Cottage Hill: Episode 1. Pilot

    The train passes through downtown, as a man looks out from his car, as he has a thought and goes "No need to worry now." He sits, as he pulls out his phone and makes a phone call, to no answer. He takes a deep breath as he has a thought to himself, and pulls from the parking lot, as he sees a sign on top of a tall building that reads "Cottage Hill, Always Home." The man wipes a tear from his eye as he drives off.

    In the Downtown area of Cottage Hill, James Canady sits inside the kitchen of his home he shares with his wife of 70 years, Zara Canady. Zara walks into the kitchen, as James asks his Wife in a country tone in his voice and a drawl "What you doin feeding ol Payton's Daughter. You know she's got some problems woman." Zara kisses her Husband on the head, and goes in a sweet tone "James, she needs us. She's talked to me or otherwise I'd feel the same." James sighs "Yeah, we've been too nice all these years and many times we really got the raw deal! Wanna move to the beach? Thelma lives there? Your Sis..." Zara sighs "Oh James stop it. Cottage Hill wouldn't be right if we weren't here. And what about our sweet baby girl? She is a leading Doctor, and you know she'd be lost if we left and I hate my Sister. You know that or are ya forgetting things?" James kisses his Wife, and gently says "Go yonder and see about that girl. Ask her if she wants a room so I can enjoy the game and peace and quiet." Zara walks into the living room, as Elizabeth Payton sits on the couch, with sadness and hurt in her eyes, as Zara smiles at her, and hands her coffee and says "Don't mind that old fool. But never say that to him. I just get away with it because we've been married so long." Elizabeth laughs, and asks "Do you all want me to.." Zara goes "No baby. I know all I need to, and James knows who runs this house.." Zara yells "Doesn't he??" James yells "Time for my walk downtown!" James leaves, as Elizabeth looks at Zara, and she laughs "I like for him to stay busy. Gets on my nerves sometimes!"

    In the Sharpe Manor, located outside of Cottage Hill, Lana Sharpe, owner of the local newspaper and television station in Cottage Hills sits at her desk, as she glances at photos of her Husband, Mason Sharpe, one of the most powerful men in town. Lana drops a tear from her eye, as she goes "It's so lonely growing old alone and I promise to save your legacy. Just like we discussed." Lana's maid walks inside, and tells her "He's called and said he's stuck in traffic." Lana quips "Well we are just catching up with everyone here but he's a local. But I could just picture it had it be me." The Maid laughs "Mrs. Sharpe, you wouldn't be so crass now.." Lana laughs "I just turned 80. Anything can happen. Like I hope they fix that damn intersection so traffic could move smoother here. That gives me something to do while I await my guest." Lana walks into her den, as she makes a call, and has a change of thought, as she glances at the TV, and goes "And another ass trying to rip off vulnerable people."


    At the Village Inn, a popular gathering place in Cottage Hill, Anne is inside as she looks at her phone, and is tapped on the shoulder, as she turns to see her Oldest Sister, Marian King behind her as Marian smiles and goes "Been so long dear Sister.." Anne snarls "Same back bitch." Marian sits down, as Anne bluntly asks her Sister "What in the hell do you want Marian? I mean we may be the last two Halls left in our family, but it doesn't mean shit." Marian sighs with disgust "You have always wanted what I had. You failed with that mad man Bob Wayne and married him between Charlie!" Anne gets up and snaps angrily "Look who the hell is talking Susie doesn't know who Daddy is.." Marian slaps her Sister as a fight breaks out, and Charlie Hughes, Anne's Husband for overall nearly 45 years, walks in and breaks up the fight and warns his Wife "I warned you about this happening. That's why we avoid this place." Marian laughs at Charlie "So have you got some money?" Anne snaps "Excuse us?" Charlie tells his Wife "Let's go. I heard our Daughter would like to see us for some news." Anne and Charlie leave, as the waitress tells Marian "And from the looks of that.. um that one will be on your tab!" Marian storms out, as she calls her Husband, Jerry, to no answer and snarls "Damnit Anne. Can't stand you!"

     Meanwhile at B&B Auto Parts and Service, located in Downtown Cottage Hill, Bill Wayne sits in his office, as his younger Brother, Bob Wayne walks in and grabs a beer, and asks Bill "Shouldn't you have one after that shit Billy?" Bill quips "Ah hell Bob, that boy is full of shit. I had him listen to my Challenger I raced, and he laughed. Wait for him to mess up or come across me the wrong way. I survived cancer, stopped smoking and drinking..." Bob laughs "And done turned into an asshole." Bill yells "Don't you see that boy working with Bo?" Bob goes "Ah he's a kid Billy! And you know if he crosses Bo he'll kill him. He just got out of prison. Went to pick him up. Had fun.." Bill walks into the shop as he yells "Hey Boy! Turn your ass around!" Tyler Harrison, a young mechanic for B&B Auto Parts and Service snaps at Bill "Look Mr. Wayne, I told you I wanted to work in this shop! You need to go sit down in that chair in there.." Bob warns Tyler "Better watch your damn mouth before I grab this wrench to your ass boy.." Bo turns around, and takes a deep breath, as Bill asks Bo "Is this son of a bitch bothering you? He's bothering me right now. Me and Bob work in here. Tyler, his ass sells parts and that's the way I call things here do you understand me?" Bill walks away, as Bob follows his Brother back into the store. Bo turns to Tyler, and warns him "You might think you are smart, but those men and my best friend.. them aren't ones to piss off. And if they fire you, you'll deal with me!"

      At Lila Hall's office in a complex off the interstate, where she works as a publisher and writer, her secretary walks in and tells her "Your Dad's here." Lila answers "Let him in unless Mom's with him." The secretary walks out, as Jerry King, the Husband of Lila's Mother brings his Daughter flowers, and Lila kisses him and smiles "Thanks Daddy!" Jerry tells her "I escaped after your Mama went to see Anne." Lila goes "Ah to Village Inn?" Jerry sighs "When Peggy died, it just changed for the worse. It's never been easy to deal with your Mama." Lila goes "Yeah, I really thought Aunt Anne should have been allowed to have taken her back to the beach like Grandma wanted." Jerry reminds her "Well Aaron was on Marian's side, and I was where I always am, out of the picture." Lila quips "One day we'll overcome them." They laugh, as Jerry tells his Daughter "Time to go back home to see if Marian arrived without losing it. She needs to let it go.." Jerry leaves, as Lily sits at her desk and starts to write, as she writes and says in her mind "I need to wake Mama up, and my Brother."

    Back at James and Zara's Home, Elizabeth has left, as James returns and asks his Wife "Well did she move away finally?" Zara answers "No and you stop it now before I make you eat some fast food!" James gives in, as Zara tells her Husband, I called Wylene to take her to the mall, and Reverend Payton and his Wife are on their way." James reminds his Wife "Zara Mae, you have spoken to her, and I watched her grow up at that school across the road and she was always closest to Sadie and Eric. I do know Billy keeps in touch with her also because they are closer than she is with that sellout.." Zara warns James "Don't start jumping on the soapbox when he and his snooty ass Wife Gretchen arrives with their so perfect little Holly." James laughs, as he quips "Ah and I've heard some things." Zara goes "Because Professor Chief, you know everybody." James nods in agreement, as the door opens, and Travis Payton and his Wife, Gretchen arrives, as Zara asks trying not to sound too sarcastic "Ever seen a doorbell?" Gretchen bluntly orders Zara and James, with Travis' support "Where the hell is Elizabeth! And I know y'all know because bums gather here." James walks up to Travis and coldly tells him "You are a fraud, and not who you say you be." Travis asks "And what's that supposed to mean old man?" James lifts Travis up with his hand, and smiles "I still work out boy and you ain't disrespecting my Wife, me, or your Daughter." Meanwhile Gretchen plays on her phone, as Zara also is on her phone, as she texts her Daughter and tells Wylene "Keep her out and maybe the night. Daddy's done got involved now." A text quickly reappears, as Wylene goes "Oh snap here we go!"

    In Downtown Cottage Hill, a man gets out of a taxi, as he gets out and looks around and whispers to the taxi driver "Thanks for the discount." The man goes 'No problem sir. I know.." They laugh, as the man walks down the street, as he has a smile on his face, and worry in his eyes, as he motions back for the taxi, and he stops and the man goes "Take me to Mrs. Lana." They head to The Sharp Manor. Back at Sharpe Manor, Aaron King, one of the reporters for Lana's newspaper, The Cottage Hill Times, warns her "Look Mrs. Sharpe. There's other opportunities out there and Mr.." Lana stops "Just stop with mentioning Mason!" The reporter, Aaron goes "Mom has always said you were the snootiest bitch in Cottage Hill..." Lana snaps "Get the hell out of my house! Marian Hall is nothing but a hypocrite. Acting like she's 25 when she's far from it." Aaron warns his boss "You are talking about my Mom..." Lana snaps "And didn't I tell you to get out?" Aaron leaves, as Lana gets a text, and yells to the maid in the other room "Let's polish the tea room please."

    At the Village Inn, Bill and Bob has lunch, as Bob warns his Brother "You need to calm down." Bill goes "What? You did more hellraising than I ever could!' The waitress walks over, and asks "Usual?' They nod, and she tells them "Go back at it boys." Bob tells Bill "I'll show her a boy. I'll show her a Man." Bill goes "No. She'll see you're old. Gray headed and.." Bob stops him and gets serious as he asks "So how's Eric? And I got another question Billy" Bill goes "Well I don't hear from him much since he's moved around since Sadie died. Just why?" Bob tells him "I think there's more to it." Bill answers "Yes I agree. A hell of a lot more to it." Meanwhile back at B&B Auto Part and Service, Bo and Tyler takes a break and Tyler laughs at Bo "They won't give a shit. I'm sick of them." Bo takes a deep breath and turns his head, and slowly goes "Did you just say what I think you did?" Tyler yells "Yeah I did! I don't know what in the hell it is between you and the Wayne's!" Bo grabs Tyler by the throat and coldly warns, holding a switchblade "That's my family. I kill. I would kill for them. And Bill's Son, shit that's my Brother so keep this up and I'm really going to mess your ass up bad enough you'll be looking for your teeth you bitch!" Bo lets him go, as Tyler walks back inside, and makes a phone call and tells the person on the other line "Hey I'm interested in recording a demo."

    At Jerry and Marian's Home in the Bonner Country Club, Marian snaps at her Husband "I will go wherever I want! Damnit I know Mama died! But for my sister the only one I have..." Jerry yells "Marian you need to think of how you've always treated her. It's always been a battle. Think I know you didn't want Charlie?" I know about that night you had doubts and snuck off to California for a month." Marian runs to her room with anger in her eyes, and yells "Screw you Jerry!" Jerry walks outside, lights a joint, and goes "Well truth hurts bitch." Meanwhile at the Cottage Hill Medical Center, Anne and Charlie arrives, as Kyle greets his in-laws with hugs, as Anne asks "Well what's the news? Is it what I'm hoping?" Kyle tells them "Let's go see Kara." They walk inside the room, as they see the ultrasound, as Charlie and Anne are about to be grandparents for the first time, and Anne and Charlie hold onto each other as they cry of joy, as does Kara and Kyle.

    At James and Zara's Home, Travis and Gretchen has left, and Zara asks her Husband "Why do we give that man money?" James tells his Wife "I do it for the church, the helped me in those days get a way to find education to become a Professor." Zara holds onto him, and sighs with sadness "It was amazing. So are you." They embrace in a kiss. At Travis and Gretchen's Mansion, Travis yells at his Wife "Elizabeth will be leaving this house, this town, I'll make damn sure of that. And to hear two sinners tell me how to be a Dad." Gretchen adds "James let that icon shit go to his head." Travis agrees, as he thinks of his Daughter. At the Village Inn, Wylene and Elizabeth have dessert, as Elizabeth pleads with tears to Wylene "Please don't. Just don't tell anyone. I already told Mrs. Zara."
Wylene assures her "It's safe with us, and I want to help you overcome this trauma." Elizabeth tells Wylene "I need to step out for a smoke." Wylene follows, as she asks Elizabeth "Are you afraid of me? I never been in your place, but want to help heal you. You are a special girl." Elizabeth smiles for a second and goes quietly "Thank you." Meanwhile a car drives by slowly, as the windows are down, and Elizabeth's eyes fill with tears, as she chases after the car, as Wylene yells "Come back here!" Elizabeth runs back, and grabs Wylene in a tight hug, as Wylene holds onto her as she cries. The car pulls into Sharpe Manor, and a man walks out and rings the doorbell. The door opens as the man walks inside, and into the sitting room, as Lana walks up, and goes "Eric Wayne. Let's discuss business."