Post by managermike99 on Jul 30, 2014 8:18:08 GMT -5
"Control"
Airing time; Thursday @ 9:00pm
status; picked-up, ordered 22 episodes
Category; Dramedy
Production Company; MapleStar Entertainment
Running time; 60 min
Theme song; "Fame" by David Bowie
~creators~
Bill Carter
Andrew Morton
~Producer~
Brad Buckner
~Director~
Richard Martin
~series synopsis~
Calib Pace used to be on top of the Hollywood A-list. Now he is a total wreck after the passing of his mother and his infant son, and the downward spiral of his film career. He is introduced by a fellow Hollywood action star Jake Traverse to a new "religion" called the Church of Self. Follow Hollywood and Calib's search for meaning in the world of make belief, and the rise of the Church of Self as it becomes a Hollywood sensation driven by its newest and brightest star. And yes there will be couch jumping!
~cast~
Jason Priestley is Calib Pace
Alec Baldwin is Jake Traverse
Adam Baldwin is J.P. Traverse
Carlo Rota is Romeo Dansante
Bill Maher is Barry Nelson
Christine Larkin is Nikki Haller
This image is reduced by 34%, click it to view full size.
Suyun Kim is Mia Chan
Melissa Sweet is Patti Propp
Nicole Austin is Austin Traverse
This image is reduced by 17%, click it to view full size.
Episode guide
1.01 - "Running on Fumes"
guest star; Jesse Ventura
Calib Pace (Jason Priestley) is nervous backstage as he awaits going on the Barry Nelson Show (Bill Maher), a late night talkshow, to pimp his upcoming movie "Speed Kills Sometimes". It's his first movie since the horrific accident that took his mother and infant son's life. He nervously talks to Patti Propp (Melissa Sweet) who is on the show to put the spin on another DUI arrest and another failed attempt at rehab. She does a line of coke and offers him some but he gives her a short lecture instead.
In walks Jake Traverse (Alec Baldwin) who immediately puts Patti's nerves to rest and calms her down, and coaches her on the phony apology and explanation she is to throw out, and then reminds her that any publicity is good publicity. Calib butts in pulling Jake aside and saying that maybe Patti shouldn't go on because she's all coked up. Jake grabs him by the shoulders, looks him in the eyes with concern and asks him if she has been snorting coke. Calib nods a yes, but when they turn around Patti is already going onstage.
Jake and Calib watch her performance from the "green room". Jake asks about how Calib is doing with the losses he has suffered, while watching Patti go from an apology to a rant agaisnt the LAPD. Calib says filming again really helped him. Jake never taking his eyes off the little TV says that it must be something going from being the #2 action star in hollywood to making a crap movie about NASCAR. Before Calib can respond to the crass comment though all commotion breaks out as Patti is up on Barry Nelson's desk flashing him her breasts. Jake laughs, rubs his hands together and says thats my girl!
As Jake and Calib walk Patti out to a waiting limo she apologizes to Calib for taking up all his time. Calib says no problem, he got 30 seconds in at the end. She stops and apologizes again before throwing up on his shoes. She is helped into the limo by J.P., Jake's brother who is obviously not as successful. There is obvious animosity between the two. As the limo pulls away Jake tells Calib that J.P.'s problems stem from the fact that Father always believed that Jake was homosexual.
Jake thanks Calib for being such a sport, and says that when his movie flops, if he gets too depressed he should come by the "Center" one day. He goes on to tell Calib about the wonders of "The Church of Self". Calib says he's not religious, never has been, and the accident hasn't really helped the situation. Jake says "bullcrap", don't blame the lord blame yourself. Calib just about takes a swing at him, for insinuating that the accident was in some way his fault, until Jake apologizes and says thats not what he meant. A limo pulls up and Jake offers him a ride so he can explain.
Back in the studio Barry Nelson is having a debrief with his writers over what a great show it was, even if they get fined. Since no camera was able to capture the bare breasts the writers have him explain in detail what they looked like. One of the writers asks about Jake Traverse's "Church of Self". Barry asserts that Jake is a smart guy. He went from a TV-sit-com about a bunch of hoods in Harlem to movies, but then he dropped out of sight. No one would hire him. He then made his big comeback thanks to a part in an indy film with the director "Saul Parada". Barry whispers that it was Saul who first brought up the ideas for the Church of Self, but he called it something different. Barry tells them that when he was a bit actor on a network sit-com himself, Saul Parada was a struggling but very talented writer for the same show. He wrote too smart for Hollywood, but he loved TV and the movies. Anyway, Barry says, Saul once joked to him that if he wanted to get rich he would give up writing and start a cult. And that's what he did, a group that tried to tell ordinary housewifes that society would try to make them feel guilty, but they had to get past that, and live their lives however made them happy. He tried to convince housewifes in places like Iowa and Mississippi that organized religion used guilt to keep them down, and that if it felt right they should do it. Needless to say he went broke, and died falling out his condo window. One of the other writers at this point tells Barry it was a suicide. Barry just laughs as he pours himself (and only himself) a scotch. He sits back down and says for his money he would bet his old buddy Jake pushed him. He then stole his ideas and took it to a market that was ready to jump at that very same message, the self-centered Hollywood.
Back inside the limo Jake tells Calib to give himself permission to do the things he wants to do and not feel guilty. He introduces him to his wife who is also in the limo Austin Traverse (Nicole Austin), who is bursting out of her skin tight white dress. Jake tells Calib to look at his wife. He starts to recount all the surgery she has had done from her eyes to her lips to her breasts, tummy tucks, butt augmentation and sculpting, and even plastic surgery on her knees. Calib asks what was wrong with her knees, and Jake just gives him a look that he must be stupid to ask. Jake says they did all these things because she wanted to, to make her feel better about herself. Austin interjects that it was Jake that wanted these things done so he would feel better about himself when they were out together. Jake just ignores her, and looks intently at Calib. "You want to touch her don't you?". Calib obviously, well not to the oblivious Jake, did want to touch her at first, but as he listed all the surgery he grew frightened. At Jake's urgings and Austin's presentation by leaning forward, finally Calib ever so slowly reaches out with one finger, and eyes closes and touches her breasts as if worried they might break.
Just at that moment the driver has to slam on the breaks and Calib goes flying forward right into her lap and busom. The limo has crashed into another car.
As all parties get out of the limo, and Jake is laughing his butt off and spilling his scotch, they see the big Hummer they hit in front of them. Jake drops his crystal glass which shatters all over his polished shoes, and mutters "crap" under his breath. The camera shows the license plate which just has "1" for an identification number. We get some old west showdown music, see the door open, a pair of snakeskin boots, followed by a leather fringed jacket. Out emerges "Adrian", the former actor, former world heavyweight boxing champ, and current govenor of the state of California (guest star, Jesse Ventura). It's obvious that Jake and Adrian don't like each other and share an unpleasant exchange. Finally Adrian see's Calib and shakes his hand. He says he was a fan of his work, and hopes he makes a comeback. He offers his belated but sincere condolensces on the accident and then inquires about how his wife is doing. Calib tells the Govenor that its been rough on her but she's getting better. Adrian just stares into the abyss and mutters, "I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child". After a pause he tells Calib to stay away from scum like him (points at Jake). With that the Governor says both vehicles are driveable (the Hummer is fine, but the limo's front end is squished in and spitting out steam), and drives away.
Back home in a big, nice apartment overlooking the beach Calib walks into the room that was his son's. He's surprised by his wife (Christine Larkin) from behind who starts cursing him out and is obviously drunk. She then staggers away. Calib hits the couch.
He turns on the TV and flips the channels. He see's a movie review show that talks about how atrocious "Speed Kills Sometimes" is and how it might finally earn Calib Pace the Raspberry award. Flipping the channels next he stops on the "Barry Nelson Show" and see's a repeat of the Patti Propp incident. He then see's himself as the "next guess" but after 30 seconds of Barry Nelson asking him about Hollywood giving him the cold shoulder for an accident that wasn't his fault, he turns off the TV. Calib gets up and pops in an old movie from the 80's that features himself as a hotshot High School Baseball player with the pretty girlfriend. He's just falling asleep, it's 3:00am when the phone rings.
It's Jake, telling him that Austin's silicones busted and its all Calib's fault, it must have been that big "Mason's" ring he wears. Calib seems horrified until Jake breaks out laughing, saying it was just a joke. Jake tells Calib if he wants back into the "A-list" then come to the "Church of Self" on Santa Monica Boulevard tomorrow night and they will get him back on track. Calib asks if he can bring his wife. There is a long pause, and Jake asks "your married?".
1.02 - "Happy Endings"
The show opens with Calib Pace flying in a little airplane being piloted by Jake Traverse. Jake is telling Calib about how flying gives him piece of mind (it doesn't look to peaceful for white knuckled Calib), and gives him time to think about the Church of Self. Calib notices that they are being tailed by a news helicopter. Jake just laughs and says he tipped them off.
Jake suddenly changes the subject and asks Calib if he knows how to parachute. When Calib says no Jake gets quite upset, saying he thought he could because of his movie "Vertical Persuasion", but Calib says it was all stuntpeople. Jake says that in his day actors would want to get a feel for the role and would have parachuted for research. He mutters again "I thought you knew how to parachute". Oh well, its time to learn he says, and points to a stream upahead.
What's that asks Jake, it looks like a girlscout in trouble, maybe drowning. Calib says he can't see anything, but seconds later if comes into view. A girl splashing around in the water. Jake just Calib out of the plane, telling him to pull the ripchord in 3 seconds.
Calib swears at Jake but manages to open his parachute, but misses his landing by a couple hundred yards.
Amazingly by the time he gets to the stream the girl is waiting for him, and starts to thrash around again. She wraps her arms around her saviour. A minute later Jake arrives having landed the plane, and is followed seconds later by the news helicopter which drops down to film the rescue.
From the woods comes the girls leader and mother, and the rest of the pack. Jake pats the back of Calib, rubs his hands together and says that's my boy.
The next scene we see Calib's wife Nikki Haller having a flirtatious dinner with a good looking actor.
After that we see a limo pull up to a TV studio and pick up talk show host Barry Nelson. After a short drive the limo pulls to the side and the seperating shield is lowered. We see it is Jake's brother J.P. driving. J.P. doesn't look happy about it but we get the story that J.P. is snitching information about the Church of Self, and Jake to Nelson who apparently is also working for the FBI. Barry asks about what Jake is doing with Calib Pace, and J.P. just shrugs and says "another asset for the Church".
Next we see an extravagant bedroom, all done up in billowing white linens and draperies. We also see Jake's wife Austin "on top" of a man we can't see. She is crying out "Romeo, Romeo".
Then we go to a press confrence where Calib appears in wet jeans (much wetter then they were from the shallow rescue). He and Jake were answering questions from the press. Jake, who apparently has rescued a hiker before that he saw from his plane, defers all the attention and accolades for this rescue to his eagle eyed pal Calib Pace.
Back at his apartment he starts to tell Nikki all about it. But she cuts him off, saying she doesn't want to hear about his saving other lifes when their own child is dead. He explodes with anger throwing a bottle of booze at the bedroom wall, and leaves.
After he leaves Nikki opens the closet door and out steps the young actor in only his briefs. He seems to not care about what happens and tries to tackle her back into bed, but she says he should leave.
Calib arrives at the Church of Self and is introduced to the leader of the Church, Romeo Dansante (Carlo Rota), and another member of the church executive Mia Chan (Suyun Kim). After some small talk and everyone telling Calib how great he is, and how great the Church is, Romeo suggests that Calib relax and says Mia will give him a great massage.
After some attempt to get out of it, Calib finds himself in a private room getting a rubdown from Mia. He finds out that it was her Father who came from China to teach Saul Parada the ways of the east that Jake then borrowed, and turned into the Church of Self. She says her father then tried to work with Jake, after Saul's death, but the two didn't get along so her father went back to China. His last words to her were to try and talk her into leaving too, saying Jake's Church of Self was a perversion of their family ways. Mia says he may have been right, but she stayed anyway, because quite frankly she loves the action of Hollywood. She says its a great honor to meet Calib and to rub him down. She then asks if he wants to turn over for the happy ending. His face contorts in surprise and fear.
The next scene we see Patti Propp arrive at the Church, messed up. Jake takes her upstairs to a bedroom where she asks if he has any coke. The next thing you know the two are rolling around half nude in the bed while listening to Tom Jones. We see Romeo standing outside the door listening and smiling to himself, and then he chooses just the right time to walk in on the two and feign surprise and indignation.
On his way out of the Church of Self mansion Calib hears nosies coming from a darkened room and decides to enter. He flicks a light on and see's it is a study, and see's J.P. rifling through pages. He looks guilty and apologetic, but Calib just apologizes for the intrusion and leaves.
Back at their apartment Calib is walking on eggshells. Until his wife Nikki says she has some good news for once. She has been cast in a mini-series that is fliming in Italy. It actually already began but one of the actresses got very sick and had to be replaced. She says its good money and will get her mind off of everything. At this point Calib just musters a smile and says that its good news.
Back at the Church of Self Jake asks Mia while massaging her neck if she got anywhere with Calib. She just smiles and says she got enough out of him. She then tells Jake that the Italian producer called and was able to make the switch. Nikki Haller should be on the next flight out to Venice.
Calib is watching TV in his bed, alone. Flipping the channels he see's the exclusive coverage on channel 4 of his daring rescue, and his phony interview afterward. He then flips a channel that says thanks to the resuce "Speed Kills Sometimes" has made a great rebound at the box office. It looks like it will finish the weekend in the top 2. Calib turns the channel again and finds the Barry Nelson show. They are mocking his rescue saying that they were also able to get exclusive footage. They show a long distance shot of a parachute descending, and then when the camera goes to a close shot they substitute "Rocky" and "Bullwinkle" in a trenchcoat trying to steer the parachute. Barry Nelson warns his viewers that nothing in Hollywood is as it seems when you look closer, but its usually quite a bit funnier.
1.03 - "There Will be Couch Jumping"
After spending the week hanging out at the Church of Self, since his wife left for Italy, Calib seems quite at home and friendly with everyone; especially Mia Chan.
Calib decides that he has to confront J.P. about rifling through his brother Jake's papers. J.P. hesitates before deciding to take a chance. He lies to Calib that he thinks his brother is being taken advantage of by Romeo Dasante. J.P. asserts that Romeo is not happy just being the figure-head leader. He tried to warn his brother but Jake trusts Romeo more then his own flesh and blood. This answer seems to satisfy Calib, who does not take a side, but also promises J.P. to keep it to himself for now.
Jake catches his wife Austin sleeping with Romeo. It looks like a set-up because Jake left in his BMW, only to park around the corner and sneak back into the Church mansion and up to the bedroom. Instead of looking surprised he pulled out a camera and took some pictures. But he has to leave quickly as he starts to laugh when his wife cries out "oh, Romeo, my Romeo".
Patti Propp tries to seduce Calib who turns her down flat. An effort witnessed by Mia, who then overhears Patti telling Jake that she was not successful.
Jake gets Calib booked for a return visit on the Barry Nelson show to talk about his meteoric like return to the top and the heroic incident that started it all. In a meeting before the show with Barry Nelson himself, Jake, and Calib, Jake suggests that Calib needs to be more dramatic, and needs to get the spotlight off the drowning and onto something else. He suggests that he announce that he and his wife are having another baby. Calib says its not true and seems quite upset, so even if he said that, then what? Jake says fly over to Italy on the weekend and make it happen. Calib seems flustered and says his marriage is falling apart so that is doubtful and besides he doesnt want to be a father again right now. Jake laughs and says women in Italy are always horny, she'll be quite willing. Calib seems to have had enough of Jake, but surprisingly Barry Nelson steps in and agrees with Jake. He tells Calib that he doesn't need to say she is pregnant, and Barry says he won't ask. That way if things fall apart they can both claim that what was meant was that she had agreed to start a family with him again; not that she was pregnant. Reluctantly Calib agrees because Jake presses him on his friendship and his help in resurrecting Calib's career.
On the show itself we see the unamed actor who had been having the affair with Calib's wife Nikki Haller. He obviously was the previous guest and is a nervous wreck when he sees Calib come out. The interview between Barry and Calib goes as planned at first. They talk about the fans support for his movie, and they talk about the rescue. Calib begins to tear up when talking about it all, he is so emotionally overwhelmed. Then Calib decides to launch the bomb as he see's Jake madly signalling from offstage. Barry leads in by asking about Calib's wife going to work in Italy.
Calib jumps up on the couch and says he has exciting news. He and his wife Nikki are going to have a child. Barry congratulates him, but the unamed actor blurts out "WHAT?". Calib and Barry are both surprised at his reaction. Then they look horrified when he asks "SHE'S PREGNANT?". Jake trips over a chord as he's madly signalling to cut it short, and he knocks over the main camera. All chaos is breaking out as Calib just mumbles, and so Barry signals to go to break.
After the show the unamed actor calls Nikki in Italy and tells her about what just happened. He asks her why she didn't tell him she was pregnant, and based on what she had told him he says it must be his baby. Is it? Nikki manages to totally evade the question by just saying that Calib doesn't know what he's talking about, and not to worry, everything's fine.
Jake and Calib are having a few drinks at the airport bar. Calib has a carry on bag. Last call for Venice, but Calib decides not to go. He and Jake have a good laugh at the SNAFU of the Barry Nelson show, and then Calib says "let's go home". Jake pays the bills, slaps him across the back rather harshly, and says "that's my boy."
1.04 - "Mohawks and Grapefruit slices"
J.P. meets Barry Nelson in a dark, deserted park and hands over a briefcase full of documents. In return Barry hands him a pay envelope. At first J.P. tries to refuse saying he's not doing it for the money. But Barry says that is the way the CIA does it, they need to pay the informants, he has to take it. J.P. stuffs the pay envelope in his pocket. As they both drive away we see a 3rd car with someone in it watching but can't make out who it is. J.P. notices the car though and sees the driver is taking pictures of him. He tries to confront the car but the driver puts down the camera and peels away fast.
Nikki calls her husband Calib from Italy to ask what the hell he was thinking about saying she was pregnant. He says it was just a publicity stunt. She asks if it was put on by Jake, and tells Calib he can't trust Jake or the Church of Self. Calib gets angry and defensive. After a long pause, Nikki says they never talked about children again, and asks Calib if he wants to have a family. Calib pauses before saying, he's not sure, but definetly not right now. He asks her about Italy, and she says the movie is going great and that she loves Italy. She invites him for a visit, but it seems half hearted, and he excuses himself saying he can't get away.
Calib and Mia are hanging out, and Calib is commenting on how he hasn't seen much of Jake lately. Mia says he's working on bringing in another celebrity to the fold. Lizzy Gunn, who went from backwoods Kentucky to being a pop superstar by the age of 18, and then crossed over to movies. But her personal life is a mess, and she's a tabloid's dream. Mia says its no wonder that Lizzy and Patti Propp found each other, they've been partying hard the last couple months.
Calib is woken from his sleep in one of the guest bedrooms in the Church of Self mansion. In fact everyone is woken up, as Jake escorts Lizzy and Patti into the mansion. All 3 are blitzed. Romeo and Mia do their best to settle the three down but finally they just pass out.
As Calib goes back to his room to sleep, he is joined by Mia. She says she gave up her room to Lizzy and Patti for the night and has no where to sleep. Calib invites her in.
Jake and Calib are having breakfast the next day when Jake passes Calib an envelope with pictures inside. Calib takes a look and begins to choke on a grapefruit segment, causing the help to come in and give him the heimlich manoveur while Jake quickly stuffs the pics back into the envelope.
That night Lizzy and Patti come back to the mansion more drunk and blitzed then the night before, but Jake is nowhere in site. Lizzy has cut her beautiful blonde hair into a mohawk, and Patti has picked up two dwarfs and brought them home from the bar. Soon the police arrive to arrest Lizzy and Patti for a battery of charges from their behaviour earlier in the night. They throw Lizzy and Patti in one cop car, and the dwarfs in the other. Jake arrives just in time to try and plead their case but late enough, and sober, so it doesn't look like he was involved.
J.P. pays a visit to Calib as things are settling down. He says one of the cooks told him that some pictures that Jake showed Calib really freaked him out. He asks Calib what they were about, and if he had betrayed J.P. to Jake. Calib gets offended saying he kept his word, but now he's thinking that was a mistake, because obviously there is more to this then just rummaging through some papers. When Calib tries to end it and walk away, J.P. grabs him by the arm, and the two then exchange pushes, then punches. J.P. waffles Calib with a left cross and knocks him through a glass coffee table. We see blood pooling on the floor.
J.P. cries out calling for help, as Mia enters and screams.
1.05 - "Bedside Manor"
Calib is in the hospital and Mia is at his side, talking to him, keeping him awake. The doctor says the cuts on his back were minor, it was the concussion they are most worried about. Jake comes to visit bringing flowers, and news that he has fired his brother J.P., calling this the last straw. Calib doesn't seem to happy about anyything other then having Mia at his side.
Jake meets with Patti about how its going recruiting Lizzy. Patti though does an abrupt about face saying that Jake shouldn't recruit Lizzy. Patti says she's too much of a burnout, and there is only room in the family for one troubled young diva, so its either Lizzy or Patti. Jake says no problem, he always dances with the broad he brought to the ball, and says Lizzy is no longer to be pursued. Patti though then turns around and says she's still going to party with Lizzy, her new best friend, because they have so much fun together. Jake just shakes his head when she leaves, and mutters "broads".
Jake and Romeo are watching TV when a story comes on TMZ about Lizzy and Patti, and then about Calib's accident. The reporter then goes on to say that they have been investigating the Church of Self and its time to blow the lid off. He throws out refrences to the tax code and how the Church is evading taxes, gives out details of bank accounts in small Carribean islands for that purpose, gives names of two drug dealers who regularly frequent the Church to provide for the members, and then even speculates that Jake Traverse had Mia's father killed to avoid a lawsuit. They also throw out that Romeo Dansante is gay, and may be having affairs with several male members. This throws Romeo into a fit, saying that is the only thing that wasn't true!
Jake is livid saying they have a traitor in their midst. Romeo says it has to be J.P. but surprisingly Jake says no, he thinks its someone else. Then he cryptically adds to Romeo, that he for one knows that Romeo isn't gay.
J.P. storms in on Barry Nelson at his studio, threatening him, wondering how the documents he gave the FBI got leaked to TMZ, and doubting that Nelson is FBI at all. J.P. says he called the FBI and they have never heard of him. Barry of course says this is exactly what they are supposed to say.
Nikki arrives at the hospital, having been called by Jake, thinking Calib had a cracked skull. She seems happy though that Calib is doing all right, and doesn't pick up on the vibe between Mia and Calib. When they are alone Nikki slips into the hospital bed with Calib and asks if they should do a dry-run on that baby thing. Calib agrees and they get busy under the covers as Mia paces the hallway.
Patti comes to see Jake at the Church mansion, and he asks her why she leaked the information to TMZ. Was it malicious or was she just stoned and drunk? Patti assures Jake it wasn't her. Jake seems convinced and when pressed for proof or a motive Jake says Patti's drugs and drinking are way out of control and she probably needed the money. The oldest, or maybe second oldest, reason in the book. Patti still denies it, so Jake tells her to check into one of the usual detox clinics to disappear for awhile. Patti seems hurt but agrees to do it.
Calib returns to the mansion, the concussion symptons gone. He has a late night stroll with Calib and fills him in on Patti's treason. Calib says he's not so sure it was Patti, but won't go further then that to defend her. Calib wonders out loud if Romeo is happy playing second fiddle. This seems to take Jake off guard saying that Romeo is the most loyal s.o.b. there is. Calib is flustered and wonders how Jake can say that after showing him pictures of Romeo sleeping with his wife Austin. Jake laughs heartedly at this, slapping Calib on the back. He says he showed him those pics because he thought he would get a kick out of them. Son, when you have a body like Austin, the booty that her momma gave her, and the rest provided by modern medicine, you do not hide that light in a bushell. You let it shine son, you let it shine. Calib incredulous asks Jake if that means he isn't mad about it, and Jake says of course not; they have an open relationship. Oh, and by the way he adds, she kind of likes you too, so if you feel like taking her out for a test drive its okay by me. Calib is stunned.
1.06 - "Strange Bedfellows"
guest star: Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson
Calib goes to see Nikki at their old apartment. He tries to get with her again but she turns him down saying that in the hospital may have been a mistake. She was feeling sorry for him, and now its time for her to go back to Italy. He loses his temper with this and storms away.
Reports on television that Patti Propp checked herself out of rehab after just 4 days, and has not been seen since. The reporters ambush Jake who looks uncharacteristically like a deer in the headlights and says he hasn't heard from her and doesn't know where she is. He recovers his composure long enough to urge her, if listening, to return to rehab.
J.P. is shown outside Barry Nelson's studio, in a rental car, putting on drivers gloves, and sunglasses, and cocking his gun. He mutters to himself that he's going to kill that s.o.b. for getting him fired and kicked out of the Church of Self.
Jake pays a bedroom visit to his wife Austin but she rebuffs him, and after being pressed for a reason she says she's angry with Jake for having sex with that little scrag Patti Propp. Jake doesn't even bother to fight with her, and tells her that maybe she should go pay a visit to Calib instead. In a flash of anger she says she might just do that, and leaves the bedroom in her nighty.
She passes Romeo in the hall and when he tries to lure her to his office she denies him, and continues on to the room where Calib is sleeping. She tries to seduce him but he rejects her and she storms off.
J.P. follows Barry Nelson's limo home, then hops the gate of his mansion and enters the grounds.
Nikki says goodbye to her actor lover at the airport and tells him that this will be the last time they see each other. He is stunned, and asks why? She says she thinks she might have feelings for Calib still. He inquires about the baby, and she assures him that she is not having his baby. He calls her a tramp and walks away. She boards the plane for Venice.
J.P. enters Barry's bedroom and fires the gun into his bed. He hears a popping sound and pulls back the covers to reveal not Barry but a blowup doll. However, Barry does enter the bedroom eating a sandwich and with a glass of milk, and lets out a couple of expletives. J.P. levels the gun but Barry throws the glass of milk at him causing him to miss. J.P. then chases Barry through the mansion in a comical chase of the inept trying to catch the clumsy. Finally J.P. gets knocked over by a swinging door and Barry is able to grab the gun.
Austin returns to her bedroom and tells Jake that Calib was fabulous. Jake seems surprised but pleased.
Calib can't sleep after the disturbing visit and is joined by Mia in a walk along the grounds. They talk about her father's mystical beliefs, her ability to heal with touch, and his loss of his son and mother. She says that he is a good man, and her father would have approved. With that they find themselves in an embrace on the ground.
J.P. and Barry are sitting down on Barry's couch having milk and sandwiches and watching TV having a good laugh about the Church of Self and Jake. Barry says he's still mad about the blowup doll and tells J.P. he better order him a new one on-line. They watch the entertainment news as Lizzy Gunn comes on and is talking about how she thinks that Jake Traverse and the church of self have probably kidnapped Patti Propp and are keeping her in the sex dungeons in the basement. J.P. and Barry both know she is just crazy. But next on is "Rocky Stone" the #1 action box office star in Hollywood (guest star: Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson). Stone says that Calib was always #2 after him in the box office, which is appropriate because his movies stink like #2. He goes on to disparge "Speed Kills Sometimes" and asks how a man could make a movie like that considering his son and mother died getting hit by a speeding car. He then goes on to talk about Jake and the Church of Self being a bunch of Hollywood garbage.
The FBI shows up hammering at the door of the Church of Self. Jake is summoned in his bathrobes and handed a search warrant. Jake assures the officer in charge that Patti Propp is not in his sex dungeons in the basement. The officer just laughs at Jake and says thats the least of your worries buddy, read the warrant.
1.07 - "Damage Control"
guest: Nancy Grace
The FBI search the premises and take away documents. The Church, Jake, and Romeo are being investigated for tax evasion. Calib, Jake, and Romeo speculate on who is out to get them.
The next night they are all having dinner when the news breaks. Patti Propp was spotted over in Japan holding up a Sushi bar along with 2 Japanese men. The men make Patti remove her mask, so there is some question as to whether she is willingly part of this caper or a hostage. Security camera footage is played over and over again on the entertainment news channels.
Jake pleads with Calib to go on the Nancy Grace show to do damage control.
J.P. and Barry Nelson pay a surprise visit to Calib in a restaurant urinal. They warn him about Jake and the FBI and that he may get dragged into it. Calib though won't listen to them.
Calib goes on the Nancy Grace show (via sattelite) although he knows she hates him. True to form she twists everything he says, and has on other panel guests to try and make him look dumb. Calib tries to deflect criticism by turning his venom toward "Rocky Stone" but Nancy will have none of it. Finally he calls her a biatch and storms away.
Jake arranges for Romeo to take a plane over to Japan and to help Patti if and when she is found. But before take off the plane is stopped and Romeo is arrested for trying to leave the jurisdiction while under investigation. We see the Governor's hummer cruising by, apparently he is the one behind this investigation.
The unnamed actor who was having an affair with Nikki goes to pay a visit to Calib to tell him about the affair. He follows Calib and Mia as they go to a popular nightclub. He sees them being quite amorous so he takes some pictures.
Jake visits Romeo in jail, through the glass partition. Romeo looks horrible and has a black eye and stiches in his head. He is going crazy and starts to say things about the Church as Jake yells at him to shut-up or they'll all get time. Finally Jake is so upset he tries to climb over the partition to get to Romeo and the two have to be seperated by guards. Jake yells at Romeo as he is being hauled away, "and to think I let you sleep with my wife".
Calib is confronted the next day at a lunch diner by the unnamed actor. He tells Calib about his affair with his wife, and the two trade punches before being seperated. The police arrive and arrest only Calib.
1.08 - "Planes Passing in the Night"
Calib is bailed out of prison by Jake who posts a substantial bond. Calib tries to resist saying he'd rather stay in jail, but Jake talks him out of it.
Patti Propp is still at large, having been linked to another robbery, this time of a jewelry store in Japan with the same two unidentified men. This time the evidence looks more and more like she is a willing participant, not a hostage.
Lizzy Gunn goes on an entertainment news show and buries her friend, saying this is typical behaviour for Patti, who obvioulsy has drug and mental illness issues. Lizzy also takes a few more shots at the Church of Self.
Calib goes on the Barry Nelson show again, this time to accept a challenge thrown out by Rocky Stone. Calib says that although he is a couple inches and 90 lbs lighter they Rocky, he will fight him in an amateur rules boxing match for charity. Rocky has choosen MADD for his charity while Calib says his will be the Church of Self's outreach program in the Phillipines. Off camera Barry Nelson tries to warn Calib again to back away from Jake and the Church, but this time Calib is not diplomatic in his response and says this will be the last time he goes on his show.
Nikki has an argument with the director on her Italian show, and it escalated until he blurts out in anger the only reason he hired her was as a personal favor to Jake Traverse. She storms off the set, and after a bit of reflection tells the director she quits the show and is heading back to the US tonight to try and reconcile with Calib.
Barry talks to J.P. about his most recent attempt to talk sense into Calib with no luck. Barry then admits to J.P. formally that he was never working for the FBI but tells J.P. he never leaked the information to either the FBI or the tabloids, and doesn't know who did. Barry then goes on to say that its time now however, to get the FBI involved, and that J.P. should set up a meeting with them. Either that or he might be implicated when this whole mess comes down. J.P. says he agrees and will set something up but wants Barry in on the meeting.
Calib is having dinner with Jake, and Calib brings up the subject of Saul Parada's death. Jake gets annoyed and says Saul was overated and a terrible businessman. Not just that but he was a jerk, and the S.O.B. got exactly what was coming to him. Calib asks if that means it wasn't suicide, but Jake is done talking and moves on.
Calib makes a spur of the moment decision to go to Italy for a month. He says it will give him time to try and reconcile with his wife, as well as a chance to actually train for his boxing match with Rocky Stone. Jake gets fairly mad accusing Calib of trying to distance himself from the Church of Self, who got him back to where he is today, just because of the malicious raid by the FBI and what the drugged out Patti Propp is doing. Calib says he just wants to finalize the status of his marriage. Jake calms down and drives Calib to the airport.
When Jake returns to the Church mansion he finds a couple of FBI agents waiting for him. They arrest him for conspiracy, for his part in trying to help Romeo escape the country. Austin watches and breaks out in hysterical tears.
1.09 - "Blood is Thick Like Thieves"
J.P. is summoned to visit Jake in jail. Jake tells J.P. that he wants to put him in charge of the Church of Self while he is locked up. He tells J.P. he was wrong to have fired him, for taking Calib's side over his own brother. J.P. is skeptical but after some sweetening up by Jake he accepts.
Calib arrives on the set in Italy where he is told by the director that Nikki quit after a fight over her acting skills. Calib leaves in a huff.
The director calls J.P. and confimrs that Calib left and that he still has no idea that it was Jake's idea to get Nikki out of the country.
J.P. then calls the unnamed actor and tells him to meet Nikki at the airport. He does, but of course Nikki doesn't want to see him, until he shows her pictures of Calib being friendly with Mia. The actor solemnly tells Nikki that Calib and Mia are lovers. Nikki leaves in tears for a hotel, alone.
Patti Propp is arrested in Japan while trying to hold up commuters in a subway with her cohorts. Mia was dispatched by Jake to Japan after Romeo was arrested. But when Mia tries to see Patti she refuses to see her or anyone from the Church of Self.
As Calib arrives at his Italian hotel he sees a big demonstration there against the Church of Self. They call it a cult, and say its not welcome here. They throw soft produce at Calib who flees to his room.
Barry Nelson is made to look like the fool as he waits with two FBI agents for J.P. who no-shows their set-up meeting.
Barry calls J.P. and finds out that he has taken the helm of the Church of Self, and threatens Barry that harm will happen to him if he turns on the Church.
Calib is working out in his room, preparing for his boxing match with Rocky Stone. He flashes back to his son, and his mother, and the day she was driving him to soccer, only to get hit by a speeding car. He flashes from happy days with his wife and child, to being told by the doctors that his son has died. He has stopped working out and is sobbing. He calls Nikki's cell phone.
Back in Los Angeles we see Nikki getting drunk alone in her hotel room, also remembering her son. She see's who is calling and pushes the ignore button.
Austin comes to visit J.P. in his bedroom that night, trying to seduce him. She tells him that to the victors go the spoils. J.P. enjoys a light massage but when she goes for more he turns her down flat. He tells her that he is not going to owe Jake anything or give him any leverage.
In the middle of the night there are still protesters camped out front of the Italian hotel, so Calib leaves by the fire escape. As he walks down the back alley though he is attacked by two thugs. It's no random act as they call him by name, and as they beat him down they say this is a message top go back to America where he belongs.
1.10 - "3 Rounds with Hell"
guest stars: Dwayne Johnson & Jesse Ventura
Calib returns to LA in the middle of the night, battered and bruised. Surprisingly there to meet him is Adrian, the Govenor (guest star Jesse Ventura). Calib assumes he is there to lecture him about the Church and Jake, but Adrian just shrugs that off, saying Calib is his own man. He's just here because he knew no one else would be, and he heard what happened over in Italy and figured he could use a friend. Adrian drives Calib to the Church of Self and offers to postpone the exhibition boxing match between Calib and Rocky Stone, as he is the guest referee. Calib though surprises him and says he wants to go through with it, and the Govenor obviously respects his guts.
Austin is shown visiting a high priced divorce lawyer, talking about hypotheticals in divorcing Jake. She promises him she'll think it over.
Barry Nelson wakes up in the morning and finds the bloodied head of a horse with him, and screams.
J.P. has breakfast with an obviously hung over Lizzy Gunn, and tries to get her to soften her stance against the Church. He says his brother was wrong to shun her in favor of that crack addict Patti Propp, but now that he is in charge he can change all that. Lizzy says she doesn't think he will be in charge long, Jake will get out and discard him. She stands up and rubs his shoulder, saying but if things become permanent to give her a call.
Inside prison Romeo is approached by the FBI about informing against Jake and the Church. Romeo listens intently before telling the agent to go to hell.
The night of the big exhibition boxing match between the two biggest action stars in Hollywood, Rocky Stone and Calib Pace, with special referee the Governor of California, Adrian Allantis. No one from the Church is there to watch which Adrian points out to Calib, and again offers him the chance to postpone. In the ring Rocky mostly just dances and plays with Calib in the first round. Between rounds Adrian comes over with a message from Rocky, offering to stop the fight or have Calib go down on a punch. Rocky says he can see that Calib's orbital bone and ribcage are vulnerable. Calib says the doctor cleared him to fight, so he wants to fight. Round two and Rocky pours on the punches. mostly landing on the shoulders and arms of Calib, so that between rounds Calib can't even lift his arms from his side. Round 3 and Rocky clinches with Calib to make the plea personally just to go down. Calib responds with an obvious low blow in the clinch, nailing Rocky in the crotch. Adrian calls for the bell and disqualifies Calib. Afterward Rocky tries to get to Calib who leaves, but not before the Governor says he was wrong to have felt some kindred feelings for Calib, and calls him scum.
Nikki has the boxing match on TV in the background of her hotel room, but she is ignoring it as she finishes off a bottle of gin, and then downs a bottle of pills. She says to herself, through her tears, that she won't feel any more pain. But as she slumps to the ground she see's Calib on TV being boo'd, chastised by the Govenor, and looking like a lost little boy. She whispers "oh Calib my love what have I done". She reaches into her purse, and fumbles her cell phone, managing to hit #1 on her speedial.
As Calib prepares to leave the arena by himself Mia arrives in a rush, having just flown back from Tokoyo. They share their recent experiences in the dressing room, and then have a moment, that looks like it will get intimate. However, Calib stops her, becaue he's hurting too much, inside and outside, to do this right now.
Calib's cell phone rings. He see's it Nikki and almost hits ignore, but decides to answer it. He listens to Nikki tell him about her suicide attempt, and how sorry she is, she wants to see him again. He gets her address and since Mia has a rental car outside they go racing off together to the hotel, while Calib calls 9-1-1.
1.11 - Visitors
J.P. visits Jake in prison. He convinces his brother that it was Romeo, through Barry Nelson, that leaked all the information to the FBI, and that it was one or both of them that also sold it to the tabloids. Jake thanks J.P. for stepping in for him and doing a great job with the direction of the Church. He apologizes again for having kicked him out. J.P. seems flattered, but then Jake asks him to take a more cautious approach, reminding him that its just temporary and that he'll be back in charge. J.P. then tells Jake that Austin is going to be filling for divorce. After a reflective pause, Jake looks at his feet when he says he already knows, and not to worry that its for the best. He then quietly thanks J.P. for not sleeping with his wife, saying that meant something to him.
Calib and Mia are waiting at the hospital for word on the condition of Nikki. Calib wants to talk about their own relationship, but Mia says now is not the time. Just consider her a friend right now. Calib tearfully says he could use one.
Jake meets with a jailhouse fixer, and arranges to pay him off to have Romeo killed.
Barry Nelson has Lizzy Gunn on his show. He loads her up with questions about the Church of Self and Patti Propp, but rather then demonize them she offers a more balanced response. She says that Patti obviously has issues, but that the Church can't be held responsible for her actions and that she does not reflect the actions of anyone other then herself. Barry tries again, bringing up her earlier comments about the Church, but Lizzy says she was partly misquoted, and partly taken out of context. She says she doesn't want to belong to the Church but doesn't have any kind of vendetta against them.
The unnamed actor shows up at the hospital. Calib doesn't understand why he is there, so the actor has to tell him that he was a fried of his wife. But Calib continues to question him and figures out they were lovers. He tells the man to leave the hospital and he'll tell his WIFE to call him when she feels up to it. He agrees to leave rather then make a scene.
Jake is shown being taken out of prison. His lawyers managed to get him paroled with house arrest. He has a smile on his face like a cat that just ate a mouse.
In another prison a rough looking inmate is shown carrying a shank, as Romeo loads up a dinner plate with grub.
The doctor finally comes out to tell Calib he has some bad news. Calib asks how Nikki is, and the doctor says she is fine. Some minor permanent damge to her heart, and hard to know yet if there is any brain damage, but mostly she is fine, and should be awake in a few hours. Calib is elated, but then asks what he meant by bad news? The doctor looks at him strangely and says, we couldn't save the baby, your wife had a miscarriage.
Calib and Mia look on in shock.
To be continued after Christmas.
Airing time; Thursday @ 9:00pm
status; picked-up, ordered 22 episodes
Category; Dramedy
Production Company; MapleStar Entertainment
Running time; 60 min
Theme song; "Fame" by David Bowie
~creators~
Bill Carter
Andrew Morton
~Producer~
Brad Buckner
~Director~
Richard Martin
~series synopsis~
Calib Pace used to be on top of the Hollywood A-list. Now he is a total wreck after the passing of his mother and his infant son, and the downward spiral of his film career. He is introduced by a fellow Hollywood action star Jake Traverse to a new "religion" called the Church of Self. Follow Hollywood and Calib's search for meaning in the world of make belief, and the rise of the Church of Self as it becomes a Hollywood sensation driven by its newest and brightest star. And yes there will be couch jumping!
~cast~
Jason Priestley is Calib Pace
Alec Baldwin is Jake Traverse
Adam Baldwin is J.P. Traverse
Carlo Rota is Romeo Dansante
Bill Maher is Barry Nelson
Christine Larkin is Nikki Haller
This image is reduced by 34%, click it to view full size.
Suyun Kim is Mia Chan
Melissa Sweet is Patti Propp
Nicole Austin is Austin Traverse
This image is reduced by 17%, click it to view full size.
Episode guide
1.01 - "Running on Fumes"
guest star; Jesse Ventura
Calib Pace (Jason Priestley) is nervous backstage as he awaits going on the Barry Nelson Show (Bill Maher), a late night talkshow, to pimp his upcoming movie "Speed Kills Sometimes". It's his first movie since the horrific accident that took his mother and infant son's life. He nervously talks to Patti Propp (Melissa Sweet) who is on the show to put the spin on another DUI arrest and another failed attempt at rehab. She does a line of coke and offers him some but he gives her a short lecture instead.
In walks Jake Traverse (Alec Baldwin) who immediately puts Patti's nerves to rest and calms her down, and coaches her on the phony apology and explanation she is to throw out, and then reminds her that any publicity is good publicity. Calib butts in pulling Jake aside and saying that maybe Patti shouldn't go on because she's all coked up. Jake grabs him by the shoulders, looks him in the eyes with concern and asks him if she has been snorting coke. Calib nods a yes, but when they turn around Patti is already going onstage.
Jake and Calib watch her performance from the "green room". Jake asks about how Calib is doing with the losses he has suffered, while watching Patti go from an apology to a rant agaisnt the LAPD. Calib says filming again really helped him. Jake never taking his eyes off the little TV says that it must be something going from being the #2 action star in hollywood to making a crap movie about NASCAR. Before Calib can respond to the crass comment though all commotion breaks out as Patti is up on Barry Nelson's desk flashing him her breasts. Jake laughs, rubs his hands together and says thats my girl!
As Jake and Calib walk Patti out to a waiting limo she apologizes to Calib for taking up all his time. Calib says no problem, he got 30 seconds in at the end. She stops and apologizes again before throwing up on his shoes. She is helped into the limo by J.P., Jake's brother who is obviously not as successful. There is obvious animosity between the two. As the limo pulls away Jake tells Calib that J.P.'s problems stem from the fact that Father always believed that Jake was homosexual.
Jake thanks Calib for being such a sport, and says that when his movie flops, if he gets too depressed he should come by the "Center" one day. He goes on to tell Calib about the wonders of "The Church of Self". Calib says he's not religious, never has been, and the accident hasn't really helped the situation. Jake says "bullcrap", don't blame the lord blame yourself. Calib just about takes a swing at him, for insinuating that the accident was in some way his fault, until Jake apologizes and says thats not what he meant. A limo pulls up and Jake offers him a ride so he can explain.
Back in the studio Barry Nelson is having a debrief with his writers over what a great show it was, even if they get fined. Since no camera was able to capture the bare breasts the writers have him explain in detail what they looked like. One of the writers asks about Jake Traverse's "Church of Self". Barry asserts that Jake is a smart guy. He went from a TV-sit-com about a bunch of hoods in Harlem to movies, but then he dropped out of sight. No one would hire him. He then made his big comeback thanks to a part in an indy film with the director "Saul Parada". Barry whispers that it was Saul who first brought up the ideas for the Church of Self, but he called it something different. Barry tells them that when he was a bit actor on a network sit-com himself, Saul Parada was a struggling but very talented writer for the same show. He wrote too smart for Hollywood, but he loved TV and the movies. Anyway, Barry says, Saul once joked to him that if he wanted to get rich he would give up writing and start a cult. And that's what he did, a group that tried to tell ordinary housewifes that society would try to make them feel guilty, but they had to get past that, and live their lives however made them happy. He tried to convince housewifes in places like Iowa and Mississippi that organized religion used guilt to keep them down, and that if it felt right they should do it. Needless to say he went broke, and died falling out his condo window. One of the other writers at this point tells Barry it was a suicide. Barry just laughs as he pours himself (and only himself) a scotch. He sits back down and says for his money he would bet his old buddy Jake pushed him. He then stole his ideas and took it to a market that was ready to jump at that very same message, the self-centered Hollywood.
Back inside the limo Jake tells Calib to give himself permission to do the things he wants to do and not feel guilty. He introduces him to his wife who is also in the limo Austin Traverse (Nicole Austin), who is bursting out of her skin tight white dress. Jake tells Calib to look at his wife. He starts to recount all the surgery she has had done from her eyes to her lips to her breasts, tummy tucks, butt augmentation and sculpting, and even plastic surgery on her knees. Calib asks what was wrong with her knees, and Jake just gives him a look that he must be stupid to ask. Jake says they did all these things because she wanted to, to make her feel better about herself. Austin interjects that it was Jake that wanted these things done so he would feel better about himself when they were out together. Jake just ignores her, and looks intently at Calib. "You want to touch her don't you?". Calib obviously, well not to the oblivious Jake, did want to touch her at first, but as he listed all the surgery he grew frightened. At Jake's urgings and Austin's presentation by leaning forward, finally Calib ever so slowly reaches out with one finger, and eyes closes and touches her breasts as if worried they might break.
Just at that moment the driver has to slam on the breaks and Calib goes flying forward right into her lap and busom. The limo has crashed into another car.
As all parties get out of the limo, and Jake is laughing his butt off and spilling his scotch, they see the big Hummer they hit in front of them. Jake drops his crystal glass which shatters all over his polished shoes, and mutters "crap" under his breath. The camera shows the license plate which just has "1" for an identification number. We get some old west showdown music, see the door open, a pair of snakeskin boots, followed by a leather fringed jacket. Out emerges "Adrian", the former actor, former world heavyweight boxing champ, and current govenor of the state of California (guest star, Jesse Ventura). It's obvious that Jake and Adrian don't like each other and share an unpleasant exchange. Finally Adrian see's Calib and shakes his hand. He says he was a fan of his work, and hopes he makes a comeback. He offers his belated but sincere condolensces on the accident and then inquires about how his wife is doing. Calib tells the Govenor that its been rough on her but she's getting better. Adrian just stares into the abyss and mutters, "I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child". After a pause he tells Calib to stay away from scum like him (points at Jake). With that the Governor says both vehicles are driveable (the Hummer is fine, but the limo's front end is squished in and spitting out steam), and drives away.
Back home in a big, nice apartment overlooking the beach Calib walks into the room that was his son's. He's surprised by his wife (Christine Larkin) from behind who starts cursing him out and is obviously drunk. She then staggers away. Calib hits the couch.
He turns on the TV and flips the channels. He see's a movie review show that talks about how atrocious "Speed Kills Sometimes" is and how it might finally earn Calib Pace the Raspberry award. Flipping the channels next he stops on the "Barry Nelson Show" and see's a repeat of the Patti Propp incident. He then see's himself as the "next guess" but after 30 seconds of Barry Nelson asking him about Hollywood giving him the cold shoulder for an accident that wasn't his fault, he turns off the TV. Calib gets up and pops in an old movie from the 80's that features himself as a hotshot High School Baseball player with the pretty girlfriend. He's just falling asleep, it's 3:00am when the phone rings.
It's Jake, telling him that Austin's silicones busted and its all Calib's fault, it must have been that big "Mason's" ring he wears. Calib seems horrified until Jake breaks out laughing, saying it was just a joke. Jake tells Calib if he wants back into the "A-list" then come to the "Church of Self" on Santa Monica Boulevard tomorrow night and they will get him back on track. Calib asks if he can bring his wife. There is a long pause, and Jake asks "your married?".
1.02 - "Happy Endings"
The show opens with Calib Pace flying in a little airplane being piloted by Jake Traverse. Jake is telling Calib about how flying gives him piece of mind (it doesn't look to peaceful for white knuckled Calib), and gives him time to think about the Church of Self. Calib notices that they are being tailed by a news helicopter. Jake just laughs and says he tipped them off.
Jake suddenly changes the subject and asks Calib if he knows how to parachute. When Calib says no Jake gets quite upset, saying he thought he could because of his movie "Vertical Persuasion", but Calib says it was all stuntpeople. Jake says that in his day actors would want to get a feel for the role and would have parachuted for research. He mutters again "I thought you knew how to parachute". Oh well, its time to learn he says, and points to a stream upahead.
What's that asks Jake, it looks like a girlscout in trouble, maybe drowning. Calib says he can't see anything, but seconds later if comes into view. A girl splashing around in the water. Jake just Calib out of the plane, telling him to pull the ripchord in 3 seconds.
Calib swears at Jake but manages to open his parachute, but misses his landing by a couple hundred yards.
Amazingly by the time he gets to the stream the girl is waiting for him, and starts to thrash around again. She wraps her arms around her saviour. A minute later Jake arrives having landed the plane, and is followed seconds later by the news helicopter which drops down to film the rescue.
From the woods comes the girls leader and mother, and the rest of the pack. Jake pats the back of Calib, rubs his hands together and says that's my boy.
The next scene we see Calib's wife Nikki Haller having a flirtatious dinner with a good looking actor.
After that we see a limo pull up to a TV studio and pick up talk show host Barry Nelson. After a short drive the limo pulls to the side and the seperating shield is lowered. We see it is Jake's brother J.P. driving. J.P. doesn't look happy about it but we get the story that J.P. is snitching information about the Church of Self, and Jake to Nelson who apparently is also working for the FBI. Barry asks about what Jake is doing with Calib Pace, and J.P. just shrugs and says "another asset for the Church".
Next we see an extravagant bedroom, all done up in billowing white linens and draperies. We also see Jake's wife Austin "on top" of a man we can't see. She is crying out "Romeo, Romeo".
Then we go to a press confrence where Calib appears in wet jeans (much wetter then they were from the shallow rescue). He and Jake were answering questions from the press. Jake, who apparently has rescued a hiker before that he saw from his plane, defers all the attention and accolades for this rescue to his eagle eyed pal Calib Pace.
Back at his apartment he starts to tell Nikki all about it. But she cuts him off, saying she doesn't want to hear about his saving other lifes when their own child is dead. He explodes with anger throwing a bottle of booze at the bedroom wall, and leaves.
After he leaves Nikki opens the closet door and out steps the young actor in only his briefs. He seems to not care about what happens and tries to tackle her back into bed, but she says he should leave.
Calib arrives at the Church of Self and is introduced to the leader of the Church, Romeo Dansante (Carlo Rota), and another member of the church executive Mia Chan (Suyun Kim). After some small talk and everyone telling Calib how great he is, and how great the Church is, Romeo suggests that Calib relax and says Mia will give him a great massage.
After some attempt to get out of it, Calib finds himself in a private room getting a rubdown from Mia. He finds out that it was her Father who came from China to teach Saul Parada the ways of the east that Jake then borrowed, and turned into the Church of Self. She says her father then tried to work with Jake, after Saul's death, but the two didn't get along so her father went back to China. His last words to her were to try and talk her into leaving too, saying Jake's Church of Self was a perversion of their family ways. Mia says he may have been right, but she stayed anyway, because quite frankly she loves the action of Hollywood. She says its a great honor to meet Calib and to rub him down. She then asks if he wants to turn over for the happy ending. His face contorts in surprise and fear.
The next scene we see Patti Propp arrive at the Church, messed up. Jake takes her upstairs to a bedroom where she asks if he has any coke. The next thing you know the two are rolling around half nude in the bed while listening to Tom Jones. We see Romeo standing outside the door listening and smiling to himself, and then he chooses just the right time to walk in on the two and feign surprise and indignation.
On his way out of the Church of Self mansion Calib hears nosies coming from a darkened room and decides to enter. He flicks a light on and see's it is a study, and see's J.P. rifling through pages. He looks guilty and apologetic, but Calib just apologizes for the intrusion and leaves.
Back at their apartment Calib is walking on eggshells. Until his wife Nikki says she has some good news for once. She has been cast in a mini-series that is fliming in Italy. It actually already began but one of the actresses got very sick and had to be replaced. She says its good money and will get her mind off of everything. At this point Calib just musters a smile and says that its good news.
Back at the Church of Self Jake asks Mia while massaging her neck if she got anywhere with Calib. She just smiles and says she got enough out of him. She then tells Jake that the Italian producer called and was able to make the switch. Nikki Haller should be on the next flight out to Venice.
Calib is watching TV in his bed, alone. Flipping the channels he see's the exclusive coverage on channel 4 of his daring rescue, and his phony interview afterward. He then flips a channel that says thanks to the resuce "Speed Kills Sometimes" has made a great rebound at the box office. It looks like it will finish the weekend in the top 2. Calib turns the channel again and finds the Barry Nelson show. They are mocking his rescue saying that they were also able to get exclusive footage. They show a long distance shot of a parachute descending, and then when the camera goes to a close shot they substitute "Rocky" and "Bullwinkle" in a trenchcoat trying to steer the parachute. Barry Nelson warns his viewers that nothing in Hollywood is as it seems when you look closer, but its usually quite a bit funnier.
1.03 - "There Will be Couch Jumping"
After spending the week hanging out at the Church of Self, since his wife left for Italy, Calib seems quite at home and friendly with everyone; especially Mia Chan.
Calib decides that he has to confront J.P. about rifling through his brother Jake's papers. J.P. hesitates before deciding to take a chance. He lies to Calib that he thinks his brother is being taken advantage of by Romeo Dasante. J.P. asserts that Romeo is not happy just being the figure-head leader. He tried to warn his brother but Jake trusts Romeo more then his own flesh and blood. This answer seems to satisfy Calib, who does not take a side, but also promises J.P. to keep it to himself for now.
Jake catches his wife Austin sleeping with Romeo. It looks like a set-up because Jake left in his BMW, only to park around the corner and sneak back into the Church mansion and up to the bedroom. Instead of looking surprised he pulled out a camera and took some pictures. But he has to leave quickly as he starts to laugh when his wife cries out "oh, Romeo, my Romeo".
Patti Propp tries to seduce Calib who turns her down flat. An effort witnessed by Mia, who then overhears Patti telling Jake that she was not successful.
Jake gets Calib booked for a return visit on the Barry Nelson show to talk about his meteoric like return to the top and the heroic incident that started it all. In a meeting before the show with Barry Nelson himself, Jake, and Calib, Jake suggests that Calib needs to be more dramatic, and needs to get the spotlight off the drowning and onto something else. He suggests that he announce that he and his wife are having another baby. Calib says its not true and seems quite upset, so even if he said that, then what? Jake says fly over to Italy on the weekend and make it happen. Calib seems flustered and says his marriage is falling apart so that is doubtful and besides he doesnt want to be a father again right now. Jake laughs and says women in Italy are always horny, she'll be quite willing. Calib seems to have had enough of Jake, but surprisingly Barry Nelson steps in and agrees with Jake. He tells Calib that he doesn't need to say she is pregnant, and Barry says he won't ask. That way if things fall apart they can both claim that what was meant was that she had agreed to start a family with him again; not that she was pregnant. Reluctantly Calib agrees because Jake presses him on his friendship and his help in resurrecting Calib's career.
On the show itself we see the unamed actor who had been having the affair with Calib's wife Nikki Haller. He obviously was the previous guest and is a nervous wreck when he sees Calib come out. The interview between Barry and Calib goes as planned at first. They talk about the fans support for his movie, and they talk about the rescue. Calib begins to tear up when talking about it all, he is so emotionally overwhelmed. Then Calib decides to launch the bomb as he see's Jake madly signalling from offstage. Barry leads in by asking about Calib's wife going to work in Italy.
Calib jumps up on the couch and says he has exciting news. He and his wife Nikki are going to have a child. Barry congratulates him, but the unamed actor blurts out "WHAT?". Calib and Barry are both surprised at his reaction. Then they look horrified when he asks "SHE'S PREGNANT?". Jake trips over a chord as he's madly signalling to cut it short, and he knocks over the main camera. All chaos is breaking out as Calib just mumbles, and so Barry signals to go to break.
After the show the unamed actor calls Nikki in Italy and tells her about what just happened. He asks her why she didn't tell him she was pregnant, and based on what she had told him he says it must be his baby. Is it? Nikki manages to totally evade the question by just saying that Calib doesn't know what he's talking about, and not to worry, everything's fine.
Jake and Calib are having a few drinks at the airport bar. Calib has a carry on bag. Last call for Venice, but Calib decides not to go. He and Jake have a good laugh at the SNAFU of the Barry Nelson show, and then Calib says "let's go home". Jake pays the bills, slaps him across the back rather harshly, and says "that's my boy."
1.04 - "Mohawks and Grapefruit slices"
J.P. meets Barry Nelson in a dark, deserted park and hands over a briefcase full of documents. In return Barry hands him a pay envelope. At first J.P. tries to refuse saying he's not doing it for the money. But Barry says that is the way the CIA does it, they need to pay the informants, he has to take it. J.P. stuffs the pay envelope in his pocket. As they both drive away we see a 3rd car with someone in it watching but can't make out who it is. J.P. notices the car though and sees the driver is taking pictures of him. He tries to confront the car but the driver puts down the camera and peels away fast.
Nikki calls her husband Calib from Italy to ask what the hell he was thinking about saying she was pregnant. He says it was just a publicity stunt. She asks if it was put on by Jake, and tells Calib he can't trust Jake or the Church of Self. Calib gets angry and defensive. After a long pause, Nikki says they never talked about children again, and asks Calib if he wants to have a family. Calib pauses before saying, he's not sure, but definetly not right now. He asks her about Italy, and she says the movie is going great and that she loves Italy. She invites him for a visit, but it seems half hearted, and he excuses himself saying he can't get away.
Calib and Mia are hanging out, and Calib is commenting on how he hasn't seen much of Jake lately. Mia says he's working on bringing in another celebrity to the fold. Lizzy Gunn, who went from backwoods Kentucky to being a pop superstar by the age of 18, and then crossed over to movies. But her personal life is a mess, and she's a tabloid's dream. Mia says its no wonder that Lizzy and Patti Propp found each other, they've been partying hard the last couple months.
Calib is woken from his sleep in one of the guest bedrooms in the Church of Self mansion. In fact everyone is woken up, as Jake escorts Lizzy and Patti into the mansion. All 3 are blitzed. Romeo and Mia do their best to settle the three down but finally they just pass out.
As Calib goes back to his room to sleep, he is joined by Mia. She says she gave up her room to Lizzy and Patti for the night and has no where to sleep. Calib invites her in.
Jake and Calib are having breakfast the next day when Jake passes Calib an envelope with pictures inside. Calib takes a look and begins to choke on a grapefruit segment, causing the help to come in and give him the heimlich manoveur while Jake quickly stuffs the pics back into the envelope.
That night Lizzy and Patti come back to the mansion more drunk and blitzed then the night before, but Jake is nowhere in site. Lizzy has cut her beautiful blonde hair into a mohawk, and Patti has picked up two dwarfs and brought them home from the bar. Soon the police arrive to arrest Lizzy and Patti for a battery of charges from their behaviour earlier in the night. They throw Lizzy and Patti in one cop car, and the dwarfs in the other. Jake arrives just in time to try and plead their case but late enough, and sober, so it doesn't look like he was involved.
J.P. pays a visit to Calib as things are settling down. He says one of the cooks told him that some pictures that Jake showed Calib really freaked him out. He asks Calib what they were about, and if he had betrayed J.P. to Jake. Calib gets offended saying he kept his word, but now he's thinking that was a mistake, because obviously there is more to this then just rummaging through some papers. When Calib tries to end it and walk away, J.P. grabs him by the arm, and the two then exchange pushes, then punches. J.P. waffles Calib with a left cross and knocks him through a glass coffee table. We see blood pooling on the floor.
J.P. cries out calling for help, as Mia enters and screams.
1.05 - "Bedside Manor"
Calib is in the hospital and Mia is at his side, talking to him, keeping him awake. The doctor says the cuts on his back were minor, it was the concussion they are most worried about. Jake comes to visit bringing flowers, and news that he has fired his brother J.P., calling this the last straw. Calib doesn't seem to happy about anyything other then having Mia at his side.
Jake meets with Patti about how its going recruiting Lizzy. Patti though does an abrupt about face saying that Jake shouldn't recruit Lizzy. Patti says she's too much of a burnout, and there is only room in the family for one troubled young diva, so its either Lizzy or Patti. Jake says no problem, he always dances with the broad he brought to the ball, and says Lizzy is no longer to be pursued. Patti though then turns around and says she's still going to party with Lizzy, her new best friend, because they have so much fun together. Jake just shakes his head when she leaves, and mutters "broads".
Jake and Romeo are watching TV when a story comes on TMZ about Lizzy and Patti, and then about Calib's accident. The reporter then goes on to say that they have been investigating the Church of Self and its time to blow the lid off. He throws out refrences to the tax code and how the Church is evading taxes, gives out details of bank accounts in small Carribean islands for that purpose, gives names of two drug dealers who regularly frequent the Church to provide for the members, and then even speculates that Jake Traverse had Mia's father killed to avoid a lawsuit. They also throw out that Romeo Dansante is gay, and may be having affairs with several male members. This throws Romeo into a fit, saying that is the only thing that wasn't true!
Jake is livid saying they have a traitor in their midst. Romeo says it has to be J.P. but surprisingly Jake says no, he thinks its someone else. Then he cryptically adds to Romeo, that he for one knows that Romeo isn't gay.
J.P. storms in on Barry Nelson at his studio, threatening him, wondering how the documents he gave the FBI got leaked to TMZ, and doubting that Nelson is FBI at all. J.P. says he called the FBI and they have never heard of him. Barry of course says this is exactly what they are supposed to say.
Nikki arrives at the hospital, having been called by Jake, thinking Calib had a cracked skull. She seems happy though that Calib is doing all right, and doesn't pick up on the vibe between Mia and Calib. When they are alone Nikki slips into the hospital bed with Calib and asks if they should do a dry-run on that baby thing. Calib agrees and they get busy under the covers as Mia paces the hallway.
Patti comes to see Jake at the Church mansion, and he asks her why she leaked the information to TMZ. Was it malicious or was she just stoned and drunk? Patti assures Jake it wasn't her. Jake seems convinced and when pressed for proof or a motive Jake says Patti's drugs and drinking are way out of control and she probably needed the money. The oldest, or maybe second oldest, reason in the book. Patti still denies it, so Jake tells her to check into one of the usual detox clinics to disappear for awhile. Patti seems hurt but agrees to do it.
Calib returns to the mansion, the concussion symptons gone. He has a late night stroll with Calib and fills him in on Patti's treason. Calib says he's not so sure it was Patti, but won't go further then that to defend her. Calib wonders out loud if Romeo is happy playing second fiddle. This seems to take Jake off guard saying that Romeo is the most loyal s.o.b. there is. Calib is flustered and wonders how Jake can say that after showing him pictures of Romeo sleeping with his wife Austin. Jake laughs heartedly at this, slapping Calib on the back. He says he showed him those pics because he thought he would get a kick out of them. Son, when you have a body like Austin, the booty that her momma gave her, and the rest provided by modern medicine, you do not hide that light in a bushell. You let it shine son, you let it shine. Calib incredulous asks Jake if that means he isn't mad about it, and Jake says of course not; they have an open relationship. Oh, and by the way he adds, she kind of likes you too, so if you feel like taking her out for a test drive its okay by me. Calib is stunned.
1.06 - "Strange Bedfellows"
guest star: Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson
Calib goes to see Nikki at their old apartment. He tries to get with her again but she turns him down saying that in the hospital may have been a mistake. She was feeling sorry for him, and now its time for her to go back to Italy. He loses his temper with this and storms away.
Reports on television that Patti Propp checked herself out of rehab after just 4 days, and has not been seen since. The reporters ambush Jake who looks uncharacteristically like a deer in the headlights and says he hasn't heard from her and doesn't know where she is. He recovers his composure long enough to urge her, if listening, to return to rehab.
J.P. is shown outside Barry Nelson's studio, in a rental car, putting on drivers gloves, and sunglasses, and cocking his gun. He mutters to himself that he's going to kill that s.o.b. for getting him fired and kicked out of the Church of Self.
Jake pays a bedroom visit to his wife Austin but she rebuffs him, and after being pressed for a reason she says she's angry with Jake for having sex with that little scrag Patti Propp. Jake doesn't even bother to fight with her, and tells her that maybe she should go pay a visit to Calib instead. In a flash of anger she says she might just do that, and leaves the bedroom in her nighty.
She passes Romeo in the hall and when he tries to lure her to his office she denies him, and continues on to the room where Calib is sleeping. She tries to seduce him but he rejects her and she storms off.
J.P. follows Barry Nelson's limo home, then hops the gate of his mansion and enters the grounds.
Nikki says goodbye to her actor lover at the airport and tells him that this will be the last time they see each other. He is stunned, and asks why? She says she thinks she might have feelings for Calib still. He inquires about the baby, and she assures him that she is not having his baby. He calls her a tramp and walks away. She boards the plane for Venice.
J.P. enters Barry's bedroom and fires the gun into his bed. He hears a popping sound and pulls back the covers to reveal not Barry but a blowup doll. However, Barry does enter the bedroom eating a sandwich and with a glass of milk, and lets out a couple of expletives. J.P. levels the gun but Barry throws the glass of milk at him causing him to miss. J.P. then chases Barry through the mansion in a comical chase of the inept trying to catch the clumsy. Finally J.P. gets knocked over by a swinging door and Barry is able to grab the gun.
Austin returns to her bedroom and tells Jake that Calib was fabulous. Jake seems surprised but pleased.
Calib can't sleep after the disturbing visit and is joined by Mia in a walk along the grounds. They talk about her father's mystical beliefs, her ability to heal with touch, and his loss of his son and mother. She says that he is a good man, and her father would have approved. With that they find themselves in an embrace on the ground.
J.P. and Barry are sitting down on Barry's couch having milk and sandwiches and watching TV having a good laugh about the Church of Self and Jake. Barry says he's still mad about the blowup doll and tells J.P. he better order him a new one on-line. They watch the entertainment news as Lizzy Gunn comes on and is talking about how she thinks that Jake Traverse and the church of self have probably kidnapped Patti Propp and are keeping her in the sex dungeons in the basement. J.P. and Barry both know she is just crazy. But next on is "Rocky Stone" the #1 action box office star in Hollywood (guest star: Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson). Stone says that Calib was always #2 after him in the box office, which is appropriate because his movies stink like #2. He goes on to disparge "Speed Kills Sometimes" and asks how a man could make a movie like that considering his son and mother died getting hit by a speeding car. He then goes on to talk about Jake and the Church of Self being a bunch of Hollywood garbage.
The FBI shows up hammering at the door of the Church of Self. Jake is summoned in his bathrobes and handed a search warrant. Jake assures the officer in charge that Patti Propp is not in his sex dungeons in the basement. The officer just laughs at Jake and says thats the least of your worries buddy, read the warrant.
1.07 - "Damage Control"
guest: Nancy Grace
The FBI search the premises and take away documents. The Church, Jake, and Romeo are being investigated for tax evasion. Calib, Jake, and Romeo speculate on who is out to get them.
The next night they are all having dinner when the news breaks. Patti Propp was spotted over in Japan holding up a Sushi bar along with 2 Japanese men. The men make Patti remove her mask, so there is some question as to whether she is willingly part of this caper or a hostage. Security camera footage is played over and over again on the entertainment news channels.
Jake pleads with Calib to go on the Nancy Grace show to do damage control.
J.P. and Barry Nelson pay a surprise visit to Calib in a restaurant urinal. They warn him about Jake and the FBI and that he may get dragged into it. Calib though won't listen to them.
Calib goes on the Nancy Grace show (via sattelite) although he knows she hates him. True to form she twists everything he says, and has on other panel guests to try and make him look dumb. Calib tries to deflect criticism by turning his venom toward "Rocky Stone" but Nancy will have none of it. Finally he calls her a biatch and storms away.
Jake arranges for Romeo to take a plane over to Japan and to help Patti if and when she is found. But before take off the plane is stopped and Romeo is arrested for trying to leave the jurisdiction while under investigation. We see the Governor's hummer cruising by, apparently he is the one behind this investigation.
The unnamed actor who was having an affair with Nikki goes to pay a visit to Calib to tell him about the affair. He follows Calib and Mia as they go to a popular nightclub. He sees them being quite amorous so he takes some pictures.
Jake visits Romeo in jail, through the glass partition. Romeo looks horrible and has a black eye and stiches in his head. He is going crazy and starts to say things about the Church as Jake yells at him to shut-up or they'll all get time. Finally Jake is so upset he tries to climb over the partition to get to Romeo and the two have to be seperated by guards. Jake yells at Romeo as he is being hauled away, "and to think I let you sleep with my wife".
Calib is confronted the next day at a lunch diner by the unnamed actor. He tells Calib about his affair with his wife, and the two trade punches before being seperated. The police arrive and arrest only Calib.
1.08 - "Planes Passing in the Night"
Calib is bailed out of prison by Jake who posts a substantial bond. Calib tries to resist saying he'd rather stay in jail, but Jake talks him out of it.
Patti Propp is still at large, having been linked to another robbery, this time of a jewelry store in Japan with the same two unidentified men. This time the evidence looks more and more like she is a willing participant, not a hostage.
Lizzy Gunn goes on an entertainment news show and buries her friend, saying this is typical behaviour for Patti, who obvioulsy has drug and mental illness issues. Lizzy also takes a few more shots at the Church of Self.
Calib goes on the Barry Nelson show again, this time to accept a challenge thrown out by Rocky Stone. Calib says that although he is a couple inches and 90 lbs lighter they Rocky, he will fight him in an amateur rules boxing match for charity. Rocky has choosen MADD for his charity while Calib says his will be the Church of Self's outreach program in the Phillipines. Off camera Barry Nelson tries to warn Calib again to back away from Jake and the Church, but this time Calib is not diplomatic in his response and says this will be the last time he goes on his show.
Nikki has an argument with the director on her Italian show, and it escalated until he blurts out in anger the only reason he hired her was as a personal favor to Jake Traverse. She storms off the set, and after a bit of reflection tells the director she quits the show and is heading back to the US tonight to try and reconcile with Calib.
Barry talks to J.P. about his most recent attempt to talk sense into Calib with no luck. Barry then admits to J.P. formally that he was never working for the FBI but tells J.P. he never leaked the information to either the FBI or the tabloids, and doesn't know who did. Barry then goes on to say that its time now however, to get the FBI involved, and that J.P. should set up a meeting with them. Either that or he might be implicated when this whole mess comes down. J.P. says he agrees and will set something up but wants Barry in on the meeting.
Calib is having dinner with Jake, and Calib brings up the subject of Saul Parada's death. Jake gets annoyed and says Saul was overated and a terrible businessman. Not just that but he was a jerk, and the S.O.B. got exactly what was coming to him. Calib asks if that means it wasn't suicide, but Jake is done talking and moves on.
Calib makes a spur of the moment decision to go to Italy for a month. He says it will give him time to try and reconcile with his wife, as well as a chance to actually train for his boxing match with Rocky Stone. Jake gets fairly mad accusing Calib of trying to distance himself from the Church of Self, who got him back to where he is today, just because of the malicious raid by the FBI and what the drugged out Patti Propp is doing. Calib says he just wants to finalize the status of his marriage. Jake calms down and drives Calib to the airport.
When Jake returns to the Church mansion he finds a couple of FBI agents waiting for him. They arrest him for conspiracy, for his part in trying to help Romeo escape the country. Austin watches and breaks out in hysterical tears.
1.09 - "Blood is Thick Like Thieves"
J.P. is summoned to visit Jake in jail. Jake tells J.P. that he wants to put him in charge of the Church of Self while he is locked up. He tells J.P. he was wrong to have fired him, for taking Calib's side over his own brother. J.P. is skeptical but after some sweetening up by Jake he accepts.
Calib arrives on the set in Italy where he is told by the director that Nikki quit after a fight over her acting skills. Calib leaves in a huff.
The director calls J.P. and confimrs that Calib left and that he still has no idea that it was Jake's idea to get Nikki out of the country.
J.P. then calls the unnamed actor and tells him to meet Nikki at the airport. He does, but of course Nikki doesn't want to see him, until he shows her pictures of Calib being friendly with Mia. The actor solemnly tells Nikki that Calib and Mia are lovers. Nikki leaves in tears for a hotel, alone.
Patti Propp is arrested in Japan while trying to hold up commuters in a subway with her cohorts. Mia was dispatched by Jake to Japan after Romeo was arrested. But when Mia tries to see Patti she refuses to see her or anyone from the Church of Self.
As Calib arrives at his Italian hotel he sees a big demonstration there against the Church of Self. They call it a cult, and say its not welcome here. They throw soft produce at Calib who flees to his room.
Barry Nelson is made to look like the fool as he waits with two FBI agents for J.P. who no-shows their set-up meeting.
Barry calls J.P. and finds out that he has taken the helm of the Church of Self, and threatens Barry that harm will happen to him if he turns on the Church.
Calib is working out in his room, preparing for his boxing match with Rocky Stone. He flashes back to his son, and his mother, and the day she was driving him to soccer, only to get hit by a speeding car. He flashes from happy days with his wife and child, to being told by the doctors that his son has died. He has stopped working out and is sobbing. He calls Nikki's cell phone.
Back in Los Angeles we see Nikki getting drunk alone in her hotel room, also remembering her son. She see's who is calling and pushes the ignore button.
Austin comes to visit J.P. in his bedroom that night, trying to seduce him. She tells him that to the victors go the spoils. J.P. enjoys a light massage but when she goes for more he turns her down flat. He tells her that he is not going to owe Jake anything or give him any leverage.
In the middle of the night there are still protesters camped out front of the Italian hotel, so Calib leaves by the fire escape. As he walks down the back alley though he is attacked by two thugs. It's no random act as they call him by name, and as they beat him down they say this is a message top go back to America where he belongs.
1.10 - "3 Rounds with Hell"
guest stars: Dwayne Johnson & Jesse Ventura
Calib returns to LA in the middle of the night, battered and bruised. Surprisingly there to meet him is Adrian, the Govenor (guest star Jesse Ventura). Calib assumes he is there to lecture him about the Church and Jake, but Adrian just shrugs that off, saying Calib is his own man. He's just here because he knew no one else would be, and he heard what happened over in Italy and figured he could use a friend. Adrian drives Calib to the Church of Self and offers to postpone the exhibition boxing match between Calib and Rocky Stone, as he is the guest referee. Calib though surprises him and says he wants to go through with it, and the Govenor obviously respects his guts.
Austin is shown visiting a high priced divorce lawyer, talking about hypotheticals in divorcing Jake. She promises him she'll think it over.
Barry Nelson wakes up in the morning and finds the bloodied head of a horse with him, and screams.
J.P. has breakfast with an obviously hung over Lizzy Gunn, and tries to get her to soften her stance against the Church. He says his brother was wrong to shun her in favor of that crack addict Patti Propp, but now that he is in charge he can change all that. Lizzy says she doesn't think he will be in charge long, Jake will get out and discard him. She stands up and rubs his shoulder, saying but if things become permanent to give her a call.
Inside prison Romeo is approached by the FBI about informing against Jake and the Church. Romeo listens intently before telling the agent to go to hell.
The night of the big exhibition boxing match between the two biggest action stars in Hollywood, Rocky Stone and Calib Pace, with special referee the Governor of California, Adrian Allantis. No one from the Church is there to watch which Adrian points out to Calib, and again offers him the chance to postpone. In the ring Rocky mostly just dances and plays with Calib in the first round. Between rounds Adrian comes over with a message from Rocky, offering to stop the fight or have Calib go down on a punch. Rocky says he can see that Calib's orbital bone and ribcage are vulnerable. Calib says the doctor cleared him to fight, so he wants to fight. Round two and Rocky pours on the punches. mostly landing on the shoulders and arms of Calib, so that between rounds Calib can't even lift his arms from his side. Round 3 and Rocky clinches with Calib to make the plea personally just to go down. Calib responds with an obvious low blow in the clinch, nailing Rocky in the crotch. Adrian calls for the bell and disqualifies Calib. Afterward Rocky tries to get to Calib who leaves, but not before the Governor says he was wrong to have felt some kindred feelings for Calib, and calls him scum.
Nikki has the boxing match on TV in the background of her hotel room, but she is ignoring it as she finishes off a bottle of gin, and then downs a bottle of pills. She says to herself, through her tears, that she won't feel any more pain. But as she slumps to the ground she see's Calib on TV being boo'd, chastised by the Govenor, and looking like a lost little boy. She whispers "oh Calib my love what have I done". She reaches into her purse, and fumbles her cell phone, managing to hit #1 on her speedial.
As Calib prepares to leave the arena by himself Mia arrives in a rush, having just flown back from Tokoyo. They share their recent experiences in the dressing room, and then have a moment, that looks like it will get intimate. However, Calib stops her, becaue he's hurting too much, inside and outside, to do this right now.
Calib's cell phone rings. He see's it Nikki and almost hits ignore, but decides to answer it. He listens to Nikki tell him about her suicide attempt, and how sorry she is, she wants to see him again. He gets her address and since Mia has a rental car outside they go racing off together to the hotel, while Calib calls 9-1-1.
1.11 - Visitors
J.P. visits Jake in prison. He convinces his brother that it was Romeo, through Barry Nelson, that leaked all the information to the FBI, and that it was one or both of them that also sold it to the tabloids. Jake thanks J.P. for stepping in for him and doing a great job with the direction of the Church. He apologizes again for having kicked him out. J.P. seems flattered, but then Jake asks him to take a more cautious approach, reminding him that its just temporary and that he'll be back in charge. J.P. then tells Jake that Austin is going to be filling for divorce. After a reflective pause, Jake looks at his feet when he says he already knows, and not to worry that its for the best. He then quietly thanks J.P. for not sleeping with his wife, saying that meant something to him.
Calib and Mia are waiting at the hospital for word on the condition of Nikki. Calib wants to talk about their own relationship, but Mia says now is not the time. Just consider her a friend right now. Calib tearfully says he could use one.
Jake meets with a jailhouse fixer, and arranges to pay him off to have Romeo killed.
Barry Nelson has Lizzy Gunn on his show. He loads her up with questions about the Church of Self and Patti Propp, but rather then demonize them she offers a more balanced response. She says that Patti obviously has issues, but that the Church can't be held responsible for her actions and that she does not reflect the actions of anyone other then herself. Barry tries again, bringing up her earlier comments about the Church, but Lizzy says she was partly misquoted, and partly taken out of context. She says she doesn't want to belong to the Church but doesn't have any kind of vendetta against them.
The unnamed actor shows up at the hospital. Calib doesn't understand why he is there, so the actor has to tell him that he was a fried of his wife. But Calib continues to question him and figures out they were lovers. He tells the man to leave the hospital and he'll tell his WIFE to call him when she feels up to it. He agrees to leave rather then make a scene.
Jake is shown being taken out of prison. His lawyers managed to get him paroled with house arrest. He has a smile on his face like a cat that just ate a mouse.
In another prison a rough looking inmate is shown carrying a shank, as Romeo loads up a dinner plate with grub.
The doctor finally comes out to tell Calib he has some bad news. Calib asks how Nikki is, and the doctor says she is fine. Some minor permanent damge to her heart, and hard to know yet if there is any brain damage, but mostly she is fine, and should be awake in a few hours. Calib is elated, but then asks what he meant by bad news? The doctor looks at him strangely and says, we couldn't save the baby, your wife had a miscarriage.
Calib and Mia look on in shock.
To be continued after Christmas.