TODD'S RETURN - PART THREE

PREVIOUSLY

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]

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(Day 6)

[Scene. Kitchen, next morning. Todd is in jeans, a dress shirt, a blazer jacket, hair neatly brushed and shiny spilling about his shoulders. He and Viki are eating breakfast at the kitchen table. Viki is also dressed casually.]

Viki: Amazing.....

Todd: (Looks up at Viki, puzzled.)

Viki: You're using utensils.

Todd: Don't I always?

Viki: Rarely.

Todd: Oh.

[They continue to eat.]

Todd: Viki?

Viki: Yes?

Todd: I know it's winter, but can you show me around outside today?

Viki: After breakfast.

Todd: (Mouth full:) Ok.

[Scene ends.]

[Scene: Mausoleum, after breakfast. Todd and Viki are standing where they stood on Blair and Todd's wedding day when they were discussing their father, Victor. They are all bundled up against the cold.]

Todd: Is this where our parents are buried?

Viki: Mine, yes.

Todd: Oh. Point out Father's?

Viki: (Points to it.)

Todd: Ok.....We've been here before. We argued.

Viki: Yes, about Father and about your fears about becoming a parent.

Todd: Do I have any kids?

Viki: A little girl.

Todd: (Thinking. Hesitantly:) Some weird name...... Starr?

Viki: Yes. (Smiles at Todd.) She is the light of your life.

Todd: (Remembering:) She's the best thing that ever happened to me....Can I see her?

Viki: She lives with her mother, Blair. We'll have to ask her.

Todd: (Sets his feet apart.) Does she know I'm here?

Viki: Not yet.

Todd: Can you bring Starr here and not tell Blair?

Viki: I can try to arrange that.

Todd: Thank you.

[Scene ends.]

(Day 8)

[Scene: Llanfair livingroom two days later. Doorbell rings, Viki answers. It is Blair and Starr.]

Viki: Blair, I wasn't sure you'd come.

Blair: Neither was I. I remember the last time we thought he'd died.

Viki: Here, Starr, I'll take your coat. (Helps Starr off with her coat. Starr has her frog with her.)

Todd: (Appears at the top of the stairs, silently, sets his feet apart and is still, his hands at his sides. We see Pete flash Blair one of his patented icy, menacing glares of hatred.)

Blair: (Sees Todd, recognizes Pete, thinks Todd is faking. Glares at him.)

Todd: (Face returns to his own expression.)

Starr: DAAADDEEEEEE!!!!! (Runs up the stairs towards Todd, her arms out to him.)

[Viki and Blair cross into the livingroom, Viki having to coax Blair a little.]

Todd: (Coming down the stairs and scooping her up in his arms, memories flashing through his mind rapidly. Emotional:)

Shorty! Starr: Daddy? Where were you? I missed you so much. (Hugs him tightly.)

Todd: (Holding her very close. Emotional:) Lost, Shorty. Daddy was very, very lost.... I couldn't find you because I couldn't find myself.

Starr: You're not lost now, Daddy. You're here with me!

Todd: (Almost overcome, he buries his face against Starr's hair and holds her close for a long moment. Eyes closed tightly, face contorting.)

Starr: Are you all right, Daddy?

Todd: (Fighting for composure, nodding. Pauses, sighs. Looks in Starr's eyes.) Now I am....I'm with my Princess Shorty. (Smiles at her.)

Starr: (Hugs Todd again.) Don't ever leave me anymore, Daddy.

Todd: (His eyes fill with tears, holds her:) I'll try not to. (Looks at her.) Sometimes Daddies get very lost and go away. Sometimes Daddies get so sad they go away, too. Sometimes they do bad things and have to go away.

Starr: Don't go, Daddy. You're good, Daddy.

Todd: (Hugs her again. Holds her so they can see each other.) Do you still have the frog I gave you? Fred, the Magic Frog?

Starr: (Nods. Holds it up for him to see.)

Todd: Hold onto Fred. Everytime you see that frog, remember how much I love you. Everytime you hug that frog, remember that, too. And then Daddy's not so far away. Ok?

Starr: (Nods, and hugs him tight.) Yes, Daddy.

Todd: (Holds her out and looks in her eyes again.) And when I'm away, all I have to do is look at the stars, no matter where I am, and I think of you. I always think of you. You're my little girl. (It is an effort for him to remain composed during this and during the following exchange:)

Starr: (Looks at him.) Did you have a frog when you were little, Daddy?

Todd: No.

Starr: Did your Daddy love you?

Todd: No.

Starr: Is that why you love me so much, Daddy?

Todd: (Nodding, tears in his eyes.) Yes.

Starr: I love you, Daddy. (Hugs him.)

Todd: (Hugs Starr tightly to him.) I love you, too, Shorty. Don't ever forget that. (Regains composure with some effort. Holds her so they can see each other again.) Now, can you show me around Aunt Viki's house and tell me what you know? I only remember some things, maybe you can help me remember more?

Starr: Ok, Daddy.

[Todd kisses Starr and carries her to the top of the stairs, they turn right, and disappear.]

[Scene ends.]

(Day 8)

[Scene: Two nights later. Penthouse: there are decorations, streamers, the christmas tree is still up and brightly decorated. There are some wrapped gifts still under the tree. Sam, Tea, Blair, Starr, Jessica, Will, Roseanne, Tina, CJ, Sarah are all gathered in the Penthouse livingroom looking expectant. The camera pans the room and we see a banner across the back window that reads: "Welcome home, Todd!"]

[Todd and Viki in elevator:]

Viki: Is any of this familiar?

Todd: It must be, the doorman called me "Mr. Manning", and welcomed me back.

Viki: How does it feel to be back?

Todd: I'll let you know when I feel like I'm "back".

[Elevator arrives at the Penthouse floor. They get out and go to the door of Penthouse 2.]

Todd: (Looks nervous behind Viki.)

Viki: (Rings the doorbell.)

Tea: (Answers door, ushers them in.) Hi! (Takes Todd's hand and brings him into the Penthouse.)

[Everyone calls out:]

Everyone: Surprise!

Todd: (Face impassive at first, then a play of emotions across his face as we see that he is overwhelmed and a bit frightened but trying to hide it. Feet apart in a firm stance.)

Sam: (Crosses to Todd.) Hi, Todd. Do you remember me?

Todd: (Tomlike:) I've seen a picture of you. You're Sam. We're supposed to be close.

Sam: We are. I coached you in football when you were growing up, and I've represented you in court many times.

Todd: Thank you.

Sam: (Takes Todd's shoulders, looks in his eyes. Emotional:) I'm just glad you're alive. (Moves aside, after a moment more.)

Todd: (Searches Sam's eyes. Hesitantly:) Co-coach?

Sam: (Grins.) That's me.

Todd: Ok.

Blair: (Nods warily.) Todd.

Todd: (He looks at Blair, but it is Todd he shows her, Pete is gone.) Blair.

Will: (A little awkardly as usual:) Hi, Todd.

Todd: Will.

Jessica: (Crosses the room and hugs him.) Welcome home, Uncle Todd.

Todd: (Hugs Jessica closely.)

Tina: (Steps forward when they are done hugging.) Hi, Todd.

Todd: Hi...Tina.v Tina: I'm glad you're all right.

Todd: (Absorbs this silently, while studying Tina.)

Starr: Daddy?

Todd: (Breaks his gaze and turns to Starr.) Yes, Shorty?

Starr: (Hugs him around the middle.) You're home!

Todd: (Moved, kneeling and holding her, wrapping himself around her.) Guess I am.

Tea: (Comes to them and strokes Todd's back soothingly from his side.)

Todd: (Stands. He leans over to Tea and kisses her lips very sweetly, holding Starr against him.)

Starr: (Goes back to Blair's side.)

Roseanne: (Waits, then:) Hi, I'm Roseanne. I'm Tea's niece. (Extends her hand to shake.)

Todd: (Shakes her hand.) Hi.

CJ: Uncle Todd?

Todd: (Holds his arms out to CJ.) C'm'ere, CJ. I remember you. (Smiles slightly.)

CJ: (Goes to him, and hugs him.) I missed you, Uncle Todd. I thought you were dead. (Looks very sadly at Todd. Todd ruffles CJ's hair gently.) Do you remember when you were a Genie?

Todd: Some.

CJ: Sarah and me used to bring you food.

Todd: I remember. (Smiles at CJ.)

Sarah: (Comes and hugs Todd with her brother.)

Todd: Hi, Sarah.

Sarah: Hi, Uncle Todd.

Todd: (Holds the children a little longer, eyes closed.)

Tea: (Gently:) We have some presents for you, Todd.

Todd: (Releases the children, looking a little stunned and abashed, but trying to seem calm.) I don't know what to say.

Tea: That's unusual. (Smiles sweetly at Todd, her hand on his back still.)

Todd: (Looks at Tea a moment.)

Sarah: (Crosses to the christmas tree and returns with a gift, which she presents to Todd.) CJ and I picked this out for you for christmas.

Todd: (Sits on couch. Accepts gift, opens box. There is a porcelain Genie figurine. Todd is touched.) Oh... Thank you both. (Looks up at CJ and Sarah. Looks it over.)

Viki: Todd? Here is something I saved for you, but for your birthday.

Todd: (Warily:) It's not something mushy, is it?

Viki: (Smiles.) You'll see.

Todd: (Carefully places the figurine in the wrapping in its box and accepts the box proffered by Viki. It contains a used hardbound book of poems.) Thank you.

Viki: It was Irene's.

Todd: (Looks at Viki. Opens the cover and inside it says: Property of Irene Manning. Gasps quietly.) Oh, wow. Sis...... (Stands up, and hugs Viki close. Sits down on couch in awe, holding book close.) Tina? (Holds book up briefly to show Tina the signature.)

Tina: (Eyes widen.)

Todd: (Closes and holds book close again.)

Tea: There is a cake, too, Todd.

Todd: You shouldn't have.....

Tea: I have. (Smiles at him.)

Todd: (Looks around the room. To Tea:) Everyone's so quiet......

Sam: (Goes into the kitchen.)

Todd: (Crosses to the tree and takes it all in in silence, holding the book against his chest. Everyone watches him quietly.)

Sam: (Returns with the cake, several candles are lit on the round layer cake.) Todd?

Todd: (Turns to Sam, as Sam puts the cake on the coffee table.)

Sam: (Coaxing Todd to the cake.) Do you have any wishes?

Todd: Many. (Thinks a moment.)....Really just one. (Looks from Sam to Tea.)

Sam: Then make it, and blow the candles out.

Todd: (Looks at Sam again. Pauses, thinking in silence. Suddenly blows all the candles out.) Ok.

[Cheers from everyone in the room. Todd tries not to show his startlement at the noise. His face impassive, he flinches slightly, blinking once.]

Sam: (Quietly, meant for Todd only:) You ok?

Todd: (Nods silently.) Just a bit overwhelmed.

Tea: (Hugs him.)

Todd: (Hugs her tight. Whispers intently to her:) I wanna be alone with you.

Tea: (Kisses him.) Soon. (Strokes his face and looks into his eyes.)

Todd: (Cups her face in his hand. Looks in her eyes longingly, stroking her cheek with his thumb.)

Sam: (Offering Todd the knife.) Todd? Do you want to make the first cut?

Todd: (A bit distracted. Blinks once.) Sure. (Hands Tea the book, she places it on the couch and returns to him. Todd takes the knife from Sam and begins to cut the cake.)

Tea: (At his side, smiling, her arm around his back.)

Todd: (Quietly, gently:) C'mere. (Sets the knife down. He has the first slice of cake in his hand, and as if at their wedding, he carefully feeds it to Tea, who grins at him and eats it seductively, looking into his eyes. He is touched and amused. He smiles at her warmly and openly. They laugh.)

Tea: (She kisses him, and he kisses her back. It is a long, loving kiss.)

[Everyone twitters and "awws" at this show of affection.]

Viki: (Quietly to Sam:) It is so nice to see them together again. I can see how deeply they love each other.

Sam: (Smiling.) I'm relieved he's back. It is good to see him have even a moment of happiness.

Viki: Ok, you two. (They look at her, a little sheepishly. Todd seems to blush.) There are more presents. There are some people who missed you a great deal, you know, Todd.

Todd: (Evenly:) I find that hard to believe.

[Scene ends.]

TO BE CONTINUED