets? No more than anyone else, but protecting someone else's secret -- well, that's a matter of honor.
>> Iva: You know what? We're not going to hold your little slip about the portrait against you, will we, Lily?
>> Lily: No, not at all. Just don't tell Holden.
>> Iva: Oh, no, for heaven's sakes. You know, Lily tells me that you're an architect.
>> Simon: Uh-huh. Yes, I studied in melbourne.
>> Iva: You know, it's just, though, the countryside, you know, I mean, I love it here, but it's really short on the architectural points of interest.
>> Simon: Well, that's in the eye of the beholder, don't you think? I mean, even the most simple barn can be breathtaking --
>> Iva: So, so how did you -- oh, get to Oakdale?
>> Simon: Well, I was staying in Chicago, and I came here for a day trip, and found myself drawn to this lovely city. Did Lily mention the letters?
>> Iva: Oh, yeah, oh, yeah -- in passing.
>> Simon: Yeah, well, I carelessly lost them beside the pond --
>> Lily: They're the most incredible love letters, Iva. They're written by his great-grandfather to a woman only referred to as "Beloved."
>> Iva: Oh, for heaven's sakes. I'd love to see them.
>> Lily: Would you mind sharing them with her?
>> Simon: No, I don't mind at all, but --
>> Iva: Oh, no, no. You know what? If they're too fragile, maybe you have some pictures of your great-grandfather and his love?
>> Simon: Oh, no, I'm afraid I don't, except for the letters, my family didn't hold on to much. We're not, you know, big collectors.
>> Iva: Oh, well, no wonder that you treasure them so.
>> Simon: Yes.
>> Iva: It's, though -- I find it unusual, I mean, for a young man such as yourself, you know, to carry around a packet of old love letters -
>> Simon: I know, it does seem kind of weird, but, I mean, since they meant so much to my great-grandfather, they've become very valuable to me. But, anyway, you know, I would love to stay and visit, but I was in the middle of something when Lily called --
>> Iva: Oh, another project?
>> Simon: Of sorts, yeah. I assume you won't be sitting for the portrait today. You'll want to spend all afternoon with your mother.
>> Iva: Yes.
>> Simon: It was -- it was great to meet you.
>> Iva: Nice meeting you.
>> Simon: I'll see you both later on.

[Simon Frasier leaves.]

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND IVA SNYDER

>> Iva: I can still clear a room.
>> Lily: That was amazing. You know, you should work for the police department. >> Iva: All right, all right, but he was a little squirmy, but he didn't give up anything new.
>> Lily: What do you think of him?
>> Iva: I think he's too much of everything. I think he's too secretive, he's too handsome --
>> Lily: You noticed? Hmm.
>> Iva: I'm not blind.
>> Lily: Would you trust him?
>> Iva: Absolutely not, and neither should you.
>> Lily: Well, I'm not telling Holden, because then he's going to kick Simon out!
>> Iva: Which is exactly what should be done --
>> Lily: No, absolutely not! No, not until I find out how "Beloved" and I are connected. Absolutely not.

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

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND IVA SNYDER

>> Lily: Whatever he's after, it's not about hurting me.
>> Iva: But you don't know that.
>> Lily: I know that, because he's had a thousand opportunities to do so. I've never felt threatened by him. He saved my life.
>> Iva: Which I am grateful for. But Lily, I would just feel better if I knew what his agenda was.
>> Lily: The answer's in the photograph. I just don't know if I'll have another opportunity to look at the original again.
>> Iva: But what about the letters? Are you sure that they're real?
>> Lily: I'd need to get ahold of one of them to have them authenticated.
>> Iva: Okay, well, I'm sure there's somebody that does that around here, probably at the university. And then, when you're working with somebody who's objective, maybe you'll find some clues you missed the first time around.
>> Lily: Maybe we'll find out the whole thing was a sham from day one.
>> Iva: So, so, how do we go about this?
>> Lily: This is something that I have to do alone. I do.
>> Iva: No, Lily --
>> Lily: I'll sit for the portrait, and hopefully --
>> Iva: No, no -- I like everything about this but the "alone" business.
>> Lily: It's the only way.
>> Iva: No! Lily, okay, Simon is not stupid, and if he catches on, he might be anything but charming. And I don't want you to take any chances.

Location: Cal Stricklyn's farmhouse.
Scene: Living room.

SIMON FRASIER ALONE.

[Simon is sitting at a table. He is looking at a paper pad, on which he has written from top to bottom:
"Beloved
Caroline
Iva
Lily"

He has drawn a line between the names.]

[He writes a question mark between Caroline and Beloved and at the top of the page.]

Scene 6:
Location: Cal Stricklyn's farmhouse.
Scene: Living room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

[Lily Walsh Snyder arrives.]

>> Simon: Hi.
>> Lily: Hello.
>> Simon: Well, this is a pleasant surprise.
>> Lily: Iva wanted to spend time with the kids, so I figured I'd take the opportunity to sit for the portrait.
>> Simon: That's great. I expected you'd be busy with your mother all day. Take a seat here.
>> Lily: Oh, let me help you.
>> Simon: Let's clean this up.
>> Lily: I'll get this.
>> Simon: Okay. Um -- let's see. Okay, take a seat here. Well, we're getting closer and closer now that I'm finally in the painting stage.
>> Lily: Can't wait to see it.
>> Simon: In due time. Your mother's very interesting.
>> Lily: Is that australian for "nosy" and "overprotective"?
>> Simon: Well, moms are moms.
>> Lily: Mine is very strong. What is your mom like?
>> Simon: Oh, you know, she worries when things are good, she worries when things are not so good.
>> Lily: Do you have any siblings?
>> Simon: Uh-huh, but, you know, we were never that close, even as kids.
>> Lily: Are they in Australia?
>> Simon: One is.
>> Lily: But you're not close. That's too bad.
>> Simon: Wow, like mother, like daughter.
>> Lily: Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that you know so much about me and my family, I realized that I don't know that much about you at all.
>> Simon: Well, you're well aware of the intimate details of my great-grandfather's past.
>> Lily: Can you fill in the years till now?
>> Simon: And bore you to tears? Never.
>> Lily: You never bore me.
>> Simon: You're a flatterer.
>> Lily: It's true. I think of you as a new, old friend.
>> Simon: I feel exactly the same way.
>> Lily: And I don't think your losing those letters by our pond was a mistake or carelessness. I think it was fate.
>> Simon: We're exactly on the same wavelength.
>> Lily: It nearly cost you those letters. I hope you're being more careful with them now.
>> Simon: Guarding them with my life.
>> Lily: Oh, under lock and key?
>> Simon: Yeah, my version of. Look, something's off, Lily.
>> Lily: What? I don't know what -- what are you talking about?
>> Simon: Well, this won't work. You shouldn't have bothered coming here.

Scene 7:
Location: Cal Stricklyn's farmhouse.
Scene: Living room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER AND SIMON FRASIER

>> Lily: Simon, what's wrong?
>> Simon: You tell me.
>> Lily: We were just talking and now you're shutting me off?
>> Simon: It's because you're restless. You're unable to focus. Your heart's not in the posing. So, tell me, Lily, why did you come here?
>> Lily: You're right. I am distracted.
>> Simon: Because of your mother's visit?
>> Lily: Yes, it's wonderful -- it's wonderful having her here, but, you know, two women in the same house --
>> Simon: Yeah, but the two of you seem to get along just fine.
>> Lily: We do. But Iva wanted to spend time with the kids, so I figured I'd come up here, we could spend some time on the portrait. I just wanted us to use our time wisely together while we have it.
>> Simon: Lily, it's okay. We have time to finish this portrait before I leave, so -- come on, go and enjoy Iva's visit. We can do this another day.
>> Lily: You're right. Thank you for putting up with me.
>> Simon: Not at all.

[Lily reaches for her purse and knocks over something.]

>> Lily: Oh! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
>> Simon: It's fine. Don't --
>> Lily: I am distracted and --
>> Simon: You are.
>> Lily: -- Clumsy.
>> Simon: Don't worry about it. Just leave it right there. I'll go and get a broom. We'll clean it up in no time at all.
>> Lily: Sorry.

[Lily begins snooping around the room while Simon is getting a broom.]

Scene 8:
Location: Cal Stricklyn's farmhouse.
Scene: Living room.

LILY WALSH SNYDER ALONE.

[Lily continues snooping. She goes to Simon's bag and looks in it.]

SIMON FRASIER WALKS IN.

>> Simon: Lily! What are you doing?


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April, 2000