Cliff House: The Volcano

May 21, 1993

At HOLLYBEND, MICHELLE and HOLLY have created an impressive papier-mache volcano out of newspaper (We can read The Springfield Journal on one part of it).

HOLLY: And first prize in the spring science fair goes to—Michelle Bauer!

MICHELLE [A bit high-hat, as though mimicking the teacher]: They’re not giving out prizes this year; my teacher doesn’t want it to be a contest.

HOLLY: Oh, well. Too bad. This is definitely blue ribbon material.

MICHELLE: You did most of it, Holly.

HOLLY: I did the gooey part. C’mon, let’s get washed up, before Ms. Reeves arrives.

They don’t notice Roger standing in the doorway, watching them.

MICHELLE: Did you ever make a volcano with Blake?

HOLLY [With a double meaning, sardonically]: I didn’t have to—we already had one in the family.

ROGER reacts; he knows she meant him.

Meanwhile, BLAKE finds HART sitting and whittling on the steps at COMPANY. She joins him. The scene has a sarcastic edge, but it’s not really hostile. It’s more like BLAKE and HART are playing some weird sibling game.

BLAKE: What are you doing here?

HART: What does it look like?

BLAKE: You’re eating your heart out.

HART: No, I was just basking in the warmth of a soft May evening.

BLAKE: Why Hart—you’re a poet!

HART: My mother’s side of the family.

BLAKE: Well, Julie must not be working tonight. Otherwise, you’d be in there, following her every move, hoping for a kind word, a smile, a crumb.

HART: Oh, you are in rare form tonight—a little more on edge than usual, Blake? Any particular reason? Trouble with your lawyer friend?

BLAKE sighs.

BLAKE: It’s Dad, actually. He just gave me a lecture on low self-esteem.

HART: Well, it’s your own fault, Blake, for choosing to play the “Roger Thorpe Daddy Game.” Don’t look for any sympathy from me.

BLAKE: Oh, don’t worry!

HART: So, what’d he say?

BLAKE: It was all about the subject of marriage, why certain middle-aged men are so wary of settling down.

HART: Must have something to do with experience—wouldn’t you say?

BLAKE: I’m serious! I mean, look at Dad. Here he’s got the richest woman in creation throwing what’s left of a pretty hot youth after him—

HART: She’s got a lot left, if you ask me.

BLAKE: Well, whatever’s left, you’d think it’d be the perfect deal, right? They have the same interests . . .

HART: Greed.

BLAKE: And power.

HART: So, why do you think Roger’s not marrying Jenna?

Immediate cut to HOLLYBEND. ROGER watches HOLLY and MICHELLE as they wash up.

HOLLY: Look at you! All the way up to the elbows—the surgeon’s scrub! [MICHELLE laughs.] Did you learn that from your dad? . . . Chrissy never cleaned up after herself. I was always fixin’ her messes. But I guess I didn’t mind. I think I liked having somebody to pick up after. [She takes the sink sprayer.] Here, give me your hands . . .[Sprays her.] Oops!

MICHELLE giggles.

HOLLY: Stick out your hands again! [MICHELLE squeals. HOLLY laughs.] Uh! I don’t know what is wrong with me today.

MICHELLE [Trying to get the sprayer]: Here, here—

HOLLY [“Innocently”]: Why? What do you want it for? [They laugh and fight over it.] Oh, my goodness!

ROGER laughs too, and suddenly flashes back to a moment from long ago . . .

A very young CHRISSY stands in front of a child’s wading pool, filling it up with water. HOLLY comes out of the patio door and waves to ROGER. It looks like a home movie—as though she’s waving to a camera.

HOLLY: Having fun, Chrissy?

CHRISSY: Yes!

CHRISSY turns the water hose on HOLLY, and they run around the pool screaming and laughing. HOLLY catches CHRISSY and picks her up off of her feet.

HOLLY: Get this away from her! C’mon, help me, Roger! Roger, c’mon!

ROGER is so enchanted by the memory that he hardly hears HOLLY, who has noticed him . . .

HOLLY: Roger?

ROGER comes to.

ROGER [heartily]: Well, nothing like a good water fight, you guys!

HOLLY and MICHELLE laugh.

MICHELLE: Hi, Mr. Thorpe!

ROGER: Hi, honey!

HOLLY [to MICHELLE]: You are wet!

ROGER [laughing]: Yeah!

HOLLY: Go put on a sweatshirt of mine. You know where they are.

MICHELLE leaves the room.

ROGER is still laughing.

HOLLY: So, what brings you here?

ROGER: Well, actually, I, uh, I thought I’d find you in the depths of depression, but I sure had the wrong number. You look ... wet [He laughs.] and ... absolutely radiant!

HOLLY seems a little embarrassed at the compliment.

"The Volcano" continued ...