Monday, October 22, 1990

Several months have passed since HOLLY and ALEXANDRA initially planned to compromise ROGER and use the proof of his infidelity to ensure a profitable divorce for ALEXANDRA -- and ROGER'S half-ownership of WSPR for HOLLY.

HOLLY has not acted on their plan, despite a tentative attempt in Costa Verde. Ironically, neither woman knows that ROGER has been having an affair with MINDY LEWIS since the night of the Towers Opening in June, when ALEXANDRA locked ROGER out of her bedroom.  Since then, ALEXANDRA has continued to reject ROGER's attempts at reconciliation, determined instead to prove that he can't live up to the terms of their pre-nuptial agreement.

On the morning of these scenes, HOLLY wakes up in bed with ROSS, who has a surprise for her: an announcement that the syndicators' convention will be in Acapulco. When HOLLY doesn't look enthusiastic, he questions her and discovers that Acapulco is where she and ROGER had planned to go on their honeymoon. ROSS is about to put the idea aside, but HOLLY suddenly thinks of her plan to ruin ROGER, and realizes that this could be the opportunity to do it. She tells ROSS that the studio needs her, and that she will not let an old memory disturb her present life.

At WSPR, ROGER waits for HOLLY, who arrives late because of her morning with ROSS. While ROGER waits in her office, he makes himself very much at home, trying out her desk chair and glancing over the items on her desk. With some puzzlement, he picks up a message from "Alexandra Spaulding" (not "Thorpe," as she is referred to in some contemporary scenes).

ALEXANDRA wants HOLLY to call her. The message is marked "Urgent." Before ROGER can puzzle over this for too long, events on The Love Bug set call him to attention, and HOLLY appears as they unfold.

SCENE: The Love Bug set. HOLLY is annoyed that ROGER would appear on a day when she does not seem to be exercising full control of WSPR. NADINE COOPER, the show's host, has just lost a prime contestant, MINDY LEWIS. GILLY is upset; NADINE is emphatic that she will find a replacement . . . ROGER, however, calmly sips his coffee . . .

.

HOLLY: Uh . . . Sorry you wasted the trip.

ROGER: Oh, it's never a waste coming here. I like to see how my investment is progressing.

HOLLY: Yeah, well, we've had better mornings.

ROGER: Well, that's what makes it fun. You never know what's going to happen. [At this point ROGER is benign, serene . . . irritating] I think you do your job very well, Holly. You're very organized; you're very efficient.

HOLLY: Thank you.

ROGER (a turn of the knife): That's why I was amazed to see all that clutter on your desk.

HOLLY (quietly annoyed): You were in my office?

ROGER: You were late. I was waiting for you. I couldn't help noticing a message from Alexandra.

HOLLY (an exasperated sigh): You really are too much!!

ROGER: Listen, hey, I am only telling you because it said "Urgent."

HOLLY: Not that it's any of your business, but I left my purse at Alex's last night, and she found it for me. She's no fool; she knows she can't get past my secretary unless she says "urgent."

ROGER: You mean the one that's in your hand?

HOLLY: Is there a point to all this? I mean, that's why I'm late. I went by to pick it up.

ROGER: Fine. Just trying to help.

ROGER turns to walk away. HOLLY stares daggers at his back and wants to mutter something nasty, but she doesn't lose the opportunity.

HOLLY: Roger? Umm . . . I would like to discuss something with you--in private. [She looks him over quickly.] Nice tie.

ROGER: Thank you.

HOLLY: I've got a call to make. Would you meet me in my office in a few minutes?

ROGER: Is it about Blake?

HOLLY: Does it always have to be about Blake?

As HOLLY walks away, ROGER stares quietly after her.

In HOLLY'S office, just after she has called ALEXANDRA and told her "We have to be more careful," ROGER knocks at the door.

HOLLY: Come in!

ROGER: You'll notice I knocked.

HOLLY: I'm impressed. Sit down.

ROGER (curious): I think I'll stand for this.

HOLLY: All right, I'll get right to the point. Uh . . I'm going to attend the syndicators' convention in Acapulco.

ROGER: Oh, they've moved it to Acapulco. Well, I think it's entirely appropriate for you to go. When are you and Ross leaving?

HOLLY: Well, that's the thing. Ross can't go.

ROGER: Oh. Too bad. [ROGER steps to HOLLY'S coffee maker for a refill. She walks around her desk and goes over to ROGER as she says . . .]

HOLLY: Well, I think it's very important that WSPR be represented by two station executives. That's why I want you to go.

ROGER sputters on the coffee a little as he laughs . . .

ROGER: With you?

HOLLY: Yeah.

ROGER [smiling]: That's funny.

HOLLY: I'm very serious.

ROGER: You can't stand to be in the same room with me.

HOLLY: We're doing all right now.

ROGER: C'mon. We're talking about a week, not five minutes. Think we can get through a week in the same hotel? Going to meals together? Presenting a united front to the syndicators?

HOLLY: We've done it before, in Costa Verde.

ROGER: Yeah, well, that was out of love for Blake.

HOLLY: Look, The Love Bug may have lost a very important segment today, so we've got to go down with what we have. That means I have to go there and give it the hard sell. Now, you are the best salesman I know. I need you.

ROGER raises an eyebrow.

HOLLY: The station needs you.

ROGER: And you're willing to put aside our personal differences?

HOLLY: For the station, yes. [That's a bigger mouthful than ROGER realizes. She turns away from him and sits in her desk chair.] Look, I want to see this station get what it deserves. I've invested a lot of myself here. I want to see it succeed. That's what's important.

ROGER: Ambition becomes you.

HOLLY: From you, I take that as a compliment.

ROGER: Well, it will be a kick to go down there and turn that convention on its ear.

HOLLY: You could do it.

ROGER: I'm glad you think so.

HOLLY: Well, it's true. You are amazingly convincing. You sold yourself to Alexandra, to Blake--even to me.

ROGER: Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment. [He goes back to the coffee.]

HOLLY: Then you'll come?

ROGER: I'm speechless.

HOLLY (with a little of her normal asperity): For a change.

ROGER: No, I still can't quite absorb the idea that you would go if I went.

HOLLY: Absorb it. I'm being pragmatic. I just can't handle the syndication deal on my own. [She walks up to him at the coffee pot.] So what's your answer?

ROGER: I'll have to let you know.

HOLLY: Fine. But make it snappy. We leave on Friday.

As HOLLY goes back to her desk, the scene fades on a shot of ROGER wearing a mystified expression. But it only gets more confusing . . .

Next scene:
Terms of Entrapment

Copyright © 1999 by Michael Zaslow's ZazAngels. All rights reserved.
01/04/06 05:14:52 PM