[While checking out of their hotel, Todd has the desk clerk recommend the best restaurant in town.

Minutes later...

Tea enters the restaurant first as Todd slowly following behind her, his mood worsening instantly upon entering the noisy restaurant. Todd makes a mental note to himself never to look directly at Tea in the morning again, the sight of her muddles his mind too much and he ends up saying and doing stupid things, like suggesting they dine out.

As they stand for a moment, waiting to be seated, Todd looks around him with disgust. There are too many people in the crowded restaurant...too much laughter can be heard wafting through the dining room.]

Todd: Tea, look, obviously they're full here. Let's go to one of those fast food places we passed on our way here.

Tea: You promised me.

Todd: I was obviously delusional.

[Tea moves slightly closer to Todd.]

Tea (in a calming voice): It won't be that bad, Todd.

Todd: Yeah, for you.

Tea: Do you really need to leave?

Todd: If I said that I did?

Tea: Then we would leave.

Todd: Okay...fine. You better eat fast because I'm not going to be able to take this torture for long.

Tea: Are you sure you want to stay?

Todd (looking at his watch): If they seat us in the next two minutes we stay...otherwise we go.

Tea: That's a deal.

[Tea tries to unsuccessfully suppress a smile as the hostess arrives a few seconds later, ready to seat them. Todd has a look of complete dread on his face as he walks toward the table they're being led to.

As they take their seats opposite each other, and the hostess leaves them to peruse their menus, Todd tries to force a smile on his face but Tea can tell that it's fake.

Their table is situated almost in the center of the room which means that they are surround on all sides by people...happy, smiling, laughing, perky people. Tea notices Todd drumming his finger on the table as he looks around the room.]

Todd: There are too many people here.

Tea: It does seem to be popular.

Todd: I like your friend's place better.

Tea: Carlotta's diner?

Todd: Yeah. A breakfast rush there is four people.

Tea: This is pretty crowded.

Todd: It will probably take forever for the food to come.

[Someone bumps into the back of Todd's chair while passing behind him. He noticeably jumps and turns around ready to insult the offender but stops himself, not wanting to ruin the morning for Tea by making a scene. As he turns back around and faces Tea again, she can see how jittery he is and knows that he's trying hard to make this a pleasant experience for her. She devises a plan.

Tea excuses herself from the table for a moment and heads directly for the hostess. Immediately after Tea leaves the table, Todd puts his head in his hands, wishing he could block out all the noise of clanging dishes and people talking.

When Tea returns to the table a few moments later, she finds Todd lightly banging his head on the table in front of him. He jumps up when he feels her hand gently touch his back.]

Todd: I was just resting. Sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you.

Tea: You didn't.

Todd: So, are you going to sit down again?

Tea: Actually, we're not staying in here.

Todd: I can handle it, Tea. I know this is what you want.

Tea: It's making you miserable so it's not what I want at all.

Todd (looking hopeful): So, we can go and find a vending machine?

Tea: Actually, we will be dining here. Just not at this particular table.

Todd (disappointed): Oh. Are they moving us to an even worse table? Because, I don't think that's possible unless they have one in the john.

Tea: Come with me.

[Tea leads Todd through a hallway, down a flight of stairs and into a room smaller than the dining room.]

Todd: This is where you want to eat?

Tea: They'll be setting up a table in a minute. It's not that bad...a little small, I'll admit. And, there are no windows.

Todd: Yeah, I like that part.

Tea: I wish I did.

[Todd notices the look on Tea's face and knowing that she has an aversion to windowless rooms because of the windowless basement apartment she grew up in, he decides to put himself through misery again in the dining room rather than put Tea through her own misery in this room.]

Todd: I want to go back upstairs.

Tea: What? Why?

Todd: I don't like it down here.

Tea: There is nothing wrong with this room, Todd. I'm fine.

Todd: You hate it.

Tea: As long as you're sitting across the table from me, I'll be fine.

Todd: You sure?

Tea: I'm positive. I don't need a view as long as I have you. Besides, I had to offer a substantial financial incentive for them to agree to allow us to use this room instead of the main dining room.

Todd: How substantial?

Tea: I'll have to borrow money from you if I want to use a pay phone, I'm so tapped out now.

Todd: Well, you didn't have enough cash to start out with. You know, you should never carry less than a few thousand in cash...just in case. You never know when you may need bribe money...or bail.

Tea (looking at him with suspicion): How do you know how much cash I had?

Todd (trying to distract her): So, what is this room, anyway?

Tea: You went through my purse?

Todd: I was looking for gum.

Tea (not believing him): Right.

[Tea decides to ignore the violation of her privacy since it doesn't really surprise her anyway.]

Tea: This room is rented out for engagement parties, bridal showers...that sort of thing.

Todd (joking): Is this your way of asking me to marry you, Delgado?

Tea (playing along): Yes.

Todd (trying not to panic): Huh?

Tea: Will you marry me, Todd Manning?

*****

chapter 12

[Before Todd has a chance to figure out if Tea is serious about her proposal or not, a worker enters the room and begins setting up a table for them to sit at. Neither, Todd nor Tea speak while they watch the worker finish the job and leave the room. The worker returns a few moments later and places two menus on the table before leaving again.

After several awkward moments of neither of them moving or speaking, Todd approaches the table and yanks out one of the chairs and plops himself down. Tea seats herself opposite him.]

Todd: So, you didn't order the grub for us yet?

Tea: No. I wasn't sure what you wanted. Just so you know, I don't think potato chips are an option.

Todd: If you can bribe them for the room, I think I can bribe them into serving something decent for breakfast.

Tea: Todd, about...

Todd (interrupting): It wouldn't have counted anyway.

Tea: What?

Todd: You didn't get down on your knee so it wouldn't have counted even if you had been serious.

Tea: And, if I got down on my knee?

[Todd looks like he's so nervous he might become physically ill.]

Tea: You're right. It wouldn't count since I wasn't down on my knee. I've seen you do it enough times, you'd think I'd know how it's done by now.

[There is silence again until a waiter comes to take their order. After a few minutes they're left alone again.]

Tea: Todd, can I ask you a question?

Todd: What?

Tea: In the dining room, what was causing you the most problem?

Todd: I didn't have any problems. You're the one who wanted to eat down here where no one would see me spread the butter on my bread with my finger.

Tea: Well, that's at least preferred to using your tongue.

Todd: I don't do that anymore since I took that correspondence course on table manners.

Tea: Seriously, was it the number of people, the noise...

Todd: I'm just not that good at these kinds of places. You know that.

Tea: I know that you hate the formalities but you looked like you were about to have a panic attack if you stayed in there much longer.

Todd: I've kind of gotten out of the habit of being around lots of people.

Tea: You kept to yourself while you were away?

Todd: Of course. You know, I only spend time with people when I'm force to.

Tea: Well, you certainly weren't forced to come back for me. You must have wanted something more than a solitary life.

Todd: Yes, I was.

Tea: What?

Todd: I was forced.

Tea: How could I have forced you, Todd? I didn't even know where you were.

Todd: Yeah, you did.

Tea: That's not true. If I had known...

Todd: If you had known what would you have done? Well, Tea? Would you have continued playing it safe or would you have taken your chances?

Tea: Obviously, you already have that answer.

Todd: Do I?

Tea: I came with you, didn't I? Without spending much time or thought on the decision, I came with you. Don't you think I would have come to you sooner if I had known where you were?

Todd: Maybe not. It's safer to wait and know that the other person wants to be with you first. You always did play it safe. You always made me make the first move. And, you always had a backup plan ready to go.

Tea: I made the first move many times. You also rejected most of my attempts to further our relationship, remember? And, this time there's no backup plan. This is all I have now, Todd. You're all I have.

Todd: If it doesn't work out you'll just go back to Llanview and everyone will fall all over themselves feeling sorry for you and thinking that I forced you to come with me.

Tea: I told you before that I won't lie to anyone about that. I came with you willingly and I'll never claim anything else.

Todd: You'll do what you have to do after this doesn't work out.

Tea: So, you don't think it will work out?

Todd: No.

Tea: That's not a very good way to go into this, Todd...expecting the worst.

Todd: I expect the worst because that's always what I get.

Tea: Maybe you get the worst because you don't expect anything better. Maybe you push away anything good that's offered to you because you're afraid to trust it. You're afraid to believe in anything but the worst.

Todd: Okay, I'm done talking now.

Tea: This could be good, Todd. You have to try, though. You can't let your fear take over this time and push me away again. If you pull me toward you instead of pushing me away this time maybe it will work and maybe we'll both find what we've each been looking for all our lives.

[Tea reaches across the table and lightly places her hand over Todd's hand.]

Tea: We could help each other through the fear and through the pain that we both have inside ourselves. Together, if we're both willing to try, we can find something that works for both of us and something that will last this time so that neither one of us will ever have to wonder again what the other person's feelings are or if they'll actually be there for us when we really need them. I don't want to be alone again. That's why I came with you. You're the only person who, for reasons I don't even understand myself, makes me feel less alone. You make me feel less empty inside. I need that, Todd. I need you.

[Todd doesn't respond but Tea doesn't mind. He's still sitting in front of her and he hasn't jerked his hand away from hers. He allows her to hold his hand until their food finally arrives and Tea removes her hand. A few minutes into their meal, they return to lighter conversation. As they comfortably banter with each other they each know that the other person is thinking about the same serious thoughts that they are but they each choose to drop the subject for now.]

****

chapter 13

[After surviving breakfast, Todd and Tea return to their car and to their traveling adventures.

Several hours later...

Tea slowly wakes up. Her head is resting on her balled up coat, placed against the door of the car. Tea stretches as she looks out the window.]

Todd: You finally up?

Tea: Yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you like that.

Todd: Sure. That's why you did that pillow thing with your coat, right?

Tea: I was just going to rest my eyes for a few minutes.

Todd: More like a few hours.

Tea (looking at her watch): Not quite.

Todd: Close enough. It's a good thing you're not doing any of the driving since you can't stay awake.

Tea: I wouldn't have any problem staying awake if you actually did allow me to drive once in awhile. It's kind of boring just sitting over here with nothing to do, especially when you make that frequent decision that conversation isn't allow.

Todd: Talk to me about something I'm interested in and maybe I'll feel like conversing with you.

Tea: Well, how about this...where are we?

Todd: Indiana...Illinois...

Tea: Well, which is it?

Todd: Does it matter?

Tea: I can pretend to be useful and look up wherever we are on the map. Of course, that would require that I know our actual location.

Todd: Illinois.

Tea: Thank you. City?

Todd: Don't remember. There'll be another town at some point. You can figure out where we are then...if you're awake at the time.

[Several minutes pass before they enter the next small town on the road they're traveling on. Tea looks it up on the map.]

Tea: Do you want to stop for something to eat?

Todd: In this town?

Tea (as they quickly exit the small town): Apparently not.

Todd: You hungry?

Tea: Not really. I ate a lot at breakfast.

Todd: Yeah, I noticed. You were eating like a pig.

Tea: Me?

Todd: Yeah, you. I'm surprised you don't weigh a lot more than you do with the way you eat.

Tea: We'll both be gaining weight if we don't do something besides sit in this car all day.

Todd: Any time you want to jog alongside the car, just let me know.

Tea: Maybe we could stop in one of these small towns instead of just speeding through them. You know, walk around...do some sightseeing.

Todd: There's nothing worth seeing that we can't see from the car.

Tea: Isn't there anything that you want to see or do? Any particular places that you want to go? Some purpose for this trip?

Todd: Not again. Do we have to keep having this discussion?

Tea: Well, maybe this is enough for you...

Todd: But it isn't for you?

[Tea takes a moment and looks at Todd before answering him.]

Tea (her voice taking on a more serious tone): This is enough for me.

Todd: Then stop yapping about purposes and destinations and all that garbage. We're going where we're going. We'll get there when we get there.

Tea: Fine.

[Several minutes pass quietly.]

Tea: I have a question.

Todd: Of course you do.

Tea: Why haven't we taken any freeways or main highways to get wherever it is that we're going?

Todd: Didn't want the cops spotting us, remember?

Tea: I know we were taking the back roads because of that in the beginning but since Briggs let you know that no one's searching for us, why stay on the back roads? We could avoid all these small towns and put a lot more distance behind us if we used major roads instead.

Todd: You have a problem with the roads I'm choosing? You want to drive instead?

Tea: Actually, yes.

Todd: Too bad. It's my car.

Tea: It's our car.

Todd: Is your name on the title?

Tea: Everything either of us has in our possession is jointly owned.

Todd: Really?

Tea: Yes. I think that's the only fair way to handle things in our current situation.

Todd: That's easy for you to say...it's all my stuff.

Tea: And, whose choice was that? I wanted to go back to town and get some of my things after we left Viki's cabin. You're the one who refused to allow it.

Todd: They would have arrested me.

Tea: Apparently not.

Todd: Maybe it's a trick.

Tea: What is?

Todd: Maybe someone bought off Briggs.

Tea: You mean besides you?

Todd: Yeah. They have to be coming after me. There's no way they would let go of the opportunity. Even if they knew that they couldn't pin the stuff happening to R.J. on me they'd still try. They've always taken every opportunity in the past to toss me in jail. Why would they throw away a chance this time?

Tea: Maybe because it was R.J. whose life was threatened?

Todd: Nah. Sure, they hate him too but they hate me a lot more.

Tea: Maybe that's not how it is anymore.

Todd: That's how it was, is and always will be.

Tea: Things change, Todd, and you were gone a long time.

Todd: Not that long. Bo's still the top cop, right?

Tea: Yes.

Todd: Unless the guy's on drugs there's no way that he'd go soft on me.

Tea: Hmmm. That might explain a few things.

Todd: What?

Tea: Bo's changed. Or, maybe it just seems that way because I saw more of him while I was working in the D.A.'s office.

Todd: Did you get any good dirt?

Tea: You don't run a newspaper anymore, remember?

Todd: Yeah, I do. That brainless one...what's her name...Kelly...can put her name on The Sun as the publisher but that doesn't mean a thing.

Tea: Because you bought Briggs off?

Todd: I've owned Briggs for years.

[Todd reaches into his pants and pulls out his wallet. He holds it out for Tea. She takes it from him.]

Tea: What's this for?

Todd: Take out a dollar.

Tea: Why?

Todd: For once just do what I'm telling you to do without asking questions.

[Tea looks through the large amount of bills stuffed into his wallet.]

Tea: I don't see any dollar bills. Todd. Why do you have so much money?

Todd: I told you before. You never know when you may need bail money.

Tea: Oddly enough, I know I won't.

Todd: You think so, huh? We're traveling together now. Whatever trumped up charges I get arrested for next time, they could charge you with the same thing.

Tea: Have you been arrested much recently?

Todd: Since you quit as my attorney?

Tea: Since we've been apart, yes. Have you?

Todd: If I had, don't you think you would have known about it?

Tea: You mean, they would have contacted law enforcement in Llanview to check on your priors?

Todd: No, I mean, you would have known about it, Delgado.

Tea: You would have called me?

Todd: Who else?

****

chapter 14

Tea: I would think if you were in serious trouble you would call Sam.

Todd: Why?

Tea: Because you trust him and he's a more respected attorney than I am.

Todd: Nah. He's not as great a lawyer as everyone says he is or that he himself thinks he is. I brought him to Llanview to save my marriage and look what happened.

Tea: You can't blame our failure on Sam.

Todd: Why not? Okay, I'm kidding. But it wasn't Sam who got you to agree to marry me again, was it?

Tea: No, it wasn't.

Todd: It turned out I didn't need him. I just needed to say a bunch of garbage to you.

Tea: I didn't think it was garbage.

Todd: Besides, I had forgotten how much I hated his lectures. If I had to deal with anyone from my past, I'd rather it was you. Starr... Viki...

Tea: You should call her.

Todd: I will.

Tea: I would think that right now she probably would really appreciate hearing your voice.

Todd: I doubt that. She's going through enough already.

Tea: If it were me going through what she's going through right now, I'd need to hear your voice.

Todd: Really?

Tea: Yes.

Todd: Well, this is Viki. She might not feel that way. Besides, she's got a lot of people around her. She's got a new boyfriend.

Tea: Last I heard, they were having problems.

Todd: Good. He wasn't good enough for her anyway.

Tea: You don't even know him.

Todd: I've met him.

Tea: When?

Todd: He hangs out at a bar. It wasn't that hard for me to infiltrate the premises to check him out.

Tea: You spied on your sister's boyfriend?

Todd: Had to make sure she was safe.

Tea: You can be really sweet sometimes, Todd...in your own peculiar way.

Todd: Yeah, right, whatever. Did you grab any cash yet?

Tea: There aren't any dollar bills in your wallet, Todd.

Todd: Then take a higher bill...you're worth it.

Tea: What exactly are you purchasing from me?

Todd: Your silence.

Tea: I don't understand.

Todd: Accept payment and I'll tell you.

[Tea takes the smallest denomination she can find...a $100 bill...and hands him back his wallet.]

Todd: So, now that you're on my payroll as my lawyer again you have to keep your mouth shut about anything I tell you, right?

Tea: Todd, you didn't have to pay me for that. I wouldn't reveal anything to anyone that you told me in confidence.

Todd: Then give me back my money.

Tea: Actually...I am out of cash after that expensive breakfast.

Todd: Keep it...I'll put it on your tab.

Tea: Are you planning on keeping track of my expenses?

Todd: Yep. Gonna give you a bill when we get where we're going.

Tea: And where is that?

Todd: You'll find out...as soon as I do.

Tea: Let's get back to why you wanted to hire me as your lawyer. What kind of trouble are you in now?

Todd: You have no faith in me. You never have.

Tea (angry): I have always had faith in you. I have always helped you. I've given up everything for you. How dare you say...

Todd (interrupting): Relax, Delgado. I was kidding.

Tea: You better have been kidding.

Todd: What are you going to do? Insist I stop the car so you can get out and pretend to walk away from me again?

Tea: Just tell me what's going on.

Todd: It's nothing really. It's just that the paper is still mine.

Tea: The Sun?

Todd: Yeah.

Tea: You gave it away to Kelly, Blair and Max, remember? And, then Max sold his shares to Asa.

Todd: No, he didn't. He sold Asa nothing because he owned nothing.

Tea: What about the contracts you gave them?

Todd: Do you really think I'd be stupid enough to give away my newspaper? Hell, you were there when that tall dead guy, before he was dead, of course, was trying to steal my paper from me after I wouldn't sell it to him. If I wouldn't sell it, why would I give it away?

Tea: I wondered that myself.

Todd: Did you check into it when you found out about those phony contracts giving the paper away?

Tea: I didn't think it was my place to be involved in your business affairs anymore.

Todd: I bet you would have seen the fine print making those contracts useless.

Tea: Well, clearly Asa's lawyers must have thought they were legitimate.

Todd: Oh, Asa was probably frothing at the mouth so much from just the idea of owning a part of The Sun that he didn't even bother having anyone go over the worthless papers I gave Max.

Tea: So, you own The Sun?

Todd: Yeah.

Tea: You know, Todd, you could run into some problems getting the paper back if people have believed, in good faith, for an extended period of time, that they owned The Sun.

Todd: You'll take care of it for me. Besides, it's not like they paid anything for it. What are they going to do...claim a hardship because they've taken profits from something they never bought and were too stupid to have a lawyer go over the fake papers that made them think they had ownership?

Tea: Asa did buy Max's shares, though.

Todd: So? If he was too greedy to even have someone look over the deal then that's his problem, not mine.

Tea: Well, we'll see about that.

Todd: If he gives me any trouble then you can earn that hundred bucks in your hand.

Tea: Believe me, Todd, I'll be billing you a lot more than this if I take on that job.

Todd: Oh, come on. You know it would be fun to go up against the old guy.

Tea: I suppose.

Todd: When we finish here, or get bored, or whatever, then maybe we'll go back to Llanview and have some fun.

Tea: When we finish what?

[Todd is silent. Tea accepts it, knowing he won't tell her what's on his mind until he's ready to.

They continue on with spurts of conversation nestled inside of numerous moments of comfortable silence.

Hours later...

As they enter a new town, Tea is surprised when Todd pulls into the parking lot of a hotel.]

Tea: Why are we stopping?

Todd: You want to spend the night sleeping in the car?

Tea: No, of course not, but it's still early.

Todd: So?

Tea: We could continue on.

Todd: Nah.

Tea (suspicious): What's going on, Todd?

Todd: Nothing.

Tea: Is this where you were planning on taking me all along?

Todd: Why would I plan on taking you here?

Tea: We're not that far from Chicago.

Todd (getting agitated): Look, I just thought you might be tired of sitting so much. You wanted to buy some stuff. They have stores in this town. You stole a hundred bucks from me.

Tea: I did not steal it.

Todd: Whatever.

Tea: Todd, I just...

Todd: You want to do that shopping thing or not?

Tea: Sure.

Todd: Great. I'll find a Laundromat.

Tea: What? Why?

Todd: To wash my clothes. Why do you think?

Tea: I didn't know you did that sort of thing yourself.

Todd: You think I just throw away my clothes when they get dirty?

Tea: Frankly, yes.

Todd: Well, I did promise you surprises, remember?

Tea: You constantly surprise me, Todd...and amaze me.

Todd: Let's just get a room, okay?

Tea: That's fine with me.

****

chapter 15

[After checking into their hotel room, Tea spends a few minutes in the bathroom. When she returns to the bedroom she finds Todd sniffing various articles of clothing. Todd notices her...and her disapproving look.]

Todd (holding out a shirt to her): Here, smell this.

Tea: No, thank you. Maybe you should just wash everything.

Todd: That's easy for you to say. I'll be the one doing all the work.

Tea: I could go to the Laundromat with you, if you'd like.

Todd: I thought you were doing that shopping thing.

Tea: I am. We could go shopping first and then do our laundry together.

Todd: You know, we don't have to be together every second.

Tea: Are you bored with me already?

Todd: No...not yet.

Tea: Well, good. Let's go.

Todd: I don't...(his face twisting in disgust)...shop, Delgado.

Tea: Come on. It won't be that bad. I promise. You can buy a few things, too.

Todd: I have everything I need.

Tea: You only have two pairs of socks.

Todd: That's all I need. I wear one while I wash the other.

Tea: We also should get a laundry bag to keep our dirty clothes in so there won't be any confusion about what's clean and what isn't.

Todd: I wasn't confused until you came along.

Tea: If you go with me you can pick where we'll go for dinner.

Todd: I already ate.

Tea: When?

Todd: While you were in the john.

[Tea notices the debris by the small refrigerator and opens it to survey the few remaining objects.]

Tea: I was only in the bathroom for a few minutes.

Todd: They only had a few decent things worth eating.

Tea: You could have left something for me.

Todd: I did. Those disgusting dry fruit things are still there.

Tea: Well, thank you for leaving me the disgusting items.

Todd: You're welcome.

Tea: Fine. Let's go. Hopefully, this town has a mall so I can eat and shop at the same time.

Todd: No way. No malls.

Tea: Why not?

Todd: Todd Manning owns malls...he doesn't waste his time in them. We're going to one store and that's it.

Tea: Then I get to pick which store, okay?

Todd: Only if it has stuff for guys too. I'm not going to one of those frilly girlie places.

Tea: Are we done negotiating? Can we go now? Unlike you, I haven't eaten yet.

[Todd gathers up the dirty clothes and they leave their hotel room.

After driving around for a while, arguing for and against several different stores they pass, they finally find a store they both can agree on.

Tea is ecstatic upon entering the store to find that they have a small deli-style eating establishment near the entrance of the store.

While Tea eats, Todd picks food off her plate with his fingers, consuming half of her meal himself.

Finally, they begin their shopping expedition.

Every time Tea stops to look at what he feels are unnecessary items, Todd waves her on. After slowly progressing toward the back of the store, Todd finally gets Tea into the clothing area.

Todd goes into the men's section to get more socks, T-shirts and boxer shorts while Tea gravitates toward the lingerie area, hoping Todd won't be too embarrassed if he sees her selections.

When Todd finally catches up to Tea again, he finds her looking at skirts and blouses.]

Todd: Okay. I'm done. Let's go.

Tea: Well, I'm not done. I think I'm going to try a few things on.

Todd: Why would you want to do that?

Tea: So, I'll know if they fit.

Todd: You know what size you wear, right? Just grab something in your size and let's get out of here.

Tea: Todd, I also have to make sure that I like how they look on me. It won't take me long.

[Tea starts to walk toward the dressing rooms. Todd stops her.]

Todd: You're not going in there.

Tea: You want me to try these on out here?

Todd: They have cameras in those places, don't they?

Tea: They may have surveillance. So?

Todd: There's no way you're going in there and give anyone a free peak.

Tea: Todd...

Todd: I won't allow it.

Tea: Oh, you won't allow it. I wasn't aware that you made decision for me, Mr. Manning.

Todd: I always did before.

Tea: No, you didn't and you won't now. I won't allow that.

Todd: Come on, Tea. I'm thinking about you here. Do you want pictures of yourself ending up on the internet?

Tea: That wouldn't happen.

Todd: You sure about that?

Tea: You're paranoid.

Todd: Yeah, but I'm right. It could happen. Look, just grab whatever you want. You'll try it on back at the hotel. If you don't like how it looks then you can leave it as a tip for the maid, okay?

Tea: This is important to you?

Todd: Enough people have seen you...like that...no more.

Tea: What about you?

Todd: What about me?

Tea: Will you ever see me like that again? Do you even want to?

Todd (walking away from her): We're leaving.

Tea (approaching him): Todd, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up here. We should talk about that when we're alone.

Todd (lowering his voice): Or, not at all.

Tea: We will talk about that, mister. Count on it.

[Tea looks into their cart and is shocked at the amount of items Todd added.]

Tea (sifting through the cart): Todd...

Todd: What?

Tea: How many months were you planning on going before we do laundry again?

Todd: You said I needed socks. And, I figured that with both of us wearing my shirts and shorts... And, you can even wear some of the socks too, if you want.

Tea: You want us to keep sharing?

Todd: It would be easier, right? (taking one of the blouses Tea is holding from her) Look at this, you're supposed to dry clean this stuff. I know you, you follow directions. You'd refuse to wash this with our other stuff. We're not making any special arrangements for your clothes. You either toss your stuff in with my stuff or forget it.

Tea: Let me get this straight. You want to continue having both of us wear the same clothing?

Todd: Well, not at the same time.

Tea: But you want to go on sharing like we've been doing the last couple of days?

Todd: Why not? It's worked so far, hasn't it? It would be easier. You can have your own, you know...private...stuff.

[Todd picks up one of the undergarments Tea picked out to show her what he's referring to. Seeing what's in his hand he quickly drops it and covers it with the other items in their cart. Tea smiles at his uneasiness.]

Tea: Okay. We can share. I should get some shorts, though, or...

Todd (holding up the boxer shorts): I got shorts.

Tea: I meant the kind that I can wear outside. I need shorts or skirts or something for when it's too warm for pants.

Todd: It's never too warm for pants.

Tea: Todd, I'm not like you. I can't wear as much clothing as you do when it's hot and humid. I'd probably pass out.

Todd: We have air conditioning in the car.

Tea: Do you want us to get shorts that you can wear too?

Todd: If they're too big on you then people will see stuff through the leg openings when you're sitting down.

Tea: You think of everything.

Todd: Paranoia is a good thing.

Tea: Fine. I'll just pick out a few things.

Todd: Be quick about it.

[Tea gathers a few selections and tosses them into their cart.]

Tea: Okay, now I need shoes.

Todd: I noticed that you keep taking yours off in the car.

Tea: They're not very comfortable.

Todd: Then why wear them?

Tea: I like how they look.

Todd: That's stupid.

Tea: You just don't understand.

Todd: I'm glad I don't understand because that's really stupid.

Tea: Come on.

[Tea pulls the cart, and Todd, toward the shoe department.]

to be continued...