Previously: Tea: Wait. I know that sex is technically an option. I didn't mean what I think you may be thinking I meant.
Todd: Well, what the hell did you mean?
Tea: I meant that if it were someone else, sex is all that I would want...and, frankly, it's all that I would expect. I want emotional, and physical, intimacy with you beyond sex.
Tea: We've shared more than sex already, haven't we?
Todd: If you're planning to do the kind of stuff we've been doing that's still sex, Tea. Well, not actual sex, but you know what I mean.
Tea: Yes, some of what we've done, while not including intercourse, has been sexual, but there have been moments that were physically intimate that weren't sexual, haven't there?
Todd: I'm a guy. Pretty much everything is sex.
Tea: So, when you hold me in your arms at night while we're falling asleep, that's sex?
Todd: Well, I'm probably thinking about it.
Tea: What about when you've comforted me? Is that sex, too.
Todd: What's your point here, Tea?
Tea: My point is that I want sexual moments with you but I also want physically intimate moments with you that aren't sexual.
Todd: That's your fantasy?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Why? You like when we're doing stuff, right?
Tea: Of course, I do.
Todd: Then I don't get it.
Tea: I want to be physically intimate with a man...someone that I love, who possibly loves me...I want to touch him, and feel him touch me, when it doesn't feel like it's just a setup to sex. I want to know that you're touching me because it feels good, on it's own.
Todd: Well, we're not having sex, so every time I touch you it's a touch that isn't going to lead to sex.
Tea: But, it can lead to sexual pleasure.
Todd: And, that's a bad thing?
Tea: No, of course not. That's actually the reason I wanted to wait until later to do this.
Todd: You're confusing me.
Tea: Right now I want to be sexual with you. I want to kiss. I want to caress. If you're interested, I want to get on that bed together and enjoy ourselves for a few minutes.
Todd: Only a few?
Tea: As long as you want.
Todd: So, you want to get the sexual stuff out of the way now so we can do this non-sexual whatever later on?
Tea: Something like that.
Todd: It's not gonna work. You can't tell my body to only get turned on when you want it to be.
Tea: It's okay if you get turned on later.
Todd: You're confusing the hell out of me.
Tea: I just wanted to try to have some time when we're physically intimate but without trying to turn each other on.
Todd: But, if our bodies get interested, anyway...
Tea: If it turns into a sexual experience, I know I'll enjoy it. I enjoy being sexual with you.
Todd: But, you want one time when it's not that?
Tea: I know that we have had that when you comforted me, when I was in pain, but I thought that maybe we could try it when that's our goal instead of unpleasant circumstances leading us there.
Todd: So, let me get this straight. Right now you want to do stuff...stuff that turns us on?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: And later, you want to do stuff...but, stuff that doesn't turn us on?
Tea: It's not quite that simple.
Todd: Of course, it isn't. This is you putting me through hell. You have to keep it complicated.
Tea: Let's just wait until later and I'll show you what I have in mind, okay? If it turns into a sexually pleasurable experience, I'll have no complaints.
Todd: But, you want me to try to keep...certain body parts...under control?
Tea: If your friend decides to join us, that's okay with me. I just wanted to try it.
Todd: But, right now we get to do fun stuff?
Tea: If you're interested.
Todd: I think I can spare a few minutes before I prepare your surprise.
Tea: What is it?
Todd: You'll have to wait. Right now, let's check out this bed.
[Todd lets go of her hand and flings himself down onto the bed.
Tea sits on the edge of the bed and takes her shoes off. Todd, seeing her actions, kicks his own shoes off, letting them fall off the foot of the bed, onto the floor.
Slowly, Tea lies back on the bed, next to Todd.]
Todd: Don't be nervous.
Tea: I'm not.
Todd: You look nervous.
Tea: Maybe I am...a little.
Todd: We've done this kind of stuff before.
Tea: Are things different now?
Todd: Because you're probably knocked up?
Tea: No...because last night...
Todd: What about it?
Tea: Never mind. Once we start kissing again, I'm sure my nerves will fade away.
[They both lie on their backs, staring up at the ceiling, neither making the first move with the other.
Several minutes later...]
Todd: So, do you want to just forget this and get to the grub?
Tea: No, but if you do...
Todd: Did that really freak you out this much?
[Tea doesn't respond. She's not certain how to respond. She knows that Todd remembers a lot about the previous night but she's not certain if he also recalls what happened after she found him drunk in the resort's bar and they returned to their hotel room.
Todd turns on this side, facing her, before speaking again.]
Todd: If it did, you don't have to worry. He'll stay out of sight.
[Tea turns her head in his direction. She studies his eyes for a moment before turning her body toward him and placing her hand on the side of his face.]
Tea: I'm not scared.
Todd: Sure, you are.
Tea: I swear, I'm not. I am nervous. We crossed some serious lines last night. I'm not really certain how that affects things.
Todd: I won't do that to you again...not like that.
Tea: It would be okay if you did...under different circumstances.
Todd: Different from last night? Or, different from now?
Tea: It wasn't appropriate last night.
Todd: When you woke up the other morning and your hand was...
Tea: I wasn't scared to touch you. I was scared that you would be upset that I touched you without your permission.
Todd: I knew you were asleep when it happened. I don't know how exactly you managed to get your hand trapped down there, but I knew that you didn't do it on purpose. You didn't, did you?
Tea: No. Not because I didn't want to touch you, though.
Todd: Is that something that you do with all your guys? Is that why it happened? Just a reflex action?
Tea: No. I was probably dreaming about you.
Todd: You do that?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Were we running through a meadow? Chicks dream about that kind of stuff, right?
Tea: Well, I suspect that if that particular dream involved us in a meadow, we must have been naked as we were running.
Todd: That's a scary image.
Tea: I don't know about that.
Todd: Fine. Next meadow we come to, you can take your clothes off and go for a jog.
Tea: And, what would you be doing while I'm running through that meadow without any clothes on?
Todd: Watching.
Tea: Do you like watching me?
Todd: Run through meadows?
Tea: I'm serious. Do you like looking at me?
Todd: Like I'm looking at you right now?
Tea: Like you looked at me yesterday, when you helped me change into my dress.
[Todd places his hand on Tea's side and caresses her through her clothing.]
Tea: You don't have to answer me.
Todd: I know I don't have to answer you.
Tea: If it makes you uncomfortable...
Todd: That's not why I don't have to answer you.
Tea: Why?
Todd: Because, it's a question with an obvious answer.
Tea: Because you're a guy and you enjoy seeing any woman without her clothes on?
Todd: Believe me, there are some chicks I never want to see without their clothes on.
Tea: What about me?
Todd: You really want me to tell you, don't you? You want me to say it out loud?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: If I didn't want to see you like that, why would I have stuck around while you were changing? Why would I have been helping you take off your clothes? It's an obvious answer. I don't need to say it.
Tea: I'm very attracted to you, Todd.
Todd: That's okay.
Tea: It is?
Todd: I already knew you were screwed up, anyway.
Tea: And, you consider my desire for you to be more proof?
Todd: Of course.
Tea: I love you.
Todd: You really want me to think you're nuts, don't you?
Tea: I'm nuts about you.
Todd: Okay, you crossed the line with that one. Any more talk and I'll be throwing up.
Tea: Do you feel better than you did this morning?
Todd: I'm up for this, Tea. If you would just shut up, I could show you.
[Tea smiles. Todd watches her for several moments. He knows that she's tempted to speak again but is trying not to. He allows more time to pass, knowing that it's frustrating her not speaking.
Finally, Tea can't take it anymore, but rather than speak, she pulls on the oversized shirt she's wearing, trying to untuck it from the top of her pants. She then places Todd's hand underneath her shirt, where it quickly finds her bra covered chest. Tea brings her mouth to his and kisses him. His lips instantly respond as his hand moves under her shirt to her back and then down her body to the top of her pants.
As they continue to kiss, they exchange words, along with moans and grunts.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd grunts his response.]
Tea: Take...off...my...
[Tea gets lost in another kiss and doesn't finish her thought.
Several moments later...]
Todd: What?
[Tea moans her response into his mouth.]
Todd: Take...off...what?
[As they continue deeply kissing while trying to converse, it takes Tea several moments before she responds.]
Tea: Anything...everything...
[In between more kisses, Todd tries to figure out what she originally meant. His hand slides under the back of her bra for his first guess.]
Todd: Top?
[Todd's hand quickly glides down her body and over the back of her pants. It slides between her legs and pulls on her top leg and brings it over his body and caresses the area of her thigh that he's caressed before with no clothing in the way.]
Todd: Bottom?
[Tea is enjoying where his hand is, where his body is, where his tongue is. They continue kissing as their conversation pleasurably continues.]
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Which?
Tea: All.
Todd: Naked?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: You?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Me?
Tea: Hell, yes!
[Todd stops kissing her as he starts to laugh.]
Tea: You think I'm joking, Manning?
[The smile on Todd's face remains, as the look in his eyes intensifies.]
Todd: You have no willpower, Delgado.
Tea: Do you have any idea how long I have waited?
[Todd's smile disappears as his facial expression becomes extremely serious.]
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: I love you, Todd. I want to be naked with you.
Todd: That would be too much torture for both of us.
[Tea removes her leg from his body and starts to sit up.]
Tea: I'll make dinner.
[Before Tea can get off the bed, Todd stops her. She's sitting on the edge of the bed as he positions himself behind her and kisses near her ear while his hands search for the bottom of her shirt. He pulls on the remaining portion of her shirt that is still tucked into her pants until it's loose and then removes his mouth from her flesh as he lifts the oversized shirt over her head. He throws the shirt on the floor and places his hand on her chin, turning her face toward him. Their mouths meet again.
When they break their kiss moments later, Todd moves over and Tea lies back down on the bed.
Todd lies on his side next to her, with his body facing her. He trails one finger down her body from her neck to the top of her pants. As he places his arm around her and presses his body against hers, his lips begin to kiss the flesh of her upper chest.
He takes his time, slowly exploring her flesh with his lips and tongue. When he reaches her bra, his mouth continues and explores one of her breasts through the material of her bra. After a few moments he moves his mouth over to her other breast and does the same thing.
Too soon for both of them, Todd suddenly pulls away from Tea and gets off the bed. He grabs the remote control on top of the television and turns the TV on. He quickly scans through the channels to see what's on.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: What?
Tea: If you're looking for something interesting to watch, look this way.
Todd: I'm doing this for you.
Tea: Turn this way and I'll show you what I want you to do for me.
Todd: You want something decent to watch while you're cooking, don't you?
Tea: Todd, turn the television off and look at me.
Todd: I haven't found anything decent for you to watch yet.
Tea: I'm taking off my bra. It's your choice whether you want to watch me, or that television, in this moment.
Todd: Since you're about to start cooking, shouldn't you be putting stuff on, not taking it off? I thought you didn't want to risk burning any important body parts.
Tea: We're not quite finished here.
Todd: I thought we were.
Tea: A few minutes more.
[Todd finally turns back in her direction.]
Todd: Just a few?
[Tea unhooks her bra and removes it from her body. Todd watches her.]
Todd: Just a few more minutes, right?
Tea: Right.
[Todd turns the television off and places the remote back on top of it. He turns back and looks at Tea for a moment, as she lounges on the bed waiting anxiously for him.
He climbs onto the bed and returns to his place next to her. He places his hands on either side of her body and brings his mouth down to one of her breasts.]
Todd: Is this what you wanted, Tea?
[He extends his tongue and flicks it against her nipple. Her body reacts.]
Todd: Is this what you wanted?
[Todd's lips close around her flesh as he gently sucks on her nipple. Tea moans in response. Her hands enter his hair. Todd removes his mouth from her breast and looks up at her face. He finds her staring at him, lust clearly evident on her face.]
Todd: Tea...
Tea: I want this.
Todd: You're really sure?
[Tea nods her head, not trusting her voice anymore. She's never felt this much physical desire for anyone before in her life.
Todd returns his full attention to her breasts. He touches, licks, sucks, and kisses, her flesh for several minutes. They both are tempted to do more, to allow their bodies to have the satisfaction they both crave. Neither acts on their additional desires.
After several enormously pleasurable minutes, Todd kisses up her body and lingers at her neck for several kisses before bringing their mouths together again.
After several more kisses, they both begrudgingly pull away from each other and get off the bed.
Tea puts her shirt back on and begins dinner. Todd enters the bathroom to take a long shower.
They both spend their minutes apart, thinking about the other, wishing that they could stop torturing themselves stopping their physical activities, even though they both worry about what the result would be to their relationship if they ever do finally have sex together.]
Todd finally exits the bathroom. Tea is busy in the small kitchen area, preparing their meal.]
Tea: I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming out of there again.
Todd: You thought I went out the window?
Tea: Of course not.
Todd: Yeah, well, I could have if they didn't have such a small one in there. I didn't want to chance getting stuck.
Tea: Very funny.
Todd: I'm not kidding.
Tea: Todd...
[Tea turns her attention away from the food she's preparing and looks in Todd's direction for the first time since he exited the bathroom. She's surprised at the sight before her.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: What?
Tea: You shaved.
Todd: I know. I was there.
[Tea silently stares at him for several moments. Todd becomes uncomfortable, not knowing what she's thinking.]
Todd: You liked it better when more of my face was covered up, didn't you?
Tea: No...yes...
Todd: Am I supposed to choose which answer I want to believe?
Tea (smiling): You will anyway, won't you?
Todd: Probably. So, is the grub done yet?
Tea: Not quite.
[Tea approaches Todd. He steps back from her.]
Todd: What?
Tea: I'm surprised.
Todd: You were supposed to be.
Tea: Is this my surprise for tonight?
Todd: Well, it was going to be something to really turn you on but you made it clear that you don't want anymore of that tonight, right? So, this is the only surprise I could think of that wouldn't have that effect on you.
Tea: Are you sure about that?
Todd: That's what you said earlier.
Tea: What did I say?
Todd: That you didn't want to enjoy ourselves anymore tonight.
Tea: That's not what I said.
Todd: That's what I heard.
Tea: Well, that isn't what I said. Besides, that was before I saw you in a goatee again. It makes you look very, very sexy, Todd.
Todd (laughing): Good one. I'm hungry. Where's the food?
[Todd pulls a chair out from the small table near the kitchen area and sits down.]
Tea: You'll have to wait a few minutes.
Todd: But I'm hungry now.
[Tea moves another chair intimately close to his and sits down. Her hand immediately goes to his face and caresses his newly shaved skin.]
Todd: What are you doing?
Tea: I'm touching you.
Todd: Is this part of your bizarre fantasy?
Tea: Actually, when I fantasize about you, this is how you usually look.
Todd: Really?
Tea: This is how you looked when I fell in love with you, except your hair was longer then.
Todd: It smells like something's burning.
Tea: No, it doesn't.
Todd: I thought you wanted to do some weird touching each other without getting turned on thing tonight.
Tea: I do.
Todd: Then why are you unbuttoning my shirt?
Tea: Maybe we should wait until tomorrow night to do what I had in mind.
Todd: Because you have no willpower?
Tea: When it comes to you, it is hard.
Todd: If you keep doing what you're doing...
[Tea finishes unbuttoning his shirt. One of her hands caresses his chest while the other moves down his stomach until her fingertips are slightly inside the top of his pants.
Tea brings her body closer to his and kisses the side of his neck.]
Tea: You smell great.
Todd: I put some of that stuff on after I shaved. If that stuff has this kind of effect on chicks, I'm investing in the company that makes it.
Tea: I don't think it's that. I think it's you.
[Tea places a brief kiss on his chin before bringing her mouth to his. As they kiss, Tea's hand tries to slide further into his pants. His hand quickly grabs hers and pulls it out of his pants. She ends their kiss but stays close to him, her other hand still on his chest.]
Tea: I want you.
Todd: You can't keep doing this to me.
Tea: I want to be with you.
Todd: No, you don't.
Tea: I do.
Todd: No...you said that you wanted to torture me with a bunch of touching, but you didn't say you wanted to torture me like this.
Tea: We both have been torturing ourselves by stopping what we both really want.
Todd: You know why we have to stop. It's not my fault.
Tea: There's no fault here.
Todd: Yeah, there is. It's your fault.
Tea: I can make it feel better.
Todd: You don't know what you're saying. You don't know what you're suggesting.
Tea: I know exactly what I'm suggesting. You know exactly what I'm suggesting.
Todd: Do you want to know what I know?
Tea: What?
Todd: You're burning my dinner.
[Tea realizes that he's right and quickly gets up and returns to taking care of their meal.]
Todd: Of course, since it's your cooking, it would probably be an improvement.
[Tea turns and gives him a stern look. Todd laughs in response.
For several minutes they are both silent as Tea places their meal on the table. It isn't until she sits down again that she finally speaks.]
Tea: I'm sorry, Todd.
Todd: That's okay. It isn't that bad.
Tea: I wasn't referring to the food. I'm glad that you like it, though.
Todd: I didn't say that.
Tea: I am sorry for earlier. I don't know what came over me. You just have an effect on me.
Todd: I'm not wearing that aftershave out in public. I don't want mobs of women ripping my clothes off and throwing themselves at me.
[After several silent minutes, Todd looks up from his food and catches Tea staring at him.]
Todd: What?
Tea: Nothing.
Todd: This is how I always eat.
Tea: I know.
Todd: So, why are you staring at me?
Tea: Because I like looking at you. You're nice to look at.
Todd: I'm not nice at all...in any way.
Tea: You can be.
Todd: You see what you want to see.
Tea: I see you.
Todd: And, what do you think you see, Delgado?
Tea: I see a man...
Todd: Well, that's good.
Tea: A man with his shirt unbuttoned.
Todd: You unbuttoned it.
Tea: Why didn't you button it back up?
Todd: I'm too lazy. Besides, it's hot in here because of all the cooking you've been doing.
Tea: Maybe I should take my shirt off.
Todd: Delgado, did you want to do that...whatever the hell thing it is that you wanted to do, or not?
Tea: We don't have to. You probably would hate it.
Todd: I hate everything.
Tea: Maybe we should go ahead and do what we both would enjoy.
Todd: I want to do this other thing.
Tea: You do?
Todd: I'm not going to screw you, if you're pregnant.
Tea: Screwing wasn't what I had in mind.
Todd: You know what I mean. We're not doing that if you're knocked up.
Tea: We could do other things...things that would feel good.
Todd: Do you know what would make me feel good?
Tea: What?
Todd: Chocolate chip cookies. Did you forget?
Tea: No. I was planning to wait until after dinner.
Todd: Well, since you're not eating right now, anyway...
Tea: I'm eating.
Todd: No...you're staring at me.
Tea: I can eat and stare at you at the same time.
[Todd continues trying to eat but Tea's constant gaze unnerves him. After several minutes, he stands up and carries his plate across the small room and sits on the end of the bed. He turns on the television and uses the remote control to scan through the channels with one hand while using his other hand to continue eating.
Tea accepts his less than subtle hint and focuses on her own food, allowing Todd to have some distance right now, hoping that he will still agree to try to be physically, and emotionally, intimate with her sometime after dinner.]
After finishing dinner and placing the cookies in the oven to bake, Tea takes a quick shower. When she finishes and returns to the bedroom, she finds Todd still on the bed, but instead of sitting on the end, as he had been when she left the room, he is now lounging with his back propped up by pillows against the headboard.]
Tea: Have you been keeping an eye on the cookies?
Todd: That's chick work.
Tea: This chick is about to let your cookies burn if you continue to make references to chick work.
Todd: I shouldn't call it that, you're right.
Tea (surprised): I am?
Todd: It shouldn't really be called work.
Tea: Manning...
[Todd smiles slightly, enjoying getting a reaction out of Tea. Tea enjoys his enjoyment.]
Tea: I think you should take the cookies out of the oven.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because, I did everything else tonight.
Todd: I did my part. I sacrificed my stomach, didn't I?
Tea: Yes, you did. You were very brave. So brave, in fact, that you even had seconds.
Todd: I was trying to pretend I was a nice guy.
Tea: Are you sure it wasn't because you like my cooking?
Todd: How could it possibly be that?
Tea: Well, I'm done for the night. If you want cookies, you'll have to get them yourself.
Todd: Well, since you didn't make them from scratch, they're probably worth the effort.
[Todd gets off the bed and enters the small kitchen area. Tea takes his place on the bed.
A few minutes later...
Todd joins Tea on the bed with a plate of hot cookies.]
Tea: Why are you watching this show?
Todd: This place doesn't carry any of the good channels. This was the best I could do. Besides, I think I know who did it.
Tea: Who?
Todd: The guy no one thinks did it. It definitely can't be the guy who's on trial for it.
Tea: You're probably right. Just in the small amount of time I've been watching, though, I've seen a number of inaccuracies in how they're depicting this trial. They didn't do the proper research. It's not at all realistic.
Todd: You're right. It's not nearly as boring as a real trial. The judge isn't as stupid and the lawyers...
Tea: Watch it, Manning.
Todd: What? I was about to compliment your profession, I swear.
Tea (not believing him): I'm sure you were. You know, the writing isn't very good, but the acting is even worse.
Todd: When I first turned it on, I thought they were doing a spoof.
Tea: They're not?
Todd: Unfortunately, no.
Tea: Where's the remote?
Todd: You're not turning the channel. I'm engrossed.
Tea: You are?
Todd: Oh, yeah. There's this chick with really big...
[Tea playfully pushes Todd.]
Todd: Do you have something against chicks with big eyes, Delgado?
Tea: You think it was her big...eyes...that got her the part?
Todd: Well, it certainly wasn't her talent...at least not her acting talent.
[Tea playfully pushes him again.]
Todd: Cut it out, Delgado. I've got cookies in my lap.
Tea: Are they cooled off yet?
Todd: No.
Tea: Then why are you eating them?
Todd: I like them hot.
Tea: Well, I don't enjoy burning my tongue. I'll wait.
Todd: Whatever.
[Todd continues eating. Tea rests her head against his shoulder. His body tenses up.]
Todd: Are we starting already? Is this the thing you wanted to do?
Tea: No. But, I have wanted to do this, too.
Todd: Why?
Tea: I don't know. It seems like something couples would do, doesn't it? Snuggling up together, watching television, sharing a snack.
Todd: It sounds kind of boring.
Tea: Good.
Todd: Good? You want to be bored with me?
Tea: I want to be comfortable. I want to be relaxed.
Todd: This isn't relaxing, at least not for me.
Tea: I noticed. I could massage your shoulders if you think that would help you relax.
Todd: I doubt it. Let's just get this over with, okay?
Tea: Are you sure? You're done with your snack?
Todd: I just want to get this...whatever it is...out of the way.
Tea: This wasn't meant to be torture, Todd. We don't have to do it. You'll make fun of it, anyway.
[Todd places the plate with the cookies onto the nightstand and grabs the remote control, shutting off the television.]
Todd: Is this something that we do in the dark, or what?
Tea: We're not doing it. I changed my mind.
Todd: Come on, Delgado, let's just do your boring, bizarre thing and then go to bed. We're driving the rest of the way to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.
Tea: That's a long way.
Todd: So?
Tea: So, I think we can stretch our traveling out for a couple of days. That will still leave us a few days to explore once we get there.
Todd: You're not getting me on one of those oversized rodents, so don't even think about it.
Tea: They're mules. Think of it as riding a horse.
Todd: I'm allergic to jackasses.
Tea: You are?
Todd: Haven't you ever noticed how much I sneeze when I'm around my least favorite nephew?
Tea: Kevin?
Todd: Of course...unless you've screwed one of my other nephews, too.
Tea: My previous, and very brief, mistake with Kevin is not the reason that you hate him.
Todd: Well, it's not the main reason.
Tea: Besides, that relationship was over before we got married.
Todd: So?
Tea: So, if you meet my first boyfriend, are you going to hate him, too?
Todd: Do you keep in touch with him? Do you still get together for a nostalgic screw on special occasions?
Tea: You want to ruin this before we even start, don't you?
Todd: I'm just making conversation while I wait for you to start whatever the hell this is that you're forcing me to do.
Tea: I don't feel like doing it anymore.
Todd: Good. Let's go to sleep.
[Todd turns off the lamp next to his side of the bed.]
Tea: It involves emotional trust and intimacy. I was stupid to think that you would ever allow me to share that with you.
[Tea gets off the bed and uses the light from the kitchen area to look through their bags and find her toothbrush and the toothpaste. She goes into the bathroom and begins brushing her teeth.
Less than a minute later, Todd is standing beside her as they both silently brush their teeth, neither knowing what will occur when they return to the bedroom. For now, Todd is just glad that Tea isn't spitting toothpaste at him...yet.]
[Minutes later, they return to the bedroom after brushing their teeth together.
Todd immediately gets back onto the bed. Tea again uses the light from the kitchen area as she digs through their bags, looking for clothing to wear to bed.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: You're not expecting me to change my clothes before we do this, are you?
Tea: We're not doing anything, except going to sleep.
Todd: We're doing your thing.
Tea: No, we're not.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: Because the mood is gone.
Todd: Because of me?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: What kind of mood does this weird fantasy of yours require?
Tea: That's exactly why we're not doing this.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because I don't appreciate your referring to it as weird, or bizarre, or any other insult you might be thinking of. For right now, I just need to know if you prefer that I change my clothes here or in the bathroom.
Todd: You'll do whatever I want?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because I don't care where I do it.
Todd: So, if I wanted you to get naked in front of me, you'd do it?
Tea: Why not? You've seen me before. Besides, nothing will happen.
Todd: Are you sure about that?
Tea: We're going to sleep, that's all.
Todd: So, this is your way of punishing me?
Tea: I'll change in the bathroom.
[Tea takes the clothing and enters the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she returns to the bedroom. She quickly gets into bed and snuggles under the blankets. Todd is still sitting on his side of the bed, on top of the blankets.
Several minutes pass uncomfortably for both of them.]
Tea: Todd...
Todd: So, we're doing it now?
Tea: I feel like we're going to bed angry and that's not what I want.
Todd: What do you want?
Tea: I want to spend the night in your arms.
Todd: What about that thing you wanted to do?
Tea: It was a stupid idea. It's not important.
Todd: Is it important to you?
[Tea doesn't respond. Todd reaches toward the nightstand by his side of the bed and turns on a small lamp. Tea opens her eyes and looks at him.]
Todd: Under the covers or on top?
Tea: I really don't want to do it now.
Todd: I won't make fun of it...whatever it is.
Tea: Yes, you will.
Todd: Okay, but only if it's really stupid.
Tea: It is. Let's forget about it and go to sleep.
Todd: I'm serious, Tea, I want to do it.
Tea: You'll be uncomfortable.
Todd: Which is normal for me, right? So, let's get to it.
Tea: You're sure?
Todd: I'm trying to be nice here, do you have to tick me off by dragging this out like this?
Tea: Okay. We'll try this, but we can stop at any point if it makes you too uncomfortable.
Todd: If you can take it, I can take it.
Tea: This might not be that easy for me either.
[Tea climbs out from under the blankets and joins Todd on top of them. She kneels beside him as he sits on the bed, waiting for her to begin.]
Tea: I'm going to straddle you.
Todd: Huh?
Tea: I don't have to.
Todd: To do this thing, do you have to?
Tea: I suppose not.
Todd: But, you want to?
Tea: It's how I envisioned it.
Todd: We're keeping our clothes on, right?
Tea: Right. You can even button your shirt if you want to before we begin.
Todd: You do seem to have trouble resisting me when you get close to my body. And, straddling me would put you pretty close to my body, right?
Tea: Very close. That's the idea.
Todd: And, this idea appeals to you?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: But, nobody's getting turned on?
Tea: If that happens, we'll adjust...and then we'll have fun.
Todd: But, right now, we're trying not to have fun?
Tea: Let's just start and we'll see what happens.
Todd: Okay. Go ahead.
Tea: What about your shirt? It's still unbuttoned.
Todd: You had the oven on. It's pretty hot in here.
[Tea cautiously moves closer to his body. She leans against him as she straddles his body so that she's sitting in his lap, facing him, with her legs on either side of him.
Even though they've been physically close numerous times before, they both feel awkward in their new positions.]
Tea: Is this okay?
Todd: Why wouldn't it be? So, what do we do now? Just stare at each other?
Tea: We can share eye contact, yes.
Todd (sarcastically): Well, you know how much I love that.
Tea: I know this is difficult for you. Thank you for trying it.
[Tea brings one of her hands up to his face and lightly caresses his cheek with her fingertips.
For several moments, Tea caresses his face and moves her fingers through his hair, enjoying being close to him and touching him.]
Todd: I don't get it, Delgado. We've done this kind of junk before. You were acting like you wanted to do something different.
Tea: We haven't done it exactly like this and not for this long.
Todd: We've spent hours making out. This has just been a couple of minutes.
Tea: This isn't making out.
Todd: What is it?
Tea: Tenderness...affection...love...
Todd: Is that why I'm starting to have trouble breathing?
Tea: Is this too uncomfortable?
Todd: You knew it would be.
Tea: Are you more comfortable with me now than you were before?
Todd: Before what?
Tea: During our first marriage, I would touch you and you would pull away. I would sit next to you on the sofa and you would jump up and leave the room.
Todd: I probably had other things to do.
Tea: You were nervous...uncomfortable...scared. Why?
