PREVIOUSLY

Dr. Boyd: Did it help that Tea lay with you today?

Todd: Yeah. Like she said it would, but then it all started coming back to me once we weren't doing all that huggy-feely stuff anymore, when we were just resting and I started to be able to think.. The kind of anxiety where I can feel my skin crawl sometimes. It's an effort not to rip someone to shreds when I'm like that.

Dr. Boyd: How are you doing now?

Todd: Can I claw your face off?

Dr. Boyd: (Laughs.) No.

[Scene ends.]

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

[Scene: Nora's Law office. Late afternoon, same day.]

Nora: (On phone:) Sam, hi. Me. Uh-huh, he's fine. We got a court date...Yep... Two weeks from tomorrow... Uh-huh... Starts at 11am... Right.... Ok. Bye.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: The Sun, Publisher's office. Late afternoon same day.]

Kelly: Todd, I thought you'd taken the whole day off.

Todd: (Sauntering in:) Outta my desk, Cramer.

Kelly: (Working at computer.) Lemme save this.

Todd: You've got your own office, why do you use mine? If any of you, it should be Blair, if only because of Starr. Protecting her legacy and all that.

Kelly: Well, as far as I'm concerned, she can do whatever she wants. I feel like strangling her right now. (Saving her work and transferring it to her machine in her office.)

Todd: Take a number.

Kelly: She is insisting that you and I are having some sort of torrid affair. My transfer's done. Ok. (Stands up from desk, gathering her notes.)

Todd: She does, does she?

Kelly: (Looks at him.) I'd watch your back if I were you.

Todd: I always watch my back. My ex-wife's a snake. She's the most like Dorian of all of you.

Kelly: Whatever. She wants to use it against you for the custody proceedings.

Todd: You and I both know it's a lie. I love Tea, and that's final.

Kelly: I love Joe, and that's final.

Todd: Good, that's settled. Get to work.

Kelly: (Crosses from behind his desk and almost out of the room, passing him.)

Todd: No, wait.

Kelly: (Crisply:) What?

Todd: Why are you, a Cramer, suddenly on my side in this?

Kelly: (Coolly:) I'm not on your side, Todd. I'm on Starr's side, and Starr has told me more than once she wants to live with her father. Since I never had that opportunity it seems to me that someone in this family should get to be raised by their own father. Not even you had that.

Todd: (Sarcastic:) Such sympathy coming from you...

Kelly: Todd, you and I have never had any love lost between us and probably never will, but one thing we have in common is that both our families are pretty screwed up and we've been messed over by that. I simply do not want that for my cousin. If Starr feels so strongly that she doesn't want to live with Blair and she wants more than that to live with you, at this point, who am I to argue with Starr? She knows how she wants to live her childhood and frankly the way things are with Blair and Max, I think Starr's the most adult of all of us in this.

Todd: Maybe she is. It's pretty infantile to fight over a kid like she's a couch or something.

Kelly: Yes, it is. And it's taking a big toll on her that I don't want to watch.

Todd: Me neither. Jess thinks I should just let Blair keep her and sometimes I agree, but --

Kelly: Starr doesn't.

Todd: Evidently. I don't know, maybe I've done some things right with my daughter.

Kelly: I don't know why, Todd, I mean I honestly have no clue, but Starr loves you and is devoted to you. She sees good in you I can't see, but she's a good kid and she knows her own mind. I think that's something you gave her.

Todd: I don't know.

Kelly: Look, Todd -- oh, why me of all people would be saying this to you I have no idea -- you have to be very sure for yourself that this is what you really want for you and for Starr or you'll lose this case and probably never have another chance at any sort of custody of her again, ok?

Todd: Don't you tell me what to do, Cramer --

Kelly: This isn't about you, Todd, and it isn't about me. It's about Starr. Remember that.

Todd: (Aghast.) Yeah. Yeah, it is about Starr. I know that.

Kelly: I can only imagine how scared you are about this, but don't lose sight of who this is all for, ok? If any of us drops the ball on this we're all going to have to live with that and Starr's rightful anger at all of us.

Todd: I don't need my kid angry at me. I've been that kid and it's no fun.

Kelly: I've been on the raw end of that anger, and you're not much fun to be with. I got work to do. Think about this conversation, Todd.

Todd: Go. You've got a 5pm deadline with that piece.

Kelly: On your desk by 4:30, it's mostly written.

Todd: Out. (Kelly leaves.) [Phone rings.] Manning! Oh, Delgado. What's up?... In two weeks?! That's insane! Call Sam!... Whaaat?!...(chastened and embarassed)... Yeah. You, too... What you said!... (breathes.) Yeah. Dinner. Whatever you two want... Let Starr pick it out. (Hangs up.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Banner Offices, Viki's office. Later in afternoon, same day.]

Viki: Ok, why are you here? I know you want to talk.

Todd: Can't I just drop in on my sister?

Viki: Not in the middle of a busy day for both of us. You're not spying for your paper, are you?

Todd: No. (Evading:) How can you have so much to print? You don't cover news like I do.

Viki: No, we don't do scandal. How you do it is beyond me, but I'm not you.

Todd: You're just jealous 'cos the voices talk to me.

Viki: Believe me, I'm not. You don't print what they say, anyway.

Todd: (Blanches.) That came out all wrong. (Rolls his eyes in frustration with himself:) I'm so stupid!

Viki: Look, if it were anyone else, we wouldn't've have had such civil responses for each other just now. This would not have been even restrained banter.

Todd: You'd've screamed at me? No, I know you, you'd be such a total cold fish.

Viki: I know you're on edge, and while your comment was uncalled-for, I know you get nastier, more obnoxious when you're stressed or cornered. That's my warning.

Todd: (His eyes widen.)

Viki: What?

Todd: (Silently looks at her.)

Viki: What, Todd?

Todd: (Quietly.) You're scaring me.

Viki: You should be scared.

Todd: (A hint of beginning panic:) You're not sending me away again, are you?

Viki: No. That was such a huge mistake, and I'm very sorry I just let you wander off like that in such terrible shape and such terrible pain. I'm on your side, Todd.

Todd: Then-then what is this?

Viki: A warning to behave yourself. You need to keep it together, Todd, no attacks.

Todd: It's what I do, especially when someone's after my kid.

Viki: I really am chalking this up to stress, Todd. If you're your usual sarcastic self with me I may walk away from you for a while, and it may just be when you need me most. So, think about it before you rip into me when you're under this kind of stress. It's when you need me most. I run a business, too. I get stressed out, too.

Todd: (Regards her quietly. Gulps.) Yikes. I almost blew it, didn't I?

Viki: Short-term, yes.

Todd: (Wide-eyed.) Don't send me away again, Sis.

Viki: I won't as long as you behave.

Todd: If not?

Viki: I will need space.

Todd: Space?

Viki: You can understand that need.

Todd: (Thinks a moment. Contrite:) Yeah. I guess I can.

Viki: I do love you, Todd.

Todd: (Seems to have needed to hear this, because he seems to melt a little.)

Viki: Oh, my. That's exactly what you came here to hear me say, isn't it?

Todd: (Looks wary and sad at the same time and just gulps hard as he looks at her.) I gotta go. (Bolts from Viki's office.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Sun Publisher's office, early evening same day.]

Todd: (On intercom:) Cramer! Get in here! [Todd fidgets with things on his desk during the several moments it takes Kelly to appear in his office.]

Todd: What took you so long?

Kelly: Gathering my notes. This is about my article?

Todd: Your article's fine, it's going into tonight's run.

Kelly: Ok. Why did you bring me in here to tell me that?

Todd: Cramer, what's the old cowboy up to lately? Asa hasn't come to give me hell in weeks, he's gotta be planning something.

Kelly: I have no idea.

Todd: Well, get a damn idea, then!

Kelly: I'm outta that loop.

Todd: Well, get back in!

Kelly: Fine. I can't guarantee I can get anything on him.

Todd: Get something.

Kelly: We'll see, ok?

Todd: Do it!

Kelly: (Runs off, groaning in frustration.)

Todd: (Grins behind her retreating back.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Country Club Diningroom. Evening, same day.]

Tina: Max, I'm glad you could make it.

Max: What's this about, Tina?

Tina: (Mischievously:) An innocent dinner date with an old flame, Max, nothing more.

Max: Tina...

Tina: I'm kidding, Max! Since when did you become so serious?

Max: (Seriously, warily:) I'm with Blair now, Tina.

Tina: Fine, can't we at least try to be friendly?

Max: You've been here for weeks and you never once looked me up until now.

Tina: I've been busy with family matters.

Max: What're you planning, Tina?

Tina: (Purring slightly, just enough:) Max, now really. This is innocent. I'm in town, probably all summer at this point, because my kids wanted to be with my brother and sister and get to know them a bit.

Max: You quit your job?

Tina: Sabbatical.

Max: I see.

Tina: I've done well enough that if they reconsidered, I'd be set financially. I have good investments and a good financial arrangement, after the divorce from Cord.

Max: I see.

Tina: No, I don't think you do, Max. (Smiles sweetly at him.)

Max: Enlighten me.

Tina: (Feigning slight irritation:) Lighten up, Max, jeez.

Max: You sound like your brother.

Tina: I sound like me. I've changed, Max.

Max: (Icily suspicious:) Have you now?

Tina: Yes, but maybe you haven't. I notice you still hang around Asa a lot, what's your angle?

Max: None of your business, Tina.

Tina: I think it is. You see, even though Asa hates me almost as much as he hates my brother, he has to be decent-enough to me because I have given his two of his great-grandchildren and he loves those kids to death.

Max: (Coolly:) He won't take care of you.

Tina: I'd never ask him to.

Max: What do you want?

Tina: (Innocently, fixing his gaze:) A nice, quiet dinner out with an old friend.

Max: We're not friends, Tina.

Tina: We could easily be.

Max: Why?

Tina: I'm willing to bury the hatchet, Max, and start over as simple friends and no more than friends. Are you?

Max: You buying?

Tina: I invited you.

Max: I'll think about it over dinner. I make no promises.

Tina: It's as good a place as any to start. Ok. (Opens menu, peruses briefly.) Ah. Ok. (Closes menu.) I'll let you decide. I know what I want.

Max: (Firmly, but with more than one implied meaning:) I know what I want.

Tina: (Trying to hide her grin to herself, watching him close his menu and set it aside while not looking at her, lightly:) Fine. (Max looks at her and she smiles innocently and warmly at him.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Llanview Airport, same evening, private hangar gate #1.]

Nigel: Master Demerest, I think I see your father. (Points to his left so Duke can see Kevin looking for him.)

Duke: That's my Dad?

Nigel: Yes, Master Demerest. Shall I get his attention?

Duke: No, sir. I'll do it. (Takes off running towards Kevin and hugs him tight.)

Kevin: Oh, you're so big now, Duke! I'm so glad to see you again, son. (Hugs Duke close and snug, kisses the boy's head.) You may not believe it but I do miss you when we're apart.

Duke: I miss you, too, Dad.

Kevin: I'm sorry I can't be around to watch you grow up most of the time.

Duke: Maybe you and Mom could remarry, and --

Kevin: (On his knees in front of Duke, eye level:) There's very little chance of anything like that, ok? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I want you to know what's what. I'm very happy with Cassie. Ok, Duke?

Duke: No.

Kevin: I know how you feel. My Mom and Dad got divorced when your uncle Joe and aunt Jess and I were mostly grown, but it does hurt I know. (Hugs Duke once more.) Let's go home. Nigel? (Mouths "I love you" to his son, smiles, and winks at him, turns back to Nigel.)

Duke: (Edgy. Seems unsure of his father, but tries to cover.)

Nigel: Yes, Master Kevin?

Kevin: We're ready, is the luggage loaded?

Nigel: Almost, sir.

Kevin: Lead us to Grandpa's Limo then, and we'll go.

Nigel: Right this way, sirs.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Llanfair Study, same evening.]

Viki: I know you hate it, but what did you do for Christmas, Todd? Or was it too lonely and miserable to contemplate?

Starr: Yeah, Daddy! What'd you do? We had Christmas here and at Aunt Dorian's.

Todd: I bet you made out like a little Bandito.

Tea: Bandita.

Todd: (Shoots Tea a look.) Whatever.

Starr: I got lots of presents, but nothing from you.

Todd: (Closes eyes briefly, face impassive. Turns to Starr.) Oh. Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry I didn't send you anything. I wanted to, I couldn't.

Tea: I found some in your closet, Todd.

Todd: You never gave them to her?

Tea: They were from you, I was kind of hoping you'd come back and do it yourself. I never told Blair about them, and she never got to snoop around here and find them. I'm sorry, Starr.

Starr: Can I see them, Daddy? Huh?

Todd: When we get home, ok? In the morning, we'll just pretend it's a late Christmas. We don't have a tree but I'll find a place to lay them out and you'll know where to look, ok?

Tea: That gives me an idea.

Todd: Oh, not another one, not like that tent in the livingroom.

Tea: I thought you liked that!

Todd: Well...

Tea: You even fell asleep inside it, so you did like it.

Viki: What tent?

Tea: When I was little, my brothers and I didn't have much and we couldn't go away to camp, so we used to use blankets and things and make little tents in the livingroom and pretend we'd gone camping.

Todd: Tea...

Tea: (Looks at Todd and grins, looks at Starr, who starts to giggle and looks at Todd, who looks uncomfortable.)

Viki: When did you have a tent in the livingroom?

Todd: That's enough, Tea.

Tea: You could leave the room while I tell Viki.

Todd: I don't wanna leave the room, I want you not to talk about that time.

Tea: And I want to tell your sister.

Starr: Tell aunt Viki, Tee!

Todd: Now you've got my kid against me, too!

Tea: Todd...

Todd: (Paces.)

Tea: When Todd was on trial last fall and he was under house arrest and we were waiting for the verdict, Starr wanted to go places and do things with her father, but Todd couldn't go. So, I thought we could go camping.

Todd: It wasn't such a good idea.

Starr: It was great, Daddy! (Excitedly:) There were bears, Aunt Viki!

Tea: We had a lot of fun. We had a big lamp and told stories and made shadows on the walls of the tent, and Todd made bear noises. Starr had a great time, and it did seem to help make Todd feel safer and take his mind off the possible verdict.

Viki: We were all on edge.

Starr: Not me. I was with Daddy, so I knew the bears couldn't get me!

Todd: (Seemingly despite himself, facing the camera, Todd has paused and he smiles a little sadly a moment before going back to tensely pacing.)

Tea: It was such an ugly time, I had to do something to try to take his mind off of it. I could see that house arrest was nightmarish for him and making him feel even worse. (Flashes a sidelong look in Starr's direction while also looking at Viki.)

Viki: (Sees this.) I understand. (Turns to Starr:) I wish I could've gone camping with all of you, Starr.

Starr: You couldn't, it was just for me and Daddy and Tee, aunt Viki.

Viki: (Laughs.) I know, dear. It would still have been fun. Clint and I used to take the children camping sometimes, and for the most part they seemed to enjoy it.

Todd: I'd think they'd like all the comforts of Big Daddy's ranch much better.

Viki: Actually, only sometimes. Jessica liked the horses, especially. They all rode as small children, but really only Jess seems to have kept the riding bug.

Starr: Can I have a pony, Daddy?

Todd: Sis, what have you started?

Starr: You gave Mommy a horse!

Tea: She's got you there.

Todd: We'll have to see.

Viki: You could keep it here in the family stables, Todd, it's not a problem.

Todd: Sis...

Starr: He could live with Mommy's horse here!

Viki: The only reason Araby still lives here is you gave him to Blair, otherwise, he'd be at Dorian's.

Starr: Aunt Dorian doesn't ride a horse, so Mommy's horse would be lonely. There's no one there to feed him apples. Sarah and CJ and I were feeding the horses yesterday. They like apples and carrots.

Todd: I said we'll see. There'd be riding lessons and all that stuff, and I don't even like horses.

Tea: Don't look at me, I'm a city girl.

Todd: All I know how to ride is the Chicago bus system.

Tea: You can ride a bicycle.

Todd: It's not a big animal.

Viki: I can see to the lessons, and Starr can ride with Jessica and the others.

Todd: Sis...

Tea: (Giggles at Todd.) I think you're losing this one.

Starr: (Putting on her sweetest, cutest face and somehow showing her dimples:) Pleeeeease, Daddy?

Todd: (Steels himself a moment, getting irritated:) I said we'll see. That's a huge commitment for all of us.

Viki: Your father's right, you know, Starr. We'd all have to agree to join in on making sure you took care of the horse and took your lessons and so on.

Todd: And I, frankly, really don't much like horses.

Starr: Then why'd you give Mommy one?

Todd: I thought it would make her happy, and she wanted one.

Starr: (Sulking:) It would make me happy...

Todd: Oh, god... (Rolls his eyes.) You've all ganged up on me, haven't you? You knew she'd ask me this, didn't you?

Tea: No, Starr hadn't said anything to me. Did you, Starr?

Starr: No, Tee.

Viki: Nor me.

Todd: Starr...

Starr: You're not mad at me, Daddy?

Todd: (Sighs.) No. If you want a horse, we'll look for a horse for you.

Starr: (Starts jumping up and down.) Yay! Yay!

Todd: Now, that doesn't mean we'll find the right one anytime soon.

Starr: Maybe Mommy and I can start looking together, she knows horses.

Todd: (Mutters:) Some part of their anatomy...

Viki: Todd...

Tea: (Smirks, trying not to grin at the comment.)

Todd: (Tries to look innocent at Viki, and by the look on her face he has failed.)

Tea: (Thinking.) Now, wait just a minute, Starr. (Looks at Todd and Viki.) Do you remember when Starr was very little and you were discouraging people from giving her too many presents? Wasn't it one of her early Christmases? Remember, Todd? No, it was the first time you handed her over to Blair when you gave her visitation the first time.

Todd: We left her bunny behind. I don't want to spoil my daughter.

Starr: I'm not spoiled, Daddy! Can I have my pony now?

Viki: (Laughs.) That, my dear little niece, is the sound of a spoiled child.

Starr: (Sulkily, crossing her arms across her chest and glowering like Todd:) I am NOT SPOILED!

Todd: (Kneeling down to her level:) Sweetie, if I gave in everytime you wanted something, especially something big like this with all this responsibility to it, you would get spoiled. You'd be very spoiled. I don't want you turning into a rich little brat, I want you to grow up the kind of person who can say no to things she doesn't want, and sometimes even to things she does want.

Starr: You're rich, Daddy! We can afford a horse!

Todd: Yes, Starr, I've got more money than I can count, but if I spend it all on you now where will the money for your college education come from? And where will you find people to like you for you if you get to be spoiled?

Starr: (Wide-eyed.) Money can run out?

Todd: You could spend it all on goodies now and have nothing left for the big things you'll need later.

Starr: Then I'm not going to college!

Todd: You will. You'll see. You'll find something you want to do and to do it you have to finish your education.

Starr: Like you did?

Tea: Like I did. Things happened and your Daddy didn't finish.

Todd: Then I got rich.

Viki: Sometimes when people know you have a lot of money they pretend to be your friend so you'll give them some of it or you'll give them presents. That's no way to make a good friend.

Tea: Like River, he's your friend --

Starr: He has to be, he's my cousin!

Todd: No, he doesn't. Kevin's my nephew, and we are definitely not friends.

Starr: How come? He's your family.

Todd: No family of mine, that's for sure...

Viki: Todd...

Tea: Todd...

Todd: Well, he's not!

Viki: He is, but Starr it doesn't mean they get along.

Todd: And it's not about money, either. Your cousin Kevin is a rich guy, too. It's about personal stuff. We haven't been friends in years.

Starr: But you were?

Todd: Until we knew who each other was. Once we found out we were related, that was that.

Tea: There's a little more to it than that, Todd.

Todd: (A warning tone as he lowers his voice to Tea:) Not to Starr there isn't.

Starr: So, what you're saying, Daddy is "no pony"?

Todd: Yeah, Shorty. No pony.

Starr: You're mean, Daddy.

Todd: (Face falls a moment, then he recovers and makes it blank.) You're too young for a pony, and I'm not taking care of one --

Tea: You could hire people to --

Todd: I'm NOT taking care of one, and we really can't ask Aunt Viki to, either.

Viki: A horse is a big responsibility, Starr, it really is. Would you like to spend the day with the groomsman in the stable tomorrow as he works the horses and cares for them?

Starr: Can I, Daddy?

Todd: Are you sure this is ok with you, Viki? Who would watch her?

Viki: We can talk it over with your cousins, Starr, and see if tomorrow you can go with Sarah and CJ to do that, ok? When you've had enough you can all do something else?

Starr: What about camp?

Viki: Maybe we should make it the weekend?

Todd: She can miss a day of camp.

Starr: No, I don't want to miss my friends, and River and I have plans tomorrow.

Todd: You're ok with this, Shorty?

Starr: (Shrugs.)

Viki: This means getting up early on Saturday...

Todd: I'll already be up.

Viki: Do you ever sleep?

Todd: No.

Tea: Yes.

Viki: Whatever.

Tea: We'll be there.

Todd: You really want this, Starr?

Starr: Yes, Daddy.

Todd: Ok.

Viki: Then you can find out what it takes to look after a pony or horse.

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED