Cliff House: The One Before The Tuna Sandwich

Tuesday, June 22, 1993

SCENE: SPAULDING MANSION. JENNA, wearing a modest negligee, comes into the study to find ROGER on the sofa, playing with a pen and staring into space.

JENNA [stroking Roger’s cheek]: So, why didn’t you come to bed last night?

ROGER: Couldn’t sleep.

JENNA [nods]: Thinking about what happened with Hart?

ROGER: Just one of those restless nights, you know? [JENNA gets up.] What’s wrong?

JENNA: I meant every word I said last night. I am through living with a man who shuts me out every step of the way. If you don’t start confiding in me, it is over!

ROGER sighs.

ROGER: What do you want me to say, Jenna? You were there last night. You saw what happened with Hart.

JENNA: Yes, I saw. And you gave me the facts. You’re very good at that. What I’d like to know is how you feel.

ROGER [looks at her.]: Tired.

JENNA [yelling]: Your son apparently hates you violently enough that he tried to run you down and all you say is that you feel tired?!

ROGER: Jenna, what is the point of reliving it?!

JENNA: I am not asking you to relive it, Roger! For heaven’s sakes! I want to know how you feel about it! That’s what two people do when they share their lives. They tell each other about significant things that happen to them! You sat up all night looking out that window. I want to know what you’re feeling! If you’re not thinking about me, then I assume you’re thinking about what happened with Hart. Am I wrong about that? Are you thinking about someone else? What are you doing?!

ROGER: Look—

GINGER interrupts.

GINGER: A Mr. Jon Davis to see you, Mr. Thorpe.

ROGER to JENNA: Uh, um, give me a minute. This won’t take long.

JENNA: You see, that’s just it. It always takes too long!

DAVIS walks in just as JENNA leaves. He smirks and chuckles.

DAVIS: Well, here we are again. I would never have thought that you would have landed back in Alexandra Spaulding’s house again. Good work.

ROGER: See, it isn’t Alexandra’s any more, Jon. It’s mine now.

DAVIS: Well, actually, I’d heard that it belonged to Ms. Bradshaw. A very attractive golden goose, I must say. Tell me, why haven’t you married her, Rog?

ROGER: You don’t need to concern yourself with my personal life, Jon.

DAVIS: That’s fine, because what I’m interested in is the ten million you promised.

ROGER: Well, see, this is not a good time right now. As I told you last night, I’ll be in touch.

DAVIS: Now, wait a minute, Thorpe. You can’t give me the run around. I’ve done time for this, and I’m not standing here with my hat in my hand waiting until you’re in the mood to pay me!

ROGER: Well, you’re gonna have to hold your hat because you’ve got nothing else to hold on me! See, my son knows all about my involvement in the selling of his grandfather’s farm.

DAVIS: Well, I wonder if everybody in your life knows the whole story.

ROGER: Wanna get to the point, Jon?

DAVIS: Well, I’m wondering if Ms. Bradshaw knows you’re in the habit of relieving the lady owners of this house of everything they have? I wonder if she knows how lucky she is that you haven’t married her. I wonder.

ROGER: You’re not threatening me now, are you Jon?

ROGER: You’re really pushing it, you know that?

DAVIS: Pushing it? This is all I’ve thought about for the past two years in the slammer. Would you like a few graphic details about what it’s like inside?

ROGER: Not particularly, no.

DAVIS: How do you think I got through it?

ROGER: Well, I’m real glad it sustained you, Jon. But don’t go threatening me with Ms. Bradshaw, because as you very astutely point out, she is the “golden goose.” It’s not gonna be in your best interests to alienate her from me!

DAVIS: You can’t put me off, Thorpe. I’ve waited too long.

ROGER: You know, after two years, I’d think you’d be able to muster up some semblance of patience. I’ll call you!

DAVIS: You know where I am. Don’t make me wait too long.

As DAVIS leaves, GILLY arrives. She drops yet another bombshell on ROGER: “I quit.”

JENNA comes back just as GILLY leaves.

JENNA: What was that all about?

ROGER: She just quit.

JENNA: She what?

ROGER: I’m so glad you’re home.

JENNA: Oh, me too!

They embrace.

JENNA: One of our most important people at WSPR quits and you let her go without a protest?

ROGER: Please, honey! I protested vehemently. Don’t worry. She’ll be back.

JENNA [overwhelmed]: I hope you’re right.

ROGER: And if she isn’t, we’ll do just fine on our own. Now more importantly, are you feeling any better than when you left?

JENNA: That depends. Do I have a reason to?

ROGER: Yes, you do. Yes, you do—because I’ve been thinking. And what I’ve been thinking, is that we ought to play a little hooky, all day long, just the two of us. Go for a drive in the country, whatever, you name it, whatever you like.

JENNA [touched]: Really?

ROGER: Really.