Chapter Text
The Equalizer Fan Fiction-Season 6-Episode 1
By Kaydee Barnett
FANTASY SEASON 6-EPISODE ONE
FADE IN:
[LOCATION] — ROBYN’S DINING ROOM-CONTINUING WITH THE ENGAGEMENT DINNER
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[AFTER ROBIN TOASTS TO DANTE AND HER FAMILY, THE DINNER PROGRESSES WITH JOYOUS LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATION. AUNT VI & CAPTAIN CURTIS DO THEIR BEST TO CONTAIN THEIR PERSONAL JOY AS NOT TO UPSTAGE THE COUPLE OF THE EVENING’S THUNDER, BUT ROBYN & MARCUS EXCHANGE KNOWING GLANCES AND CHUCKLE AT THE INSIDE JOKE.
THEY FINISH THE MAIN COURSE AND MARCUS KISSES ROBYN BEFORE STANDING UP TO HELP THE OTHERS CLEAR THE DINNER DISHES. AUNT VI SHOOTS HIM A PLAYFULLY VENOMOUS LOOK AS SHE LIGHTLY SLAPS HIS HAND AWAY AND SNATCHES UP THE DISH HE WAS REACHING FOR. DANTE IS A BIT CONFUSED AND APPREHENSIVE. HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HE DIDN’T OVERSTEP.]
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AUNT VI:
[HOLDING THE PLATE FAR AWAY FROM MARCUS, AS IF SHE WERE PLAYING “KEEP AWAY”, AND MAINTAINING A STERN EXPRESSION]
“Um..Excuse me, Detective, what do you think you’re doing?”
[HE PAUSES, HIS EYEBROWS FURROWED IN A CONFUSED FROWN]
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MARCUS:
“Um..I was going to help clear the dishes…?”
[DELILAH & ROBYN LET OUT A PLAYFUL GASP OF FEAR. HE TURNS TO SEE THEM SHAKING THEIR HEADS AND MOUTHING THE WORD “NO”). BOTH WOMEN SIMULATENOUSLY MUMBLE WARNINGS ABOUT HIS MISHAP WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING A SERIOUS EXPRESSION. DANTE LOOKS HORRIFIED.]
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AUNT VI:
“You will do no such thing! No Guest of Honor washes the dishes from their own celebration dinner in MY kitchen!
[SHE POINTS TO DELILAH AND HERSELF]
WE... will clear the dishes! YOU will go dote on my niece and wait to be served the next course! Ugh, the nerve!”
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[DANTE REALIZES THAT HE WAS BEING PRANKED WHEN AUNT VI SMIRKS, AND HE VISIBLY RELAXES, HIS FACE BLUSHING WITH EMBARASSED RELIEF WHEN THE REST OF THE GUESTS BURST INTO LAUGHTER. SHE AND CURTIS CAN BE HEARD GIGGLING AS THEY TAKE A STACK OF DISHES TO THE KITCHEN. DANTE TURNS TO A GIGGLING DELILAH, PLAYFULLY SHAKING A FINGER AT HER]
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DANTE:
“You pranked me, young lady. I thought we were friends!”
DELILAH:
“Sorry, sorry! But it was too good a prank to pass up! Annddd…you are NOT exempt from the family hazing! (in a sing-song tone) “Welcome to the familyyyyy!”
[DELILAH HIUGS HIM WITH HER FREE ARM BEFORE TAKING HER STACK OF LATES TO THE KITCHEN. ROBYN CHUCKLES AND JOINS HIM. DANTE WINCES AS HE EMBRACES HER.]
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ROBYN:
“The look on your face was one for the books!”
MARCUS:
“Get your laughs in now, because I owe you one. Dante pranks are unmatched.”
ROBYN:
“Ha! I think you’ll say anything to save face at this point!”
[MARCUS GIVES HER A SEDUCTIVE GLANCE AND STEPS CLOSER TO HER. HE KISSES HER FOREHEAD AND LETS HIS FACE LINGER CLOSE TO HERS]
MARCUS:
“I will get my revenge later tonight.”
[ROBYN CHUCKLES AS SHE LEANS INTO HIM, MEETING HIS CLOSE GAZE WITH HER OWN]
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ROBYN:
“Ummm…the way you’re wincing, the revenge will be on yourself! But don’t threaten me with a good time.”
MARCUS:
“Don’t underestimate my abilities to perform when you are the motivation, beautiful. After all, I left the hospital to get here, didn’t I? The things I have in mind will be the best anesthetic on Earth.”
[ROBYN LAUGHS, SHOCKED AT THE BOLD STATEMENT. SHE RAISES HER EYEBROWS IN SURPRISE]
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ROBYN:
“Wow, so getting injured makes you..”
(THE DOORBELL RINGS AND MARCUS LAUGHS. SHE ROLLS HER EYES AND HEADS TO THE DOOR)
MARCUS:
“Saved by the bell.”
(ROBYN ROLLS HER EYES AND OPENS THE DOOR, SURPRISED TO SEE MILES IN THE DOORWAY, HOLDING A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS AND A BOTTLE OF GAJA COSTA RUSSI BARBARESCO. ROBYN IS SHOCKED AND A BIT HORRIFIED, AND MILES IS CONFUSED AND SHOCKED. SHE DOESN’T REALIZE THAT SHE DIDN’T STEP ASIDE TO LET HIM IN.)
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ROBYN:
“Hey…Miles, when did you get back?”
[THEY FACE EACH OTHER IN SILENCE FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE DOOR AS CAMERA BRIEFLY FADES OUT]
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FLASH TO HARRY AND MEL
[LOCATION]: ROBYN’S DINING ROOM.
THEY ARE SETTING THE DISHES ON THE TABLE FOR THE NEXT COURSE. MEL CATCHES A GLIMPSE OF MILES IN THE DOORWAY AND QUICKLY DUCKS OUT OF SIGHT AND PULLS HARRY WITH HER, PUTTING A SILENCING FINGER UP TO HER LIPS. HARRY OBEYS AND SHE POINTS TO THE DOOR. HARRY NODS IN UNDERSTANDING AND THEY LISTEN FROM THEIR POSITION BEHIND THE WALL. THE CAMERA FLASHES OVER TO MILES AND ROBYN SILENTLY FACING EACH OTHER BEFORE FADING OUT.)
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FADE IN:
[LOCATION]: ROBYN’S KITCHEN
[VIOLA, DELILAH AND CURTIS ARE STILL GIGGLING ABOUT THE PRANK THEY PLAYED ON MARCUS. DELILAH LOADS THE DISHWASHER WHILE VIOLA ARRANGES A TRAY THAT HOLDS A CONGRATULATORY CAKE AND SCOOPS ICE CREAM INTO DESSERT DISHES.]
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DELILAH:
“The look on Detective Dante’s face was priceless! You got him good, Auntie.”
CURTIS:
“Yes, she did! I thought that young man was going to have a stroke.”
VIOLA:
“I am the Queen of Pranks! Ha-ha! I am going to give him a break in a few minutes. It’s just…”
[VIOLA SIGHS AS SHE SETTLES INTO A THOUGHTFUL SILENCE. CURTIS AND DELILAH BECOME CONCERNED.]
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DELILAH:
“Are you okay, Auntie?”
CURTIS:
“Viola?”
[VIOLA SNAPS OUT OF HER TRANCE]
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VIOLA:
“I’m sorry…. Really, I am. I wasn’t trying to incite any panic.. It’s just, this is the first time, in what feels like an eternity, I have seen Robyn smile or experience true joy. The only thing she lights up about in her life is being your mom, Delilah. She had convinced herself that she would never be able to deserve or afford love in her life. Knowing that she not only found love, but the perfect package and soulmate, brings me joy beyond words.”
[DELILAH HUGS HER]
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DELILAH:
“You’re right, Auntie. I am ecstatic that Mom found her true soulmate.. just like I am ecstatic that you found yours as well. Thank you, Captain Curtis, for making my Aunt Vi smile.”
[DELILAH WALKS OVER TO CURTIS AND HUGS HIM WHILE VIOLA WATCHES WITH A SMILE AS HE ACCEPTS HER EMBRACE. HE AND VI EXCHANGE SMILES OVER DELILAH’S HEAD AND HE WINKS AT HER.]
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CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON VIOLA SMILING AND THEN QUICKLY FLASHES OVER TO ROBYN AND MILES IN THE DOORWAY
MILES:
“WOW! You look incredible! There were a few changes made to the medivac assignment, and we didn’t need to be gone as long as the Chief Resident believed we did. I brought these for you, hoping to convince you to accept a dinner invitation, but apparently, you already have something much more extravagant going on. “
[ROBYN IS FLUSTERED AND PAUSES TO GET A GRIP ON THE AWKWARDNESS OF THE SITUATION, THEN TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND EXHALES.
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ROBYN:
“You’re right, there is something very extravagant going on. I intended to fill you in when I asked you to meet me for dinner, but you were called away on the medivac that night.”
MILES:
“What is it that you intended to fill me in on?”
[MILES SLOWLY LOWERS THE WINE AND FLOWERS IN DEFEAT, AS IF HE KNOWS WHAT IS COMING. ROBYN GIVES HIM A SYMPATHETIC GAZE.]
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ROBYN:
“I didn’t want to tell you this way, Miles, but…this is a family dinner to celebrate my engagement.”
[SHE SLOWLY RAISES HER HAND TO SHOW HER ENGAGEMENT RING. MILES SEEMS TO REACT TO AN IMAGINARY GUT PUNCH. HE GETS STIFF AND REMAINS DISTRACTED BEFORE SNAPPING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION. HE GIVES HER A FORCED SMILE, AND HALF FORCES THE FLOWERS AND WINE INTO HER HAND BEFORE TURNING TO LEAVE]
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MILES:
“What a way to tell me, Robyn. There were plenty of other ways you could have contacted me. Enjoy the flowers and wine.”
ROBYN:
“Miles, that’s not fair…”
MILES:
“Congratulations, Robyn..I’m out.”
[ROBYN STANDS THERE STUNNED AS SHE WATCHES MILES GET INTO HIS CAR AND PEEL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BEFORE RACING DOWN THE BLOCK. SHE’S UNAWARE THAT AUNT VI IS STANDING BEHIND HER, PROMPTING THE OTHERS TO FOLLOW HER LEAD AND INVESTIGATE THE COMMOTION. AUNT VI IS FURIOUS; HER NOSTRILS ARE FLARING.]
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THE CAMERA FLASHES FROM AUNT VI TO DELILAH, THEN ROBYN, AND SLOWLY PANS OVER THE HEADS OF CURTIS, MEL, AND HARRY TO THE BACK OF THE GROUP..LANDING ON DANTE’S DISTURBED EXPRESSION BEFORE FADING TO BLACK.
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FADE IN: [LOCATION: ROBYN’S FOYER]
[ROBYN TURNS TO CLOSE THE DOOR, EXHALING QUIETLY TO REGAIN HER COMPOSURE. SHE TURNS TO FACE HER FAMILY’S VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS, AND SHE IS TORMENTED OVER THE DISRUPTION OF HER HAPPY EVENT]
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AUNT VI:
“What just happened?”
[ROBYN IMPULSIVELY OPENS HER MOUTH TO EXPLAIN, THEN CHANGES HER MIND AND PUTS ON AN OVERLY BRIGHT GRIN]
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ROBYN:
“Nothing happened that is going to take away from our celebration tonight. Come on, this is a party! Let’s go!”
[AUNT VI LOCKS GAZES WITH HER AS IF TRYING TO GET THE DETAILS FROM ROBYN THROUGH A SECRET CODE. ROBYN TRIES TO SEND A SIGNAL TO HER AUNT TO DIGRESS. VIOLA RELUCTANTLY COMPLIES AND FOLLOWS ROBYN’S LEAD AND TRIES TO REDIRECT EVERYONE BACK TO THE CELEBRATION]
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AUNT VI:
“Well, you heard the Queen’s orders. Let’s get back to the celebration!”
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[THE GUESTS SLOWLY RETREAT INTO THE HOUSE, BUT DANTE WALKS TOWARD HER WITHOUT TAKING HIS EYES OFF ROBYN. SHE TRIES NOT TO FOLD UNDER HIS GAZE BUT STRUGGLES A BIT, THANKFUL THAT THE BELL RANG. SHE OPENS THE DOOR TO SEE VANESSA, STEPHON, KYLER AND JAMES. BOTH ROBYN AND MARCUS ARE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. THE BOYS TAKE TURNS EXCITEDLY HUGGING ROBYN AND DANTE, VANESSA EXCHANGES HUGS WITH ROBYN, AND JAMES AWKWARDLY OFFERS HIS GIFT OF ARROZ CON POLLO AND DOM PERIGNON TO HIS BROTHER.]
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VANESSA:
“Boys, be careful with your dad, He’s still injured.”
STEPHON:
“Oh, man! I forgot! I’m sorry, Dad!”
DANTE:
“Nah, you good, Steph. I’m alright.”
[KYLER STEPS UP TO GET HIS TURN AT HUGGING HIS FATHER. HE IS A BIT MORE MINDFUL OF HIS DAD’S INJURIES AS HE HUGS HIM.]
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KYLER:
“I’m really glad that you are marrying Ms. Robyn, Dad.”
DANTE:
“You wanna be let in on a little secret?”
[KYLER’S EYES WIDEN IN EXCITEMENT. ROBYN IS MAKING HER WAY OVER TO THE DANTES, AND STEPHON HUGS HER TIGHTLY. SHE CHUCKLES AND RETURNS THE EMBRACE BEFORE LOOKING UP. MARCUS NOTICES THAT SHE IS USING STEPHON TO AVOID HIS GLANCE FREQUENTLY.]
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ROBYN:
“Hey, what’s going on over here? It seems like its pretty deep.”
KYLER:
“We were talking about how happy I am that Dad is going to marry you, and Dad was about to let me in on a secret.
STEPHON:
“Heyyyy, I wanna know the secret, too!”
.
[ROBYN AND MARCUS CHUCKLE, AND DANTE PULLS STEPHON INTO A HUG WITH HIS FREE ARM]
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ROBYN:
“Now you know you can’t get anything past Super Steph. I don’t know why you even tried it.”
STEPHON:
“That’s right! I’m Super Stephon, the favorite son.”
KYLER:
“Oh, cut it out, dork! What’s the secret, Dad?”
[MARCUS CHUCKLES THEN TAKES TURNS LOOKING FROM HIS SONS TO ROBYN WITH A SMILE}
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DANTE:
“Wellll…even though I said it’s a secret; I want the world to know that I am also very happy that I am marrying Robyn.”
[THE BOYS CHEER AND ROBYN SMILES AND ACCEPTS DANTE’S KISS. SHE LAUGHS WHEN THEY
SCREAM OUT CHILDISH CAT CALLS AND CHEERS]
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ROBYN:
“Alright, alright…the show is over. Go find Delilah and ask her to set up some movies in the den.”
[DELILAH COMES OUT WITH A STACK OF DESSERT DISHES JUST AS THE BOYS BEGIN TO VOICE THEIR EXCITEMENT AT THE MOVIE SUGGESTION. DELILAH LEADS THEM AWAY TO THE DEN WHILE ROBYN AND DANTE JOIN THEIR GUESTS IN THE LIVING ROOM. MARCUS SPOTS JAMES IN THE CORNER ARMCHAIR. HE IS BEING CORDIAL, BUT HE APPEARS TO BE ALOOF IN THE CROWD, AS IF HE FEELS OUT OF PLACE. MARCUS TURNS TO ROBYN]
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DANTE:
“You look beautiful, Robyn.”
ROBYN:
“Thank you! And you are absolutely hot yourself. BUT..it’s way too dangerous for us to be alone right now because we may get into trouble and forget we have guests. So, let’s go join them.”
[MARCUS CHUCKLES AND THEY HOLD HANDS AS THEY JOIN THEIR GUESTS. JAMES IS SITTING IN A CHAIR THAT IS IN THE FARTHERST CORNER OF THE FURNITURE ARRAY, AND HE LOOKS LIKE HE’S UNCOMFORTABLE. HE PERKS UP WITH RELIEF WHEN HE SPOTS MARCUS. ]
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DANTE:
“My brother looks like he can use a rescue. Do you mind if I..?”
ROBYN:
“Of course not, babe. Go on and put him at ease. Use the solarium out back for privacy.”
[MARCUS KISSES HER AND WALKS OVER TO JAMES. ROBYN WATCHES AS HE LEADS JAMES OUT OF THE ROOM. SHE WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND SITS ON A SEAT ACROSS FROM MEL, HARRY, AND VANESSA. MEL AND HARRY GIVE HER KNOWING GLANCES AND SHE NODS HER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AT THEM BRIEFLY BEFORE PUTTING ON A SMILE FOR VANESSA.]
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FLASH TO MILES—HE’S SPEEDING IN HIS CAR. THE CAMERA VIEW ALTERNATES BETWEEN SHOWING AN UPSET MILES AT THE WHEEL, AND PLAYING BACK IMAGES OF TIMES HE AND ROBYN WERE CLOSE:
FIRST, THE SCENE FROM “CONDEMNED”-(S4 E8)-WHEN HE AND ROBYN PLAYED GAMES AT THE COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY. THEN “THE LOST ONES”-(S5 E1), WHERE HE IS TREATING ROBYN’S BRUISES IN HER KITCHEN, AND FINALLY, SEVERAL IMAGES FROM “SLAY RIDE”-(S5 E7).
THE CAMERA SHOWS INTERCHANGING CLIPS OF THE MEMORIES OF ROBYN SMILING AT HIM AT THE NURSES’ STATION WHILE HOLDING THE BOWL OF ROASTED GOOSE DINNER, THEN CHUCKLING AS HE FLEXES HIS BICEPS, AND ENDING WITH A VIEW OF HIS ANGRY FACE AT THE WHEEL AS THE MEMORIES OF HER INTERACTION WITH DANTE ON THE GURNEY COME INTO HIS MIND.
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC SWELLS AS THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON MILES SHIELDING HIS EYES FROM A GLARING WHITE LIGHT WHILE FRANTICALLY TRYING TO GET CONTROL OF HIS CAR AND AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE CAMERA ANGLE SLOWLY SHIFTS TO A VIEW OF THE NIGHT SKY AS THE SOUND OF SCREECHING TIRES AND A LOUD CRASH RESOUNDS IN THE BACKGROUND.
FADE TO BLACK