Taking It Two

Later that same morning, JENNA and ROGER return to her office at SPAULDING.

ROGER: Animosity?

JENNA: Well, you and Ed were barely civil to each other.

ROGER: He’s a difficult fellow.

JENNA [laughs]: And you are a pussycat!

ROGER: We have a history.

JENNA: I would love to hear all about that.

ROGER: You would, huh? Well, it’s a long story, decidedly unpleasant. I’ll save it for a “dark and stormy night.”

JENNA: Hmm.

BLAKE enters. I don’t think she knocked this time, either.

BLAKE: Hey, you’re back, Dad. I need you to go over some numbers with me.

JENNA: What numbers?

BLAKE: Oh, just some current figures.

JENNA: What current figures?

BLAKE: The projected advertising budget.

JENNA: Oh, oh, forget about that. What I need is everything on the pharmaceutical division. It is our most important division. Right now we’re running at about four percent. We should be running at eight, so obviously this is totally unacceptable.

ROGER: Well, we’re on it first thing, right? [Putting his arm around BLAKE]

BLAKE: Right away. I had no idea you were so up to speed on pharmaceuticals, Jenna.

[HENRY CHAMBERLAIN has been tutoring JENNA privately.]

JENNA: I like to keep my fingers in all the pies. I shall be much more “hands on” from now on.

BLAKE: Would you like to take a look at the advertising budget?

JENNA: No, I would like Roger to do the preliminary recommendations on it first, and then I’ll take a look.

ROGER: We’re gonna have it on our desks first thing in the morning.

There’s a knock at the door.

LINDA (The Secretary): Ms. Bradshaw?

JENNA: Yes, Linda?

LINDA: A gentleman has been calling all morning, a very persistent gentleman.

JENNA: Uh, for me?

LINDA: Every few minutes.

JENNA: Right. Did he leave a name?

LINDA: I asked, but he refused to identify himself.

JENNA: Okay. Thank you very much.

ROGER: Problems?

JENNA: Oh, no, no. It’s that very persistent salesman I told you about. If the two of you want to go over the numbers in my office, I don’t mind at all. I’ve got to go out.

ROGER [catching her arm]: Where?

JENNA: I have a meeting that I forgot all about.

ROGER: With whom?

At this moment, HOLLY enters the room. She didn’t knock.

HOLLY: Am I interrupting anything?

JENNA looks at her, not really wanting to leave her alone with ROGER. But then she sees BLAKE and remembers that they won’t be alone.

JENNA: No, of course not.

HOLLY: I guess I’m . . . sorry.

JENNA leaves.

ROGER: Holly, what can we do for you?

HOLLY: I was told I could find Blake here. . . . [To BLAKE] Are you . . . free for lunch?

ROGER: Well, don’t mind me, I’ve got lots of work to do here. [ROGER takes a seat away from them, but still within hearing distance.]

BLAKE: Well, what brought all this on, Mother?

HOLLY [“innocent”]: Brought what on?

BLAKE: This sudden yen to have lunch.

HOLLY: Well, it’s not sudden, really. I was going to ask you last night, but . . . circumstances weren’t right.

BLAKE: Ah, yeah, well, “circumstances” can be a real bummer, sometimes.

HOLLY: You’re still peeved about the other day?

BLAKE [incredulous]: The other day?

HOLLY: At Company. I was all wrapped up in Michelle, and I know you wanted to talk.

BLAKE [sarcastic]: Wherefore is the other day unlike any day?

HOLLY: I don’t blame you for being annoyed. I apologize.

BLAKE [looks skeptical, but falls into the trap anyway]: I accept.

The conversation quickly degenerates.

HOLLY [lowering her voice, but not enough]: So, how’s Jenna working out? Is she actively running the company, or is she just window dressing?

ROGER looks up.

BLAKE: Well, she’s slowly learning the business.

HOLLY: Uh-huh. And what about the house? Is it true? I mean, rumor has it that she’s not changing a stick of Alexandra’s furniture.

ROGER interrupts. At this point, both ROGER and BLAKE are giving HOLLY an incredulous look.

ROGER: Excuse me. . . Holly, what are you doing here?

HOLLY: It just seems so strange to me, that she would sleep in the same bed that you shared with your ex-wife.

[Unfortunately, ROGER fails to remind HOLLY how strange it was for her to "sleep" in the bed that ED shared with his then current-wife MAUREEN in 1989! ].

ROGER: I don’t think that’s any of your business.

HOLLY: You’re right. I really just came to speak with Blake. Don’t you have an office down the hall or something?

ROGER [slightly befuddled]: I’ll be in the reception area.

ROGER leaves.

BLAKE: Ah, look Mom, I’m going to be tied up here until about three. Do you mind a late lunch?

HOLLY: Oh, I’m picking up Michelle at three o’clock. I’m sorry.

This hits a nerve with BLAKE. She’s jealous.

BLAKE: Do you pick her up every day? I’m surprised you haven’t suggested shipping her off to boarding school.

HOLLY: You’re never without a dig. Why is it that every time I reach out, I take a step towards you, it just . . . turns sour?

HOLLY turns around to leave. As she goes through the reception room, she passes ROGER. JENNA (who “forgot her purse”) comes out of the elevator, and HOLLY steps into it, just in time to hear BLAKE yell after her. . . .

BLAKE: You didn’t come to see me! I’m just your excuse because you can’t stay away from Dad!

The elevator doors close behind HOLLY.

A few minutes later, in JENNA’S office . . .

ROGER: I thought you had an appointment.

JENNA: Was she right?

ROGER: About what?

JENNA: That Holly will do anything to be near you? Or is it the other way around? You will do anything to be near her.

ROGER: You’re enchanting when you’re jealous.

JENNA: I am not . . . at all . . . jealous.

ROGER: Good. Because you have “not at all” anything to be jealous of.

ROGER smiles, and kisses JENNA.

Next Scene:
Dead Flowers