PREVIOUSLY

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.)

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[Scene: Buchanan Mansion. Same evening.]

Asa: Hi, Jessie, this is a surprise.

Jessie: Well, we've been all over town tracking down family for days now.

Asa: What's so important? You didn't knock up my granddaughter, boy?

Cris: Oh, nothing like that, sir. No.

Jess: No, grandpa, I'm not pregnant. Everyone keeps asking me that, I almost feel like taking out a billboard (moving her hands in the air to show where the lines of text would be): I, Jessica Buchanan, am NOT PREGNANT.

Renee: We get the idea. So, what's this about, since you're not pregnant? (Smiles at Jess.)

Jess: We're telling everyone in our families the same thing: we're both old enough to get married --

Asa: Married! Jessie, you're --

Jess: -- Still too young?

Renee: I was in the Business even younger, Asa.

Asa: (Looks at Renee a little boggled:) But that's --

Renee: -- different? That's as may be, but the point is I was making some very grown-up decisions when I was even younger, and Jessica and Cristian have been very responsible about this the whole time they've been dating. Give the kids some credit.

Asa: But, my little granddaughter getting married?

Cris: We're not little kids anymore, sir. Not like when we first met.

Jess: We were pretty young and you and my father were pretty sceptical about us being together, but we've proved you wrong. We're still here, still together, and we want your blessing and support to keep on being together.

Asa: Are you happy, Jess?

Jess: With Cris?

Asa: Yeah.

Jess: Of course, or I wouldn't be doing this with him.

Asa: This?

Jess: Wanting to get engaged officially, what'd you think we meant? Jeez, grandpa, like Renee just said: give us some credit.

Asa: I'll give you credit if you make it to the alter not pregnant.

Jess: Grandpa!

Asa: I was young once, too, you know.

Cris: But you're not me. Even Mrs. Carpenter's helping us out with this. We spent the night recently together at Jessie's house and her mother insisted we sleep in seperate rooms.

Jess: We didn't get much sleep, but we did sleep seperately and with no visits.

Cris: We've been very good, sir.

Asa: What about Art School? You're not taking my little Jessie away, are you?

Cris: We don't know yet, honestly.

Asa: I'll fund a new art school nearby!

Cris: Mr. Buchanan, with all due respect, I need to attend one that's already established and known. An accredited college of art will do me much more good in my training and my career than one you just put together so I could study here and Jess would be near you.

Asa: What about your family? Don't you want to stay nearby for them?

Cris: Sure, but New York City's not all that far away, and I don't know where we'd end up after college. We could end up back here. Lindsay and Dorian have a gallery, and there are others in the area, so I know I could have shows and make a name for myself in the area if I wanted to.

Asa: Then why go away to college?

Cris: More training and a chance to network with other artists and to learn from some of the world's current masters. I can't do that here.

Asa: You're still serious about this?

Cris: It's all I've ever really wanted to do.

Asa: Then you'll need money to live on.

Jess: Grandpa...

Cris: Thanks, but all the same, sir --

Asa: I won't take no for an answer, son. I will not have my grandchild going hungry or without a roof over her head.

Renee: Asa, let the children make it on their own. You did. If they feel they really need help, they'll ask for it.

Asa: Like hell they will. This boy's too proud for his own good!

Cris: Mr. Buchanan --

Renee: Cristian? Let me try first.

Cris: Fine. I'm still not taking handouts from anybody.

Renee: Asa -- you close your mouth and stop gathering flies, Asa Buchanan, and listen to me!

Asa: Why, woman? These kids today, they're too proud to ask for a hand in making it?

Renee: If they don't try on their own terms, just like we did, they won't know that they can do it. If you're constantly giving them things they won't work for what they get, and these two are happy to work for what they will have in their lives. To them it's worth the work, worth the effort to make it on their own.

Cris: Thank you, Mrs. Buchanan.

Jess: It's all we've been trying to say. We want to do this on our terms, just like you did, Gran'pa. You made a fortune through hard work and more than a little gunplay I'm sure, but you did all this and provided for my Dad and uncle Bo and helped give my brothers and I a good start. All we're asking is that we be allowed to do that, too, with the good education and upbringing you helped provide for us. We don't expect to make a huge fortune like yours, and there's no reason in Cris' chosen Field to expect he will, but isn't my happiness worth more than money to you, Gran'pa?

Asa: (Grinning with admiration for her:) You're gonna be jes' fine, aren't you?

Jess: Yeah, we are. So don't go behind our backs and fund things or cut funding off to control where we go and how we cover our expenses. My parents will cover my college tuition.

Cris: For everything else, we have to make our own way.

Asa: Can't I at least pay for your wedding? With your Daddy gone and all...

Jess: (Looks at Cris.)

Cris: (Looking at Jess:) We'll have to think about it.

Renee: It's traditional for the bride's family to do so.

Cris: (To Renee:) I know, but we all know Mr. Buchanan would do something huge.

Asa: I've only got one granddaughter!

Jess: We'll have to see when we begin making plans. My mom and I will design it, and you will do it the way we want it.

Renee: I'll make sure of it, Jess.

Asa: You will not!

Renee: If you don't, Jess will never speak to you again.

Jess: Yep. Renee's right.

Cris: You're outnumbered, Mr. Buchanan.

Jess: Well, it's late. We've done enough damage here.

Renee: No damage, kids. You know Asa.

Jess: (Crosses to Asa, kisses his cheek.) Goodnight, gran'pa.

Asa: Goodnight, Jessie.

Jess: Goodnight, Renee.

Cris: Goodnight, Mr. & Mrs. Buchanan.

Renee: Goodnight, kids. (They leave)

Asa: (Scowls.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: PH2 livingroom, same evening.]

Todd: We'd better collect this, get everything off the floor.

Tea: I ran into Asa today at the courthouse.

Todd: (Grabs the last slice of pizza and with it hanging from his mouth, closes the pizza box and grabs the slice after taking a bite. Mouth full:) What did the tall guy want?

Tea: He was fishing, as usual.

Todd: For what? (Takes it and the other trash in the box to the kitchen and returns.)

Tea: The big fish. (Smiles at him.)

Todd: What'd he say? (Eats the pizza slice, standing in front of her in the middle of the room as they talk.)

Tea: It was sort of interesting. I was thinking about this during dinner. He said his usual nonsense and made his usual threats, but he didn't call you my ex-husband. He used "husband".

Todd: You think he'd been looking in the public records?

Tea: I'm sure of it, since I never made much noise about not having filed.

Todd: I wonder what he has planned?

Tea: He made some comment while threatening us, not me, us, about how he could easily make our lives hell if you didn't "call off your dogs".

Todd: Right now I've been laying off him for a while. I've even laid off of Bo.

Tea: They haven't been in trouble in a while.

Todd: (Sarcastic, a smirking grin:) We're all such good little boys! (Munch, munch, munch.)

Tea: Some of you. I think he has a plan, and I think it's to do with the custody fight.

Todd: I just had an ugly thought...

Tea: You're not thinking what I'm thinking...?

Todd: Naaaah, not even Blair would team up --

Tea: Which is exactly why they would, Todd.

Todd: Gotta watch our backs.

Tea: Bo is our ace in the hole against Asa.

Todd: You talk to him, you're at the station more than me.

Tea: Are you sure about that?

Todd: When was the last time I got arrested? Besides, you still have an office there, right?

Tea: I'll try to talk to him tomorrow... I'm not sure what I'll say to convince him to come forward... (Quieter tone:) Hey... thank you for the rose.

Todd: It was mostly Shorty's idea.

Tea: That was a sweet gesture.

Todd: She's a sweet kid. What?

Tea: The card. That wasn't written by Starr.

Todd: Oh. (His body seems to stiffen, as if steeling himself. He discards the last remnants of pizza, as if he's lost all appetite now. He swallows what's in his mouth.)

Tea: What did you mean?

Todd: (Evades, tries to sound casual:) Nothing. Just writing.

Tea: No. You rarely commit your feelings in writing, other than that journal, but no one was supposed to see that. No. This I was meant to see and meant to get a meaning out of.

Todd: I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk.

Tea: What do you want to do?

Todd: Be quiet.

Tea: Then I'll leave you alone.

Todd: Yeah... No. I mean... Yeah...

Tea: (She heads towards the steps.)

Todd: No!

Tea: (Surprised, she turns and looks at him.)

Todd: I'm sorry. I'm -- don't go.

Tea: You wanted me to leave.

Todd: I didn't say that, you said it... Don't go.

Tea: Give me a reason.

Todd: (Genuinely confused:) What? Give -- ? I -- I... aw hell. Do what you want to do. I don't -- (closes his eyes a moment, takes a breath.) I should just shut up right now. Shut the hell up... (starts to pace.)

Tea: (Sits on the steps.) I'll listen.

Todd: (Wheels around, a surprised look combined with a vulnerability floods his face. He opens his mouth and tries to speak and at first he seems unable to get his thoughts and his mouth working together. He gulps, closing his eyes, and when he opens them he looks right at her. Quietly, full of emotion:) I'm sorry. (He extends his hand toward her and waits, watching her.)

Tea: (Gets up slowly and crosses to him in the middle of the room. She stops, looking at him and then to his hand, and back to his eyes. She seems to think as she does this, and then pauses almost too long. His face falls a little. She crosses to him and hugs him close. Hesitantly, he hugs her back, relieved.)

Todd: (Again, with lots of open emotion, into her hair:) I'm sorry.

Tea: It's ok.

Todd: (Peels her arms gently off of himself and holds her away. Shaking his head:) No. It's not ok. You don't understand.

Tea: Tell me.

Todd: It's not what you think. Well, it is, but it's not.

Tea: How so?

Todd: I am scared. Scared of losing you 'cos I push you away, scared of pushing you away, scared of pulling you close, scared of losing control, scared that if we keep having sex that that's really all you want from me. And the money.

Tea: You said that this stress is doing a number on your self-control. What did you mean?

Todd: Ok. (Steps away a little and starts to pace.) See, on the one hand, I don't want to hurt you. When I get like this I can hurt people I care about. You saw that in my office.

Tea: I saw you pushing me away to protect me. It's not fun, but I understand the signs more quickly now.

Todd: You're ok with that?

Tea: Not really, but it comes with the territory.

Todd: Ok... 'Cos, well, (sighs)... no. I mean, you're still here. I can't believe you're still here.

Tea: What else? And where else would I be?

Todd: I don't know. Andrew's? Kevin's? Well, no, maybe not Kevin's.

Tea: I don't love them.

Todd: Andy still loves you, I think.

Tea: Stop avoiding this.

Todd: Well, see... ok. See, we're better than that, just hopping in bed and doing it like rabbits on the kitchen counter, or a pool table.

Tea: We don't have a pool table.

Todd: Oh, cute, Delgado. Cute. We're not about sex. I'm not sure what we're about, but it isn't sex. That's not love, whatever love is.

Tea: What are we about, if it's not love? Business?

Todd: That's a start.

Tea: (Screams in frustration.)

Todd: What?! What, should I just knock you down and do you right here on the floor? I could if that's what you want. Or, we could do it on my chair over there, would that be better for you?

Tea: You'd be too uncomfortable, that's not you.

Todd: You're damn straight it's not me. Maybe you're getting it now. Maybe you do understand now. Tea: Make me.

Todd: No. It's not about that. It's about the way we connect, and it doesn't require us to even touch sometimes, but your touch, it's -- electric. I won't say I don't find you attractive, I do. That's why I had to leave that night.

Tea: Would it have been so bad to have let yourself go then?

Todd: Yeah.

Tea: Why?!

Todd: I want it to be perfect. I want to know that this is what it's supposed to be, for both of us. Not just some hop in the sack and rolling over and out to do something someplace else. It isn't a casual thing for me. Sex has too many meanings for me and it's not the same thing as love to me.

Tea: It can be part of it.

Todd: I have to know what love is first. I understand need. I can talk about need. I can talk about how I feel about you, but is that the kind of love you want?

Tea: Yes. Casual sex has not been what we've been doing. Not for me.

Todd: But, you don't know how I feel.

Tea: Tell me.

Todd: (Hesitates, slowly moving toward her again.) I wake up, when I've been sleeping, and you're the first thing I think of no matter where I am or what else is happening. I reach across the bed or into thin air, hoping to feel your hand reaching back to me.

Tea: (Reaches up to stroke his cheek, he leans into her hand and closes his eyes. Quietly:) Go on...

Todd: (Takes a breath, eyes still closed.) I push you away, I leave. I can't get you out of my head, but I do it. You're still there.

Tea: (Strokes his chest in the center, gently up and down. His breath catches, eyes still closed.)

Todd: (He continues quietly, intensely:) When I'm not having nightmares, I dream of you. Of holding you, talking to you, telling you everything. Making love to you. (Opens his eyes as her hand moves to his ribs and she strokes his body. He looks right in her eyes as he speaks.) I wake up and when you're there it's all I can do to keep from holding you so close you'd probably throw up, simply because you're still here and I can't live without you. I got so drunk when I was away because being without you hurt too much. Being alive hurt too much. I had to blot out what I'd done, what I felt, why you'd sent me away, that you'd sent me away. Being alone hurt too much, being without you and knowing I'd let someone in who'd sent me away nearly broke me completely on top of it all. But I found my way back. (She strokes his belly.) I had to. I was dying without you.

Tea: That sounds a lot like love to me.

Todd: It's agony. It drives me out of -- out of my skin! Out of my head. I feel you, like with every heartbeat you pulse through my body with my blood. You go thumping through my body with every beat. I'm never alone anymore, I can't shake you. I look up from what I'm doing and I think I see you, or at first I'd think every woman your size with hair like yours was you and my guard would come down. Then I'd realize my mistake and get out, get away. I had to be alone, but then there you were everytime I closed my eyes. Or I'd hear your voice when the room was empty saying my name.

Tea: It wasn't any easier for me. That's why I started to look for you.

Todd: I wish you'd found me, even though I'd've made a fool of myself.

Tea: I would've understood. It would've been fine. I actually like that you let me see your tears, let me catch them. I know what love feels like, it's things like that, catching someone's tears and not minding in the least. It's holding you, sometimes for comfort, sometimes just because. It's telling you everything knowing that you'll listen and listening when you tell me everything because you know I'll listen and I won't judge you. It's fighting and walking out, only to find I can never leave you, not really, because life without you is cold, empty, and worst of all boring. Life without you is too quiet, and I'm used to your noise and how alive I feel with you.

Todd: I feel alive with you, and safe. Not bundled in cotton, just not hanging over a cliff all the time. Like I can stretch out, open up. Like there's ground beneath me and I can still do anything.

Tea: Me too. All of that with you, that's love for me. It sounds like you feel love, not simply need alone. I need you, too.

Todd: Do you see why we're more than just sex?

Tea: I do. It's a reflex with me to turn to it, though. I try to control things with it. I get scared when you push me away, like I'm not good enough or desirable enough.

Todd: Never think that. You're the one who spent so much time pushing me away when I was ready to get closer to you, when we'd kiss. Now I'm doing it. I wanted you so many times, but it wasn't right. Things happened, or you weren't ready, or I wasn't myself and you were protecting me by backing off. If you had made love with Rodd, well, I was there. I would've known and I would've felt what he felt if you'd said yes and done it with him.

Tea: That would have been ok?

Todd: You said he was more confident sexually? He is, but not as much more as you've always assumed. He taught me a lot... about desire, about closeness, about love and sex together. I still don't have it all worked out, but I'm listening to what he tells me and trying to make sense of it all. He loves you, and he's let me in on some of what it feels like for him today, and I think I almost get it.

Tea: You do want me?

Todd: (Groans, she's still stroking his torso. Intensely, eyes closed:) You have no idea...

Tea: Do you still want to make love to me, like you did then?

Todd: (Looks in her eyes, quietly firm:) If it's what you want.

Tea: Yes.

Todd: (Smiles, relieved.) It may take some time to work up to it. I'm in knots.

Tea: (Grasping his waist as if hugging him with her hand:) I can wait.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Mill House, next morning.]

Cassie tries tentatively to talk with Duke.

Cassie: Duke?

Duke: (Unhappily:) Yeah?

Cassie: We need to talk.

Duke: I don't wanna talk.

Cassie: Well, your Dad and I are kind of worried about you.

Duke: You don't have to worry about me. I don't want your worry.

Cassie: While you're here, you're my concern, too.

Duke: I am not! You're not my mom!

Cassie: You're right. But under MY roof, I am THE mom. At home with your mom, it's her job.

Duke: You're not my mom!

Cassie: But your Dad is still your Dad.

Duke: Not when he's with you!

Cassie: Your father and I are staying together, Duke. He and your mother got divorced, just like Andrew and I did.

Duke: You did that to River, too?

Cassie: I'm afraid I did. It hasn't been easy for River, and it doesn't seem to be easy for you, either.

Duke: (Sullen and getting upset:) Doesn't matter.

Cassie: It matters most.

Duke: (More upset:) I'm outta here. (Runs out of the room.)

Cassie: Kevin?!

[From the next room:]

Kevin: Yeah, I got him!

Duke: LEMME GO!!

Kevin: Not on your life! [Duke screams, as if struggling.]

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Max's house, livingroom, a little later the same morning.]

Max: (Sitting on the couch, drinking coffee from a mug.) One thing I didn't mention about that outing with Tina was we shared a bottle of Renee's house wine.

Blair: She got you drunk?

Max: She certainly thinks she did.

Blair: You told her things, didn't you? You let her romance you and you told her things.

Max: No. I mean, what would I tell her? I've got nothing to tell her.

Blair: She must've gotten you on something, that's Tina's way. You didn't go to bed with her?!

Max: I told her nothing. We talked about our sons, and her daughter. And we didn't go to bed together.

Blair: What is she planning?

Max: I actually don't think she has an actual plan. This is Tina, you know? She's a schemer, but she's a flake.

Blair: Yeah, a Tina who's changed, who even gets along with that brother of hers. She's staying at his house, Max! She may not be so flaky now, Todd couldn't stand her before. I don't see that changing.

Max: And he's always at The Sun. I really don't think they talk as much as you seem to think they do. I know what those two could do to us or anyone that crossed them if they teamed up. We know what they can do individually, they'd be much worse as a team. Everyone knows Todd works alone.

Blair: Except when it suits him to have a partner in crime.

Max: I guess you'd know about that, having been married to him.

Blair: We used to be best friends, if you recall. At this point, I'm finding it hard to believe I ever even liked him, let alone love him.

Max: What?! I knew it!

Blair: Huh? You're nuts, Max! He's the father of my only child and we used to be very close once. I know I still have some feelings for him. You still love Luna, in the recesses of your tiny little heart.

Max: Luna's dead.

Blair: I bet you still even have a soft spot for Gabrielle, since Al's with her and knowing how much you love that boy. She's not dead.

Max: What's your point?

Blair: You don't have any feelings at all for Tina?

Max: No. Wait, are you jealous? I thought you didn't even like me, and you're jealous? Why are you even here if you don't like me?

Blair: I like you, Max, ok? What I don't like is Todd and his sisters.

Max: You like me? What was all that last night in bed? You like me?

Blair: I'm not spelling it out, Max, if you don't already get it.

Max: You're so funny, Blair. Ok, so now you think Viki's involved?

Blair: She could be.

Max: That doesn't sound like Viki's style, it's much more Tina's.

Blair: I'm going after Todd.

Max: You're already after Todd. Tina may be on the level, but this is Tina. I don't trust her. Blair: He's up to something, I just know it.

Max: He's always up to something.

Blair: I'm going to have a little talk with Todd.

Max: Don't do anything stupid, Blair.

Blair: Like let him get me drunk?

Max: I wasn't drunk.

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED