Without Fail
by Ceil
HOLLY dresses in the master bedroom. Standing at the foot of the four-poster bed, HOLLY puts on her earrings. Her thoughts flash back to an earlier time. . .
A very young HOLLY BAUER is bound and determined not to spend another night alone. Her husband, DR. ED BAUER, is on his way to Cedars. There are several emergencies and ED believes he will not be returning that evening. As ED'S car pulls out of the drive, HOLLY quickly runs from the back door of the house beyond the yard to the woods. She anticipates that her lover, ROGER THORPE, will be waiting for her, as he has been for so many other nights. ROGER is standing under a tree in the woods back behind the BAUER cottage house. It is pouring rain.
ROGER suddenly sees HOLLY'S figure through the dark and beating raindrops. ROGER takes hold of his lover and they kiss madly. Both gasp for air between their overwhelming kisses.
HOLLY [Breathlessly]: He is not coming back tonight. We have all the time in the world.
ROGER: You are going to catch your death out here. [Looking at the sky] It's coming down even harder now. I shouldn't have agreed to meet you here, but I couldn't stay away. Oh Holly, I want you so much.
ROGER draws HOLLY back into his embrace and kisses her with all the burning desire inside of him. HOLLY tugs at ROGER'S shirt hem and begins to pull the shirt from his trousers. The couple is soaked in the beating rain. She backs them both to a tall oak tree as she unbuttons ROGER'S shirt. Suddenly, branches fall from another tree in the distance. HOLLY is startled by the noise.
ROGER: We can't stay out here. As much as I want you tonight, it's too dangerous for you to be out in this storm.
HOLLY [Irrational]: It's dangerous even if it wasn't raining. We know that. But that's what we both want. The danger, the desire.
Another branch falls; Holly cries out and holds Roger tighter to her.
ROGER [Emphatically]: That's it. I'm taking you inside.
HOLLY [Frantic]: You can't! Bert and . . . [shaking her head] I don't care! I don't care! I'm not going to be Dr. Bauer's good little nothing wife and sit waiting for him. Everyone needs the great doctor. But I don't! I just want you, Roger. I want you. Don't send me away.
ROGER [Turns around, still holding HOLLY in his arms]: Look, there's a house just past the glade of birch trees. It's not safe to make a run for my car.
HOLLY [Looking]: There must be someone there!
ROGER: I don't think so. It's dark. We can't stay out here any longer. If it doesn't look safe, I am taking you back to your house.
ROGER takes HOLLY'S arm and hugs her to his body as they quickly make their way to the house. ROGER and HOLLY keep a constant look for any signs that someone is in the house. Yet, there is no smoke coming from the chimney and the interior of the house is in total darkness. They come up to the patio on the southern side of the house. ROGER works to unlock the patio's French doors, while HOLLY keeps watch. The doors give way easily and ROGER leads HOLLY inside.
ROGER [Shouts]: Anyone here?
HOLLY: Roger!
ROGER: That's the only way to find out for sure.
HOLLY clutches her shoulders and shivers. Noticing this, ROGER takes HOLLY into his arms.
ROGER: There doesn't appear to be anyone here, and there isn't any heat in the house and hasn't been for a few days maybe. They must have left for vacation or something, just left the place dark.
Taking HOLLY'S hand, ROGER leads her to the living room and the fireplace; the moonlight shines from the windows. ROGER leaves HOLLY'S side to draw the drapes.
HOLLY [Taking her wet hair off her face]: I'm soaked.
ROGER stands there at the window to look at her in the remaining light showing through the sheer curtains before he draws the drapery. HOLLY stares at ROGER with lustful eyes. HOLLY is slowly removing her dampened clothes. ROGER begins to remove his own clothes. HOLLY pauses for a moment, as ROGER moves closer to her.
HOLLY [Motioning to ROGER]: The throws on the sofa.
ROGER nods and takes the blanket throws from on top of the sofa arm and hands them to HOLLY, all the while looking deeply into her eyes. As ROGER removes the last of his clothes, he takes HOLLY into his arms and they slowly move to the floor. They kiss each other hungrily. . .
HOLLY stands in her bedroom, her arms wrapped around her body, eyes closed. She takes in a deep breath.
HOLLY [Breathing in the aroma]: Mmmmmmmm [Pauses] Turkey!
HOLLY goes to the door and opens it. The fragrance of roast turkey permeates the air.
HOLLY [Shouting to ROGER]: Have you basted the turkey?
HOLLY moves farther into the hallway past the spare rooms.
HOLLY [Calling again]: Have you basted the turkey?
HOLLY [Laughing hysterically]: Hey turkey! Have you bast—
ROGER comes up behind HOLLY and hugs her waist. HOLLY laughs even more.
ROGER [Grinning]: Yes, I did.
HOLLY turns around and pulls ROGER into her arms.
HOLLY kisses ROGER passionately. She pulls him toward the bedroom and they fall on top of the bed.
ROGER [Gasping for air]: Wow!
HOLLY [Kissing him]: Mmmm, you taste so good.
The doorbell rings downstairs. ROGER groans.
ROGER and HOLLY get up from the bed.
HOLLY: Oh, that must be the driver with the dining table arrangement. [Giggling] Go!
HOLLY pats ROGER'S backside as she veers him toward the door.
HOLLY [Smiling widely]: Go on! Go on!
ROGER just shakes his head and nods, all the while smiling as much as HOLLY.
HOLLY goes back to the dressing table and picks up her brush.
ROGER looks back at HOLLY. He presses his hand to the pocket of his jacket lying against his heart. ROGER, closing the door behind him, walks out into the hallway and down the stairs to the waiting driver.
Later, ROGER is sitting at the piano. He has been attempting to tune the keys at every opportunity, ever since HOLLY arranged to have his piano delivered from storage the week before.
HOLLY is on the phone with BLAKE, when she looks over at ROGER. The repetitious tones make her nervous.
HOLLY [Reeling]: Uh-oh. Your father is tuning the piano again. I have to put an end to this. [Pauses] We will see you both in an hour. Keep working on Ross.
HOLLY [Hanging up the phone, saying to herself]: . . . while I work on your father.
HOLLY walks over to ROGER seated at the piano. She surrounds her arms around his, which in turn prohibits ROGER from continuing to tune the keys.
HOLLY [Kissing ROGER'S ear]: Oh no, you don't.
ROGER [Resigned]: How am I going to play for Chrissy, if I don't tune this thing eventually?
ROGER places the cover on the keys.
HOLLY: You can do that all you want, when I . . .
ROGER: When you go to work? You weren't going to go back to work there.
ROGER looks over at HOLLY. She releases him and sits beside ROGER at the piano.
HOLLY: I haven't thought of what to say to Alan-Michael.
ROGER [Placing his arm around HOLLY]: Never mind about that, we will tell him the truth. But, what are you going to do with yourself? You know that we still . . .
HOLLY [Finishing the sentence]: . . . need someone to replace Gilly ever since she left to be with Sid. I know. [Facing ROGER] Do you really think we could handle spending twenty-four hours together every day of the week?
ROGER looks up at her, knowingly.
HOLLY [Resigned]: Okay, so I've done something like that before. And it was none too pleasant. [Pausing, she looks at ROGER and smiles] Not nearly as pleasant as . . .
HOLLY gets up from the bench.
ROGER [Finishing the sentence for her]: . . . if you were to come back to the station? [ROGER looks at HOLLY pleadingly.]
They stare at each other for a moment. HOLLY stands behind ROGER again and proceeds to hug his shoulders. ROGER brings his hand up and gently caresses her arm. HOLLY kisses the top of his head.
HOLLY [Softly]: I'm thinking about it. [Turns to look at him] We will talk about this more tomorrow.
ROGER nods. HOLLY stands up straight and stretches her arms.
ROGER [Lovingly]: You're tired. [Smiling] All those numerous courses we have been preparing for today.
HOLLY bends down to plant soft kisses on ROGER'S lips.
HOLLY [Whisper]: It's all that sleep I don’t get.
ROGER [Getting up from the piano bench]: We don't get.
ROGER embraces HOLLY and they savor a long, satisfying kiss. HOLLY leads ROGER to the living room.
HOLLY: Everything is simmering away; perfectly I might add, for once. We can just relax while our guests make their way.
ROGER smiles. They lie on the couch, hugging one another.
Later ...
As ROGER suspected she would, HOLLY falls asleep in his arms. He gently kisses her forehead. ROGER can hear a car pulling up in the driveway. He attempts to get up from the couch without disturbing HOLLY. When the doorbell rings, HOLLY wakes up, startled.
HOLLY [Getting up from the couch]: That must be Blake.
HOLLY takes ROGER'S hand and leads him to the front door.
ROGER opens it to find BLAKE holding a huge floral arrangement. BLAKE turns to her mother, standing in the doorway.
BLAKE [Boisterously]: Happy Thanksgiving! I brought this. [Hands HOLLY the flowers] I didn't want to bring anything edible. You know how I can't cook and I just knew you two would have a mass of food cooking away.
HOLLY [Hugging her]: Happy Thanksgiving, sweetheart.
BLAKE looks over to the dining room to see a floral centerpiece on the table.
BLAKE [Feigned disappointment]: Oh darn, you already have one.
ROGER grabs hold of his daughter.
ROGER [Enthusiastically]: Come here, cutie!
BLAKE hugs her father. HOLLY smiles at the sight.
HOLLY: This will look perfect on the sideboard.
BLAKE nods to her while in her father's embrace. HOLLY goes into the dining room.
BLAKE: It's kinda lousy that Vanessa took Peter away for Thanksgiving.
ROGER [Smiling]: No matter, Christmas will be here and Petey can spend the evening with us.
BLAKE: Gee, I thought you'd be upset?
ROGER [Smiling]: It's a perfect day! Nothing can go wrong.
BLAKE: You're sure?
ROGER [Smiling even wider]: I'm sure.
BLAKE nods.
HOLLY comes back to the two at the front door.
HOLLY: Where is Ross?
BLAKE [Looks at her father, and sighs]: He's sulking in the car. But he'll be in in a minute . . . once he remembers what I told him.
BLAKE hands her coat to ROGER and walks to the kitchen.
BLAKE [Out of range]: Hmm, everything smells great.
HOLLY looks out the front door at ROSS coming up the walkway. ROGER puts BLAKE'S coat in the closet and then joins HOLLY at the front door.
HOLLY [Looking back to BLAKE]: What did you tell him?
ROGER stands in the doorway as ROSS comes up to the door. The two men stare at each other.
ROGER'S hands are up against the doorframe, hindering Ross's entry into his home.
ROGER: What's it going to be, Ross?
ROSS looks to HOLLY, but she stares at him in admonishment.
HOLLY: Don't come into our home, if you think you're going to upset this day.
ROSS looks at the couple standing defiantly before him.
ROSS holds up his arms in resignation.
ROSS: Happy Thanksgiving . . . . Holly.
ROGER releases the doorframe so that Ross can enter. He walks past them to join BLAKE, who is coming out of the kitchen with a brussel sprout in her hand. BLAKE feeds the vegetable to him.
BLAKE: Here! You love these. [She shoves the vegetable in Ross's mouth before he can speak to her.]
HOLLY [To ROGER]: I guess that's all we can expect to get out of him.
ROGER: Fine. As long as he doesn't upset Chrissy.
HOLLY [Nodding]: Agreed.
ROGER hugs HOLLY as they walk over to the dining room.
Later ...
Working together, ROGER and HOLLY bring out the many dishes they prepared for their Thanksgiving meal. LEO hasn't arrived as yet and HOLLY wonders if they shouldn't start without him. They all sit at the table. ROGER sits beside HOLLY, who sits across from ROSS. BLAKE is sitting across from ROGER.
HOLLY [Eager]: Well, why don't we start?
ROGER [Anxious]: Wait.
All eyes focus on ROGER. ROGER stares at HOLLY for what seems like a very long time. He breaks the nervous stare with a smile.
ROGER [Solemnly]: There is something that I need to ask. Something I was going to ask you, Holly. [Long pause] This same time of year. Two years ago.
BLAKE: Daddy, what?
HOLLY stares at ROGER, the recognition of his words clearly written on her face. ROGER gets up from his chair and goes down on his knee before HOLLY. HOLLY turns in her chair to face him.
ROGER puts his hand into his jacket pocket to reveal a single diamond engagement ring. HOLLY looks at the brilliant sphere and then deeply into ROGER'S eyes. BLAKE gasps in shock. ROSS is stunned.
HOLLY [Tears welling up in her eyes]: Roger.
ROGER [Near tears]: Two years ago, I was going to do this right. This time I want to do it without fail. Do you remember, Holly?
HOLLY nods her head.
ROGER [Long pause, before saying]: Will you marry me, Holly?
Suddenly the doorbell rings; ROSS jumps up to get the door.
ROSS: Maybe it's someone who can stop this
thing.
ROGER [Focused]: Will you Holly? Will you be my wife?
Tears of joy are streaming down HOLLY'S face now.
HOLLY [Joyously]: Yes! Yes, I will! Oh Roger!
ROGER places the ring on HOLLY'S finger. HOLLY clasps ROGER'S face in her hands and they are about to kiss each other. ROGER'S knee gives way and he tumbles back onto the floor, inadvertently taking HOLLY with him. They fall to the floor, HOLLY lying on top of ROGER. They both laugh at the circumstance.
ED BAUER, who was at the door, looks from ROSS to the couple on the floor. ED stares at the ring visible on HOLLY'S left hand. ROGER and HOLLY look from each other to the doorway.
HOLLY [Breathless]: Ed?
ROGER and HOLLY look at one another before getting up.
Moments later, HOLLY and ROGER help each other off the floor. Arm in arm they go to the door to greet ED. Still in shock, ED hands HOLLY the pumpkin pie that MICHELLE made for them as a housewarming gift.
HOLLY: Can you stay and have dinner with us? [Apprehensively] We would both like that, I think.
HOLLY laughs nervously; she is overwhelmed from ROGER'S surprise proposal. HOLLY looks to ROGER, who in turn, nods in agreement that ED should join them for Thanksgiving.
ED [Dazed]: Actually, I have to get to Cedars soon.
ROGER and HOLLY look at each other.
ROGER [Sincere]: Just for a little while at least. A toast. [Looks at the pie] A thank you for this gift.
ED nods.
LEO arrives shortly thereafter. The group sits down in the dining room. LEO is at the head of the table; Blake is at the other head chair. ROSS and ED sit across from HOLLY and ROGER. ROGER holds HOLLY'S hand underneath the table.
Still overwhelmed, HOLLY looks to BLAKE.
HOLLY: Honey, why don't you say Grace?
BLAKE: I will. But first I want to say how thankful I am to have such wonderful, loving parents and my equally wonderful husband, [looks at ROSS, who appears disgusted] who is not making me keep my promise to him today, and for that I'm grateful.
LEO [Confused]: What promise is that?
BLAKE [Antagonistic]: That I would find a place to stick the drumsticks if he didn't keep him mouth shut.
ROSS looks up in embarrassment and clears his throat.
ROSS [Nervous]: Oh, thank you, honey. And I'm grateful for that as well.
ROGER and HOLLY are oblivious to the chatter. HOLLY speaks up.
HOLLY [With joyful tears]: I'm next. I'm thankful for finding what I had let go of, for realizing what I almost lost before it was too late.
ROGER [Silently]: Never. Never too late.
ROGER takes both of HOLLY'S hands from under the table and places them on his heart.
ROGER [Speaking as if only to HOLLY]: I'm thankful to you for accepting me to be your husband again; I couldn't be any happier than I am at this very moment.
ROGER and HOLLY kiss, their tears falling on each other's cheeks. As they part, ED is clearly seen staring at the two of them.
Later, after their meal ...
ED prepares to leave for Cedars. He thanks HOLLY and ROGER for having him join their Thanksgiving dinner. BLAKE and LEO battle over the wishbone. ROSS is at the bar, having yet another double scotch.
ROGER hands ED his coat. HOLLY opens the front door for him.
HOLLY [To ED]: Where's your car?
ED [Matter-of-factly]: I walked from the backyard.
ROGER and HOLLY stare at each other and smile. ED concentrates on putting on his coat.
ED [Calling to the others]: Goodnight Blake. Ross. Leo.
BLAKE [Tearing the larger piece of the wishbone away from LEO]: Goodnight!
ROSS, taking another gulp of his scotch, raises his glass to ED.
HOLLY closes the door upon ED BAUER'S departure.
BLAKE [To HOLLY and ROGER]: Mom? Daddy? We should be going too. [To LEO] Leo, why don't you buy me and my husband a cup of coffee? How about it? [Over to ROSS] Ross, let's go.
LEO stares at the tiny piece of turkey bone remaining from his match with BLAKE.
ROSS drinks the remaining swig of scotch in his glass.
ROGER and HOLLY stand in the front hall holding each other, oblivious to the trio's antics.
Soon after, the three gather their coats to leave. BLAKE proceeds to give her parents another hug before going to her car. LEO exclaims his gratitude for the home-cooked meal.
Later, that evening, ROGER and HOLLY get themselves ready for bed. ROGER goes downstairs to make sure that all the doors are locked and lights are out. When ROGER returns to their bedroom, he finds HOLLY lying in bed, the doors to the terrace open.
ROGER walks past the bed to the doors.
ROGER: Do you think it might get cold with these doors open?
HOLLY [Looking lovingly at her fiancée]: Well, they were expecting a light rain tonight.
ROGER looks at HOLLY and smiles knowingly.
ROGER: I love you.
HOLLY: I love you too.
ROGER silently closes the doors, leaving the
drapes undrawn. He takes off his
robe and places it on the bedpost.
HOLLY turns the blanket down and moves her body, making room for ROGER to come
beside her. ROGER climbs into bed.
HOLLY delicately lays her hand on his bare chest.
The moonlight shines on the diamond ring on her finger. HOLLY places her head on ROGER'S shoulder and closes her
eyes. It isn't long before she
drifts off to sleep. ROGER lies
silently beside HOLLY. His arms
gently caress her skin. His mind
wanders back to words he had spoken to HOLLY not all that long ago.
That next morning ...
The early day sun shines through the windowpanes onto ROGER'S face. ROGER turns his head away from the light. He awakens to find HOLLY wrapped in his arms. He smiles and closes his eyes, gently holding HOLLY closer to him.
Copyright © 1999 by Michael
Zaslow's ZazAngels. All rights reserved.
01/04/06 05:14:51 PM