[Minutes later, Tea and Todd are back in their car, back on the road. Tea is driving. Todd is looking at their road atlas.]
Tea: Todd, you should really get some more sleep. You'll feel better if you do.
Todd: I have to figure out where we're going first.
Tea: Let's just pick a direction and wherever we are when the sun goes down, we'll stop for the night.
Todd: We've got five days. We could use it to go somewhere, instead of just driving around.
Tea: I thought you preferred just driving around.
Todd: I do, but you want to go places, right?
Tea: I just want to be with you.
Todd: We could have stayed at that stupid resort if that's all you wanted.
Tea: That wasn't the right place for us.
Todd: Because you hated it?
Tea: Because we both hated it.
Todd: Not me. I love hanging out with snobs.
Tea: We could turn back, if that's what you want.
Todd: No. As long as we've already escaped, we should keep running. So, where do you want to go, Delgado?
Tea: We're not that far from the ocean. We could find a cozy place overlooking the water to spend the night at...maybe even the rest of our trip.
Todd: You hate snobs. I hate cozy.
Tea: Well, can we at least agree on driving west?
Todd: We're going south.
Tea: Why? Because I said west?
Todd: That sounds like a good enough reason.
Tea: Seriously, Todd, where are you leading us?
Todd: I don't know yet. Death Valley sounds good, but it probably isn't as much fun as the name implies.
Tea: How about Las Vegas?
Todd: That's where we're getting married, if you ever get the guts to propose to me properly.
Tea: You want to get married in Vegas?
Todd: See, that wasn't a proper proposal.
Tea: Seriously, Todd...
Todd: I'm serious. I want something special, just like every guy dreams of.
Tea: Will I have to buy you a ring?
Todd: Nothing too fancy. I don't want you to spend too much money on me.
Tea: Very funny, Todd.
Todd: You think I'm joking?
Tea: I don't know if I would even want to get married in Las Vegas, anyway.
Todd: Why not? We did the city hall thing. We did the expensive, getting all dressed up, with a bunch of people we don't care about watching us, thing.
Tea: So, you think Las Vegas should be our next wedding location?
Todd: People gamble there all the time. Why shouldn't we? But first, you have to propose to me.
Tea: You'll never propose to me again?
Todd: I've humiliated myself enough. It's your turn.
Tea: You're serious about this?
Todd: I told you before. Haven't you been paying attention?
Tea: Do you think getting married again would be a good idea? We haven't been very successful at it so far.
Todd: What's a little failure between...well, whatever we are.
Tea: I don't know if you're being serious, or not, but we can't even consider a future together until we get an answer to this pregnancy question.
Todd: Well, hurry up and give us an answer.
Tea: I can't bleed on command, Todd.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: It doesn't work that way.
Todd: Of course not. That would be too easy and you chicks never make it easy.
[Todd tosses the atlas onto the back seat. He tries to get comfortable, leaning against the car door.]
Tea: Did you decide where we're going?
Todd: Yes.
Tea: Where?
Todd: Just stay on this road. Wake me in a couple of hours and I'll take over driving.
Tea: Can't you just tell me where we're going.
Todd: We're going to hell, Tea. Is that enough of a hint?
Tea: Which hell? You consider anywhere that has more than ten tourists to be hell. Give me another hint.
Todd: Jackasses.
Tea: That doesn't help me, either. You think most people are jackasses.
Todd: That was your hint, Delgado. We're going where jackasses ride jackasses.
Tea: We're not going to some sort of dude ranch, or something, are we?
Todd: Hell, no. Are you kidding? I wouldn't torture myself that much, even for you.
Tea: Really? So, if I said that I've always wanted to go to a dude ranch, that it's been my dream since I was young...
Todd: Get another sap to give you that dream, Delgado. My butt is staying off all animals, including mules.
Tea: Mules?
[Several seconds later, Tea realizes where Todd has in mind for them to go.]
Tea: The Grand Canyon?
Todd: It took you long enough to figure it out.
Tea: Why do you want to go there, Todd?
Todd: I never said that I wanted to go there.
Tea: Well, if you didn't, we wouldn't be going there.
Todd: Oh, please! This whole trip has been about you. We've gone where you wanted to go, stayed where you wanted to stay, did the stuff that you wanted to do.
Tea: And, this whole time you've been torturing yourself, never doing anything that you wanted to do?
Todd: That's right.
Tea: That's bull.
Todd: Now, a bull might be fun to ride.
Tea: You think so?
Todd: Yeah...you should try it.
Tea: I don't think so.
Todd: That's probably not something pregnant chicks should do, anyway.
Tea: I don't suppose there's any chance that you'll agree not to refer to me as pregnant while we continue to wait for my...for that answer.
Todd: Do you want me to go back to using the more appropriate term -- knocked up?
Tea: Was this a good idea?
Todd: What?
Tea: Continuing this.
Todd: You want out?
Tea: No, but...
Todd: Save your but for later. We'll fight more after my nap. Unless, your driving makes me puke.
Tea: Do you feel nauseous? Do you want to stop?
Todd: No, but I feel like hell now so I'm fighting with a disadvantage. I can't get in any decent shots with my brain out of commission.
Tea: I'd prefer that you didn't take verbal shots at me at all. Do we really have to fight so much?
Todd: If we didn't fight, we'd have nothing to say to each other. We'd just be staring at each other most of the time.
Tea: Actually, I like staring at you. You never did let me tell you earlier what my fantasy is.
Todd: Your fantasy involves staring at me?
Tea: One of my fantasies does.
Todd: Am I naked? Are you laughing?
Tea: I would never laugh at you, Todd.
Todd: Since when?
Tea: I wouldn't laugh at your body. I think your body is...
Todd: I thought we were going to stop talking?
Tea: Fine, Todd. But, I will be telling you how much I enjoy your body. If you don't want to hear how attractive I think you are right now, that's fine, but be assured, I will tell you.
Todd: Just don't screw up and run us off the road, scarring this beautiful body of mine. Right now, all of my scars are perfectly placed.
Tea: Todd?
Todd: If you're not going to shut up, I might as well be driving.
Tea: I was just going to ask you why you never mentioned my scars. It can wait, though.
[Todd closes his eyes and tries to fall asleep.
Several minutes later...
Todd keeps his eyes closed as he speaks to Tea.]
Todd: Your scars don't matter to me, Tea.
Tea: You don't think they look ugly?
Todd: I don't know. They look like scars. If you want, tonight I could look more closely at them. Usually, your other stuff distracts me.
Tea: Really?
Todd: Are we done talking now?
Tea: Yes. I'll wake you when it's time for lunch.
Todd: You've been yacking so long, that should be in twenty minutes.
Tea: Not quite.
Todd: Whatever...
[Todd focuses on trying to fall asleep as Tea continues driving them towards the Grand Canyon.]
[Hours later, Todd awakens. He grumbles at how lousy he still feels.]
Todd: You lied to me, Delgado.
Tea: I already apologized for not telling you that my period is late.
Todd: Not that...although, I still get to be ticked about that, too.
Tea: What were you referring to?
Todd: You said I'd feel better if I did that sleeping thing.
Tea: You don't?
Todd: No.
Tea: Maybe we should have stayed at the resort until you felt better.
Todd: Nah, that place would have just made it worse. So, where the hell are we?
Tea: We're still in Idaho.
Todd: I should have been driving. I'd have us in a different state by now.
Tea: No, you wouldn't, not as long as we're going south.
Todd: But, I would have been speeding, unlike you on girlie cruise control.
Tea: I'm speeding.
[Todd leans over and looks at the speedometer.]
Todd: Oh, please! That's not speeding. Stop and I'll take over. I'll show you speeding.
Tea: I think I'll drive for the rest of the day.
Todd: No way. I took a nap because of you. I get to drive now.
Tea: I thought you still felt horrible?
Todd: So?
Tea: Just for the rest of the day, okay? I'll try to refrain from driving for the rest of the trip, if I can have the rest of the day.
Todd: Why is this so important to you?
Tea: Because I want you to relax.
Todd: After last night...
[Todd doesn't finish his thought.]
Tea: You thought I'd be angry?
Todd: Why aren't you? Why haven't you been screaming and yelling?
Tea: I am angry...about parts of last night.
Todd: Then, start screaming and yelling so I know everything's okay. How do you expect me to relax when you're being so calm?
Tea: Does arguing make you feel more secure?
Todd: When did you get your shrink license?
Tea: Do you want to talk about your shrink?
Todd: No.
Tea: I would like to know a little about it.
Todd: Just a little?
Tea: For now?
Todd: Like what?
Tea: Will you really answer my questions...honestly?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: I'd prefer that you didn't say anything, rather than lying to me about it.
Todd: I have no problem shutting up about that...or anything else.
Tea: Believe me, I'm quite aware of that.
Todd: So, go ahead, ask your questions.
Tea: You're sure?
Todd: You have a window of opportunity to use how lousy I feel against me, so ask your questions already.
Tea: I don't want to take advantage of you, Todd.
Todd: Yeah, I figured that out last night.
Tea: Do you want to talk about that?
Todd: I actually want to talk about that less than I want to talk about my shrink. Your window of opportunity is quickly closing.
Tea: Okay. How long have you been in therapy?
Todd: You mean this time?
Tea: You've been in therapy before?
Todd: If you can call it that.
Tea: I forgot about your time with...what was his name...Dr. Boyd.
Todd: I forgot about that, too. I was happy not remembering that idiot.
Tea: If you weren't referring to Dr. Boyd then who else did you see? And, when was it?
Todd: Before we met. I don't want to talk about that right now.
Tea: Can we still talk about your more recent experience?
Todd: When we get to the next town with food, we're stopping and this conversation will be over.
Tea: Fine...for now.
[Todd smiles slightly. He doesn't understand why, but for some odd reason he does enjoy how tenacious Tea can be when she wants something, even though he sometimes ends up hating it when she's able to pull something out of him that he never wanted to reveal.]
Tea: When did you start with your current therapist?
Todd: I don't know. I wasn't really paying attention.
Tea: Did it begin after you left Llanview?
Todd: Yeah. Of course. That Boils idiot was taking up my time before I left, remember?
Tea: Boyd.
Todd: Whatever.
Tea: Where did this therapy take place?
Todd: Is that your way of asking where I was?
Tea: I suppose.
Todd: I'm not going to tell you. And, don't get all weepy on me.
Tea: I won't. I understand if you want to keep that to yourself.
Todd: You do?
Tea: If things don't work out between us, you may want to go back there. I understand.
Todd: So, why'd you ask?
Tea: I was curious. I knew you probably wouldn't tell me, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway.
Todd: So, now that you know everything, you don't have any more questions, right?
Tea: I still have a few more.
Todd: I get to ask you questions later on, right?
Tea: Maybe.
Todd: Definitely.
Tea: For now, it's my turn.
Todd: You better hurry up. You're running out of time.
Tea: Are you still seeing this therapist?
Todd: Do you see him in this car with us?
Tea: It's a him?
Todd: Does that matter?
Tea: Only if it matters to you. Why did you stop seeing him?
Todd: I'm cured...obviously.
[There is silence for more than a minute, unnerving Todd.]
Todd: Did you get bored?
Tea: You clearly don't want to answer my questions anymore.
Todd: I answered your last one.
Tea: We don't have to talk about this, if it's too uncomfortable for you. It really isn't any of my business, anyway.
Todd: It's your business...I guess...sort of. You should want to know this stuff, right? You shouldn't be hanging out with me if you're thinking I'll do something horrible to you.
Tea: I don't think that.
Todd: Yeah, well, you should.
Tea: Do you want to do something horrible to me?
Todd: No.
Tea: Then why should I think that?
Todd: Everyone thinks that about me.
Tea: Not everyone.
Todd: Everyone who isn't deluding themselves that I'm a normal guy.
Tea: Did your time in therapy help any?
Todd: To be normal?
Tea: No. Did it help you? Did it make it more bearable being you?
Todd: Nothing could ever do that.
Tea: Nothing?
Todd: Nothing much. I don't know if it helped or not. Everything pretty much feels the way it did before. I still hate life and life still hates me.
Tea: So, it's still...
Todd: Excruciatingly painful? Yeah.
Tea: I wish it weren't.
Todd: I didn't have any stupid delusions. I'm not an idiot. I knew I wasn't going to walk away with all of my problems solved. I guess I just thought I'd give it a shot and see if it could be like you said...more bearable, less impossible. Maybe it is...a little. I don't know. Life stunk before. It stinks now. It will stink later.
Tea: Does my being with you help at all?
Todd: How could they go this long without a place to chow down?
Tea: We don't have to talk anymore.
Todd: Since when are you so anxious to end conversations?
Tea: Since I know this is uncomfortable for you. And, this is a very private issue.
Todd: That didn't stop you from bringing it up.
Tea: You can tell me anything, Todd, but you don't have to tell me anything.
Todd: But, you want me to, right?
Tea: If you're okay with it, yes. I want to know as much about you as I can.
Todd: You're not going to start asking me about my favorite color, or something stupid like that, are you?
Tea: Your favorite color is black. At least, that's your favorite color for clothing.
[There is silence for several more minutes.]
Todd: New York.
Tea: You want to go to New York?
Todd: That's where I was.
Tea: The whole time?
Todd: No. I won't tell you where my shrink is. You're right, I need that to be private. I need to be the only person who knows who he is.
Tea: Okay.
Todd: But, if I tell you the rest, you'll be tempted to figure it out.
Tea: I promise I won't.
Todd: That's okay. I'm through with him, anyway.
Tea: If talking to this person helped, no matter how painful it became, you should continue.
Todd: You don't know.
Tea: No, I don't. I've never known what it's been like for you, before we met, while we were together, while we were apart, now... Only you know how it feels to be you.
Todd: Just so you know, people who sound like shrinks don't turn me on.
Tea: I wasn't trying to turn you on.
Todd: Well, later you might want that. But, I guess after last night you probably won't.
Tea: Do you want to...enjoy...ourselves together, tonight?
Tea: We do have some things that we probably should discuss.
Todd: It's okay. I understand why the thought of being with me now is repulsive to you.
Tea: I don't think it's repulsive.
Todd: It always should have been repulsive, anyway. You were deluding yourself. Now you know. We don't have to do stuff together anymore.
Tea: Todd, listen to me, I don't now, and I never did, find the idea of being physically, and sexually, intimate with you, to be repulsive.
Todd: Sure, you did, do, will...whatever.
Tea: I could stop the car right now and we could get into the back seat and I could prove to you that you're wrong.
Todd: Okay.
Tea: Seriously?
Todd: Sure, since I know that you're just saying it and don't really mean it.
[Tea pulls the car to the side of the road and shuts the engine off.]
Todd: Delgado, what do you think you're doing?
Tea: I'm proving to you that I don't find being near you to be a repulsive prospect. Let's go.
[Tea opens her door and unlocks the back door on her side. She quickly enters the back seat. Todd stares at her in disbelief.]
Todd: You're nuts.
Tea: I'm honest. I'm attracted to you. If you feel up to this, get back here and let me show you how much I enjoy being intimate with you.
Todd: That wouldn't count.
Tea: Why?
Todd: Because, you'd only be doing it to make me think that you aren't repulsed. That doesn't mean that you aren't.
Tea: You're impossible.
Todd: I'm also driving.
[Todd begins climbing over towards the driver's seat.]
Tea: Wait, Todd.
Todd: Too late, Delgado. My butt's on the seat. Isn't that some sort of law? Whoever has their butt touching an item has possession of it, or something. This is my seat. I'm driving.
[As Todd search his pocket for his key, Tea leans against the back of his chair and places her hand on the side of his face and lightly caresses his skin.]
Todd: Nice try, Delgado. You're not going to distract me, or stop me from driving.
[Tea removes her hand from his face and places it on the edge of his seat, touching his leg, as she brings herself closer to him and begins to kiss the side of his face.
Todd tries not to let her get to him, but he finds it impossible.
Tea braces herself with her other hand on his headrest as the hand by his leg moves onto his leg. As she caresses his leg through his slacks, she's pleased when he turns his head in her direction and brings their mouths together.
They both enjoy kissing each other for several moments. Todd is disappointed when Tea pulls her lips away from his. He turns his body more in her direction and reaches out for her, not wanting to lose contact with her.]
Todd: Delgado...
Tea: Come back here.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because this isn't a very comfortable position for me.
[Todd turns his body away from her and stares down at the steering wheel in front of him.]
Todd: We should just forget about this. You don't really want this.
Tea: I do, Todd. I want to be with you.
Todd: No.
[Tea places her hand at the back of his head and strokes his hair.]
Tea: Yes. It's not sex, Todd. We both know that's not an option right now.
Todd: Then, what's the point?
Tea: The point is that I feel good when I'm close to you, when you hold me, when you touch me. The way you kiss me makes me feel loved...adored...desired...
Todd: No.
Tea: Are you saying that I'm imagining those feelings and you really don't feel that way about me?
Todd: I'm saying that you're lying to me. You're saying stuff that you think you're supposed to say.
Tea: That's not true.
Todd: It's not even about me. If it was some other guy here with you right now, you'd be saying the same stuff to him.
Tea: No, I wouldn't.
Todd: You just hate feeling like you're alone.
Tea: That's true.
Todd: But, if it were anyone else but me, you'd be screwing his brains out so you wouldn't have to feel alone. But, it's me, so you don't want that.
Tea: I do want to have sex...to make love...someday.
Todd: It will always be someday, won't it? You just don't want to admit that you're too scared to do that with me.
Tea: Come back here, Todd.
Todd: Why bother? I'm a guy, Tea. Do you really think I get a thrill just holding you?
Tea: We could kiss.
Todd: I'm surprised you risk yourself that much. Aren't you afraid I'll bite your tongue off one of these times you shove it in my mouth?
Tea: Why are you doing this?
Todd: Doing what?
Tea: Is this because we talked about your being in therapy? Do you feel like you need to distance yourself now? Do you feel like you revealed too much?
Todd: I didn't reveal anything. It was all just a bunch of lies. I said what I thought you wanted to hear.
[Tea ends her physical discomfort and sits back in the seat, behind Todd.]
Tea: Go ahead and drive, Todd. Maybe we shouldn't talk for a while.
[Todd bangs his hand on the steering wheel. He's frustrated, at himself, at Tea, at whatever it is inside himself that can never allow him to just enjoy being with her without having to continually test her and try to push her away.
For several minutes they're silent, neither person certain what to say, or do, to end the strained atmosphere they both now feel.
Todd is finally the one who breaks the silence.]
Todd: Why don't you want to screw me?
Tea: I do. I mean, I want to make love.
Todd: No. You should want to screw me, Tea. Not me, actually. But, if I were another guy that's what you'd want, right?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: But, not with me?
Tea: No.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because you're different.
Todd: Because of my past?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: That's what I thought.
Tea: I don't think we're thinking the same thing. It isn't because I'm scared to be sexual with you. I can't say that I'm not scared, but I can say that my fear isn't because of your past. It's because of my past. I'm scared of what I feel. I'm scared of what I want. I'm scared of what I need.
Todd: How can you be around me and not be scared of me?
Tea: I don't know. People told me going into our first marriage that I should be afraid of you...very afraid.
Todd: So, why weren't you?
Tea: I don't know. I knew some of your past. I knew that you weren't an easy person to be around at times. But, I had seen you with your daughter. It was partly seeing your love for her. I could tell immediately that this little girl must have changed you. Having her must have affected you deeply. I saw a man who probably never wanted to trust love, but he trusted it with his daughter. I would listen to you at night sometimes. I'd hear the stories that you told her. I would hear the laughter coming from her room. Not just her laughter, but yours, too. I would hear you tell her that you loved her. I envied her, in a way.
Todd: Because you wanted me to love you?
Tea: After a while, I did.
Todd: It's not the same, Tea. If you're looking for some guy to make up for how screwed up your father was, you've got the wrong guy.
Tea: I don't want that.
Todd: What the hell do you want, Tea?
Tea: I want you to love me. I want to believe in that love. I want to feel it. I want you to feel my love. You have Starr's love, but that's not enough, is it?
Todd: I don't need love.
Tea: Yes, you do. You may not want to because of your past, but you do need it. I need it. You're right. You can't give me the feeling of a father's love. You can't give me the feeling of a mother's love. But, you can give me the feeling of your love. You can let me feel it. You can let me know what it's like for you to love me without taking it back seconds later, or trying to sabotage it the next day.
Tea: Because you're the only person who can give me what I need.
Todd: I'm the last person who can give you what you need.
Tea: Maybe you are. Maybe you are my last chance to feel loved.
Todd: That's not what I meant.
Tea: It's true, Todd. Other men have said the words to me, but I could never feel it. I never believed it.
Todd: You believe it with me?
Tea: I want to.
Todd: Why? Go find someone else who can give you all that garbage that you want. I'm not that guy.
Tea: Why not?
Todd: Because I can't. I don't know how.
Tea: Yes, you do.
Todd: You're wrong.
Tea: You've done it, Todd. On this trip, you've done it. You've held me when I was hurting. You've touched me when I need to be touched. You've talked to me, or listened to me...
Todd: I hate talk. I hate this. Maybe this feels good to you, but this feels lousy to me.
Tea: What does?
Todd: All of this.
Tea: I don't believe that.
Todd: I don't care. It's the truth.
Tea: The truth is that you held me last night. We both had a difficult night and you held me.
Todd: I must have been asleep. I didn't know what I was doing.
Tea: Maybe you were. So, in your sleep, you needed to be near someone. You needed someone to hold onto. I needed you to hold me. It worked for both of us.
Todd: No.
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You're just gonna get hurt.
Tea: I hurt when I'm not with you.
Todd: No, you celebrate when you're not with me.
Tea: I hurt, Todd. For so long, I kept a distance from everyone. I wouldn't let anyone beyond the barriers I worked so hard to erect inside myself.
Todd: Well, letting them down for me would be a really stupid mistake.
Tea: I need to let them down. It's too much work trying to keep myself safe all the time. I want to risk myself with you.
Todd: Are you nuts? I'm the guy you're supposed to run from. I'm the guy that you're supposed to have a weapon ready to defend yourself from. I'm the guy that women take self-defense classes to protect themselves against. And, you want to risk yourself with me? You really are screwed up.
Tea: If raping me was your goal, you would have done it already.
Todd: Are you sure about that?
Tea: Tell me right now if you've ever thought about raping me. Tell me if the thought of hurting me and forcing me sends a thrill through you. Does it?
Todd: I've thought about it.
Tea: In what way?
Todd: You want details?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You want me to vividly fill you in on every disgusting detail?
Tea: Yes.
[There is silence for several moments.]
Todd: I have hurt you, Tea.
Tea: Yes, you have. Did you enjoy it?
[Todd doesn't respond.]
Tea: Be honest with me, Todd.
Todd: Yeah, I enjoyed hurting you. Last night, I was enjoying it.
Tea: You didn't physically hurt me last night.
Todd: But, I did hurt you, right?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: That counts, Tea.
Tea: I know that it does. I need you to tell me, though, if the thought of physically, or sexually, hurting me appeals to you.
Todd: I've thought about it.
Tea: Does it appeal to you?
Todd: Does it make a difference?
Tea: It makes a big difference. If your thoughts involve your fear that you'll hurt me, but you don't want it to happen, then we have a chance.
Todd: And, if I get off on the idea? We'd be over, right?
Tea: Is that what you want?
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: Because you're scared? Or, because you don't want to be with me?
Todd: What difference does any of this make?
Tea: It makes a lot of difference...to me.
Todd: It shouldn't.
Tea: If you tell me you're scared, I'll help you.
Todd: How?
Tea: I'll hold you.
Todd: I'm not some little kid. I don't need anyone pretending that a hug will solve anything.
Tea: I need it, Todd. I need you to hug me.
Todd: Go back to your boyfriend. Let him hug you. Let him screw you. He's the one you really want to be with, anyway.
Tea: So, why am I here?
Todd: Because you're scared of how much you care about him. You're scared to get too close to him. You're scared to trust him to stick around.
Tea: You just described how I feel about you, Todd.
Todd: No. That's garbage that you've been pretending to feel about me but that you really feel about R.J. You've just been faking it with me so I wouldn't leave you and you can keep running from the jerk you really love.
Tea: The jerk I really love is you...you jerk.
[They both choose to be silent again for several minutes.]
Tea: Todd, you may feel that you don't need hugs anymore, but I know that I do. A part of me is still the little girl whose mami walked out on her and took all the hugs with her. After Del and Enrique moved out, I was left with a brother who was as confused and damaged as I was, and a father who couldn't, or wouldn't, offer any explanations, or any affection.
[Tea is quiet for a moment, not wanting to delve into such painful feelings, but compelled to do so anyway.]
Tea: My father... I don't know if he couldn't love, or if he just didn't know how to show it. I don't know if he showed my mother love. Maybe in private with her, he could. Maybe he couldn't. Maybe that's why she left. Maybe it isn't. I don't know. What I do know is that he never once told me that he loved me. That was what I meant when I said that I envied hearing you tell Starr how much you loved her. I wanted to hear that myself. When he was dying, I sat at his bedside. I wanted so much for him to wake up. I was so selfish. I wanted him to wake up, look at me, and finally say it. I wanted to know what it would sound like to hear my father's voice saying those words to me. He didn't wake up. I'll never know if he did truly love me. Sometimes I think that he did. But, most of the time, I don't know. Part of the reason that I want it to be you that holds me is because of how I feel about you. But, part of it is because I think you know what it feels like. I don't have to describe that feeling to you, do I? I don't have to describe the way I felt when my mother left. You know, don't you? You know how lonely it can feel, even when you're not alone. You know how hard it is to believe that anyone could love you. You know how scary it is to risk everything and allow yourself to love someone else, to trust them to return that love. I need you to hold me. You, Todd. I don't need just anyone. I need you. I want more. I want a sexual relationship with you someday. But, I need an intimate relationship with you, now and for the rest of my life, that's more than sex. I need your love.
[Silence takes over again. For several minutes, they each stay inside their own silent pain.
Finally, Todd ends the silence by starting the car again and pulling back onto the road.]
[After speeding down the road for a while, Todd exits off the highway. As he drives through city streets, there continues to be nothing but silence between the ex-spouses. Todd isn't even certain if Tea is still awake.
When he pulls into a gas station and gets out of the car, he gets his answer. She's definitely awake. She avoids looking at him, but he can tell that she's angry at him. Or, maybe she's tired. Or, it could be that she's embarrassed about the things she said to him. Basically, he has no idea what kind of mood she's in right now.
As Todd pumps the gas, he tries to figure out how to handle things with Tea. He knows that he blew it earlier. He knows he'll blow it now, too. He always has. He's never been good at figuring out women and their moods. He knows that he'll probably say, or do, the wrong thing in this moment but he's counting on Tea, like he always has, to let him off the hook, so they can move on to the next misunderstanding, or the next fight, or the next...whatever.
After pumping the gas, Todd goes into the building to pay for it. When he returns to the car, he finds that Tea is no longer in the back seat. She's now in the front seat, on the passenger side. He smiles. He knew he could count on his Delgado.]
Todd: Can you believe in a city this size, you have to pump your own gas and you can't even pay at the pump?
Tea: Are we eating during this stop?
Todd: You want to go in and get something?
Tea: No. I want to go to a restaurant. One that doesn't have a drive-thru.
Todd: That eliminates all the best places.
[Todd drives away from the gas station. They drive along the main road for a while until they find a diner they both agree on.
As they're exiting the car, Todd sees a nearby store and gets an idea.]
Todd: Delgado, go inside. I'll be there in a few minutes.
Tea: Todd...
Todd: I swear, I'll be there in a few minutes. There's something I need to do first. Order me a sandwich.
Tea: What kind?
Todd: Whatever you think I'll like. I trust you.
[Tea is hesitant but enters the diner without Todd. She doesn't see where he runs off too.
Inside the diner, Tea order both their meals. When the food finally arrives, Todd is still not there. Tea can tell that the waitress thinks she's been stood up.
Tea finishes her own sandwich and Todd is still gone. For several more minutes, Tea continues to try to convince herself that Todd would not abandon her like this.
Tea finally pulls the plate with Todd's meal toward herself and begins eating his sandwich.
Todd finally arrives, carrying a paper bag that he places next to him on the seat as he slides into their booth.
Tea puts the sandwich down, not certain how she'll explain why she's eating his lunch.]
Waitress (to Tea): He showed after all.
Tea: I knew he would.
Waitress (to Todd): What would you like to drink?
Todd: Cola. The real stuff, with lots of caffeine. And, bring me a bag of barbecue potato chips and whatever kind of sandwich my wife is having.
[The waitress steps away with a smile on her face.]
Todd: Why was she laughing at me?
Tea: Actually, I think she was laughing at me.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because, this is your sandwich.
[Tea pushes the plate with Todd's half-eaten sandwich toward the center of the table.]
Todd: You thought I ditched you?
Tea: You were gone a long time.
Todd: I told you I'd only be a few minutes.
Tea: Well, I felt like an idiot just sitting here doing nothing.
Todd: So, you devoured my food?
Tea: I didn't...not all of it.
Todd: Are you done with it now? Or, do you want to finish it off?
Tea: I'm done.
[Todd grabs what's left of the sandwich and shoves it into his mouth.
The waitress returns with his beverage and potato chips. After she leaves again, Tea speaks to Todd.]
Tea: What's in the bag?
Todd: What bag?
Tea: The one that proves that you, Todd Manning, voluntarily went shopping.
Todd: This was a necessary purchase, not frivolous like all the stuff you buy.
Tea: We will have to stop somewhere to replenish everything we left behind at the resort...assuming we will be continuing this trip together.
Todd: Why wouldn't we?
Tea: No reason...I guess.
[They both are relieved that they will be continuing this trip, even though they both know that they won't be able to continue pretending their earlier conversation didn't take place. For now, they both just want to survive this meal as pleasantly as they can.
Todd grabs the bag next to him and pulls a book out of it.]
Tea: You went to a bookstore?
Todd: I know how to read.
Tea: I know you do, but you said this was a necessary purchase. What book did you think was a necessity?
[Todd places the book on the table.]
Tea: A cookbook?
Todd: You're cooking for me, remember?
Tea: I know how to make French toast, Todd. You didn't need to buy a cookbook.
Todd: This is for the other stuff you'll be making me.
Tea: What other stuff? I only agreed to French toast.
Todd: As long as we're getting a place that has a kitchen, you'll also be making me dinner.
Tea: I thought you wanted French toast for dinner?
Todd: That can wait until breakfast. I couldn't find an entire Puerto Rican cookbook, for some reason. That's why it took me so long. I had to look through a ton of books until I found one that had a Puerto Rican section.
Tea: You want me to make you a Puerto Rican dinner?
Todd: You have a problem with that?
Tea: No, but you didn't need to buy a cookbook for that, either. I already know plenty of recipes.
Todd: I get to pick what you make. I don't want any weird stuff.
[The waitress brings Todd's sandwich. Todd lifts top slice of bread and places a large amount of potato chips inside the sandwich and then returns the bread to the top. As he's biting into it, he sees Tea's disapproving look.]
Todd (with his mouth full): What?
Tea: Nothing.
Todd: You don't approve?
Tea: Eat your sandwich any way you want to.
[Todd holds his sandwich out to her.]
Tea: I'm full.
Todd: Just try it.
[Tea takes a small bite of his sandwich before he pulls it back and continues devouring it.]
Todd (with his mouth full again): Well?
Tea: It's fine.
Todd (knowing that she still disapproves): You have no taste...that's why you're with me.
[As Todd continues eating he opens the cookbook. Tea watches him eat, relieved that she has more time to enjoy his presence.]
