Scene Two: (Caption on black: "STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT... " This is one of my personal favourite scenes. One that I don't remember writing, either, it was like I was possessed. After Niles has turned off his phone again, he looks back at Daphne to see her reaction to this. She looks nervous and curious.)
DAPHNE: Well?
NILES: Donny's postponed the wedding until you get back.
DAPHNE: That's something, he does have some sense at least.
NILES: Frasier has worked out you're here. I think he's the only one who has. He wants you back within 24 hours or he's telling everybody everything. I can tell he doesn t really want to as this is partially his fault, but if I know Frasier, if he has to, he will.
DAPHNE: Are you sure he knows?
NILES: Yes. I've tried to throw him off but he's not convinced.
DAPHNE: (Getting frantic.) We should leave the country. We could write our own eulogies for the papers, then change our names. Nobody would know any better! We could disappear off the face of the Earth!
NILES: You're not being sensible. Much as I would love to do all of those things, we can't, and you know it. You need to be calm if we're going to see this through and a change of identity is not the answer.
DAPHNE: But all I want is you. Just you and me, together, forever, with no interruptions and family members in the way. Especially after that fiasco last night.
NILES: That's just what I want, too, but wouldn't you rather have a clear conscience?
DAPHNE: No! (Outside, we see the Winnebago does a wobbly five point turn and heads in the direction they came from. It's considerably darker than when they left - we don't know how long they've been driving.) What are you doing?
NILES: I'm going back.
DAPHNE: Why?
NILES: So we can face this head on and clear it up.
DAPHNE: (She unclips her seatbelt and leaps up, moving towards the door.) Stop this thing - I'm not going back! (He screeches to a halt.)
NILES: Daphne! (He gets out of his seat and follows her - she's already left the Winnebago and is running down the road in the direction they were originally going.) Stop!
DAPHNE: (He catches up to her, as she slows to a fast walk.) I'm not going back to face Donny. You can if you want, but I'm going on ahead until I find civilisation, and I don't care how long it takes me.
NILES: Please, wait. Let me explain. (She finally stops and allows him to continue.) I am willing to spend the rest of my life with you and only you, but before I do I want to let Mel know the situation, and I think you should do the same. (She knows he's right.) You still love Donny, I can tell, and I think you owe it to him to let him know the truth.
DAPHNE: (Weakly, defeated:) I can't love both of you… (He goes closer to her, since he can see the tears welling.)
NILES: Yes, but unfortunately it's not always possible to focus your devotion on one person. Believe me, I'm the expert. (She's crying so he cuddles her and talks to her shoulder.) Please don't cry. I'm not trying to upset you. In fact the opposite. (She sobs and a look of pain crosses his face, as if he's causing it. Which, I suppose, he is, inadvertently.) Please… you're not making this any easier. (She tries her best to calm down.)
DAPHNE: Sorry. It's just… so painful to think that I'm going to lose you after all this time. After all the effort, and all the waiting…
NILES: I know.
DAPHNE: Does the pain ever stop?
NILES: I'd be lying if I said it did. But at least you have a decent relationship to fall back on. (After this, he holds her at arms length and looks at her. The look on his face confuses her slightly and she looks at him quizzically. As if to answer her, he explains himself:) You know, I've realised something. I've come to the decision that I am a terrible person. First, I marry someone knowing full well I'm in love with someone else. I spend weeks trying to convince that someone else why she shouldn't marry her fiancé. I spirit her away on her wedding day. Who am I to dictate the laws of these things? (She begins to try and reassure him, but he won't let her.) I don't deserve anybody, not Mel and certainly not you. That's why I want you to come back with me and explain everything to Donny. Forget about Mel and I, it's over. She might forgive me but why should she? I'm doing this for you alone - you deserve Donny and I've got no right to interfere. (Desperately trying to convince her it's for the best.) Will you talk to him… please?
DAPHNE: (After careful consideration.) I can see what you're trying to do… and if it'll make you happy, I'll talk to Donny.
NILES: Not for me, not any more. I want you to do this for you.
DAPHNE: All right. I don't want to, but I suppose I must. I've been going mad these past few days, all these feelings bombarding me. I've never cried so much in my life. I'll talk to Donny on one condition - that you talk to Mel. Don't punish yourself for something that isn't even your fault. If we can't be together then there's no point in either of us suffering about it either way. I owe it to Donny to tell him everything and try and make it right again. But I owe it to you to let you go back to Mel. (He's not convinced.) Your wife. (He's unable to reply, amazed that she's doing this, and actually agreeing with him.)
NILES: I -
DAPHNE: Do we have a deal? (He's still speechless.) If we don't I'm not going back there. I'll stay on this bloody roadside forever if I have to.
NILES: (Gaining some composure and speaking at last.) I'm not going to let you do that. All right, you've got a deal. (They shake on it, almost attempting to bring some cheerfulness to the situation.) I think if we leave now we should be back by the morning.
DAPHNE: Right. (They walk slowly back the abandoned Winnebago. Just as they're about to enter, Niles naturally allowing Daphne to board first, he stops her and they stand outside the door facing each other. He can't find the words to tell her how he's feeling, but he knows if he doesn't tell her something now he'll never get the chance again.)
NILES: This could have been perfect, if it hadn't been for all of the complications. All the years I've spent planning this in my head, in the meagre hope that one day it could happen, and now it has I'm trying to ruin it.
DAPHNE: Don't blame yourself, this is all my fault really. I should never have said anything to Dr Crane - I should have just dealt with it in silence. If I hadn't thought I'd go mad with it, I wouldn't have done it.
NILES: It doesn't matter who's to blame. If we agree to share the blame it would be much easier. I'm just thinking how ironic this is, aren't you? I mean, here you are looking at me in a way I've only dreamt about, and I'm giving you, nay urging you, back to Donny. And when you were engaged to him, I was trying to pull you away from his evil clutches. (He reconsiders this.) No offence.
DAPHNE: None taken. (They both smile. She sighs and looks at the sky. It's perfectly clear and the constellations are visible, with a almost full moon low on the horizon. It's a beautiful setting.) I don't care what you said, this IS perfect. It's possibly the most perfect moment of my life and I think we should remember it just how it is. No self-pity, no blaming ourselves and no tears.
NILES: You're right. We should. (There is a long, tense silence as they stare at their surroundings and each other for one final time, standing side by side outside the Winnebago. They see a shooting star cut across the sky.) Make a wish.
DAPHNE: I will if you will. (They both close their eyes and look pensive, then open them again simultaneously. We can assume that they made the same exact wish, whatever it may be [use your imagination!]. The only trouble with them not talking for so long is that it gives him time to think. As she absently takes his hand, he keeps on getting an overwhelming urge to tell her how he feels, even though he knows that she knows. Still, once more won't matter… )
NILES: (With no voice:) I… (He coughs to clear his throat.) Daphne... I... you know that I… (It's no good, it's not going to come out this time, so he just looks at her helplessly. She turns to him.)
DAPHNE: I know. (She smiles at him once more and he's completely overcome. He takes her other hand and then lets both of them go again to tidy her windswept hair. It's all too much for her, however, as she starts to sob silently and willingly falls into his waiting arms. He tries to comfort her.)
NILES: You said no tears, remember…? (He s not very good at taking his own advice [or hers, to be exact] and is on the verge of crying himself. Again. She nods and stops crying, but nevertheless refuses to move from their hug, as though if they stay like this nothing can go wrong. All good things must come to an end, however and they start to separate. Caught in the moment, they meet again in the middle and kiss in the moonlight, but it's awkward because they know they shouldn't. Finally, it's over and with a look of regret she turns to enter the Winnebago. Once again, he stops her, looking very close to tears himself and trying not to let it show… unsuccessfully.) Since I'll probably never get the chance, I was wondering if, just this one time, you'd let me carry you over the threshold.
DAPHNE: Of course I will. I'd love that. (So he does, rather awkwardly at first, but eventually he gets his balance and they finally enter the Winnebago. Daphne yawns.)
NILES: You're tired.
DAPHNE: I'm not. (She yawns again. Have you yet? It's supposed to be contagious!) I must be. I hardly slept at all last night and today's been such a strain with all the stress and the worry. I could do with a rest.
NILES: Then that's what you'll get. (He puts her down on one of the in-vehicle bunks. She sits on the edge of it.)
DAPHNE: What about you?
NILES: I said I'd get you back by the morning and that's exactly what I'm going to do. Lie down and get some sleep. You'll thank me for it later. (He tries not to remember that there won't be any 'later' when they get back. She concedes defeat and lies down - she really is very tired after all - and after he's sure she's comfortable, as an afterthought he disappears to fetch his jacket. By the time he gets back, she's already half asleep, so he lays it carefully over her, and kisses her lightly on the forehead. Her eyelids flicker and she smiles and takes his hand. They stay like this for several seconds, Niles pretending he hasn't heard her barely mutter that she loves him. He has to let her go, and does so regretfully before returning to the driver's seat. After a deep breath and a look of impending doom that says "This is it. It's over.", he starts the engine. Outside, we see the Winnebago drive slowly off, back West, to the hotel. Whatever decision he makes when he gets there, he's only got one chance...)
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