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Scene 82
written by Linda
"So how is he?"
Holly takes the Tupperware full of chicken soup from Vanessa, who has dropped by to check on Fletcher...
Holly: (heading for the kitchen) He's doing pretty well. He's napping now. Ed says his body still needs to heal from the trauma.
Vanessa: Well I really appreciated you two being there for me. It meant a great deal. But, I'm now wondering, how you're doing?
Holly: I'm tired. I think my body needs to heal from both traumas -- Fletcher and our daughter.
Vanessa: Better get some rest now, while you still can. (shakes her head) Because once you've got that baby in the house....
Holly: (coming to sit next to Vanessa on the couch) I know, I know. Middle of the night feedings. Early morning screams. It's not the kids that need naps; (grins) it's the parents.
Vanessa: But you're looking forward to every second of it.
Holly: I don't know if I'd go that far. But I do feel like now that I've got Fletcher back, I can handle anything the fates throw our way.
Vanessa: (staring at her) Even Roger?
Holly: (getting angry) What in the world would make you ask a question like that? He is out of my life. Period.
Vanessa: I'm sorry. (frowns and stares down at her hands) It's just that I saw you two talking... I guess I'm just beginning to realize how easily the past can come back to haunt you, sometimes when you least expect it.
Holly: (softening) Are you talking about Billy?
The camera shifts to Billy Lewis, who walks through the door to the empty Diner; he grabs a stool at the counter and waits for a few minutes...
Billy: What does a guy gotta do to get a cup of coffee around here?
"Be out in a minute" comes the voice from the kitchen. Nadine Cooper backs out the door to the kitchen, grabbing the pot of coffee on her way. When she turns and sees her ex-husband sitting at the counter, she promptly drops the coffeepot in shocked surprise spreading broken glass and coffee across the Diner floor...
Billy: (smiling)
Hello, Nadine.
Nadine stares at him in shock for about 30 seconds, then turns to grab a rag and begin cleaning up the mess on the floor...
Nadine: (mustering a facade of composure) Guess I've got the lead for The Journal's next gossip column.
"Do you know where Nadine is?"
Nick looks at Alan-Michael with an expression of frustration. After glancing around The Journal newsroom, Alan-Michael merely shakes his head...
Nick: It's hard enough to get out this paper day after day with Fletch still recovering, but it would be nice if some of the rest of the staff would show up.
Alan-Michael: Holly picked up some work this morning. Tangie's out at the courts covering that embezzlement case. And Dinah's... (stops when he sees Nick roll his eyes...) Who else are you looking for?
Nick: I'd like Nadine's column.
Lucy: (coming up behind him) She said she filed it before she left. She's helping out at the Diner because Eleni's ill. Call her there if you have any questions. Here's tomorrow's Classies layout and specs. (hands Nick a stack of paper and heads back to her desk)
Alan-Michael: (looking at his cousin carefully) So what's really eating you? The dark cloud raining on your parade has nothing to do with Nadine's advice column, or lack thereof. (Nick says nothing but shoots a quick glance at Tangie's desk) Aha. Woman troubles. So what did you and Tangie fight about?
Nick: (frustrated) Nothing. You'd have to actually converse about something meaningful to fight. (pauses) Since the whole incident with Roger and her father, she's built up this wall and has been hiding behind it. We can talk about the weather, the news, Fletcher's health, anything more personal and I feel like I'm naked at the North Pole. She just freezes me out. I just don't know what to do.
"I don't know. I guess I just didn't expect to have Billy back in Springfield so soon. I mean I knew he was up for parole and I'm thrilled for Bill's sake but...."
Holly sympathetically looks at Vanessa as she pours them both cups of herbal tea...
Vanessa: I love Matt. I really do.
Holly: But you still feel something for Billy.
Vanessa: He's the father of my son. I don't know. I mean, there's so much history between us and it's not like we ever got a chance to really deal with it when he was sent to prison. And then there was the custody battle. I just don't want something from the past to come back and ruin the present (pauses) or the future.
Holly: One thing I know. You can't just avoid how you feel. You have to find some way to deal with it.
Vanessa: I know. But I can't tell Matt. It would hurt him too much.
Holly: (thinking of Fletcher) Don't you think he already knows?
Vanessa: (all of the sudden getting up) I'm sorry. I shouldn't be dumping all of this on you. You've got enough going on in your own life.
Holly: Actually it's nice to think about someone else's problems for a little while. Besides, I'm glad you're willing to confide in me. That's what friends are for, remember?
"In good times, in bad times. I'll be on your side forevermore. That's what friends are for.."
Holly and Vanessa both shake their heads and start to laugh as Fletcher croons the lyrics to the old Dionne Warwick song at them, dressed in his plaid bathrobe...
Holly: (smiling) I told Blake he's been listening to too many of those cheesy love songs. They're going to his head.
Fletcher: (pretending to be hurt) Hey, watch it.
Vanessa: You mean it's not the head injury? (smiles) I think I'd better make my break while I can. Wouldn't want to get stuck listening to Reade's version of Sinatra. (goes over and hugs Fletcher) I'm glad to see you're feeling better. (hugs Holly) Thanks for listening. And thanks again for coming to the funeral.
Holly: He was a great man. You were lucky to have such a wonderful father and to have him in your life for as long as you did. (Vanessa smiles and then leaves...)
Fletcher walks over to Holly and holds her close, realizing she must be thinking about her father who she lost when she was younger; she looks up at Fletcher, grateful that he's back home... she runs her fingers through his hair, gently pulling him into a kiss; he wraps his arms snugly around her... their breathing becomes faster... their passion escalates as they make their way to the bedroom, we fade to black...
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Guiding Light, all related characters and elements are (c) and TM 1996 Procter and Gamble. All rights reserved. FollyWorld is (c) 1996 Lilpeste. All rights reserved. No attempt has been made to supersede the copyrights or trademarks held by Procter and Gamble.