PREVIOUSLY

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.]

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[Scene: MBR, PH2. Evening. The room is dark.]

Tea: (Entering quietly. Softly:) Todd? You ok?

Todd: (Curled up on bed, awake. Slowly he unfolds and lays on his back so he can see her.) Yeah.

Tea: You don't sound very ok.

Todd: I'm still here, ok?

Tea: Good.

Todd: I dunno.

Tea: Yeah, it is.

Todd: Whatever. (Rolls back onto his side, curls up.)

Tea: Wanna sleep?

Todd: Wish I could. Maybe get plastered.

Tea: Nah, that makes it worse, believe me. And then you wake up sick. You don't wanna do that.

Todd: Yeah, I do.

Tea: Do you still want to be alone?

Todd: (Non-committal tone.) Yeah.

Tea: That wasn't very convincing.

Todd: (Pauses.)

Tea: (After one beat too many:) What's wrong?

Todd: (Silence, but his breathing seems carefully controlled. He sniffles.)

Tea: Should I stay?

Todd: (Unfolds enough to reach for her without looking.)

Tea: (Crosses to the bed, sits next to him, takes his hand in hers.) It's ok. (Strokes his back as he curls up again. He doesn't let her hand go. His face is too dimly lit to be sure of what he's feeling.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Palace Restaurant, midday next day.]

Bo: (Following Rachel in:) I hope this is ok? Not too public?

Rachel: No, this is good. I had lunch with Tea here, and things went ok. (As Bo holds the chair for her and helps her settle in at the table.) She thinks one of the waiters has a crush on me.

Bo: Which one?

Rachel: If he's on duty I'll try and point him out. (Opens her menu and begins to read it.)

Bo: (Glancing at his menu and back at Rachel, as he folds his menu and sets it aside.) I think I know what I want. I'll give you a chance to get familiar with the menu.

Rachel: Last time I was here Tea and I each had the lobster platter, which was wonderful, salads, a basket of garlic bread. I swear I could live on that garlic bread.

Bo: Would you like that again? I've been dying to play the indulgent step-father for months. Please humour me.

Rachel: Gladly. After the week I've had I think that would be a nice change.

Bo: So, lobster again?

Rachel: Sure. The lobster platter's A Good Time.

Bo: Ok. And I want steak. I'll probably fall asleep at my desk after that, but what the hell. (Grins at Rachel.)

Rachel: (Laughs, closing her menu and setting it on the table.) Do all guys do that after a big meal?

Bo: Most of the ones I know do.

Rachel: None of the women I've ever known do that. Must be a guy thing.

Bo: So, how was your week?

Rachel: Pretty stressful. My brother is wonderful, though.

Bo: He's a great little guy, huh?

Rachel: Yeah. I found a Temp job in a legal office as a fill-in ParaLegal-slash-typist. Yeek. A lotta work. That office is a mess.

Bo: Anyone hassling you?

Rachel: Not really, but being the new hire, even worse as a Temp, is a bit nervewracking; especially out of prison. Sometimes I catch the boss eyeing me as if he doesn't trust me. Everyone else there is white, and I really hope that's not it.

Bo: Let me know if there are any problems.

Rachel: No offense, but I'm more likely to tell my parents, since they're the lawyers in the family.

Bo: True. Have you thought about working for Nora again? Will's off to college early and she could use a trusted assistant. How long is this stint supposed to run?

Rachel: Oh, a few months, if all goes well. Not sure what will happen afterwards.

Waiter: Are you ready to order? (Smiles sweetly at Rachel a moment.)

Bo: Rachel?

Rachel: Yes. I'll have the lobster platter, italian dressing, baked potato, sour cream, thank you. And a basket of your wonderful garlic bread, also.

Waiter: Anything to drink?

Rachel: Water for me.

Waiter: Commissioner?

Bo: I'll have a steak, medium-rare, baked potato, sour cream, and ranch dressing on my salad. And, unless my step-daughter eats all the garlic bread herself, we're set. (Grins at Rachel, who giggles back.)

Waiter: Something to drink?

Bo: No, thank you, just water for me. I'm on duty.

Waiter: Very good. I'll be back in a moment with the salads and garlic bread. (Leaves.)

Rachel: (Leaning in and whispering:) He's the same guy, Bo! Did you see the way he smiled at me?

Bo: Maybe Tea's right, maybe he does have a crush on you. (Grins at her.)

Rachel: (Rolls her eyes.) Ugh. (Shaking her head:) The two of you are impossible.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Diner, midday. Todd and Starr walk by the DK Diner in Angel Square. Todd spots Dorian through the window.]

Todd: (Leaning down to her level.) Hey, Shorty?

Starr: Yeah, Daddy? (She looks into the diner to see what he's looking at.)

Todd: I think I see Auntie Witchy-Poo in the diner, talking to Carlotta. Wanna go see Auntie Dorian?

Starr: Yep, that's her hat. I can get the rent money!

[They enter, walking up to Dorian, who is now in a booth by the window.]

Todd: Starr tells me that while I was away, you neglected to pay her the rent.

Starr: (Angrily:) Fork it over, Aunt Dorian.

Dorian: Now, sweetie, is that any way to treat your aunt?

Starr: It is when you scared me so bad in the middle of the night throwing things at Uncle Mel! I'm mad at you, and you didn't pay your rent!

Dorian: Todd, did you put her up to this?

Starr: No, he did not, Aunt Dorian. We were talking about when he was gone and he told me that that's MY house, and asked me if you'd given me a dollar at the beginning of the year. (Picking up speed:) I asked him why, and Daddy said it was the rent, and told me that house is in my name. It's MY HOUSE, Aunt Dorian, and you owe me rent. Daddy 'splained to me what "interest" is, and I could charge you interest and late fees if I wanted to.

Todd: (Casually crossing his arms across his chest.) I'd pay her, Dorian. She's not in a bargaining mood.

Dorian: You did put her up to it.

Starr: He did not! I told Daddy when we were at the park that we should go find you and make you pay your rent.

Todd: You heard her, Dorian. Pay up. (Grins.)

Dorian: (Scowls at Todd. Gets out her change purse from her pocket book, fishes a dollar out.) Here, Starr. (Hands the dollar to Starr.)

Starr: Good. (Folding it up and putting it in her pants pocket. Glaring at Dorian, arms crossed.) Don't be late next time.

Dorian: (Glares at Todd.) I hope you're happy now, with this blatant display of parental manipulation.

Todd: (Looks innocent, shrugs his shoulders at her.) C'mon, Starr. Let's go find Tea and get something to eat. (Offers her his hand, and they leave.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: PH2, evening.]

Asa: (Knocking loudly on door.) I know you're in there, Manning!

Todd: Oh, god. It's Big Daddy come to call me out to the OK Corral.

Tea: I'm glad Starr's already asleep, but keep it down, ok? (Sits out of direct view of the door on the stairs.)

Todd: (Crossing to the desk, and turning to speak to her:) I can't speak for Big Daddy. (Crosses to door, unlocks it and opens it as far as the chain allows. Puts his face in the doorway and regards Asa.) What do you want, Big Daddy?

Asa: Your sorry hide.

Todd: What else is new? Ever consider changing your tune?

Asa: Not after you went after my boy.

Todd: He’s at least 40-something, right? He's not a boy anymore, and you're certainly no spring chicken.

Asa: What're you, scared?

Todd: Of you? Get real.

Asa: You gonna let me in?

Todd: Why should I, old man? Besides, my kid's asleep.

Asa: Since when has that ever mattered to you before?

Todd: It's always mattered, too bad it never mattered to you about your kids. Say, where is my ex-brother-in-law these days?

Asa: None'o'your damn business!

Todd: Have those two grandkids gone to see you once this summer? They haven't said so.

Asa: None'o'your damn business.

Todd: All hat and no cattle, Buchanan. Don't y'all have a cattle-drive to tend to over at Southfork, old man? Don't want the little ladies straying, now, do you? Git along now, little dawgy.

Asa: (Growls:) I'm an oilman, not a cattleman.

Todd: I always knew you were slimey. Hiring a photographer to follow my sister and me and find us holding hands in the park, and having it sent to the Tattler with a caption implying I'm having an affair with her, now that's slimey. That's pretty sick stuff, Buchanan. What is it with you lately? I could sue the pants off you for that, it'd make a tidy sum for my niece and nephew's college funds. It could set them up for life with an early inheritance from you.

Asa: I could make you lose that kid of yours if you're not careful.

Todd: Why, because you've lost both of yours?

Asa: Because you print lies about me in your paper, you lying scum.

Todd: Sorry, old man, but that article's all true.

Asa: I'll sue it out from under you.

Todd: No, you won't and you know it. Not only wouldn't it be successful, it wouldn't be successful 'cos I can send your sorry butt to Statesville for a very long time. There is ample evidence to prove everything in that article is true, and you know it. I suggest you back the hell off.

Asa: You and I both know that's all a pack of lies --

Todd: If you want to say that, then say that, but I've got the goods on you, Buchanan, and you know I'll use them on you if you make me. What's in that article of Blair's is all true, knock yourself out. There's more to publish, if you're not careful.

Asa: I'll get an injunction.

Todd: Go ahead. It won't stick. This stuff's already hit the stands. Try it and I'll bring you up on charges of attempted Press censorship. You'd be in a world of hurt, let me tell you. You'd lose more than your pants.

Asa: I wouldn't be censoring anything, just suppressing lies.

Todd: Who's gonna believe that, since this is already out in the public domain. Suppression is censorship. Give it up, old man. Go home to what's left of your family. (Shuts the door and locks it in Asa's face.)

Tea: You did pretty well for yourself there. What'd you need me for? (Grins at him.)

Todd: (Leans his head back against the door, closing his eyes.) He can't do anything, right?

Tea: I don't think he can, really, no. He'll try.

Todd: I'm not surprised. Can he really have anything to do with custody stuff?

Tea: Only if he and Blair got in league together somehow, and I just can't see that happening. He'd get shot down in a moment. It's public knowledge he hates you and would do anything to destroy you.

Todd: I don't even wanna think about this, but it'd be a kick anyway to see his face if we called Del on his sorry butt for whatever the Feds could get him on of this, you know?

Tea: The FBI would only cover some of this activity.

Todd: What I wouldn't give right now to see Asa go to Statesville for a long time.

Tea: And Jess would hate you.

Todd: (Shrugs, looking at her.) She'd get over it.

Tea: We'd have to be sure we could make this stick. Think about this: It's in the public domain, in the Press. That means, sooner or later the Feds of whatever kind will get wind of this on their own. I say let him sweat and dig himself in deeper all on his own.

Todd: And not touch him?

Tea: Let it run its course. Sooner or later they're bound to catch up to him.

Todd: I'm not sure I can wait. I'm a hands-on kinda guy.

Tea: Don't do something stupid. Really, I'm convinced he's gonna hang himself one day, all by his lonesome. Keep your hands clean of this one and sit back and just watch.

Todd: You got something going I don't know about?

Tea: Nope. I just want to watch the show, not stage manage it.

Todd: You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

Tea: (Laughs.) Come here.

Todd: (Walks to her on the couch and sits next to her, looking in her eyes.)

Tina: (Arrives.) Hi, you two. I just saw Asa getting off the elevator as I got on. Was he here?

Tea: He wanted to give your brother a piece of his mind.

Todd: He has so little left, I was generous enough to let him have a piece of mine.

Tina: You've seen The Tattler?

Todd: Yes.

Tea: We're sure Asa's behind it.

Tina: No doubts from me or Viki. She's also checking on it.

Tea: So are we --

Todd: -- but we already know it's him.

Tea: (Glaring at him warningly, firmly:) But, we'll wait to know for sure, won't we...

Tina: Are we going to have to sit on you to keep you from doing something stupid, Todd?

Todd: (Glares at them each in turn:) Don't you dare.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: On phone. Next morning.]

Todd: (Refusing to see Sam at his office in the Buchanan Building:) I thought my door was the Gateway to Hell, and when Andrew walked in one day I knew it wasn't. But this, I know the door to that building is definitely the Gate to Hell.

Sam: You haven't been in here since the summer before you left.

Todd: Yeah, and it was a day of pure Hell in that office! I ain't doin' that again!

Sam: You're in therapy, right?

Todd: Yeah.

Sam: You're not having dissociative episodes these days, right?

Todd: Not recently.

Sam: Then you can come here as yourself and check this place out. This is still my office, I can meet you downstairs if this place bothers you that much, ok?

Todd: (Bristling:) I'm a big boy, I can do it myself.

Sam: (Smirking to himself.) Then I'll see you here soon. (Hangs up.)

Todd: (Scowls at the phone, shuts it off, puts it in pocket.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Publisher's Office, The Sun. Mid-morning. Todd is behind his desk looking over both printed copy, online copy (editing it as he goes, online) and a layout board on paper, as well as comparing it to the online version, mousing and scribbling by hand like mad.]

Kelly: Todd?

Todd: (Looks at her sharply and angrily:) WHAT?!

Kelly: You busy?

Todd: You insane, Cramer??

Kelly: I see.

Todd: Hurry up, Cramer, I gotta deadline to meet.

Kelly: A messenger is here to serve you with custody papers from Blair.

Todd: (Stops everything and looks wounded, quickly covering it with anger:) Tell the messenger to go to hell!

Kelly: I can't. The papers have to be served, Todd.

Todd: I bet you're enjoying this, Kelly.

Kelly: Actually, I'm not. You're not my favourite person, but another custody battle over my little cousin is just not right. I hate to say you're a good parent, but you're a hell of a lot better at it than my cousin is, and if Starr were with you, she'd be away from Max.

Todd: I can't argue with that logic. I thought you hated me.

Kelly: Don't push it, Todd. You're being generous with visitation, why?

Todd: For Starr. I hate being without her, though.

Kelly: Living with Max even part-time as she does is one of the worst things Blair could make Starr do. Starr hates Max because he hates you. I'll go get the messenger. (Leaves.)

Todd: (Looks about to say something, but doesn't get the chance before Kelly has left the room.)

Kelly: (Escorting the messenger:) Todd, I am sorry.

Messenger: I'll need your signature, sir. (Handing over a clipboard with a receipt and a pen.)

Todd: (Grabs it roughly, signs quickly, hands it back, pulls it away, grins, hands it all to the messenger for real.)

Messenger: (Face impassive, hands the packet of documents to Todd and leaves.)

Todd: You can go now, Cramer. You've done your nasty deed for the day.

Kelly: Todd, this is not my doing, ok? I think I'll go scream at Blair and Dorian for a while, if that's ok with you.

Todd: Knock yourself out. Better yet, knock them out.

Kelly: Don't tempt me.

Todd: You're on the level about this, Cramer?

Kelly: I don't like you, you know that. You hate my cousins, you hate my aunt, they hate you. The one thing you and I seem to agree on is keeping Starr safe and making sure she has a good and loving home to grow up in. Right now, that is NOT with Blair, and Blair and Max especially. That's what this is about for me. I still can't stand you.

Todd: Good. I still can't stand you. Thank you, though.

Kelly: This is for Starr and not you.

Todd: I know that. (She leaves. He steels himself, opens the packet, begins reading it.) [He has flashbacks to the early custody battles over Starr, which upset him.]

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: PH2 livingroom, evening.]

Todd: (Sitting at his desk, phone rings, answers handset.) I'm right here, Sam. I'm all right... No, I blew it off and went to work... Yes, all day... Fine. I'll be right over. I need to talk to you, too. It's just that office. Yeah... I'm a big boy, I'll be there soon... Yes... Really.(Hangs up.)

Tea: (Crossing to him from the stairs.) Who was that?

Todd: (Standing up:) Sam, calling me back. I gotta go.

Tea: Where to?

Todd: Out.

Tea: Where to?

Todd: OUT.

Tea: Todd.....

Todd: (Heavy, deep sigh.) Ok. His office.

Tea: Why?

Todd: Blair's after Shorty again.

Tea: Full custody?

Todd: Yeah. (Turns to leave PH. Hand on door.)

Tea: We are not going to give in to Blair. She's jerking the chain again, but I say we jerk her around a little bit, like the dog she is.

Todd: (Deceptively bland tone, a slight smirk to his lips:) Woof, woof.

Tea: (Smiles at him, her eyes shining:) I am going to rip Blair's world to shreds, we're gonna rock her world so badly she'll go hide under her desk until it's over --

Todd: (Deadpans:) A huge Carole King Moment?

Tea: (lol!)

Todd: (Smirks.) I gotta go, Delgado.

Tea: Sam's office?

Todd: (Nods. Pauses a moment.)

Tea: Wait a moment, Todd.

Todd: You're NOT coming with me!

Tea: (Crosses so she's behind him, and carefully puts her arms around his waist from behind and holds him close. He closes his eyes, she doesn't see this, and he wraps his arms around hers for a moment, his face down and lost in his hair. He takes a breath and then slowly removes her arms from his waist as if he really doesn't want to, stops to hug them against him again closing his eyes, pulls them from his waist, opens the door, and leaves. Tea goes to the door and touches it, he is at the other side of the closed door with his forehead against it and his hands flat to the sides of his face on the door.)

[Scene ends.]