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| IN SICKNESS BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 41 - 45 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Todd: How...how am I useful to you?
Tea: You're getting me through this moment by trying to distract me with this conversation.
Todd: What makes you think I'm doing that? You know, I'm not a very nice person, ask anyone. I don't do anything that isn't selfish. (softly) I need you to be okay, Tea. (long pause) Tea?
[Todd realizes that Tea fell asleep. He carries her up to bed. He gets into the bed with her and watches her sleep for hours until his own body's need for sleep overtakes him.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
chapter 41:
[The next morning, Tea wakes up and feels Todd's arms around her. She snuggles closer to his body.]
Todd: Are you awake?
Tea: Yeah.
Todd: Are you going to open your eyes?
Tea: No.
Todd: Why not?
Tea: I don't want to.
Todd: We should have breakfast.
Tea: In a minute. I don't want this feeling to end yet.
Todd: Okay but you're not getting out of having breakfast.
Tea (finally opening her eyes and looking at him): I had a weird dream.
Todd: Again? What was this one about?
Tea: A man and a woman were traveling together. They were running from something, from bad guys and the police, I think. They had all these different adventures along the way. They didn't start out in love but I could tell in the end it was going to happen.
Todd: So, you dreamt about us?
Tea: They didn't look anything like us.
Todd: No, but we have both been running, sometimes from our pasts, sometimes from each other. You could view our time together as a series of adventures, sort of. We weren't in love when we got married but you forced it to happen.
Tea: I did not.
Todd: The bad guys, well, I would probably see that as the Buchanans, of course, but it could also be my father, our insecurities...
Tea: Are you a dream analyst?
Todd: Maybe the bad guy the people were running from is the cancer. Maybe you're trying to escape it.
Tea: You're good at this.
Todd: You got any more details?
Tea: Right before I woke up the two people were in Las Vegas, in a casino, at a gaming table.
Todd: This is too easy. You took a gamble on the treatment and on me too, I suppose.
Tea: Well the second gamble paid off maybe the first one will too.
Todd (after a silent moment): Do you want me to bring breakfast up here?
Tea: We can eat downstairs. (as Todd starts to get up) Wait. Not yet.
Todd: Tea, you have to eat.
Tea: I know. I promise I'm not trying to get out of it. I just don't want this moment to end yet. Just give it a few more minutes.
[Todd sits up and takes off his shirt. He turns to Tea and with one arm around her lifts up her upper body as he uses his other hand to remove her shirt. He then lays her body back down on the bed and gets on top of her. Making sure he doesn't put any real weight on her body he presses their bodies together and rests his head on the pillow next to hers.]
Tea (as she puts her arms around him and holds him): Are you okay? Did you have a bad dream last night?
Todd (raising his head to look at her): Is this okay? We don't have to...
Tea: This is fine. Tell me what's wrong.
Todd (resting his head back on the pillow): It's not important.
Tea: It is to me. Remember our deal that you would tell me one thing about your childhood every day? Because of everything with me that hasn't always happened.
Todd: It's okay with me.
Tea: I know you think it's okay but it really isn't okay for you to keep everything bad inside you.
Todd: I've told you plenty of stuff.
Tea: I know you have but there's so much more you haven't told me. Tell me about your nightmare.
Todd: It doesn't matter.
Tea: It matters to me. Tell me. Was it about your father?
Todd: No.
Tea: Then what?
Todd: I couldn't find you.
Tea: You were alone?
Todd: I've always been alone.
Tea: You're not alone now.
Todd: That's the only thing that makes it okay. I was searching and searching for you but I couldn't find you but then I woke up and you were right here. Nightmares don't seem as bad when you're here. (speaking softly as Tea caresses his hair) You can't die.
Tea: I don't want to.
Todd: Then don't.
Tea: Okay.
Todd: Seriously, Tea.
Tea: Seriously, I don't think I have control over that. I'll do everything I can, though. I'll do the treatments. I'll eat right. I'll spend time with you.
Todd: What does that have to do with it?
Tea: Every second that I spend with you reminds me why I'm fighting this. I need that. I need you. You make me want to live. You're so beautiful.
Todd: I'm ugly.
Tea: You're beautiful.
[Todd tries to get up, to get away from this conversation, but he can't because Tea has a surprisingly strong grip on his back.]
Todd: Let's have breakfast.
Tea: In a minute.
Todd: I've already given you a minute.
Tea: And you'll give me a couple more because I need to say this to you.
[Todd knows she'll get what she wants so he lays his head back on the pillow and prepares himself for whatever she's about to say to him.]
Tea: I think you're beautiful.
Todd: I think those drugs they've been giving you have affected your brain, Delgado.
Tea: Your eyes are beautiful. The way you look at me. The way you can make me feel so much just by looking at me. The way that you speak to me with your eyes when you don't know how to speak to me with words. I think you're mouth is beautiful. I know words are hard for you but when you try anyway it makes me feel special that you care enough about me to try. That time that you proposed to me at the Palace I watched your mouth as you said that you loved me and it was very beautiful. I know that you had said it before but that time I knew that it wasn't a game to you. You weren't just saying it to get me to come back. I knew that you meant it.
Todd: What about my scar, Tea? Do you think that's beautiful too?
[Tea releases her grip on Todd and maneuvers herself so they're side by side. She brings her hand up to his face and touches his scar.]
Tea: You know, there are times that I don't even see it when I look at you.
Todd: Don't lie to me.
Tea: I'm not.
Todd: It's a constant reminder every time you look at me of what a horrible person I am.
Tea: You might see that every time you look in the mirror but I don't see that when I look at you. You've had this scar for as long as I've known you. It's just a part of your face to me like your nose or your eyebrows. I know you have them but I don't really pay attention to them every time I look at you.
Todd: You don't always see my scar?
Tea: No. Sometimes I do but other times it just blends into the rest of your face because I'm so busy looking at your eyes I don't focus on the rest.
Todd (uncomfortable): Let's just go and have breakfast.
Tea: Okay. I still think you're beautiful though.
Todd: Fine. Delude yourself. Just stop talking about it.
[Todd gets up and puts his shirt back on. He starts to leave the room but quickly returns.]
Todd: And don't you dare tell anyone else.
Tea: Who would believe me?
Todd: That's true.
Tea: Well, Viki would. Jessica would. Carlotta might now that she's gotten to know you better. Let me think...
Todd: Shut up.
[Todd leaves the room quickly as Tea smiles to herself.
Later...
Tea enters the kitchen as Todd is heating up something for them to eat.]
Tea: Wow! Something must really be wrong with me this morning.
Todd: Why?
Tea: The smell of food doesn't make me feel sick.
Todd: Maybe with your new treatment that side effect is gone.
Tea: I doubt it. It's probably just waiting until I don't expect it and then it'll come back and make me vomit.
Todd: Do you have to talk like that when we're about to eat?
Tea: Sorry, I've eaten with you before, remember? I didn't think anything grossed you out enough for you to lose your appetite.
Todd: It doesn't.
[Todd brings their food to the table and sits down in the chair next to Tea.]
Todd (noticing several pieces of paper that Tea has placed on the table): What's that?
Tea: Responses to your message.
Todd: What message?
Tea: The one you wrote for that computer message board yesterday, remember?
Todd: You actually put it up?
Tea: You said I could.
Todd: Well, I didn't think you actually would. What did I say? Was it really stupid?
Tea: You don't remember?
Todd: I wasn't really paying attention. I just sort of wrote what I was thinking. You shouldn't have put it up. No one would care about what's in my head.
Tea: These people did. You've gotten seven responses so far.
Todd: Really! (trying to pretend he's disinterested) They probably respond to every new person. It's probably a bunch of those...what's the word...polite...people.
Tea: Seven polite people.
Todd: What did they say? (immediately adding) Not that I actually care or anything.
Tea: Of course not. (pushing the papers toward him) Why don't you read them for yourself?
Todd: Did you already read them?
Tea: No. They're for you. I just opened the messages and printed them out.
Todd: What if they're telling me what a loser I am?
Tea: I doubt that.
Todd: You read those things if you want to. I'm not interested.
Tea: Are you sure?
Todd: Yeah.
Tea: Okay.
[Tea picks up one of the responses and begins reading. Todd tries to watch her reaction without being too obvious. As Tea finishes reading Todd tries to pretend he's engrossed in what he's eating.]
Tea: Do we have any muffins? I could really go for one right now.
Todd: Um, yeah, Carlotta always includes muffins in the food she brings.
Tea (getting up from the table): Great.
[As Tea gets her muffin Todd tries to read the message Tea had just finished reading. As Tea returns to the table she notices Todd straining to read upside down.]
Tea: Are you sure you don't want to read the responses?
Todd: I don't need to.
Tea: Okay.
[Tea returns to eating and begins reading another response.]
Todd (noticing Tea smile while she's reading): What?
Tea (looking up at Todd): Huh?
Todd: You're smiling.
Tea: I do occasionally do that.
Todd: Did you read something funny?
Tea: No, not funny. This one just says how lucky you are to have such a wonderful, caring, understanding wife.
Todd: Yeah, right!
Tea: You don't believe me? (pushing the piece of paper across the table toward him) Read it for yourself.
Todd: Well, if I have to.
[Todd begins reading as Tea begins devouring her muffin. When Todd finishes reading that response he picks up another one.]
Todd (as he continues reading): What the hell did I write?
Tea: Do you want me to go get a copy of your message?
Todd: No.
Tea: Don't worry, Todd. You didn't reveal anything too personal.
Todd: Are you sure?
Tea: Positive.
Todd (not completely believing her): Okay.
[Tea smiles to herself as Todd continues reading the responses he received.]
chapter 42:
[Weeks later...
Todd and Tea are in bed. Tea is sleeping. Todd is watching Tea sleep. Todd runs his fingers through Tea's hair and then looks in shock at his hand. He tries to quickly get out of bed but Tea begins to awaken at the feeling of his body leaving hers.]
Tea (sleepily): Todd?
Todd: I'll be right back.
Tea (putting her arm around his stomach and holding him to her): Just a few more minutes.
Todd: I'll be back in a minute and then we can hold each other as long as you want, okay?
[Todd tries getting out of bed again but Tea senses that something isn't right and opens her eyes and looks at him.]
Tea (seeing a panicked look on his face): What's wrong? Did you have another nightmare?
Todd: No.
Tea: Then what's wrong? (noticing that he's trying to hide his hand from her) What's in your hand?
Todd: Nothing. Look, Tea, I just need to use the bathroom for a minute, okay? I should be able to do that without having to answer a bunch of questions.
Tea: Show me what's in your hand.
Todd: Can't I have any privacy?
Tea: Show me what's in your hand and you can have all the privacy you want. Otherwise, you're not getting out of this bed.
Todd: What makes you think it has anything to do with you?
Tea: Why are you hiding it from me?
Todd (desperately trying to think of a plausible excuse): I...I blew my nose. It's just a dirty tissue, that's all.
Tea: Then show it to me.
Todd: That's disgusting. I'm not going to show you my dirty tissue. You're taking this togetherness and sharing thing way too far.
Tea: I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so suspicious.
[Tea leans toward Todd and kisses him lightly on the lips.]
Tea: Do you forgive me?
Todd: Um, sure.
Tea: Good.
[Tea kisses him more passionately as she reaches across his body and caresses his arm. They continue to kiss as Tea slowly moves her hand down his arm until she feels his hand. She stops kissing him when she realizes what's in his hand. When she pulls away from him Todd realizes what she was doing.]
Todd: I'm not kissing you anymore if you're going to play games with me.
Tea: You should have just told me.
Todd: What makes you think it's yours.
Tea: Are you going bald, Todd?
Todd: I could be.
Tea (looking directly into his eyes): Am I?
Todd: It's not that bad, Tea.
Tea: Then show me.
[Todd brings his hand in between their bodies and slowly opens it.]
Todd: See, it's not that bad, really.
Tea (in shock): That's half my head.
Todd: It is not.
Tea: I want you to shave my head.
Todd: Wait, Tea. Maybe this is as much as you're going to lose.
Tea: I've already been losing hair and (gesturing to the hair in his hand) now this. I don't want to have to deal with this anymore. I don't want to go through this every time you put your fingers through my hair.
Todd: But if you bald yourself there won't be anything for me to put my fingers through anymore.
Tea: You can still touch my head.
Todd: It won't be the same.
Tea: If it would make you uncomfortable you don't have to touch it. I'll wear wigs, hats, scarves, whatever.
Todd: You don't have to. And you don't have to shave your head either. I don't mind if a few loose hairs end up in my hand. It's okay.
Tea: It's not okay for me. I'd rather just shave it all off and focus on something else.
Todd: It might be traumatic for you.
Tea: Each time this happens it will be traumatic. It would be better just to do this once, deal with the trauma and move on.
Todd: You're sure.
Tea: I'm positive. Someone else can do it if you don't want to.
Todd: No. If anyone's going to bald my wife it's gonna be me.
Tea: Let's do it right now.
Todd (begrudgingly): Okay. What I won't do for you, Tea.
Tea: You're a wonderful husband.
Todd: With the oddest wife.
[Tea kisses Todd. This time without any tricks in mind, just love and appreciation.]
Minutes later...
[Tea is sitting in a chair in the kitchen. Todd is standing behind her completely uncomfortable with what he's about to do.]
Tea: Any idea when you're going to start?
Todd: No.
Tea: Just do it, Todd.
Todd: What if you have a weird looking head?
Tea: Then you'll have a good laugh.
Todd: I wouldn't laugh at you, Tea.
Tea (not believing him): Right.
Todd: Well, only if it's really weird but I'd try to leave the room first.
Tea: Kiss me.
Todd: What?
Tea: I want you to kiss me.
Todd: I thought you wanted me to cut all your hair off?
Tea: I do but first I want you to kiss me.
[Todd moves in front of Tea and leans down and kisses her. Tea encourages the kiss to become more passionate than Todd had planned.]
Tea (breaking the kiss): Okay, start doing it.
Todd: There's something else I'd rather be doing, Tea.
Tea: If you do a good job you'll be rewarded.
Todd: You make it hard to say no to you.
Tea: That's the idea. Now get me bald.
Todd: I can't believe I actually married you...twice.
Tea: It's too late to think about that now, you're stuck with me.
Todd: Yeah, I am. I have to do this standing behind you, though. I can't look at you while I'm doing it.
[Todd repositions himself behind Tea and starts the job of removing all of her hair. When he finishes he gently touches her now bald head.]
Todd: Okay. Done. Do you want to see it?
Tea (touching her scalp): I don't know. This is kind of weird.
Todd: Tea, don't tell me you changed your mind because it's kind of late now if you did.
Tea: No. I still thinks it's better to deal with being bald all at once instead of a little bit each day. It's just strange, that's all.
Todd: Well, you don't have to look right away, if you don't want to.
Tea: What kind of shape is my head?
Todd: Um, I don't know...it's...head shaped.
Tea: Does it look weird?
Todd: It looks like I have a bald wife.
Tea: Tell me the truth, Todd.
[Todd moves in front of Tea and pulls a chair next to her and sits down. He studies her face and touches her head for a couple of minutes as Tea watches his expression closely.]
Todd: I think you're beautiful.
Tea: It must really be bad for you to say that to me.
Todd: I can't give my wife a compliment?
Tea: You never do.
Todd: It doesn't mean that I don't think it. I'm just not good at saying that kind of stuff.
Tea: You're very good at it...when you want to be.
[Tea continues to look in Todd's eyes as she reaches onto the table for the mirror that's laying there. She holds it up in front of her face and after a moment moves her eyes away from Todd and toward the mirror. As she looks at her reflection tears start to form in her eyes. Todd immediately takes the mirror away from her and puts it back on the table.]
Todd: Don't get upset, Tea. It's just hair.
Tea: It isn't just that.
Todd: Then what?
Tea: I look so sick. My eyes, my skin and now...now I'm bald, too.
Todd: But you wanted to be bald.
Tea: But if I weren't sick I wouldn't have wanted to be bald. I hardly ever look in the mirror anymore. I have no idea who that person is that I see in there. She's sick and weak and pathetic.
Todd: She's strong, she's confident. She tells me what to do all the time and she always gets her way. I don't know who you see in that mirror but I see someone else. I see someone who is just as beautiful now as she was when she forced me to fall in love with her.
Tea: I did not force you.
Todd: Like I had a choice. You were there all the time, in my face, challenging me, trying to convince me that I wasn't as horrible as I knew I was. You made the nights more bearable.
Tea: But we didn't spend the nights together back then.
Todd: We didn't have to. Whether I was up and pacing or laying in bed staring at that stupid ceiling I would keep looking at what time it was. I knew what time your alarm would go off and I would wait for that time.
Tea: Why?
Todd: Because I knew that you would talk to me the way that you did and look at me the way that you did. I knew that if I could just make it through those hours then it would be okay because I could be with you in the morning. On the nights that it was really bad and I couldn't wait until morning I would go into your room. I liked it best when you would sleep on your side with your head right by the edge of the bed. I would sit on the floor and watch your face and listen to you snore for hours.
Tea: I don't snore.
Todd: Whatever.
Tea: Why didn't you ever...why didn't you... You could have... It would have been okay with me if you...
Todd: I thought about it sometimes. I thought about what it would feel like to be next to you...what your skin would feel like under my fingers...what your lips would feel like touching mine...
Tea (touching his face): Why didn't you? It was what I wanted.
Todd: I didn't want to scare you away. I didn't want you to leave.
Tea: I wouldn't have.
Todd: Everyone leaves. Eventually, everyone leaves.
Tea: But I didn't want to leave. All those times you threw me out or pushed me away...I didn't want to leave. I wanted to be with you. I needed to be with you.
Todd: It scared the hell out of me, Tea. It still does. I don't understand why you feel that way about me.
Tea: I've explained it to you.
Todd: But it doesn't make sense. You deserve so much more than I could ever give you.
Tea: What I deserve is you.
Todd: No, you don't.
Tea: Yes, I do. I love you and you love me. I deserve to be loved and so do you. Take me upstairs, Todd. Make love to me.
Todd: Now?
Tea: Right now. Show me how you feel about me. Show me what you wanted to do those nights you watched me sleep.
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: Why not? I feel okay.
Todd: But the last time...the last time we did anything like that...
Tea: The time in the bathtub?
Todd: It got messed up.
Tea: It doesn't have to be like that.
Todd: But it probably will be. I hurt you the last time. I don't want to do that again.
Tea: You have never hurt me while you were making love to me.
Todd: I hurt you after, when I have to get away from you.
Tea: If you don't want me to hurt like that than stay with me. Talk to me or hold me.
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: We talked about this before, remember? If you need time alone it's okay. Tell me that you need to be alone for awhile and I'll understand. You can stay with me or you can be alone if you need to be but don't avoid being with me because you're afraid of what will happen after. Don't stop yourself from loving me.
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: Do you want to be with me? Do you?
Todd (looking away and speaking quietly): Yes.
Tea (turning his face and forcing his eyes to meet hers again): There's nothing wrong with that. Touch me the way that you want to touch me. Love me the way that you want to love me. I want you to make love to me, Todd, in whatever way you can right now.
Todd: It isn't easy for me, Tea.
Tea: I know but try anyway. If it becomes too difficult for you it's okay if you stop. It would be okay if you needed to go slow or to stop. I promise I won't get angry. I just want you to be with me as much as you can be. I want you to trust me enough to try.
Todd: I trust you, Tea. If I didn't I wouldn't have...I mean, I never would have told you...that stuff. I never would have said anything if I didn't trust you.
Tea: What about your body? Do you trust me with your body?
Todd: I know you wouldn't hurt me, not on purpose. I know that. You have to understand that sometimes it does hurt. Sometimes when we do stuff it hurts. Not because of what you do to me or what I do to you but because there's all this other stuff inside me and some of it hurts.
Tea: It hurts when I touch you?
Todd: Sometimes. I know it isn't your fault. I know that but I can't stop it. It hurts so much sometimes.
Tea: You've said before that I help take your pain away.
Todd: You do.
Tea (caressing his face gently): Then let me do that now. Let me inside you so I can take some of that pain away. I don't want you to hurt, Todd. I want...I want you to feel good. Let me try to make you feel good.
[Todd can feel his eyes starting to fill with tears. He quickly stands up and begins pacing.]
Tea: What's wrong?
Todd: Nothing.
Tea: Tell me.
[Todd stops pacing and stares at Tea.]
Todd: You.
Tea: What about me?
Todd: You're trying to make me feel good.
Tea: I love you. Of course I want you to feel good.
Todd: But you're sick and you feel horrible and...and...and you're thinking about me. You want me to feel good. It should be the other way around. I should be the one trying to make you feel good.
Tea: You already do.
Todd (looking away): No.
Tea: Yes, you do. Look at me. Look at me, Todd. (Todd hesitantly looks at her) I know I look horrible and, okay, sometimes I feel horrible but I'm happy, Todd. Being here with you has been the happiest time of my life.
Todd: Then you've had a pathetic life.
Tea: Maybe I have but you have made it so much better. You have given me so much. (beginning to cry) I want...I want to give that back to you. I want to make you feel as loved as you've made me feel. Let me try. Please, let me try.
[Todd approaches Tea and kneels down in front of her.]
Todd: Tea...
[Todd lowers his head as his own tears start to escape his eyes.]
Todd: Damn!
Tea (caressing his hair): It's okay.
[Todd rests his head against the side of Tea's leg unable to stop the tears.]
chapter 43:
[After several minutes of crying together Tea and Todd are both startled by the sound of the doorbell.]
Tea: Ignore it.
Todd (looking up at Tea): Oh, no!
Tea: What?
Todd: Viki and Carlotta were supposed to come over today, remember?
Tea: Was that today?
Todd: Not only today but right now.
[Tea looks at Todd's tear stained face and knows that he would be uncomfortable having Viki, and especially Carlotta, see him right now.]
Tea: I'll go answer the door. I'll tell them this isn't a good time. They'll understand.
[Todd looks at Tea. He knows she wants to send them away more for him than for herself. The doorbell rings again.]
Todd: They're going to think something bad happened.
Tea: I'll tell them to come back tomorrow or next week, or something, okay?
[Tea exits the kitchen leaving an emotionally exhausted Todd kneeling on the floor. As Tea opens the front door both Carlotta and Viki are standing there. They're both shocked when they see Tea's bald head and concerned when they see that she's obviously been crying.]
Carlotta: Tea, you're hair!
[Tea touches her head reminded that she's now bald.]
Tea (her voice still shaky with emotion): Sorry, I...I forgot. I should have put a hat on before answering the door.
Carlotta: What happened?
Tea (uncomfortable with her baldness now): Um, I...you know...well, I just...I didn't feel like losing my hair anymore so I thought I'd just get rid of it all at once.
Carlotta: I thought you were only losing a little bit of it?
Tea: With the other treatment it wasn't that bad but with this new one I've been losing a lot more. I knew I would end up bald anyway. This way it's my decision not my body's.
Viki: Is Todd here?
Tea: Um, yeah... You know, this isn't really a good time. I'm sorry you came all the way out here but maybe we could do this another time.
Carlotta: Are you not feeling well?
Tea: I'm fine. (touching her head again) I'm completely bald but I'm fine. Despite what my appearance might signal it's been a pretty good day for me so far.
Carlotta: Then what's wrong?
Viki (concerned): Is it Todd? Was there another incident?
Todd (approaching the front door): I'm fine.
[Both Carlotta and Viki are shocked to see the obvious signs on Todd's face that he's been crying.]
Todd (standing next to Tea): Did you both tell my wife what a nice shaped head she has?
Tea (laughing): Great! Now I'm going to get bald jokes.
Todd: You said it was okay to laugh. After all, what's the point of having a bald wife if you can't have some fun with it?
Tea (smiling at Todd): True.
[A look passes between Tea and Todd that Carlotta and Viki are completely oblivious to. After a silent moment Todd looks back toward Carlotta and Viki.]
Todd: You're staying for lunch, right?
Viki: Well, Tea said...
Tea: I thought...
Todd: They were invited to lunch, they should stay. They can be the ones who try to get you to eat more. I can take a break.
Tea: You're sure?
Todd: Yeah. (to Viki) Are you going to be cooking, too?
Viki: I could certainly help.
Todd: I thought maybe...I mean, if you wanted to...maybe we could talk, or something.
Tea: Why don't the two of you go for a walk. I'll help Carlotta with lunch.
Todd: You're sure you're okay?
Tea: Today I am.
Todd: Do you want me to get rid of the hair before you go back into the kitchen?
Tea: Maybe you should. I'm going to go upstairs and find a big hat.
Todd: You don't need to.
Tea: Right now I want to.
[Tea goes upstairs. Carlotta starts preparing lunch. Todd begins removing Tea's hair from the kitchen floor but Viki stops him and offers to do it for him. Todd allows her to do it. After a few minutes Todd goes upstairs to check on Tea.]
Todd (entering the bedroom and not seeing his wife): Tea?
Tea (stepping out of the walk-in closet): Yeah?
Todd: I just wanted to make sure you were okay.
Tea: I'm fine. (returning to the closet) I should have thought about how I was going to cover my head before I made you remove my hair.
Todd (joining her in the closet): It doesn't matter. No one here cares what your head looks like.
Tea: I saw the looks on their faces when they saw me.
Todd: They were probably just surprised. I mean, they didn't expect you to be bald. It makes sense when you consider that the last time they saw you there was a bunch of hair on your head.
Tea: I know. I'd just feel less conspicuous if they weren't staring at my head while they're here. It's bad enough the way people look at me because I'm sick. Now everyone will be staring at me because I'm bald.
[Todd pulls the hat that Tea's trying on off her head and tosses it on the ground.]
Todd: That one's ugly. (looking at Tea seriously) I don't want you to wear anything when it's just the two of us. If you want to with other people I understand but not when it's just us, okay?
Tea: It doesn't bother you?
Todd: I'm not totally used to it yet but I will be. I don't care if you have hair or not. You don't like it when I cover stuff up from you and try to hide so it wouldn't be fair if you cover yourself up from me.
Tea: Okay.
Todd (touching her head): You know, now when we sit outside or go for a walk you'll have to put sunscreen on your head.
Tea: I guess so.
Todd: I'll be sure to buy a huge bottle of the stuff.
Tea: Are you saying I have a huge head?
Todd (studying her head in an exaggerated manner): Well...
[Tea playfully pushes Todd away from her but he pulls her toward him. They share a smile.]
Tea (her expression becoming serious as she looks into his eyes): Are you okay?
Todd: I'll survive.
Tea: I'm beginning to think maybe I will too.
Todd: I know that you will. I don't know...I don't know what will happen though.
Tea: Let's not talk about that right now, okay? We have to get back downstairs.
Todd: Did you find something to cover your head?
[Tea grabs a hat and puts it on her head.]
Tea: What do you think?
Todd: I'm not the person to ask about that.
Tea (looking at him seriously again): Could you kiss me?
Todd: Do you want me to?
Tea: Very much.
Todd: I've never kissed you while you were wearing a hat before.
Tea: Or while I was bald.
[Tea touches his cheek as she moves forward and they share a tender kiss.]
A few minutes later...
[Todd and Viki are walking in the Mannings' spacious backyard.]
Viki: So...are we going to talk while we walk or would you prefer silence?
Todd: Do I have a choice?
Viki: Of course you do.
Todd: Tea says that too but it never ends up mattering. I always end up telling her whatever she wants me to tell her anyway.
Viki: I know that some of the things you've been discussing with Tea are quite painful but I do believe that it is very important for you to talk about them.
Todd: That's what Tea seems to think.
Viki: What do you think?
Todd: I think it hurts like hell to talk about this stuff.
Viki: But does it help?
Todd: I don't know. I can't tell. Maybe it does. I don't know.
Viki: You know, you can talk to me too, right? Anytime, about anything. I'll always be here for you.
Todd: You've forgiven me for the stuff I've done that hurt you?
Viki: Yes, I have.
Todd: Well, then I'm sorry I did them. And, I'm sorry that I took off. I felt like I had to at the time but I should have stayed and dealt with everything. I should have been here for you and Tea and, of course, Starr.
Viki: You can't change the past, Todd. You can learn from it though and I hope that you have.
Todd: I'm trying. It isn't easy for me. I'm a slow learner.
Viki: Well, luckily I'm very patient and so is your wife it appears.
Todd: You never really cared about Tea, did you? I mean, in the past.
Viki: I had hoped that she would be good for you, that you would find some happiness with her.
Todd: Yeah, but you never actually cared about her, right? Tea hasn't told me much about the contact she had with you when I was gone. She doesn't like to talk about it but I get the feeling that you and she didn't see each other much during that time.
Viki: We saw each other a few times.
Todd: Was it ever because you chose to see her?
Viki: There was a lot going on at the time.
Todd: Yeah, I didn't think so. I know that you didn't tell her that you thought I was nuts.
Viki: I don't think that. I think you have a lot of issue you need to deal with.
Todd: And you think I should deal with them with some jerk I pay a bunch of money to, right?
Viki: I think therapy could be a good thing for you but only if it's what you truly want otherwise it won't work.
Todd: Well, it's not what I want.
Viki: Then I guess it wouldn't work.
Todd: I want it to work with Tea. I really want it to work this time. I don't know if it will though.
Viki: What's stopping it from working?
Todd: Me.
[Meanwhile in the kitchen of the Manning home...]
Carlotta: Are you sure you're okay?
Tea: I told you, today is a good day for me.
Carlotta: When we first got here I didn't have that impression.
Tea: I'm sorry. I forgot that I was bald. I would have put on a hat if I had remembered.
Carlotta: It wasn't your hair, although, I still don't understand why you cut it all off. What concerned me was the look on your face. You had clearly been crying. Todd also looked like he had been crying.
Tea: Whatever you do, please, do not mention that to Todd. It took a lot for him to let you see him like that. Don't make him regret it.
Carlotta: I won't. Did the two of you have a fight?
Tea: No.
Carlotta: Did you get bad news?
Tea: It was nothing like that. We were just talking about some things and we both got a little emotional.
Carlotta: Anything you want to talk about?
Tea: It was between Todd and myself.
Carlotta: Okay. Just know that if you ever need to talk, I'll be here for you.
Tea (giving her a small hug): I know and I appreciate it.
[Todd and Viki return to the house and enter the kitchen.]
Todd: Are we doing this eating thing?
Carlotta: Very soon.
[Todd approaches Tea and lifts the hat she's wearing.]
Tea: What are you doing?
Todd: Just checking. Yep, you're still bald.
Tea: If you keep teasing me I might have to retaliate.
Todd: And how would you do that?
Tea: Well, I could tell everyone what I see when I look at you.
Todd: You wouldn't.
Viki: What do you see?
[Todd gives Tea a look warning her not to continue.]
Tea: I see...(smiling at Todd)...that Todd is...very...hungry. We should eat.
[Todd reluctantly smiles a little as everyone sits at the table and begins lunch.]
chapter 44:
[Later the same day...
After everyone finishes lunch and after some time talking Carlotta and Viki depart and Tea and Todd are left alone, except for Moose, of course.]
Todd (uncomfortable): Um, what do you want to do now?
Tea: What do you want to do?
Todd: We could throw Moose out of the other room and watch some TV.
Tea: Could we throw him out of the house while we're at it?
Todd: You know, if you continue saying things like that he's going to think you don't like him.
Tea: Good.
Todd: We could do something else, I suppose. You feel okay, right? We could go for a walk, if you want.
Tea: That isn't what I want.
Todd: What do you want?
Tea: What we were talking about earlier.
Todd: Oh.
Tea: We don't have to. It's okay if you don't want to.
Todd: It's still light out.
Tea: There's nothing wrong with doing...uh...that...when it's light out.
Todd: It's better in the dark.
Tea: Okay. (pause) We could go shopping.
Todd: Why would we want to do that?
Tea: Well, since I've been losing weight my clothes don't fit anymore.
Todd: You should gain weight not get new clothes.
Tea: And I need to get some new things to cover my head. I don't like any of my hats.
Todd: Are you sure you'd be up to it?
Tea: Hey, I actually feel good today. I want to take advantage of it.
Todd: You know, if you really feel good this could be a good day to have Starr over.
Tea: Do you think you could arrange it?
Todd: I could try. Do you want me to?
Tea: Of course. You know I love seeing Starr.
Todd: Okay.
[Todd calls Blair. Tea can tell from Todd's side of the conversation that he wants Starr to spend the night but that Blair is resistant to the idea. After numerous minutes of going back and forth about it Todd hangs up the phone.]
Tea: So, what's the decision?
Todd: We can go and pick her up right now but Blair doesn't want Starr spending the night here.
Tea: Well, you didn't give her any warning, Todd. This is pretty sudden.
Todd: Yeah, that's what Blair said.
Tea: Let's not waste any time, okay? I'll go upstairs and change and we can go pick up your daughter.
Todd: You know, she'd probably like to go shopping with you. She's into doing those girl kinds of things.
Tea: That would be great. We could eat dinner at the mall, too.
Todd (cringing at the thought of spending time in a mall): You know, maybe I should just drop you and Starr off and pick you up when you're done.
Tea: No way, Manning. I've never been to a mall with you before. I want to have the experience. (gently stroking his arm) Don't worry. If you get scared I'm sure Starr will hold your hand.
Todd: Very funny.
Tea: So, can we go?
Todd: We'll ask Starr, okay? We'll do whatever she wants to do. Don't be surprised, though, if we spend the evening at the zoo looking at some big stupid fish in a tank.
Tea: They're called dolphins.
Todd: Yeah, whatever.
[Tea steps into Todd's personal space.]
Todd: What are you doing?
Tea: I thought maybe we could share a kiss.
Todd: I thought we were leaving right away.
Tea: I wasn't expecting a long kiss.
[Todd makes no move to kiss Tea. Tea's facial expression turns sad as she steps away from Todd. As she walks past Todd to go upstairs he gently grabs her arm.]
Todd: Wait.
[Tea turns and looks back at Todd. She can see an internal struggle evidenced on his face.]
Todd: Just one kiss?
Tea: Just one.
Todd: Okay, I guess.
Tea: Are you sure?
Todd: Let's just stop talking about it, okay?
Tea: Okay.
[Todd still doesn't make any attempt to kiss her.]
Tea: Would you like to wait until after I change?
Todd: Okay.
Tea: I'll be right back.
[Tea goes upstairs and changes her clothes and picks out an acceptable hat. When she returns downstairs she finds that Todd is already in the car. She gets into the car and buckles her seat belt as Todd starts the car. Tea is taken by surprise when she feels Todd's hand on her neck as he brings their faces together for a brief kiss.]
Todd: Don't expect me to do that in front of Starr.
Tea: I don't.
[As Todd begins driving away from the house Tea's smile widens.
The drive to town is a mostly silent one with both Tea and Todd spending more time thinking than talking. The radio is on. Every time a sappy love song comes on Todd quickly turns the channel, much to Tea's amusement.
When they finally make it into town Tea waits in the car as Todd picks up Starr. After several minutes Tea sees Todd and Starr approach the car. She gets out and greets Starr with a hug. Starr asks Tea to sit in the back seat with her and she agrees. Since he couldn't convince Starr that a shopping trip was a bad idea Todd begrudgingly begins driving toward the mall he'll unfortunately be spending a portion of his life in.]
Starr: Tee, daddy said you don't have hair anymore.
Todd (shocked): Starr! That's not polite.
Tea: You know, your daddy's right it isn't normally polite to say that to someone but since it's you and me it's okay if we talk about it. It's true, I don't have any hair on my head anymore.
Starr: Can I see?
Todd: Starr!
Tea: It's okay, Todd. (to Starr) Sure, you can see.
[Tea takes off her hat and shows Starr her bald head. Starr reaches out and touches Tea's scalp.]
Tea: Does it make you uncomfortable?
Starr: No. (to Todd) Daddy, can I cut off my hair too?
Todd: No!
[Tea laughs.]
Starr (to Tea): I don't like it when my hair gets all tangled up. Sometimes it hurts.
Tea (lightly stroking Starr's hair): I know but you don't want to cut your beautiful hair.
Starr: Okay. Will your hair come back?
Tea: Hopefully, but I don't know how long it will take.
[Tea and Starr continue chatting until Tea hears Todd growl in the front seat and looks up to see they've arrived at the mall.
As Tea and Starr eagerly walk into the mall's entrance, Todd hesitantly steps in. He looks around in disgust at all the neon signs and the crowds of people. Todd is startled when Starr runs up to him and takes his hand, dragging him forward into commercialism hell. Tea can't stop herself from smiling as she watches a thoroughly disgusted Todd Manning being pulled toward the center of the mall by his child.
When Starr sees a large toy store she begs Todd to take her into the store. Todd, of course, can't say no. Tea goes to a hat store a few stores down from the toy store as Todd is forced into a very bright corner of hell. As Todd and Starr enter the toy store they are greeted by the most perky person to ever exist who, to Todd's added horror, is dressed as a clown.]
Greeter (to Starr): Hi! What's your name?
Starr: Starr.
Todd: Starr, don't talk to strangers especially ones who obviously have some serious problems.
[Starr runs toward a display of stuffed animals.]
Greeter: You look like you could use some cheering up young man.
Todd: Don't mess with me.
Greeter (trying to give Todd a balloon on a string): Here. Take this. It will make you feel better. We don't like to see anyone frown in our store.
Todd: Then you should stop harassing them as they walk in the door.
Greeter: You really are a tough one, aren't you? Would you like me to make you a balloon shaped like a doggie?
Todd: Does your boss know you drink heavily on the job?
Greeter (losing pep rapidly): I hope someone else is teaching your kid manners.
Todd (getting into the clown's face with a menacing glare): Don't talk about my kid. I've never killed a clown before but...
[Todd is interrupted as he hears Starr call out to him. Todd gestures to Starr that he'll be right there.]
Todd (to the greeter): I suggest you ignore us for the rest of the time we're in this stupid store.
Greeter (gruffly): Yeah, sure. I don't care. They don't pay me enough to deal with people like you.
Todd (looking at the greeter's ridiculous costume): At least they let you wear your own clothes.
[Todd approaches Starr who has a serious look on her face as she tries to decide between two different toys.]
Todd: Starr? Why don't we go somewhere else? Do you want a new hat?
Starr (seeing Tea approaching): Tee! (holding up both toys she's trying to pick from) Which one do you think I should get?
Tea: Um...I don't know, sweetie. Get whichever one you like best.
[Tea stands so close to Todd that their arms are touching. He can tell that something's wrong with her.]
Todd: Are you okay?
Tea: I'm fine.
Todd: Do you feel sick?
Tea: No.
Todd: How come you didn't buy anything at that hat place?
Tea: I didn't like their selection.
Todd (still convinced there's something wrong): Tea...
Tea: It's nothing.
Todd: Then tell me what happened.
Tea: It was really nothing.
[As Starr gets distracted by another display of toys, Todd maneuvers Tea so he can look at her and watch Starr at the same time.]
Todd: Tell me.
Tea: I was reminded of how pathetically ill I look, that's all.
Todd: Did you look in another mirror?
Tea: I didn't have to.
Todd (anger rising): Did someone say something to you? Are they still in that store? (as he starts to move toward the door) You stay here with Starr. I'll take care of this.
Tea (grabbing his arm to keep him from leaving): Don't.
Todd: No one gets to make you feel bad.
Tea: It wasn't anyone's fault.
Todd: Yeah, right!
Tea: It wasn't. Most of the time that I've been sick I've been alone with you. Sometimes I forget what I look like to other people because you don't look at me the way that they do. All they can see is how sick I look and now they see how bald I am but you...you look at me differently.
Todd: You're blaming me?
Tea (smiling): No. I'm just saying that you've spoiled me. The way that you look at me and the way that you treat me...you make me feel beautiful even when I know that I'm not.
Todd: That's not true. You are beautiful. You're very beautiful but it has nothing to do with how I look at you.
Tea (caressing his cheek): Only you could make me feel beautiful right now.
Todd (looking around to see if anyone is watching): We should stop talking about this. If we don't you'll start crying and I can't handle that right now. It's bad enough I'm in a...a...(speaking the word with disdain)...mall.
Tea: Okay. We'll talk about it later.
Todd (hoping they never talk about it again): If we have to.
[Tea removes her hand from his cheek and takes his hand in hers.]
Tea (noticing Todd's extreme discomfort): Do you want me to let go of your hand?
Todd (wanting desperately for this horrible mall experience to end): I can take it.
Tea (squeezing his hand slightly): Are you sure?
Todd: Can we just hurry up and get out of here?
Tea: You're the one who brought your daughter into a toy store. We probably won't be leaving for at least an hour.
Todd: I'll buy everything in the store. They can deliver it tomorrow and we can get out of here right now.
Tea (looking around): It's not that bad.
Todd: Didn't you get accosted by the clown coming in?
Tea: I like clowns.
Todd: Figures!
[Starr approaches.]
Starr: Daddy, I want this one.
Todd: Good. Let's go.
Tea: Todd, why don't you wait outside and Starr and I will pay for the toy.
Todd: Fine. I'll be in the car.
Tea: I meant outside the store. We're still having dinner, remember?
[Todd growls.]
Tea: I suppose we could go somewhere else to eat, if you'd prefer.
Todd: I'd prefer.
Tea: Is that okay with you, Starr?
Starr: I don't care as long as I can have ice cream.
Todd (to Tea): I'll bring the car around to the entrance we came in through.
Tea: Are you sure you remember which one that is?
Todd: Believe me I memorized the layout when we came in just in case I needed to make a quick escape.
Tea (smiling slightly): Okay.
[Tea and Starr wait in line and buy the toy. When they exit the mall Todd is waiting impatiently for them. As soon as they are both in the car with their seat belts on Todd quickly drives away determined that he will never again enter a mall.]
chapter 45:
[Todd, Tea and Starr have dinner together at an ice cream parlor. After dropping Starr off Tea and Todd drive home silently.
Upon entering their house both Tea and Todd are noticeably nervous.]
Todd: Do you, uh, want something to eat?
Tea: We just had dinner, remember?
Todd: Uh, yeah...right...okay.
Tea: Are you still hungry?
Todd: No, not really.
Tea: Do you, uh, want to go upstairs?
Todd: Right now?
Tea: That's what I was thinking.
Todd: Oh.
Tea: We don't have to go up right away.
Todd: Okay. (after a long awkward silence) Do you want to play pool?
[Tea moves closer to where Todd is standing.]
Tea: No.
Todd: Watch TV?
[Tea begins running her fingers lightly through Todd's hair.]
Tea: No.
Todd: Spend some time with Moose?
[Tea steps even closer to Todd, pressing their bodies together.]
Tea: No.
Todd (unnerved): Um...
Tea: Todd?
Todd: What?
Tea: Shut up.
[Tea kisses Todd, tentatively at first but quickly increasing the intensity.]
Todd (pulling away from her): Are you sure this is a good idea? You should be conserving your energy right now.
Tea (approaching him and moving her hand along his chest): This will give me energy.
Todd (pulling away from her again): We could play Money Hungry.
Tea: Do you not want to be with me tonight?
Todd: It isn't that.
Tea: Then what is it?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: It's okay to be nervous. I'm nervous.
Todd: You are?
Tea: Of course.
Todd: Are you afraid I'll hurt you?
Tea: No.
Todd: Maybe you should be.
Tea: Do you want to hurt me?
Todd: Of course not.
Tea: Then I have no reason to be afraid.
Todd: That doesn't mean that I won't hurt you.
Tea (approaching him again): I trust you, Todd. I love you. I want you to make love to me tonight.
[Todd becomes uncomfortable with the look in her eyes and looks down at the ground to avoid her gaze. Tea lifts his face, forcing him to look in her eyes again.]
Tea: If this isn't what you want then tell me. (Todd doesn't say anything) Do you want this? Do you want me?
Todd: Um...
[Tea begins unbuttoning her shirt making Todd even more uncomfortable. He tries to keep his eyes focused on her eyes but he can't stop himself from looking down as she takes her shirt off. His hand instinctively reaches out for her breast and fondles her through her bra. Tea begins quickly unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it out of his pants. As soon as his chest is fully exposed her mouth seeks one of his nipples and she begins to lick and suck on it. Todd moans which makes Tea even bolder as she lightly takes his flesh between her teeth.
Todd pulls the hat Tea's wearing off her head and tosses it across the room. After unhooking her bra he caresses the back of her head with one hand, pushing her face tighter against his chest, while his other hand moves her bra out of the way so he can touch her skin and pinch her nipple.]
Todd: Tea...
[Tea stops and looks in his eyes.]
Tea: Are you okay?
[Todd grabs the back of her head with both of his hands and pulls her hard into his face. Tea responds to his passion and presses her body tightly against his as she awkwardly removes his shirt.]
Tea (as she kisses his chin and down his neck): Tell me this is what you want. Tell me that you want me, Todd. Tell me. Say the words.
[Todd doesn't say anything as Tea continues to kiss down his body. As Tea reaches the top of his pants she looks up at him. She sees a nervous look on his face. Tea starts undoing his pants as she watches his face carefully. He doesn't give her any signal to stop so she pulls his pants down to the floor. He lets her raise each of his legs as she removes his shoes, socks and pants. Tea stands back up and removes her bra and kicks off her shoes. As she does Todd reaches out and grabs her to his body and holds her in a tight embrace.
Tea thinks he's holding her so tightly because he's nervous or perhaps because of his fear of losing her. She doesn't realize that he's flashing back to a painful experience from his past.
When Todd reached out for Tea he knew it was his wife he was holding on to but as the minutes pass his mind becomes more and more confused between the reality of being in the living room with Tea and being in the living room of his childhood home with his father.
As more time passes Tea becomes more and more concerned with the desperation she feels coming from Todd's embrace.]
Tea (as she gently caresses his back hoping to calm his fears): Todd? Are you okay? Todd?
[Todd doesn't respond. He can barely even hear her words. He continues to hold her tightly with his head resting on her shoulder and his eyes squeezed tightly shut.]
Tea: Todd? Something's wrong, I can feel it. Tell me what's wrong. Todd?
[The memory of one particular experience with his father plays in his mind like a movie except that instead of watching it Todd feels like he's reliving it. He can feel himself going through every moment again. Feeling every feeling, thinking every thought.
Suddenly, Todd lets go of Tea and she steps back and looks at him. His eyes are open now but they don't seem focused, at least not on Tea.]
Tea: Todd? What are you remembering? If you tell me maybe I can help you.
Todd (still not looking at Tea): No one can help me. No one ever helps me.
Tea: I will. You know that I'll help you, if you let me.
Todd: He gets what he wants. He always gets what he wants.
Tea: No, he doesn't. Not this time. He doesn't get to hurt you this time.
Todd: Yes, he does. I can see it.
Tea: What do you see?
[Todd is silent as he closes his eyes and floats back into the moment in this head.]
Tea: Todd, what do you see? Where are you? What is he doing to you? (yelling, trying to get his attention) Todd?
[Todd opens his eyes again. The glazed look of his eyes scares Tea. She can tell that Todd is swaying slightly.]
Tea: Todd, you should sit down.
Todd (looking directly at her with a detached look): You wanted to have sex, right?
Tea: Not right now I don't.
Todd: You want me to take off my clothes, right? Whatever you want.
[Todd pulls down his underwear and stands completely naked in front of Tea.]
Tea: Todd, put your clothes back on.
Todd: No. If you want to have sex with me then I have to let you. I know the rules.
Tea: Those rules no longer exist.
Todd: Do whatever you want to me.
Tea: Todd, what are you remembering? What is your father doing to you?
Todd: He's proving what a pervert I am.
Tea: How is he doing that?
Todd: But it's okay. It'll be okay this time because when he's done I'm going to hurt him. I'll kill him this time. He'll never touch me again.
Tea: How old are you?
Todd: Fourteen. Today I turned fourteen.
Tea: Todd, do you know who I am? Can you see me?
Todd: I just have to get through this last time. I have to do what he tells me right now but when he's done, when he doesn't expect it, I'll be in charge. I'll kill him and then I think I'll kill myself.
Tea: You don't want to kill yourself.
Todd: Why not? I have no reason to live.
Tea: Yes, you do. You have a lot of reasons to live.
Todd: I have nothing. No one will ever want to even look at me when they find out.
Tea: I will.
[Todd closes his eyes tightly again and Tea can tell from the look on his face that he's experiencing intense pain. Todd leans against the wall as his body is overtaken by the pain.]
Tea: What can I do? What can I do to help you?
Todd (speaking painfully): Don't stop me. Let me kill him. Don't get in the way.
[Tea is confused. She doesn't know how to bring him back to reality but she doesn't know how to help him through his memory either. She thinks about calling Viki but she knows that Todd would not want his sister to see him like this. She considers calling Sam but fears how Todd would react to seeing him again.]
Todd: Okay, here's my chance. He left the room. I need a minute. I just need a minute to get my strength back and to get my mind focused again. Okay, he's coming back now. I have to be ready. I have to wait until I can take him by surprise. (yelling at himself) Get up you idiot! Don't just lay there.
[Todd goes through the motions of putting clothing on his body but in reality he is still standing in front of Tea naked.]
Todd (still yelling at himself): Where are you going? No! No! You can do that later. Kill him first. Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Okay...okay...okay, that's it squeeze. Come on, squeeze harder, he's still breathing. You're stronger than that. Squeeze harder. No, don't listen to that. Ignore it. It's not important. Finish killing him first. No! You loser. You pathetic loser.
[Todd grabs a lamp off a nearby table and smashes it to the ground. He moves around the room picking up every object he can and throwing them across the room. He throws the coffee table at the wall and overturns the couch.
As he moves his tirade into another room Tea watches him. The intensity of his anger is overwhelming. She watches from the doorway as he tries to destroy his pool table. She sees Moose move to a corner of the room and into a hiding space that protects him from all the flying glass and other objects that are now flying through the air.
As Todd finishes in that room he walks past Tea as if she isn't even there. He moves quickly into the kitchen and begins smashing all of the dishes and throwing utensils and other objects at one of the walls. Suddenly, Todd leans over the sink and starts throwing up. For the first time since his tirade began Tea approaches him and gently touches his back.]
Tea (in a soothing voice): It's okay, Todd. Everything will be okay.
[When Todd finishes vomiting Tea wipes his mouth off with a dish towel.]
Tea: You should lay down. You're exhausted.
[Todd moves a few feet away and climbs under the kitchen table. As he curls his body into a ball Tea watches him closely and notices that he's shivering. She takes a table cloth out of one of the drawers and slowly approaches Todd. As she joins him under the table she unfolds the table cloth and cautiously places it over Todd's body. He cringes and tries to move further away from her.]
Tea: It's okay. I just want to cover you with this because you look like you're cold, that's all. I won't hurt you. I promise, I won't hurt you.
[Todd stops moving and allows Tea to cover his body. As she moves back away from him she sees that he's staring intently at her.]
Tea: Why don't you close your eyes and try to sleep.
[Todd shakes his head frantically and she recognizes the look of panic in his eyes.]
Tea: It's okay. I'm right here. I'll stay with you, okay? I won't let anyone hurt you.
[For several minutes Todd continues to refuse to close his eyes but eventually the exhaustion becomes overwhelming for him. As he finally closes his eyes Tea sees that his body is still trembling and several times he opens his eyes again to check if she's still there. Finally, his body relaxes as he falls asleep. Tea cries silently as she watches her sleeping husband.]
to be continued...
