[Tea gently rests her hands on Todd's back and leads him away from the dock.]

****

Tea's hotel room...

[Tea and Todd arrive. Todd looks exhausted and depressed.]

Tea: Why don't you...why don't you take a shower?

Todd: Do I smell bad?

Tea (smiling slightly): No, of course not. You smell...you smell great. I just thought it might relax you a little. Unless you just want to go right to sleep.

Todd: I can't sleep. You know that.

Tea: Well, you have to at least try. You're exhausted. That's why...that's why...um...it...happened today.

Todd: It?

Tea: Are you hungry? I could order room service while you're in the shower. What would you like for dinner?

Todd: Why it? Why not just use the word, Tea?

Tea: How about a sandwich? Would you like a sandwich? What kind would you like?

Todd: I don't want a sandwich.

Tea: Well, you don't have to have a sandwich. You could have chili or...

Todd: Stop trying to feed me.

Tea: I'm sorry. I just thought that...

Todd: It's feed a cold not feed a suicide attempt.

[Tea looks awkwardly away unable to make eye contact with Todd.]

Tea: There are towels in the bathroom...

Todd: Tea...

Tea: ...and you can use the robe on the back of the door.

[Todd approaches Tea and stands in front of her. She looks down refusing to look at him.]

Todd: Tea, look at me.

Tea: Why? I've seen you before.

Todd: Look at me.

[Todd lifts Tea's chin forcing her to look at him. Her sad eyes begin to fill with tears that she wipes away before they can fall.]

Todd (softly): Tea...

[Tea gives up trying to wipe her tears away, moves forward and buries her face in Todd's shoulder. She puts her arms around him and holds him tightly. Todd awkwardly embraces Tea and pats her gently on the back.]

Several minutes later...

[Tea's tears have stopped but she hasn't let go of Todd. He tries to slowly disengage himself from her embrace but she refuses to let go.]

Todd: Um...Tea? We can't stay attached forever.

Tea: Why not?

Todd: Because I hate courtrooms and you love them.

[Tea lets go and slowly steps back from Todd.]

Tea (avoiding eye contact): I'm sorry.

Todd (bringing her face up to look at him): Don't be.

Tea: I know you hate emotions.

Todd: Only when they're mine. (pause) You know, maybe I will take that shower.

Tea: Good.

Todd: But no food, okay?

Tea: Okay.

Todd: If you promise not to come in I'll even leave the bathroom door unlocked. I don't want you to hurt yourself breaking the door down in a panic if I'm in there too long.

Tea: Thank you for thinking of me. Don't worry, I won't go in there.

Todd: And no calling anyone either. I don't want to come back out here and find a room full of people with pity in their eyes.

Tea: I don't think that would even be possible, Todd.

Todd: Okay, fine. I don't want to come back out here and find Viki and Sam being all huggy and feely and all that garbage. Saying, (mockingly) 'Oh, Todd!' Or, even worse, 'Oh, Boomer!'

Tea: Maybe we should call someone.

Todd: No.

Tea: Todd, we can't ignore what happened, or almost happened, at the dock.

Todd: But it didn't happen. I stopped.

Tea: What if the next time you don't stop?

Todd: Then I'll be dead.

Tea: And that's acceptable to you?

Todd: It would be better for everyone if I had never existed.

Tea: That's not true.

Todd: Yes, it is. Look what I've done to you. You would be better off with me out of your life forever. As long as I'm alive that will never happen.

Tea: What about Starr? She wouldn't exist if it weren't for you. Would you really want her to have to grow up without you now?

Todd: She'll grow up without me anyway. All that time that I was away she did just fine. I barely get to see her now anyway. She wouldn't know the difference.

Tea: Oh yes she would.

Todd: Her life would be the same whether I'm here or not.

Tea: Was your life the same after your mother left?

Todd: That's different.

Tea: To Starr it isn't. She loves you. If you leave again it would hurt her. If you died it would devastate her.

Todd: She's a tough kid. She would survive.

Tea: Is that what you want for her? Don't you want her to be happy?

Todd: Of course I do.

Tea: Then stick it out. No matter how hard it is right now don't leave her.

Todd: What about you?

Tea: What about me?

Todd: Do you want me to stick it out?

Tea: Of course. You know I want what's best for Starr.

Todd: That's not what I meant. Do you want me to stick it out with you? The last time we talked you told me to get out of your life but here you are. You helped me with Buchanan. You brought me back here. What does this mean, Tea?

Tea: I don't know.

Todd: Well, maybe you should think about it. You'll have plenty of time while I'm in the shower. I'm going to take awhile, okay?

Tea: That's fine.

Todd: Great.

[Todd goes into the bathroom and closes the door. Tea sits down on the end of the bed completely confused about Todd, as usual.]

Precisely twenty seven minutes later (Tea kept track)...

[Todd emerges from the bathroom wearing a plush hotel robe. His hair is in a towel twisted around his head. Tea can't help but smile when she sees him.]

Todd: Something amuses you?

Tea (smiling): No, not at all.

[Todd sees that there's a cart with trays of food on it near the bed and packages on the sofa.]

Todd: What's all this? Did you go on a shopping spree while I was in the bathroom?

Tea: Sort of. I know you said you didn't want anything to eat but I ordered something anyway. I was hungry. You can have some if you want. The packages on the sofa are for you.

Todd: Gifts?

Tea: I had some things delivered. I thought you might want something to wear...tonight...since you'll be staying here.

Todd: I have my clothes.

Tea: Well, now you have more clothes and some pajamas.

Todd: I'm not really all that fond of pajamas.

Tea: I thought of that. (taking different clothing items out to show him) Just in case I also had them send some shirts, pants...(pulling out underwear)...um...(quickly putting them back)...some other things. You can pick what you want and the rest we can send back, or give away, or whatever.

Todd (looking at the clothes): Well, I might be able to find something here to wear.

Tea: Good.

[Todd grabs some of the clothes and disappears back into the bathroom. When he comes back out, several minutes later, he finds Tea sitting on the bed eating.]

Tea: Sorry, I couldn't wait. I wasn't sure how long you'd be.

Todd: I told you I wasn't interested in food.

Tea: Have you eaten anything today?

Todd: No. I was kind of busy today. I didn't have time for that.

Tea: Well, you have time now. Come on, just try some. You look great, by the way.

Todd (looking down at his new outfit): I don't think it's me.

Tea: Why not?

Todd: I think this is something Kevin would wear.

Tea: Kevin could never look as great as you do in those clothes but if you don't like it then try something else on.

Todd: I don't feel like playing dress up. This is fine.

Tea: Then come over here and eat something.

[Todd slowly walks over and sits uncomfortably near Tea on the bed.]

Todd: What is it with you and food?

Tea: Food is a necessity of life.

Todd: If you say so.

Tea: I do. Now put some in your mouth, chew it and swallow.

Todd: I remember how it's done.

[Todd grabs a plate and looks at it's contents with disgust before sticking his fingers into the food and scooping it into his mouth.]

Tea: Do you remember how to sleep? Because you'll be doing that next.

Todd: Hey, I bathed, put on new clothes and I'm eating but I draw the line at closing my eyes. You sleep if you want to. You're good at it.

Tea: Todd, you need to sleep.

Todd: I do just fine without any of that stuff.

Tea: No you don't and you know it.

Todd: Whatever.

Tea: I'm not taking whatever for an answer this time. You're in my care and you're sleeping tonight.

Todd: Fine, then I'll leave your care.

Tea: If you do you'll spend the night in a jail cell.

Todd: You would call Bo and have him lock me up just because I don't want to follow your rules?

Tea: If it was the only way I could know for sure that you were safe then I would definitely do that.

[Tossing his plate back on the cart and getting up from the bed.]

Todd: You're mean.

Tea: I'm determined.

Todd: Same thing.

Tea: Are you staying or not?

Todd: I'll lay down. That's the most I'm willing to offer.

Tea: I'll take it. Would you like me to try to talk you to sleep?

[Todd takes everything off the sofa, dumps it on the floor and lays down.]

Todd: You have anything boring and uninteresting to talk about?

[Tea starts turning off the lights in her room.]

Tea (quietly): My life without you.

Todd (turning his head toward her): What?

Tea: Nothing. What would you like me to talk about?

Todd: Your job?

Tea: We can't talk about that.

Todd: Why not?

[Tea sits down on the floor in front of Todd and leans her back against the sofa.]

Tea: I don't want any confidential information ending up in your newspaper. Besides, I've been the subject of enough headlines for a while.

Todd: You really think I would use you for a headline? (Tea gives him a look) Okay, fine. We'll talk about something else. We can talk about why you're still living here.

Tea: You don't approve of my home?

Todd: This isn't a home, Tea. It's a hotel.

Tea: Sometimes I can't believe that I've actually lived here longer than I lived at the penthouse.

Todd: Why didn't you find somewhere else to live?

Tea: I've looked at a few places but nothing felt right. Nothing felt like...home.

Todd: Did the penthouse?

[Tea feels a sinking feeling in her chest and she knows that if they stay on the same subject her tears will come.]

Tea: There were moments. Let's talk about something else.

[Todd has an urge to touch his wife...to comfort her. Before he can talk himself out of it he reaches out and puts his hand on the back of her head and slowly slides it down her hair. Tea closes her eyes and fights every emotion that is threatening to erupt.

They stay there for a long time - Todd stroking her hair in the dark. When his hand stops moving Tea looks at Todd's face and sees his eyes are closed. She slowly slides her hair out from under his hand. Tea sits there for a while and listens to him breathe before getting up and getting into her bed.

After more than an hour of trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep Tea returns to the floor beside Todd. After watching him sleep for a few minutes she touches his cheek.]

Todd (startled awake): What?

Tea: I need a favor, Todd.

Todd: What?

Tea: I need to touch you.

Todd: You just did.

Tea: That's not where I need to touch you.

Todd (nervously): Where?

Tea: Your heart.

Todd: I don't have one.

Tea: I'm serious, Todd. I need to feel it beating.

Todd: Why?

Tea: Because I just do, okay?

Todd: I don't understand.

Tea: I need to feel it, Todd. I need to know that it's beating.

Todd: Well, Tea, I might be stupid about these things but I think the fact that I'm talking to you right now proves that I'm alive and everything that's supposed to throb does.

[Tea starts to get up.]

Tea (sadly): Fine.

[Todd grabs her wrist and keeps her from going back to her bed.]

Todd: That's all that you want?

Tea: Yes.

Todd: No funny business? No sneaky tricks?

Tea: No.

[Todd lets go of Tea's wrist and unbuttons the top buttons on his shirt.]

Todd: Well, what are you waiting for? Hurry up before I change my mind.

[Tea sits down on the edge of the sofa next to Todd. She reaches her hand up and inside his shirt and places her hand on his chest. Todd closes his eyes and becomes increasingly more aware of the beating of his own heart each second his wife touches his chest. For a brief moment he considers what it would be like to feel her heart beating but he quickly dismisses the idea. Todd feels Tea shift her position next to him and opens his eyes to find her head moving closer. He isn't sure what to do, if he should stop her or not. Tea opens his shirt wider with both her hands and presses her lips against his chest right above his beating heart. She closes her eyes and savors the sensation, surprised, and grateful, that Todd hasn't stopped her. After a few seconds that feel almost long enough to satisfy her for a lifetime she removes her lips from his chest.]

Tea: Thank you.

[Tea gets up and goes back to her bed leaving Todd completely disconcerted and flustered. Within minutes, Tea feels Todd's body weight press down on the other side of her bed. She doesn't move or open her eyes, she barely even breathes, afraid that movement or noise of any kind might send him away. She's not surprised when a few minutes later she feels his body leave the bed. She is, however, stunned when she feels the bed covers being lifted and feels his weight again press down on the mattress.]

Todd: Is this okay?

Tea (barely audible): Okay.

[Tea wants to reach out to him, to wrap her arms around him, to lay her head on his chest, or even, hold his hand, but she lets him control the situation.]

Todd: So, what do you want to talk about?

Tea: I don't know. What do you want to talk about?

Todd: You're the one who's good at this talking thing.

Tea: We could talk about Starr, I suppose.

Todd: What about her?

Tea: When you get some sort of shared custody agreement worked out...

Todd: Don't you mean if?

Tea: When you get shared custody of your daughter, what's the first thing you want to do with her? How would you spend that first day?

Todd: Right now I just wish I could hold her and tell her that I love her.

Tea: She knows that.

Todd: I don't know how I'd spend the day with her. I could take her to the park, or the zoo, or an amusement park, I suppose. Or we could just sit, you know, and talk. I could listen to her tell me about her boring friends. Or, I could listen to one of those long jokes that she tells. You know, the ones that never seem to get to the punch line.

Tea (smiling): I remember.

Todd: What would you like to do?

Tea: Huh?

Todd: The first day that we get Shorty back, what would you like to do?

Tea: The first day you get Starr back I won't be there. You won't waste any of your time with her by including me.

Todd: You're right I won't waste any time. I won't waste any time giving her back the family that I took away from her.

Tea: I was never supposed to be permanent anyway, remember? I would just be there for a year and then I'd go away.

Todd: That was really stupid. We never should have planned on doing something like that to her. Give her a family and then yank it away.

Tea: She has a family. She has you and her mother.

Todd: And she has a step-mom. You can't get out of this, Tea. As far as Starr is concerned she has three parents, whether you like it or not.

Tea (quietly): I like it.

Todd: So, what would you like to do?

Tea: You know what I miss? I miss checking up on her at night. It's been such a long time but I still wake up some nights and have the urge to look in on her, to make sure that she hasn't kicked the covers off in her sleep. After that night when you proposed to me again and you stopped coming home... On the nights that Starr spent with Blair, it was so hard for me. I was all by myself in that penthouse. It was so quiet and lonely...painfully lonely.

[They both lay in silence for a couple of minutes.]

Todd: It may be a while before Starr can stay the night with us again.

Tea: But it will happen.

Todd: Of course it will. Maybe we should talk strategy but not right now.

Tea: When?

Todd: Tomorrow. We'll have dinner tomorrow. We'll have dinner tomorrow downstairs in the restaurant.

Tea: We will?

Todd: Unless you have other plans.

Tea: Um, I think I can manage it, if you're sure?

Todd: I'll pick you up...here...tomorrow night.

Tea: Okay.

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