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When last we met on Remember WENN, intelligent and beautiful head station writer Betty Roberts was being forced to choose between the two men she loves most, noble WENN station manager Victor Comstock and roguish actor Scott Sherwood. World War II had begun a few days before, and Scott had enlisted in the Army. He had also set up a swank job for Victor in London. Victor was assigned to head WENN's new Armed Forces branch and suggested that Scott take the London job. Both men turned to the shocked Betty to decide their, and her, futures. "Victor can decide if I should stay or go." Scott snapped.
"As they say at the Buttery, I'm ready to take your order." Victor told the confused young writer. "What'll it be?"
What'll it be, indeed? Let's go back to the writer's room to hear Betty's decision...
********
Betty clenched her teeth. "This is ridiculous!" She exclaimed. "I can't choose between you two. I love you both too much. You're acting like schoolboys at recess anyway! How could you put me on the spot like this? I'm beginning to wonder what I ever saw in either of you. I hope you two will be very happy together." She turned to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have scripts to write." She slammed the door as hard as she could on her way out. Neither of the men saw her burst into tears and run into the writer's room.
Scott and Victor just stood there staring for a minute, their mouths open in surprise. "She's right," Scott slowly said. "We shouldn't her choose like that."
Victor shook his head. "She can't spend her life bouncing back and forth between us. It's not fair to her, you, or me. It's also a distraction from the station. We have things to concentrate on here."
"Is that all you care about?" Scott asked him. "The station? What about Betty?" He closed the short distance between him and the taller man once more. "Do you know how she felt when you went running off to Washington every other day? How she felt when the only words she ever heard out of your mouth were, 'Betty, I'm sorry, but we can't go out tonight'? How she felt when you might have been in Berlin and could have gotten killed? No! You care about two things, democracy and WENN."
Scott put up a hand before Victor could speak. "It's not that I don't care about those things, too. I wouldn't have enlisted if I didn't. But I also care about Betty. I care about her feelings. I would literally die for her, Victor. This is a new concept for me. I don't know about you, but I've never been in love with any woman like this before." He looked at his watch. "I have three minutes to tell Betty good-bye and catch my transport plane. Victor," he shook hands with the other man, "good-bye and good-luck with London or Pittsburgh, whatever you choose."
The phone rang as Scott walked out. Victor picked it up. "Hello, General." He frowned. "Are you sure?"
Scott headed for the writer's room, passing Eugenia Bremer and Mr. Foley, the station's organist and sound effects man, on his way there. They sure looked happy. Eugenia was chattering a mile a minute and wouldn't allow poor Mr. Foley to get a word in edgewise.
Betty Roberts was clacking away at her typewriter, but Scott could see tears in her eyes. She reached up to wipe them away as he entered. She stood and went to the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him, her voice choking a little. "I thought you had a transport to catch."
"I do," he said softly, "but I wanted to say good-bye to you without getting called names or having to share you with Victor or anyone."
"Scott," she began, "I know that I was awfully brusque in the office, but I really do admire what you're doing for America."
He shook his head. "Understood completely, Betty. We acted stupid. You did the right thing in telling us off. I wouldn't be surprised if you refused to give me a chance now."
"If I gave you a chance, would it make you stay?"
"Betty, I'm already committed for at least two months." He checked his watch again. "I have to go. I'll be home soon. The war won't last forever."
"Scott..." Betty took Scott by the chin and kissed him gently on the lips. She stared at him as he walked past Gertie's desk and out the front door of WENN. The young writer wiped fiercely at her tears. Maybe she did love Scott the most. She couldn't believe that he had enlisted. He could be hurt or killed...
"Betty!" shouted a voice behind her. Betty shook her head to clear it and noticed Victor Comstock dressed in a coat and hat. "I'm leaving now. You're in charge of the station until I come back."
Betty gasped. "But you were assigned to run W.E.N.N, the Wartime Entertainment and News Network!"
Victor sadly shook his head. "No, you are now, Betty. Orders from me. I was told by the government that I have to go to London whether I like it or not." He kissed her on the lips. She let out a little sigh. "I have to go. It'll only be two months. This war won't last forever."
She watched him as he hurried out the door, feeling sadder and more depressed than she had since she had first heard that Victor had died in London more than a year ago. She still had no idea if she loved Scott or Victor more. She thought of what Victor had said as she returned to her scripts.
This war won't last forever...
Will Betty ever see either of them again? Will Scott come home in one piece? Will Betty ever decide who really owns her heart?
On the Edge of the Precipice Series
Go to On the Edge of the Precipice#2 - When Scotty Comes Marching Home Again!
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