5. INT. PARLOR ROOM
ROBINSON paces around the billiards table.
ROBINSON
I don’t know where she gets her attitude from. Her father wasn’t always this picky before he passed. If only he were still here to tell her straight out.
CHRISTINE and ARTHUR’s shadows hover over ROBINSON. She’s shocked for a second, and the next, she’s relieved.
ROBINSON
Oh, Christine, I didn’t see you there.
CHRISTINE and ARTHUR are dressed in nicer clothes as assistants of the mayor.
ROBINSON
I’m in dire need of my advisors’ advice.
CHRISTINE
Our jobs are only but to serve you, ma’am. What seems to be the trouble?
ROBINSON
It’s this suitor business again. Caitlin utterly refuses to choose a husband, and I’m at my wits end.
ARTHUR
Yes, your wits end, ma’am.
ROBINSON
Oh, Arthur, you’re here, too. Want an animal cracker?
ARTHUR shakes his head. ROBINSON pulls out a box of animal crackers and takes one of them out.
ROBINSON
Here you go, boy.
Stuffs in ARTHUR’s mouth. CHRISTINE chuckles as ARTHUR is scowling.
CHRISTINE
Mrs. Robinson, you certainly have a way with dumb assistants.
ARTHUR stomps on one of CHRISTINE’s feet. CHRISTINE clears her throat.
CHRISTINE
Now, I shall devise a solution for this stubborn problem, ma’am.
ROBINSON
If anyone can help, it’s you, Christine.
CHRISTINE
But it’s going to require a specific diamond, Mrs. Robinson.
ROBINSON
My ring? But it’s the last thing of my husband’s…
CHRISTINE
And it’s necessary to find your daughter a suitor.
Takes out a necklace that’s black and white in the shape of an eye. She then dangles it in front of ROBINSON’s face.
CHRISTINE
But don’t worry. Everything will be fine.
A shaky aura appears from the eye charm. ROBINSON’s eyes remain frozen.
ROBINSON
Everything will be fine…
CHRISTINE
The diamond?
The ring is taken off.
ROBINSON
It’s right…here…and everything will be fine.
CHRISTINE snatches the ring from her fingers.
CHRISTINE
I am the utmost grateful, ma’am. Now, why don’t you go back to playing billiards, eh?
ROBINSON
Yes. That would be nice.
When CHRISTINE and ARTHUR are far enough from hearing range, ARTHUR splits the crack into a garbage bin.
ARTHUR
I can’t take it anymore! If I have to scoff down one more of those dry, disgusting animal crackers…
CHRISTINE opens a secret door in the wall.
ARTHUR
Bam! Wham! And a blow to the face, blam!
CHRISTINE
Calm yourself down, Arthur.
They are climbing the stairs. As ARTHUR is talking nonsense…
CHRISTINE
Soon enough, I’ll be in control of this town, not that Master’s Degree dropout twit.
ARTHUR
And then, I will get to stuff crackers down her throat, right?
CHRISTINE
Exactly.
The door to another room slams shut.
SCENE CHANGE: EXT. GARDEN NIGHT
CAITLIN, in sweatpants and a hoodie covering her body, sneaks out of her room and past the fountain to the mansion gates. She cautiously looks around for any guards out on duty and heads to the nearest tree to the fence. Just as she starts climbing, SPOTS pulls her down, begging her not to go.
CAITLIN
Aw, I’m sorry, Spots, but I can’t just stay here and have my life lived for me. I’ll miss you so much.
SPOTS assists her climb up the tree. Along the way, he’s whimpering.
CAITLIN
Goodbye, friend.
She jumps over and runs as SPOTS sadly watches her leave.