That Last Night In Costa Verde

Wednesday, July 25, 1990

Scene: The hotel room in Costa Verde, registered in HOLLY'S name. HOLLY and ROGER bicker in the doorway.

ROGER: Look, this was your room to begin with.

HOLLY: But I gave it to you.

ROGER: You obviously can’t stay with Blake.

HOLLY (following ROGER back into the room): I don’t feel right turning you out into the street.

ROGER (laughs . . and then, like someone laying down the law): Holly, I haven’t slept in forty-eight hours. You haven’t either. Neither of us is going to spend tonight roaming the street. We’re both staying here tonight.

Next scene:

As ROGER walks away from her, HOLLY contemplates the possibilities.

She heads towards the door.

ROGER: Where’re you going?

HOLLY: I’m not staying with you, Roger. The room is yours. You had a hard day’s work; have a good night’s sleep.

ROGER: Wait, wait, wait. Look, it’s been a long day. I don’t want to argue with you.

HOLLY (interrupting): We’re not arguing.

ROGER: And I don’t want to waste time pointing out how utterly exhausted I am. I have absolutely no intention of imposing myself on you or whatever you think might happen if we share a room together.

HOLLY: I realize that. I just don’t think that we should.

ROGER: Damn it, I almost killed a man today. I could have killed him so easily. It was so close. It took every ounce of control I had. I don’t have the energy to fight with you. [His voice rises.] This is your room. You stay. I’ll go. Good night!

ROGER leaves, slamming the door behind him. HOLLY looks as though she is about to shrug, but she doesn’t even bother.

In the meantime, ROGER heads downstairs to get another room. At the clerk’s desk, a little drama unfolds ...

YOUNG WOMAN: Are you sure he hasn’t called yet?

CLERK: No, Senorita. But would you care for an escort this evening?

YOUNG WOMAN: Thank you, but if he calls, I’ll be out by the pool.

CLERK: Ci, Senorita.

YOUNG WOMAN: Okay. Thank you.

ROGER comes up as the YOUNG WOMAN walks away. He is clearly tired, as he leans against the CLERK’S counter, and at one point, even rests his head in his hands.

ROGER: Any messages for 1004?

CLERK: Uh, no, Senor, I’m sorry.

ROGER: Fine, here’s what I need for you to do. I know you’re booked up, so could you please call around and find me a room at a hotel? [The CLERK nods.] Thank you. And in the meantime, may I use this phone to make a long distance call? You can charge it to my room.

CLERK: Ci, Senor.

ROGER: Thanks.

As the CLERK tries to look busy, ROGER takes the phone and dials the SPAULDING mansion. Alas for him, he reaches not his wife, but VERA.

ROGER: Vera, this is Roger. I need to speak to Alex. [There’s a pause, as VERA evades Roger’s request.] Yeah, I know that you know where to reach her in the case of an emergency. [another pause, and then ROGER sighs.] Well, no, actually, the emergency has passed. Uh, but that’s what I need to talk to her about. It concerns Alan-Michael. [short pause.] No, no! He’s fine now. Vera, look, this is very important.

As VERA talks on the other end of the line, ROGER pulls the phone away from his mouth and ear, and mutters to himself. ROGER gives up.

ROGER: All right, Vera. Listen, if Mrs. Thorpe should call you, please tell her that I love her, and miss her, and that I have something to tell her that she needs to know. Thank you.

VERA continues to evade him. As ROGER gets off the line, he mutters sardonically, “Have a good evening, Mr. Thorpe.”

But it gets worse ...

ROGER [to the CLERK]: Okay, if you could just direct me to my hotel and call me a cab.

CLERK: I’m very sorry, Senor Thorpe, the hotel is booked solid, and I cannot recommend any other accommodations on this island.

ROGER just throws up his hands in despair, and heads back to HOLLY’S room. Before he gets there, we can see that she’s sitting on the bed with one shoe off, trying to call ROSS.

HOLLY: C’mon, Ross, if ever I needed to talk to you ...

She hears a knock at the door, and then ROGER walks in. HOLLY quickly puts her finger down on the telephone receiver.

ROGER: I'm sorry. I tried. The whole damned island's full, and I am so tired. Holly, I promise, I won't be a problem to you. I just need to sack out. At this point I'm sure that I could fall asleep in that ice bucket over there, but if you will allow me a chair, I'd be very grateful.

HOLLY: Of course.

ROGER: Thank you.

ROGER takes off his jacket and puts it on top of the dresser. He sits down in a very uncomfortable looking straight chair, and as he leans over to take off his shoes, he mutters:

See, no muss. No fuss. No conversation. Just ... good night.

By this time, ROGER has leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. HOLLY has been watching ROGER during his bed-time ritual. She looks at him in a humorously quizzical manner, as though she'd never seen him before and doesn't know quite what to make of him. In going around the bed to get to the bath, she has to squeeze by ROGER'S chair. She does this very carefully, so as not to disturb him, and very softly, says ...

Good night.

As soon as HOLLY disappears around the corner, ROGER fidgets, and opens his eyes. He sighs. Perhaps he should go back to the dresser for his coat? Glancing in the dresser mirror, ROGER sees a reflection of HOLLY undressing. He leans against the dresser and sighs much more deeply, as if to say, "It's going to be a long night."

That Last Night ... continued