Only You
chapter 1-5
Chapter 1
[Setting: The Shockwave: Tim and Tess are sitting with their heads together, plotting to get Casey and Meg together.]
Tess: How are you going to get rid of Sara?
Looking over Tim's shoulder, she spies Casey and Sara kissing. They are celebrating the fact that she is moving into Surf Central.
Tess: She is moving into Surf Central, Tim. For our plan to work that can never happen.
Tim: Don't worry, I have a few aces up my sleeve. That move will never take place.
At that moment Meg walks in and Sara tells Meg the happy news.
Meg: Sara you may not believe this, but I am happy for you.
Sara: Thank you.
Sara (trying to lighten Meg's somber mood): Hey, do you think you can stand sharing a bathroom with me again?
Meg tells her that she had been thinking about moving in with their parents.
Sara: Why?
Meg: I don't know, I guess I have been thinking about something Ben said to me.
Sara (feeling more secure in her relationship with Casey, now that Meg is thinking about leaving): Well, whatever you do, I am behind you 100%. I am sorry that we have not been as close as we used to be. I really miss that.
Meg: Me too.
Tim and Tess, who had been listening intently to their conversation, realize they have to act fast.
Tess: Tim we have to do something before Meg moves out.
Tim (grinning): That will be very easy and my pleasure. Just watch the walls come crumbling down.
Tim gets up out of his seat and walks away chuckling at the prospect of the scene he knows is coming.
Tim walks up to Meg, Sara, and Casey.
Tim: Hey Sara, I hear you’re moving into Surf Central. Congratulations.
Sara (clearly annoyed that Tim would barge into their conversation): What do you want, Tim?
Tim: Oh nothing. I was just wondering if Casey would still let you move in if I told him what you did.
Sara tries to change the subject, but Tim won't be stopped.
Tim (looking at Meg): Did you and Ben ever stop to think how Maria got home from Palm Springs that night? Well, let me tell you in case you were wondering. I brought her home.
Meg: What were you doing there, Tim?
Tim: Waiting for you, of course.
Meg: What?
Tim: Oh Sara was kind enough to help me set you up to come to me in Palm Springs.
Sara (face crumbling): Wait I can explain.
Tim (interrupting when he sees that Casey and Meg understand what he is saying): Oh come on Sara, you did it to keep Meg away from Casey. You thought your relationship with Casey would be secure if Meg was with someone else, even if that someone else was me.
Casey and Meg turn to Sara. She is stunned by the look in their eyes.
Meg: How could you do this to me, Sara?
Meg runs out of Shock Wave.
Casey (with the pain evident in his eyes): You promised not to interfere anymore, Sara. When are you going to stop lying to me? I'm sorry, but I just can't trust you anymore. I can't be with you anymore. Sara grabs his arm and begs him not to leave, but Casey disengages himself.
Casey: I need to find Meg.
At that moment Joan comes into the dining room and sees Sara crying. Joan: What's wrong, Sara?
Sara: Mom, it was just awful. Casey hates me. Meg hates me.
Joan tries to comfort her daughter, but Sara is so ashamed that she doesn't want to tell her mom what she did and she flees from the restaurant. Tim had rejoined Tess and watched with her as the scene unfolded.
Tess (with a devilish grin on her face after seeing Sara run out of the Shockwave): Tim you are so bad but I definitely like you that way.
As she leans over to give him a kiss, Joan walks up and asks Tim if he knows what happened. Tim tells her no and Joan goes back to work, worrying about her daughter.
As Sara ran out the door, her brain started functioning again. What is Tim up to? She asks herself. What does he have to gain by telling Casey now?
Sara (whispering aloud): Tim has to be up to something and I am going to find out what it is.
She turns around and starts walking back toward the Shockwave.
Sara: Maybe if I can find that out, I can make up for what I have done.
Chapter 2
[Surf Central; Casey finds Meg sitting on the couch, stunned and staring out into space.]
Casey sees Meg sitting on the couch crying. Casey asks Meg how she is doing, but Meg just sits there looking like her world has fallen to pieces.
Casey (looking at her questioning): Meg.
Like a dam, Meg bursts and starts telling Casey about how she is feeling. She gets off the couch and starts to pace.
Meg: Do you know what this means? I thought it was Fate that led Ben and me back together, but it was all a lie. How could they do this to us? When I think about the time Ben and I spent in that adobe, Casey, it was one of the happiest times of my life. And it was all a lie.
She turns her back to him, and puts her hands over her face, her shoulders shaking. Casey reaches out to her and tries to convince her it wasn't a lie.
Casey: Meg, Ben loves you very much, he chose you because he wants to be with you. If you look at him you will see he still does. Meg, it was fate that you ended up together.
Meg tells Casey to stop trying to make her feel better, but he grabs her by the shoulders and spins her around.
Casey: Listen to me, Meg. If Tim's plan had worked things would be very different by now. Fate stepped in to let you and Ben find each other instead.
For the first time Meg looks at Casey and realizes that he is in as much pain as she is.
Meg: Thank you for that Casey, and I'm sorry. Here I am feeling sorry for myself and you are hurting as much as I am.
Casey: Meg you don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine.
But Meg is worried about him, she could see how much pain he is in and realizes that she hasn't made things easy for him and Sara. Meg tells Casey that she is going to go for a walk and Casey asks if he can join her because he has to go to work. Meg really wanted to be alone, but she gave in because he looked like he really needed someone to talk to.
Meg (as they are walking out the door): Casey, you know I'm here for you if you need to talk, okay?
[The Sea Breeze Motel.]
Tess and Tim walk up to his room arm in arm. They walk in and begin making out. Unbeknownst to them Sara has followed them at a safe distance and is now trying to hide just below his open window. She listens in disgust at Tim and Tess and is ready to walk away when finally Tess speaks.
Tess: Tim you are amazing. Sara never knew what hit her.
Tim (laughing): Well I learned from the master manipulator-Annie Douglas.
Tess wrinkles her nose and then tells Tim about her run in with Annie a while back and Tim tells her that Annie is just very protective of Maria and it might do well for them to get her to help them.
Sara is listening very carefully now. Help them with what? She asks herself. Then the light bulb goes off in her head. Getting Maria and Ben back together! Not knowing that Sara is listening to everything they say, Tim and Tess continue discussing their plan.
Tim: Now that Sara is out of the way, Casey will turn to Meg and Meg will turn to Casey. Then Ben will turn to Maria.
Tess (continuing Tim's thoughts): And we will have everything we want.
Tess and Tim start kissing again.
Sara is shattered by what she is hearing. She doesn't know what to do. She is scared now more than ever that Casey and Meg will end up together. She walks away aimlessly wondering what she should do. Not paying any attention to where she is going, she ends up at the beach.
[Ben's Deck and The Beach]
Ben is standing on his deck watching as Casey and Meg walk by on their way to the lifeguard station. They are walking arm in arm and their heads are turned toward each other in conversation. Ben closes his eyes trying to guard his heart from the sight that he has dreaded seeing for a very long time. I wish Meg would just talk to me instead of Casey, he says to himself.
Ben (to no one in particular): Meg I am not going to lose you. I will fight for us forever.
At that moment he notices Sara who is standing at the edge of the ocean. She looks so lost and upset that Ben starts moving toward her. Sara, deep in thought, is startled when she hears Ben calling her name.
Ben: Sara, what's wrong? You look kind of lost.
Sara: Nothing, everything. I've hurt everyone and you will hate me too when you find out what I have done.
Ben: Why don't you let me be the judge of that?
Sara, realizing that she has to talk to someone, starts pouring out her heart to Ben. She tells him about how insecure she is with Meg around; she tells him about how she schemed with Tim and what happened earlier; and how much it bothers her that Casey seems to be the only one who can comfort Meg when she is down.
As Ben listens, at first he is outraged by what she did with Tim, but the more she talks the more he realizes how much they have in common. He knows that Meg loves him very much, but it really bothers him that she turns to Casey. He also realizes that Sara helped him find his way back to Meg and for that he will be forever grateful. Ben tells Sara that he is not upset with her and mentions their conversation at the Shockwave the day Benjy was kidnapped. He wonders if maybe they could do something to help each other.
Sara: Ben, do you love my sister?
Ben: More than life itself.
Sara: Then why haven't you gotten a divorce and why are Maria and Tess still living in your house? It seems to me that if you loved my sister as much as you say you do, you would see how this situation is destroying her.
Ben stares out at the ocean and begins pondering what Sara is saying. He is beginning to see things very clearly. He sees how insensitive he's been to Meg's feelings and all the times she tried to make the situation bearable while she was completely miserable.
Ben (whispering into the night to no one in particular): I'm sorry, Meg. I just didn't see how hard this was on you. Oh Meg, will you ever forgive me?
Sara (seeing how much he is hurting, takes pity on him): Lets go inside. I think we need to talk.
Chapter 3
[The Setting: Ben's house.]
Ben and Sara walk into Ben's living room. He asks Sara to have a seat and joins her on the couch.
Sara (looking uncomfortable): Ben there is something you need to know. I overheard Tim and Tess talking about trying to get Meg and Casey together so that you would turn to Maria. That is why Tim told Casey about the Palm Springs incident.
Ben (looking startled): Why are they trying to get me with Maria? Tim has Tess now what difference does it make to them who I am with.
Sara: I didn't hear everything that was said, but I got the feeling that there was something in it for them.
Ben: Well, I guess we should try to figure out what that is.
Sara: What do you have in mind?
Ben (after staring thoughtfully for a few minutes considering the information that he just received): I think we need to beat them at their own game.
Sara: You mean you want to team up? Do you really think that is a good idea?
Ben (with a devilish gleam in his eye): I told you Sara before that we needed to work with each other and not against each other since we want the same thing. What do you think about my turning to you for support during this time, instead of turning to Maria?
Sara (not believing what Ben is saying): I think it would drive my sister crazy.
Ben: Not only that, but if Tim and Tess want me to turn to Maria and I turn to you instead they might get desperate and show their cards.
Sara: Okay Ben, count me in. I am always ready for a little intrigue and I have never trusted Tess, so it might be fun.
Ben: For what I am proposing, we need your parents help. I know Hank isn't my biggest fan so do you think you could convince him to help us. He doesn’t have to change is attitude toward me. In fact it would be better if his attitude didn’t change.
Sara: He'll do it for me if I ask him.
Ben: Okay this is what they need to do. I have a feeling that after hearing what Tim told Meg and Casey they will want to fire him. You tell them first and try to keep them from firing him. They need to act like they don't know. If he continues to work at the Shockwave, they can keep an eye on him for us.
Sara: Kind of like keeping your enemies’ closer.
Ben: Exactly. I will continue to let Tess stay here too. If she doesn't realize that we are on to her, I might be able to hear her slip up. Now this is what we are going to do. We are going to start appearing in public together. We will meet at Grenadine's for dinner, take walks on the beach, and take Benjy to the Shockwave for ice cream. Basically we will act like two people who have come together because the people we love dumped us.
Sara (with a pained look in her eye): Did you have to be so blunt Ben?
Ben (looking a bit more hopeful than Sara): Okay, I'm sorry, but hopefully they will be so jealous of our newfound friendship that they can understand how we feel when we see them together.
Sara: I do like the way you think, but do you really think it will work?
Ben: If Tim and Tess's plan backfires they will have to try something else, especially if there is something they want from my reunion with Maria. When they get desperate, we'll have them right where we want them.
Sara (looking a bit nervous, trying to decide whether she should mention something Meg said): Ben now that we are partners can I ask you a question?
Ben: Of course.
Sara: I am assuming you are doing this because you still want to be with Meg. What are you going to do about Maria?
Ben (now he's looking uncomfortable): I really don't know. I don't want to hurt her, but I truly love your sister.
Sara: Ben, I know I may be overstepping here, but Meg said that she could not come back and live in this house again.
Ben: Thanks Sara for telling me that. I am determined to make things right with your sister. I will do whatever it takes to get her back.
Sara: I know you will Ben. Well I better go home now. I guess I will talk to you tomorrow.
Ben: Yes, we will start putting our plan in motion. I will pick you up after lunch at the Shockwave for a stroll on the beach.
Sara: See you then!
Sara leaves Ben's house and heads to the Shockwave.
Ben continues to sit on the couch and thinks about what Sara said about Meg. He realizes again how insensitive he's been to her needs, not realizing how unhappy she was. He says to himself, I am going to make things right for us Meg and I know just where to start. He walks over to the phone and calls his lawyer.
Sara arrives at the Shockwave as her mother is cleaning up.
Sara: Mom, I need your help.
Joan (looking worried at seeing Sara and remembering that she left in tears): Sara, what is the matter? You know I will do anything I can to help you, but will you please tell me why you were so upset earlier.
Sara told her mother about the scene earlier with Tim. She cried during her confession hoping her mother wouldn't be very disappointed in her. When she had cried her last tear, her mother asked her what she wanted her to do. She tells her mother about what she overheard and then about Ben's plan. Her mother wants to fire Tim, but Sara talks her out of it.
Sara: You need to keep him here so you can watch him. Act like you don't know for as long as you can without him getting suspicious. Oh and mom, there is one more thing. Do you think you could talk dad into helping us? Ben said that in order for the plan to work we would need his help watching Tim.
Joan: Don't worry. He will help. I'll see to it!
Chapter 4
[Setting: The Shockwave]
The next morning at the Shockwave Hank and Joan are discussing Tim. Hank is very upset at what Tim has done to his daughter. He wants to fire him right away, but Joan tries to talk him out of it.
Joan: You are just so stubborn, Hank. You dig your heels in and just won't let go.
Hank: Joanie, I am just so tired of seeing Tim hurt my girls. He doesn't deserve a second chance.
Joan: We aren't giving him a second chance Hank. We are just keeping him close to keep an eye on him. For Ben and Sara's plan to work, we need to try to find out what he is up to with Tess.
Hank (grudgingly): Okay Joanie. I will let him stay on, but I don't like it. Maybe if we get to the bottom of this, both of my girls will be able to move on. I just hope that Meg and Sara don't get hurt any more than they already have been.
Joan heard him, but didn't want to mention that Ben's plan would probably hurt Meg a little. She was a little uncomfortable herself, but it was a good plan. If they could upset Tim and Tess enough, they just may find out what is going on.
Hank (walking back toward the storeroom): As soon as Tim gets here, I want you to send him back to the stockroom. There is a lot of freight that needs to be put away.
At that moment Tim walks into the Shockwave.
Tim: Sorry I'm late, but I had a few errands to run.
Joan: Tim, Hank wants you to help him in the storeroom this morning.
As Tim walks back to the storeroom, he wonders at Joan's attitude toward him. I can't believe she didn't fire me, he thinks to himself. Maybe Sara and Meg didn't say anything. Well, just in case, I better keep my guard up.
Sara also reports to work and begins waiting on the lunch crowd. She wonders what time Ben will show up and if Meg will be here to it. Fortunately, Meg and Vanessa decide to dine at the Shockwave that day for lunch. As they were paying their bill, Ben walks in. Meg turns and sees him and walks over to where he is standing.
Meg: Ben, I thought we agreed that we wouldn't see each other anymore. What are you doing here?
Ben: No Meg, you agreed we wouldn't see each other anymore. I have never and will never agree to that. However, it just so happens that I am here to see Sara today.
Meg: Sara? What?
Ben (looking up to see Sara walking towards him): Sara, are you ready?
Sara: Let me just finish clearing my last table and I will be ready to go.
Sara walks away and leaves an awkward tension behind as Meg stares in disbelief at Ben.
Meg: What in the world could you possibly want with Sara? Ben you don't even like her.
Ben: That was before we had the chance to talk last night. Sara is very intelligent and she understands what I am going through right now. I guess that since I no longer have you and she no longer has Casey, we have found common ground.
Sara walks up at that moment.
Sara: Ben, are you ready?
Ben: Yes let's go. (He turns to Meg) Bye Meg. (Ben then leans down and whispers in Meg's ear) I missed you this morning and last night.
Sara and Ben turn to walk away just as Casey walks in the door. He sees the look of shock on Meg's face as she stares at Ben and Sara walking out the door.
Casey: What is that about? After yesterday, I thought Sara finally learned her lesson.
Meg continues to stare at the door that Ben and Sara just walked out of.
Casey (trying to get Meg's attention): Earth to Meg.
Meg (finally realizing that Casey is talking her): What?
Casey: I said what was that all about? (At Meg's dumbfounded expression) You know Ben and Sara?
Meg: I wish I knew.
Meg knew one thing though, she did not like seeing her fiancé with her sister. Something about that picture did not sit right with her. As she reached to touch her engagement and wedding rings, she realized they were no longer there.
Meg (whispering to herself): Well he may not be my fiancé anymore, but I do still love him.
[Ben’s House]
Maria is sitting on the sofa reading the Newspaper and the door bell rings. Realizing that she is alone, she gets off the couch and answers the door.
Maria (seeing that it is a courier): Yes, can I help you?
Courier: Are you Maria Torres?
Maria: I am Maria Torres-Evans, yes.
Courier: Then these are for you. Can you please sign here?
Maria signs the paper and takes her package and returns to the couch. She opens up the envelope and finds divorce papers.
Maria (whispering aloud): How could Ben do this to me? Well I won’t sign them, at least not yet. Meg has broken off with Ben so I still have a chance.
Maria takes the papers and puts them in her pocketbook and forgets them.
Chapter 5
For the next couple of weeks, Ben and Sara were seen everywhere together, and Casey and Meg were going completely insane with jealousy, watching the people they love with someone else. Ben told Meg that she had his heart and always would, but he wouldn't let her in on his and Sara's secret. Meg knew in her heart that Ben loved her, but she couldn't forget that Benjy was kidnapped because of her.
While Sara and Ben spent time together, they watched and waited for some kind of reaction from Tess and Tim. Tess was clearly agitated because the plan wasn't working, and blamed Tim for the whole mess. Hank, who realized that he loved the intrigue, had been assigned to following Tess and Tim. Hiding in the bushes at Ben's house, he was treated to a very revealing conversation.
Tess: I can't believe that I let you talk me into that insane plan of yours. Maria told me today that Ben has filed for divorce and she received the papers two weeks ago.
Tess has a flashback of her conversation with Maria this morning.
Tess: Maria . . . Where were you just then, you seemed a million miles away?
Maria was holding some papers in her hand and was startled at Tess’s unexpected arrival.
Maria: Oh Tess, you scared me, I didn’t hear you come in.
Tess notices the word divorce on the papers that Maria is holding.
Tess: Are those Divorce papers Maria?
Maria (realizing that she needs to talk to someone about the papers even if it is Tess): Yes they are. I got them two weeks ago.
Tess (looking anxious): Have you signed them yet? Maria, don’t sign those papers. You and Ben belong together and he will realize it soon enough.
Tess comes back to the present.
Tess: If Ben and Maria don't get back together, my plans will be ruined.
Tim: Has she signed them yet? And don’t you mean our plans?
Tess: Yes, of course, I mean our plans and no she hasn’t signed them, but if she does were sunk.
Tim: Tess, is there something you’re not telling me?
Tess: (a bit nervous) Tim, you know everything. I wouldn't keep anything from you. You know that. I love you.
Tim (looking uncertain): Okay, Tess. What are we going to do now?
The phone rings and Tess picks it up.
Tess: Hello?
Caller: Tess, I am not pleased with you.
Tim (seeing Tess's white face): Tess, who is it?
Tess (clearly frightened): Who is this?
Caller: You know who this is and I am close Tess. Very close.
Tess (as she hears the phone hanging up): No wait, please!
Tess replaces the receiver; she is white as a ghost. Tim rushes over to her and catches her as she starts to faint.
Tim: Tess! Speak to me. What was that all about? Come on Tess please answer me.
Tess (mumbling over and over again): Oh my God, he is going to kill me. I thought he was dead. I thought he was dead.
Tim (becoming frightened): Who Tess? Who is going to kill you?
Tess: Derek.
Tim remembers fighting with Derek and falling off the scaffolding. He has a stricken look on his face as he realizes that he may have inadvertently placed Meg in danger. He turns and runs out. Unbeknownst to him, he is being followed.
Over at the Shock Wave, Ben and Sara are celebrating the fact that Sara has just accepted a position with Ben to keep the books at the Deep and the Java Web. Meg and Casey see their celebration and can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Meg: You know Casey, I know Ben wants me back. He has told me several times, but I just can't help feeling left out when I see those two together. I keep thinking that I made a mistake in letting Ben go.
Casey: Meg, Ben is crazy about you. You know that. It was foolish of you to tell him to be a family with Maria anyway. Ben doesn't blame you for the kidnapping, you know. You are making yourself and Ben miserable by staying away from him.
Meg: What about you, Casey? Do you and Sara have a chance?
Casey: I don't know.
Meg: Casey, you've told me I should forgive Sara, why can't you? (Changing the subject) Why don't we go and see what the fuss is all about?
Casey still looks a little uncertain, but follows Meg toward Ben and Sara. As Casey and Meg are about to join them, Joan walks over and whispers something in Ben's ear.
Joan: Something has happened. Hank just called and said Tim ran out of your house like something was chasing him. He is following Tim to see where he is going.
Ben: Does he have any idea why?
Joan: He said that Tess received a phone call and she kept mumbling something that he couldn't hear. He did say that both looked like they had seen a ghost.
Ben: Well I better go find out what happened.
As Ben starts to leave, Meg sees that he has an odd look on his face. She detains him briefly.
Meg: What is going on, Ben?
Ben: I'm not sure, but I have a bad feeling. Stay here with your mom and Sara. I'll call as soon as I know anything.
Ben starts to take off, but a sense of foreboding stops him and he turns around. Meg is standing there watching him. He goes back to her, takes her in his arms and kisses her.
Ben: Meg, I can't explain this feeling, but it scares me. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. I love you so much. Please stay here until I call. Casey, will you watch out for them please?
Casey: Okay Ben. Call me if you need anything.
Meg: I love you too Ben. Be careful.
Ben rushes out of the Shock Wave and heads home. He looks for Tess and Benjy, but finds no sign of them. Some of their belongings are missing. Maria walks in at that moment and when she realizes that Tess has taken off with her son, she has a flash of Tess leaving with Benjy once before.
Tess and Benjy are at the airport. She books them two seats on the next flight out of Sunset Beach. She is trying to remain inconspicuous, but unbeknownst to her she is being watched. Tess is very anxious to board the plane, but there is a delay.
Benjy: Tess, why do we have to leave?
Tess: I can't explain right now, sweetie, but we have to move on again.
Benjy (crying): But I don't understand, I was happy here.
Tess starts to fumble around in the over sized pocketbook she was carrying to find a tissue for Benjy. She comes across a thick book and she remembers the day she found it.
Tess: Well what do we have here?
She opens the book to see what is inside. As she flips the pages, her expression gets grimmer and grimmer.
Tess: Maria cannot see this book. I’ll just take it for safekeeping.
Tess comes back to the present and finds the tissue for Benjy.
Tess: Benjy, honey . . .
Benjy (Just then Benjy looks up and sees "Ben"): Hey Daddy.
Tess sees "Ben" and starts to panic. She stands up, but before she can run away, "Ben" puts a gun in her back.
Derek: Where do you think you are going?
Tess: I ... I ... I can explain.
Derek (pressing the gun further into her back): Explain what? How you were going to give my son to my brother? How you used my son in your get rich scheme? How you almost got him killed with that kidnapping scam of yours? How you were going to blackmail Maria for money? Why you decided to ruin all my plans? What exactly can you explain Tess?
Tess: I . . .I . . .
Derek (with quiet steel in his voice): I have been planning my revenge since I recovered from the fall, but now you’ve ruined it. Well, my dear, since you have laid the foundation I will cash in. It isn’t exactly my style, but it will do for now. Take Benjy’s hand and walk slowly toward the exit.
Tess takes Benjy's hand and they walk toward the nearest exit.
Derek (looking at Benjy): My, you've gotten so big. I have missed you.
Benjy: I've missed you, too, Daddy.