[Tea quickly puts on a robe and goes in search of her ex-husband.
In the hallway, she hears noise coming from her former bedroom. As she enters the room, she finds Todd sitting at an exercise machine, working his arm muscles.]
Tea: I was surprised when I realized last night that you had turned my former bedroom into a home gym. I thought you were opposed to exercise.
Todd: I need to prepare for when I go back to prison.
Tea: That won't happen. I won't allow it.
Todd: If you're still tired, I can get out of here so you can go back to sleep.
Tea: In here?
Todd: This is your bedroom.
Tea: It was my bedroom.
Todd: It still is.
Tea: You removed the bed.
Todd: There's a bench. It's even padded.
Tea: I'm sleeping in your bed...with you.
Todd: I don't sleep.
Tea: Because you're too busy plotting revenge? Or, because you miss me too much?
Todd: Why would I miss you? I hardly ever even think about you.
Tea: You just told me that you've been making Blair and Max suffer because they contributed to our break-up.
Todd: I never said that.
Tea: You just said it a few minutes ago.
Todd: You're a lawyer. Don't you need proof to make accusations like that?
Tea: I know what I heard. Why are you denying it?
Todd: Because I never said it. It's not my fault you hear what you want to.
Tea: Stop denying how you feel.
Todd: I feel hungry. Make me breakfast!
Tea: Why do you do this?
Todd: Get hungry?
Tea: You tell me that you care about me and then you immediately shut down and act like I mean nothing to you.
Todd: You're my lawyer. That's all!
Tea: Fine! Be that way! I'm taking a shower and getting dressed. I'll spend the day at the courthouse.
Todd: It's Saturday.
Tea: If Hank isn't there, I'll track him down wherever he may be and work out your plea bargain. I want this over with as soon as possible.
Todd: I thought you wanted to drag this out so you don't have to go back to spending all your time with that geek you're living with.
Tea: It would be a relief to spend time with Simon again. At least he doesn't get his thrills from manipulating my emotions, and making me feel insignificant, the way that you do.
[Tea angrily turns and storms out of the room. Todd stays in the exercise room and continues working out as his way of avoiding her and the way he feels about her.
That evening...
Todd is standing in the living room, looking out the window at his view of Llanview. The sound of the doorbell disrupts his confused thoughts.
Despite his attempts to squelch his feelings for his ex-wife, the thought of her return excites him. As he approaches the door, though, he ensures that his face has a scowl on it, instead of the smile he wants to show her. As he yanks the door open, his scowl becomes real as he finds that it's not Tea, but Viki, who stands in his doorway.]
Todd: What the hell do you want?
Viki: I came to congratulate you on your release.
Todd: Did Delgado send you? Where is she?
Viki: Did you pick a fight with her already?
Todd: My relationship with my lawyer is none of your business. Go away!
[Todd lightly pushes the door in Viki's direction and walks back into the penthouse. Viki reaches her hand out and stops the door before it closes. Despite knowing that her brother is clearly in a bad mood, she enters, sensing that he needs to talk to her right now.
Viki waits until she has removed her coat and has seated herself on the sofa before she speaks again.]
Viki: You always have had a talent for shooting yourself in the foot. I am surprised, however, at the speed in which you've managed to do it this time. Do you want to know where Tea is?
Todd: I'd guess she was out screwing some other guy so she could get knocked up, if she hadn't already done that.
Viki: I was surprised that you wanted to live with her again, considering her condition. Tea seemed surprised, too. She must have thought you had matured during your time apart.
Todd: That's her problem.
Viki: That is your problem, dear brother.
Todd: Why are you calling me that? What do you need?
Viki: I don't need anything. I came because I wanted to share your joy in being released, and I wanted to offer my help.
Todd: You want to help put me away, just like everyone else...just like Delgado.
Viki: Do you really believe that Tea dropped everything else in her life to come here and defend you just so she could ensure that you return to prison?
Todd: Why'd you even call Delgado? You could have let me rot in jail. You would have finally been rid of me, like you've wanted since the day you found out I was your brother.
Viki: I want you to be happy.
Todd: You hate my guts.
Viki: I have been displeased with some of your actions...
Todd: You're working with them to ship me back to Statesville.
Viki: Is that where you think Tea is right now...at an 'I hate Todd' club meeting?
Todd: The meeting must already be over if you're here.
Viki: I do not hate you. There are times when I may not like you very much, but I certainly do not hate you. I love you.
Todd: Go find your new kid and give her that line. Maybe she'll be stupid enough to buy it.
Viki: What happened, Todd? You've been back home for less than a day and you've already alienated Tea. Now you're working on me. You need to find a better way to deal with all that self-hatred that is eating away at you.
Todd: No way! You don't get to come into my house and psycho-babble me.
Viki: I'm here to listen.
Todd: You and Delgado are always trying to get me to open up and say what I'm feeling. But, then I do, and you both get ticked off at me all over again. I hate that!
Viki: Is that what happened? You opened your heart to Tea and she rejected you?
Todd: I'm the one who does the rejecting.
Viki: I see. Tea shared her feelings with you and you're the one who rejected her...because you're scared.
Todd: I'm not scared! She's knocked up. I get to be ticked off about that.
Viki: Is she angry that you had another child with Blair?
Todd: Ask her...if she ever shows up again.
Viki: I'll admit, your relationship confuses me. I do sense that, no matter how hard you try to push her away this time, she will at least remain to ensure that you stay out of prison.
Todd: If you believe that, you should spend your time working on her and turning her around to your side, instead of wasting my time with all this fake junk about you suddenly giving a damn about me again.
Viki: I spent last night doing a great deal of soul searching. I don't approve of what you did. It was despicable and unforgivable.
Todd: So this is finally good-bye?
Viki: You were correct yesterday. I'm not the one who needs to forgive you.
Todd: If you're trying to push me at Blair again, now that Delgado split...forget it.
Viki: Blair isn't the only one who needs to forgive you. You need to forgive yourself.
Todd: If I wanted to be tortured like this, I would have let Delgado stay.
Viki: Has she been trying to reach your conscience?
Todd: That would be a waste of time, since I don't have one.
Viki: That is not true.
Todd: Whatever! Are we done? I was busy.
Viki: Sulking?
Todd: I have a right to sulk.
Viki: Because, Tea has been spending the day working on your case?
Todd: What makes you think she didn't split for good?
Viki: I spoke to her earlier.
Todd: She told you I was a worthless piece of scum?
Viki: She told me that you are having a difficult time believing that things will work out.
Todd: They'll work out...for every loser in this town who wants to see me spend the rest of my life in prison.
Viki: Tea seems determined that you won't have to spend any more time incarcerated.
Todd: She just doesn't want to feel guilty when she ditches me again to go back to her perfect life. Did she gush to you about how great the creep is who knocked her up?
Viki: I have the distinct impression that, were you to stop insulting her, she would happily remain with you.
Todd: She got knocked up...on purpose. We're through!
Viki: Clearly, you still have strong feelings for her.
Todd: Disgust?
Viki: Given your obvious jealousy...
Todd: I am not jealous of any geek named Simon.
Viki: If you love this woman...
Todd: I don't love any chick who gets knocked up by anyone but me.
Viki: You chose to live with her again.
Todd: Because I didn't want to live with you. I traded one agony for another.
Viki: Love is precious and fragile.
Todd: Do you want me to puke?
Viki: Don't punish Tea because you feel the need to punish yourself. You have so few people who are willing to continue trying to see beyond your horrible acts to the sweet man who is still hiding deep inside you.
Todd: There's no one hiding inside me. There's nothing inside me. I'm totally empty.
Viki: If that were true, that would be very sad. I don't believe it is true. Clearly, neither does Tea.
Todd: She's got someone who actually makes her happy. I've never been able to do that.
Viki: Is that why you're trying to push her away? You want her to have more than you feel you can offer her?
Todd: I could give her all my money, but she doesn't want that. What she wants, I don't have.
Viki: You have love. I've felt it myself, on rare occasions. You need to be willing to risk your heart. You can't stay behind your protective walls all the time.
Todd: She's knocked up.
Viki: If Tea is willing to accept your past, shouldn't you try to do the same for her?
Todd: This is different.
Viki: If you love this woman, tell her.
Todd: I already made that mistake. I can't do it again. I hate the way it feels.
Viki: Try telling her without doing something immediately to shoot yourself in the foot again. You'll be surprised at the wonderful feeling you'll have if you allow yourself to love fully, for once in your life.
Todd: What if she laughs in my face?
Viki: Has she ever done that in the past?
Todd: The first time I told her I felt that horrible feeling, she laughed. She thought I was lying.
Viki: You must risk your heart, Todd. It is the only way your heart's desire will ever be fulfilled.
Todd: Now, I really am going to puke.
Viki: Love is worth all the pain. Trust me.
Todd: I don't trust any one...especially myself.
Viki: The only person you need to trust is Tea.
Todd: I trusted her not to get knocked up by some other creep. Look how that worked out.
Viki: You can't change the past. You can, however, determine the future.
Todd: You really need to leave right now.
Viki: I'll go, but I will be back. You're still my brother, despite all that you've done.
[Viki stands and puts her coat back on. Todd approaches her as she walks toward the door.]
Todd: Viki?
[Viki turns toward him.]
Todd: Have you seen my kids?
Viki: Yes, I have.
Todd: They're okay?
Viki: They're doing fine. Jack, of course, is too young to understand any of this.
Todd: What about Starr? Does she hate me a lot?
Viki: She's confused.
Todd: Could you bring them here?
Viki: Have you spoken to Blair?
Todd: If she knew I was out of jail, you'd see bullet holes in the door.
Viki: She'll calm down.
Todd: Sure, after she gets her revenge.
Viki: I'll talk to Blair about allowing you time with your children.
Todd: She'll never go for it.
Viki: She'll do what's best for the children.
Todd: If you don't help me, I'll find another way.
Viki: Don't make things worse than they already are.
Todd: Nothing could get worse than this.
Viki: Things will get better. You'll see.
[Viki moves into Todd's personal space and kisses him on the cheek. Todd allows it.
After closing the door behind Viki, Todd returns upstairs to his exercise room, trying to work off his frustrations before Tea returns.]
[As Tea opens the door to the penthouse, she takes a deep breath. Apprehensibly, she enters. She's surprised when she doesn't find her ex-husband standing at the window, scowling at the view, while he awaits her return so he can scowl directly at her again.
She feels no relief at being spared Todd's ire, however. Instead, she panics, wondering if he took off again.
She drops the contents of her hands onto a near-by desk and moves further into the living room. As she stands near the staircase, she listens carefully for any sound that may signal that he hasn't disappeared from her life again. She's relieved a few seconds later at sounds emanating from the upper level of the penthouse.
Moments later...
Tea stands in the doorway of her former bedroom, now Todd's personal gym, staring at her former spouse. She could tell from the sounds she had heard as she approached the room that he was working out again. She wasn't prepared, however, for the sight of Todd Manning wearing shorts and no shirt, perspiration dripping down his body as he engrosses himself in his workout. For the first time since she returned to his life months earlier, she has an opportunity to fully observe his body without distraction. He's clearly been working out much more than he had during the time they were married and living together. As her hormones overtake her, all other thoughts escape her as she continues to enjoy the view before her.
After several minutes of quiet observation, Todd finally notices her figure in the hallway.]
Todd: What the hell are you doing here?
[Tea is immediately snapped out of the lust-filled fantasies she had been moments earlier enjoying.]
Tea (sarcastically): I missed you all day, too, sweetheart.
[Todd regrets his words, and the anger in his voice. He had hoped that he could exercise his anger and frustration away so it wouldn't come out against her again. He's disappointed in himself for not being able to stop his natural reflex of trying to push her away.]
Todd: I didn't mean that.
Tea: Of course you did. Dinner's downstairs, if you're hungry.
[Tea walks away and enters the master bedroom.
Minutes later...
Tea is sitting on the bed, partially undressed, as she applies lotion to her stomach, when Todd unexpectantly bursts into the room. Tea immediately grabs the nightgown she was about to change into and holds it in front of her body.]
Todd: I can't get anything right tonight.
[As Todd hurries out of the room, Tea quickly places the nightgown over her head and pulls it down her body. She grabs her robe and puts it on as she exits the bedroom.
She finds Todd pacing in the living room.]
Tea: It's okay. We're sharing a bedroom. We're bound to see each other undressed. Really, I don't mind. I saw you working out in your shorts and you saw me in my...uh...undergarments. It's okay. It's not like we haven't seen more of each other in the past.
Todd: You look different now.
[Tea pulls the front of her robe tightly closed, feeling self-conscious about the weight she's gained during her pregnancy.]
Tea: You look different, too. You have muscles now where I don't remember you having them before.
Todd: Are you saying I was fat?
Tea: I am in no position to comment on anyone else's weight right now.
Todd: You've got a good excuse for being fat...you've got a kid in your belly. They take up a lot of space, right?
Tea: I've also been using this baby as an excuse to pretty much eat whatever I want, whenever I want it.
Todd: You're probably just nervous about the agony of pushing a kid out of...that part of you. What's that thing they say? It's like pushing a watermelon out your nose.
Tea: Thank you for that visual.
Todd: You're welcome.
Tea: I've been told that childbirth is a pain you quickly forget. I can't imagine that's true.
Todd: If you want to eat all the food you brought, to try to forget about the torture of having the kid, I'll order in for myself. I need booze, anyway.
Tea: I brought so much, not because I wanted to over-eat, but because I thought we could share...as in, share dinner together...share our evening together. Do you think you can put your anger on hold so that we can have a quiet evening together?
Todd: My anger never seems to stop.
Tea: That's not true. There have been times when I know you weren't angry at me.
Todd: I'm not angry at you, Delgado.
Tea: You've been doing a great imitation of a very angry man.
Todd: It's not at you. It just comes out that way.
Tea: Who are you angry at?
Todd: Myself. And, fate. I'm really pissed off at fate right now. You know I've always hated everybody in the world, except my kids...and you.
Tea (touched): Todd...
Todd: Enough of this soul-spewing junk. I'm ordering booze.
[Tea approaches Todd and places her hand over his as he reaches for the telephone.]
Tea: You don't have to get drunk tonight.
Todd: It's either that or I bust my ankle monitor.
Tea: Why?
Todd: So they won't find me after I take off.
Tea: I meant, why can't we sit across from each other at the dining room table and share a special meal together?
Todd: Special? You got this junk at the diner.
Tea: I was visiting Carlotta and didn't want to waste anymore time away from you by going anywhere else tonight. I hoped that perhaps, after spending the day apart, your insults would stop and we could spend a calm evening, simply enjoying each other's company.
Todd: Just because I'm a loser and can't hate your guts, like I should, doesn't mean you get to torture me with a bunch of sappy junk.
Tea: I'm glad that you don't hate me.
[Todd grimaces at the smile on her face, and even more at his own inability to pull his hand away as she continues to hold hers against his.]
Tea: I don't hate you, either. We may not have forever, but we have this time.
Todd: I'm about to go to prison and you're about to pop out a kid that isn't mine. If you think this is romantic, you're nuts!
Tea: Compared to the way you treat me sometimes, any time that you're not insulting me does feel kind of romantic.
Todd: You're my lawyer. That's as far as it can go this time.
Tea: It's already gone further than that.
Todd: Okay, we're sort of shacking up, but it's not like we've done anything.
Tea: We've kissed.
Todd: You kissed me. That doesn't count.
Tea: Kiss me, Todd.
Todd: You're knocked up!
[Todd pulls away. He tries desperately for his mind and body to match the anger that appears in his voice.
She knows that he's trying to distance himself, like he always does when he feels that she's too close to learning his true feelings for her.]
Tea: I love you, Todd. I always will.
[Todd dreads the next few moments, knowing how Tea expects him to respond. She surprises him, though, by not giving him a chance to respond before she speaks again.]
Tea: Let's have dinner.
[Todd watches as Tea casually picks up the bags containing their dinner and leaves the room. As he follows her into the dining room, he wonders what kind of game she's playing with him this time, and how he can possibly stop himself from letting her win when he can't even stop himself from being attracted to her while she's pregnant with another man's child.]
Todd and Tea finish their dinner. Tea busies herself cleaning up, while Todd moves into the living room.
When she finishes and joins him, she's surprised to find that he lowered the lights and started a fire in the fireplace. She smiles at him as he nervously stands near the staircase.]
Todd: What do we have to do now?
Tea: We don't have to do anything, Todd. What would you like to do?
Todd: Get the hell out of here. If I can't do what I want to do, I'll do whatever you want to do?
Tea: I should go to bed so I can get an early start working on your case tomorrow.
Todd: On Sunday?
Tea: Until you're free, every day is a work day for me. Although, Hank did warn me not to track him down tomorrow, like I did today.
Todd: You can take the day off. I won't think you're slacking off.
Tea: I'll go to the law library at the university. They're open tomorrow.
Todd: You never let up, do you?
Tea: Not when it's a case I care deeply about.
Todd: Did you get anywhere with Hank today?
Tea: I was wondering when you would ask me about that.
Todd: I figured it had to be bad news, since you haven't given me that smug look yet.
Tea: I do not have a smug look.
Todd: You do when you think you've got someone beat. I saw it plenty of times when you thought you had me under your control.
Tea: I have never felt that about you. You have always been too erratic for me to make any assumption about you...especially when it came to your feelings for me.
Todd: Now, it's totally clear, right?
Tea: Not even remotely.
Todd: I didn't insult you once during dinner, did I?
Tea: No, you didn't. Thank you.
Todd: Now you know.
Tea: What do I know?
Todd: It's never enough for you. I rip myself open and show you my insides and you still want more.
Tea: I'm confused.
Todd: No...you're confusing.
Tea: I appreciate that you restrained yourself from saying all the insults I'm certain you've been thinking tonight, so that we could have a nice meal together. I'm not foolish enough to assume any motive to your lack of insults. Besides, I know they'll return. They always do.
Todd: Friends don't insult friends, right?
Tea: You do.
Todd: But, I bet Simon doesn't.
Tea: Is that what this has all been about? You're competing with Simon?
Todd: Pointless, huh?
Tea: Frankly, yes. You don't have to. You are two completely different people. I love you both, as you are. I don't want you to take on his personality and say, or do, things that aren't genuine.
Todd: I just wanted to show you that I could do it, too.
Tea: Do what?
Todd: Be your best friend.
[Tea smiles in a manner that signals Todd instantly that she isn't happy.]
Tea: I see. This whole performance tonight was a competition...for my friendship.
Todd: What else?
Tea: Nothing that I can think of...nothing that you would have any interest in, anyway.
Todd: I thought friendship was important to you. Isn't that why you walked out on me? I wasn't every damn thing you wanted me to be.
Tea: Friendship is important. But, if you have to fake it...
Todd: How else am I supposed to do it? It's not like I've ever actually had a friend before.
Tea: That is not true.
Todd: None that I wouldn't stab in the back the first chance I got.
Tea: You wouldn't stab me in the back? You wouldn't turn on me if things weren't going your way?
Todd: I'm trying!
Tea: That's just it. Simon doesn't need to try. He just is my friend. You never have been.
Todd: Like hell I haven't! I've been your real friend. I've been your real best friend this whole time, not him.
Tea: You can't be a best friend until you've first been a friend. You have never been that to me.
Todd: Then, what the hell was I all that time I was listening to your junk without forcing you into bed?
Tea: You were my business partner.
Todd: That's the same thing.
Tea: You consider all your business partners to be your friends?
Todd: Only the ones that I can stand...only you. You're my best friend. Why won't you let me be yours?
Tea: It doesn't work that way. Friendship isn't demanded. It also isn't bought. It's earned.
Todd: That's a bunch of garbage.
Tea: Only in your mind.
Todd: What the hell can he give you that I can't?
Tea: Compassion...trust...understanding... Shall I go on?
Todd: That depends...can you?
Tea: Companionship...loyalty...
Todd: What is he...a dog?
Tea: Discreteness...sensitivity...maturity...
Todd: What about passion?
Tea: There are more important things.
Todd: That's a no! He doesn't get you going. He doesn't freak you out. He doesn't gross you out. He doesn't do any of the stuff you need a guy to do for you.
Tea: Trust me, I do not need a man who gleefully grosses me out on a regular basis.
Todd: But, you need all that other junk that only I can give you.
Tea: Why are we even talking about this? You and I both know that nothing can happen between us now.
Todd: Whose fault is that?
Tea: Yours!
Todd: Mine? No way! I didn't get knocked up by some other guy.
Tea: No, you just knocked your ex-wife up, kidnapped the baby, married her, returned the baby, pretending it was a different baby and proceeded to torture her about the death of her child while encouraging her to form a bond with the child that she didn't know was her biological child, but really was, while you conspired to steal that child again, along with the other child that you share.
Todd: See? What you did is way worse than what I did.
[Despite Tea's anger, she can't prevent herself from laughing. Todd is relieved as he watches the anger fade from her.]
Tea: I'll do everything I can to wrap this up before it goes to court, but it would be interesting to try to explain all this to a jury.
Todd: They'd never believe it. That could help me, right?
Tea: It may be far-fetched, but it is true. If Hank were to convince them...
Todd: I'd end up back in prison, where I belong.
Tea: You don't belong there, despite everything that you've done. If it looks like it's going in that direction, I promise, I'll let you know while you still have time.
Todd: Time to say good-bye to the five people that mean anything to me, before they ship me off?
Tea: Time to leave the country.
Todd: Isn't it against the rules for you to suggest I split?
Tea: I care too much for you to ever allow you to hurt like that again.
Todd: Does that mean you'd go with me?
Tea: I couldn't. You know that.
Todd: You could ditch the kid with Mr. Sensitive.
Tea: I can't.
Todd: You're a good person. The kid deserves to have you around, unlike me with my kids.
Tea: You're a wonderful father...when you make the effort.
Todd: I suck! I know it. They know it. Everybody knows it.
Tea: I don't.
Todd: You haven't been around.
Tea: I know that something has changed inside you. But, I can't believe that you could ever change so much that you would stop being a loving father.
[Todd takes his usual spot standing near the large window, staring blankly at the view before him.]
Tea: What happened, Todd? Why did you change so much, so suddenly?
Todd: It wasn't sudden.
Tea: You were different when we left Llanview together. But, now... Sometimes I look at you and you seem so dead inside.
Todd: Maybe I am.
Tea: I don't believe that. I think you've just buried your emotions even deeper this time. Do you know why?
Todd: What was I supposed to do? Come back here and burst into tears everywhere I went, because of you?
