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| ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 26 - 30 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Tea: Never mind. Do what you want. Wear what you want. Don't bathe. Keep me at a physical distance. I still want to kiss you...even if I won't until you smell okay again.
[Several minutes pass. Todd gets out of bed and grabs his bag.]
Todd: I'm starting to itch. That's the only reason I'm doing this. Not because of you.
[Todd enters the bathroom for a shower and to change his clothes. Tea lies in bed smiling.]
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chapter 26:
[Hours later, Todd awakens. Tea is again calling his name in her sleep. He sits up in bed and listens to her sporadic rambling. From what he hears it sounds to him like she is again having a nightmare about him leaving her.
Todd gets up and turns on a light near the bathroom so he can see Tea more clearly. He stands near her bed and watches her. After a few minutes, he sits beside her.]
Tea (in her sleep): Todd? Todd? Where are you?
[Todd hesitates for a moment before reaching his hand out and gently moving her hair out of her face.]
Todd (whispering): Tea, I'm right her. Go ahead and sleep.
[Tea suddenly grabs onto his arm with an extremely tight grip as her eyes fly open.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: Yeah. I'm here. Go back to sleep.
Tea: You're here?
Todd: Yeah. Now, could you let go of my arm? You're cutting off my circulation.
[Tea lets go of his arm and he removes his hand from her face.]
Tea: Sorry. I...uh...
Todd: You were having a nightmare. I know. But, everything's okay now, right?
Tea: Go ahead and leave.
Todd: What?
Tea: I know that you will. Just do it now.
Todd: Tea...
Tea: Don't bother pretending, Todd. It's clear that being with me isn't what you want.
Todd: I took a shower last night and I even changed my clothes for you. You need more proof than that?
Tea: What if I am pregnant?
Todd: You said you weren't. Did you lie?
Tea: No. I don't think I am. What if I were, though?
Todd: So, there's a chance?
Tea: I used precautions. Sometimes, that's not enough. I suppose it's possible.
[Todd is quiet as he looks down at his hands, unable to look at Tea's face anymore.]
Tea: I'm sorry, Todd, but that is the truth. It is possible.
[There's a long silence between them.]
Tea: I feel guilty.
Todd: For cheating on me?
Tea: I didn't cheat on you. You left me. Our marriage was over. I had every right to have a relationship with R.J.
Todd (standing up and beginning to pace): Fine. Then go back to him. Even if you're not pregnant now I'm sure you could change that quick enough.
Tea: I don't want to be with R.J. You know that. The reason that I feel guilty is that I hope I'm not pregnant.
Todd: That's not really a bad thing, is it? Lots of people hope that doesn't happen after they've had sex with someone...especially when it's someone they never should have been screwing around with in the first place.
Tea: Don't start, Todd.
Todd: What?
Tea: The reason I feel guilty is because of you.
Todd: So, you do regret cheating on me with R.J.
Tea: I was not cheating. Our marriage had been over for months. Our marriage...that particular one...barely lasted a few hours anyway.
Todd: So? It still counts.
Tea: The only reason that I wouldn't want to be pregnant right now is because I know that you'll leave me if I am. That's why I feel guilty. I want you more than I want a baby. What if I am pregnant? What if there is a baby growing inside of me right now? It feels horrible to think that I would actually feel disappointed.
Todd: You already said that if you were you'd have it, right?
Tea: I would. I would have to. I know that ultimately I would regret it if I didn't.
Todd: You don't need to feel guilty about it.
Tea: There was a time that I had hoped that it would be you...that it would be with you...
Todd: You know...uh...
Tea (interrupting him): Maybe we should stop talking about this.
Todd: You want to stop talking?
Tea (with tears in her eyes): Will you stay until you find out? Or, is this it no matter what?
[Todd sits down on his own bed and doesn't respond for a few minutes as he tries to think about what Tea is asking.]
Todd: This isn't the first time I've been in this situation...my wife pregnant with some other guy's kid.
Tea: We don't know that I'm pregnant. And, technically, I'm not your wife anymore.
Todd: That doesn't matter.
[Todd is quiet again for a few more minutes.]
Todd: I don't know if I could do it, Tea. I'm not very good at being an understanding guy. I told you before, remember, a long time ago, that the thought of you with another guy makes me feel like I want to kill everybody.
Tea: But you forgave me for Andrew.
Todd: Not really.
Tea: You still wanted to be with me.
Todd: But this would be different. Besides, Andrew was no competition. He was too good. He was too boring. R.J. is more your type.
Tea: But you know that I don't want to be with him. I want to be with you.
Todd: But I would always wonder.
Tea: I guess I don't have to wonder, do I? I already know that you will leave me if I am pregnant.
Todd: If you are, would you tell R.J.?
Tea: It would be the right thing to do.
Todd: But would you?
Tea: I don't know.
Todd: Well, I'm guessing we would have a difficult time passing the kid off as mine.
Tea: Are you saying...
Todd: No... I don't know. I really don't.
Tea: This is a lot to absorb, I know.
Todd: It wasn't easy for me to go back to Llanview and rip open my insides and toss my feelings in front of you like that.
Tea: You know, you haven't quite verbalized those feelings. You haven't used certain words.
Todd: So? Neither have you.
Tea: I could.
Todd: Don't. Okay? Not right now. This is confusing enough as it is. Don't muck it up with more words.
[They are both silent again for several minutes as they stare intently at each other.]
Todd: Fine. I'll stay until we know. That's all I'm promising right now. Take it or leave it.
Tea: I'll take it.
Todd: Good. Now, move over.
[Todd gets up again and shuts off the light he turned on earlier.]
Tea: Move over? Why?
Todd: Because, you're on my side of the bed. And, don't even try to negotiate with me. There will be no compromises about this and no trading off. I get this side of the bed every night or our deal is off.
[A completely stunned Tea moves over as Todd gets into bed with her, although he stays on top of the covers.]
Tea: Are you saying...
Todd: And, no more talking. I can't sleep when you're yacking. And, no more nightmares. I need my beauty sleep. If you think I'm ugly now you should see what I'll look like if you keep waking me up every night calling my name.
Tea: Is that what I've been doing?
Todd: You've been blabbering. I'm not surprised, really. You can't keep your mouth shut even when you're sleeping.
Tea: Well, with you next to me maybe my nightmares will go away like yours did that night you held my hand all night, remember?
Todd: You're the one who grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go that night.
Tea: That's not true.
Todd: That's the only way I remember it. So, that's how it was.
Tea: I'll keep the truth to myself.
Todd: You do that.
[Several minutes pass quietly as they both think about where they are, what they mean to each other and what the future may possibly hold for them.]
Tea: Thank you, Todd. I really appreciate this.
Todd: Just remember, the next time they try to pin something on me that I didn't do, you owe me some glowing testimony about what a swell guy I am.
Tea: I'll be there for you when you need me. I promise.
[Todd rolls over onto his side, facing away from Tea. She knows that he's trying to put distance between them but at least he's still sharing a bed with her. She falls asleep hoping that his feeling for her are strong enough for him to stay with her no matter what happens in the future.]
chapter 27:
[When Todd awakens in the morning he grumbles as he reluctantly opens his eyes. The curtains are closed so there isn't too much light in the room but it's definitely morning and Todd is definitely hungry.
As he looks at the empty bed a few feet away he's reminded that in a moment of obvious insanity the night before he had gotten into bed with Tea. He's relieved to hear behind him sounds that let him know that Tea is still asleep. At least he won't have to figure out what to say to her yet.
Slowly, he rolls over and faces her. She's facing him. Her face is partially buried in her pillow as she sleeps. Her hair is a mess and she isn't wearing any makeup. Todd stares at her, amazed at how beautiful she is while she sleeps.
As if beyond his control, Todd's hand reaches out to touch her, needing to prove to himself that she's real...not just another dream like so many other dreams he's had of waking up next to her.
When his fingers touch her face she starts to moan softly. Todd starts to freak out, not wanting her to awaken and find him touching her. He has to keep at least some of his feelings hidden from her...until he's sure it's safe. Tea moans again. The jealous part of Todd's brain wants to know who she thinks is touching her...who she's dreaming about. Sure, so far her nightmares have been about him but who is it that fills her dreams.
When Tea moans again, Todd realizes that his fingers are still lightly stroking the side of her face. He knows he has to stop but her skin is so smooth...so perfect under his fingers.
Tea smiles and stretches out her body, clearly waking up.]
Tea (softly): Todd...
[Tea's eyes open suddenly. She looks scared for a moment until she sees him beside her.]
Tea: Good. It's you. It's okay.
Todd: What is?
[Todd notices Tea noticing his fingers that stopped moving in his panic of realizing she was waking up but are still touching her face.]
Todd (removing his hand): Oh...uh...I was checking to see if you had a fever. You were grunting like you were sick again.
Tea: Was I? Well, at least with you I know whatever I do while I'm asleep is okay.
Todd: I don't understand.
Tea: Never mind. It's nothing.
[Tea sits up and pulls back the blankets covering her body.]
Todd: You can't just hint at something and not tell me.
Tea: Did I call out your name again?
Todd: Yeah, but...uh...it didn't exactly...it wasn't quite like it was the other times.
Tea: Because this time I was dreaming you were with me instead of having a nightmare that you weren't.
Todd (quickly getting out of bed): I don't see how that's okay. Shouldn't you keep that kind of stuff to yourself. I do.
Tea: Do you dream about me?
Todd (desperate to change the subject): Do you want to use the bathroom first?
Tea: Yes. And, don't worry I won't push you about your dreams. The reason that it's okay...
Todd: I don't think I want to know anymore.
Tea: Some men don't like it when a woman is in bed with them and calls out her ex-husband's name.
Todd (smiling slightly): You did that, huh?
Tea: On a regular basis, apparently. Not on purpose, of course, but it's impossible to control your dreams.
[Tea smiles as she notices the glee that Todd is trying unsuccessfully to hide.]
Todd: So, how'd your boyfriend handle that?
Tea: Well, R.J. was always pretty good about it. He would even comfort me when I had the nightmares.
Todd (the glee quickly disappearing): Never mind. Use the bathroom or I will.
Tea: John, on the other hand...
Todd: So, now I not only have to hear about how wonderful and understanding your lover, R.J., was but now I have to hear about the others, too?
Tea: That's the whole list, Todd. I've only had two sexual partners since our marriage ended.
Todd: Only? What about Andrew? Didn't he come sniffing around you again?
Tea: No.
Todd: I saw you together.
Tea: When?
Todd: I'd have to go out to the car and get my stalking journal to give you the exact dates.
Tea: It doesn't matter what dates you give me. I was with Andrew...(lowering her voice slightly)...sexually...exactly one time and it was...
Todd (finishing her sentence for her): While we were still married. You know what that makes you, right?
Tea: Wait. There was Max.
Todd: Oh, please tell me you're just saying this to make a vein pop in my head so you can steal my car. I don't think I can handle it if you toss Max onto your pile of sin.
Tea: Why are you being so overly dramatic?
Todd: Were you really desperate enough for Max?
Tea: It was just a date...and a kiss...but it wasn't real. He and Blair were trying to run a scam on me in retaliation for charging them with perjury.
Todd: I was so proud of you when you went after them. Why'd you go soft and let them off the hook?
Tea: You were the one who committed perjury the most during your trial.
Todd: No. I aided my defense. So, how did their scam against you backfire? I assume it did.
Tea: Max asked me out for a date and I knew instantly that he was up to something so I went.
Todd: Of course. So, he kissed you as part of the scam?
Tea: No. I kissed him.
Todd: Okay, storytime's over. Go do your thing in the bathroom. It's time to get out of here.
Tea: It wasn't a real kiss. It was barely even a kiss. It was nothing more than a peck.
Todd: Technically, I think that's still considered cheating.
Tea: I just wanted him to think I didn't suspect anything and I wanted to get to Blair who I knew was watching us. Anyway, they had arranged for me to be accused of stealing this necklace only I was on to them so when I had the chance I took the necklace that was planted in my purse and...well, I relocated it.
Todd: Let me guess...Blair's purse?
Tea: Exactly. They ended up back in jail.
Todd: But you didn't stick with it, right? You let them off?
Tea: Revenge wasn't making me feel any better.
Todd: Then you must have been doing it wrong. I'll have to teach you. Rule number one...no kissing anybody.
Tea: Not even you?
Todd: Uh...
Tea: Don't worry, Todd. We can wait. We'll have plenty of time for that when we share a bed again tonight.
Todd: I just did that last night to get you to shut up in your sleep.
Tea: Well, I'll be talking again tonight unless you're with me.
Todd: So, you're saying...
Tea: Well, your nightmares stopped that time I shared a bed with you, remember? I think that maybe mine might stop, too.
Todd: It is hard to sleep when you're babbling.
Tea (hesitant): So, you'll try it...again...tonight?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: Well, you can think about it while we're at the mall today. Let's go. I want to get there as early as we can.
[Todd groans at the prospect of spending his day at a mall.]
Todd: You're still on that mall idea? There must be some place else you want to go.
Tea: Come on. It won't be that bad. You can play video games and eat food with no nutritional value whatsoever.
Todd: Well, that part sounds okay.
Tea: It will be fine. You may even enjoy it.
Todd: Don't get carried away.
Tea: I'll take a really quick shower so we can get going, okay?
Todd (filled with dread): Great.
chapter 28:
[Todd and Tea eat a quick fast food breakfast not far from their motel and then begin driving toward the largest indoor shopping mall in the country.
They begin by taking a leisurely route. First, through sparsely populated areas dotted with occasional small towns and then into larger more suburban communities.
After more than an hour, Tea uses the directions from her travel book, along with her road atlas, to direct Todd to a freeway that will take them the rest of the way to their destination. Todd groans constantly at all the traffic surrounding them, as he darts in and out of lanes, cursing the other drivers. Tea tries to distract him.]
Tea: Do you want to find a hotel first or go right to the mall?
Todd: I still think you should reconsider this mall idea.
Tea: If you let this happen you can pick the next thing we do together, okay?
Todd: You sure about that?
Tea: Yes...maybe...that depends on what you have in mind.
Todd (teasing her): Ever climb a mountain?
Tea: As a matter of fact...
[Todd grumbles at her and stops talking. When they get close to the mall, he follows the signs and exits the freeway.]
Todd (as the mall comes into view): Oh, hell! And, I do mean that literally.
Tea: That definitely looks big, doesn't it?
Todd: Look at all those cars. We won't be able to find a parking space. Let's just forget it.
Tea: Well, let's get a room at one of the hotels across from it and we'll walk over. Okay?
[Todd groans again, not believing that he's actually allowing her to force him into this.
Minutes later, Tea and Todd enter their hotel room. Tea is surprised to find only one bed.]
Tea (looking at Todd): So, you decided we will be sharing from now on, huh?
Todd (lying): It's not my fault. I didn't tell them we only wanted one bed.
Tea: We could ask for another room.
Todd: They seemed pretty booked up. All those stupid, crazed shoppers probably hogged all the rooms with two beds.
Tea: Well, this stupid crazed shopper is going to the mall. Are you coming?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: Come on. We can get something to eat.
Todd: You hungry again?
Tea: That doesn't mean that I'm pregnant. It just means that I'm hungry.
Todd: Right.
Tea (pulling on his arm): Come on. I want you to come with me.
Todd: Fine. Just don't expect me to stay more than five minutes.
Tea: Five minutes would be great. I was only expecting you to last two minutes.
Todd: You owe me big time for this, Delgado.
[Tea pulls Todd out of their room and toward the mall.
Minutes later...]
Todd (two seconds after entering the mall): Okay, you've seen it. Can we go now?
Tea: You're really not going to give this a chance, are you?
Todd: No. You knew that I wouldn't. I hate this. There are too many people and they're all staring at me.
Tea: Maybe that's because you look like you're about to throw up.
Todd: I am. (responding to her look) What, just because you got knocked up, you get to throw up but I don't?
Tea (frustrated and angry): Fine. Forget it.
[Tea turns and walks back out the door. Todd follows her.]
Todd: Tea, come on. Don't be so sensitive.
Tea (turning back toward him and raising her voice): What do you want, Todd? Do you want me to get down on my knees and beg you to forgive me for having a life after you dumped me?
Todd (raising his own voice): Hey, you dumped me. (lowering his voice) And, lower your voice. People are staring.
Tea: I don't care, Todd. Is that why you won't stay if I am pregnant? Because, you're concerned about what people will think, or say, if they find out I'm pregnant and you're not the father? Are you worried about the reaction of everyone back in Llanview?
Todd: I don't give a damn about most of those people.
Tea: Then why do you care about all of the pathetic strangers here who aren't satisfied in their own lives and need to eavesdrop on ours.
[Todd gently pulls Tea away from the strangers she just loudly insulted. He stops when they get to an area far enough away from the door to avoid the flow of people entering and exiting the mall.]
Todd: You have to be careful about insulting strangers. You don't know them. You don't know what they might do.
Tea: Are you worried about me? Do you care? Do you give a damn about me at all?
Todd: It's not just you anymore. You have to look out for that kid.
Tea: We don't know...
Todd (interrupting): Come on, let's face it. It's got to be, right? I mean, with the luck we both have had...
Tea: Maybe our luck could change. Or, maybe...just maybe if...and I do mean if...it happens, it could be a good thing...for both of us.
[Todd looks down silently. Tea watches him, knowing that his silence tells her what the future will be if she is in fact pregnant. She decides, though, to take as much time with him as she can in case she is pregnant. Even if she isn't pregnant, she knows in her heart that something else will happen to make him leave her again. So, right now she just wants to spend as much time as she can with him while he's still allowing it.]
Tea: Do you want to go back in or not?
Todd: I don't know. I hate being around people and there are a lot of people here.
Tea: Okay. We'll go back to the hotel room where we can be alone...and talk.
Todd (taking hold of her hand): Let's get this over with.
[Todd leads Tea back toward the mall.]
Tea (smiling): So, you hate talking more than you hate crowds, huh?
Todd: You promised me junk food, remember? That's the first thing we're doing.
Tea: Fine.
[Todd and Tea re-enter the mall. Todd still cringes at his surroundings and the crowds of people moving passed them. He tries to let go of Tea's hand but she refuses to let go of his so he clasps his hand gently around hers again. Tea feels his hand squeezing hers again and looks at his face.]
Todd (with more emotion in his voice than intended): I don't want to lose you. (covering after seeing her facial reaction to his words) You know...in the crowd. I don't want to lose you in the crowd.
Tea (certain there was an additional meaning to his words): Yeah, that's what I thought you meant.
Todd: Okay, my junk food radar says that we go...(picking a random direction)...this way.
[Minutes later, Todd has an ice cream cone in one hand and Tea's hand still safely in his other hand as they walk around the indoor amusement park in the middle of the mall.
Todd gently tugs on Tea's hand to pull her away from a souvenir vender and toward an arcade.]
Todd: Come on. We're gonna play some games.
Tea: We? No. You go ahead. I'll try to find an empty bench out here and wait for you.
Todd: No way. You dragged me here. You're gonna play with me.
[Todd pulls a reluctant Tea into the arcade.]
chapter 29:
Tea (as Todd pulls her into an arcade area): Todd, I'm not really into these kinds of games.
Todd: Hey, if I have to do the shopping thing with you then you have to do my stuff with me.
Tea: I wasn't aware you were planning to shop with me.
Todd: I can't let you loose in this place. I have to make sure you don't end up overloading the car. Although...we could get another car. That way you could get more stuff and you could drive too, like you want to.
Tea: Yeah, and you could avoid conversation with me even more. Forget it. You're stuck with me, Manning.
Todd (looking around the arcade): So, what should we play first?
Tea (approaching a skeeball game): I wouldn't mind playing this.
Todd: That's such a girl game.
Tea: Oh, really? What's a man's game? One of these electronic games where players beat, stab or shoot each other?
Todd: Yeah. Well, those and the ones that involve sports. Oh, hey, look...they've got a race car one. Here's your chance to do some driving.
Tea: You go ahead. I'll just watch.
Todd: You're not being any fun.
Tea: Okay. Fine.
[Minutes later, Todd has to pull Tea out of the seat to stop her from playing the game after she already played it four times.]
Tea: I was just getting the hang of it.
Todd: Yeah, well, you're making a bunch of kids cry because they can't be race car drivers because there's an old lady hogging the game.
Tea: Fine. Let's play something else.
[More than an hour later, after trying almost every game in the place, Todd finally pulls Tea out of the arcade and back into the amusement park.]
Tea: You're no fun, Todd.
Todd: When you start picking fights with little kids, Delgado, it's time to leave the arcade.
Tea: He started it.
Todd: What is with you today?
Tea (smiling): I don't know. I feel really great, Todd. It's like I'm a kid again.
Todd: Yeah, well maybe it's the...
[Todd stops himself from bringing up the possible baby inside her again and decides to drop it and just enjoy his day with Tea...as much as he can enjoy any day spent in a mall.]
Todd: Okay, Delgado, time to ride some rides.
[Todd suddenly stops walking, causing Tea to bump into his side.]
Tea: What is it?
Todd: Do you think it's okay for you to ride stuff when you could be...
Tea: Uh, well, yeah. I assume so. I could always skip the more extreme ones, I suppose. Like that one.
[Tea points at a ride that is generating loud screams from its riders.]
Todd: That one looks like fun.
Tea: You can go ahead. I'll watch you.
Todd: Nah. The line's too long.
[They find a few rides they agree on and ride them together, some even allowing their bodies to be pressed together in a tight space, which they both secretly enjoy. Finally, Tea pulls him toward the Ferris wheel.]
Todd: Oh, no way. I hate those things. They're boring.
Tea: You sure it's not that they're tall and you're afraid of heights?
Todd: Afraid of heights? I lived in a penthouse, remember? I would stand in the living room leaning my head against the window and look down all the time. I'm not afraid of some little Ferris wheel.
Tea: Good, then let's go for a spin.
Todd (as he allows Tea to pull him toward the Ferris wheel): Why do I always let you have your way?
[Minutes later, Tea and Todd are on the Ferris wheel, high in the air.]
Tea: Now that I have you here, let's talk...
Todd: If you think I won't jump, you're wrong.
Tea (smiling): I was kidding.
Todd: I wasn't.
Tea: Come on, Todd, admit it...talking isn't that bad. We're actually kind of good at it...sometimes.
Todd: We've had a few moments.
Tea: More than a few...just on this trip alone. In fact...
Todd (interrupting her): Tea?
Tea: Yeah?
Todd (taking her hand in his): Stop talking.
[For the rest of the ride they sit in silence...watching the view...watching each other.
Minutes later they exit the ride and Todd leads Tea back into the shopping area of the mall.]
Todd: I'm hungry. Let's find something to eat.
[Todd avoids any of formal or semi-formal restaurants, not wanting to deal with servers trying to chat with him. Instead they find one of the food courts and choose a Mexican fast food restaurant.
As they eat, they sit at a table off to the side of the food court in an area that's less crowded than the main dining area between the restaurants.
Tea watches Todd as he eats. He rips off one end of his burrito, tilts his head back and squeezes the contents into his mouth and then tosses the burrito shell on his tray. He does the same to another burrito before finally looking up and noticing Tea staring at him.]
Todd: What?
Tea: The whole thing is edible.
Todd: So?
Tea: You are an odd man, Todd Manning.
Todd: Thank you.
Tea: I knew you'd think that was a compliment.
Todd: Well, it was intended as one, wasn't it?
Tea (smiling): Actually, it was.
Todd: That's what I thought.
[They finish their meal and walk around the mall for a while. As they walk passed a restaurant that features live birds, Tea pulls on Todd's hand to get his attention.]
Todd: What?
Tea (looking carefully at one of the birds across the corridor): Isn't that Moose?
chapter 30:
[Todd looks at the bird that Tea is pointing out to him.]
Todd: You need glasses, Delgado.
Tea: That looks just like Moose.
Todd: No, it doesn't. Sure, they look like they could be cousins or siblings, I suppose, but it's not like they're identical.
Tea: That looks like him to me.
[They approach the area where the suspicious bird is, near the front of the restaurant.]
Todd (whispering covertly to the bird): Hey, you seen Moose?
Bird: Mum's the word.
Todd: I'm a friend of his.
Bird: Secret word?
Todd: Clam sauce.
[The bird squawks.]
Todd: So, have you seen him?
Bird: On the lam.
[Tea stares carefully at the bird, still convinced that it's Moose, but Todd obviously doesn't believe it is.]
Todd (continuing to converse with the bird): If you see Moose let him know that the Sun in Pennsylvania will always warm his feathers. He'll know what it means.
[The bird squawks. Tea rolls her eyes slightly at the idea that Todd is speaking in code to one bird about another bird.]
Todd: You need help getting sprung from this place?
Bird: Undercover.
Todd: Got it. You better be careful, though, or you'll end up undercover on a dinner plate.
[The bird squawks again. Todd and Tea start to walk away. The bird whistles and gets their attention again.]
Bird: Nice legs.
[Todd and Tea turn again and walk away.]
Tea: Are you sure that wasn't him?
Todd: Are you kidding? This one actually likes you...well, your legs, anyway.
Tea: Maybe it's a female bird and she was complimenting your legs.
Todd: It wouldn't be the first time my legs drew attention from a female.
Tea: You've definitely drawn mine with them, especially the few times I've seen them uncovered.
Todd: You like them, huh?
Tea: I like all your parts, Todd. In fact, I'd like to...
Todd (interrupting): You want to know what I'd like?
Tea: What?
Todd: If you didn't finish what you're about to say.
[Todd looks down for a moment, uncertain if he should reveal something unpleasant he's discovered during the last few hours in this mall with Tea.]
Todd: I...uh...this...today...it hasn't been...well...it hasn't stunk as much as I thought it would.
Tea: I've enjoyed being with you, too, Todd.
Todd: Well, then we should stop talking while we're still doing okay here, right?
Tea: Let's just focus on doing some shopping.
Todd: I knew it. You kept talking and you ruined the mood.
Tea (with a flirtatious glint in her eyes): I hope the mood isn't completely ruined.
Todd (grumbling and pulling on Tea's hand in his as he quickly moves down the corridor): Now I need more junk food.
[After purchasing a bag full of treats at a candy store and stopping to dine on french fries and onion rings, Todd finally agrees to a limited amount of time shopping with Tea.
First, they enter a large upscale department store. A perky individual accosts Todd, trying to convince him he should sign up for a credit card with the store. They quickly leave the store.
They enter a nearby boutique. Todd spots racks full of frilly lingerie. They quickly leave the store.
They enter a movie merchandising store. A greeter touches Todd while welcoming him to the store. They quickly leave the store.
Several minutes...and several additional stores later...]
Tea: You know, at the rate we're going we could probably enter and leave every store in this mall before they close.
Todd: It's not my fault.
Tea: Could we just enter and...gee, I don't know....perhaps actually look at some of the merchandise in at least one store without leaving two seconds later?
Todd: Fine, but I draw the line at anyone touching me. That one guy's lucky I didn't hurt him.
Tea: Okay, touching is out but do we have to leave stores because the sales people smile at you. That's what they're trained to do. It's supposed to create a friendly and inviting atmosphere. They probably never counted on customers like you.
Todd: They're all a bunch of idiots. I hate them all.
Tea: You hate everybody.
Todd (quietly): Not quite.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Don't blow it, Tea.
[Tea takes Todd's advice and drops the subject while taking the compliment that she knows was intended for her. They continue walking silently for several moments until Tea spots a store that sells unique and bizarre gifts. She tugs on Todd's hand and without needing to speak suggests the store. Todd also doesn't speak as he begrudgingly agrees to try to enter the store. He's pleasantly surprised when no sales people or greeters accost them as they enter.
They each release their grip on the other person's hand as they wander separately through the store.
Minutes later, Tea has picked out a few trinkets to send to her grandmother and Carlotta. When she looks around for Todd she finds him in a back corner of the store.]
Tea (approaching him): Todd?
Todd: Hey, Tea, look at this.
[Tea steps closer to Todd and sees what he's looking at.]
Tea: I didn't know you were interested in unicorns.
Todd: I'm not. What do you think this thing is?
Tea: It just looks like a statue of a unicorn to me.
Todd: It's a toilet paper holder.
Tea: You're kidding, right?
Todd: No. It says so on the tag. (showing her how it works) See, you put the roll here on it's horn. It doesn't do anything else interesting, though. (pointing out another item nearby) This one over here, when you pull the paper off, you know, when you...uh...
Tea (interrupting): Yeah, I get the idea.
Todd: Anyway, when you're pulling the paper and the thing spins around it plays this thing that sounds like a waterfall. Or, they have another one that says stuff...really gross stuff.
Tea (sarcastically): How charming.
[Todd picks up the unicorn bathroom tissue dispenser and starts to walk away.]
Tea: Wait. You're not actually planning to buy that are you?
Todd: Why not?
Tea: What would we do with it, Todd? Carry it from hotel room bathroom to hotel room bathroom?
Todd: It's not for us. It's for Viki.
Tea: I'm fairly certain that this doesn't fit Viki's taste.
Todd: There are so many people running around inside her head, I bet one of them has lousy taste and will love it.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: Oh, come on. Knowing Viki, she'll probably feel obligated to use it, especially since her brother gave it to her. Just imagine one of her snobby guests just sitting there, doing their thing...they reach for the paper... Oh, wait. This one is the ugliest but I should get the talking one, shouldn't I?
Tea: Todd, if you want to buy something for Viki, I'm sure there are a lot of other things you could get...things that are more appropriate.
Todd: I don't want appropriate. I want something that will make her laugh so hard she'll...we'll she'll need to use this thing.
Tea: You want something to cheer her up? That's really sweet, Todd.
[Tea reaches out and gently touches his arm. Todd abruptly puts down the item.]
Todd: Fine. Forget it.
[Todd quickly walks away. Tea follows after him.]
Tea: Todd, wait. Don't leave.
Todd: I'll wait outside while you buy your stuff. You need some money?
Tea: I still have your winnings from when you ran off to the casino, remember?
Todd: Fine.
Tea: I'm sorry if you took something I said or did in the wrong way.
Todd: You think my idea is stupid, that's fine.
Tea: You know, there are other ways, other things you could give her, that would make your sister smile or laugh. I just don't know if Viki is really the type to find things like what you were looking at funny.
Todd: She's not as boring as she looks. She can be kind of bawdy when she wants to be. (smiling slightly) It's even kind of better when it comes out of her because you don't expect it from her.
Tea: Then, go ahead and get the toilet paper dispenser or one of the toilet seats that make disgusting noises when you sit on them.
Todd: I didn't see any of those. Where are they? What kind of noises?
[Todd and Tea return to the bathroom section of the store and spend several minutes going through all of the odd items of questionable humor until Todd finds the one that he thinks will make Viki laugh the most. They purchase their items and leave the store.]
Tea: Where to now?
Todd (speaking quietly): Starr...
Tea: A toy store?
Todd: Yeah.
[Tea slides her hand back into Todd's as they head off in search of a gift, or several gifts, for Starr.]
to be continued...
