TODD'S RETURN - PART TEN

PREVIOUSLY

Bo: Dorian, on the other hand, suggested we use wooden stakes and silver bullets on him next time. (Smiles.)

Clint: (Chuckling:) I think I know where we may have some silver bullets, Bo.

Viki: (Very firmly:) Over my dead body, boys. (Turns and leaves the room.)

[Scene ends.]

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(Day 28)

[Scene: Sun offices: Todd's office, next morning.]

Todd: (Looks up:) Hi, Sis.

Viki: (Entering his office and closing the double doors. Turns to Todd.) I had a very interesting conversation with the Buchanans yesterday about you. (Crossing to Todd's desk.)

Todd: (Wary, crossing to sit on the black couch at center front stage:) What the hell're they up to, now, Sis?

Viki: (Turns to regard him. Bemusedly:) Threats of bodily harm, mostly.

Todd: (Dismissively:) They can't harm anyone.

Viki: Oh? How're your ribs?

Todd: (Makes a face.) You win. What'd they say?

Viki: Well, apparently, Bo and Nora were paid a visit by Dorian --

Todd: On her broom?

Viki: (Gives him a look of disapproval.) Nora thinks you're an alien that no one can kill.

Todd: (Giggles.)

Viki: It's not so funny.

Todd: It's true. I am an alien. Nobody's been able to kill me yet.

Viki: Dorian thinks the only way to do so it is to use a wooden stake and some silver bullets.

Todd: (Laughs out loud at this.) Better hide the silver, they might have to melt it down for bullet casings. (Tries to regain composure.)

Viki: (Starts to giggle.)

Todd: (Loses it laughing again.)

Viki: (Settles down again.) It's so good to hear your laughter again, Todd. The even funnier thing is in the course of an argument with Clint during this, that became an argument about Lindsay --

Todd: Lindsay! I've hated her since I was a kid. She got in everyone's business. She thought I was really obnoxious because I took time away from her with Sam.... (More serious:) If she'd only had a clue then......

Viki: Well, she doesn't seem to have one now, either. She's been hounding Nora for months about Sam.

Todd: You'd think that nobody'd been scribbling on Lindsay's brain for all these years, 'cos she certainly hasn't been.

Viki: Evidently. Lindsay is very intelligent. Just not where people are concerned.

Todd: She's even all over Will's business. I actually feel kinda sorry for him.

Viki: Clint has no control over her, it seems.

Todd: He's stuck with her now. I never understood what Sam saw in her.

Viki: Jealousy?

Todd: Yeah. Everyone sees jealousy in Lindsay. Written all over her.

Viki: (Grins. Then:) She can't stand to see anyone else happy.

Todd: She can't stand it when she's happy. She's happiest sticking her nose in everyone's business. Never could mind her own business.

Viki: It bothers Clint a lot that she can't. (Pauses.) Ever wish she'd minded yours just a little bit more and found out what Peter Manning was doing to you?

Todd: (Pauses. Very seriously, nodding and looking in Viki's eyes:) Sometimes.

[Scene ends.]

(Day 30)

[Scene: Two days later. Valentine's Day, Todd's Sun office. Tea arrives, Todd is working at his desk. They are dressed in their Power Suits, hers is charcoal grey, and his is black with a white shirt and no tie, Mandarin collar. Their hair is down. It is mid-afternoon. Tea strides into the office, up to the desk.]

Tea: Do you know what today is?

Todd: (Looks up at the sound of her voice. Distractedly:) Uhhhh..... (looks at her sidelong) no...... it's not our Anniversary, or anything......??

Tea: It's Valentine's Day.

Todd: (Looks blankly into space a moment.) Oh...... (bolts out of his chair.) Excuse me.......... (as he bolts out of the office)

Tea: (Exasperated and confused, her gaze following him as he moves through the room and leaves her alone.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: That evening, dark. In the elevator to PH2. They are dressed as before.]

Todd: (Holds a floral printed silk scarf in his hands.) Lemme put this on you. (Proceeds to tie it over Tea's eyes as a blindfold.) Not too tight?

Tea: No. Why are you doing this?

Todd: (In a soft, jovial voice:) You'll see. It's a surprise for you. (Elevator stops. He stands in front of her and takes her hands in his and guides her out towards PH2, back to the door.) No peeking....... (Stops for a moment to look at her. He can't take her eyes off her.)

Tea: (Chuckles nervously.)

Todd: (Stirs himself.) Don't worry. (Unlocks the door, guides her inside, closes door behind her. (Close to her ear, quietly:) Hush...... (Unties blindfold)

[The camera pans the livingroom and reveals many flickering candles all about the room lighting the room with a flickering glow. Vase after vase of peach roses in big bouquets seem to fill the room. On the coffee table is a bud vase, with one single long-stemmed red rose, thorns intact.]

Tea: (Gasps quietly, taking it in:) Ohhhh, Todd.........

Todd: Is it ok? 'Cos if you don't like it I can --

Tea: (Touches his arm.) Oh, Todd........ it's wonderful.

Todd: (Hesitantly, quietly:) I-I did it myself...... I did it for you, Delgado.

Tea: (Very touched:) You did? This is so sweet, Todd.

Todd: Now, don't get all mushy, Delgado. I don't like that mushy stuff.....

Tea: (Quietly laughs a little.) This is so sweet.

Todd: (Shifts uncomfortably on his feet, trying not to look at her, looks down.)

Tea: (Crosses to coffee table, picks up bud vase, inspects the red rose. He looks at her.) It still has its thorns.

Todd: (Quietly, shyly, looking down:) Like.... my heart. (Looks up at her.)

Tea: Yes. (She smiles at him and catches his eyes. She holds his gaze and he can't look away just yet.)

Todd: (Shakes his head to break their gaze.) Don't look at me like that.

Tea: (Smiles.) I love you, Todd.

Todd: (For a split second he looks terrified, and then his face is blank.) I-I.... asked Carlotta to make us some of your favourite foods, something special for today and all -- [doorbell rings] (relieved) -- ah -- (goes to the door.)

Cristian: Hi.

Todd: (Ushers Cristian in.)

Cristian: (At the coffee table.) Here, Tea?

Todd: (Behind him.) Yes. Thank you. (Digs in pocket for money.)

Cristian: (Turns and sees Todd's hand in his pocket.) Mami says it's a gift for Tea from her.

Todd: (Surprised and a bit embarrassed, he jams a hand in each trouser pocket.) Oh.....

Cristian: (Kisses Tea's cheek.) Happy Valentine's Day, Tea. From Mami.

[Behind Cristian, Todd's expression briefly hardens, as:]

Tea: (Touched:) Gracias, Cristian.

Cristian: Bye.

Todd: (His face no longer a hard, blank mask, follows Cristian to the door and quietly closes it. He crosses back to Tea. He stands a little uncomfortably.) I hate it when you kiss other guys, or they kiss you.

Tea: (Puts the bud vase on the coffee table. Crosses to Todd and hugs him.)

Todd: (Puts his hands on her waist, and looks in her eyes.)

Tea: I love you. (Kisses him.)

Todd: (Quietly:) Are you happy?

Tea: (Smiles at him.) Very.

Todd: (Uncomfortable, a bit abruptly:) I'm starved.

[They sit on the floor at the coffee table, crosslegged.]

Todd: (Cautiously:) Tell me what things are?

Tea: Let's see..... Well.... (pointing out a small container taken from the bag:) This is Carlotta's famous hot salsa. (Reaches back in and finds a plastic spoon, sets it across the salsa container lid, as he speaks.)

Todd: Oh, no, I-I don't want any of that.....

Tea: (Grins at him.) If I have some, you'll have some when you kiss me..... (With relish:) I'll be all hot.....

Todd: Don't push it, Delgado.

Tea: (Smiles at him knowingly.)

Todd: Be-besides, you're hot already.

Tea: (Grins at him.)

Todd: (Looks away shyly and busies himself with a styrofoam package. Opening it, he points to something inside and looks at her.) Wazzat?

Tea: Rice and beans. Mild.

Todd: (Points to something else.) What's this?

Tea: Haven't you ever had fried plantains, Todd?

Todd: Those banana things?

Tea: Sort of.

Todd: (Shrugs.) They're ok. Weird, though. Why would anyone cook bananas??

Tea: (Laughs.)

Todd: (Looks at her.)

[Scene ends.]

(Day 31) [Scene: Next morning. Todd's office at The Sun. Blair enters.]

Todd: (Looks up from his work.) What do you want, Blair?

Blair: I have an offer to make you.

Todd: If it's for The Sun, save your breath.

Blair: It's for Starr.

Todd: What about Shorty?

Blair: I want to offer you joint custody again. Liberal visitation.

Todd: Why?

Blair: For her sake.

Todd: Thank you.

Blair: I had Sam draw the papers up. Look them over, sign them, send them to me. Here. (Hands them to him.)

Todd: Ok.

Blair: (Turns to leave.)

Todd: Thank you, Blair. I mean it.

Blair: (Turns towards him.) We both decided that neither of us wanted what happened to us to happen to Starr. We're not together. There's no reason she should have to lose either of us.

Todd: No.

Blair: Bye, Todd.

Todd: Bye, Blair.

Blair: (Leaves.)

Todd: (Sits at his desk and begins to read the custody agreement.)

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Sam Rappaport's house. Todd arrives, rings bell. Sam lets him in.]

Sam: Hi, Boomer.

Todd: Don't call me 'Boomer'. Did you go over the custody papers?

Sam: Everything looks fine, Todd, don't worry. Blair's being very reasonable about this.

Todd: I hope so, 'cos I don't want to lose Shorty again.

Sam: I'll do my best to make sure you don't.

Todd: Tea thought they were ok, nothing needed changing, did her lawyer thing. I'll sign them now and get it done.

Sam: (Crosses to the piano where papers have been spread across the top, picks out the joint custody agreement and grabs a pen.)

Todd: (Has followed him to the piano, and reached into his suit jacket for his own pen and gotten the cap off by the time he's at the piano.)

Sam: (Opens the document and points out where Todd is to sign.) Here.....

Todd: (Signs.)

Sam: Here......

Todd: (Signs.)

Sam: Here......

Todd: (Signs.)

Sam: I've already got today's date on it, there, and signed it.

Todd: You knew I'd come today.

Sam: You want your daughter, and you've never been patient.

Todd: Not where she's concerned.

Sam: It's all set. Wanna come to the courthouse and watch it get filed? (Puts it in his briefcase and latches it shut.)

Todd: Um.... no. I hate courthouses, they make me nervous.

Sam: (Grabs his briefcase.) I guess you've been inside too many of them, yeah.

Todd: You got that.

Sam: (Heading toward the front door.) I gotta lock up, and you should get back to work. (Ushers him towards the door as he grabs his jacket.) Come on.

Todd: I'd go see Shorty right now, but she's at Dorian's.

Sam: Do you want me to ask Blair to bring Starr to your house tonight?

Todd: Yes.

Sam: Ok. I'll see if she will, then.

Todd: (Still in the livingroom.) Sam.....? (Looks away.) Ummm.....

Sam: (Stops in doorway, turns to him. Figures it out.) You're welcome, Todd. It's ok, pal.

Todd: (Finally looks relieved. Moves to the doorway.)

Sam: You're ok, Todd.

Todd: It feels so wierd.

[They exit the house, Sam shuts the front door behind them.]

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED