PREVIOUSLY

Starr: You're mad at him, too?

Tea: A little. Different reasons.

Starr: But you still love Daddy, don't you?

Tea: As much as ever. He's just being difficult lately because he's having such a hard time with this. He'll get through this.

Starr: We'll get through this, Tee. We're a family.

Tea: Yes. I guess we are.

[Scene ends.]

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

[Scene: DK Diner, early same morning. The diner isn't very busy yet.]

Tea: (Entering:) Carlotta, hola.

Carlotta: You look tired, mija, are you ok? He's not keeping you up at all hours is he?

Tea: Don't start.

Carlotta: I'm worried about you, this has been going on for months and you look exhausted all the time. This is what you call happiness?

Tea: Believe it or not, yes. Things are rough right now with the custody stuff, and neither of us is sleeping at all well.

Carlotta: Well, I wish you'd take better care of yourself. Todd should be ashamed of himself for not taking good care of someone he says he loves so much.

Tea: He's said that to you?

Carlotta: He's said it to Del more recently, but I remember his proposal here in this room.

Tea: I sleep less because this case reminds me of losing Mami. Todd sleeps even less than usual because it reminds him of the times he's lost custody of Starr in the past.

Carlotta: He cares that much for his child?

Tea: She saved his life.

Carlotta: That's quite a burden on a little child.

Tea: He doesn't say that to her, although he says she's the best thing that ever happened to him to her once in a while.

Antonio: (Enters:) Who is? He's found someone else?

Carlotta: Antonio, behave. Tea, I have work to do. We'll talk later.

Tea: (Nods to Carlotta, who takes off towards the other end of the counter.) No. His daughter is the best thing to ever happen to him, and I agree she is. My step-daughter is wonderful, and she brings out the best in my dear husband. I think his love for her is what allows him to love anyone else, and I'm glad that that anyone turns out to be me.

Antonio: I'm not.

Tea: I don't expect you to be glad he does. I do expect you not to run him down just because he exists and he happens to love me. I thought you and Andy were doing so well, where is she?

Antonio: (Bristles.) None of your business.

Tea: Did she leave you?

Antonio: None of your business.

Tea: Was she unfaithful?

Antonio: Why do you care?

Tea: She's supposed to be the love of your life. This is mild compared to what you say about Todd to my face. All I've got you doing is bristling and squirming. What you do is run my husband down as far as you can manage to try, and to my face. I told you that if you do that you'll have to deal directly with me, and I'm not going to be wearing gloves next time.

Antonio: Why do you do that?

Tea: Do what?

Antonio: Defend that animal.

Tea: If you call him an animal, then you imply I must be one to love him. Watch your step, the ice is getting thinner by the moment.

Antonio: Ooo, scary.

Tea: You know I'm deadly serious.

Antonio: I know you're tangled in his spell. Tell me, is the sex worth it?

Tea: Is that all you and Andy have, sex? No wonder you're here alone.

Antonio: Nice try.

Tea: Nice try. I've got better things to do than spar with you at the moment.

Antonio: Like hunting your husband down?

Tea: Oh, I know exactly where he is. Do you know exactly where Andy is?

Antonio: None of your --

Tea: -- business. I thought so. You have no idea where your beloved wife is and it's eating at you. I know you, it is.

Antonio: (Bravado, but coolly:) I know where she is.

Tea: You're just saying that so I'll stop harassing you in return for your harassing me about Todd. Won't work. Until I see Andy here with you, I'll ride you hard.

Antonio: How are his "nightmares", huh?

Tea: (Seething:) How DARE you refer to our personal business?

Antonio: (Seething, quietly:) And how dare YOU?

Tea: The same way you dare to.

Antonio: Then I guess we're even now.

Tea: Maybe. (A warning tone:) Maybe not. (Leaves.)

Antonio: (Smirks at her back as she leaves.) We'll just see about that.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Banner City Room. Mid-morning same day.]

Jess: Mel! Have you seen Joey?

Mel: Today?

Jess: Yeah.

Mel: He should be back soon from an assignment.

Joe: (Entering the room:) Jess? Cris?

Jess: (Turning toward him with Cris:) Where have you been?

Joe: Swamped. I spent half of yesterday in the darkroom alone, processing film and making prints. What did you want to talk about? (Looks from one to the other.) Oh, wait. You eloped?

Cris: We're trying to avoid having to.

Joe: I'm not about to become an uncle or anything?

Jess: Why does everyone ask us that? No, you're not.

Cris: We said we'd wait and we are.

Joe: Good. So, what do you need to tell me?

Jess: We're thinking about getting married for real.

Joe: Mom know?

Jess: She's ok with it.

Cris: We want to get officially engaged first, of course, but we're talking to our families first, since they've always told us we're too young.

Jess: I'm 18 now, so really we can get married anytime we want to.

Joe: Well, I'm glad you're asking.

Jess: I'm trying to figure out how to put you in the wedding. I'd need a bridesmaid, so I'd use Kelly for that, but I'm not asking you to dress up in drag for this.

Joe: (Laughs.) I'd even do that for you if it came to that.

Jess: (Laughs.) I'm trying not to picture you in a fancy dress. This will plague me for days now. (Giggling.)

Cris: I could draw you in that dress it's so vivid now, Joey.

Joe: What have I done?

Jess: Worn a dress in a wedding procession.

Joe: You wouldn't...

Jess: (Laughing:) No, but, oh, what an image. And Kevin would have to match, of course.

Kevin: (Walks up to the group.) For what?

Joe: (Deadpans to Kevin:) Jess and Cris still want to get married and we were talking about who would wear what, and she wants us to wear matching dresses.

Kevin: What?! Very funny, Jess.

[The other three start giggling.]

Jess: We thought so, too.

Kevin: So, you're not eloping?

Cris: We don't plan to, no.

Kevin: Well, good. Have you set a date?

Cris: We're still talking to our families about it.

Jess: We want to get officially engaged first.

Kevin: Does Mom know?

Jess: She's ok about it.

Kevin: Have you told Dad, yet?

Jess: I keep chickening out even calling him. We both miss him, but if I tell him that he'll know something's up and I'm not sure he approves.

Kevin: You've got him wrapped around your little finger, I don't think he'll be a problem.

Jess: You're sure?

Kevin: Pretty sure, yeah.

Joe: (Nods.) Yeah, you were the one he was most fond of, not that we ever minded, you're the girl and the baby.

Jess: He loves you two, too.

Joe: I know, but you know Daddies and their little girls. Boys are one thing, but a daughter, well...

Jess: Yeah, he does kind of spoil me.

Kevin: Kind of? We all do.

Jess: Cris doesn't.

Cris: It's not for lack of trying. (Smiles at her.)

Jess: So, you're both ok with this?

Kevin: (Reaches out to hug them both.) I'm fine with this. (Pulls back. To Cris:) You've always been a part of this family, Cris, so you're very welcome to the family.

Cris: Thanks.

Joe: (Hugs Cris, patting his back.) I know you'll take good care of our sister, you always have.

Jess: He does. Thanks, guys.

Joe: (Hugs Jess.) I love you, Sis.

Jess: I love you, too. (Kisses his cheek.)

Cris: We should go find the next people on the list to tell.

Jess: Ok. Bye, guys. (Takes Cris' hand. They leave.)

Joe: What do you think?

Kevin: Weren't we in gradeschool and she was still learning her letters at home just a month ago?

Joe: Feeling old?

Kevin: Ancient.

Joe: (Laughs.)

Kevin: Ok, back to work.

Joe: Back to my cave to develop these. (Shows Kevin his camera.)

Kevin: (Waves, goes to his desk, as Joe exits to the stage left hallway.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: DK Diner, lunchtime same day.]

Tea: (Sits down at counter.) Hi, Carlotta.

Carlotta: Hi. You and Antonio had words this morning?

Tea: Si.

Carlotta: Andy left him.

Tea: I figured that out.

Carlotta: It's a touchy subject.

Tea: I don't care. It doesn't give him the right to rip into Todd the way he does. I mean, I do care, but...

Carlotta: I understand. How are things with Todd, mija?

Tea: Lately we've begun to communicate by Carrier Rose.

Carlotta: Carrier what?

Tea: Carrier Rose. He comes home sometimes just to leave me a peach rose. It's his way of telling me in concrete terms that he's trying to connect to me, to stay connected while still needing some distance.

Carlotta: Your marriage really is weird, and so is your husband.

Tea: We're both weird.

Carlotta: Are you going home for a nap after lunch? You look exhausted.

Tea: I think I just may do that today. No, I can't, I have a court date in the afternoon. I think I'll have a tuna salad on rye, then.

Carlotta: Lettuce and everything?

Tea: Yes. Thank you.

Carlotta: I'll be back in a moment with it.

Tea: I'll eat here.

Carlotta: Ok.

Tea: And coffee.

Carlotta: (Scowls at Tea, and then goes to work on her order.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Courthouse hallway, early afternoon same day.]

Asa: Well, well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Manning.

Tea: What do you want, Asa?

Asa: Nothing, just a casual chat.

Tea: Nothing with you is ever casual, Asa.

Asa: Why, Ms. Delgado, that's not so. I'm just being friendly.

Tea: We're not friends. What do you want, Asa?

Asa: Like I said, a casual chat.

Tea: Ok, I'll bite. What're you fishing for this time?

Asa: Nothing in particular, what gives you that idea?

Tea: Because I don't trust you, and in fact I have no reason to trust you.

Asa: But I'm just an old man --

Tea: Out for a stroll? Here? Don't even try it, Asa. Nothing with you is innocent or casual, especially towards my family.

Asa: A pretty lady like you, so suspicious of an old man? What's this world coming to?

Tea: Do you have a point?

Asa: How is that loco husband of yours?

Tea: Now it gets personal, huh?

Asa: Just making conversation.

Tea: Fishing.

Asa: Now, Tea...

Tea: Now, Asa... I have work to do here. If you don't have a point, I do. I have a case to attend to. Take your rod and reel someplace else. I'm not biting.

Asa: Fine. You tell that loco husband of yours to call off his dogs, if he knows what's good for him.

Tea: At last your point! Now that you've issued your threat you can go away now? That it? Don't expect it, Asa.

Asa: You'd better believe I can make your life hell --

Tea: Oh? More threats? I suggest you quit while you think you're ahead, Asa.

Asa: Why is that?

Tea: Unless you can back up whatever this is about, I suggest you keep your mouth shut. You've already threatened an officer of the court, a very stupid move on your part.

Asa: Oh, I can back this up, little lady.

Tea: Fine, knock yourself out. We'll be ready for you.

Asa: I doubt that.

Tea: I know it. (Turns and walks into the courtroom.)

Asa: (Stomps off, turning right down the hallway.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Tea's office, LPD, late same afternoon.]

Hank: (Knocking on her open door.) You're here.

Tea: Yeah, but I'm busy. What's up?

Hank: You've been keeping weird hours, is that why you're so busy?

Tea: Hank, I keep weird hours because my life keeps weird hours. I'm here at all hours of the day or night, often at random, or because of a case. If you have a problem with that, I'm sorry.

Hank: Are you sleeping at all?

Tea: Carlotta's been talking to you, hasn't she?

Hank: We had a date the other night, yes. She's worried.

Tea: She can stop being worried. I go home and take naps some days, and others I just come in later in the day and stay late.

Hank: I supposed it helps to be married to Todd.

Tea: Why?

Hank: I've noticed over the years he's very active at night.

Tea: He doesn't sleep much. He knows you're always after him. Besides, he's still a journalist, he goes out on his own stories.

Hank: Nice choice of words, considering things like the Georgie Phillips murder.

Tea: And he smoked out my best friend as her killer, too, Hank. I haven't forgotten that.

Hank: Neither have I.

Tea: Look, what he does is his business when we're doing seperate things. I can't keep my eyes on him all the time, although I'd like to.

Hank: What's the attraction so many women have for that psycho?

Tea: Rachel doesn't feel that attraction.

Hank: Rachel's different.

Tea: Why?

Hank: She's my daughter.

Tea: No, because he smoked her out and they've never gotten along to begin with.

Hank: And she's my daughter.

Tea: He has two sisters, that's happenstance. He has a daughter and two neices, that's happenstance. My neice can't stand him. I love him, Carlotta can't stand him. Nora can't, either, and Lindsay's hated him since he was a child, long before he grew up to be so handsome and sexy.

Hank: It's not just his family, it's lots of other women. He gets stared at all the time.

Tea: I know. I find it amusing. He's with me now.

Hank: (Groans.) Animal magnetism, and an attraction to Bad Boys is all I can see. He's nothing but a psychopathic criminal who deserves to spend the rest of his unnatural life in prison.

Tea: Well, then you haven't learned very much about my husband in all those years, have you?

Hank: I pay attention to the law --

Tea: Then why did you not recuse yourself from the hostage case? To deliberately set him off like you did?

Hank: I've never believed that was anything more than an act, which the jury unfortunately bought into and let him go.

Tea: I'm not having this conversation with you, Hank, I'm sorry. He's my husband, he's not perfect by any stretch of most people's imaginations, but he's my husband. If he does something so out of line that I have to go after him legally, I will, and I have. Don't assume that my partiality is total. I'm his wife, but I'm still a lawyer. I've got work to do.

Hank: (Tightly:) Fine. (Leaves.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: PH2, Tea enters, kicks off her shoes, puts her attache and other business material aside on the stage left high-backed chair and goes upstairs. Todd and Starr arrive, Starr notices Tea's things, points them out to Todd and shushes him.]

Todd: I wanna go check on Tee. Can you wait down here, and then we'll go to the park?

Starr: I wanna see Tee, too.

Todd: If she wakes up, I got something to say to her.

Starr: Oh.

Todd: I'll be right back down.

Starr: (Picks up a toy and starts to fiddle with it.)

Todd: Right down. (He goes upstairs.)

[MBR:]

Tea: (Fast asleep on top of the covers.)

Todd: (Approaching on cat feet, looks at her, carefully sitting on the bed next to her.)

Tea: (Stirs, very sleepily, looks right at him. He looks like he feels trapped.)

Todd: I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry. I'll go.

Tea: (Grabs his arm, looking in his eyes.)

Todd: Starr's waiting. (He gets up and kisses her mouth.) Rest. (He leaves.)

[Coming down the stairs and crossing to Starr.]

Todd: Let's go, Shorty. Tee's sleeping.

Starr: Is she all right?

Todd: Just tired. She watches over me a lot.

Starr: And me.

Todd: Uh-huh.

Starr: Can we have pizza tonight?

Todd: Ok. Let's go. (Extends a hand for her to take.)

[Scene ends.]

Tina talks with Viki about their maybe staying on long term.

[Scene: Llanfair kitchen, late afternoon same day.]

Tina: Viki?

Viki: (Cooking at the stove.) Mmm?

Tina: Have my kids approached you about wanting to stay on long term?

Viki: Not yet, no. Do they?

Tina: Yes. They're thinking about Duke, of course, but they say it's because they want to be near family.

Viki: I love having them here.

Tina: They got that right, then.

Viki: Should I pretend to be surprised when they ask me about it?

Tina: Yes. I suggest playing along, they think they know you'll say yes already.

Viki: This is a big house. If you want to stay here with them, you're welcome to.

Tina: Do you miss having a full house?

Viki: Yes, but I'm also glad my children are grown.

Tina: You won't mind if we decide to stay here for a long time?

Viki: When the children were younger I would have, but not now. Your children are a little like having grandchildren around.

Tina: You can hand them back to me when you've had enough?

Viki: (Laughs:) Exactly.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Park, evening same day.]

Todd: Ok. Starr, time to go home to Tee.

Starr: But, Daddy -- oh! Is Tee awake?

Todd: We'll see when we get home. She needs to sleep, she's always watching over me.

Starr: And me.

Todd: Yeah, and sometimes she needs to sleep.

Starr: So do you, Daddy.

Todd: I sleep.

Starr: No you don't. Sometimes I hear you walking around at night, up and down the stairs and making noise downstairs.

Todd: I won't play the stereo so loud then, ok?

Starr: Why don't you sleep?

Todd: Too wound up.

Starr: Sometimes when I'm like that you get me some warm milk. Drink some when you can't sleep.

Todd: I wish it were that simple, Starr.

Starr: Did you always have bad dreams?

Todd: Yeah.

Starr: Even when you were little?

Todd: Especially then. Hey, but don't worry, ok? I'm ok. It's not your job to take care of the grownups. We take care of ourselves and each other, and you.

Starr: You're sure, Daddy?

Todd: Yeah. (Kneeling in front of her:) I love you, Starr.

Starr: I love you, Daddy. Can we buy Tee some flowers?

Todd: Ok. Maybe I'll even write her a card.

Starr: Did you get to say what you wanted to when Tee was asleep?

Todd: Yeah. But I have something else to add.

Starr: In the card?

Todd: Maybe. C'm'ere. (Holds her very close, his chin on her shoulder, as Starr hugs him back tightly. He kisses her cheek and takes her hand again.) Let's go, huh?

Starr: Can we use your cell phone to call up the pizza place?

Todd: Sure. After the flower, so we can still get there first.

Starr: And I can go wake up Tee and we can give her hot pizza!

Todd: Sounds like a plan.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Florist's stand nearby, a few minutes later.]

Todd: Got any peach roses?

Florist: Yes, we do, sir.

Todd: One long one, please. And one of those little card things. (He looks down at Starr and smiles at her as she grins up at him, holding his hand.)

Starr: Tee's gonna like this.

Todd: I hope so.

Florist: (Finds a very nice peach rose and retrieves a card and envelope. The rose is already wrapped in some nice floral paper with some baby's breath around it, it's a very pretty presentation.)

Todd: (Pays generously for them at random and he and Starr walk away.)

Florist: (Is very impressed with the bundle Todd leaves him and is a little flustered.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: PH2, a little while later.]

Todd: (At the door, quietly:) Let's be real quiet so we don't wake Tee up too soon.

Starr: (Whispering, holding the rose:) Ok.

Todd: (Quietly unlocks the door and they enter, closing the door and looking around the livingroom. Starr hands him the rose.)

Starr: Aren't you going to write something on the card?

Todd: (Pulls out the card and sits at his desk, turning on the light on the desk. On the envelope he writes:) DELGADO (Inside he writes:)

Tea,

I don't have the words for any of this, I
don't know what to say or how to say it,
so I'll just write it and maybe I won't
tear this up before you see it. You were
right about me, and I'm sorry.

T

(He seals the card in the envelope, and grabs the rose.) I'll go wake up Tee, ok?

Starr: (Reading a book on the couch.) Ok, Daddy.

Todd: (Takes the card and the rose with him upstairs.)

[MBR: from the hallway.]

Todd: (Seems anxious, creeps carefully into the room and to the bed. He sits on the bed next to Tea and gently strokes the rose against her cheek a moment. He then lays it on the night table with the card propped against it and leans in to kiss her lips. The kiss is lingering and gentle. Her eyes flutter open when he sits back after the kiss to look at her sleeping.)

Tea: (Sleepily:) Hi. Was I asleep long?

Todd: Dunno. We went to the park. Pizza's coming soon. Want some?

Tea: (Yawning:) Sure.

Todd: Meet us downstairs. (He stands up and walks towards the doorway.)

Tea: Todd?

Todd: (In the doorway now.)

Tea: C'm'ere.

Todd: (Sighs loudly, but doesn't seem unhappy, crosses to bed.) What?

Tea: Sit here again?

Todd: (Sits.)

Tea: (Reaches up and kisses him like he kissed her before. He relaxes noticably into it until it ends. His eyes remain closed a moment, and then he slowly opens them and looks in her eyes, connecting. He closes his eyes a moment, takes a breath, and leaves. Before he is downstairs, the doorbell is ringing.)

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED