A fully naked Todd removes the remainder of Tea's clothing and pushes her down onto the bed as he places his body over hers. No words are spoken as their bodies passionately join.
They both lose themselves in their lovemaking. Neither allows any guilt to affect their enjoyment of each other.
It's only after their adulterous act is completed that guilt overwhelmingly returns for Tea. It isn't guilt about Todd's marriage that devastates her heart, though. It's the way that he looks at her and the emotion in his voice when he finally speaks to her again.]
Todd: I love you, Tea. I'm glad you're just a dream so you'll never know how much you ripped my heart out when you walked out on me.
[Todd removes his body from hers. He lays next to her, exhaustion quickly overtaking him.
Tea's body shakes slightly as she watches him fall asleep, knowing that he's still completely unaware that her presence isn't just another of his nightly dream.
Several minutes later...
Tea lightly touches her hand to Todd's face as she whispers to her sleeping ex-husband.]
Tea: I'm sorry, Todd. I don't know what I was thinking coming back here. I wanted... I don't know what I wanted. I just can't seem to get passed this thing we had. Despite everything you've said, I can't believe that it's really the same for you. I know you. You always run from your feelings. You run from happiness. You run from anything good that life offers you. That's all this is. You're running from your family, and you're using me to do it. I can't stay and see the truth on your face when you wake up in the morning. I just can't. I love you, Querido. Please, be happy.
[Tea lightly kisses his lips. She's startled when his arms grab around her body and pull her heavily into his embrace.
For several moments, Tea internally panics, not knowing if Todd heard what she said and now knows their lovemaking wasn't a dream. Externally, though, her concern doesn't prevent her from matching his intensity in their kissing.
When Todd finally allows their lips to part, Tea looks at his face, seeking an answer to the question that is causing her stomach to churn uncomfortably.
For several awkward seconds, Tea remains uncertain. It isn't until he smiles at her that she feels some relief, knowing that Todd would be angry in this moment if he had discovered the truth.]
Todd: This is going to be a good dream.
Tea: A dream?
Todd: It must be a dream. You can't possibly really be here, right?
Tea: Right.
Todd: It's not like you'd ever show your face in Llanview again. You'd have to deal with a ton of humiliation if you did. You ditched your boyfriend, and every other part of your pathetic little life, to run off with me and then I dumped your ass and came back without you so I could get it on with my other ex. You'd never come back to that kind of humiliation.
[Tea sits up, wishing they had at some point made their way under the blankets so she wouldn't feel so exposed right now.]
Tea: You're right. I'd never come back under those circumstances. Although, I am the one that left you, just to be accurate.
Todd: Because even in dreams accuracy matters, right? Of course, this is Llanview where truth is never truth. I've been telling everyone that I'm the one that dumped you. They all believed me. Not that you'd care, anyway, since you're not real. You're just a dream, remember?
Tea: That's right...just a dream.
Todd: So, what kind of dream will this one be? One where I tell you every lousy thing you ever did to me and how much I hate your guts?
Tea: I thought the way you were kissing me meant a different kind of dream.
Todd: Oh, you mean like a sex dream, or something?
[Todd sits up next to her. He leans close to her and places his hand on her inner thigh, lightly caressing her skin.]
Todd: I don't know if I'm really in the mood from one of those whore dreams right now. Maybe I'll just wake up and have sex with my wife, instead. You know, we've had sex tons of times since I got lucky enough to get rid of you.
Tea: If that's true, why do you dream about me?
Todd: I need something to compare it to. You know, I need something really lousy so I know how great I have it now.
[Tea grabs his hand and removes it from her leg.]
Tea: Okay, Todd. You can stop. I know you know you're awake.
Todd: Awake? Me? No way! I can't be awake. None of this is real. I'm dreaming. You're a figment of my imagination.
Tea: I'm leaving.
[Tea is surprised as Todd does nothing to stop her while she picks her clothes out from their combined pile of clothing on the floor.
With her clothing in her hands, she looks at him. He sneers at her as his hands go to his penis.]
Todd: Are you sure you don't want to stay so I can have that whore dream again? You're just so good at it, Tea.
[Tea looks at him with painful tears in her eyes. She quickly rushes out the bedroom door.
Todd waits several seconds before he rushes out of the room after her.
On the lower level of the penthouse, Tea reaches the door and is pulling it open as Todd suddenly appears behind her. His hand pushes against the door, closing it.]
[Tea takes a deep breath before turning her body to face her fuming ex-husband, who is standing uncomfortably close to her as he continues to lean his hand against the front door of his penthouse, blocking her exit.]
Tea: What is this, Todd?
Todd: What do you think it is?
Tea: You don't scare me.
Todd: Really?
Tea: Do you plan on throwing me out naked, again?
Todd: I just stopped you from running out of here naked. I should be rewarded for that.
Tea: What kind of reward did you have in mind?
Todd: I think you know.
[Todd coldly slides several of his fingers across the flesh of her upper chest as she holds her clothing in front of her, the garments being the only thing separating their equally nude bodies.]
Tea: Dream on, Todd!
Todd: No more dreaming, Tea. No more pretending. This time you'll have to work a lot harder if you want to seduce me.
Tea: I know you, Todd Manning. I know when you're pretending, and when you're not.
[Todd's fingers continue to delicately caress her flesh, seeking the power of her arousal.]
Todd: You never did before. You never had a clue.
Tea: I need to leave.
Todd: Why?
Tea: You know why.
Todd: You just came here to screw my life up? Now that you've succeeded, you think I'll let you leave?
Tea: You won't stop me.
[Todd brings his face tantalizingly close to hers.]
Tea: If I want to leave...
[Todd takes a step back from her. He takes hold of the clothing she's been clutching to her body and tosses it to the floor.]
Tea: ...you couldn't stop me.
[He brings his body to hers again, unnerving her further.]
Todd: What can't I stop?
Tea: My leaving. If I wanted to leave...when I want to leave...I will.
[Todd touches her hair lightly before slowly trailing his hand down the side of her body. As he brings his face closer to hers again, Tea is certain that she is about to be kissed. Her eyes close as his mouth moves nearer to hers. Her anticipation peaks. She's not disappointed when the kiss doesn't come. She's too lost in the sensual feeling of his cheek nuzzling against hers as he pushes his body against her, pressing her against the door.
Their breathing quickens as their sexual desire for each other rises. Neither feels like they just had sex moments ago. They both feel a need in their bodies that feels like it has been building for years...a need that only the other can satisfy.
Agonizing moments pass as they continue their sensual game, both waiting for the other to make the next move and take responsibility for what they both know will inevitably come.
They both can sense the other's arousal rising, along with their own, as they prolong the wait for physical satisfaction.
Todd finally makes a move. He pulls his body away from Tea's. Her hand instantly rises to his chest, not wanting to lose the feeling of his body against hers. They both lower their voices as they speak for the first time in several minutes.]
Tea: No.
Todd: No?
Tea: No.
Todd: Yes?
Tea: Yes.
[They stare into each other's eyes, verbal communication unnecessary as they each know what the other wants and needs in this moment.
Slowly they each move closer to the other until their lips finally meet again. Overwhelmingly intense sexual and emotional feelings rush through both their bodies as they each allow themselves to move closer to losing control of their defenses, along with their inhibitions.
After an initial kiss, they each pull away to look into the eyes of their lover. As their lips quickly rejoin, their passion floods out.
Within seconds, Tea is lying on the sofa and Todd's body is lying heavily on top of her as they make love for the second time this night.
Tea's hands pull on his body, wanting him closer, even as she knows that he's as close as he can humanly be. They continue to kiss, lost in the sensual feelings of being with each other again after a long absence.
After Todd can hold off his release no longer, his exhausted body collapses atop her. Neither speaks as they each recover and realize again what their current situation is. As Todd finally removes himself from her body, Tea is tempted to grab onto him but restrains herself.
Standing next to the sofa, Todd looks down at Tea. He's reminded of how appealing she is to him after they've made love. He looks away, feeling that he needs to clear his head before he does something stupid, like climb back on top of her, like he desires to do right now.
Tea also wants to share his physical being again but, now that they're between activities, her guilt about their current timing returns. She watches as he walks toward the fireplace. She smiles at his familiar motion of running his fingers through his hair. She knows that he must feel guilty, too, and regrets her selfish decision to return, even though she had no idea that this would happen between them, at least not on this night.
Todd looks at his mirrored reflection in an object on the mantle as he tries to contemplate what to do next.]
Todd: Damn!
Tea: I know, Todd. We shouldn't have. It won't happen again. I'll leave. No one will know I was here. This will be our secret.
[Todd turns toward her and shows her his neck.]
Todd: Anyone who gets a look at this hickey you gave me is going to know exactly how I spent my night.
Tea: Did I do that? When? I don't remember...
Todd: Neither do I. Maybe we can use that as an excuse. We both blacked out and can't be responsible for whatever the hell just happened between us...twice.
[Tea smiles at him, melting his heart, causing him to respond by pulling his anger out and using it as a shield against the feelings he still has for her.]
Todd: What's your game, Delgado? Did you do all this so you could blackmail me? How much do I have to pay you to go away?
Todd: I'm just asking a legitimate question. Everyone has a price, as I've been reminded of lately.
Tea: What has Blair done this time?
Todd: You think I was talking about Blair?
Tea: If not Blair, who were you referring to? Who's blackmailing you?
Todd: No one. I'm tired. I'm going upstairs and going to bed.
[Todd turns and rushes up the stairs. Tea watches as his naked behind disappears from her view.
Minutes later, Tea returns to the master bedroom, now fully dressed. She finds Todd lying on the bed, under the covers, with his back toward her.]
Tea: Todd? Todd? There's no use pretending that you're asleep. I know you, remember? I know all about you, especially you're inability to fall asleep.
Todd: It's been a long time since you abandoned me. A lot could have changed since then.
Tea: Not you. You never change.
Todd: I don't know about that.
Tea: If you tell me what kind of trouble you're in this time, maybe I'll be able to help you.
[Todd turns toward her.]
Todd: You'll be my lawyer again?
Tea: Do you need a lawyer?
Todd: When have I ever not needed a shyster?
Tea: What did you do?
Todd: You always assume I did something.
Tea: Because, usually, you have.
Todd: This time it's other people.
Tea: What other people?
Todd: It's a long list.
Tea: Pick one person on the list, to start with.
Todd: There's a chick in Mexico.
Tea: You had an affair with someone in Mexico?
Todd: Are you jealous?
Tea: Does your wife know about it?
Todd: Do you think I should tell her? Maybe you think I should tell her about what happened here tonight, too.
Tea: Honesty is required for a successful relationship. Which explains why our relationship never worked out.
Todd: You did lie to me a lot.
Tea: I was referring to your lies.
Todd: So? I was talking about yours.
Tea: I never lied to you...not exactly, anyway.
Todd: Right! You did that lawyer thing where you find a loophole so you can lie but pretend that you're not lying. Do they teach you in law school that if you cross your fingers while you're lying it doesn't count?
Tea: No, Todd. That's your way of creating loopholes, not mine.
Todd: It does work.
Tea: Not for the person you're lying to. Speaking of Blair...
Todd: You really like talking about my wife, huh?
Tea: She is your wife. You just cheated on her. How do you feel about that?
Todd: I didn't cheat. I was tricked.
Tea: By me?
Todd: You were pretending that I was dreaming and that you weren't really here. It's not my fault.
Tea: I told you over and over that I was real. You were the one who insisted it was a dream. Although, I'm doubting whether you really ever thought I was a dream to begin with.
Todd: If you ever blab to Blair, that's what my story will be.
Tea: I have no intention of telling anyone. I'm not exactly proud of what happened here tonight.
Todd: You always were ashamed of people thinking you were stupid enough to be with me. Luckily for me, Blair doesn't care how stupid she looks.
Tea: Lucky you, Todd. Clearly, you have a wonderful marriage.
Todd: That's right.
Tea: So wonderful that you spend your nights here alone, instead of with your dear wife.
Todd: Are you this way about all the wives of the married men you seduce? You know, there was some article in my newspaper a few days ago about chicks who pursue married men. I would have read it, if I had known I'd be one of those married guys who innocently gets victimized.
Tea: Todd Manning a victim? Hardly!
Todd: You must have come here for a reason. If you're pretending you didn't seduce me to get money out of me, what's your reason? Revenge?
Tea: What have you done that you think I would want revenge for?
Todd: I got over you.
Tea: Dreaming about me every night is not getting over me.
Todd: I thought you didn't believe any of that junk I said earlier.
Tea: I don't know what to believe.
Todd: Neither do I, especially since you haven't given me a good reason for why you came back.
Tea: I wanted to visit Carlotta.
Todd: Wrong!
Tea: It's true.
Todd: If you wanted to see her, you would have gone to her place. You came here. Why?
Tea: I needed a place to spend the night.
Todd: All the hotels are totally booked?
Tea: If I tell you the truth, will you do the same?
Todd: I have nothing to hide.
Tea: You'll tell me about whatever trouble you're in?
Todd: You go first.
Tea: I know you, Todd. I'll tell you everything and you won't tell me anything.
Todd: Yeah, so?
Tea: This time, I think you should go first. What kind of trouble are you really in and what can I do to help?
