WALTER (O.S.) How is he? Adele turns...

WALTER (O.S.) How is he?

Adele turns around to see WALTER ENTER,

ADELE I beg your pardon?

WALTER I asked you, “How is he?”

Adele shakes her head from the confusion.

ADELE He’s okay. Who are you?

WALTER How is my father doing?

ADELE I’m sorry --

WALTER HOW is he?

ADELE Besides him being in a coma? He’s fine. Scott? I’ve heard so much about you.

WALTER Walter, actually. I’m not surprise you’ve gotten me mistaken with the wash belly baby boy.

(Adele is confused by the mix of Walter’s British-American accent. )

ADELE Walter, you are the oldest son?

WALTER Yes, the first born.

(Walter walks over to Joe’s bedside.)

WALTER (CONT’D) What is that?

(Walter rubs the bandage on Joe’s head.)

ADELE Oh that. I was told he hit his head when he fell.

WALTER I knew he had taken a tumble. Concussion?

ADELE No.

WALTER Is that usual? For a man to hit the floor, crack his head and not get a concussion?

ADELE Maybe he cut it on some something. It’s stitched up but it doesn’t look like a deep laceration.

WALTER I’m just taking a piss. I know a hard-headed son of bitch like Joseph Vita could withstand a head bouncing. Still ended up a vegetable I guess.

ADELE Not a vegetable. He is in a coma.

WALTER What's the difference?

ADELE I believe one day you father will wake up. That’s the difference.

WALTER Are you a doctor?

ADELE I’m a nurse.

WALTER Well, you know about it more than me, I can tell you that.

KNOCK -- KNOCK -- KNOCK – Marie ENTERS.

MARIE Walter, I told you that Adele was working with Joe. I’m sorry, Adele, Walter was anxious to see his father.

WALTER My father?

(Walter sheepishly smiles at Marie. He then turns his smile towards Adele.)

WALTER (CONT’D) Right. I was too excited to see my father. However, Mother, Adele was just brushing me up on how things work around here.

MARIE Oh is that so?

(Adele looks to speak...)

WALTER Yeah, she’s running a tight ship here. She’s a good hire.

MARIE Well, that’s good to here. Why don’t we let her finish up, dear?

ADELE I’m almost done. I just have to turn Mr. Vita.

WALTER Oh, me and my mother can take it from here, Adele.

ADELE Are you sure?

WALTER Yes, we have some catching up to do.

ADELE Well, it was nice to meet you.

(Walter gives Adele a quick smile before looking back at Joe.)

MARIE Thank you, Adele.

(Adele EXITS )

WALTER Adele, huh?

MARIE Mere coincidence.

WALTER Nothing of the sort. But on the contrary, it wouldn’t surprise me.

MARIE She used to assist the Garrisons and their boy.

WALTER The sickly one?

MARIE Yes.

WALTER Right I remember. But the Garrisons? Poor girl.

MARIE For her it doesn’t seemed that way. She kept her head down and did the work--

WALTER And let all that crazy sh#t fly past her head?

MARIE She’s a nice girl.

WALTER You don’t have to explain to me.

MARIE I’m not. I’m just saying she’s a nice girl. She’s here to help your father.

WALTER Can we just stop with that. The old man is on the edge.

MARIE I plan to keep things as normal as possible.

WALTER And that is the very problem plagues you my dear mother. You’re not a realist.

MARIE A realist? And you are?

WALTER I’m Joseph Vita’s son. I make my own reality. There’s no point in subscribing to the view of the world.

MARIE And why not?

WALTER Just as I said, Mother, ask your husband, Mr. Vita.

MARIE Enough of that now, Walter. You came here to see your father.

WALTER Yes.

(Walter walks to Joe’s bedside and takes a long look at Joe.)

WALTER (CONT’D) Okay, I’ve seen him and I don’t have an ounce of the appreciation of his impression whatsoever.

MARIE Be nice, Walter.

WALTER If you only knew. You should of told your husband that thirty years ago.

MARIE Walter, he tried his best for you. Why won’t you ever let that go? You’re too old to be holding grudges.

WALTER You think I was talking about myself? Take a look in the mirror. Anyway, we all cant be like you, Mother, and allow a man to walk over us for years.

MARIE I’m not doing this with you. Help me with this.

WALTER With what?

MARIE Your father. We have to turn him.

WALTER Turn him?

MARIE Put him on his side -- forget it.

(Placing pillow under Joe’s right side, Marie rolls Joe to the side, putting more weight on his left.)

WALTER That’s more like it. He looks so peaceful.

MARIE Stop antagonizing him. You came here to poke fun at your father who is in need.

WALTER No, I came to talk to you.

MARIE Me? Why?

WALTER Because we go public and two weeks and I need to know what you plan to do about your stake.

MARIE I don’t want it. I’ve already told your father that I’m selling it back to him.

WALTER Why?!

MARIE I’m not a businesswoman, Walter. I don’t know a thing about being an owner of a company.

WALTER You don’t have to. You can put your money into it and let it grow. And furthermore, why would you give it to father.

MARIE Because I don’t want it, Walter. I know he is trying to be generous but I don’t need a handout.

WALTER What are you going to do? You’re going to go back to writing textbooks and giving expert testimonies?

MARIE I make my money they way I want. I don't need to consolidate you about it.

WALTER It’s not about the money, Mother. It is the principle. You have put more into this company than you know. There is no way it could of reached this height without you.

MARIE But I don’t want it. What’s the point?

WALTER What’s the point? Are you listening to yourself? What’s point in giving up a company that has a total asset of nine hundred twenty four million? And that’s without going public. What do you think will happen when Vitas hits the stock market? It’s projected to double with merging with Goulding Inc.

MARIE Or the value will triple with the McKesson acquiring the both.

WALTER What do you know about the deal?!

MARIE I know that McKesson is willing to offer a more than substantial offer to the shareholder for majority ownership. I know it will make us billionaires. But I know Frank doesn’t want it.

WALTER Now you know Frank is a fool. He believes Vitas is far more valuable than it is. He has a point, but value is what people are willing to spend and T-l2 model is what’s blowing up his head.

MARIE Is it that good?

WALTER No, it's terrible in comparison to the last model. However, father and Susan have elected to make Frank head of design.

MARIE Joe never told me that.

WALTER Nor me. Frank did. He wants to design the T-12 because he thinks he’s came up with something revolutionary.

MARIE Your father never said any of that.

WALTER Than I suppose that you don't know that the rights have been restored back to Frank. I guess neither of those old men didn't tell you that.

MARIE The rights?

WALTER I guess Frank had came up with the original design back in ‘93. The two came to an agreement that whatever happen to Vitas, the rights for the patent of the T models would go back to Frank in twenty five years. That was last year. Susan and father’s approval of Frank being the head designer will keep him in-house. I believe Frank is happy with that.

MARIE What’s stopping him from leaving?

WALTER A number of things. The McKesson acquisition would be the biggest.

MARIE How come?

WALTER They’d have the majority stake. They would, could, and do anything at that point. They’d probably would just fire the lot of us. I don’t think they’re really interested in what we have to offer.

MARIE Why purchase Vitas then?

WALTER Survival of the fittest? Less competition?

MARIE How can we compete with a company like McKesson globally?

WALTER We don’t have to. The United States is good enough and that is too much for the schmucks at McKesson.

MARIE And you think that is a good thing?

WALTER Of course. Why not go out when you’re on top? Not everyone is meant to be Jeff Bezos. Father and Frank are just going to have to accept that.

MARIE Does your father know anything about the McKesson proposal?

WALTER He’s known since 1998, mother. He thinks he's being a good business man by holding out but really it is just greed that fuels him.

MARIE And what do you think why he’s going public now?

WALTER I don’t know. That’s why I need you.

MARIE Me?

WALTER Or actually your stake.

MARIE My stake. Now I should keep my stake.

WALTER I had no objection to you letting go your stake. I was questioning you giving it back to father.

MARIE So I should give it to you?

WALTER No you can keep it, you’ll make more money that way.

MARIE What for?

WALTER So we can accept the offer from McKesson.

MARIE You said Joe and Frank wont agree.

WALTER Yes but with yours, mine, and Scott’s share, we’ll be equal.

MARIE You have money to buy shares open to the public?

WALTER You do.

MARIE Is that what you came for? To take over your father’s company?

WALTER No, I came for you. I know you’re loyal to your husband, for why? I cant understand the likes of it.

MARIE Because he is my husband.

WALTER And what does that even mean? What does that mean to him? Not a damn thing. How long are you going to live in that dark and dank shadow you call a marriage?

MARIE Walter not again --

WALTER For f@#k’s sake.

MARIE Walter!

WALTER I’m sorry, mother, but you have to get a grip. Why do you allow yourself to be blinded by this man? How many more letters must you find from his sweethearts? How many times will you allow him to disrespect you?

MARIE I don’t want to talk about it.

WALTER You never do. Yet, you’re willing to give your life’s worth to him.

MARIE How dare you speak to me in that manner? I’m more than just a share to this company.

WALTER You don’t have to tell me, mother. You gave more than just the share you’ve been given. Why given to a man that has betrayed you multiple times --

MARIE Because. We’ve been through a lot.

WALTER Whatever his lazy eyes hasn’t cast judgement on, believe me, you’ve repaid him.

MARIE You should be thankful.

WALTER Thank you, mother.

MARIE I’m talking about your father.

WALTER I’m grateful, appreciative, and thankful for everything Joseph Vita has done.

MARIE Then why do you have such an unkind eye towards him. If you feel that way, why haven’t you made amends?

WALTER I don’t know what you’re talking about.

MARIE You tell me that you’re mad. You always seem mad, but you never bring it to his attention.

WALTER Because he made me that way.

MARIE You have malice in your heart, Walter. I don’t need you to be that way.

WALTER You need me to help you.

MARIE You want to end your father’s empire.

WALTER I’m doing nothing more than what he did to his own father.

MARIE Jesus! I cant do this with you.

WALTER You could never. You’re part to blame in all of this.

MARIE Don’t you dare.

WALTER You should have left him years ago. Now, you continue to allow it to plague you.

MARIE Why do you care so much?

WALTER Because I don’t want to see you hurt.

MARIE I thought you would have gotten used to it by now.

WALTER How can I?

MARIE You feel so strongly now. Why? Is it because you want me to side with you on tearing Vitas apart? Is that it? Is that how much you hate him, Walter? I’m sorry if you felt that you were never loved by Joe but he loves you. You and Vitas are practically the same age. In a sense, Joe raised three children instead of two. I know you must of felt left out but, believe me, He never cared less about you than the Scott or the company. Understand something, it is not easy being a parent, Walter. People make mistakes. You are about to be one of the heads of a giant publicly traded company, a position your father gave you. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t waste spending your time in misery over things that happened so long ago. Look at me. (Walter turns around to face his mother.) I don’t like you like this. I don’t like how bitter and cold you’ve become over the years. A man like that would do anything to prove a point, so much they end up being the bad guy themselves.

(Walter makes eye contact with Marie.)

MARIE (CONT’D) Not because they are bad in nature nut because they are hurt.

(Marie gets teary eyed.)

MARIE (CONT’D) Don’t fall into that. Don’t become what you are not in nature.
(voice breaking) I won’t be able to take it. I cant lose you too.

(Walter hugs Marie.)

WALTER Please, mother, don’t cry.

MARIE (crying) Please, Walter --

WALTER Okay, okay.

MARIE It starts now.

Walter looks over at Joe.

WALTER Can I have some time with him then?

MARIE Of course. Make it right, Walter. If not for him, do it for yourself.

WALTER Yes, mother.

(Marie gives Walter a kiss on the cheek, which Walter accepts coldly. He gives his mother a big hug.)

WALTER (CONT’D) You haven’t lost me, mother. I’m still that little boy.

MARIE I hope so. Because I haven’t seen that little boy for a long time.

WALTER Mother --

MARIE I’m just trying to fix it.

WALTER Come on, mom.

MARIE (in a deep voice) Come on, mom. I’m sorry, honey. I’m just trying to find that little boy again.

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