Roger and Blake: It's Only Business

Tuesday, October 23, 1990

BLAKE and ROGER are in ROGER'S office, having a discussion about why she must be civil to India, when he changes the subject . . .

ROGER: I may be going out of town for a few days. Can I ask you to do some things for me while I'm gone?

BLAKE: Sure, where're you going?

ROGER: The syndicators' convention.

BLAKE [stopping in her tracks]: Why isn't Mother going?

ROGER: She is.

BLAKE: Does she know that you're going?

ROGER: She invited me.

BLAKE [tickled pink]: You mean my Mother the ice queen invited you to go to a convention with her?

ROGER: She needs some help selling The Love Bug.

BLAKE: Wonders never cease.

ROGER: Well, I haven't said I'll go yet.

BLAKE: Well, you have to. Mom needs you.

ROGER: Well, now wait, Blake. This is strictly business.

BLAKE [a little embarrassed, but tenacious]: I know . . . but there will be some down time, and maybe you two could get together and work things out.

ROGER [amazed]: "Work things out?"

BLAKE: Stranger things have happened.

ROGER: Oh, baby. You don't think that your mother and I could actually get back together, do you?

ROGER: Don't be naïve about your mother and me. Please don't.

BLAKE: I know. I'm just like a child of any divorced parents. I secretly want my parents to get back together, even though I know it can never happen.

ROGER: You're right. It can never happen. I'm married; your mother's about to be.

BLAKE [she turns with her back to him]: I'd be satisfied if the war would just stop.

ROGER: We're not really fighting.

BLAKE: But you hate each other. [He looks sadly at her, and then down to the floor, as she continues.] When I'm with you, I can't even mention my own mother. And when I'm with my mother, I can't even talk about you--and I hate it! It makes me hate you both!

ROGER comes and sits by Blake on the sofa, and looks into her eyes.

ROGER: Honey, I'm sorry. I really didn't know that this was still so hard on you.

BLAKE: I'm just sick and tired of it. I want it to be normal, for all of us. And I don't want to feel like I'm always being pulled in two. Dad, please go with her. Please try and work things out.

As ROGER and BLAKE hug, ROGER has wet eyes.

NEXT SCENE:

ROGER: You know, I've worked so hard to try to make up for the pain I caused you when you were little. I had hoped that I had succeeded somewhat. [He strokes her cheek.]

BLAKE: You have, I mean I want this for you, too.

ROGER: Listen, even if I go on this trip, it's only business. You must remember that. The best that we can hope for is détente.

BLAKE: Well, it's a start. The Berlin Wall didn't come down in a day.

ROGER: No, it didn't. [ROGER wipes a tear from BLAKE'S face and kisses her forehead.]

BLAKE: Besides, it would do you a world of good to get away from that old warhorse.

ROGER [gets up, not pleased]: Please, don't talk about my wife like that.

BLAKE: Dad, Dad, please go. I promise I will not get my hopes up.

ROGER: I'll have to think about it.

BLAKE: Dad, please, I promise I will not get my hopes up. It would mean so much to me.

ROGER: All right. Okay. I don't imagine I'll kill your mother or she'll kill me if we spend a couple of days together.

BLAKE [smiling, laughing and hugging him]: Thank you, Dad! Oh, thank you, thank you!!

ROGER: Hey, hey! Wait a minute--I thought you weren't going to get your hopes up.

BLAKE [recomposing her solemn expression]: I'm not. See?

ROGER [laughing at BLAKE'S sudden change of expression, and hugging her]: Ah, hah!! Now I recognize you!!

BLAKE [giving him another hug and kiss]: I'm leaving!

BLAKE's expression changes suddenly again as she turns to face ALEXANDRA.

ALEXANDRA: You wanted to see me?

ROGER: Yes.

ALEXANDRA: If now is a bad time, I can come back.

BLAKE: Oh, no, that's okay, I'm just leaving. I'll see you later Dad.

ROGER: All right.

BLAKE carefully closes the door, and once outside, says to herself: All right Dad. While you take care of Mom, I'll take care of Alex.

ROGER steps closer to ALEXANDRA, smiling: You look lovely.

ALEXANDRA [she almost smiles]: You didn't call me all the way down here to tell me that.

ROGER: No. I may be leaving town for a few days. I wanted to run it by you first.

ALEXANDRA: Oh?

ROGER: Yes, there's a syndicator's convention in Acapulco. I probably should go.

ALEXANDRA: Why consult me?

ROGER: Because you're my wife. Because I'd be going down with Holly.

ALEXANDRA: I see.

ROGER: I haven't said yes yet, because I didn't know how you'd feel about it. Do you want me to stay?

NEXT SCENE: ROGER is walking back to his desk, followed by ALEXANDRA.

ROGER: All you have to do is say the word, and I won't go.

ALEXANDRA: No! It's a tremendous business opportunity. Holly is new at this type of thing. I'm sure she needs you to pull it off.

ROGER: Okay then.

ROGER sits down at his desk and picks up the phone, which rings in HOLLY's WSPR office as she's kissing ROSS ...

HOLLY picks up her phone: Holly Lindsey.

ROGER: Hi. What time shall I meet you at the airport? Nine o'clock. I'll be there.

HOLLY: Good.

After HOLLY has hung up ...

ROSS: Is everything okay?

HOLLY: Yeah, just a travel agent confirming plans.

ROSS [kissing her]: Ah, good.

ROSS leaves, and HOLLY leans back against the door.

HOLLY: Heaven help me.

Next scene:
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