Costa Verde: After The Rescue

Tuesday, July 24, 1990

SCENE: The hotel patio in Costa Verde, in the afternoon of the day ROGER rescued ALAN-MICHAEL. ROGER and HOLLY are sitting across from each other at a table. HOLLY looks up towards the window to BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL’S room.

ROGER: They’re all right.

HOLLY [sardonically]: All right?

ROGER: He’s young. He’ll bounce right back.

HOLLY [more sarcasm]: He’s young, married, and in love. They should be the picture of happiness.

ROGER: They will be.

HOLLY: How can they be? The marriage is based on a lie.

ROGER: Give her time. She’ll tell him. Just not now, when she’s just gotten him back.

HOLLY: The longer she waits, the harder it’s going to be. I can’t believe she did it to begin with.

ROGER [with empathy for BLAKE]: She loves him. Terrified of losing him.

HOLLY: I know all the justifications, but doesn’t it worry you just a little bit that her first instinct in any situation is to lie?

BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL appear just as HOLLY finishes saying this. ROGER and HOLLY get up from their chairs.

ROGER: Well, well, we thought you’d be resting.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, we wanted to be with you—the guys who saved my life.

ALAN-MICHAEL kisses HOLLY on the cheek as ROGER and BLAKE do likewise.

BLAKE to ROGER, in a quiet voice: What happened to Gary?

ROGER: I’ll tell you later.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Listen, do you mind if we join you?

HOLLY: Oh, please.

ROGER: Yes, absolutely.

BLAKE: Yes, he has to get something to eat.

ALAN-MICHAEL: And there is something about staying too long in a small room.

ROGER: Glad you can joke about it so soon.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Yeah, well, only because it’s over. Oh, we spoke to Phillip. I told him what you did, Roger.

ROGER: I’m glad you called. He was worried.

ALAN-MICHAEL: I told him, “So far I can’t complain about my in-laws.” Thank you.

HOLLY: You can stop thanking us now.

ALAN-MICHAEL: I don’t know—I was just thinking, talking to Phillip, well, we’re all family now, right? And once we get back, with the baby coming and all, well, we’re all gonna be family.

ROGER and HOLLY share a meaningful look.

ROGER: That’s right.

HOLLY: We already are.

ALAN-MICHAEL looks dazed.

BLAKE: Alan-Michael, are you okay? You look a little pale.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Yeah. I am. Feel a little . . . dumb.

BLAKE: Don’t.

ALAN-MICHAEL: I just . . . feel so, so happy.

ALAN-MICHAEL slumps over on BLAKE’S shoulder.

BLAKE: Alan-Michael! Alan-Michael!

ALAN-MICHAEL is on the bed in the room he now shares with BLAKE. BLAKE, HOLLY, ROGER, and a DOCTOR surround him. A local POLICE OFFICER stands in the background.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Really, I am fine.

ROGER: Really, you passed out cold.

HOLLY: Just let the man check you out.

DOCTOR: He’s right. He’s fine. He is dehydrated, and a bit fatigued, but basically his health is good.

BLAKE: So what do we do?

DOCTOR: Get some food in him. Start with soups; work up to solids. And sleep, lots of sleep.

BLAKE: Count on it.

DOCTOR: Sounds like he’s in good hands. I’ll check back with you tomorrow.

ROGER [seeing him out]: Thank you, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Good day.

OFFICER: Mr. Thorpe?

ROGER: Yes, Officer, thank you for waiting until he was gone. Obviously, we’d like to keep this incident quiet.

OFFICER: We’ll try. [to ALAN-MICHAEL] Mr. Spaulding, what do you remember about the kidnappers?

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, not too much. I was blindfolded.

OFFICER: Did you recognize any of their voices?

BLAKE looks worried.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, I heard one guy. I probably would recognize his voice if I heard it again.

ROGER: Well, there’s not much likelihood of that. He took off so fast.

OFFICER: Did you get a good look at him?

ROGER: Well, no, but I almost caught him when he turned to throw the money back at me. Unfortunately, at that point I was more concerned with the idea of five million dollars bouncing down the street.

OFFICER: What about the other gentleman?

ROGER: What?

OFFICER: There was another man here when Mr. Spaulding was reported missing.

HOLLY and BLAKE both tense up.

ROGER: Oh, yes, you must mean Gary Swanson.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Gary was here?

ROGER: Um, hmm. Yeah, well, Blake couldn’t reach me right away, so she called Gary, and he came down, and he came down again when it was time to pay the ransom. He was a big help.

OFFICER: And where is he now?

ROGER: He’s on his way home.

OFFICER: I see. The next time I hope you . . .

BLAKE: Next time?

OFFICER: Sorry. A figure of speech. Just wish you had kept us informed. There was no need for a ransom.

BLAKE: Excuse me, Sir, but this is my husband’s life we’re talking about! If you think for one minute ...

Both HOLLY and ALAN-MICHAEL have to turn to BLAKE to restrain her.

ROGER: Obviously, we didn’t want to pay the ransom. We didn’t want to take the risk.

OFFICER: We would have gunned him, Mr. Thorpe. It’s not America. Our laws are flexible. We know how to deal with kidnappers.

ROGER: I’m sure that you do, and I’m sure that you will find him. After all, you have the address where Mr. Spaulding was found.

OFFICER: We’re checking it out. You are right. We will get them. Thank you. [to ALAN-MICHAEL] If you remember anything else ...

ALAN-MICHAEL: I will let you know.

ROGER [seeing the officer out]: Thank you again, Officer.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Now, it’s time to celebrate.

BLAKE: No, you need to get some rest.

ALAN-MICHAEL: No. Doctor said I needed to get some soup. Soup and champagne. [to HOLLY] Will you join us?

HOLLY: Alan-Michael, I

ALAN-MICHAEL: No, please, please, I feel much better. And I’m gonna go out, get a little bite to eat, and take you [to BLAKE, kissing her lightly on the lips] and my baby dancing.

ALAN-MICHAEL leads BLAKE out of the room. HOLLY looks at ROGER and raises an eyebrow; they follow BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL out of the hotel room.

As BLAKE and ROGER return to the patio table . . .

BLAKE [in a low tone to ROGER]: Well, what happened to Gary? Where did he go?

ROGER: Don’t worry about Gary. I took care of him.

BLAKE: I know, but what if they can trace him back here, then what?

ROGER: Listen, it’s done. They won’t catch him. He’ll never bother you again.

BLAKE: Dad, what if Alan-Michael starts asking questions? Then?

ROGER: Just, just let me handle it. Okay?

ALAN-MICHAEL and HOLLY appear.

ROGER: Well, well, well, shall we try this again?

ALAN-MICHAEL: Yes, I’ll try to stay conscious this time.

HOLLY and ROGER [smiling]: Good.

ALAN-MICHAEL [to BLAKE, kissing her hand]: You look so beautiful.

ROGER [smiles]: Takes after her mother.

HOLLY: Thank you.

ALAN-MICHAEL [to BLAKE]: You know, I bet you’re still gonna be this gorgeous even when you’re as big as a whale.

BLAKE [startled]: What?!

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, I expect you to be really fat, and I’m gonna enjoy every minute of it.

BLAKE nods, all the while wearing a frozen smile.

BLAKE: I’ll try.

ROGER and HOLLY eye each other from across the table. ROGER looks uncomfortable, but HOLLY smirks, proving that she’s a truly disinterested lover of irony.

ALAN-MICHAEL: I must be getting paranoid.

ROGER: Why?

ALAN-MICHAEL: Those two guys over there in the suits. I could have sworn they were staring at me.

ROGER: I hope so. That’s what we pay them for.

ALAN-MICHAEL: What?

ROGER: I had a couple of security men flown down from Spaulding. They’re gonna stick with us until we’re well off the island.

ALAN-MICHAEL: You’re worried that, that there’s something wrong. That the kidnapper’s gonna take revenge, aren’t you?

ROGER: Well, I’m not worried, but I’m not taking any chances.

ALAN-MICHAEL: You know, I can’t believe all the things you’ve done for me.

ROGER [self-deprecating]: Stop it.

ALAN-MICHAEL: And Gary. Gary. You know, to tell the truth, I never really liked him much, but all that he’s done, jumping in the middle of this and putting himself on the line. . .

BLAKE has frozen up again, and HOLLY just takes it all in.

ROGER [going in for a little irony himself]: He was glad to be there.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, I still owe him an apology ...or I still owe him a “thank you.” [to BLAKE, changing the subject] And I think ... you owe me a dance.

BLAKE: You’ve got it.

ALAN-MICHAEL: And, ,just a minute ... I haven’t had the pleasure of dancing with the mother of the bride.

BLAKE smiles at her mother.

ROGER: Ah!

HOLLY [getting up]: Let’s fix that!

As HOLLY and ALAN-MICHAEL dance . . .

HOLLY: You don’t have to be doing this, you know.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Why, am I that bad?

They both laugh.

HOLLY: No, but you would rather be dancing with Blake.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Yeah, well, I wanted to ... I wanted to talk to you. You see ...

HOLLY: What?

They stop dancing.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, it’s been killing me that you two have been fighting, that it’s been because of me.

HOLLY: It was never because of you. I just thought that ...well, anyway ... we’re really fine now.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Good, good. I’m glad. [They resume dancing.] I never really got a chance to know my grandmother.

HOLLY looks away for a second.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Oh, “Grandmother” doesn’t sound too good right now, does it?

HOLLY: Not yet.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Ah, well, you’ve got a few months to get used to it. And I dare to say that you’ll be the youngest and prettiest grandmother in all of Springfield.

HOLLY: You don’t have to say that.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well it’s true. Anyway, I hope that you and Roger will be there a lot. Blake and I want to make sure that this child has all his family—that he knows where he comes from. We’re gonna take really good care of him and do right by him.

HOLLY dances closer to ALAN-MICHAEL, perhaps so that she won’t have to look into his uncomfortably earnest face. In the meantime, ROGER and BLAKE are having a strategy session, or rather, ROGER is trying to talk some common sense into BLAKE.

BLAKE: Thank you, Dad. I promise, promise, promise that I will never doubt you again.

ROGER grins, with an eyebrow raised.

BLAKE: I mean it! And you don’t have to remind me how close I came to really messing things up.

ROGER: It’s okay now.

BLAKE: Thanks to you. I was so lucky.

ROGER: Yes, you were. Now it’s time to get smart.

BLAKE: I’m going to be so good to Alan-Michael, Dad.

ROGER: Tell him the truth.

BLAKE [her face falls.]: What?

ROGER: You have to tell him about the baby.

BLAKE: No way!

ROGER: Blake, please.

BLAKE: I thought you took care of Gary. He can’t tell. We can pay him off or something.

ROGER: It’s not about Gary. It’s about the two of you, what kind of marriage you’re going to have.

BLAKE: Dad, I’m going to take care of him. No more lies.

ROGER: Oh, you mean after this teeny weeny one?

BLAKE: I can’t do it.

ROGER: Why?

BLAKE: I mean, we just got started. Maybe when we have more of a base. . .

ROGER: Blake, Blake, listen. I have seen the way Alan-Michael looks at you. He is crazy in love with you.

BLAKE [smiles]: I hope so. I want that more than anything. And then when we’ve spent time together, and built up a trust ...

ROGER: No, no. You do not build up trust based on a lie.

BLAKE: Dad, I know what you’re saying, but this is one case—I can’t.

ROGER: You have to.

BLAKE: You’re not, saying . . .

ROGER: If you don’t tell Alan-Michael, I’m afraid your mother will.

BLAKE: Mother knows?!

ROGER nods. He looks up and smiles as HOLLY and ALAN-MICHAEL, also smiling return to the table. HOLLY’S look changes to one of confusion as BLAKE sends her a particularly icy glare.

At the table . . .

ALAN-MICHAEL: Ah, Roger, could I, could I talk to you for a minute?

ROGER: Of course. [to BLAKE and HOLLY] Would you excuse us?

As the men leave, HOLLY gets up and picks up her purse.

HOLLY: If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to freshen up a bit.

BLAKE: Uh, don’t. We have to talk.

HOLLY: Darling, I don’t want to get into it.

HOLLY sits down, though, clearly gearing up for a lecture.

BLAKE: Mother, you cannot tell Alan-Michael about the baby. You can’t.

HOLLY: Don’t ask me to lie!

BLAKE: I just got him back. I can’t let him go!

Meanwhile, ROGER and ALAN-MICHAEL stand in a corner, talking privately.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Roger, what’s up with Aunt Alex?

ROGER: What makes you think anything is up?

ALAN-MICHAEL: Well, I know her, and she wouldn’t not be here.

ROGER: She doesn’t know.

ALAN-MICHAEL: What?

ROGER: I didn’t want to worry her.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Oh.

ROGER [looking down, restrained, a little ashamed]: Truth is, I don’t know where she is. She’s on a cruise, I think.

ALAN-MICHAEL [sympathetic]: You want to tell me about it?

ROGER: Not much to tell. I messed up with the Towers, and she wanted to get away from me.

ALAN-MICHAEL [nods]: I hope everything works out.

ROGER [with a tender, though close-lipped smile]: Thank you. I hope so too.

Back at the table ...

BLAKE: I know it’s not your way, but I can’t.

HOLLY: It’s not a way that works! Trust me. Haven’t you learned anything from your marriage to Phillip?

BLAKE: Mom, we haven’t spent enough time together. When we get a base, then . . .

HOLLY: You have a base. Alan-Michael loves you; you can trust that. Can’t you feel it?

BLAKE: Yes, for once in my life I can finally say that someone loves me, and that is why this is so hard. Can’t you understand that?

HOLLY: Do you think this is going to get any easier? The longer you go, the bigger the lie gets.

BLAKE: I can take care of it. I have to. But not now.

HOLLY: When?

BLAKE: Mom, he can barely eat a meal. He is bruised all over. Look at what he’s been through. And you know what got him through all that? Thinking about the baby. I cannot turn around now and tell him that I’m ...

HOLLY: But you will tell him?

BLAKE: Of course I will.

HOLLY [impatient]: Blake.

BLAKE: When the time is right—and I’m going to tell him.

HOLLY: You’d have to come up with a baby, Blake. A baby. There’s no way around it.

BLAKE: Promise me you will not tell him about the baby.

HOLLY [exasperated sigh]: I could beat my head up against a wall with you!

BLAKE: Mom, promise me, please!

ALAN-MICHAEL and ROGER return to the table.

ALAN-MICHAEL [to BLAKE]: Uh, what do you say we call it a night?

BLAKE: You look tired. You must be exhausted.

ALAN-MICHAEL: No, no, I’m not that tired.

ROGER: You guys get some rest.

ALAN-MICHAEL [kissing Holly on the cheek]: Okay, thanks for tonight ... for everything.

HOLLY: We’re just happy you’re home safe.

BLAKE: Good night.

ROGER: Good night.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Good night.

As BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL leave, HOLLY watches them, and then turns to look at ROGER, who stands close behind her. ROGER puts his drink on the table, and says . . .

ROGER: Well, I think I’ll be going too.

HOLLY: Roger, [ROGER pauses] wouldn’t you like to stay for coffee?

ROGER: Yeah, I will.

ROGER sits back down at the table. The scene is played deftly, the slightly-faster-than-expected tempo keeping it from being maudlin. Both ROGER and HOLLY are vulnerable; but the vulnerability only barely shows beneath a well-restrained outward demeanor.

ROGER [looking down at his drink]: So, I guess you’re pretty ready to head home tomorrow morning?

HOLLY: Yep. The sooner the better.

ROGER: Miss Ross?

HOLLY [none too excited]: Mmm, hmm.

ROGER [stiffly]: Well, he’s good for you, Holly.

HOLLY: Yes, he is.

ROGER [not excited either]: I’m glad you two found each other.

HOLLY: Me too. You must be pretty anxious to head back yourself?

ROGER [looking down]: Office can run without me.

HOLLY: What about Alex?

ROGER: She’s running, too. [At this, ROGER looks up and meets HOLLY’S eyes for a second.] I miss her.

HOLLY: I hope it’ll work out.

ROGER: Thank you.

In the background, the orchestra begins playing “Moonlight Sonata.” HOLLY moves her arm, and catches her bracelet.

HOLLY: Oh.

ROGER: Get yourself caught? Here, let me help you. Okay, just hold there.

Even as he says this, ROGER gets up out of his chair and takes HOLLY’S wrist in his hand; he works at getting the bracelet unhooked. HOLLY looks at his face for a few beats of the pensive melody. It is a measured look—not fearful, as when she had jerked herself away from an equally innocent gesture several days before in the office. She moves her wrist out of ROGER’S hand.

HOLLY [quietly]: It’s okay. I—can do it.

ROGER stands rebuffed.

ROGER: Sure. Good night.

He walks away with a dignified but quick step.

HOLLY [confused, anxious, maybe sorry]: Roger!

HOLLY looks behind her; ROGER is already gone. Suddenly, HOLLY remembers something—

HOLLY: The room!

ROGER goes back to the room in which he had been sleeping—the room in HOLLY’S name. He is irritated, and throws his keys down on the dresser, and loosens his tie. Hearing a knock at the door, ROGER answers it. It’s HOLLY.

ROGER [impatiently]: What?

HOLLY: Can I come in?

ROGER [sarcastically]: You sure you want to without a guard?

HOLLY: I’m sorry. [HOLLY pauses, looking at ROGER for a few seconds.] Look, I didn’t want to disturb Blake, so I’m going to go down to the front desk and get a room. I’ll call you when I get a number.

ROGER: You can’t, remember? The desk clerk said they were full; we were lucky to get this one.

Actually, the desk clerk had told ROGER that because HOLLY paid him to do so.

HOLLY: Well, I’ll find one in town somewhere.

ROGER: At this hour? Forget it. You can stay here.

HOLLY looks at ROGER for a second. When she had paid the desk clerk, this was just the sort of situation she had been hoping for. But now?

Go To The Next Scenes:
That Last Night In Costa Verde