As Tea lies in bed, she feels restless as she tries to fight her mind's determination to focus solely on her ex-husband.
She tries to use thoughts of her current work to distract herself, but her mind wanders to thoughts of her defense of Todd in the past, and concerns that he could be in need of her legal skills again. Perhaps that's why he sent her the plane ticket to Hawaii. Maybe he disappeared from Llanview because of his concern that he would be arrested for accidentally shooting Cristian Vega. Tea knows from speaking to Carlotta, that charges won't be brought against him. Knowing Todd's history with the Llanview legal system, though, surely he would expect to be arrested again.
Maybe she should go to Hawaii after all...just to reassure him that he won't face arrest if he returns to his family in Llanview.
Tea grumbles as she roles over and pounds her fist into her pillow with frustration.
She is absolutely, positively, unequivocally not going to Hawaii! She won't allow Todd Manning the satisfaction of thinking he can still control her actions so easily.
Thinking about work isn't working to distract her so Tea tries to think about men...any man, other than her infuriating ex-husband.
Tea rolls over again as she finds herself unable to conjure up in her mind the image of any man other than Todd for more than a few seconds.
Todd has a way of invading her mind and taking over all other thoughts. He's a pest...a vice...an addiction. Once she gets a craving for him, she knows it won't go away until she's sampled him again.
Tea rolls onto her back and closes her eyes, finally allowing herself to give in to her need for him, even if only in her mind.
Todd Manning standing on a breathtakingly beautiful beach, stripping down to nothing and strutting so confidently into the ocean toward her.
It's a memory that has haunted her on too many nights.
Tea sits up in bed. She wonders what he's planned for her this time. He picked Hawaii for a reason. Why?
Even though she knows from experience that she'll regret it, she reluctantly reaches for the telephone on the nightstand next to her bed. She dials the telephone number of one of her older brothers. She holds her breathe as she waits for him to answer, wishing desperately that she had the courage to avoid making a fool out of herself yet again because of Todd Manning.]
Del: Delgado here!
Tea: Delgado here, too!
Del: Tea? What's wrong?
Tea: Can't I call my big brother without something needing to be wrong?
Del: What's wrong?
Tea: I hate it when you think you know me so well.
Del: Is this about Manning?
Tea: Good night, Del!
Del: Am I wrong?
Tea: I'm not going back to him.
Del: As his wife, or his lawyer?
Tea: He doesn't need a lawyer. He hasn't been charged with any crimes.
Del: Give him a day. I'm sure that will change.
Tea: I knew this was a mistake.
Del: Getting involved with Manning again? I agree.
Tea: Asking you for help.
Del: I'm not helping Manning get away with murder.
Tea: He didn't intend to shoot Cristian.
Del: Antonio has his doubts.
Tea: Antonio's an over-protective brother, which you should be able to relate to.
Del: What about Manning's friend who was murdered?
Tea: Sam Rappaport? Even Bo Buchanan doesn't believe that Todd was responsible for Sam's death. You know if the police commissioner of Llanview believes Todd's innocent, he must be. Bo's been trying to pin something on Todd for years. If he had even the slightest doubt about Todd's innocence, Todd would be a wanted man right now.
Del: He is...by you.
Tea: I don't want him.
Del: Why are you calling me in the middle of the night?
Tea: I need your help.
Del: With what?
Tea: I need you to help me find Todd.
Del: Not because you want him back in your life?
Tea: Of course not.
Del: He owes you alimony? That's right, you were too proud to take what he owed you when you divorced that creep the second time.
Tea: He didn't owe me anything. I'm perfectly capable of earning my own money.
Del: Why are you looking for Manning this time?
Tea: He sent me a plane ticket to Hawaii.
Del: If you want to ruin your life...Aloha!
Tea: I cut it up.
Del: Good for you.
Tea: I need you to use your connections to find out what flight it was.
Del: Why don't you call the airline?
Tea: I didn't notice which one it was.
Del: I know you, remember? Even if you did destroy that ticket, you memorized exactly which airline, what the flight number is, what time it departs...
Tea: Okay. I need your help in a different way. I want to know what he's up to. I want to know what to expect if I go there.
Del: If?
Tea: Yes, if. I'm not as predictable as either of you think. Just because he presumes to send me a ticket for a flight that leaves in the morning doesn't mean that I'll drop everything in my life and be on that plane.
Del: What time am I picking you up?
Tea: You'll come with me?
Del: The bureau forced me into this unnecessary vacation, at least I'll get to chase after a criminal as part of my forced relaxation.
Tea: You did need a break. Hawaii can be very relaxing.
Del: Was it relaxing for you when you were there last?
Tea: That's different. I found myself stranded on a deserted island with a stranger and my ex-husband.
Del: No one is stranger than your ex-husband.
Tea: I married the man...twice, what does that make me?
Del: A hopeless romantic.
Tea: Well, this romantic knows this time that it's hopeless.
Del: Is that why I'm going with you? To keep you from letting Manning build your hopes up again?
Tea: I know Todd is up to something. He would be foolish to have any intentions of a romantic nature, but if he does...
Del: I'll throw you over my shoulder and bring you home.
Tea: I don't know why you and Todd never got along. You both have the same caveman tendencies.
Del: We didn't get along because that creep wasn't good enough for my baby sister.
Tea: No one will ever be good enough, in your eyes.
Del: There are some guys who could be close enough, unlike Manning, who isn't even the right species.
Tea: Good night, Del. Be here around eight. Okay?
Del: You know you're throwing your life away again, don't you?
Tea: My big brother won't let that happen.
Del: Your big brother will go along with whatever makes you happy. I've never understood why that creep makes you happy, but if he does, I won't stand in the way of your happiness, even though we both know Manning will never let it last.
