Episode 1

The scene opens to the living room of the Rainier Mansion, where the body of the Rainier's beloved maid, Coralee, is found lying in a pool of blood from an apparent stabbing. Camille Rainier is the first to arrive and find her.

                                   CAMILLE
Oh my God! Coralee! (Screams in disbelief.)

(The screaming brings Celestia and Arianna running down the stairs where they were studying in their bedrooms.)


                                   CELESTIA
What's all the commotion, mother? (Looks on the floor to notice Coralee lying in a pool of her own blood.) Oh my God! What happened?


                                   ARIANNA
(Crying.) Who did this to her?


                                   CAMILLE
Girls, did you two hear or notice anything?


                                   CELESTIA
No mother, I was studying upstairs.


                                   ARIANNA
Yeah,me too.


                                   CELESTIA
Who would do this to Coralee? She was a good lady. She never did anything to anyone.


                                   CAMILLE
(Takes cell out of her pocket) Yes, this Camille Rainier, and I need to report an apparent stabbing at my home, 777 Cherrywood Heights.


                                   DISPATCHER
Okay, Mrs. Rainier. The police are on their way.


                                   CAMILLE
Thank you. (Closes the cell.) Girls, come here. (Celestia and Arianna walk over to their mother, where they all hug each other for comfort.)


                                   CELESTIA
I can't believe Coralee's dead. I'm going to miss her.


                                   ARIANNA
How could anyone do this to her?


                                   CAMILLE
I know girls; Coralee was one of the family.

(A knock on the door and Camille goes to answer it. It is Jerry and Jimmy Banks, Spirit's Rain resident detectives.)


                                   CAMILLE
(Opening the outer door.) Oh, hello guys. Just follow me. The body's in the living room.

(The Banks brothers, Jerry and Jimmy, follow Camille to the body.)


                                   JERRY
(To Camille.) Did you know the victim?


                                   CAMILLE
Yes, her name is Coralee Cranston, our family maid.


                                   JIMMY
Do you know anything about how this may have happened?


                                   CAMILLE
No, I was coming home from my volunteer work, when I saw her lying here in a pool of blood.

(Arianna and Celestia enter the living room with the crime scene unit.)


                                   ARIANNA
Mother, these gentlemen are here about Coralee?

(Jerry and Jimmy fill in the crime scene investigators on what they have found before they arrived.  As CSI are investigating, Jerry and Jimmy continue to ask questions of Celestia and Arianna.)


                                  JIMMY
(To Celestia and Arianna.) Girls, do you know anything about this?

 

                                 CELESTIA
No, I don't. I was upstairs studying for my test for school tomorrow when I heard my mother scream.


                                 ARIANNA
(After Jerry motions to her.) I didn't hear anything until I heard Celestia run from her bedroom. I ran out to see what was going on.


                                 JERRY
Okay, girls, Mrs. Rainier, that's about it. We're going to let the CSI do their job. If you remember anything, give us a call.


                                 CAMILLE
We'll do, Jerry.

(Jerry and Jimmy leave while the CSI investigates the scene of the murder just as Seth, II arrives home.)


                                 SETH II
What the hell is going on here?


                                 CAMILLE
(Teary-eyed.) Oh, Seth, Coralee has just been murdered. I came home and found her stabbed in the back and lying in a pool of blood.


                                 SETH II
What?! Who the hell would murder our maid?


                                 CAMILLE
I don't know, Seth. Jerry and Jimmy have been here as well as the CSI. I've been answering questions ever since they got here.

(While Seth, II and Camille are discussing what just happened in their living room, Jackson Levitt, is lurking outside the living room window, spying the scene inside.)


                                 JACKSON
Well, Seth, old buddy, looks like you got some trouble. I wonder who killed your maid?

(Jackson flashes to earlier this afternoon when he let himself in looking for Seth, II. Jackson had just gotten back from the sanitarium, where Marissa, his wife, has been since their third child, Rhia was an infant. Jackson had hopes that Marissa was getting better, but the doctors said that Marissa would never come out of it. Fuming, Jackson blamed Seth for Marissa's depression and catatonic state. Jackson was looking for Seth at the Rainier mansion, when he ran into Coralee instead. Wanting to hurt Seth so bad and knowing how close Coralee was to the family, that's when Jackson stabbed her several times in the back. Thencasually walked back outside.)


                                 JACKSON
(To himself.) You deserve it, Seth. Wish it could have been someone else, but Coralee is good enough for now. I will make you pay for what you've done to Marissa!

(And Jackson leaves the Rainier property.)

(Jackson arrives back home to his own mansion, pours himself a brandy, and sits down at his desk. He remembers when he and Seth were best friends in college until Marissa came into the picture. For Jackson, he was head-over-heels-in-love with Marissa, but she only had eyes for Seth. The trouble is, Seth didn't see Marissa in that way, she was just a way to get his career off the ground. When Marissa confessed she was pregnant with Seth's child to Jackson and that Seth would not care about the baby. He seethed at Seth's actions, but promised Marissa that he would marry her and take care of the baby as his own. So, he and Marissa married and she gave birth to Abby, Seth's daughter, and never told him. Jackson raised her as his own. And ever since, Jackson and Seth have been arch-rivals as they did anything in their power to destroy each other's businesses.)

(Jackson was still in his thoughts when daughters Abby and Rhia arrive home.)


                                  ABBY
(Kisses her father on the forehead.) Hello, Daddy! How was your day?


                                  JACKSON
(Interrupted in his thoughts.) What? Oh, hi there, girls. Guess I was deep in thought.


                                  RHIA
(Hugs her father.) Sorry to bother you too, Daddy.


                                  JACKSON
How was your day, girls?


                                  ABBY
It was great, but I have to get ready for a date.


                                  RHIA
And I have a ton of homework to do.


                                  JACKSON
Well, Abby, have a nice time on your date and Rhia, if you need any help with your homework, I'll be in my office working on some articles that need some attention.

(Jackson goes to his office as Abby and Rhia goes upstairs so Abby can get ready for her date and Rhia off to study.)

(Meanwhile, back at the Rainier mansion...)


                                  CELESTIA
(Still teary-eyed from the day’s events, sees Seth, III come to his bedroom door, after a long day at work.) Oh, Seth! (Runs to hug him.)


                               SETH III
Celestia, what is wrong? Why are you crying?


                               CELESTIA
You didn't hear the news?


                               SETH III
About what?


                               CELESTIA
Coralee? She's been murdered!


                               SETH III
What? How did this happen?


                               CELESTIA
Mother came home to find her stabbed several times and lying in a pool of blood in the living room.


                               SETH III
Oh my God! I'd better go see mother. How's she taking it?


                               CELESTIA
Not good. Not good at all!


                               SETH III
I'm going to see mother. Are you going to be okay?


                               CELESTIA
Yes, Seth. Go check on mother.

(Celestia goes to her room as Seth, III heads downstairs to find his mother.)


                               SETH III
(Calling for his mother.) Mother!


                               CAMILLE
I'm in the kitchen, Seth!


                               SETH III
I just heard from Celestia. When did this happen to Coralee?


                               CAMILLE
Just this afternoon. I have been answering questions from the police, the CSI and the Banks brothers all afternoon.


                               SETH III
Have they figured out what happened?


                               CAMILLE
No, Jerry and Jimmy left about 10 minutes after they arrived and the CSI left about 2 hours ago after they finished their investigation.


                               SETH III
Does dad know?


                               CAMILLE
Yes, he came home while the CSI was conducting their investigation.

(Just then, Seth, II comes in the kitchen after hearing voices from his office.)


                               SETH II
Camille, you in there?


                               CAMILLE
Yes, dear. Seth just got home and I was filling him in on what happened.


                               SETH II
It's a damn shame what happened to Coralee. Has anyone called her family?


                               CAMILLE
Oh dear, in all the commotion, I forgot to let her family know. I think I will go call them.

(Camille leaves for her bedroom as she prepares to call Coralee's family about her death.)


                               SETH II
Well, son, how about you and I prepare some dinner for your mother and sisters?


                               SETH III
Sure, dad.

(As father and son prepare the meal for the family, scene fades out.)