PREVIOUSLY

Mel: If I respond at all, I tell them all the same things: you may have done some monstrous things in your life, but you love your girls and you make the effort to try to be human most of the time. That you're fiercely protective of your girls and sometimes you do awful things in the name of protecting them.

Dorian: Yes, I do.

Mel: Todd is no different in that regard about his girls. This extends to Viki, too, as rough as they are with each other at times.

Dorian: I wouldn't go as far as that. What he does and why he does it no one can quite fathom. There's rarely any rhyme or reason to it, he just does it and thinks about it later.

Mel: Sounds like someone else I know. (A pillow flies through the air and hits him in the face.)

[Scene ends.]

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

[Scene: Llanfair. Late afternoon same day. Todd barges into the house without knocking or ringing the bell, but Viki is expecting him. He crosses straight into the study, slams the door closed behind him, and walks right up to Viki at her desk. He paces a little before he speaks, as Viki watches him and waits.]

Viki: You made it over in record time. Talk to me. You look really rattled.

Todd: (Pacing in front of Viki's desk:) This-this-this -- spore colony that calls itself human --

Viki: You mean Dorian?

Todd: That -- thing wants to take my kid away again! It's NOT gonna happen, Sis! It's not happening.

Viki: That's the plan.

Todd: Well, plans change, Viki.

Viki: Somehow, I don't think you're going to let this one change. You're just as determined to keep Starr as you were when you and Tea married to keep her.

Todd: I thought it was just for business, you know, to keep Starr. But right from the start I felt something and believe me I never wanted that love junk ever again. I loved Blair, Viki, I did. And then all the lies, and Poetboy, and my son's death, and all of it just broke it. I can't even stand to be in the same room with Blair most of the time.

Viki: She loved you, you know. Losing you broke her heart.

Todd: Losing my money and her meal ticket you mean! She didn't start saying she loved me until she knew I was about to dump her. I was such a sap! I hate saps! I loved her! I was such a sap I wanted so much to believe her, to believe she really did love me. I wanted to believe someone loved me.

Viki: I did.

Todd: You're my sister, you're supposed to.

Viki: That doesn't really obligate me to love you you know.

Todd: (Stops in front of the desk to look at her:) What, now you don't love me?

Viki: Of course, I love you! Once I knew you and knew you were my baby brother, nothing's ever stopped me from loving you, although you certainly have tried to.

Todd: You used to hate me, at first you did. Tina used to hate me for the same reasons, well except she tried to defraud me. But then, I got the inheritance and she didn't. Tell me again why I'm letting her live in my house?

Viki: Because you want your family nearby during a very trying and frightening time in your life.

Todd: Don't let that get around, I have a reputation to uphold. People'll think I've gone soft or something. Did Tony get his inheritance?

Viki: No. Father was really quite vicious to our brother, I'm afraid. He wouldn't acknowledge him.

Todd: No surprise. He didn't acknowledge me.

Viki: He did. He left you all that money.

Todd: He didn't leave me himself. Not that that would be better than what he did with me.

Viki: Peter...

Todd: And the sick thing is knowing that even though my old man and I weren't Daddy and Sonnyboy, we were still related. He was my cousin, really, through Irene. So, no matter what I do, I still share a common blood with Peter and I don't even have to be his real kid for that. It's disgusting. And you thought I was kidding when I said I knew I was damned.

Viki: You're not like Peter.

Todd: Yeah, well, I'm still no day at the beach myself.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Rectory, St. James Church. Early evening same day.]

Andrew: Dorian. How may I help you?

Dorian: It's about Starr.

Andrew: She doesn't wish to speak to you, Dorian, you know that.

Dorian: Has she been told not to speak to me?

Andrew: No. We're all being very careful to keep out of the way of the custody process. Cassie and I do answer her questions when they arise, as does River, and we've cautioned Kevin not to say anything to Starr about this since he and Todd are enemies.

Dorian: You're sure she's not being coached?

Andrew: Dorian, if anything she's been coaching us.

Dorian: How could such a little girl be coaching all of you? River I could understand, but you and Cassie?

Andrew: Starr has been increasingly vocal about what she wants and doesn't want as the court date has approached. She is adamant that she does not want to live with Blair and Max, and she's figured out that she wants to live with Todd more than she wants to live with Blair even without Max.

Dorian: He's poisoned her against her own mother!

Andrew: Dorian, you know Blair. You know that Blair's own behaviour has exasperated even adults. Starr has said more than once, many times, that Blair is rarely with her. She knows that Todd will take the time with her that she needs and she loves her father very much.

Dorian: But he doesn't love her!

Andrew: Oddly enough, that's where you're very wrong, Dorian.

Dorian: That monster is not capable of love.

Andrew: That monster is no less capable of love than you are.

Dorian: Don't you dare compare us, Andrew!

Andrew: Fine. Let me state this clearly, Dorian: (Enunciating carefully:) Starr.does.not.want.to.be.anywhere.near you.

Dorian: You're all trying to keep her away from Blair! You won't win! (Stomps out of the rectory.)

Andrew: (Throws up his hands, and looking at the sky:) Why, Lord? What have we done to deserve Dorian? (Looking down as he brings his hands back down to his sides, shaking his head:) Ugh!

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Next morning, PH2. MBR. Todd and Tea are in bed together.]

Tea: Did you sleep?

Todd: Define 'sleep'.

Tea: Well, you close your eyes usually. Then you sort of float away in your head --

Todd: (Rolls slowly onto his side to look at her, restraightening the tangled blankets around him.) I can do that floating thing with my eyes open, standing up.

Tea: No, that's dissociation.

Todd: Isn't that what sleep is?

Tea: Hmm... You have a point there. It's not really the same, though.

Todd: Oh. So now you're going to give me a lecture on sleep?

Tea: Nope. I just wanted to know if you were all tangled in the blankets for a reason.

Todd: Oh. Well, if it makes you happy and will get you off my back, I did lie down for -- I dunno, it was pitch black out except for the street lights and now it's painfully bright out, so it must've been at least a few hours of time I lost.

Tea: I felt you getting into bed, trying not to wake me.

Todd: Oh.

Tea: Did it feel good while you were losing those hours?

Todd: I guess.

Tea: Do you feel ok now?

Todd: I guess.

Tea: You tossed and turned a lot.

Todd: Did it wake you, too?

Tea: A couple of times, yeah.

Todd: Sorry. You need to sleep instead of hovering over me so much.

Tea: If I didn't do it, who would?

Todd: Viki. Tina. They're my sisters, they're supposed to. Especially Viki, 'cos she's the oldest and that's the job of the oldest kid, right? To look after the younger kids, right?

Tea: Usually. Look, I don't mind looking after you. I like to watch you sleep sometimes, you look so sweet and so at peace once you're out.

Todd: Before the nightmares hit, you mean.

Tea: Well, ok sure. But there are these sweet moments when you look so beautiful and calm and it's all I can do not to touch you and hold you, because I'm afraid if I do you'll wake up and you'll never get any rest at all. You just look so peaceful.

Todd: I rest. I'm usually doing something, but I rest.

Tea: Doing something while resting isn't exactly resting. You rested last night, here.

Todd: You said I woke you.

Tea: You had some bad dreams as far as I could tell. One touch as you tossed and turned and made noises, and you usually settled right down.

Todd: Blair used to say she could do that, too.

Tea: You don't settle when she touches you now. You settle as soon as you know it's me, when you hear me say your name when you're fighting Bo or something, you calm right down in a heartbeat. It's amazing to watch.

Todd: You're inside me.

Tea: I must be, or I doubt I could have such an immediate and profound effect on you by just calling to you with your name.

Todd: (Quietly:) I need you.

Tea: I'm not leaving.

Todd: (Looks sad, takes a deep, quick breath.) Don't ever leave me.

Tea: (Strokes his face. He looks very vulnerable as he melts under her touch.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Saybrooke Mansion. Same morning.]

Blair: (Looking tired and a little annoyed, dressed in a power suit. She enters the mansion and sees Dorian in the foyer. Tiredly:) You rang?

Dorian: Yes, dear.

Blair: (Just thrilled:) Oh, boy. Ok, Dorian, I have to get to work. Spit it out.

Dorian: The custody hearing is tomorrow, Blair. We have to get ready.

Blair: I am ready, Dorian. We're all ready.

Dorian: No, we have to be ready to set Todd on fire tomorrow.

Blair: Somehow I doubt that will be hard.

Dorian: Not like his outbursts last time when he was on trial about the hostage situation and he lost custody. This has to be worse.

Blair: How could it be much worse? (Narrows her eyes:) What have you done?

Dorian: Nothing, yet. You have a lot to do.

Blair: Yes, I have a deadline today by lunchtime, and three meetings before then. I have to get to work.

Dorian: Fine! Let me handle the whole thing, then.

Blair: What the hell are you up to now, Dorian? Asa and I have a plan already in motion, and I have at least one of my own in addition. Don't screw this up for me and Starr!

Dorian: You have a plan?

Blair: Yes, I have a plan! No, I'm not going to tell you about it! Bye! (Turns on her toes and leaves the foyer, shutting the door deliberately carefully behind her and then losing her cool and slamming it. She looks rushed and furious as she stomps off to her left.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Mill House, also early same morning.]

Duke: (Looking tired and a little rumpled, shambles down the upstairs hallway.) Daddeee?

Kevin: (Waking up suddenly and barreling out of bed to find Duke in the hallway outside their room.) Honey? What's wrong? (Feels Duke's forehead.) Cassie, Duke's running a fever. Could you get a thermometer? (Picks Duke up and brings him into the bed and holds him.)

Duke: I'm all hot, Daddy.

Kevin: I know. We're going to find out how hot and then we'll see what we need to do about it, ok? (Cassie hands him a digital thermometer.) How's your tummy feel?

Duke: Icky.

Kevin: Oh. Well, open up and we'll see how much of a fever you have.

Duke: (Opens his mouth and accepts the digital thermometer under his tongue.)

River: (In the doorway:) Mom?

Cassie: Yes, River?

River: What's wrong with Duke?

Cassie: He's not feeling well, we're taking his temperature to see how high it is.

River: Does he have to go see Dr. Larry?

Cassie: Kevin?

Kevin: Sec... (thermometer beeps, he takes it from Duke's mouth and checks it.) 102F. Can you --?

Cassie: Excuse me, River. (She exits to the bathroom, returning with an orange fluid in a bottle and a medicine spoon. Handing it to Kevin:) Here.

Kevin: (Reads the label.) What do you weight, Duke?

Duke: I dunno. What do you weigh?

Kevin: (Chuckles.)

Cassie: I'd guess not more than 60 lbs, so I'd measure it for closer to 55.

Kevin: (Measures out the medicine, closes the bottle, sets it on the night table, switches hands and administers it to Duke. He puts the spoon on the table.)

Duke: Orange.

Kevin: Something like it, yeah. How about I stay with you here for a while? [Scene ends.]

[Scene: PH2 livingroom. Same morning, a few minutes later. Todd and Tea are dressed, Todd is fussing with a tie and seems not decided on whether to wear it or not.]

Tea: (Opening her briefcase and taking out some papers.) So. This is the roster for the hearing so far. We start with --

Todd: (Running tie along collar to get ends set up right, fussing.) Experts, then character witnesses, then Starr talks to the judge, and then we get questioned?

Tea: That's the planned order. It could change in a moment's notice. Like we have Bo's testimony to consider, and we know Asa will be there to gloat.

Todd: (Gives up on tie, yanks it off, balls it up, throws it on his desk.) I can't wait to see his face when he hears what Bo has to say.

Tea: It should make for an interesting sideshow.

Todd: Circus act, main attraction.

Tea: No outbursts.

Todd: I can't applaud?

Tea: No, as tempting as it will be.

Todd: You're spoiling my fun.

Tea: You're spoiling for a fight. You don't need more courtroom outbursts, ok?

Todd: No, I want to win this. Sam says you're banking on The Witches of Eastwick not being able to keep their mouths shut. You're sure about this?

Tea: Just the situation alone itself should set them off nicely, we don't need to do any more than that to set them off.

Todd: You're vicious. I'm glad you're on my side.

Tea: I'm glad you noticed that.

Todd: This is so mind-numbing!

Tea: Well, when you get some feeling back in your mind, we have work to do.

[Tina arrives.]

Todd: Where were you all night?

Tina: Here for most of it.

Todd: You get up before the worms, don't you?

Tina: Not always.

[Doorbell.]

Todd: I'll go. It can't be good news at this hour. [Opens door, sees it's Dorian, shuts door in her face.]

Tea: Who was it?

[Doorbell.]

Todd: (In doorway alcove, turns to Tea.) Some witch on a broom come to entice me into a handbasket.

Tea: I think you should let La Bruja in, Todd.

Tina: Dorian?

Todd: Who else?

Tina: Allow me.

Todd: You're my guest. (Steps away from the door as Dorian insistently knocks, ringing the doorbell at the same time. Tina answers the door.)

Tina: (Sweetly sarcastic:) Well, if it isn't Dorian!

Dorian: (Barging in huffily:) Don't look so surprised, Tina. You knew it was me.

Tina: (All innocence:) I did not, Dorian. My brother was in the way and I couldn't see who it was. Obviously, you were less than welcome.

Dorian: I want to see Starr.

Todd: She's sleeping over at her friend's house.

Dorian: (Marching toward the staircase:) Starr! Starr, honey! It's your auntie Dorian!

Todd: (Mocking her behind her back.) You know, if you yell loud enough (She turns to glare at him and he keeps his face and tone bland:) I could get Security to escort you out for a noise pollution citation. Or the neighbours could.

Dorian: I'm going up. (Marches up the stairs.)

Todd: (Grinning to himself:) I can't wait until --

Dorian: (Shreiks from upstairs:) WHERE IS SHE?! (Comes stomping down again.) WHERE IS SHE?!

Todd: I told you, she's at her friend's house at a sleepover. You really must get your hearing checked. I hear it's the first thing to go after the memory when you get to be your age.

Dorian: You're hiding her someplace!

Tea: Dorian, little girls have sleepovers at their friend's houses.

Todd: Yeah, but Delgado, Brunehilda here wouldn't know that 'cos she didn't raise her kid herself. (Tina is smirking behind their backs as they all look at Dorian.)

Dorian: I will find my neice, and when I do, you will be losing custody!

Todd: Oh, will I now? We'll just see about that! OUT! Out of my house, Dorian! (Gesturing to the door menacingly.)

Dorian: And what will you do if I don't leave, beat me up?

Todd: (Icily calm:) Oh, no, Dorian. I'll see you in court tomorrow. Now, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!

Dorian: (Bowing and scraping in mockery:) Yes, sir, whatever you say sir... (Smirking all the while. She leaves, closing the door behind her.)

Tea: (Calmly glaring at him, sidelong:) That wasn't very wise.

Todd: She should never have come here.

Tina: But this does give us good ammo. She came in here, got all irrational about not finding Starr home, and you had to kick her out.

Tea: It could be useful, but it's damage control. You're going to be calm in court, do you understand?

Todd: I'll be a lamb, like I told Sam I'd be. You -- you have your coffee and get the shakes for me and I'll be fine. Cool as a cucumber.

Tina: This I have to see.

Todd: You will.

Tea: Last time I had the coffee and you were the one who was wired.

Todd: Until we got into the courtroom.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Sun Offices a little while later. Blair's small office.]

Dorian: (Storming in:) Blair!

Blair: Oh, god, Dorian. What now? I'm really busy today.

Dorian: You should be busy with the custody hearing prep right now.

Blair: (Impatient:) We had this out this morning already.

Dorian: Starr isn't at home.

Blair: Is she still at her friend's house?

Dorian: You knew about this? You let them palm her off on some other family?

Blair: Dorian, children have sleepovers, especially little girls. We agreed Starr would have as normal a life during all this as we could all manage for her.

Dorian: But, farming her out to other families --

Blair: This is the first sleepover she's had in at least a month that wasn't family.

Dorian: And this is ok with you?

Blair: Yes, Dorian! We will do our fighting in court tomorrow, believe me. You just wait for that, but right now I have another meeting. Go home, do something... Do anything, just let this go until tomorrow in court.

Dorian: And if I can't?

Blair: (Getting in her face, fiercely calm:) If you ruin this for me and Starr again, I'll disown you.

Dorian: Why not? Starr already has.

Blair: (Seething coolly:) I've got one very smart little girl... Now, leave, I have a meeting. (Pointing to the door.)

Dorian: FINE.

Blair: Go, Dorian. (As Dorian leaves:) I mean it, don't you make trouble this close to the hearing!

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Penthouse livingroom, same morning.]

Todd: C'mere, Sis, I want you to see something.

Tina: (Crossing to his desk and standing next to him as he sits in his desk chair.) What? What's that book?

Todd: (Turns it over.) It's his Dayplanner book. Victor's.

Tina: That's the year you were born.

Todd: (Opens the book to the first place he has bookmarked.) Sis gave me this, she took it out of our father's desk or his things. I was never one of them, his things.

Tina: Yes, you were. All five of us were and are, no matter how he felt about it.

Todd: He let our mother keep you.

Tina: I don't think he left her any choice.

Todd: (Pointing to Victor's handwriting:) "Meeting with lawyers at 2:00pm. Subject, Bitsy and the boy." See? "The Boy". Viki marked these pages. And here (flipping to another place:), "Arrange limo. Irene flying with baby to Chicago tomorrow 9:00am." At least he threw me away in style. He hired a limo and everything.

Tina: You were only weeks old...

Todd: Hardly able to speak for myself.

Tina: I know...

Todd: Viki says he never really forgot about me, but he did.

Tina: I think he forgot about me, but I don't think he really forgot about you. Maybe he felt guilty after me and Tony? I wish I had been able to speak for you. I would have.

Todd: Would you really have? You were a kid, you would've been no less jealous then than you were when we first met a few years ago.

Tina: I was jealous then because you had gotten father's money and I had not. I understand that what you did get the money doesn't compensate for at all, and I'm sorry. I did hate you then.

Todd: I know.

Tina: (Reading:) This is so awful, I'm sorry. He treated you like a... I dunno. Like a piece of luggage he no longer wanted.

Todd: Exactly. I was a thing to him, not his infant son. Some thing, something that embarassed or disgusted him, like I was stuck to his shoe.

Tina: He at least let you and mom ride together in the limo.

Todd: And he made her give me up to her cousin Peter, who beat me to within an inch of my life more than once growing up.

Tina: Ted Clayton really was no prize, either, and I thought he was my father, too. I do have some idea of this, you know.

Todd: No, you don't. Nobody does.

Tina: Oh, I do. What I don't have is the experience in the magnitude that you had it.

Todd: No. Only Viki does.

Tina: Not even Viki, really.

Todd: (Looks her in the eyes, quietly:) Did he ever rape you?

Tina: (Shocked, wide-eyed silence as she stares at Todd.)

Todd: No, I didn't think so.

Tina: (Mortified:) I'm so sorry.

Todd: I don't want your pity. I just want you to understand that you and I are not alike, not at all.

Tina: That needn't make us adversaries.

Todd: How do you know?

Tina: I'm your sister, and I'm here to stand by you no matter what now.

Todd: Why should I trust that?

Tina: Since I've been here, have I been anything other than trustworthy and supportive to you? (Todd is silent, thinking.) Have I?

Todd: (Looks at her.) Only so far as I know.

Tina: What you see is what you get with me now, little brother. I was the one who told you who you are.

Todd: After I shook it out of you during a heated argument!

Tina: Blame David.

Todd: David, yeah. Blame David. Riiight. You were in on it with him!

Tina: Yes, I was, and I admit that now.

Todd: So, why should I trust you now?

Tina: You'll have to take a leap of faith, I guess. Hope.

Todd: Hope that you're not really back here to finish the job you started with David years ago?

Tina: Ok. This isn't about the money now, is it?

Todd: Yes, it's about the money! It's all about money to you!

Tina: Now wait a minute, Todd! That's not so now, and you know it! I think I do know what means so much to you right now, though...

Todd: Oh, do you now? Oh, by all means enlighten me, dear sister!

Tina: Ok, I will, dear brother of mine! It's very simple, really.

Todd: Spit it out already!

Tina: You're hurting badly, and it's because I got our mom, and you got Peter. It's that simple.

Todd: (Todd looks back at the Daily Reminder, to the page he opens at the entry where Victor had called him simply "The Boy" in the entry discussing the lawyers. He looks at the page a long time in silence as Tina watches him. He becomes very sad but still won't look at her. Finally, she simply, tentatively, puts her hand on his head and he seems to melt under that simple gesture, calming and nuzzling his head slightly under her hand.)

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED