PREVIOUSLY

Tea: I think we have a plan. (Grins mischievously at Viki.)

Viki: (Grins back.) Ok. Go back to work, I'll call him now.

Tea: Bye, Viki. (Leaves.)

Viki: (Dialing phone:) Todd? Me. Your sister!... Right... Well, actually... Oh, yes she is, Todd! She came here specifically to see you, in fact, and to lend her support... Yes, they are... They'd like to see you, too. How about you and Tea bring Starr and we can have a family dinner at my house tomorrow night?... Now, Todd. Starr has barely met them, they do need to get acquainted... Ok. I'll call with the time tomorrow... Yes, I'm cooking. (Laughs.) It's not that bad, Todd... They all survived it fine. I'll be in touch tomorrow, ok?... Todd?... I want to see things work out for you... Ok. (Hangs up.)

[Scene ends.

**************************************************************************************************

[Scene. Sam's house. Afternoon, same day.]

Sam: You told me that sometimes the truth is the lie and a lie the truth. You told me, and I agreed to, to keep the events of that night as I knew them secret, and demanded that again when you were on the run at the cabana and I brought it up again. You nearly strangled me then to shut me up, or were you trying to scare me into shutting up?

Todd: It was sick, Sam, what you said then. It was sick and twisted and I wanted no one to know.

Sam: You got that right, it was sick. But, honey, it was not your fault.

Todd: Yeah, it was. It's what he always said. My fault. Never his. Mine.

Sam: Viki never discussed her suspicions with me about the DID, not since the day you left town, when she mentioned it only and somewhat indirectly. It wasn't until you told us about the nightmare months later, and after we'd been at the cabin that awful day, that I put the pieces together for myself. I've just been keeping an eye on you and watching ever since. After the day you told us that nightmare I didn't have any doubts it was true and the DID was real.

Todd: Why didn't you say anything?

Sam: It wouldn't've made much difference, I was supporting you and that's what you needed to know, no matter how angry you are with me about a lot of things. As long as you can take in my love and support, what else can I do? What else do you want me to do? I'll do my best to do it, but you have to tell me what you need from me, man. The one thing I will not do is leave you.

Todd: Sometimes I wish you would.

Sam: I understand that.

Todd: My old man, he blamed me for everything he thought went wrong in his life. I was even to blame for it raining some days.

Sam: Well, Peter was wrong, Todd. Peter is the one who's at fault here, not you. You couldn't've fought him off that day, and I know you tried to. You were a strong kid, but he was stronger and you were deathly afraid of him.

Todd: I finally got him by surprise, you know? Had him where I wanted him, under my power, and you-you-you had to come along and stop me from finishing the job!

Sam: And what kind of life would you have had then, Todd?

Todd: Freedom.

Sam: No, Todd. You would have spent the rest of your life in prison. You would never have had Starr, or married Tea, or known Viki and Tina, or their kids.

Todd: I wish you hadn't stopped me. It was self-defence, I'd've gotten off.

Sam: You'd've had to prove it, probably submit to invasive medical examinations, for one. For the rape kit for the case.

Todd: That's sick, Sam! Nobody's ever gonna do that to me again!

Sam: Ah, see. You just told me.

Todd: (Looks aghast.)

Sam: (Nods at Todd.) Mhm. As a medical diagnostic procedure or as a forensics procedure to gather evidence, it sometimes must be endured.

Todd: That's just sick, Sam.

Sam: I probably would've taken the case, and I would have ordered such a test if I'd had any suspicion at all of why you'd gone after him like that. But I was a clueless idiot who didn't believe anyone could do something that horrible to a child, his own child. First, you would have had to have told me what he'd done that set you off in the first place.

Todd: I'd've fought it every inch of the way. I wouldn't've said.

Sam: Like you have been fighting it all along. I've helped you hide from this all those years. Like I said in the cabana, you're only as sick as your secrets.

Todd: He nearly killed me, Sam. I snapped. (Quieter:) I just... snapped. (Spaces out.)

Sam: Todd?

Todd: (Snaps back.) What?

Sam: I love you.

Todd: Awww, Sam! Why'd you have to say it out loud?

Sam: So you know it up front.

Todd: I already know it.

Sam: I hope so.

Todd: Sometimes I've even believed it.

Sam: I would've taken the case because I loved you. Something about you draws me in everytime, drew me in then especially because you were still just a kid. I knew you were being hurt, I just had no clue how badly. I still feel like I should've done more, much more, to protect you. I'm sorry.

Todd: You're always sorry.

Sam: I was the grown-up, you're the kid.

Todd: With a kid of my own now. I'm no kid now.

Sam: In some ways you'll always be one to me. One I'll want to protect and support always.

Todd: I'm a big boy. I can look after myself.

Sam: Not always.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Dinner at Llanfair. Next evening.]

Viki: (Answering front door:) Todd, I'm glad you made it.

Todd: I'm not.

Starr: (Looking up at Todd, scowling just like he does:) Dad!

Todd: (Sighs, looks at Starr, then back to Viki.)

Tea: Despite what Todd says, you know we're both glad to have made it here for dinner.

Tina: (Approaching cautiously:) Todd?

Todd: Oh. You.

Tea: Todd!

Tina: No, Tea, it's ok. Todd and I have a lot to overcome to even be in the same room, so don't worry about it. (To Todd:) You're my brother, whether anyone likes that or not.

Viki: Come in.

Starr: Is CJ and Sarah here, Aunt Viki?

Viki: "Are", and yes. They're in the livingroom waiting for you.

Starr: (Takes off running towards the livingroom.)

Todd: That was an easy sell, Viki. What else have you got up your sleeve?

Tea: (Rolls her eyes, standing slightly behind him.)

Viki: (Grins.) You'll see.

Todd: Great.

Tina: Todd, can we talk alone for a second?

Todd: Why?

Tina: Humour me, little brother.

Todd: (None too thrilled expression:) Fine. Make it quick.

Tea: I'll be in the livingroom.

Todd: You better be.

Tina: (Leading him into the kitchen.) Mmmm, that smells good, doesn't it, Todd?

Todd: Whatever. Look, why are we in here? (Moves to a platter neatly arrayed with cut vegetables and starts to grab and nibble things.)

Tina: Hey! (Bats his hand away from the tray but each time he grabs for something more, or does a give&go, or a cat&mouse feint, and fakes her out so he can grab something else; they do this for several volleys.)

[The camera work is tight on their hands on the platter, with the occasional glimpse of their faces as they concentrate. In one shot, Todd looks right at Tina as he obviously does something with his hand, and we see her watching their hands, not seeing him looking at her.]

(Tina looks at Todd, who has a handful of veggies and is now looking intently at his sister:) Viki wants you to eat like a civilized person, and with everyone else.

Todd: (Mouth full:) I'm not sharing dishes. I don't share. Fingers are good enough tools for this eating stuff.

Tina: Very funny, Mr. Sullen Bravado.

Todd: (Munches on a big handful of vegetables.) Ha! (Munching, talks with mouth full:) I don't have to do what Vik says, or what you say. Why are we here? (Munching.....)

Tina: I wanted to see you alone is all. You're incorrigible.

Todd: You're my sister.

Tina: Yes. A sister who wants to talk with her brother alone, if you'll let me.

Todd: Why? Whatever it is, I didn't do anything this time. (Still munching.)

Tina: Will you stop?

Todd: Stop what? I don't wanna be here, ok? (Grabs some more veggies.)

Tina: Oh, like that wasn't painfully obvious.

Todd: So, talk!

Tina: Ok. I was thinking that maybe I could stay over at your house and we could spend some time getting used to each other.

Todd: (Stops munching, swallows hard.) Umm... Are you nuts?! You don't wanna stay with me.

Tina: I do.

Todd: That's nuts! ... Ok... what about the kids?

Tina: They could stay here with Sis. Your place is only so big, anyway.

Todd: And where would I stay?

Tina: In the Penthouse.

Todd: Where would my wife stay?

Tina: We'd all be together.

Todd: I don't do "together".

Tina: For some people you do. I'd like to find out if maybe I might be "some people" to you, for both our sakes.

Todd: (Opens his mouth as if to begin an objection:)

Tina: Look -- stop, ok? I know things have been very rough for you lately, in fact for a long time, all I want is to be here to support my brother, ok? It looks like you could use all the love and support you can get right now. All it means is that we spend time together, I'll try not to get too mushy about it.

Todd: (Puts the last bits of veggies down on the table next to the tray, looking stunned.) Why would you be nice to me? You hate me. I hate you.

Tina: No, I don't. I couldn't help you when we were kids, I'd like to try to help you through at least some of this as adults. Will you try to let me?

Todd: Oh, so this is guilt, huh? Everyone's so guilty around me! Stop it!

Tina: We have a lot to make up to you, for whatever reasons.

Todd: I don't need your pity, ok?! I don't need it!

Tina: Todd, stop. Listen: do you want to upset the kids?

Todd: (Angry:) Who care -- (Catches his breath short. Agitated:) No, ok. I care. I do. Ok? I won't yell.

Tina: Sure?

Todd: I don't wanna scare Starr. I see the look on her face when I get all... when I get all ... "torqued", and-and start yelling at everybody. She gets this look on her face like she knows what's happening inside me and she's worried, you know? But it's like she understands now, she just doesn't like it, and sometimes she looks over at me and just scowls at me when she thinks I haven't seen her looking at me. I don't wanna scare Starr.

Tina: She's got a good head on her shoulders, like her father.

Todd: Sometimes it doesn't feel like it.

Tina: Yours?

Todd: Did Viki tell you I got 3 other guys running around in my head, and some lady schoolmarm?

Tina: She said you'd had a bout with DID, yes. I look back now, and I can see you've always had something going on, you're always coiled like a spring. I've never known you to be able to sit still.

Todd: One time. I was in court one day at a hearing, next I knew I woke up dayslater in the hospital. I'd been catatonic.

Tina: I wish I'd seen it.

Todd: Just to see me laid out like a corpse, only hooked up to machines and things? Just to gawk at me like that?

Tina: Maybe in shock. I wish I'd been there to help.

Todd: Don't worry about it. I had plenty of people hovering over me the whole time, following me everywhere. We wanted to just be left alone.

Tina: That must've been very hard.

Todd: You have no idea. I woke up in the middle of it and went up on the roof. Viki found me and talked me out of it. Ask her about it.

Tina: I will. I'm sorry this came back to you tonight, but I'm also glad you told me what you did. We're not confidants. You just trusted me, and I know that can't have been easy for you.

Todd: (Very tense:) I gotta see Tea.

Tina: We'll go back together.

Todd: (Starts out of the kitchen first.)

Tina: Todd?

Todd: (Stops. Doesn't turn around.) Yeah?

Tina: I won't push, ok? You can push me back if I probe too hard at once. We barely know each other, I'm bound to be clumsy with you at times. I don't mean to.

Todd: (Camera shows his expression softening, he seems touched by this. Gruffly:) Whatever. (Leaves the kitchen, Tina watching him go before leaving too.)

[Livingroom.]

Todd: (Crossing the room towards the french doors. Over his shoulder:) Delgado, come with me.

Tea: Todd?

Todd: (Opening the french doors and as he passes through to the patio:) Delgado, you coming or not? (Turns to face her, his face blank.)

Tea: (Looks around at everyone else, Tina nods to Tea with an encouraging expression on her face, Tea gets up and follows him out.)

Todd: (Wheels around and closes the doors behind them. He takes her arm and moves them out of shadowing range of the doors and turns her towards him.) I-I don't ever ask for this... (He looks extremely uncomfortable as he watches her eyes closely.)

Tea: C'mere... (Her back to the wall, she leans into him, her arms open to hug him.) Whatever it is, it's ok. I know you hate these shindigs.

Todd: (Nuzzles her neck, taking deep, shaky breaths, hugging her close.)

Tea: Did you and Tina talk?

Todd: (Nods, eyes closed.)

Tea: Ok. (Continues to hug him.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Living room, maybe 10 minutes later.]

Viki: (Enters:) I think everything looks ready in the kitchen. Your Uncle got into the veggie plate, I see. Have they been back yet?

CJ: I think they want to be alone.

Sarah: I wonder if they kiss?

Viki: (Chuckling:) Your Uncle is very shy about those things, especially in public. Don't tease him about it, ok?

Sarah: Oh. I guess I won't, then. Should I go look for them?

Viki: No, dear, I think I should. (Crosses to the doors and exits, closing them.)

[Patio.]

Viki: (Turning to her right.) Oh, there you are. Is everything all right?

Todd: (Pulling away awkwardly from Tea.) Yeah.

Viki: I'm about to set dinner out, would you like to come and eat with us?

Todd: (Opens his mouth to say something, but Tea cuts him off with a stern look.)

Tea: (Looking at Viki:) We'd love to,wouldn't we, Todd?

Todd: (Scowls at her.) Tea!

Tea: (Looks at him.) We're here for dinner, so lets go eat, Todd. (Takes his arm and begins to steer him to the french doors.)

Todd: (Resignedly:) Coming, Mother!

Viki: (Laughs.)

Tea: What's so funny?

Viki: It's from an old radio show. Come and have dinner, Henry Aldritch.

Todd: Whatever.

Viki: (Laughs again.)

Tea: (Remains confused, but follows them inside.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Penthouse. Two days later, mid-morning.]

Todd: (Answering the door.) You have a key now, you know.

Tina: I have no idea where -- (looks on Todd's desk, closeup on key on a ring by itself) is that my copy?

Todd: It's not Delgado's keyring or mine, so it must be yours.

Tina: Don't say it, Todd.

Todd: (Blank expression:) Say what?

Tina: Don't tell me I'm a ditz. I already know what you've always thought of me.

Todd: (All innocence:) I wasn't gonna say that.

Tina: I saw the look on your face, it's that look you get when you want to tell someone off, and not just to tell them off, but for being an idiot.

Todd: I wasn't!

Tina: Don't try it, Todd. I really want us to be on better terms, ok?

Todd: Why are you here, anyway?

Tina: The same reasons I've been coming back to visit all year, only this time things are notably difficult for you, and I want to be here for you to lean on.

Todd: I still don't know why you keep visiting.

Tina: Can I come in? We could talk about it inside.

Todd: Oh. Come in, I guess. Sis.

Tina: You're still not very used to that, are you?

Todd: No. I'm finally used to calling Viki that again.

Tina: You mean, you're finally accepting that our sister loves you very much and that you love her very much.

Todd: I --

Tina: Todd, look. I know you're very awkward about letting your feelings show, I know you think that's dangerous, and I do understand it.

Todd: Why?

Tina: Let's just say that my life tended to suck, too, when we were kids?

Todd: But you had Mom.

Tina: Yeah, I did. I also had Ted Clayton. He was no prize. Our father didn't make her give me up, and if I'd had anything to do with it, he wouldn't've made us give you up, either. I had no idea what was really going on. I'm sorry, Todd. You have to believe I would have fought for you if I could have.

Todd: Doesn't matter.

Tina: It does. You do... Tell you what. How about a walk outdoors with me? The park has changed since I lived here, maybe you can show me around?

Todd: You're trying to cheer me up, aren't you?

Tina: Maybe. I don't expect to be successful.

Todd: Good. Then I won't disappoint you by not jumping for joy at the idea.

Tina: I'd like to take a walk, and I'd like it to be with my brother.

Todd: (Sighs resignedly.) Fine. Lemme go get my leash.

Tina: (Laughs.) You don't have to. I trust you not to wander off without me. Besides, I know where to look for you if you do.

Todd: Whatever. Let's go. (Crossing to the door and opening it.)

Tina: Ok.

(They leave.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Park.]

Tina: You know, we're not exactly friends, and I know that. I've done some pretty awful things to you, and I don't blame you for not liking me very much.

Todd: I'm trying to, for our kids' sakes.

Tina: I can see that. Mine're dying to see you again, we should go to Viki's later.

Todd: I'd like to see them, too. I'm sorry I haven't been around much since you got here.

Tina: I understand this is hard for you, Todd. (Takes his hand as they walk.) Is this ok?

Todd: (Takes his hand back.) Not really.

Tina: Ok. I won't give up, though, little brother. I have a lot to make up for to you. I'll try not to try to make up for what Mom did to you, because I know there's no way I can do that.

Todd: You didn't do it, our mother did.

Tina: At the command of our father. We had nothing to do with all that except to live the consequences of it. I'm sorry they did that to you.

Todd: You shouldn't apologize.

Tina: I feel like I have to to you. I'm sorry about David, Todd. I am.

Todd: Would you do it again if you had the chance?

Tina: Now? No. I didn't see then just how cruel that was, how much I was throwing away when I thought I had everything I ever wanted to gain from it.

Todd: You'd've been just like our parents, throwing me away again.

Tina: (Takes his hand again.) Todd? Look at me. (Stops walking, which makes him stop. Gently, coaxingly:) Look at me, little brother... C'mon.

Todd: (Finally looks at her, a look of hurt and fury on his face, his eyes almost glowing with rage.)

Tina: I see you're angry. You have every right to be furious about all this. I wish it hadn't happened in the ways it did. I wish I could take the worst of all this back.

Todd: You have no idea what you'd be taking back.

Tina: Maybe not. But you're my brother, and I understand you did grow up thinking and feeling that nobody in the world really wanted you.

Todd: Nobody did.

Tina: If I had known, I would've wanted you for you, not to use you for your money. I'm sorry, Todd. Please believe me on that. I'm really sorry I hurt you, especially like that.

Todd: Why are you apologizing to me? Why should I trust you? Is this a set up?

Tina: No, it's no set up. You must at least want to try, you're still holding my hand.

Todd: (Drops her hand and turns his body away, as if preparing to walk away.)

Tina: Todd?

Todd: (Starts walking away.)

Tina: I'm sorry, Todd. (Catches up with him and meets his rapid stride.)

Todd: (Stops in his tracks. Turns to her.) Stop it, Sis!

Tina: Stop what?

Todd: Stop this being nice to me, ok, Sis?

Tina: Wait. Do you realize what you've been calling me?

Todd: What, Sis?

Tina: "Sis." You've been calling me, "Sis".

Todd: I -- uhh -- I haven't been!

Tina: You have, and I am honoured that you have. Thank you.

Todd: (Grumbling, seems embarassed, looks away.) Whatever.

Tina: No, Todd, I'm serious. We weren't raised that way and when we did meet I treated you mostly really badly. You have no reason, really, to accept me back. You have, and that means a lot to me. So, thank you, little brother.

Todd: (Edgy:) Can we stop this talking stuff now?

Tina: Do you want to go to Viki's and see if my kids are there?

Todd: (Edgily relieved:) Let's go.

(They turn about-face and start walking back the way they'd just come, passing the camera.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Llanfair, a half-hour or so later.]

Todd: (Striding into the front entryway as if he owns the house.) Sis?

Tina: How do you manage to do that?

Todd: (Not looking at her, striding into the livingroom and poking his head in to look around.) Do what?

Tina: Walk into a place and make it look like you own it?

Todd: (Striding towards the kitchen, followed by Tina.) I do. I do own this place, as much as both of you. It's Victor's house. I'm not so sure I want to own this place 'cos it was his, but he's our old man.

Tina: True. I sometimes wonder how Viki can stand to live here, with all the memories she must have of it. The stairs by the front door?

Todd: (He is now noodling around the kitchen restlessly, having discovered no one's home apparently.) What about them? (Opens the fridge and grabs a quart of milk, begins drinking from the carton in his usual way.)

Tina: Our father threw Viki's mother down those stairs, breaking her neck.

Todd: (Almost spits his milk back into the carton, gulping it rapidly down. Gives her a startled, horrified look. Puts the carton down on the counter.) I'll probably never think of those steps the same way now. See? He was horrible, I'm horrible. It really is inherited. (Wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, puts the milk carton back in the fridge, looking distressed.)

Tina: Todd, it is not inherited.

Todd: (Closing fridge and turning towards her.) Yeah. It is. (He puts his hands on the edge of the counter nearest him, seems edgy.)

Tina: I'm not going to have this argument with you, ok? Not right now. I'm beginning to wonder where my kids are.

Todd: I'm sorry. We should check the garden shed. I don't really want to go back in there, but we should look for the kids. They like it in there.

Tina: Did something happen there to you that I don't know about?

Todd: Yeah. And no I'm not talking about it.

Tina: (Crosses to the kitchen door.) Let's go look.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Llanfair grounds. Garden shed.]

Sarah: Hey, CJ? I think I see Mom.

CJ: Ali! It's Ali, Sis!

Sarah: Cool! Let's go! (Grabs CJ's arm and drags him outside with her.) Uncle Ali! Uncle Ali! (Jumps up and down waving to her Uncle and mother with her free hand.)

Todd: (Seeing the kids from across the lawn, waves back and starts off in a jog to them. He arrives, and sweeps them into a big hug.) Hi, kids.

Tina: (Catches up.) Have you been in here long, kids?

CJ: (Leads them back into the shed.) Not really, we've been playing all over the grounds today. Aunt Viki said we could.

Tina: I just wish you'd let someone know where you were.

Todd: (Getting edgy:) You shouldn't scare your mother like that.

Tina: You ok, Todd?

Todd: I gotta get outta here. Sorry, kids. (Bolts out.)

Tina: Hold on, kids. I'll see if I can figure this out. (Follows him.)

Todd: (Trying to catch his breath outside, pacing. Sees Tina approach.) Look, Sis, I'm sorry. Kids ok?

Tina: Yeah. You?

Todd: No.

Tina: What happened?

Todd: (Thinks as he paces, seems to decide, faces Tina and stops pacing.) Ok. I'm not gonna talk about it.

Tina: You mean after you tell some small part of this?

Todd: Only the tip of the iceburg.

Tina: Ok.

Todd: I hurt Tea there. I was on the run and I hurt her there. She hurt me, too. It got very ugly. It was all my fault. I can't say any more. (Looks very distressed.)

Tina: Wow. I understand you not saying any more right now. It's written all over you that it was pretty awful.

Todd: You don't know the half of it.

Tina: No, I don't. Is it ok if I ask Tea about this?

Todd: That's up to Delgado.

Tina: Ok. Should I get the kids?

Todd: Leave them alone. They know what they're doing and we know where they are now.

Tina: I'll tell them we're leaving. (Crosses back into the shed.) Kids, now that we know where you are, we're leaving you here. Come back to the house soon, though. Ok?

Sarah: Ok, Mom.

CJ: Whatever. (Sarah shoots him a look. He looks back at Tina:) Yeah, ok.

Tina: Ok. (Leaves. Crosses back to Todd.) I'm surprised you didn't run off. That's your usual style.

Todd: I want to. I-I-umm....

Tina: We can walk back in silence if you just don't want to be alone. Ok?

Todd: (Anxious:) Whatever. Let's go.

(They start walking.)

[Scene ends.]