The Honor Roll: Episode 8. Surprises

   A day has went by since the IEP meeting, resulting in Maura's Suspension, as Thomas sits inside his office, as Dwight walks inside, and Thomas asks him with a smile "Notice that nice vibe?" Dwight asks "You mean Maura being off on Suspension?" Thomas responds in a tone of relief "A long time coming, and I can't begin to express my joy." Dwight asks Thomas "Have you met Missy Gardner yet?" Thomas goes "Snitchy Missy? Maura's Daughter?" Dwight tells Thomas "She's taken over Anna's classroom. Just spoke to her and she apparently has not much use to her Mom." Thomas shakes his head, as he sighs with disgust "I can't stand her." Dwight asks "Why do you call her Snitchy Missy?" Thomas goes "We were classmates, and she'd walk around and brag on her Mom, and anything I did, she'd run to Mommy. How do we know she won't do that here?" Dwight assures Thomas "She's grown now, and the staff likes her, except a few." Thomas asks "Which few?" Dwight goes "Didi Nikos and Mrs.Pat. And you know what happens when you knock on Pat's car window before the bell rings, and she is..." Thomas sighs "Double trouble."
   In Pat's classroom, she sits as she does her roll call, and tells her students "Test day today, and you children know what that means if you do well." Pat pulls out a jar with money, and responds "The highest grades goes to the drink machine and the vending machine." The kids get to work, as Judy looks over at Pat, as Pat motions her over, and tells her "Maura's Daughter interrupted me this morning." Judy asks Pat "Are you nervous about her?" Pat looks at the door, and goes "While the class is doing their tests, I think I may.." Judy tells Pat "Wait until lunch, Missy has lunch duty today." Pat yells "Praise the lord!" A student looks at his teacher, as Pat smiles "You children are so well behaved. I just want to praise!" In Missy's classroom meanwhile, Missy walks around the classroom, and tells her students "I am Ms.Gardner, I have replaced your former teacher, and this is my room, and you will do as I say or there's a room waiting in ISS." One student looks at another, as they go "What happened to Mrs.Waters?" Missy asks "Want to share with the class?" The students shake their heads, as Missy points to the board, and goes "Remember these rules, and we'll do just fine."
    Meanwhile away from Waters Elementary, at Bill's Trailer, Bill is outside with Peanut, as he tells his chihuahua "Mary ran me off early today. Sorry boy." Peanut looks across the road, as he barks, as a Mercedes pulls into Thomas' driveway, and Bill tells Peanut "Who in the hell is that?" Bill and Peanut get inside his truck, as they drive across the road, and Bill stops, as someone gets out of the Mercedes, and walks around for a moment, as Bill opens the door, and yells at Peanut "Bite that..." Thomas' Mother, and Bill's Ex-Wife, Eliza turns, as she looks at Peanut, and looks at her Ex-Husband, as she asks Bill "Are you the neighborhood watch for Thomas?" Bill asks Eliza "What in the hell are you doing here?" Eliza tells Bill "I came to check on my baby. He must be at work, I'll go see him. I got word about some issues the other day at the school." Bill asks his Ex-Wife, noticing boxes "What's with them boxes Eliza?" Eliza is quiet, as she tells Bill "I have some things for our Son. I'll head down to surprise him and my friends, and yes Bill, Mary was the first person I called when I landed in Atlanta. Now care to unlock Thomas' door, and help me carry these things inside?" Bill yells "Hell no. I don't invade our Son's privacy!" Eliza asks "Then will you be kind enough to watch my belongings for me?" Bill snaps "Here's the damn house key Eliza!" Eliza snarks "No Bill, you are a man, and you need some things to do, carry those things inside, and I'm heading to see my baby." Eliza gets in her Mercedes and drives off, as Bill fumes "I never thought I'd see her again." As Bill carries Eliza's belongings inside, and tells Peanut "The bitch that ran off with Pedro Serrato, and looks like she's moving in." Bill looks at the tag on Eliza's suitcase, as it reads "Eliza Sullivan, and Bill laughs "I was right. He kicked her to the curb. Knew it would happen."
    Meanwhile at Waters Elementary, Thomas stands outside Missy's classroom, as she teaches, and Alice walks down the hall, and assures Thomas "Don't worry about her Thomas. She's not close to her Mom. I talked to her this morning. She's smart." Thomas rolls his eyes, and asks "So she's under your spell too Mrs.Gore?" Alice sighs "Thomas, she got four calls from Maura and each time she pushed the ignore button on her phone." Thomas goes "She may just be playing games, she was snitchy back years ago." Alice sighs "I have to return to class, and just because she may be Maura's Daughter, doesn't mean she takes after her." As Missy yells at one student, Alice sighs "It will be a waiting game." In the library, Didi tells a story to Alice's students, as Dwight walks inside, and quips "I thought it was story time, not Albania dreaming Ms.Nikos." Didi responds "World history is important." Dwight nods, as Alice gets her students, and takes them back to class, as Didi looks at Dwight, and asks "So what's with the new bitch in here?" Dwight asks Didi "You don't even know her?" Didi snaps "Nobody interrupts me when I'm listening to the national anthem!" Dwight responds "You must love the Star Spangled Banner? Didi yells "The Albanian national anthem Mr.Waltrip!" And she asked me about Mr.Duncan, and she's nosy." Dwight rolls his eyes, as he tells Didi "Try to get along with her." Didi walks into her office, as she says something in Albanian, and Dwight yells "I understand that." Didi yells "Damn!" Meanwhile outside, Eliza has arrived, and looks around as she opens the door, and yells "Dwight Waltrip?" Dwight turns, as he sees Eliza, and welcomes her, and asks "When did you arrive?" Eliza responds "This morning, and where's the new Principal?" Dwight walks Eliza to the office, as she looks around, and Eliza goes "Where's Thomas?" Dwight responds "He's somewhere in this school." Mary walks inside, as Eliza yells "Mary!" Mary and Eliza hug, as Mary laughs "I haven't told Thomas you were coming, and I ran Bill off. He lives here." Eliza laughs "You're not missing anything Mary. I seen his trailer. And remember I was married to him, and he seen me when I pulled up at Thomas' farm." Eliza meanwhile asks Dwight "Would it be alright if I look around and check things out?" Dwight tells Eliza "Feel free to do so. Maybe you'll run into Thomas." Eliza warns Dwight and Mary "Don't tell him I'm here, I'm surprising him." They agree, as Eliza walks out, as lunchtime approaches.
    It's lunchtime at Waters Elementary, and as Missy, Mrs.Judy, and Ms.Winnie monitors the students, Thomas walks inside, as he looks at Missy, and Missy rolls her eyes as she goes with a disdain in her voice "Thomas James Duncan." Thomas goes "Snitchy Missy Gardner. Watching out for Mommy while she's suspended from her job?" Missy looks at Judy, and Winnie, as Thomas and Missy walks out into the hall, and into Thomas' office, as Thomas notices Mary and Dwight's absence, and takes Missy into his office, and points to the chair at his desk, as he tells her "Ok Missy, we have to discuss some things." Missy sighs "Look, I left that school. Mommy dearest got me a job there, and I hated it. When I heard of the opening here, I was hired on the spot." Thomas asks "Spying for your Mommy? You snitched on me often when we were in school?" Missy yells "Mother made me do it Thomas! I didn't want to. But she and that bitch she goes to visit in Milledgeville..." Thomas notices the anger in Missy's eyes, as he goes "You don't like your Mother do you?" Missy sighs "No, I don't. I never forgave her for cheating on my Daddy with that weird ass Director of Special Ed." Thomas looks at Missy, and goes "I wish my Mom was closer myself, I miss her." Missy goes "Mrs.Duncan. Where is she these days?" Thomas goes "Divorced Dad after I made it out of The Graveyard alive, and then married her "first love". Missy responds "Sounds like we have some things in common." Thomas responds "No we don't. My Mother's normal, and yours is nuts." Missy responds "I need to return to the lunchroom Thomas." Thomas is quiet, as Missy walks out, and follows, as Missy looks at her phone, as she texts her Mother, and Thomas snides "Mommy's little snitch." Missy responds back "I just told her to screw off!" Missy walks away, as she mumbles under her breath "Asshole." Thomas returns to his office, as he responds "Bitch."
    Meanwhile in the media center, Alice, Pat, Effie, Dwight, Mary, sits inside, as Eliza quips "If only I could find my Son, this would be perfect." Didi walks inside, as she asks "Another meeting?" Pat tells Didi "Meet the Principal's Mother, Eliza Serrato." Eliza whispers "Sullivan." Didi looks at Eliza, as Eliza looks at Didi, and tells her "I used to run the media center years ago." Didi asks "Have you seen Principal Duncan today?" Eliza shakes her head, as Alice sighs "He's watching Missy Gardner like a hawk. He's not crazy about Maura Carson's Daughter working here." Eliza looks at Alice, and goes "Maura's Daughter works here now?" Everyone nods, and Eliza asks "Is Maura still with "Snowball"?" Pat quips "She's in Millegeville now. She came into work naked, and well.." Eliza changes subjects, as she asks "So how has Maura been treating Thomas since he's returned here?" Alice, Pat, Dwight, Mary, and Effie look at each other, as they fill Eliza in on things, and Eliza's eyes grow red, and reminds everyone "You all know I hate that bitch?" Everyone's stunned, as Effie goes "I thought you liked her?" Eliza laughs "I didn't like the way she treated my Son, and I am staying in town. Pedro and I divorced, and I'm now very well off." Mary goes "You didn't tell me you divorced Pedro?" Eliza responds "He had an affair with a 20 year old. And I took half his fortune, so I'm now set for life." Mary asks "And how much exactly did you get, and does Bill know or Thomas?" Eliza quickly responds "I am a millionaire, and Thomas doesn't know yet, and I imagine Bill done put the pieces together, but I have to go now." Alice and Pat both ask Eliza "And where are you going Eliza? You look like you're about to do something." Eliza smiles, and goes "Just ride around, and remember don't tell my baby I'm here, but I'll see him at home." Eliza walks out, as Alice looks around, as Dwight asks "If I remember correctly didn't she have some fights with Maura after Thomas was sent to the Bankhead School?" Effie looks at her clock, as she sighs "I have to get my class rounded up!" Effie walks out, as she tells everyone "Eliza's gotten ornery." Mary looks at Dwight, Alice, and Pat, as she asks "Does she know where Maura lives?" All of them have a look of dread, as Didi watches on, and Pat looks towards Didi, and tells her "Now remember if you are to see Thomas, not to tell him a word." Didi tells them "I can keep a secret." Didi walks into her office, as everyone else heads out.
    As the day ends at Waters Elementary, Thomas finishes reading some files, as Alice walks inside, and tells Thomas "So I heard you and Missy had a discussion earlier?" Thomas responds "Something's off with her." Alice assures Thomas "I think you need to let your guard down on her Thomas. Just because she's Maura's Daughter doesn't mean she takes after her." Thomas sighs "If you say so." Alice has a thought, and goes "And Missy and Pat's outside as the kids get on the buses. I need to head out there to monitor those two. Judy's done told me Pat isn't happy with her, and you know what happens when she hasn't had a cigarette." Alice rushes out, as Dwight walks inside, and tells Thomas "You can head on home, I'll lock the doors." Thomas asks Dwight "Why the rush?" Dwight tells him "You're working too hard, and go home. Take a stroll on the creek bank." Thomas looks at Dwight, and goes "I think I'll do that." Thomas gets his coat, as he leaves. Outside the school, Missy looks at Pat, as the buses pull out, and Bill leads, as he flies out of the school lot "You know Mrs.Pat, you are a bad influence on your students smoking." Pat, sitting on the bench out front, looks at Missy, as Alice walks out, and Pat pulls out her pouch, and lights a cigarette, and looks at Missy, as she takes a drag, and snarks "Don't become a miserable bitch like your Mama." Alice yells in shock "Pat!" Pat also tells Missy, as she walks to her car "And it's Mrs.Barker to you Missy." Alice looks at Missy, as Missy responds "I think it's disgusting." Alice sighs "You need to head down to Ms.Winnie and tell her the same thing. But warning, she won't be as nice as Pat was to you just now." Alice runs towards Pat, as she gripes to Alice "That child will get the paddle from me. I wanted to give it to her years ago, and I'll do it now if she tries to act like her Mama." Alice tells Pat "Let it go. She's not Maura, but very opinionated." Pat takes a drag, as she gets into her car, and smiles "And I'm at the age I can play games with her." Pat drives off, as Alice rolls her eyes. As for Maura, she sits inside her Apartment in Downtown Caswellton, as she pulls a frozen pizza out of the oven, as her doorbell rings, and Maura yells "Melissa!" Maura answers the door in shock, as Eliza stands on the other side, and slaps Maura in the face, and goes "That's for the years you and Snowball took from my Son." As Maura's in shock, Eliza slaps Maura again, and goes with a smile "And that's from me, and the way you treated my Son the other day, and I'm damn glad you got what was coming to you. Tell Snowball I said to have fun in the nuthouse making snowflakes." Eliza walks away, as Maura shakes her head in disbelief, and says to herself "I hope she doesn't move back." Eliza, in her Mercedes, heads to Thomas' farm.
    At Thomas' Farm, Thomas returns home, as he notices his door unlocked, and pulls a pistol out of a desk in the foyer, as he sees boxes, and suitcases, and looks at them, as he goes "Mama?" Thomas walks around his living room, as Bill returns, and tells his Son "So you know don't you?" Thomas, dumbfounded goes "Know what Dad?" Bill tells his Son "Eliza arrived here this morning, and I think karma got her ass." Thomas looks at his Father, and tells him "I don't want to hear it Dad." Bill notices a briefcase in one of the boxes, as he tells Thomas "Looks like money could be in there. Open it." Thomas yells "No! And I don't know what's going on. I would still be at home if Dwight hadn't...." Thomas is silent, as he tells his Father "The staff was very mysterious today." Bill snarls "Mary ran me off." Thomas sighs "I bet she came to visit, and I was too busy watching Maura's spawn." Bill goes "Snitchy Missy? She gave me hell at the bus line and I told her she looked like her Mama and she got pissed." Thomas sighs "Maybe Alice is right." Bill changes subjects, as he looks at Eliza's briefcase, and tells Thomas "Open it. I bet it's money, and if so, I want half of it for alimony." Thomas hears a car pull into his driveway, and tells his Father "Dad, if that's who I think it is, you need to go home." Bill yells "I'm staying here. Peanut's watching cartoons." The door opens, as Eliza walks in, and Thomas goes "Mama?" Eliza opens her arms, as Thomas and his Mother hug, and Thomas asks his Mother "What's with the boxes, suitcases, and briefcase." Eliza looks at Bill, as she glares at him, and tells her Son "Pedro and I divorced. I'm a millionaire. I came to see you today, got caught up on Maura, paid her a visit and slapped her a few times, and now I'm here." Bill asks "So any money for me?" Eliza responds boldly "No!" Bill goes "Karma's a bitch." Eliza sarcastically responds "At least you learned some different words when you had me as a Wife, now go feed the fat dog." Bill walks out, as he yells "I hope you're moving to Atlanta!" Eliza yells back "No Bill, I'm staying here." Thomas looks at his Mother, as Eliza asks "How are you baby? How have you been holding up?" Thomas sighs "It's so hard Mama." Eliza looks at a picture of her Daughter In Law, and Grandson, and looks at Thomas, as he gets emotional, and hugs him, and tells him in a motherly tone "I'm going nowhere, and you're ok Thomas. You are a Duncan, and a Sullivan, and we'll get through this together sweetie, and I'll cook dinner and catch you up on everything." Eliza holds her Son in her arms, as they haven't seen each other since Valerie and T.J.'s death.