The Bridge Incident
November 3, 1989

SCENE: Night. A bridge over Springfield's river, overlooking the downtown and The Hill. In the immediate foreground, a street-light, a bench, and the wall of the bridge. 

HOLLY and ROGER appear from the left.

HOLLY: Would you explain what we're doing here? I mean, we're supposed to be having a business dinner.

ROGER: When I was a kid in high school, guys used to jump off a bridge just like this to impress the girls.

HOLLY: Oh, you were always a jerk?

ROGER: Pretty stupid, huh?

HOLLY: So this is a walk down Memory Lane?

ROGER: No. What happened at the station made me realize we can't go on like this.

HOLLY: Speak for yourself.

ROGER: This is what you want? Constantly trying to undermine what the other is trying to achieve?

HOLLY: Yes, it's what I want. I know what you're up to, Roger, and I would delight in bringing the whole thing down on your head.

ROGER: Sure wish you could understand me.

HOLLY: What makes you think I don't?

(ROGER leans on the wall of the bridge, and points out beyond it.)

ROGER: Look at that. Look at that water, Holly. That could be so important to this community. And over there, The Hill. There was a time I remember when I would have given anything to live on that hill. (ROGER pauses.) Last time I was in town, I know I made some mistakes.

HOLLY: Mistakes!!??!! (HOLLY gives an exasperated sigh.) That is the most delicate euphemism I've ever heard.

ROGER: Okay. All right. I know. Serious mistakes. I let my insecurities about not living on that Hill make me go after everything I wanted in the worst possible way.

HOLLY: And I'm supposed to believe you've changed?

ROGER: Yes. Yes, I have. That's why I'm back in this town, to try to make amends for the past. To try to prove to people that I am a different person.

HOLLY: Sounds good. Almost noble.

ROGER: You know, what we're--what Spaulding--is trying to do here is good. It is really good.

HOLLY: Altruistic.

ROGER: And you know what it would mean to Blake.

HOLLY: What, to have a building named after her?! Oh, she'd be thrilled, I'm sure. But pardon me if I don't get too excited about this, because you could build her a damned pyramid, and in my book, it wouldn't make up for all those years you checked out!!!

ROGER: But look how well she turned out, thanks to you.

HOLLY: Your plans for Springfield are just heartwarming--but I know you've never been ruled by anything but cold ambition, and I think Springfield and everybody in it would be a lot better off if you would JUST LEAVE.

ROGER: Oh, no. I'm not running anymore. I'm through running.

HOLLY: Fine. (HOLLY starts to walk away from ROGER.)

ROGER: You know, I'm here, and you say you hate me so much. Tell me something. Why do you stay?

(HOLLY turns back around and looks at him).

Through most of this scene, ROGER and HOLLY talk in low tones. Although they emphasize certain words and ideas, they don't yell. The mood of the scene is reflective . . .

HOLLY: Why should I run? I'm not afraid of you.

ROGER: I think you are.

HOLLY: You wish I were.

ROGER: No. No. Tell you what I wish. I wish that we could fix things between us.

(ROGER sits down on the bench.)

HOLLY: Can't always get what you want. (HOLLY pauses.) You say you're tired of running? Well, Roger, so am I. (HOLLY joins ROGER on the bench.)

ROGER: Really?

HOLLY: Really. And I can tell you something about running, 'cause I've done so much of it. About how many nights I woke up, remembering you. (HOLLY turns and looks at ROGER.) Not your charm. Or your crooked little smile. But how you beat me and raped me.

ROGER: I know.

HOLLY: You couldn't know.

ROGER: There is not a day that goes by that I don't remember. And I hated myself for what I did, and I still do.

HOLLY: It was really hard for me, but, and it took a long time, but I pulled myself together, and I raised our daughter, and now I've made a career for myself, and I will never be a victim to you or anyone else ever again. (She pauses.) You know why? Because I have something now that I didn't have before when I was younger--my self-respect.

ROGER: I can see that. I really can see that. But look, you've obviously changed. So why can't you accept, and give credence to the possibility, that I've changed too. I have changed.

HOLLY: Maybe. Still doesn't mean I give a damn.

ROGER: Look, I know that you, and probably most people in this town think that I should have died in Santo Domingo to pay for my sins. But I didn't. I believe there is a reason for that. And I believe I have unfinished business in this town.

HOLLY: Trust me, Roger. For me, it is finished! (HOLLY pauses) And I can live in the same town with you. It's no different than living on the same planet with you. Because I don't object to your being in Springfield. I object to your BEING.

ROGER: You're lying.

HOLLY gets up, in a rage. She and ROGER become noticeably louder.

ROGER: You're never gonna be happy until you can come to grips with your feelings about me.

HOLLY: My feelings are my own. You let me deal with them!

ROGER: Well, I sure hope you can--because they're damaging you.

(HOLLY gets in ROGER's face.)

HOLLY: This has nothing to do with me, everything to do with you. What you did was horrible, and you have to live with it, but you can't. So you want me to forgive you. Well, I WON'T! So you're the one who has to deal with his FEELINGS!!

(HOLLY turns to go. ROGER jumps up onto the wall of the bridge.)

ROGER: See, you're running away again!

HOLLY: Oh ROGER!! Stop acting like a child! You may have survived the fall from the cliff, but you're older now. (HOLLY enjoys that last dig, but when he doesn't get down, she pauses.) Really, I am not impressed.

ROGER: C'mon Holly. Admit that you miss the old days, the good times, before things got all crazy.

HOLLY: No, I don't!

(ROGER walks along the top of the bridge wall.)

ROGER: No, no. See, you can't admit it, because then you'd have to admit that you don't hate me. C'mon Holly. Tell me that you don't hate me.

HOLLY: You want me to lie?

ROGER: Or I'll jump.

ROGER continues to walk along the top of the bridge. HOLLY stands close beside it.

HOLLY: If this is a game, I'm not having any fun.

ROGER: No, no, no. This is no game. This is deadly serious. I need to know that you can get over your hatred of me.

HOLLY: Why?! What difference does it make what I feel? Never did before. You've always been the center of your universe!! I mean, look at you. You're still acting like a little boy who hasn't gotten what he wants!

ROGER: Tell me, or I'll jump.

HOLLY: Oh, get down, Roger!

ROGER: You know, there's a fine line between love and hate. I wonder on which side we'll fall.

HOLLY looks over the wall, down into the river, and then back up at ROGER.

HOLLY: Oh Roger, the suspense is just killing me--I don't think I can take it anymore.

(HOLLY pushes ROGER off the wall. He gives a surprised yell, and then there's a "Splash!" HOLLY looks over the wall, and says . . .)

HOLLY: That's better!!

(HOLLY laughs, and pulls her black cloak around herself--a little like a silent movie villain, but with much more whimsy. She scurries away.)

Next Scenes:
More Yen Than Zen

Copyright © 1999 by Michael Zaslow's ZazAngels. All rights reserved.
01/04/06 05:14:43 PM