Tea and Todd have been watching television together for much of the evening. They no longer are, though, despite the television still being on.
Tea is now asleep, with her head resting against the back of the sofa, turned slightly in Todd's direction.
Todd has abandoned watching the television screen, in favor of watching his ex-wife while she sleeps.
For a long time, he stares at her. He can't believe that it's late at night and he's alone with Tea in her apartment. Even better, for him, is knowing that she wants him to be there with her. She even wants to spend the next night with him. She doesn't hate him. She doesn't want to push him away. She really wants to spend time with him. And, he's fairly certain that she doesn't want anything from him, other than his companionship. He's not certain how this just being friends thing will work out, but he is relieved to have her in his life again.
Todd moves a little closer to her. His hand reaches out, wanting to touch her face, wanting to feel her skin again. He doesn't dare chance waking her, though, fearing that she may ask him to leave. He doesn't want their night together to end too soon.
Todd pulls his hand back, but his urge to touch her remains. After several more minutes, Todd finally makes his move.
He sits with his back against the back of the sofa and slides his body toward her until their bodies are touching. After a few moments, the event he hoped for happens. In her sleep, Tea responds to the closeness of his body and snuggles her own body against his.
Todd doesn't move. He doesn't embrace her. He sits completely still and enjoys the feeling of her body resting against his in a way that is so comfortable, so natural, he wants to stay this way forever. He knows that's impossible but, for this moment, that's all that he wants.
Several hours later...
Tea awakens in the morning to find that she's now alone in her apartment.
She's momentarily concerned that she'll never see him again, but her instincts tell her to trust him to come back. She realizes that Todd may still feel some anger at her for events in their past, but she chooses to trust that he will return. Besides, if necessary, she could always return to Llanview, and accidentally run into him on purpose, and try again to form some sort of permanent relationship with him.
That evening...
Tea is talking on the telephone with Carlotta Vega. She chooses not to tell Carlotta about Todd being in New York, in case Todd doesn't want anyone in Llanview to know where he is, and also because she doesn't want to receive a lecture about daring to develop a new relationship with Todd.
While she's on the phone, there's a loud knock on her door. Tea takes the phone with her as she answers the door.
When she sees that her visitor is Todd, she quickly moves toward him and places a finger against his lips to stop him from speaking.]
Tea (into the phone): Carlotta, I should probably end our call now. My dinner has finally arrived.
[As Tea removes her finger from Todd's lips, there's a noticeable amount of caressing involved.
Tea finishes her conversation with Carlotta and hangs up the phone. She turns back toward Todd and admires him in the expensive suit he's wearing.]
Tea: Did you make reservations for us?
Todd: I took care of everything. You better hurry up and do whatever you need to do.
Tea: I'll go get ready. Make yourself comfortable.
Todd: Okay. I'll be downstairs in the limo when you're ready.
[Todd turns to leave. Tea places her hand on his arm to stop him. Todd looks down at her hand and then back at her face. She keeps her hand where it is while she continues to converse with him.]
Tea: I want you to wait for me up here.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Because, I want your opinion on my dress. It's new.
Todd: I don't know anything about dresses.
Tea: You know what you like. You can tell me if you like it.
Todd: Which means, I have to tell you I like it, even if it's really ugly.
Tea: You can tell me the truth.
Todd: No guy tells a girl she's ugly, unless he's sure his little guy is protected.
Tea: You could tell me the truth, Todd. I wouldn't be upset.
Todd: Seriously?
Tea: Seriously. I'll try to hurry.
[Tea leaves Todd in the living room and quickly prepares for their night out. Luckily, she had already done some primping earlier in the evening, just in case.
When Tea returns to the living room, she finds Todd pacing, pulling at his tie, obviously uncomfortable.]
Tea: What do you think?
[Todd looks in her direction, blown away by her beauty, and how much of it is currently on display for him.]
Todd: It's okay, I guess.
Tea: You don't think it's too revealing?
Todd: The places we're going will probably be really dark so if you're planning on picking someone up with that thing, you'll be wasting it tonight.
Tea: I have no intention of picking anyone up. I'm through with relationships, remember?
Todd: That's the kind of thing a newly divorced chick would wear when she's trying to hook another husband. So, I guess it's perfect for you, huh?
Tea: Are you saying you want me to change?
Todd: Are you upset that I told you the truth?
Tea: No. I knew it was too much. Rachel talked me into buying it.
Todd: Rachel? As in Gannon?
Tea: We're friends. You know that.
Todd: I didn't know she was living here now. Does her parole officer know?
Tea: Don't start. She paid for her crime.
Todd: Yeah, only after she tried pinning it on me first.
Tea: That's not how it happened.
Todd: Whatever! Why would she tell you to wear something like that to go out with me anyway?
Tea: She doesn't know.
Todd: You didn't tell her that I'm back in your life?
Tea: I haven't told anyone about seeing you again.
Todd: That's why you were trying to shut me up when you were on the phone?
Tea: I thought that you might not want anyone to know where you are.
Todd: You didn't want anyone to know that you're stupid enough to spend time with me again.
Tea: I'm not ashamed.
Todd: Prove it. Call one of them. Either one. I don't care which.
Tea: If that's what you want, I'll call both of them. I'm not ashamed.
[Tea walks over to where her telephone is. Todd quickly approaches her and places his hand on top of hers to stop her.]
Todd: We don't have time for this.
Tea: Do you want your whereabouts to be a secret?
Todd: If you want my undivided attention, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Tea: I'll go change.
Todd: You don't have to.
Tea: Are you sure?
Todd: Like I said, we're going to dark places, anyway. You might as well be comfortable.
Tea: Speaking of comfort, there is one change we need to make before we leave.
Todd: What's that?
Tea: This.
[Tea steps into Todd's personal space. On instinct, Todd takes a step backwards to distance himself. Tea waits a few seconds before stepping forward again. This time Todd forces his body to stay still.
Tea removes his tie, for his comfort, and smoothes her hands over his shirt, for her own enjoyment.
Minutes later, they leave Tea's apartment building and enter a waiting limousine.]
