Bad Back

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INT. HART MANOR - KITCHEN - MORNING

The kitchen gleams. AVA BEARDEN leans against the counter, one hand pressed dramatically to her lower back. GENEVA sits at the breakfast nook with her coffee, half-reading the paper.

SHARI BEAUMONT strides in, tablet in hand, all business.

SHARI

AVA

SHARI

(beat)

AVA

(grinning)

Ava says it just loud enough. Geneva's coffee cup pauses halfway to her lips. She does not turn around. Shari clocks it immediately.

SHARI

(low, warning)

AVA

Geneva sets the cup down very carefully and exits without a word. Shari watches her go, then turns on Ava.

SHARI

AVA

(shrugging)

SHARI

Ava winces and straightens up slowly, the performance already fading.

AVA

Shari says nothing. That is the answer.

INT. H2H ENTERPRISES - ROGER'S OFFICE - LATER

Floor-to-ceiling glass over downtown Atlanta. ROGER stands at his desk. ELLE sits on the leather sofa, taking in the view like she's memorizing it.

The door opens and MAYNARD POSEY enters — silver at the temples, a suit that costs more than a car, at least five years Roger's senior and carrying it like a trophy.

ROGER

MAYNARD

(taking Elle's hand)

ELLE

(laughing shyly)

MAYNARD

(delightedly)

ROGER

(dry)

MAYNARD

(to Elle)

Elle laughs again — a real one. Roger watches her smile, at ease in a way she never is with him. His jaw tightens, almost imperceptibly.

MAYNARD

ROGER

MAYNARD

(to Roger, easy)

He offers Elle his arm like a gentleman out of another era. She takes it. As they reach the door, Maynard glances back at Roger with a sly grin.

MAYNARD

The door closes. Roger stands alone in his office, staring at it for a long moment.

END OF EPISODE. COME BACK TOMORROW FOR EPISODE 13.