CHAPTER NINE: THE WITNESS

PENELOPE SENDS RANDON AT THE RAVENSWOOD HOSPITAL. HE LOOKS AT HER WITH SO MUCH CURIOSITY.

RANDON: WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

PENELOPE: CHECKING ON ELISE, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HER THE WHOLE DAY. YOU CANT BLAME ME FOR DOING THIS.

RANDON: GREGOR WILL BE THERE. WE HAD A FIGHT LAST NIGHT.

PENELOPE: IT DOES NOT MATTER, BROTHER. YOU HAVE ME. GREGOR WILL BE AT HIS GOOD BEHAVIOR WHEN I AM WITH YOU. JUST TRUST ME.

AT THE RAVENSWOOD NEWS AND PUBLISHING'S OFFICE, MRS. LEIGH, MS. SCOTT AND MRS. LEAFMAN ARE ALL WAITING FOR GREGOR. FINALLY, SOMEONE IS KNOCKING THE OFFICE, MR. LEAFMAN OPENS THE DOOR.

MR. LEAFMAN: MRS. LEIGH, IT IS GREGOR MENDEL.

MRS. LEIGH: OKAY, LET HIM IN. HELLO, GREGOR.

GREGOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAAM. WHAT CAN I HELP YOU?

MRS. LEIGH: HOW IS ELISE?

GREGOR: SHE IS STILL RECOVERING FROM A LEG INJURY.

MS. SCOTT: POOR GIRL.

GREGOR: WHY I AM HERE?

MR. LEAFMAN: WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, GREG. YOU WERE WITH MS. ELISE GRAVEL THAT TIME. YOU SEEMED SO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER.

GREGOR: YES, WE ARE WORKING AT THE BIG BILLY'S DINER. MRS. LEIGH SAW HER THERE WORKING.

MRS. LEIGH: YES, I KNOW IT, GREG. WHAT I AM CONCERN ABOUT IS THAT WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT MR. GIBSON'S DEATH?

GREGOR: YOU MUST CALL TO THE POLICE STATION OR TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THAT MATTER, MRS. LEIGH. THEY WILL BE THE ONE TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS, NOT ME.

MS. SCOTT: WE KNOW BUT YOU WERE THERE WITH MS. GRAVEL. YOU HAD WITNESSED THAT MR. GIBSON WAS DEAD.

GREGOR: YES, I WAS THERE.

MR. LEAFMAN: WHAT ELSE, GREG?

GREGOR: WHAT DO YOU MEAN ABOUT WHAT ELSE? I AM SUSPECTING YOU ALL THAT YOU ARE DIGGING SOMETHING FROM ME. DO YOU THINK THIS IS AGAINST TO THE LAW?

MRS. LEIGH: NO, OFFENSE, GREGOR. BUT WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT AGAINST TO THE LAW. WHY ARE WE DIGGING SOMETHING FROM YOU? DO WE HAVE THE REASONS TO DIG SOMETHING FROM YOU, GREGOR?

GREGOR: AFTER VERONICA TOLD US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GARDEN, I HEARD HER MENTIONING THAT RANDON FOLLOWED THE NEW GIRL ACROSSED THE FENCES. SO IT WAS ELISE. THEN, I FOLLOWED THEM TOO.

MS. SCOTT: HOW DID YOU KNOW WHERE IT WAS? WHICH GARDEN? I MEAN THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM IN MRS. LEIGH'S PROPERTY.

GREGOR: BECAUSE I LEFT HER TO THAT SMALL GARDEN. PROBABLY, SHE HEARD THE VOICE FROM THERE.

MR. LEAFMAN: HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH. I WAS THERE TO INTRUDE THEM.

MRS. LEIGH: INTRUDE? FOR WHAT REASON?

GREGOR: I WAS TAKING PICTURES OF HER AS MY PORTRAIT THAT NIGHT, THAT'S ALL.

MRS. LEIGH: GREGOR, IF YOU DONT MIND, CAN I TAKE A LOOK OF YOUR PHOTOS DURING THE PARTY?

GREGOR: HERE.

MRS. LEIGH, MS. SCOTT AND MR. LEAFMAN LOOK THE PICTURES THOROUGHLY.

MR. LEAFMAN: THERE IS NOTHING SUSPICIOUS, MRS. LEIGH.

GREGOR: WAIT, ARE YOU SUSPECTING ME OR ELISE?

MS. SCOTT: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, GREGOR. WE ARE NOT SUSPECTING NOR ACCUSING ANYBODY.

MRS. LEIGH: MS. SCOTT AND MR. LEAFMAN, CAN YOU LEAVE US FOR A MINUTE OR SO?

MS. SCOTT: IT IS OKAY, MRS. LEIGH.

MR. LEAFMAN AND MS. SCOTT LEFT THE ROOM. MRS. LEIGH AND GREGOR ARE ALL ALONE INSIDE THE OFFICE.

MRS. LEIGH: GREGOR, I AM SORRY FOR THIS. BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEATH OF MR. GIBSON HAPPENED IN MY PROPERTY AND DURING TO MY DAUGHTER'S PARTY. YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANT FOR ME, RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO KNOW IT FROM YOU.

GREGOR: WE ARE INNOCENT, MRS. LEIGH. IF THAT IS A MURDER, WE ARE JUST VICTIMS HERE TOO. IF WE DONT GET ANY ANSWERS FROM THE AUTHORITY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, MAYBE YOU WILL ASK YOUR HUSBAND'S BESTFRIEND, THE GOVERNOR. I HAVE TO GO. GOOD DAY.

MRS. LEIGH: GREGOR, BEFORE YOU GO OUT. I AM SORRY IF I OFFENDED YOU AND ELISE. TRUTHFULLY, I WISH HER WELL.

GREGOR: YOU MIGHT ASK YOUR DAUGHTER, RANDON AND MR. KILM ABOUT THIS AS WELL, MRS. LEIGH. MAYBE THEY CAN HELP YOU.

MRS. LEIGH: I WILL. THANK YOU FOR THE TIP. YOU MAY GO NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, GREGOR.

GREGOR: ONE MORE THING, MRS. LEIGH.

MRS. LEIGH: WHAT IS IT?

GREGOR: CAN I HAVE MY CAMERA BACK?

MRS. LEIGH: OF COURSE, HERE.

MR. LEAFMAN ENTERS THE OFFICE AFTER GREGOR LEFT MRS. LEIGH. HE OBSERVES THAT MRS. LEIGH FEELS UNEASY ABOUT THE INTERVIEW AND SEEMS BOTHERED.

MR. LEAFMAN: ANY CONNECTIONS FROM YOUR HUSBAND?

MRS. LEIGH: NO, I DONT KNOW. I DONT EVEN KNOW. I JUST DONT WANT TO KNOW, UNCLE.

MR. LEAFMAN: SOON, WE WILL FIND OUT. DONT WORRY.

MRS. LEIGH: I KNOW AND I HOPE SO.

AT THE HOSPITAL, PENELOPE ASKS A NURSE TO THE STATION ABOUT ELISE'S ROOM NUMBER. THE NURSE GIVES HER THE INFORMATION.

PENELOPE: OKAY, RAN. IT IS ROOM 201 AT THE SECOND FLOOR. YOU CAN GO NOW.

RANDON: ARENT YOU COMING WITH ME?

PENELOPE: I WILL FOLLOW YOU. I NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM FIRST.

RANDON: OKAY.

PENELOPE: SEE YOU THERE.

RANDON GOES UPSTAIRS TO ELISE'S ROOM WHILE PENELOPE IS SEARCHING FOR PATT AND HOPING SHE WILL SEE HIM AROUND. SHE ASKS ALSO THE NURSE IF MR. GIBSON'S FAMILY IS IN THE HOSPITAL. THEN, THE NURSE AGREES AND GIVES HER THE INFORMATION AS WELL. FINALLY, SHE SEES PATT SITTING AT THE BENCH ALL ALONE AND CRYING SILENTLY. SHE FEELS SO SAD FOR PATT. AT THE SECOND FLOOR, RANDON FACES ELISE'S DOOR ROOM AND DOUBTS IF HE IS DOING RIGHT IN ENTERING HER ROOM. HE OPENS THE DOOR SLOWLY AND SEES HER SLEEPING LIKE AN ANGEL, BEAUTIFUL ANGEL. HE IS THINKING ABOUT HIS TRUE FEELINGS ABOUT ELISE AND HIS TRUE INTENTIONS FOR HER. AS HE STARES AT HER SAFE AND ASLEEP, IT IS A RELIEF FOR HIM. BUT SOMEONE IS ENTERING THE ROOM.

BILLY: RANDON?

RANDON: I AM JUST HAVING A QUICK VISIT, SIR. I AM LEAVING.

BILLY: YOU SHOULD LEAVE SOONER BUT IF YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT HER CONDITION. AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE IS RECOVERING FROM HER LEG INJURY, NOT SEVERE. SHE WILL BE FINE SOON.

RANDON: THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME, SIR.

BILLY: RANDON, I HOPE YOU ARE NOT MAD WITH GREGOR AND HIS ACTIONS TO YOU.

RANDON: I TRULY UNDERSTAND, SIR. I HAVE TO GO.

BILLY: I USED TO REMEMBER HOW CLOSED YOU WERE WITH HIM AS WELL AS HIM TO YOU. WHEN MY WIFE WAS ALIVE, SHE LET THE BOTH OF YOU HAVE FREE FRESH BAKED COOKIES AND VANILLA MILKSHAKES AFTER PLAYING OUTSIDE IN OUR DINER. THE CLOSENESS YOU HAVE TOGETHER IS UNBREAKABLE THOUGH ITS FORBIDDEN BUT PLEASE HOLD ON TO THAT, RANDON.

RANDON: WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THESE THINGS, SIR?

BIILY: HE IS STILL CARE FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. BUT HE CHOSE TO MAKE A DISTANCE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN HURT FROM HIS YOUNGER BROTHER'S DEATH, JIM.

RANDON: HE WAS LIKE AN OLDER BROTHER TO ME BEFORE.

BILLY: JUST LIKE BEFORE, HE PROTECTED YOU AND PENELOPE WHEN SOMEONE HURT YOU OR HER EVEN THOUGH HE GOT HURT HIMSELF. THAT'S THE REASON NOW WHY HE IS PROTECTING ELISE. ELISE IS NEW HERE AND SHE IS HERE ALL ALONE. JUST LIKE HIM, ALL ALONE AFTER JIM DIED. HE MAY NOT SAVED JIM BUT HE IS TRYING HIS BEST NOW TO SAVE SOMEBODY.

RANDON: (SMILES) I HOPE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE HERE IN THIS ROOM, SIR. I CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH MY MOTHER.

BILLY: DONT BOTHER, WE ARE FINE IN HERE AND TREATS HER WELL. YOUR FATHER PAID THE BILLS TOO. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

RANDON: REALLY? JUST LIKE I SAID I AM JUST HAVING A QUICK VISIT ON HER.

BILLY: I WILL TELL HER THAT YOU VISITED HER HERE WHEN SHE'S UP.

RANDON: DONT NEED, ITS FINE SEEING HER OKAY. I AM GOING NOW, SIR.

BILLY: OKAY, SEND MY REGARDS TO PEN.

RANDON: I WILL.

AFTER BILLY SAID THOSE MEMORIES ABOUT HIM AND GREGOR, HE CANT HELP IT BUT TO PUT A SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE THINKS OF HIS CHILDHOOD DAYS WITH GREGOR, IT WAS AMAZINGLY FUNNY. HE AGREES TO BILLY THAT GREGOR HAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF HIS PAIN FROM HIS YOUNGER BROTHER'S DEATH. ALSO, HE REMEMBERS WHAT HE DID EARLIER TO VERONICA AND FEELS GUILTY ABOUT IT. AS HE TAKES HIS STEPS DOWNSTAIRS, HE HEARS PATT SHOUTING IN FRONT OF PENELOPE. HE APPROACHES PENELOPE IMMEDIATELY.

RANDON: WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, PEN?

PATT: THERE YOU ARE, I DONT NEED YOUR SYMPATHY. JUST GO, BRING YOUR SISTER WITH YOU.

PENELOPE: PATT, I KNOW YOU ARE HURT BUT ENOUGH WITH THE FEELING OF BEING ALONE. WE ARE HERE. I AM HERE FOR YOU.

PATT: DONT YOU EVER TELL ME THAT, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND ME BECAUSE YOU CANT. DONT JUDGE ME BECAUSE YOU KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME BUT YOU DIDNT. I DONT NEED YOU OR ANYBODY. DONT BOTHER YOURSELF THINKING OF ME BECAUSE IT IS NOT HELPING ME.PENELOPE IS CRYING ALREADY. PATT FEELS HER PAIN SO HE STOPS FROM TALKING. HE WANTS TO APOLOGIZE TO HER BUT SHOWING HIS FEELINGS IS NOT HELPING HER NOR HIM ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HE IS GRIEVING.

RANDON: PATT, SHE IS MY SISTER.

PATT: BEFORE GOING FARTHER, JUST GO. LEAVE ME ALONE.

RANDON: PEN, LET'S GO.

PATT LOOKS AT PENELOPE WHEN THEY LEFT, HE KNOWS THAT PENELOPE IS ALWAYS A GOOD FRIEND TO HIM. BUT SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF HIS FATHER'S ENEMY. INSIDE THE CAR, RANDON COMFORTS PENELOPE FROM CRYING.

RANDON: TELL ME HONESTLY, THIS ELISE VISITATION THING WAS YOUR EXCUSE TO SEE PATT, AM I RIGHT?

PENELOPE: I AM THINKING ABOUT HIM THE WHOLE TIME TOO, RANDON. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG ABOUT IT?

RANDON: I KNOW YOU HAVE A FEELING TO HIM, PEN. I CAN FEEL IT, MAYBE NOW, IT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.

PENELOPE: I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I AM THE DAUGHTER OF GOVERNOR DEAN. I JUST DONT GET IT. HE DOES NOT EVEN SENSE MY INTENTIONS TO HIM THAT I..... I LIKE HIM.

RANDON: (SIGHS) I HATE SEEING YOU LIKE THIS. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO MAKE YOU FEEL OKAY. BUT SOON, YOU WILL BE OKAY.

PENELOPE: BEING HERE WITH ME LIKE THIS MOMENT AND LET ME FEEL THAT I AM NOT ALONE, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT, BROTHER.

RANDON HUGS PENELOPE WITH COMFORT. THEN, RANDON IS THE ONE DRIVING THE CAR TO HOME. AS THEY ARRIVE, THEY NOTICE THAT LARRY IS WAITING FOR THEM ALONE.

LARRY: THERE YOU ARE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

RANDON: WHERE ARE EVERYBODY?

LARRY: THEY LEFT ALREADY. VERONICA STAYS TO ASHLEY'S HOUSE TONIGHT. ARE YOU OKAY PENELOPE?

PENELOPE: WE WERE JUST HAVING A RIDE. I LET HIM DRIVES ME AROUND THE TOWN TO BREATHE FRESH AIR.

LARRY: BUT YOU'RE NOT OKAY, PEN. I AM NOT NUMB TO NOTICE IT.

PENELOPE: I AM FINE. LET ME EXCUSE MYSELF, I AM TIRED. THANKS, BROTHER. THANKS, LARRY.

LARRY: YOU ARE WELCOME, PEN.

RANDON: LARRY, CAN I HAVE A FAVOR?

LARRY: SURE, WHAT IS IT?

IN THE HOSPITAL, GREGOR ARRIVES FROM MRS LEIGH'S OFFICE, HE SEES DR. DEAN WATCHING ELISE OUTSIDE FROM THE GLASS WINDOW.

DR. DEAN: GOOD EVENING, GREGOR.

GREGOR: IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT?

DR. DEAN: SHE IS FINE. I HAD A TALK WITH BILLY BEFORE HE LEFT MINUTES AGO.

GREGOR: THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AFTER HER. YOU MAY HAVE YOUR ROUNDS NOW WITH THE OTHER PATIENTS, DR. DEAN.

DR. DEAN: GREG, I KNOW IT'S BEEN SO HARD FOR YOU TO LOOK AT ME IN THE FACE BECAUSE I DIDNT SAVED YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER. I TRIED MY VERY BEST BUT I CANT CONTROL ANY PATIENT'S LIFE.

GREGOR: HE IS NOT JUST A PATIENT. HE IS MY BROTHER.

DR. DEAN: I KNOW THAT, I KNOW. I AM SORRY THAT UNTIL NOW IT CAUSES YOU SO MUCH PAIN.

GREGOR: DR. DEAN, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I DONT HAVE TO EXPLAIN MY SIDE. I AM TIRED FOR TODAY. I CAN HANDLE ELISE NOW. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

DR. DEAN: OKAY, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

HEAD NURSE USHTER AND HER FRIEND AND THE OLDEST JANITOR IN THE HOSPITAL, MR. SALL, WITNESS DR. DEAN AND GREGOR'S CONVERSATION. DR. DEAN APPROACHES MS. USHTER AND GREETS MR. SALL.

DR. DEAN: WHERE TO GO NEXT, MS. USHTER?

MRS. USHTER: AT THE ROOM 206, DR. DEAN.

DR. DEAN: OKAY, GOOD EVENING, OLD SALL.

MR. SALL: GOOD EVENING DR. DEAN. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT TO THE BOTH OF YOU.

DR. DEAN: THANKS, OLD SALL.

MS. USHTER: WE SHOULD GO NOW, OLD SALL.

MR. SALL: DONT BOTHER, JUST GO. I AM FINISHING THE FLOOR HERE.

MS. USHTER: OKAY.

MR. SALL IS WATCHING THEM LEAVING, THEN, AFTER CLEANING THE FLOOR HE IS LEAVING THE AREA WHILE WHISTLING AND CARRYING HIS THINGS DOWNSTAIRS. THE HOSPITAL IS AT PEACE TONIGHT.