Episode 237
 
Waiting on the Other Side
Written by: Dallas Walsh | Originally Released: February 16, 2014

Episode Theme song: "Dark Paradise" Lana Del Rey


Previously on One Day at a Time
- Robbie served Leah with custody papers after learning she and Jeff were engaged
- Dominick was set to launch his new line at Robertson Enterprises
- Trenyce met Savannah
- Will and Madeline had sex
- Victoria was desperate to help get Donovan out of jail after he was arrested for killing Ernesto
- Eva asked Dominick to help her prove Donovan's innocence

Scene One - Twin Peaks Law Courts

Robbie walks up the stairs that lead into the court houses. He takes a deep breath and inhales some of the cool February air into his lungs. He knows how important the next few days of his life are. He, at first, struggled with the idea of taking Leah to court for full custody of Paige but after learning that she is already engaged to Jeff he thought he had no choice but to take this action. He is still extremely bitter and hurt over the fact that Leah lied to him for so long about Paige's paternity. While he knows he's not her biological father, he's the only man that she knows to be his father. He wants to ensure that he continues to be a presence in her life. The fact that she has already moved on with the man she had an affair with is a hard pill to swallow.

He opens the door and looks around, quickly seeing Natasha sitting on a bench on her Iphone. He sees Leah and Jeff standing off to the corner, clearly waiting for their lawyer. Leah looks over at him and starts to approach him. She means her words; the last thing she wanted was for their separation to turn ugly like this.

"Robbie," she begins to say as she reaches him. "It's not too late to change your mind about this," she tells him. "We can work something out that we will be good for everyone. I really don't want to get Paige in the middle of this."

Robbie sighs heavily, "This has been a long time coming Leah. The moment you slept with your ex-husband when we were married you made a choice. You have to realize that those choices have consequences."

Leah nods her head. "Don't you think I've suffered enough?"

Robbie laughs a little at her. "Suffered? You're already engaged to that creep. I'm sure you've suffered a whole hell of a lot."

Leah's eyes open wider. "Is that what this is all about? You found out that Jeff asked me to marry him so you lashing out?"

"You don't have to answer that," Natasha advises her brother as she comes up to him and looks at Leah. "Come on Robbie, I want to review some notes before the judge calls us in."

Robbie turns and walks away from Leah. "Thank you," he says to his sister as they move over to the bench and sit down.

"No problem," Natasha tells him. "Look, I'm going to be honest with you Robbie. I know you want Paige but this case won't be easy to win. You're not her father, and as much as I know that hurts, but you have to understand that you don't have many rights going in."

Robbie looks down and then back up at her with desperation in his eyes. "I'm the only father that little girl has known Nat," he pleads with her, trying to justify his case. "I'm only in this position because Leah has lied to everyone for years. What kind of mother does that?"

Natasha puts her hand on her brother's leg. "I know. I just want you to brace yourself, okay?"

***

"I can't believe he's trying to take Paige because we got engaged," Jeff tells Leah, stunned after she told him of what she suspects from her conversation with Robbie. "He's like a child throwing a tantrum when he doesn't get his way."

Leah nods her head. "He's hurt Jeff, I get that. I don't agree with what he's doing, but a part of me understands where he's coming from. I just hope we get through this."

"We will," Jeff tells her. "We will."

They turn and see Robin and Cory enter the court houses. Leah rushes over and hugs her sister. "Thank you for coming today," Leah tells her as they hug.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Robin replies to her. "We are close to Robbie, but you are family. Family always comes first."

"Is Daddy coming?" Leah asks everyone.

"I think he said he had some work to do at Robertson, then he would be over," Cory reveals to everyone, recalling his conversation with Dominick earlier in the day.

Suddenly, the doors to the court room opens and a bailiff sheriff comes out. "The Judge is ready," he announces to everyone as Robbie and Leah make eye contact again, prepared to do battle of their little girl.

Scene Two - Robertson Enterprises; Dominick's Office

Dominick and Savannah sit together at his desk as he types furiously into his computer. She watches in amazement as the latest line from Robertson Enterprises, Petals, is about to be released nationally. He finishes typing into his computer and leans back into his computer.

"That's it?" Savannah asks him in amazement. She has never been involved this heavily in the background of a company's process. She's always just been the face of the object she was trying to sell. She's enjoying learning the back side of the process.

"Well, this email we just received," Dominick explains to her. "Means that Petals is now at stores across the country. We should be getting our first television and you tube ad's within the hour."

"That's amazing," Savannah replies to him. "This is so exciting."

Dominick smiles up to her, "Congratulations Ms. Pherson, you are officially the face of Petals."

"Thanks to you Dominick," she smiles back to him, still feeling the excitement of the moment. "I only hope the sales reflect all the work that we've done on this."

"I have no doubt that it will."

Scene Three - The Michaels House; Daisy, Trenyce & Andrew's Home

"Thanks for coming over today guys," Trenyce tells Craig and Andy as they move into the living room of the house. "I wanted to spend some last moments with Andrew with everyone that cares about him."

Andy leans down to Andrew and smiles, "I'm glad you invited us. I'll miss the little guy while he's gone."

Craig smiles at the sight of his boyfriend with the small child. "When does he leave for Chicago?" he asks Trenyce, looking at her.

Trenyce sighs and looks at her watch. "Tomorrow morning. Chris will be at the airport to pick him up."

"I know it's tough to see him go," Craig replies to her. "But I think it's great that you and Chris share custody with your son despite living miles away from each other."

Trenyce nods her head back to him. "Well, you know, it wouldn't be fair to Andrew if we didn't at least try for him. He needs to know everyone in his family is there for him Chris and I didn't always see eye to eye, but it is what is best for Andrew."

"And that's why you're a good mother," Andy replies to his friend as he stands up and hugs her. "You know when Andrew's gone, you can call us anytime if you're missing him."

"I know," Trenyce replies as she feels her eyes swell with water. "I may have to take you up on that. This will be the longest I've ever gone without seeing him."

"Mommy! Don't cry," Andrew suddenly tells her as he notices the tears in her eyes.

"Oh baby," Trenyce leans down to her son. "They are tears cause I will miss you when you're gone. You promise me you'll be a good boy when you're at your Dad's house?'

Andrew nods his head. "I will Mommy! I will!"

Trenyce smiles back at him. "Good, and when you get back we will have a big party to celebrate. Does that sound fun?"

"Party!" Andrew smiles as he starts to play with his trucks again, while the adults share a friendly chuckle.

Scene Four - The Calimo Mansion

Bob sits in his study looking at his computer intently. He quickly checks his watch and realizes that he has to get to the court house to support Robbie today at the custody hearing. He has been so focused on watching Robertson Enterprises and the official launch of Petals that he has seemingly lost track of time. The initial numbers aren't very telling about how the new scent will do, but Bob hates to admit that the images with Savannah look amazing. He never enjoys seeing his biggest competitor do something well, especially when that man is Dominick Robertson. He sighs and shuts his computer screen off.

"I will make sure you don't succeed Dominick," he tells himself under his breath. He turns his chair to prepare to leave when his office door opens.

Kim enters the study wearing a sexy, one piece white lace lingerie with a grin on her face. "Hello Mr. Calimo," she purrs to him, knowing that it has been awhile since the two of them made love. She would like nothing more than to change that right now.

"Well, look at you," Bob replies to her, eyeing her up. "My wife is still very sexy."

"Thank you," she says as she walks closer to him and leans over the chair to give him a quick kiss. "I would love to show you sexy I really am."

Bob smiles back at her through the kisses. "I'm afraid this will have to wait," he tells her, clearly upsetting her. "I'm late for the custody hearing. I have to be there to support Robbie today."

Kim sighs and moves to the side letting Bob stand up from his chair. "If you're late already, what's a little bit longer?" she pouts to her husband.

Bob laughs a little and turns back to her. "As soon as I get home, I promise. I take it you don't want to come today?"

Kim rolls her eyes. "You better go ahead. I still have to change. I can't very well show up in court looking like this."

Bob nods and walks to the door. "I'll see you soon."

Kim watches her husband as he leaves the room. She moves to the chair and sits down feeling sexually frustrated. She didn't even think about the side effects of marrying an older man at first, but clearly his sex drive isn't what it once was and she doesn't like it one bit.

Scene Five - The Wilkins Estate; Reese & Madeline's Home

"I hadn't heard from you since we…" Madeline tells Will as they enter the living room, recalling how the last time they saw each other they ended up in bed. She wasn't expecting that development as they had just been friends for years now. She never thought that after she found out Will was sleeping with her mother that they would end up in this position again. But she won't deny that she enjoyed being with him again.

"Slept together?" Will finishes her sentence, just as surprised as she is by their romantic reunion. "I didn't mean to ignore you. I've been busy at work."

Madeline nods her head. "That's fair. After all, we haven't really defined anything about what we are exactly."

Will chuckles. "I don't know that I'm ready to define anything Madeline. I hope you get that. I just got out of this relationship with Eva and I'm not really looking for another one so quickly."

"That's fair," Madeline tells him back. "I don't know that I want a relationship." She gulps because if she's honest with herself, that's exactly what she wants but she doesn't want to pressure him. If she learned anything from her entire ordeal with Cory is that she needs to let things happen on their own and not force the issue.

"I enjoy spending time with you," Will tells her as he grabs her hand. "And I'm happy to be with someone that doesn't have any more secrets. I'm over all the lies and drama that comes with secrets."

Madeline gulps and pauses for a moment. "You know Will, everyone has a past."

Will arches his eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

Madeline shakes her head. "Just what it means. We've all done things we aren't exactly proud of at some point or another. Myself included."

"That's true. I guess I've done my share of shady things too," he replies to her. "Have I told you how hot you look today?"

Madeline grins. "No, but this is a good time to start telling me."

He leans in and kisses her passionately. "I have an idea of how we can spend the rest of the afternoon," he tells her between kisses.

"I like that idea a lot," she replies to him.

Scene Six - Twin Peaks Police Station; The Holding Cells

"Why aren't you with Robbie today?" Donovan asks Victoria, who is standing on the other side of his jail cell. "I'm sure he could use the support."

Victoria arches her eyebrow knowing that Robbie is probably in court right now fighting for custody of his daughter. "He and I talked about this," she replies to her brother. "We agreed that I would stay away from the court room. He's case is that trying to prove that Leah is unstable by lying for years and then immediately jumping back into a relationship with Jeff. We didn't think that my being there would help his case, necessarily. He knows that I'm supporting him though."

"That's nice of you," he tells her.

"Plus, this way I get a chance to visit you and try to uncover something that will help us prove that you didn't kill Ernesto."

Donovan sighs and puts his head down. He wishes there was something he could say or do that could help his case, but he doesn't know what it is. "I wish there was something I could produce that would prove I didn't kill him too Victoria."

"Where were you when he died? Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts?"

Donovan shakes his head. "I was alone at my apartment. No one would even know I was there."

Victoria looks at him with fear in her eyes. She knows that the prosecution has a strong case, but not a air tight one. "There has to be something that we are missing."

Donovan looks at her and gives her half a smile. "I appreciate what you're trying to do Victoria. We have to face the facts that I may spend a long time in this cell."

"I refuse to let that happen," Victoria tells her brother. "Do you think that Ernesto set this all up? Like it was his plan from the beginning?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Remember when he found out you were gay? He lost it completely. Maybe this is his sick way of getting back at you," Victoria lets her mind wander out loud.

"That could be," Donovan replies to her. "But we still don't have any proof of that. We can come up with many theories, but we have to back it up with facts."

Victoria freezes and looks at her brother. "My God, I think I know what we can do."

"What?" Donovan asks, hoping that she has finally come onto something.

"Jonas, Dad's right hand man. If Dad set something up like this to frame you, Jonas would have known about it. I think he's our key to uncovering the truth about what happened when Ernesto was killed."

Donovan moves closer to her and grabs her hand. "You may be on to something Vic. You have to find him. He maybe my only chance of getting out of here."

Scene Seven - Twin Peaks Law Courts

Dominick enters the court house and looks around trying to find the court room where the custody hearing would be. He quickly spots it and starts walking that way.

"Dominick," a woman's voice calls out, causing him to stop and turn around. He sees Eva rushing towards him. "I need to talk to you for a moment."

"Eva?" Dominick asks wondering why she would be at the custody hearing. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Eva reaches him. "I'm here to support Natasha. I know today would be a difficult day for her and I wanted to be here for her."

Dominick nods his head understand where she is coming from. "That's very considerate of you. What's going on? We don't have much time, I think the hearing has already started."

"I know, this will only take a moment," she tells him. "I was hoping to get some kind of update about your people trying to uncover evidence that would prove Donovan's innocence."

Dominick opens his blackberry and checks something from it. He looks back at her. "They only know that the police have his shoe print at the scene of the crime. Apparently those shoes are now missing from Donovan's apartment. Do you have any idea where they could be?"

Eva shakes her head no. "He claims he hasn't wore those shoes in a long time. He had even forgotten he had them. Do you think it's possible someone stole them and is using them against him?"

"Anything is possible," Dominick replies to her. "I will have my team still work on anything. I will let you know what they find."

Eva smiles back to him, grateful for what he is doing. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me."

***

Inside the court room, Robbie takes a seat on the witness stand after being sworn in. He looks up atJudge Franklin Ross before Natasha stands up and approaches her brother.

"Robbie, please explain to the court why you recently divorced Leah after being married for 8 years," Natasha asks him as she looks at him.

Robbie sighs and pauses before he answers her. "Leah and I were married for so long. We had a good marriage, or so I thought. We have a daughter who is three, only this past spring it was revealed that Paige really isn't my child."

"What do you mean she's not your child?" Natasha asks him.

"Before Paige was conceived, Leah had an affair with her ex-husband. He fathered Paige. Leah knew this and lied to everyone for years. The truth came out this past spring," Robbie says slowly, trying to hold himself together. Even after all this time, he has a hard time talking about the betrayal.

"That must have been a devastated blow to you."

Robbie pauses and tries to contain himself. "You have no idea how much something like that hurts. To think you fathered this beautiful little girl only to find out your wife, the woman you shared everything with, has been lying and cheating on you for years? Yea, it was a devastating blow."

"Now that the truth is out Mr. Calimo," Natasha starts to ask him. "Why would you think you should get full custody of the girl? She's not yours biologically?"

Robbie shakes his head. "Does biology really matter? I'm the only father she's know. She loves me and I adore her like she was my own. I don't want her to be raised with a mother that can lie in the blink of an eye. What kind of values does my ex-wife really have if she lies and cheats on her husband?" Robbie locks eyes with Leah, who looks like she may start to cry. "My daughter deserves better than that. I can provide her a life that would teach her right from wrong."

Natasha comes forward and smiles to him. "One final question Mr. Calimo. Are you aware that your ex-wife and her ex-husband recently got engaged?"

"I am."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"I'm fine with it. As far as I'm concerned, they deserve each other," Robbie replies to her, coldly as his words stab Leah's chest.

"Thank you. No further questions your honour," Natasha says to Judge Franklin as she walks back to her chair and sits down.

"Your witness," Judge Ross announces to Leah and Jeff's lawyer.

The young blonde lawyer named Rachel Fenwick stands up and looks at her notes one final time. "You claim that you're not upset by Ms. Robertson's recent engagement to Mr. Claus, is that true Mr. Calimo?"

Robbie nods his head back to her. "What they do is their business."

"Then let me ask you, why did this custody case appear immediately after the engagement?"

Robbie smiles. "I had time to think about it and I realized that Paige would be better off with me."

"Is it true that you're started to date Victoria Franky?"

"I don't know what that has to do with anything," Robbie doesn't answer the question.

"You also claimed that you would give Paige an environment where you could teach her right from wrong. You are dating Victoria Franky, whose brother is currently in jail pending first degree murder charges."

"Objection your honour!" Natasha yells as she stands up, furious that Rachel is even mentioning Donovan's case.

"Overruled. Mr. Calimo's personal life should be up for question if he wants to take in a small child," Judge Ross explains to everyone. "Answer the question."

"I am seeing Victoria, yes," Robbie says slowly. "But as a member of the legal community, you of all people should know we are all innocent until proven guilt Ms. Fenwick."

"So, you decided to file for custody after learning your ex-wife got engaged meanwhile you're dating the sister of someone in jail pending murder charges. Thank you for clarifying that Mr. Calimo. No further questions your honour."

"You may step down Mr. Calimo," Judge Ross tells Robbie, who stands up looking dumbfounded as to what just happened. He knows that he just got racked over the coals and he suddenly feels like his chances of getting Paige just became slimmer.

Next on One Day at a Time
- Leah takes the stand in the custody hearing
- Natasha and Kim reconnect
- Reese stuns Dean

 
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