YOU MIX UP RED AND WHITE, AND WHAT DO YOU GET? Todd & Starr, Vicki, Tea

This is yet another goodbye scene for Todd and Starr. This is after Todd is acquitted from his trial for the hostages at the lodge, since the court believed he has DID. However, they freed him with restrictions, that he no longer would retain custody of Starr. Todd’s triumph of pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes backfires and he is devastated to lose Starr temporarily. While he is in therapy for his ‘alters’ he must remain at Vicki’s house, as she has taken on supervision for him. Vicki and Tea have brought him to the penthouse so he can say goodbye to Starr. Tea has gone upstairs to get her for him. He is supposed to be Tom in this scene but it is very evident only Todd is present and he is extremely quiet and sad, both with Starr and Tea after. When he talks to Starr it is gentle and loving, he puts up a very brave front to not upset his daughter and Starr gives a great performance at being very sad to say goodbye to her daddy, a truly beautiful little scene.

VICKI: I’m really sorry Tom, I know this is hard.

TODD: I...I don’t know why I’m so upset I mean technically I’m not even her father, right? I’m just the guy who gets to play with her. (he smiles weakly as Tom)

VICKI: You’re her father, that will never change. And you’ll be back together with her again, I know you will. Soon as you’re well. (Starr comes down the stairs followed by Tea)

STARR: Daddy! (runs to him, he picks her up) Tee, said you have to go away.

TODD: Yeah, I gotta go away.

STARR: For always?

TODD: No, not for always. (pause, confidentially, treating her with respect) Hey now, you want to talk about this?

STARR: (pout) I don’t want you to go.

TODD: I don’t want to go.

STARR: I don’t like saying goodbye.

TODD: I don’t either.

STARR: It makes me sad.

TODD: Yeah, well me too. (pause) Listen, there’s a lot of people in this world that don’t like me. And a lot of people in this world that I don’t like. A lot of people in this world I don’t care if I ever see them again as long as I live.

STARR: Not me, though.

TODD: (quickly) No, not you. (small smile) Starr, ever time I see you, I think the world’s a little better. (another small smile, pause) So, what’s your favorite color?

STARR: You know.

TODD: No, I don’t know. (guessing) Pink?

STARR: (big smile) Yeah, right, cause it’s so pretty.

TODD: (he looks away, thinking) Right. (looks back at her) You like pink better than you like red, right?

STARR: Yeah. (Vicki and Tea watch smiling at the sweetness of the two)

TODD: Yeah, and you...you like pink better than you like white, right?

STARR: (confused) White isn’t a color.

TODD: Whatever. You mix up red and white and what do you get, do you know?

STARR: No.

TODD: That’s when you get pink. (smiles)

STARR: (she smiles brightly) You do?

TODD: Yeah, you do. And me, I’m red. And Blair.....Blair’s white. (softly) And we got all mixed up, (smiles) and what did we get?

STARR: You got me! (big smile)

TODD: Yeah, we got you, and you’re better than me, and you’re better than Blair. You are you know, you’re prettier, you’re smarter than both of us put together.

STARR: Mommy’s the prettiest.

TODD: (his eyes brighten looking at her) I think you’re the prettiest, Starr.

STARR: And you’re smarter than me.

TODD: That’s right I am. (he starts to break down) I’m gonna miss you.

STARR: I’m gonna miss you too. (she hugs him)

TODD: I’m gonna miss you Starr, because you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. (she backs away to look at him, brushing her hair away from her face) You are. You make me happy. (she hugs him again, he hugs her back tightly, tears in his eyes, stroking her hair)

Scene break

TEA: (Tea comes back down having taken Starr back upstairs, her voice is choked with emotion, she has been crying) The nanny’s got her folding these little tea party linens, you know, it might distract her for a few minutes, maybe.

TODD: (he stands with his hands in his pockets, feet apart) Why don’t you stay at Vicki’s, huh, with me? (turning to Vicki) She’s got a big house, you got a big house right?

VICKI: Of course, Tea if that’s what you want.

TEA: (she stammers, surprised) I...I would love to but I....I have to stay with...with Starr here. People have been trying to reach Blair and...and no one can reach her, so.

TODD: Well Blair’s off thinking about Blair somewhere.

TEA: (she sighs) Blair will turn up when she turns up. But until then, I...I should.....

VICKI: You both can’t leave her, Tom, you know that.

TEA: Yeah.

TODD: (he looks at her sadly) I’m not going to lose you to, am I?

TEA: No. No! (she steps into him straightening his jacket) Definitely not! I’ll be with you everyday for as much time as I can be, okay, Tom? (smiling bravely) It’s not an ending, it’s a beginning, okay?

TODD: You promise?

TEA: Yeah, I promise. (she hugs him, and he hugs her back with one arm)

TODD: Okay, you better go check on Starr now. (she tries to pull away but he does not let her go, she gives a laugh) Well go on. (she laughs again, he still won’t let her go) Come on, go. (she laughs again through her tears and he finally lets her out of his arms, she starts to go he grabs her sleeve, saying very quietly) You tell Starr that her Daddy will be back soon. (he gives a small smile)

TEA: (whispers, pointing, optimistically) I’ll do that. (she crosses to the stairs and turns back to look at him and then goes upstairs)

VICKI: You will be back. (he turns and looks at her then gestures for her to walk ahead of him to the door, he opens the door to let her walk out) Thank you.

TODD: (he comes back into the room looking up the stairs, he is very serious and very Todd) Damn straight I’ll be back.