Mike: A lot of stars tonight...Kind of reminds me of another night...another hilltop.
Carrie: In Las Vegas. You had our charts done that night.
Mike: Yeah...Madame Zola! She said we had a long and happy future together.
Carrie: Shows you how things can change.
Mike: So, how are things with Austin?
Carrie: Well, I never thought he and I would get past what happened, but we have. We've gotten a lot closer
lately. So what brings you back to Salem, Mike?
Mike: Uh...Just came to say goodbye.
Carrie stares at Mike.
Carrie: You came a long way just to say goodbye, but at least I have answers to the questions I've been having,
like - why I haven't heard from you.
Mike: What I was feeling just seemed like more that I could put in a phone call or a letter.
Carrie: (a bit sarcastically) I'm sure. So, how is Israel?
Mike: Seems like a good place to start over.
Carrie: Yeah, I guess I'll be doing that, too.
Mike: Hey, at least you got Austin.
Carrie: (looking confused) What are you talking about?
Mike: You don't have to worry about hurting my feelings, Carrie. I know that you and Austin are back together.
Carrie: (shaking her head) I don't know who you've been talking to, but you're wrong. Austin and I are
completely over. We'll never be together again.
A glimmer of hope flashes across Mike's face.
Mike: So...what...you and Austin aren't...
Carrie: No, I saw Austin tonight, and it was probably the most honest we ever were with each other. We'll
always feel love for each other, but we're just friends. We'll never be more than that again.
Mike: Wow! You have any idea how happy it makes me feel to hear you say that?
Carrie: But, you mean that you thought that Austin and I were back together, and you didn't say anything?
Mike: I didn't think I had the right, Carrie. I still want to be with you. Listen to me, I learned two things
when I went away. One is that I will never lie or cheat, or betray anyone again. And the other is that I want to spend
the rest of my life with you. You're a part of me - I have no choice. I even got you a little surprise that will show how
deep my feelings are for you.
Mike pulls out a small box and opens it. Carrie looks at him, dumbfounded.
Mike: I didn't come back to say goodbye, I came back to give you this.
Carrie: Mike...
Mike: I love you...I just hope that you still love me.
Carrie: Love?!?! I don't want to hear about love. Love is what messed up both of our lives!
Mike is the one who looks dumbfounded now.
Carrie: If this was a movie, I would run into your arms and we would live happily ever after.
Mike: Yeah, that sounds good to me.
Carrie: Too easy, Mike. How can I share my life with you when I have no idea what it is or what I should be
doing? Austin gave me a gift tonight. He made me see that I can be something on my own.
Mike: Austin told you to stay away from me?
Carrie: Look, Mike...You went away to get clear about things, right?
Mike: Right! I went away so I could be sure that spending my life with you is the right thing to do. Well
it is!
Carrie: Well, I'm happy that you're so sure, but I'd like to feel that way, too.
Mike: I can help you.
Carrie: No, I need to do this by myself. I need some time alone. You know that I married Austin for the same
reason I fell in love with you. To make myself feel complete, and maybe that's okay for some people, but it's not right for
me. And if I want to make a commitment to a man again, I want to trust myself to live up to it.
Mike: (holding out the ring box) Do you know what this ring means? I'm asking you to marry me.
Carrie: (looking into his eyes) I'm sorry, Mike. I can't be with you right now.
Mike: So, now you're not ready to commit to me? (He closes the box) That's fair. I can handle that.
Carrie: I'm not asking you to wait, Mike.
Mike: (smiling) You can't stop me. I know what you're feeling.
Carrie: And what am I feeling?
Mike: You're feeling what I felt, and that's why I had to leave. You're feeling confused, and you're feeling
afraid of what tomorrow might bring. Well, I'm not confused anymore. I love you, and I will marry you. I want to spend
the rest of my life with you and I want you to be happy. So, I'll wait - I'll wait as long as it takes.
The next day...
Mike: So, did you come to a decision?...Sorry, that was stupid. It sounds like I'm pressuring.
Carrie: (shaking her head) Mike....
Mike: Listen, I know you're confused. You explained that, but if it's a question of waiting - I'll wait forever.
All I want is you. Us...I know that now.
Carrie: But I don't...I don't know that.
Mike: But you could know that if you just give it a chance. Can you do that?
Carrie: No...
Mike looks away sadly.
Mike: Can you at least tell me why?
Carrie: What Austin said to me about finding myself, that really hit me.
Mike: Can I help you?
Carrie: No, you can't Mike - don't you see that? When I am with you, my instincts are to put you first. Take
care of your needs - make you happy. And then when I find out that loving you isn't enough, I will blame you. That's what
I did with Austin...But it wasn't Austin, it was me. I lost myself in a relationship, and I can't do that again.
Mike: Okay, help me. Help me to understand. What do you need that will make you feel fulfilled?
Carrie: I'm not sure. I don't want to stay in Salem.
Mike: Well, where do you want to live?
Carrie: I have no idea, but it won't be a city. I want a little house where I can have a big garden.
A smile forms on Mike's lips.
Mike: I'm sorry - a garden? I didn't know you were into gardening.
Carrie: Well, I've never given it a try.
Mike chuckles.
Carrie: Well, look at those plants here. You know, one little seed and then they blossom into this beautiful,
full bloom.
Mike: Okay, so you want everything in your life to be about growth right now. That sounds right. And I won't
stand in your way.
Carrie: Thank you Mike, for understanding.
Mike: Carrie, I understand because I want the same thing. I know that I will never compromise my integrity
again, and I know that I love you. But I still have to find out who Mike Horton is - apart and separate from my
grandfather and my family and the whole Horton legacy.
Carrie: What are you saying?
Mike: I'm saying that there are places in Israel that are in desperate need for medical facilities. Now I
talked to some doctors over there and made some inquiries. I found a space where I can make a clinic.
Carrie: So, you're definitely going back?
Mike: Yeah. Hopefully not alone.
Carrie: You mean you're going to enlist people here?
Mike: Yeah, well - one person in particular. I was thinking you'd be perfect over there.
Carrie: Me?
Mike: There are women there whose lives have been torn apart by the ravages of war and poverty...Husbands who
don't know where to put their anger...And I really think you could make a difference over there, Carrie.
Carrie: I could use the contacts I've made here to help raise money and awareness. Where does that leave you?
Mike: Making sure I know myself...and waiting for you.
Carrie: I can't ask you to put your life on hold for me.
Mike: Nah - you wouldn't be doing that. That's on thing I know about myself for sure now, that I'm
never going to stop loving you. And I don't think a love like that can be denied. In spite of all the pain that
our love's caused, I don't think that it's going to deprive us or take from us. I think that it can help us find what
we're looking for. I think it can make us complete.
Carrie smiles tenderly at Mike.
Carrie: Do you think that I could find a small house with a garden in this Israeli village?
Mike: Yeah, I think you could. And I can maybe have a house nearby, I mean not too close. I don't want to
push you there. I've always had a fantasy about building a house - working with my hands.
Carrie's face lights up with a smile and Mike just looks at her.
Mike: What's so funny about that?
Carrie: I'm just remembering a time when you tried to build a tree house and it fell down.
Mike: Okay, well - this time I would build it on the ground.
Carrie: And then it falls down, you'll move in with me.
Mike: (jokingly) Not if you begged me!
Carrie: I might cook you something from my garden.
Mike: (laughing) Are you kidding?! Your cooking is like my building?
Carrie: People change. Who knows - I might turn out gourmet meals, and your house might have a roof this time.
Mike: Listen, seriously...
Carrie: I was serious. If you can find me that house in your Israeli village, I'd like to start a
woman's center there.
Mike: Really?
Carrie: No promises. But, if I could find myself there, maybe we can find our way back together again.
Mike: I know we're out in public and all these people are here, but every fiber in my being wants to take you
in my arms and kiss you right now.
Carrie: We're starting to want those same things already.
Mike moves closer, and their lips meet hesitatingly but tenderly.
