The Honor Roll: Episode 24. Face-Offs

    The next day begins in Caswellton, at Sullivan Hill, Eliza sits in her den, as she prepares to head to The Courthouse Inn, as she's on the phone, and gasps "What the.." Eliza continues to listen, as she writes down notes, and tells them "This is very beneficial. And I will make sure you get paid very nicely." Eliza hangs up, as there's a knock at the door, and Eliza answers, as it's Thomas, and Eliza asks her Son "Shouldn't you be at school baby?" Thomas sighs with disgust "Some things just don't change Mama. I'm calling out today." Eliza remembers her conversation with Bill the day before, and tells Thomas "I have some breakfast made, and I used my Aunt's recipe for her world famous pancakes. Help yourself. I have some things to do, but I'll be in town." Eliza leaves, as Thomas says to himself "All hell's about to break loose now." At Waters Elementary, Bill's in the Secretary's office, as Dwight tells him "Thomas called out today. He was angry about something, but wouldn't say what it was." Bill rolls his eyes, as Mary walks in the office, and goes "Well God still haven't answered my prayers yet. Bill give it up!" Bill asks Mary "Where's Missy?" Mary answers "I think she's in her classroom." Bill walks out, as Mary and Dwight both look at each other, as Mary asks Dwight "What's going on?" Dwight tells her "I think Thomas has feelings for Missy, and something must have happened. We won't know unless Thomas says something." In Missy's Classroom, Missy sits at her desk, as Maura tells her Daughter "Look Melissa. Jacob Cobain is perfect for you. Not Thomas. I don't want to be related to them." Missy snaps "You are really helping things Mother! I think I'd like to cancel this date. I did call Thomas and he never answered his phone." Maura smiles "He knows." Missy yells "WHAT! You didn't?.." Maura tells her "He saw the two of you. Now I have to go teach my class. Have a nice date." Missy rolls her eyes, and yells "DAMNIT MOTHER!", as she sits at her desk, with regret in her eyes.
    At The Caswell County Board Of Education, Corey's inside his office, as he looks at bank statements, and gasps, as he goes "Damn. We're screwed." Anna stands at the door, and responds "Yes Corey. Exactly. And Erica's on her way here, and my Brother, who's over the State Board." Corey tells Anna "I haven't taken any money Anna. I would never do anything like that and please believe me." Anna tells Corey "I'd like to believe you, but with your last name, and friendship with Maura, you are the top suspect, or there's a hacker somewhere in our system. There's some faculty in Simpson I am watching closely, and Corinth." Corey asks Anna, as he grows scared "So what are you going to do?" Anna answers "Once I speak to Erica, and my Brother, and we all talk, then we'll go from there. Until then, you need to be careful. Erica's convinced you are stealing funds, and I am scared of Eliza finding out about this, because she's donated a lot into our schools, and when she finds out, it's unknown what'll happen, because she's capable of anything, and she's rich." Anna walks out, as Corey shakes his head, and goes "Damn you Erica!" At The Courthouse Inn, Erica finishes her breakfast, as she asks the Manager "Where's Eliza?" The Manager goes "She's got some things to do. She'll likely not be around today." Erica laughs "She's very busy digging dirt on Maura. I admire that. Hope she can get her fired and her license revoked." The Manager walks away, as Erica gets a text from her Husband, and responds back, as she leaves a tip, and heads across the street to work.
    Back at Waters Elementary, the day's started, as Bill sits in Susan's room, as Susan tells her Uncle "Now behave yourself Uncle Bill." Susan motions at her Mother, and goes "You too Mom." Jean and Bill talk to themselves, as Bill gets a text, as Jean asks her Brother "So, what's going on to keep you here?" Bill responds "I want to know why Thomas is so damn.." Susan tells her Uncle "Watch your mouth." Jean looks at her Daughter, as she and Bill walks outside, and into the lounge, and Bill asks Jean "Something yesterday pissed Thomas off, and Eliza's on her way, and she said she thinks Missy may know something." Jean tells him "I've heard talk around here that they're in love, but neither will admit it." Bill responds "Thomas is scared. Losing Valerie and T.J, it still messes with him. He keeps their urns in the living room, and it hurt Eliza and me too." Jean tells Bill "Well, find out what's going on, and if there's anything I can do, then let me know." Jean hugs her Brother, and tells him "Stay in here." Bill makes a face at Jean, as she walks out, as Maura looks inside, and quips "So I see Mary got tired of seeing you." Bill asks Maura in a hateful tone "Hell has no vacancies yet? Still waiting on that buffet to open?" Maura snaps at Bill "You disgust me. No wonder Thomas is a psycho. Runs on both ends. And if he tries to do anything else to that new teacher, I'll have him fired." Eliza meanwhile arrives, and overhears them, and walks inside the lounge, and asks Maura "New teacher? My baby at the point of going mad? What in the hell's going on? Because if you..." Maura smiles "Melissa is going out tonight with Mr. Cobain, and I hope they really hit it off. They were so cute yesterday, and Thomas saw it, and he got upset and threw a fit. Why he needed to be where I sent him." Eliza's eyes turn red, as Bill yells "That damn girl's a whore!" Maura snaps "Excuse me?" Bill yells "Whore! Whore! Whore!" Jean runs back inside, and goes "Susan's class can hear you!" Maura snarks at Jean "Shouldn't you be across the hall doing your job?" Jean warns her "Keep on, and like I said yesterday, I'll have your ass calling Eliza a saint." Bill quips "And she means it!" A page's heard, as Mary goes "Ms. Gardner to the Principal's office." Maura snarls "That bitch...." Bill sighs "Well, the filter's broke on my Ex's mouth." Bill runs out, and Maura tries to follow, as Jean shakes her head, and snaps "And you will be a teacher, and go back to your classroom. This is none of your business." Maura snaps "You stay out of it you old crazy bitch!" Jean slaps Maura, and warns her "Now you heard me. Get! And I'm watching you!" Maura walks back to her classroom, and turns, as Jean stands, and arms crossed, as Maura mumbles "Old bitch." Jean meanwhile struts back into Susan's room, as she asks her Mother "What was going on Mom?" Jean quips "Family bonding." In Thomas' office Bill walks inside, as Eliza sternly orders "Go to my house and check on Thomas. Leave the whore to me!" Bill walks out, as Missy walks into the Secretary's office, and asks "Is Thomas here?" Bill glares at Missy, and mumbles "You'd wish.", as he leaves, and Mary pages Eliza, and goes "She's here." Eliza tells Mary "Tell her it's Thomas, and say anything else, I'll kick your ass." Mary hangs up, as she tells her "Give Thomas a few minutes. He's finishing up some paperwork."
     Back at the Caswell County Board Of Education, Fred Waters Jr, Anna's Oldest Brother, and in charge of the Board Of Education of the state arrives, as Anna hugs him, and Fred Jr asks his Sister "Does Mama know?" Anna tells him "No. I've also told her help to keep quiet. Although she had a stroke we both know if she knew she'd be doing something about this." Fred Jr sighs "Well Anna, get Dr. Elliott and Mr. Horton into the conference room so we can figure this out. Father was over the school system for decades, and I don't want our last name tarnished in the city where Mama's the queen." Anna sighs "Her family did found this city, and county." Inside Corey's Office, Corey gets a text from Anna, as he heads to the board room, as Erica sits at her desk, and tells someone on the other line "Thank you.", as she hangs up, and Anna peeks inside, and tells Erica "My Brother's here." They walk into the board room, as Fred Jr asks Erica and Corey "So who's been stealing funds from the schools?" Erica points at Corey, and yells "That man there is your crook. His Grandmother was nuts, he inherited it, and is secretly working for her!" Corey's eyes widen with anger, and shock, as he tries to defend himself, as Anna asks Corey "Do you go see Edna in Milledgeville?" Corey answers "I have no use for her at all. I got into education to correct her mistakes." Erica snarks "And you are a mistake. So what kinda drugs are you on?" Fred Jr sternly warns Erica "Now stop with this and let's get down to business. This is serious. I am torn over this because my family founded this county, and city, and Anna and I's parents and our family's lives have been devoted to education. There's enough evidence for Caswell County to lose its accreditation, and whoever's stealing the money will be punished severely unless they want to admit it now." Anna tells her Brother "I have a list of suspects." as she hands a piece of paper to him, and Corey goes "Erica did buy a new car. And it surely wasn't cheap. So what about her?" Erica snaps "You lying son of a bitch!" Anna yells "STOP!" Fred Jr looks at Corey, and tells him "Well Corey, you have a good record, as do you Erica, but both of you are suspects. I will allow you to keep working as I continue investigations..." Erica then tells Fred Jr and Anna "Corey Horton and Maura Carson were making a big deposit yesterday at the bank." Anna looks at Corey, as he denies it with tears, as Anna opens her laptop, and gasps "My stars, the money's gone from the School System. All of it." Erica yells "You have the thief in here. Corey's doing this for Edna!" Fred Jr looks at his Sister, and Anna looks at Corey, and tells him "Maura has never been trusted, and until we learn more, you are on suspension." Erica quips "How about revoke his license? That'd be perfect!" Corey tells Erica "I hate you, and go to hell you evil bitch." Corey walks out, as he cries, and Anna tells Erica "Everyone in the system's being watched right now. Now leave my Brother and I alone for a moment." Erica walks out, as she laughs, as Anna tells her Brother "Eliza Sullivan has given a lot to our schools, and she will find out, and then she'll lose it." Fred Jr hugs his Sister, and tells her "We'll have our answer before too long. I'm going to see Mama, and then head back to Atlanta." Fred Jr leaves, as Anna looks at her Father and Mother's portraits in the board room, and sadness shows in her eyes. In Corey's office, Erica asks Corey "Need any help packing?" Corey snaps in anger "Screw you, and I hope karma gets you. You only think you've won!" Erica smiles "I know I did. Enjoy packing." Corey cries as walks out, as Erica returns to her office, and checks her phone, and returns a text, and also leaves.
    Back at Waters Elementary, Thomas arrives, as Dwight walks into the media center, and Thomas asks him "How have things been going today?" Thomas follows Dwight, as he tells Thomas "I've been in here working, and Mary's guarding the front office." Alice's class is inside, as Didi reads to the students, and asks "Anyone know Albanian?" Alice reminds Didi "How many times do I have to remind you almost none of these kids know about Albania." Didi gets up, as she tells Alice "Well read to your class, time for me to go in my office." Alice gives her students instructions, as she walks over to Thomas, and asks him "What happened yesterday?" Dwight adds "Something's going on. Your Mama's got your office on lockdown, and Bill's been sitting in the lounge." Thomas tells them of the day before, and sighs "Looks like I have my hands full here." Didi screams from her office "DAMNIT!", as Alice quips "Well there's another breakdown today." Dwight sighs "One long day." In the Lounge, Diane sits inside, along with Jean, as Bill tells his Sisters "It's lunch here, let me take Cobain outside and kick his ass!" Diane tells her Brother "That's not the right thing to do. And Thomas is grown." Bill asks his Sister "Well why aren't you trying to stop Eliza?" Diane sighs "Tried and the doors to the office is locked." Jean rolls her eyes, and tells her Brother and Sister "Well I'm going to walk the hall and see if I hear anything." Jean walks out, as Bill yells "I'm going down there to Cobain's room!" Diane snaps "No you are not. How's Scarlet?" Bill responds "In bed." Inside Thomas' office, Eliza tells Mary "Let the bitch inside." Mary looks at Missy, and goes "You can go in." Missy asks Mary "Why are the doors locked Mary?" Mary answers with a confused look "Locked? I didn't know." Missy walks into Thomas' office, and instantly tells him with sadness "I never wanted you to find out about tonight. I'm wanting to cancel." Thomas' chair's turned, as Eliza listens, as Missy tells Thomas "Are we serious? Or should I find someone else. This ain't helping, and I need to be working. I'm not playing games..." The chair swings around, as Eliza yells "Neither am I you whore!" Missy gasps "Oh shit. Where is Thomas?" Eliza snaps "None of your business. And the mouth also known as your Mama let Bill and I know who you're seeing tonight! How dare you?" Missy pleads "I don't want to see anyone else. I don't think Thomas wants anyone." Eliza tells Missy "He does, but hell it's hard for him to move on. Ever considered he may be scared? He does love you, and then you take this Jacob Cobain up on his offer? That hurt him." Missy cries "Eliza I'm so sorry." Eliza tells Missy "Then cancel that date now before I make you call me Ms. Sullivan and I also call a friend from South America." Missy calls Jacob, as he's in his classroom, and he answers, as Missy cancels the date, and Jacob snaps "What? Are you being forced to do this." Meanwhile, Alice follows Thomas, as he heads to Jacob's classroom, as she yells "Thomas don't you think about it." In the lunchroom, April, and Effie hears Alice, as they both look at each other." Jean sees her Nephew, and Thomas snaps "My turn to handle this." Back in Thomas' Office, Eliza watches on, as Missy hangs up the phone, and she tells Missy "Remember my Son loves you, and don't do this again." Eliza meanwhile receives a text, as her eyes widen, and she asks Missy "How often do you see your Grandparents?" Missy goes "They're dead." Eliza tells her "No they're not." In Jacob's room, Thomas storms in, and Jacob yells "Ok you son of a bitch, you won." Thomas begins to punch Jacob, as he snarls "You're going to learn about how I deal with people like you." Thomas kicks Jacob into the hall, as a fight erupts, as Alice and Jean yells "Stop!" Dwight runs down the hall, as Bill smiles "That's my boy!", as Thomas beats up Jacob, and screams "If I see you around Missy again I'll kill you. You hear me? Answer!" Jacob yells "Maura was on the money. You are psycho!" Dwight runs in, and breaks up the fight, as Jacob wipes blood from his face, and Eliza walks down the hall, and asks "Looks like someone got knocked down off his throne." Alice, Jean, and Bill, all are quiet, as Jacob tells them "If he wants a war. He's got one." Thomas walks away, as they follow with the exceptions of Dwight and Jacob, as Dwight warns him "You aren't making a great impression." Jacob yells "Maybe Anna Waters needs to pick someone else to run this asylum!" Thomas leaves without speaking, as Eliza yells "Where are you going?", as Thomas doesn't answer, and leaves, and Bill smiles "He tore Cobain's ass up!" Alice and Jean glare at Bill, as Eliza tells her Ex Husband "Better go check on Scarlet." Bill yells "She's in my bed, and can't jump down yet." Eliza yells "Private time at my house tonight. Change those sheets." Meanwhile Missy walks into her Mother's classroom, as she has a look of shock in her eyes, as Maura asks her Daughter "Did that bitch hurt you?" Missy goes "So what are you hiding?" Maura answers "Nothing Melissa." Missy asks "So why are my Grandparents still alive?" Maura shakes her head, as Missy responds "Eliza said they are." Maura rolls her eyes, and says to herself "Eliza's about to go too far." At The Rooming House meanwhile, Corey returns, as his heart is broken, and opens the door, and cries over the suspension of his job, as Erica sits in her office at the BOE, and smiles "Maura's next, as she opens her purse, and pulls out a bottle, and opens it.