S1.E3 Bewitched - Scene 6

Ritual S1 - Episode 3 - Scene 6

Rocco's Restaurant

Characters in this Scene

Danny Huston as Michael Richards

Finn Wittrock as Ric Richards

Dylan McDermott as Rory McLoughlan

Vera Farmiga as Lydia Stone

Lily Rabe as Cathy Milton

Emma Roberts as Debbie Sinclair

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Councillor Michael Richards is having dinner with his film star son Ric in a private booth at Rocco’s Restaurant. Rocco’s is very exclusive; this is where the rich and famous come when they want to hide from the paparazzi, discreetly take their lovers or just simply go where they are not bothered. There is a back entrance from the street, and all staff are required to signed non-disclosure agreements. Any indiscretion by a staff member, such as asking for an autograph or even staring too long, can result in an instant sacking.

“Well, here we are son. It’s good to see you. How’ve you been?”

“Really Dad? A private booth at Rocco’s – I’m beginning to think you don’t really want to be seen with me, so don’t pretend to start caring now.”

“I’ve always cared about you, Ric. I cared about your mother too.”

“Well, where were you when we needed you the most. We always had to do it so tough.”

“Ric you know your mother pushed me away and poisoned me against you. I reached out a number of times, but she wanted nothing to do with me. I sent her money, and she sent it back.”

“She must have had a reason to hate you so much.”

Michael smiled. “You’re so much like her, always so sensitive and volatile. You have the same eyes you know. Piercing blue, with such a judgemental gaze.”

“Dad, you want to know what I think the problem is - I think you were never really interested in having a family. It was never about us; it’s always been about you. Your career, your next campaign, your businesses. You haven’t even asked me what I’m working on.”

“I already know what you’re working on. I do read the tabloids, and you can hardly keep out of them these days, can you?”

“Fuck you! Seriously, you can’t let it go, can you!”

“Let’s not squabble shall we, can’t we just have a nice dinner and a little father and son time? Besides, I want to tell you all about my next venture and I was hoping you would support me in it.”

“Ha, I knew it! I fucking knew it. What is it this time, you’re going for mayor again?” Ric’s eyes are red, pricked with tears.

“Actually, Governor. I’ll be running for Governor of California.”

“Governor!  Don’t you need a squeaky-clean track record for that?  Aren’t you forgetting that little indiscretion in Palm Springs. Won’t that affect your campaign?”

“As it turns out, I’ve met some very powerful people who are prepared to assist me with my campaign, and this time I am confident it will be a success.”

“So, these new friends, will they be able to keep your skeletons in the closet?”

“As it turns out they can. Here’s the deal Ric, that’s not the only thing that I would like to keep in the closet”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean,” Michael sips his scotch.

“Why don’t you just come out and say it, you think your son’s a faggot!”

“Ric, I couldn’t care less what you do in your spare time but just don’t make it so obvious. Stop going to the wrong places, stop hanging out with the wrong people, and stay away from the tabloids. I won’t have you embarrassing me by acting out all the time.”

“Unbelievable! You’re complaining about my acting out and you don’t even ask me why I am like this!”

“Ric, I want to help you. I’ll pay for you to go see someone, go get yourself straightened out.”

“Dad, if you hadn’t noticed, I earn way more than you do and I can pay for myself. Besides, my agent Meryl has already threatened to drop me as a client if I don’t go and see a shrink.” Ric downs his glass of scotch and pours another from the open bottle on their table.

“You might want to lay off the sauce a bit too, that’s not helping.” Michael points his steak knife accusingly at Ric mid meal.

“Well, it’s been real fun Dad, truly. Here’s some money for dinner, it’s on me!” Ric throws a wad of cash on the table before leaving the restaurant.

Michael Richards stands at the front of the booth, smoking a St Moritz as he watches his son leave. A man bumps past him and grabs his hand in an apologetic handshake. He presses the first and second knuckle with his thumb and looks at Michael knowingly. Michael, slightly flustered, tries to remember the response, and then taps the third and fourth knuckles. The man nods. Michael smiles to himself, he is thoroughly enjoying being a member of a secret sect, and one that is prepared to further his political aspirations. Besides, it is way more fun than having to grease up to those sanctimonious evangelist assholes that backed his last campaign.

Rory McLoughlin recognized Michael Richards from the local news coverage, he took a hunch by giving him the secret handshake known only by members of the Temple of Thoth. A councilman could be useful in his back pocket. He passes behind his actress wife Lydia Stone seated at their table and pauses to give her shoulders a reassuring squeeze before sitting opposite.

“Everything OK, honey?”

“Yes, everything’s fine”

“Everything’s fine, but?”

“Alright, if I’m being perfectly honest Rory - because that’s what we agreed, to be honest with each other – if you want to know I’m just having a hard time still processing it all. Being here with you now is a strain for me.”

“Honey, we talked about this. The past is the past.”

“The past was only a few months ago, and I’m still not over the past, despite all the charges being dropped. That might excuse you in the eyes of the law, but not my eyes.”

“Lydia, I promise I will make this up to you. Never again, I swear it.”

“It’s not just that; I’ve been dropped by the feminist movement. I no longer get asked to speak at rallies, I’m being completely blacklisted. You can imagine how bad that looks taking back a philandering husband. I’m a hypocrite in their eyes.”

“So, you’re more concerned with what a bunch of jack-booted lesbians think? Lydia, c’mon!”

“Rory, this is just an arrangement for now. Meryl advised that I sit tight for a bit and continue with the relationship.”

“Wait a minute, Meryl said that? I thought she wanted you to divorce me.”

“She does, well she did, but she thinks getting a divorce right now just before the Oscars would be bad publicity for me and could jeopardise my chances.”

“Well fuck Hollywood, fuck the Oscars, and fuck Meryl White!” Rory raises his voice loud enough for patrons’ heads to turn, but then they quickly go back to their meals. This was Rocco’s after all.

“Why don’t we have a kid, that’s what you’ve always wanted isn’t it?”

“Honestly Rory, you have really shitty timing. I wanted to have a baby two years ago, but not now, not while my career is in full swing.”

“C’mon, you, me, and baby makes three” He takes her hand in his and kisses it gently. She pulls away.

“I just need to go to the bathroom for a moment.” Lydia gets up and with her back turned on Rory, she allows the hot tears of rage to flow. She is at the mirror in the ladies’ room, dabbing at her mascara when she hears someone approach her.

“Lydia, are you alright?”

Lydia turns to see Cathy Milton, “I’m fine, really. Just having a bit of a moment.”

“Hell, well I can fix that.” Cathy produces a vial of pure cocaine and taps out a line on her compact mirror. “Courtesy of my brother-in-law.” She offers it to Lydia who takes a massive snort with a rolled up $100 bill.

“Oh wow, wow! If there is only one good thing I can say about Damien, it’s that he knows quality.”

“So will you be going to the party next week?”

“I will now that I know you’ll be there.”

The two women walk arm in arm out of the ladies’ room with their heads together, giggling. They embrace warmly before making their way back to their respective tables. Cathy is suddenly cognisant of how long she has been in the bathroom and apologises profusely to her dinner guest.

“I am so sorry about that, you know how it is, girls in bathrooms”

“Actually, I wouldn’t know,” Debbie Sinclair looks down at her hands.

“Oh, honey, I didn’t mean anything by it. I forget how cloistered you are.”

“It’s OK, I really do appreciate you busting me out and taking me to dinner tonight.”

“No problem, all I had to do was slip Munnalita a few notes and she looked the other way. In fact, I think she quite enjoyed being involved. I won’t tell your parents. Scouts honour.” Cathy does a comic salute but fails to raise a smile from Debbie. “How has she been anyway?”

“She’s getting more unhinged. The other day we had a huge fight, and she threw a bottle of scotch at my head.”

“Oh dear. Whatever did you say to her.”

“I just called her out on her own bullshit. I said that I didn’t understand their open marriage, I just don’t get it. I also said that she is worried that Daddy worships Lilith Levay even more than he does her. She went absolutely batshit after that.”

Cathy sighs. “I’m afraid you have found her weak spot. Veronica is a very complex person, God knows she has more hang-ups than a wardrobe, but she also has no confidence in herself. She is insanely jealous of anyone that competes for Damien’s affections, even you Debbie.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense, I’m their daughter.”

“Well, that’s because Veronica doesn’t know how to be a mom - she had a very strained relationship with our mother, so she sees you as a rival and not her child. She’s not a bad person, just a very fragile one, and that makes her do the things she does.”

“That’s still no excuse for the way she treats me though.”

“I’m not saying that you have to forgive her, just try not to push the wrong buttons that’s all.” The waiter serves up the entrée, “Ooh don’t you just love shrimp cocktail.” Cathy digs in, but Debbie plays with her food.

“I met a boy.”

Cathy splutters out a mouthful of wine. “What? Well spill the tea. Who is he?”

“He works for my parents at the moment, but he’s going to be an actor.”

“Careful there Debbie, never fall in love with the hired help. These people will often use you just to get a leg up in life.”

“He’s different though. He sees me, I mean really sees me for who I am. I’ve never had that before from anyone.”

“So is he the reason for the dark circles under your eyes, have you been mooning about him the whole night.”

“No that’s not the reason, although thinking about him has kept me sane.” Tears start to roll down Debbie’s cheeks. “Aunt Cathy, I think I am losing my mind. I think there’s something seriously wrong with me.”

“Hey, hey sweetheart. There’s nothing wrong with you. I think you are just suffering from a little stress, that’s all.” Cathy hands Debbie a tissue.

“No, there is something wrong with me - I keep hearing voices.”

Cathy scoots over in the booth to be closer to her niece and asks quietly. “What do the voices say?”

“Nothing good.”

Cathy pulls a card from her purse. “Here take this and make an appointment. Say I sent you, and it’s on me, I’ll handle the bill.”

“Thank you, Aunt Cathy, you have no idea how much I appreciate this. You’ve shown me more kindness and understanding than my own mother ever has.”

Debbie looks at the card, Doctor Celia Grey, Psychiatrist to the Stars.

Thank you, more scenes to come for this episode....