Whale Songs : David Comforts Jenny
November 29, 1983

David drops by Jenny's house.  Her Thanksgiving Day wedding was called off; she broke up with Brad for the final time after discovering that he was responsible for sabotaging Kat's new job opportunity in Florida.

JENNY: I’m really sorry. I feel like I’m forcing my problems on you.

DAVID: Hey, you’re not. Believe me.

JENNY: I really appreciate you trying to help. It’s just that I ...  I need to work these things out for myself. I’ve never done that before.

DAVID: Oh, wait a minute. Are you trying to tell me that you've felt dependent on Brad?

JENNY: In some ways, yeah.

DAVID: I have to tell you, from where I stood, it was always Brad who was very dependent on you.

JENNY: I’ve always felt responsible for him.

DAVID: Sure can’t build a relationship based on feeling responsible for somebody.

DAVID hesitates for a second and then: Is there any way I can make you feel any better?

JENNY (very solemn): You are, just by being here.

NEXT SCENE: As they sit down on the couch:

JENNY: Nobody can help me with this. I’ve got to do it myself. I wanna figure out exactly what it was that happened, and why everything went wrong.

DAVID: Okay. Wanna try telling me?

JENNY: Unkept promises, unfulfilled expectations. Oh, sounds like I’m blaming Brad, and it’s my fault too, I know that. These things are never one-sided, are they?

DAVID: In your case, I’m not so sure.

JENNY: David, I’m a very demanding person.

DAVID: (acting like he’s appalled) Awww....

JENNY (laughing at his reaction): I am ...and I have very high expectations of people.

DAVID: Starting with yourself. Is that the old convent training?

JENNY: I don’t know. Maybe so. Everything just seemed so much simpler then, and then my years with Peter were very peaceful, a lot of stability, and now all of that is gone.

DAVID: (reassuring) You’re gonna get it back. You are gonna get it back. You’re a very strong woman, Jenny. I mean it. Very strong. (He jumps up off the couch) Hey, I’ve got something for you in my car. Don’t go away.

JENNY: (she laughs) Wait a second. Is this the answer to my problems?

DAVID: Yes. And no. Maybe. Sure helped me. You just sit tight. I will be right back.

Jenny walks back into the living room carrying a tray with two mugs, as David is putting a record on the stereo.

JENNY: All right, now that the hot chocolate is ready, I am ready for your presentation.

DAVID: All right! Now, want you to keep in mind that what you are about to hear was conceived far beyond and above the mind of mere mortal man... or mere mortal woman either, for that matter. (He looks back at her). That was a joke.

JENNY: (She gives him a skeptical look) Uh huh.

The music begins, and it sounds very "other worldly".

JENNY: What is this?

DAVID: Hazard a guess.

JENNY: (Laughs) I have no idea!

DAVID: All right (he hands her the album cover)

JENNY: Whales?

DAVID: Whales...and dolphins, and all their little friends.

JENNY (she smiles, both charmed and amused by his enthusiasm): Well, it’s incredible.

DAVID: Isn’t it?

JENNY: What are they doing ...talking to each other?

DAVID: I think they may be talking to each other, yeah. Whistling, hanging out. Now I want you to notice the absolute absence of anything approaching shrillness, hostility or anger.

JENNY: Why is that, do you think?

DAVID: I think because whales have very little to be angry about.

JENNY: Ah.

DAVID: You know, they have no natural enemies outside of man. Left to their own devices, they live in perfect harmony with their environment. Let’s face it, even Moby Dick was just acting in self-defense.

JENNY: True. Wouldn’t that be nice, if we could all live like that, in peace?

DAVID: I want you to have this.

JENNY: Really?

DAVID: You want it?

JENNY: (laughs) Yes.

DAVID: Great. OK, I have a tape of it. Really...now, now listen. Anytime you’re feeling at all bluesy, you just put that on, and you will feel waves of inner peace just folding about you. In fact, if you really want to get into it, put your headphones on, and you’re gonna be like fifty fathoms deep with the whales and the dolphins.

JENNY: (She looks at him very intently, thoughtfully) You have really helped me a lot this evening. Thank you.

DAVID smiles, and he can’t take his eyes off of her; there’s silence as they just look at each other, and then he finally breaks the moment by looking at his watch.

DAVID: Ah, I am expecting a call from my office. Do you mind if I check in with my answering machine? I have to turn that off, but I’ll turn it right back on again? Thanks.

JENNY: Fine.

DAVID: This will just take a minute.

DAVID listens to the message: "David, it’s Scott. I need to see you. It’s urgent. Could we meet at ten o’clock tonight at The Press Box? It’s about Cassie".

DAVID hangs up the phone, and JENNY notices his concern.

JENNY: Is everything okay?

DAVID: It’s a little business problem. Don’t wanna bore you with it.

JENNY: Oh, I have a very high threshold of boredom. You’ve done a lot for me tonight. I’d like nothing more than to repay the favor.

DAVID: You know, there’s a saying that I’m very fond of. It goes, "Friendship is a lot like beauty. Use it too often and it fades."

JENNY: Where’d you hear that?

DAVID: I dunno.

JENNY: Did you know that it was a translation from Spanish?

DAVID: No.

JENNY: Oh, well, it was a favorite quote of a friend of mine, a doctor in San Carlos in a mission hospital.

DAVID: Oh, well, that’s probably where I heard it.

JENNY: (surprised) You were in San Carlos?

DAVID: (he appears slightly uneasy) Uh, yeah, I uh, I guest-conducted for the National Orchestra there. Of course that was many years ago.

JENNY: Oh you’re kidding!?

After a moment, DAVID says quietly, with regret: I have to leave. I wish I didn’t have to but I have to leave.

JENNY: I wish you didn’t have to either.

DAVID: Business. (She nods her understanding).

DAVID: Thanks for the company. (Tension is building; he’s very nervous)...the refreshment. (She laughs, and he reaches out and touches the side of her face, her hair...and then leans in very slowly and gently kisses her cheek ... she's surprised)

DAVID: (suddenly) Can I call you?

JENNY: (she smiles) I wish you would.

DAVID: (he’s extremely grateful, exhales) Thank you! I was hoping you’d say that! (He pounds his hand into his chest, mimicking his heartbeat,  and then holds her hand).

They both start to get up.

DAVID: (motioning her to stay seated) Oh, please. I can find my way out. (He does, of course. He grabs his jacket and walks out without taking his eyes off her, the smile never leaving his face).

DAVID: Goodnight.

JENNY: (smiling) Goodnight.

Next Scene:
Scott Edgar's Set-Up

Copyright © 1999 by Michael Zaslow's ZazAngels. All rights reserved.
01/04/06 05:14:22 PM