AFTERMATH - PART THIRTY-ONE
PREVIOUSLY
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.]
**************************************************************************************************
[Scene: Dr. Boyd's office. Next morning.]
Dr. Boyd: So, having Tina in your home has been ok?
Todd: It has its moments, most of them nervewracking.
Dr. Boyd: How so?
Todd: She wants to know everything about me, about how I live, how I do things. Sometimes she's just everywhere it seems, at once.
Dr. Boyd: So, it's a bit overwhelming?
Todd: At times, yeah. I wish I could get away from her.
Dr. Boyd: You could kick her out.
Todd: Viki'd kill me. She and Tina set this whole thing up, and I know Delgado helped them.
Dr. Boyd: How does it feel to know they did this?
Todd: Ganged up on.
Dr. Boyd: Have you said anything about that aspect of this?
Todd: Not yet.
Dr. Boyd: That's not like you. Why not?
Todd: Tina's kids. I'm trying to be nice to her for her kids.
Dr. Boyd: You love them that much?
Todd: I guess I must.
Dr. Boyd: Or has Tina grown on you?
Todd: (Makes a disgusted face.) Like a fungus?
Dr. Boyd: Whatever. (Grins at Todd.)
Todd: (Scowls back.)
Dr. Boyd: Where are Tina's children staying?
Todd: Viki's.
Dr. Boyd: Do you see them?
Todd: They've been roaming all over Viki World, mostly on their own.
Dr. Boyd: Aren't you concerned they'll get in trouble?
Todd: (Quietly:) They got into the garden shed.
Dr. Boyd: Is that the shed you took Tea to? The one you fled to when they were small?
Todd: Yeah.
Dr. Boyd: Was there an injury to either of the children?
Todd: No.
Dr. Boyd: What does the shed mean to you now?
Todd: I told Tina.
Dr. Boyd: About hurting Tea there?
Todd: (Looking miserable, nods.)
Dr. Boyd: I see.
Todd: Not much.
Dr. Boyd: I don't see much?
Todd: Didn't tell her much.
Dr. Boyd: But you told her that much?
Todd: Only that and that Tea had hurt me there, too. It was all my fault. (Looks away.) All my fault... (Sounds sad.)
Dr. Boyd: Todd?
Todd: (Looks at him.)
Dr. Boyd: What are you feeling?
Todd: None of your damn business.
Dr. Boyd: Do you feel like you somehow told her too much?
Todd: (Not happy about it:) She read me like a book.
Dr. Boyd: What are you feeling right now?
Todd: I said it's none of your damn business!
Dr. Boyd: It's my job to help you with your feelings. Let me do my job.
Todd: (Heavy sigh.) It was.
Dr. Boyd: It was what?
Todd: All my fault. I lost control. I wasn't supposed to lose control, not with her.
Dr. Boyd: In some ways, for some things, you're supposed to give up control, to surrender to the moment. Losing control isn't always bad.
Todd: Not for me.
Dr. Boyd: Even for you. What was it about the garden shed?
Todd: Nothing.
Dr. Boyd: You don't usually bring up things like this unless you have some reason. Was it the first time you'd returned there?
Todd: Yeah.
Dr. Boyd: Did you remember something there?
Todd: Yeah.
Dr. Boyd: What did you remember?
Todd: Hurting Tea. Tea hurting me. Terror. Wanting desperately to make things better after I hurt Tea and not knowing how at all. Years ago, with those kids there, too. I had to get out almost as soon as I went in there. I wanted to just run off, but I made myself wait outside for my sister to come out and tell me her kids were ok so we could go.
Dr. Boyd: And they were?
Todd: Yeah. I wasn't. She asked if she should walk me back and she knew I was in no mood to talk, but she offered to just keep me company on the walk back to the mansion. She didn't take my hand or hug me or any of that mushy stuff Viki always wants to do with me when I get like that. We just walked. I left her in the kitchen and went upstairs to the room I usually stay in and just sat on the bed in the dimness until I could get calmed down. Then I went to The Sun to work.
Dr. Boyd: What about the children and the shed?
Todd: I heard them come in before I left for work.
Dr. Boyd: And before?
Todd: I manipulated the hell out of those kids.
Dr. Boyd: Did you hurt them?
Todd: No. Not physically.
Dr. Boyd: How did you manipulate them?
Todd: Lied to them about who I was. Got them to bring me food and not tell anyone what they were doing, for who, or why. Lied to them about why I was there. They didn't know I was a violent criminal on the run. Told them I was... a Genie.
Dr. Boyd: A Genie? What name did the Genie have?
Todd: I told them to call me "Ali". I told them stories. One was about an evil master who used to beat me until it stopped bothering me that he did it and I just did what he wanted.
Dr. Boyd: Peter.
Todd: Yeah, my old man.
Dr. Boyd: That was no lie.
Todd: It was just a tall tale told by a Genie to get their sympathy so they'd keep my secret and keep bringing me food and stuff.
Dr. Boyd: But they did it.
Todd: And then he found me there one day. It was awful. After he ripped into me and the kids came back later, I told them the evil master had found me and I had to get out of there. I got them to help me run.
Dr. Boyd: Do they remember the times with you in the garden shed?
Todd: They seem to remember it better than I do.
Dr. Boyd: What do they call you, now that they know who you are?
Todd: Usually "Uncle Todd", sometimes, "Uncle Ali", or just "Ali".
Dr. Boyd: Does that bother you?
Todd: I don't know.
Dr. Boyd: Or you don't want to say?
Todd: Whatever.
Dr. Boyd: Had enough?
Todd: I'm outta here, Doc. (Leaves.)
[Scene ends.]
[Scene: Nora and Matthew's house, MBR. Mid-morning.]
Bo: I almost sold this place when I was still going with Lindsay, you know.
Nora: You did?
Bo: I couldn't. Too many memories.
Nora: Isn't that the reason most people sell a house after a breakup?
Bo: Yeah. But I wasn't ready to give up that place in my heart yet. Drew lived here part of the last year of his life. His brother Matthew was conceived in this very bed. I lived here with you. It --
Nora: What, Bo?
Bo: (Sighs) You're right, those are reasons to sell the house now that we've ended things.
Nora: Have we?
Bo: Have we?
Nora: Look, we have Matthew now, and I don't know that we can make a go of things, but I think we owe it to our little boy to think it over, you know?
Bo: What about Sam?
Nora: I think I've broken his heart again. Matthew isn't his, and frankly, I find myself agreeing with Todd, of all people.
Bo: Todd??
Nora: Yes. Bizarre, huh?
Bo: Very. Ok. I'll bite. Why him?
Nora: He's been ragging on Sam about Matthew, telling Sam that lying to Matthew will come back to bite Sam and me and will hurt Matthew badly. Sam disagrees, but I actually agree with Todd to my utter horror.
Bo: He's right. I can remember how horribly betrayed I felt when I doubted that Asa was my Pa, and I was an adult. I hated Pa at the time for it and even took up with the Ralstons, briefly changed my name, even my occupation. It was a pretty bad time in my life in a lot of ways.
Nora: Can we make a go of it?
Bo: I have no idea. I've been burned badly, twice in less than a year. I just don't know right now.
Nora: I don't, either, but we need to think about it as parents. Whatever we do it's also a custody issue.
Bo: True.
Nora: Sam will fight me on that, and maybe we shouldn't decide anything firm until that's settled. I want sole custody.
Bo: I don't know what I want, Nora. You do what you need to do.
[Scene ends.]
[Scene: Newsstand, next morning.]
Weekly World Tattler
[Frontpage headline reads:]
[Photograph below of Todd holding hands with Tina in the park, hands very clearly visible. Caption reads:]
Serial rapist Todd Manning seen walking with unknown woman not wife in local park.
[Scene ends.]
[Scene: Banner City Room, a few hours later.]
Tina: (Carries a copy of the Weekly World Tattler folded under her arm, and walks to Viki's office door. She knocks on the door.)
Viki: (At her desk inside reading copy.) Come in!
Tina: (Enters office, crosses to desk.) Hi, Viki.
Viki: (Looks up.) Tina? Hi, what brings you here?
Tina: (Holding Weekly World Tattler up for Viki:) Have you seen this?
Viki: (Takes paper, looks more closely.) Oh, my.
Tina: Do you think he's seen it?
Viki: I don't hear screaming.
Tina: The rest of the Press is gonna be all over us any second.
Viki: Be prepared.
Tina: Who's behind this, you think?
Viki: Anyone's guess really, but a wild guess?
Tina: Sure.
Viki: Asa.
Tina: (Looking at ceiling:) Oh, of course!
Viki: The timing.
Tina: The timing. That bastard!
Viki: Show him, before he comes to you --
Tina: -- and tears me limb from limb accusing me of --
Viki: -- betraying him, of doing this on purpose.
Tina: His office?
Viki: Good guess.
Tina: On my way. (Leaves.)
[Scene ends.]
[Scene: PH2, Livingroom. Early evening.]
Tea: (Arrives, puts keys on Todd's desk, takes off shoes. She looks tired and not very aware of her surroundings.)
Todd: (Wanders in from the kitchen and stands behind the stage left overstuffed chair, a bottle of beer in his hand. He watches her quietly.)
Tea: (Brings her briefcase to the couch, set it on the floor, flops tiredly onto the couch, sighing loudly and sinking into the cushions as she closes her eyes.)
Todd: (Crosses to the couch, catlike. He sets his beer bottle quietly on the floor next to the couch and sits at the far end, taking her feet in his hands and then in his lap.)
Tea: (Jumps up, pulling her feet towards herself.) AAAAAAAA!!! Why do you dothat?!
Todd: Do what, Delgado? I didn't do anything. Yet.
Tea: Why do you sneak up on me like that?
Todd: I wasn't sneaking. Your eyes were closed.
Tea: You snuck up on me, Manning!
Todd: Fine. (Looks at the briefcase.) What'd you bring me?
Tea: You? Me! I've got work to do tonight.
Todd: (Leans over, grabs her briefcase, unlocks it, flips it open on his lap. This seems almost a single gesture it's so smooth and quick.)
Tea: Hey!
Todd: (Finds the Weekly World Tattler, grabs it out of the briefcase.)
Tea: (Grabs it from him.) Mine! (Looks at the headline, cracks up.)
Todd: What's so funny?
Tea: (Plays with him by holding it against her chest, facing her.) None of your business, Manning.
Todd: Don't mess with me, Delgado, that's the Tattler. What sort of dirt are they shoveling about Llanview's Beautiful People?
Tea: (Laughs again.)
Todd: Grabs it from her hands, turns it around and is immediately angry at what he sees.) Who the frigging hell took these??
Tea: (Giggling:) Oh, come on, you don't find this funny?
Todd: No, I don't.
Tea: (Still giggling.) Why not?
Todd: Not everyone remembers my sister.
Tea: Why does this bother you?
Todd: It implies I'm being unfaithful to you, and with my sister! That's disgusting!
Tea: Oh. Do you want to take them to court?
Todd: I wanna eat them for breakfast and spit out the bones.
Tea: We can do that.
Todd: Maybe I'll buy them up.
Tea: We can do that, too.
Todd: Who the hell would do this?
Tea: Who wouldn't?
Todd: Who'd be top of the list?
Tea: Blair.
Todd: Nah, she's got motive but she doesn't have the bucks to pay a Pappahoozitz to shoot these.
Tea: Asa does.
Todd: Asa would.
Tea: He knows full well this is your sister.
Todd: He's such a sick bastard. This would be incest!
Tea: (Crosses to the desk.)
Todd: What're you doing?
Tea: I'm gonna call RJ and have him check into it.
Todd: (Crosses to desk, grabs cellphone, dials as he crosses back to middle of room and begins speaking:) Briggs! --
[They speak simultaneously:]
Tea: -- RJ, have you seen the current Tattler? --
Todd: -- Got something for you ... Yep --
Tea: ... That one...
Todd: ... You saw it?
Tea: I want the name of who really hired that photographer, who hired him to stalk my husband and sister-in-law --
Todd: ... Get the name of the SOB who hired the slime who took those pictures! (shuts off phone, throws it hard onto couch, begins to pace floor. Stops and turns to watch her, uncomfortable.)
Tea: Every last one. ALL negatives.... I don't care, we'll pay you what you need... Good. Call me when you find something. (Hangs up.) One way or another we'll get the goods on Asa about this.
Todd: (Muttering:) Fishbowl... (More directly to her:) I'll never get away from what I've done, what I am, but why go after my sister now? She's done nothing to him for years.
Tea: She moved his grandchildren out of state, you know how he is about family.
Todd: He doesn't know how I am about family.
Tea: We can't do anything about it right now, let's just let the feelers do their work, ok? (Draws him by the hand to the couch.) Come and sit. Let me massage your shoulders for a bit. (Sits behind Todd at one end of the couch.)
Todd: (Heavy sigh. Sits.) No funny stuff. You keep your clothes on.
Tea: I will. (Starts to knead his shoulders.) You're like a brick wall of tension. Relax, Todd.
Todd: No. It always gets me in trouble.
Tea: (Works on his shoulders some more.) You can breathe again you know.
Todd: No. (Body stiffens more. He shakes her hands away from his body with a jerk of his shoulder and leans a little forward. Raising his voice:) Stop. Don't touch me. Just... I can't be touched right now, just stop, ok? (Lowers his tone:) I'm trying not to yell at you.
Tea: What's wrong?
Todd: Not sure.
Tea: It was ok a minute ago.
Todd: Barely. I just can't be touched right now.
Tea: Ok. Can you tell me how it feels?
Todd: Sandpaper. I feel like my whole brain is being sandpapered, and all my senses.
Tea: Do you know why?
Todd: (Surly:) No, I don't know why. All I know is it's painful. If I say it hurts it must be bad.
Tea: Yeah.
Todd: (Pauses.) Every touch, except those other things he did to me, every touch hurt. Sometimes it just hurts to be touched even the least bit. It feels like sandpaper, or like being hit again all over.
Tea: I'm so sorry.
Todd: Me, too. He messed me up. Messed me up real bad, Tea. I can't see why you want me. I'm all twisted up inside. I'm just in knots.
Tea: I just do.
Todd: I don't know why. It's like Asa's accusing me of being like both of my fathers. Victor molested, no, he raped my sister. I'm a rapist. I don't understand how you can stand to be with me. I can't.
Tea: I sometimes can't, either.
Todd: This headline just brings it all back again. It's one thing to write that I'm a rapist, I am. I have to live with what I did. It's another to say I'm being unfaithful to my wife, and print a picture of me holding hands with my sister. Holding hands. As if that isn't revealing enough?
Tea: Holding hands with your sister is pretty innocent. We'll track this down, back to Asa, don't worry. I can't think of anyone else who has it in for you so badly and has the money.
Todd: While we're at it: Why -- why didn't you tell me you'd read my journal months ago, like when you raked me over the coals about our past right after the cabin stuff? You knew I was in bad shape!
Tea: It needed to be aired, or we'd never have gotten this far, and I told you then I was testing you.
Todd: You nearly trashed me.
Tea: I know. It was worth it, it got through to you. Both of us.
Todd: I still need to be alone right now.
Tea: Should I wait?
Todd: (Stands up, walks to stairs.) And then come and get me. See if I've hung myself or something.
Tea: Seriously?
Todd: (Not turning around.) No, but I feel real messed up right now. I gotta be alone for a while. (Starts up stairs.)
Tea: (To herself when he's out of earshot:) At least he didn't throw me out or leave the house. This is an improvement. (Moves her briefcase to the desk and fishes out some folders, sitting in Todd's desk chair. She gets to work.)
[Scene ends.]