Scene 1 CW General Hospital

Joe and John are at the hospital checking up on Donovan and Ritchie. Although Donovan is doing well and wants to get out of the hospital, Ritchie is still in I.C.U. and will remain there for some time. As Joe and John talk with Donovan, Joe's cell phone can be heard ringing. Joe steps away from the two men and goes into the hall.

Joe: Hello.. (voice can faintly be heard on the phone) Take five and a half and make sure you give two points to the ole man and one and a half to our friend in Queens.

Joe hangs up and walks back into the room. John and Donovan are talking about the day he was shot. Donovan looks up at Joe.

Joe: Good news on that package from uncle Tom. It was a big present!

Donovan and John both smile as they all have a little chuckle. Donovan asks Joe to close the door so they can have some privacy. Joe walks over and closes the door.

Donovan: What's gonna be done about that thing that happened?

Joe: The Ole man gave you the green.

John: We can take care of this one if ya want kid?

Donovan: (grabbing John's arm) I want him to know... I want him to know it was me..

John: It will be our pleasure!

Joe: You remember a guy by the name of O'Leary out of Boston?

John: Senior or Junior?

Joe: Junior

John: Yeah, but I heard he was doing 3 years for fraud over at CW State Pen?

Joe: Go up there and see him. Ask him for a favour. Tell him it's for me and that I will owe him for this. If he is in, he will make Pappalia go away for us.

Donovan: And if he doesn't?

Joe: He won't refuse me.

They all exchange hugs and Joe and John leave the room. They head towards the elevator and Joe turns to John.

Joe: You heard from Sonny yet?

John: (shakes his head no)

Joe: Something's not right. He called me over 3 days ago now and he still hasn't shown up. Last we heard, Pete was gone and he was on his way in.

John: You think..

Just then a nurse walks by and Joe puts up his hand to silence John. The nurse walks by and Joe turns to John.

Joe: I don't know, but I want your guys to hit the street. FIND HIM!

The scene fades out as the elevator doors shut.

Scene 2: Downtown Parking lot

The camera pans down to the parking lot and there in the lot are Jay and an associate by the name of Tony Leone. They are discussing business when Joe pulls up in his car. The two men walk towards Joe's car. Joe gets out and they greet each other.

Jay: Tony, this is my brother Joe. Joe, this is Tony, he is a friend of ours.

Joe: How you doing Tony.

Tony: Nice to meet you Joe. heard good things about you.

Jay: Tony heard some disturbing shit. Go ahead and tell him.

Tony: (With a concerned look) I was down at Slick Rick's over on Pleasant Ave last night. We got to talkin about Sonny and well.. Rick says he was positive he saw Sonny yesterday talkin with a couple guys he didn't recognize and one he did.

Joe: (Shrugs his shoulders and looks at Jay) And?

Tony: He says one of them is a cop.

Joe: So what? Sonny has lot's of cops in his pocket.

Jay: This ain't no cop Joe. He's a fed.

Joe: That doesn't mean anything. Maybe they tried to flip him and he freaked out. Maybe he is just laying low til the heat blows over.

Jay: Or maybe he flipped!

Tony: I'm sorry I had to be the messenger.

Jay: Three day's he's been missing now. Yet he was spotted yesterday and still no word?

Joe: Jay come on..

Jay: (Gets close to Joe) You find him. You bring him in. We NEED to know!

Jay and Tony get into Jays car and drive off. Joe pulls out his cell phone and calls Sonny's number again. This time he hears a voice on the other end.

Joe: (Hears a voice say hello) Sonny?

Sonny: Yeah, it's me. Don't talk on here.

Joe: Meet me downtown, You know where.

Joe hangs up and gets into his car and drives off. The camera fades out as his car disappears in the distance.

Scene 3: The city Zoo

Joe is standing by the grizzly bear exhibit. He is smoking a cigar and watching the bears. He is looking at his watch constantly as he grows impatient waiting for Sonny. He is about to leave when he hears a voice from behind him. It's Sonny but he instruct Joe not to turn around.

Joe: (Back to Sonny)  Where the fuck you been?

Sonny: I can't explain right now. You gotta trust me Joe. I know this looks bad, but you gotta trust me.

Joe: Understand? man, everyone thinks you flipped.

Sonny: I kinda figured that was gonna happen.

Joe: Just answer me one thing.. You really talking with the feds?

Sonny: (Long Pause) Yes, but it's not what you think. You're gonna have to trust me.

Joe: You're gonna have to do better than that. Jay wants you to come in.

There is a long pause and Joe gets a puzzled look over his face. He turns around and Sonny is gone. There is no trace of him. Joe looks all around but cannot see him anywhere. He pulls out his phone and begins to call Jay. The sound of Jay's voice saying hello can be heard as the camera fades out.

Scene 4: CW General Hospital

Donovan is finally out of the hospital and Ritchie has made a drastic improvement on his recovery. Donovan, Jay, Joe and John are all in visiting Ritchie. Ritchie is awake and talking. The nurse is finishing up the last of some daily tests. Ritchie is back to his old self grabbing the nurses ass as she adjusts his IV. 

Nurse: Now, now Mr.. Degrazzio, you need your rest.

Ritchie: I'll get all the rest I need when I'm dead hun.

Joe: Yeah, well that almost happened kid.

John: Joe's right kid, you and Donnie are both lucky. Somebody upstairs is looking out for you two.

Nurse: Gentlemen, please try to keep the visit short. (She leaves the room)

Ritchie: How's my Uncle, has anyone been to see him?

John: Your Uncle's fine, says he will be in to see ya tomorrow.

Jay: (Puts his hand on Ritchie's arm) We're gonna take care of this when you are back on your feet.

Ritchie: I know you will skip.

Jay: Joe, can I talk to you a minute?

Jay puts his hand on Joe's shoulder and walks him out into the hall. They walk down the hall and step into a vacant room and close the door.

Joe: I know what you are gonna say but save it. I think there is more to it.

Jay: Ok, so in the meantime, we just let him go about his business? He has obligations to the family and if he is talking to the feds, how is that gonna make us look to the rest of the family if I sit by and let it continue?

Joe: How long we known Sonny? 20? 30 years?

Jay: Need I remind you of the oath you took?

Joe: Remind me? Don't insult me.

Jay: I gave you one simple task, and you couldn't even do that?

Joe: What the fuck you want from me? Would you rather I had shot him in front of everyone? And for what? We don't even know what the hell is going on?

Jay: This shit with Totino and Brady and now this.. sometimes I really have to ask myself why The Ole Man left me in charge of his headaches.

Joe: (Puts his hand on his brothers shoulder) He knew you could do it, that's why.

Jay: (Looks up at Joe) 24 hrs, you got 24 hrs to bring him in to explain himself. After that, John takes care of it Capische'?

Joe: (Looks at Jay reluctantly) Capische!

The scene fades out as they walk back to Ritchie's hospital room.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK..........