FRANCESCA STEWART, from FALCON CREST: A NEW VINTAGE
Bio provided by author:
Frankie arrived on the scene a few years ago, having passed the Bar exam and working as an Associate at a small corporate firm in San Francisco. It was while working and living in the city that she had a chance encounter with Emma St. James. Though struggling with her own personal issues, Emma (never one to turn a blind eye to a fellow-wandering spirit) convinced her mother Angela to give Frankie a chance at a new life as the new Executive Legal Counsel for Falcon Crest. Frankie's "green-ness" appealed to Angela, and she snapped up the opportunity to groom a young and impressionable attorney into the kind of trusted associate she needed.
With Falcon Crest in turmoil, and a new evil Queen at the helm (thanks to one of Angela's hair-brained schemes), Frankie currently finds herself at a crossroads: she can choose to become the trusted associate of Richard Channing, maintain her allegiance to Angela or drastically alter her career goals to make room for the one thing she yearns to bring back to her life -- her daughter.
In this particular scene, Frankie finds herself depressed and alone on Thanksgiving, and her thoughts oddly preoccupied with Richard Channing...
SCENE #1:
Episode 20, Scene 2
Frankie lets out a small sigh as she spreads mayonnaise on a slice of bread.
"Happy Thanksgiving," she mutters, glancing ruefully at the assortment of turkey sandwich fixings spread before her on the kitchen counter.
Not exactly a feast, but it's about all I'm in the mood for today.
She's tried to brace herself for the loneliness of another holiday, but apparently she hasn't done a very good job. She's been moping around the apartment all morning, deep in thought.
I should have called Richard, she berates herself for the tenth time. I'm sure he probably had plans with Mickey, but I still should have called and invited him over, just in case. I hope he's not sitting home alone today, too...
She reminds herself about their earlier conversation, when he told her that he wasn't ready to let anyone, even a friend, into his personal life just yet.
I don't want to ruin our friendship - or our business relationship - by butting in when he wants to be alone, she laments. If I keep charging in there uninvited, he's going to think that I'm putting the moves on him. And that is definitely not my goal. Been there, done that rebound thing...I will NEVER make THAT mistake again!
She thinks back over the past years, reflecting on the ups and downs that her life has taken since she arrived in San Francisco.
This time last year, I was well established at Falcon Crest, and full of thoughts about the great future I had ahead of me there...I thought I was finally 'set.' I was just about ready to try and really get everything back together, she remembers, vaguely noticing the familiar ache that's starting to build inside her. And now I'm back to square one.
Frankie considers the current state of her career for a moment.
There's still hope, she admits to herself. Richard seems genuinely interested in having me work with him, and that's exactly what I need right now.
She recalls how thrown she was, initially, by the revelation about his business holdings. Now, the idea that what they are getting into may be something less than legal both worries and excites her.
This obviously is a man who has never lost sight of his goals, she ponders admiringly. Even when he was facing prison and losing everything he owned, he still was able to figure out a way to keep his head above water and look to the future. I can relate to that, that need to keep your sights set on something...
This guy has some lofty goals, and I think he's got the means to get there. That's the kind of operation I need to be involved in, if I'm going to get my own life back together, she thinks determinedly. So if he needs somebody on his side, I want it to be me.
She realizes she's still holding the slice of bread in her hand, and absently flips it down on top of the lettuce leaf to complete her sandwich.
Besides, she mulls, thinking ruefully of their personal lives. I've been there...I know what it's like to have the floor fall out from under you...
"At least he has his sons, though," she mumbles. "He won't ever be truly alone, as long as he has them."
She glances out at a photo on her dining room wall, then squeezes her eyes shut as if trying to stop her thoughts.
Hastily, she gathers up the sandwich items and shoves them back into the refrigerator. She wanders into the living room and drops down onto the couch.
Bowing her head for a moment, Frankie offers up a half-hearted prayer on this day of thanks. But at the moment, she doesn't feel like there's much to be thankful for.
She flips on the television, hoping that the sights and sounds of one of the Thanksgiving Day parades will cheer her up. Staring rather blankly at the colorful scene, she takes a bite of her sandwich. She stops in mid-chew and looks at it curiously.
Suddenly realizing what's wrong, she slaps the plate down on the coffee table and rolls her eyes. I forgot the damn turkey, she thinks, amused. Chuckling, she goes to retrieve the meat from the refrigerator again, but the ringing of her phone causes her to change direction.
She wonders fleetingly whether it might be Richard, as she makes her way to answer it.
I really hope he's not alone today, she thinks again. If that's him and he is, I'm going to feel really bad for not inviting him...
"Hello?" she asks tentatively.
Her expression quickly changes from apprehension to one of affection.
"Hi, Sweetheart," she replies to the person on the other end. "Happy Thanksgiving..."