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| IN SICKNESS BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 6 - 10 |
PREVIOUSLY...
[Todd starts to get out of the car.]
Tea: I'll come in with you.
[Tea exits the car and they both walk awkwardly together toward the house that would have been their home.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 6:
[Todd leads Tea into the house. They silently stand in the entryway for a moment.]
Todd: Um, would you like me to show you, you know, where stuff is?
Tea: Okay.
Todd (gesturing in front of him): That's the living room area.
[Todd opens a set of doors off to the side.]
Todd: This is the dining room. It's supposed to be for when people come to eat. Not that anyone would have come to watch me eat anyway but just in case.
[Tea notices that the wooden china cabinets have nothing in them.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: Yeah, well, I figured, you know, that maybe you...um...maybe I wasn't the best person to pick out that kind of stuff.
Tea: Oh.
Todd (moving on to the next room): This is the kitchen.
[Tea steps over to the breakfast nook and looks out the window at the magnificent view in front of her.]
Todd: That's mine.
Tea: What is?
Todd: What you're looking at. I own all of it. I can't remember how many acres but it's a bunch.
Tea: Yeah, well, money can buy you a lot of things. Hey, it even bought you a wife, right?
Todd (uncomfortably): Do you want to see the rest of the house?
Tea: Sure.
[They go through the family room and Todd leads Tea to a closed door. Tea can tell as he opens it that he's excited about showing this room to her.]
Todd (stepping into the room): What do you think?
[Tea can tell this is obviously Todd's playground. There's a pool table, several arcade style video games, a pinball machine, a large screen TV and a bar in the corner.]
Tea: Do you ever leave this room?
Todd: Occasionally. (touching the pool table) Maybe we could play sometime.
Tea: Your ego couldn't handle it.
Todd: You think you're that good?
Tea: How do you think I got enough money to make it through law school?
Todd (as they start exiting the room): You want me to show you upstairs?
Tea: What about the room that's next to this one?
Todd: That's nothing.
Tea: What is it?
Todd: It's just a bedroom.
Tea (curious about his evasiveness): Could I see it?
Todd: Why? It's just a room.
Tea: I'd like to see it.
[Todd opens the door and Tea looks inside without entering. She can tell immediately that Todd has been using the small room as his bedroom.]
Tea: Thanks. You mentioned an upstairs.
Todd (closing his bedroom door): Right.
[Todd leads her to the stairs and starts rapidly climbing the stairs. Half way up he looks back at Tea who is slowly ascending the stairs.]
Todd: I'm sorry. Is this bad for you? Should you be climbing stuff?
Tea (reassuringly): I'm fine.
Todd: You're sure?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Okay.
[Todd continues up the stairs but at a noticeably slower pace than before.]
Todd (at the top of the stairs): Do you need to rest?
Tea: No. I told you I'm fine.
Todd: Okay. (gesturing to a several doors) Those are bedrooms and there's a bathroom too. (walking forward into an empty space) This is for...uh...you know, where...um...
Tea: Just say it.
Todd: It's where kids would do stuff. You know, kid stuff. Studying and playing. Whatever it is that kids need a place to do stuff in.
Tea (gesturing to a hallway): What's down here?
Todd: Um, well, that's a private area.
Tea: You don't have to show me.
Todd: No, you can see it. It's suppose to be a private area of the house, you know, away from everything else. (as he leads her down the hallway he points to a closed door) That's an office.
Tea (pointing to a door opposite the office): What's this?
Todd: That's an office too.
[Todd opens the door at the end of the hallway and leads Tea into a fully furnished master bedroom.]
Todd: Do you like it?
Tea: It's beautiful.
Todd (pointing in one direction): The bathroom's that way. (pointing in the other direction) The balcony's that way.
Tea: There's a balcony?
Todd: Sure.
[Todd leads Tea around the wall to a small sitting area which leads to a small private balcony.]
Tea: Can we go out there?
Todd: Sure, I suppose. If you want to.
[Tea opens the door and steps out onto the balcony. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath enjoying the sensation of inhaling fresh air. Todd watches her. He can't believe that she could be sick, she looks too healthy. For a moment he considers that maybe her being sick is a lie, a ploy to get to him. He knows, though, that Tea wouldn't do that to him. She wouldn't scare him like that. When Tea opens her eyes she's surprised to find Todd staring at her. If she didn't know better she would think the look on his face was that of love.]
Tea: Todd?
Todd: Is it true?
Tea: I wouldn't lie to you about that.
Todd: I know. It doesn't have to mean... There are things they can do, right?
Tea: Well...
Todd: Do you want something to drink?
Tea: Okay, sure. Nothing alcoholic, though, all right?
Todd: Why don't we go downstairs?
Tea: If it's all right I'd rather stay here a little longer, okay?
Todd: Okay.
[Todd leaves. Tea looks again at the view. Had things worked out she would have been able to look at this view every day starting months ago. They wouldn't have wasted all of that time that she now wishes she could have back. Todd returns and hands Tea her drink. They both stand there silently sipping their drinks.]
Todd: Are you going to answer me?
Tea: I'm sorry. Was there a question?
Todd: The thing that's wrong with you, they can do something, right? They can fix it? That's why you wanted to see me, right? You need money for specialists and stuff? I'll give you money. I'll buy you whatever you need. You know, if you hadn't torn up that check in the hospital you wouldn't have even had to come to me. You could have bought whatever you needed yourself.
[As Tea listens to Todd's words her anger builds until she loses control. She throws the glass in her hand as far as she can and storms back into the house. Todd watches the glass soar through the air, impressed by the distance Tea was able to throw it. He tosses his own glass and quickly follows after her.]
Todd: Tea, wait.
Tea: Go to hell, Todd.
Todd: I've lived there most of my life.
Tea: Yeah, well, you can stay there for all I care. I don't need this right now.
[As Tea gets to the bottom of the stairs Todd grabs her from behind. They struggle slightly, ending up on the floor with Todd sitting on the bottom step and Tea sitting in front of him with her back to him. Todd continues to hold onto Tea, refusing to let her go.]
Todd: What's wrong? What did I do? I was trying to be helpful. I offered you money. You can have all of it, Tea. Whatever you need.
Tea: I didn't want your money.
Todd: Then what did you want?
Tea: I just wanted...I just wanted to see you.
Todd: Why?
Tea: Why do you think?
Todd: I have no idea. That's why I'm asking.
[Todd can feel Tea's body lean backwards into his arms as she cries uncontrollably. Tea releases all of the emotions that she's been trying to control since she found out she was sick.]
Tea (emotionally): I needed you.
[Tea turns around in Todd's arms and buries her face in his chest as she continues crying heavily.]
chapter 7:
[Hours later Tea wakes up. It takes her a moment to remember everything that happened. The last thing she recalls is feeling Todd's arms around her while she cried. Looking around she realizes that she's in the master bedroom. She doesn't remember going there on her own so she realizes that she must have fallen asleep and Todd must have carried her there.
Minutes later, Tea finds Todd downstairs playing pool.]
Todd: Did I wake you up?
Tea: No.
Todd: I wasn't sure if I should let you sleep. I didn't know if you had medication you needed to take.
Tea: I don't.
Todd: I was going to stay with you. You know, so you wouldn't wake up in a weird place alone but then I remembered how angry you were when you found that picture from when I used to watch you sleep when we were married so I left you alone.
Tea: It would have been okay. And we're still married...well, technically.
Todd: Really?
Tea: Yeah, really. Um, I'm kind of thirsty.
Todd: There's a refrigerator behind the bar.
Tea: Would you like anything?
Todd: Actually, I'm kind of hungry. We could eat something...together...if you want.
Tea: I've been here quite a while already. Maybe I should go.
Todd: You don't have to. I mean, I thought you wanted to see me for a reason.
Tea: I did.
Todd: Well, isn't that reason still there? Or don't you need that anymore?
Tea: What are you saying?
Todd: Nothing.
Tea: Of course.
[Tea starts to leave the room.]
Todd: I suppose everyone will know where I am now, right?
Tea: Don't worry. I'll keep your secret. Besides, doesn't the person who contacted you know you're here?
Todd: No.
Tea: Are you going to tell me which person it was?
Todd: No.
Tea: Right. Well, thank you for seeing me. I appreciate it. And, uh, I guess I should thank you for bringing Starr into my life. We may never have been a real family but we did have fun sometimes and I'm glad...
Todd: You're glad about what?
Tea: I'm glad that we made that deal. It was a stupid deal but it gave me more than I knew I would get at the time, more than I ever even knew I wanted. I don't regret it.
Todd: Not even certain parts?
Tea: It's all a package deal now. I can't pick and choose which parts to remember. Some moments with you were really great and some were really horrible and most were truly confusing. I don't regret any of it because if we had never made that deal (Tea's eyes fill with tears) I never would have known what it was like to have a child. Starr isn't my child but I took care of her like she was and I love her as much as I think I would have loved any children that I would have had. And...and if we had never made that deal I never would have known what it was like to hear a man who really knew me say that he loved me and to actually believe it.
Todd: You do believe it?
Tea: I did.
Todd: But not anymore?
Tea: I don't know if you really did love me but when you proposed to me for real and you said you loved me I believed you in that moment. Of course, everything started to fall apart and you started to distance yourself right away. That moment, though, when you said the words, when you looked at me, I believed it. In that moment I felt it. And maybe it's odd but for that moment alone everything else is worth it. For that one moment I was truly loved. Thank you for that.
[With tears streaming down her face Tea looks at Todd's eyes one more time as the deepest pain she's ever felt fills her. She quickly turns and leaves the room. Todd follows after her.]
Todd (his voice filled with emotion): Wait. You don't have to leave. You could stay.
Tea: Why?
Todd: Why not?
Tea: Why? Give me a reason, Todd.
Todd: You shouldn't be living alone right now. You need someone to keep an eye on you, to make sure you do the stuff you're supposed to do, whatever that is.
Tea: I could stay at Carlotta's or I could go and live with my grandmother.
Todd: You don't want to do that. Carlotta works. She's got a business to run. You don't want to be a burden to her, do you? And your grandmother...um...well, what if you got weak and you needed to be carried? Are you going to make your elderly grandmother carry you around? She could hurt herself.
Tea: So, I should stay here and burden you instead?
Todd: I'm young. I'm strong. I'm unemployed. I could take care of you, Tea.
Tea: Why would you want to do that?
Todd: Why not?
Tea: Why, Todd?
Todd: Because I owe you. You did a lot for me. You helped me with my kid. You helped me to be human, sort of. You said that we're still married. That's what married people do, right? They take care of each other.
Tea: No.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: There's a battle inside me right now that I need to fight. I can't fight you at the same time.
Todd: You think I'd fight a sick person?
Tea: I can't trust you and have that trust shattered. All of my strength has to go to this battle not to trying to recover when you leave me again.
Todd: I won't leave.
Tea: You always leave. We get close, you shut down, you pull away and then you leave.
Todd: Not this time.
Tea: Exactly. Not this time. I'm not going to believe you this time.
chapter 8:
Todd: If you leave now you'll regret it.
Tea: There are plenty of things for me to regret. I'll add it to the list.
Todd: I'll give you all the privacy you want. I'll stay down here and you can stay upstairs. You can have the whole upstairs to yourself.
Tea: Great. I can have all of the loneliness I want. Believe it or not that offer doesn't sound all that appealing.
Todd: The air out here would be better for you than that disgusting city air and it's really quiet so you could get plenty of sleep.
Tea: I'm going now.
Todd: This is your home.
Tea: No, it isn't.
Todd: Yes, it is. I had it built for you.
Tea: But you never bothered to tell me about it. We never lived here. We never shared a life here.
Todd: We could. I'm offering to let you live here.
Tea: Don't do me any favors.
Todd: If you won't do it for yourself then do it for Starr.
Tea: Starr?
Todd: Yeah, I was thinking now that my secret's out maybe I'll try to work something out so Starr can spend some time here.
Tea: I told you I won't tell anyone where you are. Besides, what does my being here have to do with you spending time with Starr?
Todd: If you're here then it would be easier to convince Blair to let Starr come here.
Tea: My being here would not in any way convince Blair to let Starr come here.
Todd: Okay, if you're here then I'll trust myself enough to have Starr here.
Tea: You're worried?
Todd: Yes.
Tea: If you don't think that Starr would be safe with you then why should I believe that I would be safe here?
Todd: I won't hurt you.
Tea: Right. And I'm supposed to believe that because you've been so gentle with me in the past.
Todd: I won't hurt you. I'll do whatever I have to not to hurt you.
Tea: Go to a psychiatrist.
Todd: Fine. I'll start seeing Dr. Boyd again.
Tea: No, Todd. One that you haven't, that you can't, buy off.
Todd: What makes you think... (Todd can tell from Tea's expression that she isn't going to believe the lie he's about to utter) Fine. No more buying off shrinks. (pause) So, you'll stay?
Tea: No. I won't.
Todd: Why? I'm willing to give you everything you want.
Tea: No, you're not. You'll tell me what you think I want to hear to get me to stay and then once I'm here you'll go back to the same old pattern of behavior. I told you before, I'm not up for this fight. I have to conserve my energy.
[Tea turns and walks toward the front door. As her hand turns the knob Todd calls out to her.]
Todd: Four weeks.
[Tea turns around and stares with disbelief at Todd.]
Todd: Give me four weeks to prove to you that you belong here...with me. (Todd walks toward Tea) I'll show you, Tea. I'll show you how hard I'm willing to fight for you.
Tea: It didn't work the last time I gave you four weeks.
Todd: Yes, it did. Remember? You agreed to marry me again.
Tea: And about two seconds after I agreed you started to panic. You stopped coming home. You shut me out. When you finally did come home you threw me out.
Todd: That was a misunderstanding.
Tea: I understood just fine. Our marriage meant nothing to you. Your vendetta against the Buchanans was more important to you than I was.
Todd: That's not true.
Tea: I'm tired. I don't feel like having this conversation anymore.
Todd (concerned): Do you want to lie down? Can I get you something? Some water? A warm towel?
Tea: I just need to get out of here.
Todd: Twenty four hours.
Tea: What?
Todd: If you won't give me four weeks then give me one day. You go upstairs and rest. I'll make us something to eat. The last thing we ate together was wedding cake and that went pretty well, right? So we'll eat. We can talk more, if you want. You'll stay for one day and if you want to leave after that then you can go.
Tea: I can go right now. I don't have to wait a day.
Todd (moving closer to Tea): Just give me one day, Tea. (Todd gently caresses Tea's cheek as he speaks softly) I don't want you to go. I want you to stay here so I can help you. I can help you fight this. Together we'll fight the battle that's inside you and, if you're up for it, we'll fight the battle that's inside me. We'll win. I know we will because I always get what I want and what I want is for you to be okay and living here with me.
Tea: Why do you do this to me?
Todd (stepping back from Tea): So you'll stay?
Tea: I'll give you one day but only if we play by my rules.
Todd: Fine. Whatever you want.
Tea: Fine. I will go upstairs and lie down. You can make us something to eat and bring it up to our bedroom when it's ready.
Todd: Our bedroom?
Tea: Yes. That's one of my rules. If I spend the day here then you have to spend the night with me in what would have been our bedroom.
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: We won't...do anything. We'll just share the room, okay?
Todd: I'll try.
Tea: Okay. Do you have something I could wear to bed?
Todd: I'll bring something up when I bring up the food.
Tea: Okay.
[Todd watches as Tea slowly walks up the stairs.]
chapter 9:
[Todd walks into the bedroom with a tray of food and a change of clothes for Tea. He finds Tea lying on the bed. He puts the tray down on the nightstand and tosses the clothes on a nearby chair. Gently he sits down on the bed.]
Todd (quietly): Tea, are you awake? Tea?
[When he doesn't get a response he slowly lies down and turns on his side to face Tea. He watches her sleep. He's amazed that even with everything that Tea is going through she still looks so peaceful when she sleeps. After several minutes of watching her he closes his eyes and falls asleep. When he wakes up Tea is no longer next to him. He hears noise coming from the sitting area of the bedroom.]
Tea (seeing Todd): Did I wake you? Sorry, I couldn't wait. I was hungry.
Todd: That's okay. You could've woke me up though. I didn't mean to fall asleep.
Tea: I didn't want to wake you. You looked so comfortable.
Todd: Really?
Tea: Have you been sleeping much lately?
Todd: A little. I didn't bring anything to drink. Do you want me to go get something?
Tea: That would be great.
Todd: I'll be right back. Should I bring more food or are you going to let me have some of that?
Tea: I might be able to save a little for you.
Todd: How generous.
[Todd leaves. When he comes back he finds Tea out on the balcony.]
Todd: You really like it out here, don't you?
Tea: It's very beautiful.
Todd (handing her a drink): You're not going to throw this over like you did the last glass I gave you, are you?
Tea: Only if you make me angry again.
Todd: What are the chances of that? (pause) So, have you decided to stay?
Tea: I get a whole day before I have to decide, remember?
Todd: Well, I thought maybe you would have made up your mind by now.
Tea: Not yet.
Todd: When do you think you'll know?
Tea: We haven't even spent the night together yet.
Todd: We just slept together.
Tea: Todd, are you even sure that you want this? Right now I feel fine but when I start treatment I might not be the easiest person to live with.
Todd: I know. They have to make you sick in order to make you better.
Tea: Sounds kind of stupid, doesn't it? Actually, I've been doing a little research. For some people the side effects from chemotherapy aren't that bad. There are medications to lessen the nausea, if I have that. I may not lose my hair or, at least, not that much of it.
Todd (pointing to her head and trying to be helpful): Well, you know, now you don't have as much to lose.
Tea: I might get tired. I might lose my appetite...
Todd: A little research? I know you, Tea. You've been cramming for chemotherapy, haven't you?
Tea: I just wanted to know what to expect, how bad it would be, what the odds are, you know, I just wanted to know what I was looking at with this.
Todd: Tea, if you don't feel bad then how come you even know that you're sick?
Tea: I have a family history so I get tested regularly. This time the results weren't so great. They did catch it early, though, so there is a chance...
Todd: You're going to be fine.
Tea: You're sure about that?
Todd: Absolutely. You're going to be around for a long time making my life difficult.
Tea: Me? Making your life difficult?
Todd: Just like you always do.
Tea: Right. (looking around the balcony) You know, you should really put something out here to sit on.
Todd: There isn't that much room.
Tea: You could fit a small bench out here. Then we could sit instead of having to stand.
Todd: If you want to sit then sit.
Tea: On the floor?
Todd: Why not. You'd still be able to see the view. I'll be right back.
[Todd leaves and comes back with two blankets. One he puts on the floor of the balcony.]
Todd: Go ahead. Sit down.
[Tea sits on the blanket. Todd wraps the other blanket around his shoulders and sits down next to Tea. He opens one side of the blanket and puts it around Tea's shoulder forcing her body closer to his.]
Todd: Is this okay? Are you warm enough?
Tea: This is perfect.
Todd: I don't really understand this.
Tea: What?
Todd: I thought you hated being in the country.
Tea: Then why did you build a house for us out here?
Todd: I told you once that I would. So I did.
Tea: In the past I did hate being in the country, in the middle of nothing but nature. I was used to being in the city. The people, the energy, the noise...
Todd: And you don't like those things anymore?
Tea: It isn't that exactly. Every since I heard the diagnosis and that I could...that I could...die...everything seems so different. So much that I cared about before doesn't seem important to me now and some of the things that I ignored, or took for granted, they seem very valuable suddenly. The way things look, smell, taste, feel - it all seems so different. I feel different now, too. I feel like I've just been existing for a long time and now I really want to live.
Todd: I remember it seeming like that sometimes after people would try to kill me. It usually wore off pretty quickly for me though.
Tea: Well, it hasn't worn off for me yet.
[Todd moves his arm and Tea expects him to remove it from her shoulder and retreat physically like he normally does. She leans forward slightly so it will be easier for him to remove his arm from between her body and the side of the house. She's surprised when she feels his hand on her waist. She looks at his face but he doesn't return her look. He just stares straight ahead. She takes a chance and leans her body more into his. He doesn't react.]
Todd: So, when do you start that treatment stuff?
Tea: Actually, I have one more appointment with a specialist and then after that I decide which doctor to go with and which treatment options I'll do.
Todd: When's this appointment?
Tea: Tomorrow.
Todd: I could go with you, if you want.
Tea: You don't have to.
Todd: On the way back we could pack up your stuff at the hotel and bring it here.
Tea: I haven't said I'll stay here yet, remember?
Todd: It doesn't matter. I know you will.
Tea: Is that so?
Todd: That is so.
Tea: Well, aren't you afraid people might see you and know you're in town?
Todd: After you move in here they're going to figure it out anyway. They're going to wonder where you moved to.
Tea: Most people won't even notice, Todd. I'm not exactly socially popular in this town.
Todd: Well, you're more popular than I am.
Tea: Everyone is more popular than you are. Actually, only Carlotta would probably even care enough to ask where I was living. I could tell her to keep it quiet and she would. Well, there is also John Sykes. He seems to want to spend a lot of time with me. It might be better if he doesn't know where I'm living.
Todd: That odd looking cop? Is he still doing that weird eye thing with you?
Tea (nervously): I did...I did spend some time with him after you left. I didn't want to really but he was very persistent. I was never really comfortable with him, though, and I've tried to distance myself from him as much as possible. I've told him numerous times that I'm not interested but he seems to have an inability to comprehend the meaning of the word rejection.
Todd (his anger building): I'll have a little talk with him. I'll explain it very clearly.
Tea: No you won't. You'll end up in jail.
Todd: What makes you think that?
Tea: I know you, remember? Let me handle it, okay?
Todd: Fine but if he comes sniffing at my door looking for you then he's mine.
Tea: Don't do anything stupid, Todd. (laughing slightly) How many times have I said those words to you?
Todd: You know, maybe going public would be a good thing. It would keep undesirables away from you, besides me, of course. And Viki's probably pretty mad at me for being out of touch for so long.
Tea: So, Viki wasn't your contact.
Todd: Are you still trying to figure that out?
Tea: I'm curious. You could just tell me and end the mystery.
Todd: I might have to use this person in the future. I don't want to ruin it by revealing her...or his, identity.
Tea: So it's a her?
Todd: Or his. It could be a his.
Tea: Why don't you just confirm that it's Jessica?
Todd: I never said it was Jessica.
Tea: Was it?
Todd: You think Jessica could keep a secret like that?
Tea: She kept it very well apparently.
Todd: I never said it was Jessica.
Tea: You didn't have to.
Todd (changing the subject): It's getting kind of cold out here. We should go back in.
Tea: Fine.
[Tea and Todd go inside and decide to go downstairs and watch television for awhile.]
Later that evening...
[Todd and Tea are sitting on matching recliners in front of Todd's big screen TV, watching a show and sharing a bowl of popcorn. When the show ends Todd turns the television off.]
Todd: Do you want to play some pool?
Tea: I think it's time for bed.
[Todd picks up the TV schedule.]
Todd: Maybe there's something else on TV. Maybe a rerun of Baretta or Starsky & Hutch, or something.
[Tea pulls the TV schedule out of Todd's hands.]
Tea: It's time to go to bed.
Todd: I'm not really tired but you go ahead. I'll stay down here for a while. You know, maybe I should just sleep down here anyway so I don't disturb your sleep.
Tea: Fine. I'm leaving.
Todd: What? You don't get your way once and you leave?
Tea: This was our deal, Todd, you spend the night in our bedroom with me.
Todd: Do you have that in writing?
Tea: You're not even willing to try, are you?
Todd: What do you think I've been doing here?
Tea: I told you before nothing will happen. We're just going to share a room while sleeping. That's all.
Todd: We already did that earlier, remember?
Tea: And we're going to do it again or I'm leaving.
Todd: Why is this so important to you?
Tea: If you want me to stay, to live, here then you have to offer me more than what we had before.
Todd: Like what?
Tea: Intimacy. (Todd visibly recoils at the mention of such a word) If all I wanted was someone to take care of me but remain emotionally distant then I could hire a nurse. If I'm going to be with you then I need to really be with you or it would be too painful to live here. Can you understand that?
Todd: You want me to share with you my heart, mind and body, like before, right?
Tea: Can you actually do it this time?
Todd: I can try. But none of those parts of me are pretty. You probably won't like what you find when you dig inside of me.
Tea: Can we go to bed now?
Todd (as if he's expecting some form of torture to befall him): Fine.
chapter 10:
[Tea and Todd enter their bedroom. Tea looks nervous. Todd looks like he's dreading whatever is about to happen.]
Tea (picking up the change of clothes Todd gave her): I'll just go change.
[Tea goes into the bathroom leaving Todd to pace, and panic, alone in the bedroom. When Tea returns she pulls back the covers on the bed, climbs in, turns on her side and closes her eyes. Todd stares at her for a long while before stretching out on the bed with his back against the headboard.]
Tea: Good night.
Todd (uncomfortably): Yeah...whatever.
[Hours later, Tea is lying awake, unable to get her mind to relax enough to allow her to sleep. She looks at the clock and becomes even more depressed by how late it is. She rolls over and looks at Todd who is still in the same position he was in when he got into bed except now his eyes are closed.]
Tea: Todd? Are you awake? Todd? (to herself) It figures. The one time I wouldn't mind if you had insomnia.
[Tea gets out of bed and goes out onto the balcony. It's a cool night so she folds her arms around herself to try to stay warm. Minutes later, she's so lost in her thoughts she jumps when she feels Todd wrap a blanket around her body.]
Todd: You know, maybe we could expand the balcony and put a bed out here for you if this is where you're going to spend your nights.
Tea: I couldn't sleep.
Todd: Why didn't you say something? I was awake.
Tea: You didn't respond when I called your name.
Todd: Sometimes I ignore you.
Tea: And sometime you fall asleep.
Todd: That's very rare.
Tea: It's happened twice since I've been here.
Todd: Those were flukes. Don't expect it to happen every day. Why couldn't you sleep?
Tea: I don't know. Maybe it's being in a new place.
Todd: Or maybe it's that you're sick and that scares you. I think that would be normal, Tea.
Tea: I suppose.
Todd: It must be hard for you not being in control of what's going on in your body.
Tea: I don't have to be in control of everything.
Todd: Right! Let's go back in. It's cold out here.
Tea: Not yet. If you want you can share the blanket with me.
Todd: That's okay.
Tea: Of course, Todd Manning doesn't share.
[Tea looks away into the vast darkness before her.]
Todd (after hesitating for a moment): Could we at least sit down?
[Tea sits down and opens the blanket. Todd sits down next to her and pulls his side of the blanket closed in front of him. They sit for several minutes in silence.]
Todd: So, are we supposed to talk or is this quiet time?
Tea: What would you like to talk about?
Todd: Anything but life and...uh...that other thing.
Tea: It could happen.
Todd: It won't. You're going to be fine. Everything will be fine.
Tea: I like hearing you say that.
Todd: Really?
Tea: Sort of.
Todd: What do you mean sort of?
Tea: Nothing.
Todd: Tell me.
Tea: It reminds me of something.
Todd: What?
Tea: It's not important. Never mind.
Todd: I thought you wanted to be closer, to share stuff. Does that only work for the stuff that I don't want to share?
Tea: Yes.
[Todd starts to get up. Tea grabs his arm and stops him.]
Tea: Fine! I'll tell you but you might not want to hear it.
Todd: Then don't tell me.
Tea: Good.
Todd: Okay, tell me.
Tea: You sure changed your mind quickly.
Todd: Just hurry up and tell me.
Tea: It's about after the lodge when you kidnapped me and took me to the garden shed.
Todd: Oh.
Tea: I don't have to tell you. It's okay.
Todd: No. Go ahead.
Tea: After... When I was leaving the garden shed I had this thought, or this feeling, like I just wanted to go home. I wanted to take a shower and wash that horrible night away. I wanted to change my clothes and destroy the ones I had worn that night. When I had that thought, though, of wanting to go home, I remembered that I didn't have a home. You had thrown me out of the penthouse again. I was staying in a hotel. I had no home. In that moment that's all that I really wanted. Not the structure, not an actual building, but the feeling of home. I haven't had that much in my life. You know, that feeling that you can't wait to get home because when you walk in you know that you'll walk right into all this love. That's what I wanted when I left that shed. If I had told anyone they would have thought it was so pathetic. After everything that you did at the lodge, in the woods, in the garden shed... All I wanted to do was go home to you. I couldn't, of course, because of everything that had happened. If it had been a stranger, though, the only thing I would have wanted when it was over would have been to be with you. I would have wanted to feel your arms around me and to hear you tell me that everything was okay. It would have made me feel so safe. That isn't how it happened though. You did what you did and I went to my hotel room alone.
Todd: I remember hearing once someone describe walking into their home when they were a kid as being like walking into a hug. Walking into my house when I was a kid was like walking into a kick in the gut. Sometimes I really did get kicked in the gut but even when I didn't it never felt like walking into a hug. I always remembered that description, though. I wondered what that would feel like. To not have to worry that you would be in trouble for something or that someone would be angry at you for something you did, or didn't do. To actually know what it was like for people to be glad to see you when you walked in the door instead of yelling at you for something.
Tea: Maybe you never felt that way yourself but you sure gave that to your daughter.
Todd: Do you think so?
Tea: I know so. You always made her feel completely loved. She's very lucky to have you for her father.
Todd: I'm the guy that abandoned her, remember?
Tea: I haven't seen her since you left but I'm sure that she still feels your love. You gave her so much love when you were here that I'm sure she feels it surrounding her every day like a big warm blanket.
Todd: Did you ever feel like that? I mean, when you lived at the penthouse. Did you ever feel that way because of me?
Tea: Well...
Todd (sadly): You didn't, right? I never made you feel that way.
Tea: I didn't really have a chance, Todd. We weren't really together most of the time we lived together. During the time we were together, after you proposed again, you wouldn't actually come home. (with tears in her eyes) I never really had a chance to feel that way.
Todd: How can you be here with me? After everything? Why did you want to see me again?
Tea: I still want that feeling, that feeling of home, and despite everything I think that you're the only person who might be able to make me feel that way, if you want to. This wouldn't be my home because you built it for us, or because we call it our home. If this works out then this will be my home because you're here.
[Todd gently runs his hand along Tea's hair. She keeps her head down afraid to look at him. He lightly kisses her on the cheek before gently raising her face with his hand on her chin. They both close their eyes as their lips touch.]
Todd: Is this okay?
[Tea doesn't respond verbally. She puts her hand on the back of his neck and pulls him close to her and kisses him more passionately than he kissed her. He responds favorably. They both wrap their arms around each other as the blanket that was covering them falls away. As they continue to kiss Tea is surprised when she feels Todd's tongue brush across her lips. He pulls away afraid that he's gone too far.]
Tea: Do that again.
[This time when Tea feels his tongue she enjoys the sensation for a few seconds and then opens her mouth, inviting him in. He accepts the invitation. They continue kissing and embracing as they both move into a laying position. They roll around for a moment with Todd eventually ending up on top. They continue to kiss as they press their bodies together, both enjoying the sensations they are experiencing. As those sensations become more and more urgent they grind their lower bodies with a faster rhythm. When Todd climaxes he lets out a grunt that clearly informs Tea what just happened. Within seconds Todd is off of Tea as he rushes off the balcony and disappears into the house.]
to be continued...
