TODD'S RETURN - PART TWO

PREVIOUSLY

Jessica: (Out of earshot of the others, close to him:) Uncle Todd, if you're faking any of this, I'll kill you. Once was bad enough. I love you, but that was really bad. You really hurt us. I'm still mad at you about it.

Todd: What'd I DO?

Jessica: (Thinking better of it.) Nevermind.

Todd: (Looks utterly baffled. Picks up coffee mug and warms his hands with it. Looks up at Jessica again, still baffled. Blows on coffee and takes a sip, eyes distant.)

[Scene ends.]

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[Scene: Bathroom at Llanfair, camera pans the large room to a very large modern tub. Todd's clothes are strewn about the floor. Camera is on Todd's face underwater, eyes open, hair floating. He is quite still, no bubbles. Suddenly he sits up in the tub.]

Viki: (Startled.) You startled me, Todd! (Holds up a large bath towel and averts her eyes.) You can get out now, I won't look. You were always pretty modest.

Todd: (Takes towel, wraps it around waist with his back to Viki.) Ok. (Turns around.)

Viki: (Turns around and looks. Gets another towel from the rack.) May I dry your hair?

Todd: (Thinks. Cautious:) Ok.

Viki: (Drying his hair.) How do you feel?

Todd: (Head down so she can reach) Weird.

Viki: I remember other times you were under water and we were all sure you were dead.

Todd: I remembered that in the tub....Scary....I sat up.

Viki: (A bit bemused:) And startled me in the process. I am glad you're home, though.

Todd: (Head still down. Silent.)

Viki: Done for now. (Gets a dry towel for his shoulders, moves his hair away, drapes the towel and then his hair over his shoulders.) There, nice and warm.

Todd: Where's my room?

Viki: Follow me.

[Scene ends.]

(Day 2)

[Scene: Next morning. Todd's room at Llanfair. Viki has some photographs laid out on the bed in Todd's lap, he is bundled up under the covers, a blanket across his shoulders, hugging a pillow to his chest in a characteristically Tomlike gesture. Todd wears striped off-white PJs. He is ill and sniffly.]

Viki: Here is a picture of my oldest son, Kevin. Do you remember him?

Todd: (Lightbulb goes off. Vehement:) He hates me!....(Softened tone:) Why?

Viki: That would take some explaining. The simple explanation is: you got him into some very bad trouble and he almost went to prison for something you did.

Todd: (Apprehensive:) I'm not a very nice person, am I?

Viki: You have a good heart, but you do bad things.

Todd: Like what things?

Viki: (Carefully:) You have, as you are so fond of reminding us, a rap sheet as long as your arm.

Todd: (Tomlike:) Oh....I am a bad person.

Viki: You're a complicated person. Very troubled. You've hurt people.

Todd: (Cautiously:) You?

Viki: Sometimes. But you're my brother, and I've stood by you, even when I doubted you.

Todd: (Looks down. Avoids eye contact.) Jessica said I'd faked something before. It seemed pretty major.(Looks at Viki.)

Viki: Did she say what?

Todd: (Shakes head.) Wouldn't.

Viki: We can talk about that later.

Todd: (Raises an eyebrow a moment, his bland expression not otherwise changed. Changes the subject:) Are there pictures of me in there? When I was little?

Viki: You grew up in Chicago, and were given away as a baby. I didn't know about you until you were in college.

Todd: Why?

Viki: You and Kevin met at college here. Father had had an affair with my best friend from college, and had two children: Tina (points to a picture of Tina Lord Roberts), and you. Irene was able to keep Tina, but not you. She gave you to her cousin Peter Manning to raise, he had married her friend Bitsy.

Todd: (Pauses. Remembering. His eyes widen a moment.) Big house...... Bad man..... Very scary.

Viki: Yes. I knew him a little. He was very mean to you.

Todd: (Burrowing under the covers.) Tired. (Closes his eyes, his face relaxes.)

Viki: (Rapidly collecting the photos.) I'll let you rest. (Leaves, rounding the bed to set them on the nightstand, and turns off his lamp. She closes the door behind her, switching off the overhead light.)

[Scene ends.]

(Day 5)

[Scene: Llanfair Livingroom. Viki at her desk writing at her computer, three days later.]

[Doorbell.]

Viki: (Crosses to the front door, opens it.) Tea!

Tea: (Worried.) I'm sorry, I was out of town. (Enters.)

Viki: Well, let me brief you quickly: Todd appeared on my doorstep with no idea how he got here, he says he "walked and walked", and no idea who any of us is. I'd go easy on him just yet. He's also had a terrible cold from exposure. Being unkillable, he avoided pneumonia.

Tea: (Absorbing all this.) Okaaaay...... (Sidelong glance and Viki, a quick grin at the joke.) Funny.... Where is he?

Viki: (Smiling at Tea.) In his old room.

Tea: Is it all right if I just go up?

Viki: Sure.

Todd: (At top of stairs, dressed in jeans, and Tom's light blue sweater hair down and brushed, sneakers. He looks like his old self.) Hello. You must be Tea. (Comes down the stairs as he speaks.) Viki tells me you and I are married and very much in love....I wish I could remember that, I'm sorry.

Tea: (Brightens.) Well, we could talk together, and you could ask me things if you'd like....

Todd: Could we do that now?

Tea: (Barely containing her happiness at seeing him.) Gladly. I've missed you.

Todd: You're nice. (Turns around and starts back up the stairs.)

Tea: (Follows him.)

[Todd's room at Llanfair, Tea and Todd are sitting on his bed, talking.]

Todd: (Looking downward:) Jessica and Viki say I've done some really bad things.

Tea: (Gently:) Yes, you have. I've left you many times over them.

Todd: (Apprehensive and confused:) You still love me? Whoever I am?

Tea: (Lovingly:) Whoever you are.

Todd: (Face impassive. Blinks.) I'm touched....

Tea: (Moves closer.) May I?

Todd: (Watches.)

Tea: [Tea gently touches and strokes the middle of Todd's upper chest. He doesn't move, his eyes are closed as he takes this in. His breathing is a nervous calm, and then evens out as he relaxes.]

Todd: (Sighs deeply.)

Tea: (She sits back.) Was that ok?

Todd: (His eyes flutter open and he regards her softly. Quietly:) Yes.

Tea: Your reserve hasn't changed. I am one of very few people who can touch or hold you. This was something that sometimes soothed you.

Todd: (Quietly:) I see....It does. (Takes her hand and holds it on his chest where she had touched him. Closes his eyes. When he opens them again, he is thinking. He hesitates.) Can I.....kiss you?

Tea: Yes, if you would like to.

Todd: Yes...Tell me if it's like I used to?

Tea: I will.

Todd: (Moves closer, and hesitantly brushes her lips with his, and then kisses her lips with tender passion, hesitant. He draws a breath sharply, sits back in shock.) Wow.... I felt something.

Tea: What did you feel?

Todd: This....warm feeling towards you....a connection.

Tea: I could feel it from you, too.

Todd: (Blinking.) You did?

Tea: Yes. It was -- welcome back, Todd. (Reaches carefully to touch his face. He doesn't back away or flinch. She strokes his cheek gently.)

Todd: (Looks into her eyes.)....Now what?

Tea: (Takes his hand on his chest with her other hand, looks into his eyes and holds his hand in both of hers. Softly:) We take it a day at a time.

Todd: You'll be back, then?

Tea: (Quietly, firmly:) Yes....I love you....I know you love me.

Todd: (Sighs.) You're so pretty, what man wouldn't love you? (Touches her face.)

Tea: (Smiles.) You were always too frightened and reserved to say things like that to me.

Todd: I was?

Tea: Sometimes you'd become someone else who could say those things.

Todd: Who am I now?

Tea: We'll have to discover that together, ok?

Todd: You won't leave me? (She squeezes his hand in hers. He closes his eyes briefly, sighs.)

Tea: No. (Undoes her hands from his. Arms out, she moves closer and hugs him, he hugs back, a long hug.) I missed this. I missed you.

Todd: (Straightens up again.) Where do you live?

Tea: (Sitting back.) In the Penthouse....Our home.

Todd: Take me there someday?

Tea: Of course! (Pauses. Strokes his hair gently, putting some of it behind his ear. Sadly:)I need to go now. You rest, ok?

Todd: Please don't leave me.

Tea: (Stands up.) I'm not going to leave you, Todd. (She kisses him on the lips, a long kiss. He closes his eyes. She touches his long hair, leaves. He watches her leave the room.)

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED