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Thursday, January 4, 2001 Today in Oakdale, Henry makes the rounds of apologies.
First he apologizes to Holden, and then to Chris and Emily. Has our Henry had a
change of heart, or is he merely trying to save his skin? Stable boy Holden is working at the farm when Henry walks
in saying, "Happy New Year!" Holden wonders why Henry went to all that
trouble to track him down, and Henry says it wasn't that hard, he wanted to make
peace. "Peace, you? This is gonna be good." Henry apologizes for
letting things get out of hand last night at Java Underground. Holden responds
that things only got out of hand because Henry refused to tell the truth about
the horse show tape. He asks Henry why he took the tape, what's on it that is so
important? Henry replies that it happened ages ago and there have been no
repercussions, so they should just let it go. But Holden says that he can't let
it go, and neither, apparently, can Henry. Holden asks Henry to tell him who
ordered him to take the tape. Henry responds, "This doesn't concern
you." "No," says Holden, "But it concerns you, and a lot
more than you're willing to admit. Someone's obviously got you very worried
about what the consequences would be if you came clean on this. Who, Henry, who
are you so afraid of?" Henry tries to avoid the question, saying, "This is
silly, isn't it? Here we are, we're spending all this time and energy doing a
post-mortum on some horse show." Holden responds that he has his reasons,
and wants to know what Henry's reasons are for stalling. Henry, reverting back
to his usual tactics, replies, "I think you have enough on your plate
without borrowing trouble. I mean, if I were you, I'd spend a little less
time on ancient history and a bit more time trying to save my failing marriage.
And I've gone too far. Hey, I don't want to offend you, OK?" Holden says
that he knows that something is up, and Henry tries one more time, "All
right, are you gonna back off or what?" "No, not on your life,"
says Holden as he pushes Henry up against the stable wall. "I can't help
you any more, OK?" says a terrified Henry. "You take your questions
somewhere else." Holden demands answers now, and Henry replies, "You
want answers? Go to Isaac Jenkins!" Holden lets Henry go, and asks, "Isaac Jenkins? The
guy who owns Java Underground?" "I've already said more than I
should've." "What does the owner of a night club have to do with the
horse business?" "A shipload more than I do!" Holden asks if
Isaac is the one who made Henry steal the tape. "No," replies Henry,
"And that is all you're getting out of me. Now if you want some answers,
you talk to Isaac. I'm washing my hands of this." "What are you so
afraid of?" asks Holden. "You don't wanna know, all right? Everyone
has what they want, right? So just let it go and then everyone stays happy and
healthy and alive!" Holden asks if this is a threat, and Henry says,
"Not from me." Holden asks who, and Henry says, "Holden, just do
everyone a favor and forget this ever happened." With that he storms out of
the stable. The next time we see Henry is at Chris' apartment.
Emily is wearing nothing but Chris' shirt when there is a knock at the door.
Chris answers it and there is Henry, saying, "Greeting, salutations!"
He sees Emily and says, "What serendipity! I was hoping to find you
present. I don't think I've ever seen you quite so ... that could not be
more ... fetching! May I?" he asks as he walks into the apartment.
Henry makes his second apology of the day, saying, "You know, since it's a
new day, it's a new year, I would like to apologize, I would, for last night.
I've been under a lot of stress..." Chris asks if the stress he's
feeling has to do with the video he stole from WOAK. Henry tries to
convince them that there is no story there, it was just an oversight that was
blown out of proportion. Emily says that they will be the judge of that,
and Henry asks why they care. He says that he and Holden let it drop, so
"Why beat a dead horse?" They all give a phony laugh and Chris
says, "This horse is far from dead and we're going to ride it as far as we
can!" Henry tells them they're wasting their time, and Emily
responds, "You know it's funny, I remember a small-minded pig blinded by
his own delusions of grandeur once told me, 'Are you insane or merely
inexperienced? We run a muck-raking company here, and to do that
successfully we have to stay above the muck.' So, Henry, unless you're
ready to come clean, I'd say you're all mucked up!" Henry laughs and
asks, "You didn't take me seriously, did you?" "I'm making
it my war cry." Henry unsuccessfully tries to talk them out of it,
saying, "Listen, boys and girls, let's not get too hasty, huh?"
Chris has had enough and says, "Game Over, buddy, nice seeing you, thanks
for playing," as he escorts him out the door. When he's gone Emily
says, "Did you see that? The great unshakeable Henry Coleman,
trembling in his size 10's!" Meanwhile, on the other side of the
door, Henry wipes the sweat off his brow, takes a deep breath, and leaves. In the final Henry scene of the day, Henry is at the Intruder office, pacing nervously and staring at the phone. Finally, he goes over to it and calls someone. "Happy New Year?" he says to whoever is on the other end of the line. "Ah, well, the last 24 hours have been anything but. Everything's starting to unravel, everything." We have never seen Henry look this scared, something has him very worried!
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