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| ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 16 - 20 |
PREVIOUSLY...
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.]
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chapter 16:
[After an excruciating period of time, Todd finally gets Tea out of the store and they proceed on to a local Laundromat.
At the Laundromat, Tea watches as Todd dumps all of their dirty clothing into the same machine.]
Tea: Todd, you can't do that.
Todd: What?
Tea: You have to separate the clothes.
Todd: That's just a stupid thing the detergent companies tell you so they can sell more detergent. This is fine.
Tea: You'll ruin all your white clothes.
Todd: What white clothes?
Tea: You have that one shirt and some of your underwear are white, I noticed.
Todd: Checking out my drawers, Delgado?
[Tea looks down at Todd's lower body for a few seconds before returning her gaze to his face. Todd doesn't notice her roving glance as he puts money in the washing machine and starts it up.]
Tea: In a few days, when we do our laundry again...
Todd: We do laundry once a week.
Tea: Do we?
Todd: Yep. That's our routine.
Tea: What else should I expect as part of our routine?
Todd: You'll learn as we go along.
Tea: I like to be prepared.
Todd: I thought you wanted me to surprise you.
Tea: Believe me, you do.
[Todd walks toward several nearby vending machines in the nearly deserted Laundromat.]
Todd: So, are you hungry? You hardly ate anything at that store.
Tea: That's because you ate half of my food.
Todd: I did not. I sampled slightly.
Tea: You drank most of my drink, too.
Todd: Fine. I'll get you something to drink. You can have your own can and everything, if you find sharing so unpleasant.
Tea: Actually, I think we should share.
Todd: Why?
Tea: I don't want too much soda. It's not good for you.
Todd: I know. That's why it tastes so great.
[Todd purchases a can and takes a large drink from it before handing the can to Tea. Without asking Tea's snack preference, he buys a bag of corn chips. Tea sits down on a bench in front of a large window that faces the street outside. Todd sits down near her on the same bench. When Tea reaches toward him to share the corn chips, Todd quickly moves the bag out of her reach. Tea, in an attempt to reach the bag, reaches across Todd's body, causing her own body to press into his side.
They both enjoy a moment of playfulness until they each become painfully aware that their bodies are touching and that their faces are intimately close.
Tea's hand stops reaching for the bag in Todd's outstretched arm and rests lightly on his chest. As Tea's hand slowly moves up his chest and begins to caress the side of his face, Todd jumps up and nervously reaches into his pocket for money.]
Todd (staring intently at the machine in front of him): Why don't they have any decent candy bars here?
[Tea is hurt by Todd's obvious need to remove himself from an intimate moment with her. When Todd sits in a chair opposite her, making it clear that he no longer wants to sit next to her, Tea places her can of soda down and quickly makes her way toward the rest rooms.
Inside the small bathroom, Tea paces, trying to prevent the hurt she feels from coming through to the surface. She knew that renewing her relationship with Todd wouldn't be easy. She knew that he would most likely continue taking ten giant leaps away from her for every two small steps he took towards her, just like he always had in the past. She knew it would be a painful process but she still has a difficult time dealing with the resulting pain.
Meanwhile, Todd sits unmoving for several minutes. He knows that, had he allowed Tea to continue, she would have kissed him. He would have kissed her back...he wouldn't have had a choice. He's wanted to kiss her for days. Well, actually, he's wanted to kiss her for years. He has fond memories of the kisses they shared during their first two marriages. He wants to feel her soft lips again...to feel her body pressed against his.
Todd quickly tries to think of other things to keep himself in control. He has an urge to storm into the bathroom with Tea and put an end to all the waiting...longing...fantasizing.
In the bathroom, Tea splashes water on her face...yet again. She knows that she has to leave this bathroom at some point but she's been waiting until her emotions feel more under control. She doesn't want to unleash her frustration at Todd and she knows that she can't unleash her passion. If there is any chance that their relationship can work out this time, she doesn't want to blow it by pushing Todd to go too far too fast.
Tea stares at her reflection in the mirror, oblivious to how much time has passed since she entered the bathroom. She's startled when she hears a knock on the bathroom door.]
Todd: Delgado? Delgado?
Tea: I'll be out in a minute.
Todd: I thought maybe you went out the window.
[Tea takes a final look at herself to make sure she looks calm before exiting the bathroom and finding Todd standing in the narrow hallway, waiting for her.]
Tea: Of course I didn't go out the window.
Todd: You wouldn't be the first date I lost that way.
Tea (walking passed Todd): Are we dating now?
Todd: You know what I mean. I put the stuff in the dryer. We should be able to get out of here soon.
Tea: I didn't realize how long I was...uh...indisposed.
[They return to the sitting area near the front of the Laundromat.]
Tea: Where's my drink?
Todd: I finished it. (responding to her look) You didn't tell me not to. Fine. I'll get you another one.
Tea: No, don't bother.
Todd: You sure?
Tea: Do they have any water?
Todd: Nope. They don't sell fruit either, unless there's snack cake and lots of sugar involved, so don't even bother asking.
Tea: You know, eating healthy foods isn't such a bad thing, Todd.
Todd: What's the point of eating disgusting stuff just because it's good for you? You're gonna die anyway, eventually. You might as well enjoy your life.
Tea: That's your philosophy?
Todd: One of them.
Tea: What are some of the others?
Todd: You'll find out.
Tea: I can't wait.
[Tea sits as Todd stands, leaning against the wall, facing her. They're both nervous but they're also both relieved that at least the other person is still there.]
Todd: Why do you think this place is so deserted?
Tea: It is pretty late.
Todd: So?
Tea: So...not everyone takes care of their business in the middle of the night. Some people actually spend their nights sleeping.
Todd: That's a waste of time.
Tea: Sleeping?
Todd: Yeah. There's no point to it.
Tea: I think survival is the point.
Todd: I survive just fine.
Tea: Do you?
Todd: I have so far.
Tea: Have you slept much since we've been back together...I mean, in the last few days?
Todd: I've closed my eyes a few times.
Tea: Good. I'm glad.
Todd: Yeah. Let's talk about something else.
Tea: Like what?
Todd: I don't know. I don't care. Just something other than sleep or anything else I don't like talking about.
Tea: What does that leave? Junk food?
Todd: That's perfect. We'll do a taste test.
Tea: You go ahead. I'm fine.
Todd: Aw, come on, Tea. Go crazy. Eat stuff that will knock a couple days off the end of your life. You want to do candy bars or potato chips?
Tea: You go ahead. I'll watch you.
Todd: You sure?
Tea: I don't want to spend most of the night feeling sick from eating too much of this...well, I guess technically it's food.
[Tea spends the rest of the time in the Laundromat watching Todd shove junk food into his mouth to keep from having to converse with her about anything more serious than whether chocolate bars are better with or without nuts.]
chapter 17:
[After leaving the Laundromat, Todd and Tea silently drive back to their hotel room.
Tea uses the bathroom first to change for bed. She makes a point of leaving her toothbrush in the bedroom so she has to make a separate trip to get it, hoping that Todd will again join her and brush his teeth alongside her. She's disappointed when Todd doesn't appear, refusing her such a small intimacy but one that she needs since she can feel an intense emotional distance developing between them.
Todd waits until Tea has finished in the bathroom and has already settled herself in her bed before he enters the bathroom for his own nightly rituals.
When Todd returns to the bedroom he turns off all the light in the room before getting into his own bed.
Minutes later...]
Tea: Todd?
[Almost a minute passes silently.]
Todd: Yeah?
Tea: You can talk to me.
Todd: I've been talking to you all day.
Tea: Just know that you can talk to me if you need to.
[Todd remains silent. Tea falls asleep.
Hours later...
Todd has been lying awake listening to the comforting sound of Tea sleeping in the same room with him. Unlike the previous nights during their trip, though, this night even Tea's presence doesn't help Todd to sleep.
Todd finally gives up on the idea of getting any sleep. He gets out of bed and begins pacing the floor. After several minutes he knows even pacing won't help him tonight.
Todd walks into the narrow space between the two beds and turns on a lamp on the nightstand. He knows from experience that Tea won't wake up. He learned during their marriage, when he would enter her bedroom during the nights he found most impossible to sleep, that once she fell asleep she was out until morning. Even when he observed her having nightmares she rarely would wake from them.
As Todd sits on his bed and watches Tea sleep a part of him wishes she were awake. He even has an urge to talk to her...to tell her about the thoughts that are invading his mind, preventing his own sleep.
For several minutes, Todd watches her, studying her carefully, the way he always has when she wasn't aware he was looking at her. The urge to include her in his sleeplessness becomes so great that he determines that he'll just go ahead and do it...just get it over with and wake her.]
Todd (whispering): Tea?
[Todd clears his throat. He's nervous about what he's about to do but he feels certain he has to do it...and it has to be now.]
Todd (raising his voice): Tea? Hey, Tea?
[When Tea doesn't respond, Todd pushes down several times on the mattress that Tea is lying on, making her body bounce up and down.]
Todd: Tea, wake up.
Tea (sleepily): Todd?
Todd: Come on, wake up.
Tea: Are we having an earthquake?
[Todd stops bouncing the bed.]
Todd: No. Get up. We have to go.
Tea (opening her eyes): It's still dark out, Todd. At least wait until it's light out before we start driving again.
Todd: No. We have to do it now.
Tea: Why? What difference will an hour or two make?
Todd: Because, it's either now or forget it.
[Tea sits up in bed and tries to wake up more fully.]
Tea: Forget what?
Todd: I need this to be one time that you don't ask me every damn question in your head. Are you going to get the hell out of bed and come with me or not?
Tea: Well, if you're going to ask so sweetly...
[Tea gets out of bed, readjusting her clothing as she moves toward the bathroom.]
Tea: I'll just grab a quick shower so I can wake up.
Todd: No. No, you can't.
Tea (stopping and turning back toward him): Why not?
Todd: There's no time for that.
Tea: It will just take me a few minutes. Besides, it's so early. It's...
[Tea squints to read the display on the digital clock on the nightstand and is shocked to find it's several hours earlier than she thought it was.]
Tea: Todd, it's the middle of the night.
Todd: I know. That's why it's dark.
Tea (climbing back into her bed): I'm going back to bed. Wake me again in five or six hours.
Todd: Tea, trust me, we have to do this now. Just put some clothes on and stop giving me time to change my mind.
Tea: You're not going to tell me what this is about?
Todd: You'll find out.
Tea: Okay, fine.
[Tea gets out of bed again and takes the clothes she had laid out on a chair the night before into the bathroom with her and quickly dresses and returns to the bedroom. She knows Todd is really serious when she finds him standing with the door to their room open, waiting for her so they can leave.]
Tea: What about our things?
Todd: We're leaving them here.
Tea: Todd, it's bad enough I had to leave everything I owned behind when we left Llanview. I don't want to have to do that on a regular basis. It will only take a minute to grab everything.
Todd: We're coming back.
Tea: Oh, okay. I thought we were... Never mind what I thought.
[Tea and Todd leave their room.
An hour later...
Tea and Todd are in his car, driving North. Tea has a general sense of where they're going but doesn't verbalize her suspicions to Todd.
Each time the interior of the car is lit up by the headlights of oncoming cars, Tea watches Todd's face carefully, trying to read his mind and emotions. Todd knows that she's staring at him. He knows that she's probably figured out where they're going. He allows her to stare at him since she's at least keeping her thoughts and questions to herself as they silently drive toward their destination.]
chapter 18:
[After entering Chicago, Todd turns from street to street, silently confirming for Tea that they aren't wandering aimlessly but that he does in fact have a specific destination in mind.
Tea turns her gaze away from Todd and stares out the window. She's glad that Todd is including her in his journey back to whatever part of his childhood he's planning to share with her but she's also concerned. She knows that Todd's childhood was a horror for him. She's uncertain about how he'll handle his return and worried about responding the right way herself. She also knows that if he shares too much with her it may cause him to push her away again like he has in the past when they got too close, when the feelings were too raw. She doesn't want to lose him again. Just the thought that she might, threatens to break her heart in itself. She doesn't even want to imagine what the reality would feel like this time.
Todd stares straight ahead. He refuses to allow himself to think about what he's doing, where he's going, what he'll do when he gets there, what he'll tell Delgado about it, how much he'll share with her.
As he stops at an intersection for a red light, Todd taps his finger nervously on the steering wheel. Tea notices the noise and turns toward him. Todd turns toward her. They make eye contact as the street lights illuminate the interior of the car. After a few seconds, Todd looks back at the road, checks to make sure no other cars are around and quickly speeds through the red light.
Tea tries to appear casual as she places her hand over the strap of the seat belt she's wearing, reassuring herself that she did put in on. Todd speeds through the streets, ignoring numerous red lights and stop signs in his desperate need to get where they're going as soon as possible, before he changes his mind.
Finally, they come to a stop across the street from a small playground in a residential neighborhood.
Todd stares down at his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel for several minutes.
Tea, knowing this is hard for him, gently touches her hand to his arm. He quickly jerks away from her touch.]
Tea: We don't have to do this...not right now. We could come back another time...when you're more ready.
[Todd quickly opens the car door and gets out, unintentionally slamming the door behind him. He quickly walks across the street, toward the playground.
Tea hesitates for a moment, uncertain if Todd wants her to join him or not. She finally decides to take a chance since he did bring her with him. She slowly exits the car and cautiously follows him.
She finds him leaning against an elaborate playground equipment setup. When she steps into his view his body jumps, noticeably startled.]
Tea: Did you want me to stay in the car?
Todd (quietly): No.
[Tea looks around at the playground equipment which, even in the dark, is quite impressive.]
Tea: Is this where you played when you were a little boy?
Todd: No.
Tea: Well, I wish I had something like this when I was young. This looks really incredible.
Todd: You think so? You think kids like it?
Tea: I bet they love it. Look at all of this.
Todd: They deserve it. Kids should have places to play. They should have fun.
Tea: Did your father not let you play here? Is that why we're here?
Todd: I never played here. My father...Peter...he definitely never let me play here.
Tea: Well, you could play now.
Todd: Don't be crazy.
Tea: Come on. It's late. It's dark. No one is out here. As long as we don't make too much noise no one will know we're here. You can climb and swing and do whatever you want. It looks sturdy. I don't think you would break it.
Todd: If I did, I'd just buy them another one.
Tea (a realization occurring to her): Todd...did you do this? Did you pay for this equipment?
[Tea doesn't notice, because of the darkness, as tears form in Todd's eyes.]
Todd: I never got to play here. I thought maybe other kids could. (forcing his tears to disappear) It's no big deal.
Tea: This is a big deal, Todd. This is incredible. It was very generous of you. Come on, play with me.
Todd: You can play on the monkey bars if you want to. I'll wait in the car.
[Todd starts to walk back toward the car.]
Tea: Wait. Come and swing with me.
Todd: You're being ridiculous, Delgado.
Tea (taking his hand in hers): Just try it for a minute.
Todd: Fine. Anything to get you out of here before we get caught.
[Tea lets go of Todd's hand as they both sit down on separate swings.
Todd stays motionless as Tea starts to swing back and forth.]
Tea: Come on, Todd.
Todd: We should go. It's cold out here. Only an idiot would want to do this when it's this cold.
Tea: Are you calling me an idiot?
Todd: Well...yeah. Let's just go.
[Tea stops swinging and brings herself to a halt beside Todd.]
Tea: Why did you bring me out here?
Todd: I couldn't sleep.
Tea: So we went for a random drive and just happened to end up here?
Todd: Pretty much.
Tea: I don't believe you.
Todd: I don't care.
Tea: Do not take this out on me. If you want to leave we'll leave. If you brought me here to tell me something or to show me something then let me know what it is. Whatever you're feeling...don't internalize it and don't take it out on me. I didn't give you the pain you're feeling right now, did I?
Todd (standing up): You've given me plenty of pain, Delgado.
Tea: In the past, you've given me a great deal of pain, too. That has nothing to do with right here and right now.
[Tea stands up and approaches Todd.]
Tea: Fill me in, Todd. Show me your pain. Maybe I could help.
Todd (laughing): You plan on kissing it and making it better?
Tea: I'm willing to try.
Todd: Forget it.
[Todd turns and walks away. Tea sits back down on one of the swings. At the edge of the playground, Todd turns and notices that Tea isn't following him back to the car. He returns to where she's sitting.]
Todd: Let's go.
Tea: Why can't I be a part of this? Why can't you share whatever it is with me?
Todd: It's not something that you can share.
Tea: Maybe I could if you would let me.
Todd: No, you can't.
[Todd sits down on the swing next to Tea.]
Todd: Even if you could, I wouldn't let you.
Tea: Why? I want to.
Todd: You don't belong here, Tea. Don't you understand that?
Tea (tears forming in her eyes): I don't belong...
chapter 19:
[Tea feels completely lost. If she doesn't belong with Todd then she doesn't belong anywhere. Being with Todd is the closest she's come since she was a young child to feeling like she knew where she fit in the world. If he doesn't feel the same way then she must be wrong about her place in the world being wherever he is.]
Tea: I understand. (pain evident in her voice) I don't belong. I was foolish to think...
[Tea becomes too emotional to finish her sentence. Todd knows from the sound of her voice that she misunderstood his words.]
Todd: Tea, look...
Tea: No. I understand. I do. You're right...I don't belong here. I never did.
Todd: I don't mean...
Tea: It's okay, Todd. I know what you meant. Hey, we had a few laughs, right? It wasn't all for nothing.
Todd: What was it for?
Tea: This may have been nothing for you, Todd, but it was, and will always be, something for me.
Todd: I didn't say it was nothing. You're the one saying that.
Tea: I'm the one saying it's something. You're the one...
Todd: No, you're the one who isn't paying attention and is trying to shove words on me that aren't mine.
Tea: You made it very clear, Todd...
Todd: I get it, Tea. I do. You want out but you want to blame me like you always do.
Tea: Me?
Todd: Yeah, you. You're making all this stuff up because it's too much for you, right?
Tea: What are you talking about? You're the one who brought me out here...you brought me hundreds of miles, in fact, only to decide once we got here that I didn't belong with you anyway. Why? What was the purpose of this whole trip? To prove that you could get me to drop everything and follow you halfway across the country? To get your thrills leading me on and then abandoning me again? To...
Todd (interrupting): Hey, wait a minute. You're the one who's been leading me on, not the other way around.
Tea: Oh, I'd love to hear your rationale on that one.
Todd: You wore my boxer shorts, didn't you?
Tea: What?!
Todd: Getting into a guy's shorts is a big deal.
Tea: You gave them to me.
Todd: You put them on. You slept practically naked. You made sure that you were barely covered. You flashed your skin at me every morning. You don't think that turning a guy on and then walking away is leading him on?
Tea: You were turned on? By me?
Todd: When did this turn into a fight?
Tea: Shortly after we met, I think.
Todd: We always did fight well together, Delgado.
Tea: Sometimes too intensely.
Todd: You want to get into that now?
Tea: I want to know what's going on, Todd. Why are we here? Do you really feel that I don't belong in your life?
Todd: I never said that.
Tea: I heard you.
Todd: You misunderstood.
Tea: Then explain it to me.
Todd: It's not important.
Tea: It is to me.
Todd: I said that you didn't belong here. I didn't say anything about you not belonging with me. You heard what you obviously wanted to hear.
Tea: I definitely did not want to hear that.
Todd: Sure you did. That's what I want to hear from you.
Tea: Then why am I here? Why did you come back to Llanview for me?
Todd: Just because I want to hear it doesn't mean that's how I want it to be.
Tea: I'm even more confused. I didn't actually think that was possible.
Todd: You should know better by now.
Tea: I suppose I should. We do seem to be experts at getting our signals crossed, don't we?
Todd: We've had lots of practice.
Tea: Tell me why we're here.
Todd: I thought maybe you'd want to see where I came from...where this monster was created.
Tea: You are not a monster.
Todd: Don't start another fight about this because on this point I would win.
Tea: Not a chance.
Todd: So, now that you've seen it, we should go. The way you yell when you're angry someone probably woke up and called the cops by now.
Tea: I don't understand. What have I seen, Todd? This is a playground that you said you've never played at.
Todd: I couldn't play at this playground when I was a kid because it didn't exist then.
Tea: I don't understand.
Todd: Don't you get it? This is where I'm from, Tea. This is where I grew up.
Tea: Here?
Todd: Home, sweet torture chamber.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: I didn't lie about the not playing part, either. I really didn't get to play much and what play there was doesn't really count since there were always consequences. This...destroying everything...is one of the first things I wanted to do when I had a chance. I didn't want any other kids growing up in that house, sleeping in that room. I didn't even want to think about this place existing anymore. I couldn't remove the land but I could sure get rid of the house.
Tea: So, you built a playground where other children could have what you didn't have.
Todd: Kids should have a place to run and play and make noise and everything else that kids should be able to do.
Tea: I think it's a great idea, Todd. You gave the children in this neighborhood a place to come to where they could be kids and celebrate youth...and you used a place where your youth was abused, where your childhood was taken away from you.
Todd: You're reading too much into this. I did it for the tax write-off.
Tea: I think I understand now, Todd. Is that what you meant about my not belonging here? You were referring to this particular place, right?
Todd: No one belongs here but me. You know, I haven't been here in years but I never really left. I'm trapped here. The house is gone but I'm still trapped inside. I'll never be free.
Tea: Yes, you will. You are. You took control of the land. You've taken control of your life.
Todd: Some life.
Tea: It's not all bad, is it?
Todd: Let's get out of here. It'll be light soon. I don't want to chance running into any of the neighbors, in case any of the old ones still live around here. I hated all of them then, I don't want to see them now.
Tea: Todd?
Todd: Yeah?
Tea: Thank you for bringing me here.
Todd: A minute ago you were yelling at me about that.
Tea: A minute ago I didn't understand. I'm glad you filled me in on everything.
Todd: Yeah, well, let's get out of here now, okay?
[Todd stands up and begins to walk back to the car.]
Tea: Todd, wait.
Todd: Forget it, Tea. I'm not going down the slide but go ahead if you want to.
[Tea stands up and approaches Todd.]
Tea: I just wanted to... Well, I know this is a place of horrible memories for you.
Todd: Yeah, so?
Tea: So, I don't want it to be.
Todd: Too bad. It's too late now for happily ever after, don't you think?
Tea: Fairy tales can exist, Todd...if you believe.
Todd: Oh, now I really need to get out of here.
[Tea takes Todd's hand into her own to keep him from leaving.]
Tea: I just thought that maybe this chapter of your life, here in this place, doesn't have to end with negative memories.
Todd: You got a magic wand you want to start waving? Because, that's the only way you're going to be able to make that miracle happen. This is hell, Tea. This isn't about memories of falling off my bike while I was learning how to ride. This is about being shoved off on a daily basis. This is about every horrible thing that you can image that happened to me here...and probably a thousand things that you can't. There are no happy memories.
Tea: But there could be.
Todd: And people accuse me of being delusional.
[Tea hesitantly brings her hand up to Todd's face and gently caresses his cheek.]
Tea: We could share something positive here. We already have, really. You brought me here. You shared something painful with me.
Todd: I sure know how to show you a good time, huh?
Tea: I'm glad you brought me here. I know that I can't take away the painful memories that you have of this place but I'd like to give you one memory that isn't painful...one memory that maybe you could feel good about.
Todd: Tea...
Tea (interrupting): Todd...
[Tea leans closer to Todd and places her lips on his. Their kiss is gentle...unhurried. Todd's free hand instinctively goes to Tea's waist.
As their lips part, their bodies stay connected...sharing their personal space with each other. Tea's lips again press against Todd's flesh as she tenderly kisses his cheek.
They both feel overwhelmed with emotions following their first kiss in more than a year.]
Tea: If you'd like some time alone before we go back to the hotel, I could wait in the car.
Todd: I don't want to be alone.
Tea: Neither do I, Todd.
[They continue to stand together for a few more seconds before they both step away from each other and end the connection of their hands and bodies. They silently walk back to the car and leave Chicago.]
chapter 20:
[No words are spoken as Todd and Tea drive away from Chicago and back toward the hotel they're spending the night in.
After pulling into a parking space at their hotel they both sit quietly for a moment.]
Tea (looking out the window): It's starting to get light out.
Todd: Yeah. Do you want to just stay here and sleep until whatever time check-out is? Or, do you want me to buy us another night?
Tea: Uh...
Todd: We don't actually have to stay here overnight again. We could just stay and sleep longer and then take off in the afternoon.
Tea: Whatever you want, Todd.
Todd: Okay. (handing her the room key) You go to the room and I'll make sure that no one shows up banging on the door while we're sleeping, telling us to get out.
[Todd and Tea enter the hotel. Todd heads toward the front desk while Tea goes to their room.
In their room, Tea sits on the side of one of the beds. Her mind keeps flashing to the thought that Todd might not return to the room. After the moment they shared in Chicago, Tea wouldn't be surprised if he felt unprepared to deal with it and left her to avoid his feelings...her feelings...their feelings.
Tea closes her eyes and vividly recalls how it felt to finally feel Todd's lips with her own again. It was a nervous kiss...at least she was nervous...but it felt so right to her...so perfect.
Tea's memories are interrupting by a loud banging on the door.]
Todd: Hurry up, Delgado. Open up.
[Tea quickly rushes to the door and pulls it open, wanting to rush into his arms. Tea is surprised to find his arms already full. Tea can't tell what exactly he's carrying, though, since he has a newspaper draped over whatever it is.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Come on, get inside before I get busted.
Tea: Busted doing what? What did you do this time? Will we need bail money?
Todd: Are you always going to be so suspicious and automatically assume that I've done something illegal?
Tea: When you use words like busted, yes.
Todd: This one is all your crime, anyway.
Tea: How? I was sitting in here for the last ten minutes.
Todd: Well, it was for you.
[Todd places the container he's carrying onto a small table and lifts the newspaper. Tea is surprised to see a rather large serving platter full of sliced fruit.]
Tea: Were did you get this?
Todd: Downstairs. They had all this food just lying around so I took a little.
Tea: A little? Todd, is this the entire selection of fruit for their breakfast buffet or something?
Todd: Maybe it was for a wedding.
Tea: This early in the morning?
Todd: Well, then a business meeting. I don't know. Does it matter? You wanted fruit...you got fruit. Besides, it's no big deal, really. Who would want fruit in the morning anyway? Well, besides you.
Tea: I think they'll notice it's missing and wonder where it is. How did you steal it anyway?
Todd: I was taking a short cut through the kitchen and it was just sitting there and there was no one around...
Tea: You're incredible.
Todd: Thank you. (responding to the look on her face) You're not going to try to convince me to take it back, are you?
Tea: I should.
Todd: Well, I won't. You take it back. I'll bail you out after you get caught.
Tea: What makes you think I would get caught?
Todd: Oh, please!
Tea: The least we can do is make sure this fruit doesn't go to waste.
Todd: No way. I'd rather go to jail than take even one bite of that stuff.
Tea: You'll eat food that has been in a vending machine for who knows how long...possibly years...but you won't eat fresh fruit?
Todd: That's right. My body would probably reject that kind of stuff anyway. It's been a long time since I ate anything that didn't come from a can or a machine or that wasn't at least fried in a whole lot of fat.
Tea: Well, I'm having some.
Todd: I thought you were going back to sleep.
Tea: I will. I'll just have a snack first. I'm really hungry this morning.
Todd: I'm going back to bed.
[Todd lies in bed, on top of the covers, facing away from Tea. A few minutes later he rolls over and looks toward Tea.]
Todd: Do you have to make so much noise?
Tea: I'm sorry. Am I chewing this kiwi slice too loudly for you?
Todd: Aren't you done yet? You know, that stuff isn't actually good for you. It's a secret conspiracy that's been going on for years so the people who grow that stuff can make more money.
Tea: Oh, really? Maybe you should call Briggs and have him expose this fruit conspiracy to the world.
Todd: I would but I'm one of the people making money off it.
Tea: I didn't know you were in the fruit business. What do you grow?
Todd: I don't know. Something in Florida.
Tea: Oranges?
Todd: Oranges...lemons...those kiwis you're sucking down at a rapid rate... I don't remember. I don't care as long as I'm making money.
Tea: Maybe we should go to Florida sometime during this trip and find out in person what you grow.
Todd: You want to go to Puerto Rico?
Tea: Why did you change the subject?
Todd: I didn't. We were talking about places to go. Do you want to go or not?
Tea: Do you?
Todd: Not today but we could...at some point.
Tea: Maybe.
Todd: I brought you to Chicago. You should take me to Puerto Rico.
Tea: I grew up in Manhattan, remember?
Todd: Yeah, but I've been there before. Besides, I wouldn't mind going somewhere where you could do that Spanish thing you do.
Tea: You like it when I speak Spanish?
Todd: I like it when I'm around people who don't speak English so they won't bother me by trying to chat with me. I wouldn't mind even meeting some of your relatives if they couldn't talk to me.
Tea: Sorry to disappoint you but many of my relatives speak English quite fluently.
Todd: Well then, never mind.
[Todd rolls back over in bed, facing away from Tea.
Tea decides she's had enough fruit and walks across the room and turns off the light. She stands near the bathroom, leaning against the wall, as she continues her conversation with Todd.]
Tea: If you're not careful we will be going to New York. My grandmother will insist that we stay with her. She only has one spare bed. We'd have to share.
Todd: Your grandmother never liked me.
Tea: What makes you think that?
Todd: She never visited you at the penthouse when we were married. She didn't come to our wedding...our second one.
Tea: I asked her not to come.
Todd: Why?
Tea: I don't know. I had a feeling. Maybe it was because you were so adamant about making the arrangements yourself when before you showed no interest. Even a supposedly mentally ill Todd Manning wanting to make wedding arrangements concerned me. It was other things, too. I don't know. I just had a strong feeling.
Todd: What kind of feeling exactly?
Tea: That hell would break loose.
Todd: It broke lose...it froze over...things went there in a handbasket...
Tea: You know, it was probably an enjoyable event for most of the people there. They at least got to go home and laugh at us.
Todd: I lost my home.
Tea: So did I. I spent the night in a hospital instead of on my honeymoon.
Todd: That whole time you knew it would happen, huh?
Tea: Not the exact details but I felt fairly certain that things wouldn't go well. I knew that marriage ultimately wouldn't work for us, anyway.
Todd: Why? Because of me?
Tea: No...(her voice becoming more emotional)...because I wanted it too much.
[Tea picks up the clothes she wore to bed earlier and takes them into the bathroom to change.
Todd turns onto his back and stares at the ceiling. Tea returns a few minutes later and climbs into her bed. Neither speaks. Tea turns on her side, facing away from Todd. He turns toward her and stares at her until he becomes tired enough and falls asleep.]
to be continued...
