A.J. SWATS HER WITH HIS TOWEL HE HAD WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. "WE SURE FOOLED YOU! YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE THAT COULD KEEP BSB DOWN." A BRIGHT CAN SHINES UP AT HIM FROM THE PILE OF GIFTS THAT SPILL FROM ESTHER'S BAG. GRABBING IT QUICKLY, HE READS THE LABEL AND, AS INCONSPICULOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, PASSES IT TO ESTHER. "GET RID OF THIS BEFORE HOWIE FINDS IT. I WON'T HAVE HIM KEEPING ME UP AGAIN BECAUSE OF THEM."
ESTHER LAUGHS AND SHOVES THE CANNED GOOD INTO HER POCKET.
BRIAN WALKS UP BEHIND A.J. "YEAH ESTHER, NOTHING COULD EVER KEEP US DOWN. NOT ANY OF US LOVESICK RUNAWAYS......."
LAURA NODS. "NOT ANY CRAZY HOTEL MANAGERS WITH SHOTGUNS......."
HOWIE LEANS AN ELBOW ON LIZZIE'S SHOULDER AND ADDS. "NOT ANY THUGS WITH LOW ANNOYANCE LEVELS....."
"STICK A SOCK IN IT, HOWIE."
"I WOULDN'T GO THERE, LAURA."
A.J. SIDLES UP TO DIANA AND TAKES HER HAND IN HIS. "LIKE THE SHOW?"
"NO." SHE SPITS BITTERLY. A.J. RAISES AN EYEBROW AT HER RESPONSE. "I WAS JOKING. ONE OF THE BEST I'VE SEEN YET."
"UH-HUH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT." A.J. LAUGHS, PLANTING A QUICK PECK ON HER CHEEK. "I KNOW JUST EXACTLY WHAT SETS YOU OFF AND WHEN YOU'RE ONLY PLAYING AROUND. YOU SEE DIANA, YOU MAY PLAY HARD TO GET, BUT YOU NEVER COULD FOOL ME." DIANA FROWNS AND WALKS AWAY. "WAIT! I WAS ONLY KIDDING! DIANA?!"
SHE STOPS AND TURNS AROUND. "GOT YA!"
"WHY YOU LITTLE......THAT WASN'T FAIR!"
DIANA SMILES. "ALLS FAIR IN LOVE AND POLITICS."
HE NODS. "YUP. AND SPEAKING OF POLITICS, UH, TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, YOU ARE MY PERSONAL SLAVE NOW........"
"HUH?" SHE GAPES. "HOW'S THAT?"
"WELL, THE UNSPOKEN RULE ABOUT PERSONAL SLAVES IS THAT THE SENTENCE CAN BE REVERSED IF THE SLAVE SAVES THE MASTER'S LIFE AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AND, IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, I WAS THE ONE WHO SAVED YOU FROM CHOKING TO DEATH EARLIER......."
DIANA SCOWLS. "THAT DIDN'T COUNT! THAT WAS COMPLETELY ACCIDENTAL AND DOESN'T APPLY TO THESE SO-CALLED TERMS OF SLAVE OWNERSHIP! YOU COULD HAVE SAVED ANYONE'S LIFE! THAT ISN'T FAIR AT ALL AND....."
"GOT YA." A.J. SNICKERS, DUCKING WHEN DIANA SWINGS HER HAND PLAYFULLY AT HIS HEAD. LINKING HANDS, THEY BOTH WALK TOWARDS THE EXIT.
"YOU'RE STILL MY SLAVE THOUGH."
"DON'T GET ME STARTED, A.J.!"
BRIAN LOOKS UP AS DIANA AND A.J. BRUSH PAST HIM EN ROUTE FOR THE EXIT AND SMILES. READING THE LAST CARD, HE PLACES IT IN A NEAT STACK ON THE TABLE AND SINGLES OUT ESTHER AMONGST THE CROWD BACKSTAGE, TALKING TO KEVIN. HE QUICKLY TROTS OVER TO HER AND LOOPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER WAIST.
"MAY I HELP YOU, BRIAN?"
"NO, THAT'S OKAY, SUGAR-DUMPLING. I'M SATISFIED JUST THE WAY I AM."
SHE SMILES AND KISSES HIM ON THE FOREHEAD. "YOU'RE JUST TOO GOOD TO ME, YOU KNOW THAT?"
HIS ARMS GROW TIGHTER AROUND HER AS HE REPLIES, "IT'S GOOD TO TELL THE ONES YOU LOVE HOW YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT THEM." HE LEANS IN AND KISSES HER SOUNDLY. "AND I HATE YOU, ESTHER."
SHE LAUGHS AND RETURNS HIS KISS. "I HATE YOU TOO, POOKY-BEAR." SHE PULLS FROM HIS GRASP AND GRABS A BAG CONTAINING STUFFED ANIMALS FROM THE FANS. "CARE TO HELP ME GET THESE TO THE TRUCK SO WE CAN GET THEM TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE MORNING?"
"SURE." BRIAN OPENS THE BAG IN FRONT OF HIM AND PULLS OUT AN OVER-STUFFED GREEN MARTIAN. "HERE. AS A REMINDER OF MY LOVE FOR YOU." HE RE-TIES THE BAG AND SWINGS IT OVER HIS SHOULDER.
ESTHER EXAMINES IT IN HER FREE HAND. "GEE THANKS. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME? THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP IS FOREIGN AND ODD?"
HE SMILES. "NAW, THAT MY LOVE FOR YOU IS OUT OF THIS WORLD." HE OPENS THE DOOR FOR HER AND, ALONG WITH THE BAGS, THE TWO WALK OUT INTO THE COOL, NIGHT AIR TOGETHER.
KEVIN WATCHES AS ESTHER AND HIS COUSIN DISAPPEAR OUT THE EXIT AND SIGHS. "BRIAN'S RIGHT, YOU KNOW?" HE SAYS TO HIMSELF, GRABBING ONE OF THE BAGS FROM THE FLOOR. "YOU SHOULD TELL THE ONES YOU LOVE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM."
"STOP THINKING WHEN IT STARTS TO HURT, KEV."
"HUH?" HE TURNS TO SEE LAURA SMILING BACK AT HIM.
SHE SHAKES HER HEAD. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO BREAK YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU NEEDED SOME HELP WITH SOME OF THIS STUFF FOR THE HOSPITAL."
HE GLANCES DOWN AT THE BAG IN HIS HAND. "UH, YEAH. I WAS JUST, UH, HELPING ROK AND ESTHER WITH A FEW OF THESE. UM, YEAH, YOU CAN HELP, IF YOU WANT." HE GAZES AT HER INTENTLY AS SHE SWEEPS DOWN AND PULLS ONE OF THE BAGS UP FROM THE FLOOR, BRIAN'S WORDS STILL ECHOING IN HIS HEAD: IT'S GOOD TO TELL THE ONES YOU LOVE HOW YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT THEM........
"DO I HAVE A HORN GROWING FROM MY FOREHEAD OR SOMETHING?"
"WHAT? OH, UM......" HIS FINGERS FUMBLE OVER THE KNOT TIED IN THE BAG'S OPENING, AND HE QUICKLY PULLS IT OPEN AND GRABS SOMETHING RANDOMLY FROM INSIDE. "UH, HERE. TO SHOW YOU HOW I FEEL."
LAURA LOOKS DOWN AT KEVIN'S GIFT WITH A PUZZLED EXPRESSION ON HER FACE. THE FUZZY LITTLE CREATURE SMILES BRIGHT-EYED BACK AT HER, IT'S MOUTH CLICKING OPEN AND SHUT. "A FURBY?"
KEVIN LOOKS DOWN AT THE FURBY WITH THE SAME PUZZLED EXPRESSION. "UM, YEAH. A, UH, FURBY."
SHE TAKES IT FROM HIS OUT-STRETCHED HAND AND CLUTCHES IT TIGHTLY IN HER OWN. "UM, THANK YOU."
KEVIN CRINGES AS THE FURBY WHIRS TO LIFE AND PROUDLY EXCLAIMS IN A MECHANICAL VOICE, "I LOVE HOWIE."
LAURA LOOKS UP AT KEVIN AND BREAKS INTO HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER. "GEE KEVIN," SHE MANAGES TO SQUEAK BETWEEN HER FITS OF GIGGLES. "I NEVER REALLY CONSIDERED HOWIE AS POTENTIAL COMPETITION IN MY PURSUIT TO WIN YOU OVER...."
KEVIN TRIES TO SHRUG OFF THE COLOR THAT SLOWLY CREEPS UP HIS NECK. "ARE YOU SAYING THAT...... YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY?"
LAURA CEASES HER GIGGLES AND STARES INTO KEVIN'S EYES, A SOLEMN LOOK ON HER FACE. "YES, I HAVE AS STRONG OF FEELINGS FOR YOU AS YOU DO FOR HOWIE....." KEVIN SHAKES HIS HEAD AS LAURA BREAKS INTO ANOTHER FIT OF LAUGHTER.
"I'M NOT LAUGHING."
LAURA SIGHS AND SETS HER BAG DOWN. "YES KEVIN, I CARE ABOUT YOU. AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT ME TOO."
THE TWO SMILE AT EACH OTHER AS THEY GATHER UP THE SACKS OF STUFFED TOYS AND MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE EXIT.
"NOW TELL ME, KEVIN. DID YOU DISCOVER YOU HAD FEELINGS FOR ME BEFORE OR AFTER YOU FELL FOR HOWIE?"
"I'M STILL NOT LAUGHING, LAURA."
NICK STEPS OUT OF THE WAY AS KEVIN AND LAURA WALK PAST WITH THE LAST OF THE DONATED TOYS AND GRABS HIS WATER BOTTLE FROM THE TABLE. "KEVIN LOVES HOWIE?" HE LOOKS ON AS THE TWO STEP OUT THE EXIT AND SHAKES HIS HEAD. "I REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW." HE TAKES A QUICK SIP FROM HIS WATER BOTTLE, SCANNING THE AREA IN SEARCH OF BRENDA. "HEY TIM?" HE CALLS OUT, JOGGING UP ALONGSIDE THE BAND MEMBER. "HAVE YOU SEEN BRENDA AROUND ANYWHERE?"
"UH, YEAH. I THINK SHE LEFT FOR THE BUS A FEW MINUTES AGO." TIM REPLIES, GOING BACK TO HIS CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE ROADIES.
NICK THANKS HIM HASTILY AND JOGS OUT THE EXIT AFTER KEVIN AND LAURA. "TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT." HE SAYS TO HIMSELF, WALKING PAST THE OTHERS AS THEY CONTINUE TO ASSIST SOME OTHER PEOPLE LOAD THE TRUCK WITH THE DONATED TOYS. "TONIGHT I TELL BRENDA THAT I WASN'T TALKING CRAZY AT THE BUS STOP THE OTHER NIGHT...... THAT MY CONFESSION WAS HONEST AND......"
"HEY FRACK, WHERE YOU OFF TO?"
"I'M GOING TO THE BUS." HE CALLS BACK. "HEY FRICK, DID YOU GIVE A CERTAIN SOMEONE THAT CD?"
BRIAN SMILES AND GIVES HIM A THUMBS UP AS HE PASSES HIS BAG TO A CREW MEMBER TO LOAD ON TO THE TRUCK. NICK NODS AND LENGTHENS HIS STRIDE.
"BRENDA?" HE TRODS UP THE BUS STAIRS AND CALLS INTO THE ENTRY. THE BUS SITS IN COMPLETE DARKNESS, THE ONLY SOURCE OF LIGHT COMING FROM THE MOONBEAMS GLINTING THROUGH THE BUS WINDOWS. "BRENDA, ARE YOU IN HERE?" HE TAKES A STEP FORWARD IN THE DARK AND CALLS AGAIN. "HEY BRENDA, ARE YOU....." THE TOE OF HIS SNEAKER CATCHES ON SOMETHING IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE CLAWS AT THE AIR FOR SOMETHING TO GRAB ON TO. HE GRUNTS AS SOMEONE LATCHES ON TO HIS SHIRT COLLAR AND YANKS HIM BACK UP ON HIS FEET. "BRENDA?" HE WHISPERS, STRAIGHTENING HIS COLLAR.
A LIGHT OVERHEAD CLICKS ON AND BRENDA PULLS HER HEADPHONES FROM HER EARS. "I TOLD YOU ONE DAY YOU'D FALL OVER THEM."
HE GLANCES BEHIND HIM TO SEE HIS SCUBA GEAR LYING IN DISARRAY ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE WAY. "I ALMOST BROKE MY NECK TRIPPING OVER THAT!" HE GROWLS, PICKING UP THE EQUIPMENT AND TOSSING IT INTO A NEARBY CHAIR. "WHY WERE YOU SITTING HERE IN THE DARK?"
SHE PULLS THE HEADPHONES OVER HER HEAD AND SETS THEM DOWN ON THE TABLE TOP IN FRONT OF HER. "NO REASON. I WAS RESTING."
NICK SNATCHES THE HEADPHONES UP FROM THE TABLE AND PULLS THEM OVER HIS EARS. HE LISTENS FOR A SECOND, THEN NODS AND PLACES THEM BACK DOWN ON THE TABLE. "ROK GAVE YOU THAT CD, DIDN'T HE?"
"YEAH."
NICK PLOPS DOWN BESIDE HER AND TAPS HIS FINGERS TIPS ON THE TABLE TOP. "I FIGURED AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LISTENED THAT CERTAIN SONG ON THE BUS TODAY, YOU'D BE NEEDING A NEW ONE SOON."
BRENDA BLUSHES AND PRESSES THE STOP BUTTON ON THE CD PLAYER. "YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT ONE."
NICK SMILES AND CONTINUES TO TAP HIS FINGERS NERVOUSLY ON THE TABLE. GATHERING HIS COURAGE, HE STUTTERS, "HEY, BREN? YOU R-REMEMBER THE OTHER NIGHT AT THE BUS STOP? WHEN I WAS SICK AND HAD THAT REAL HIGH FEVER?" BRENDA SWALLOWS AND NODS. "WELL, I, UM....... ACTUALLY, I........ WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT I......."
BEFORE HE CAN FINISH, BRENDA SHOVES HIM OFF ON TO THE FLOOR AND RUSHES TOWARDS THE BATHROOM DOOR. NICK SITS STUNNED AND CONFUSED AS THE GAGGING NOISES ECHO BACK INTO THE ROOM. FROWNING, HE MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH THE BUNKS TOWARD THE BATHROOM DOOR.
"BRENDA? ARE YOU OKAY?" HE CALLS, KNOCKING SOFTLY ON THE DOOR.
A GROAN FROM INSIDE CONFIRMS THE ANSWER.
"DO YOU, UH, WANT SOME WATER OR ANYTHING?"
ANOTHER GROAN AND A WEAK RESPONSE FOLLOWS.
NICK PRESSES HIS EAR AGAINST THE DOOR. "WHAT?"
"ARSENIC ON BREAD WOULD SUFFICE." SHE REPLIES WEAKLY.
NICK GRITS HIS TEETH AS THE MUFFLED GAGGING NOISE ONCE MORE SEEPS FROM UNDER THE DOOR INTO THE ROOM. "ARE YOU GOING TO BE OKAY?" THE SOUND OF THE TOILET FLUSHING AND THE SINK RUNNING FOLLOW HIS QUESTION AS HE WAITS FOR AN ANSWER.
A FEW SHORT MOMENTS LATER, A PALED BRENDA EMERGES FROM THE BATHROOM, STROKING HER HEAD WITH A WET CLOTH. "MMM, YEAH. I'LL BE.... OKAY." SHE LEANS UNSTEADILY AGAINST THE DOOR FRAME AND INHALES DEEPLY. "NOW, W-WHAT WERE YOU SAYING A WHILE AGO?"
"UM," HE BEGINS BACKTRACKING TO A FEW SHORT MINUTES BEFORE. "I WAS SAYING HOW.... IF YOU REMEMBERED THE OTHER NIGHT AT THE BUS STOP?"
SHE NODS. "GO ON."
"WELL....." HE SIGHS, RUNNING HIS HAND THROUGH HIS HAIR. "WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT I LOVED YOU AND ALL, AND GAVE YOU THAT KISS, I, UH, I WAS REALLY....."
THE DOOR PROMPTLY SLAMS IN HIS FACE AS BRENDA DIVES INTO THE BATHROOM ONCE MORE. NICK SIGHS AS THE SOUND OF BRENDA'S HEAVING ECHOES FROM INSIDE THE LITTLE ROOM. "UM," HE SAYS SHEEPISHLY INTO THE DOOR. " I'LL, UH, JUST, UM, TELL YOU LATER, OKAY?"
"WELL, HOWIE D., IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE MEETIN' YOU AND ALL YER FRIENDS." LIZZIE THANKS, STEPPING OUT THE EXIT IN FRONT OF HIM. SHE GIVES HIM A QUICK HUG AND SMILES. "AND I WANNA THANK YA KINDLY FOR SAVIN' MY LIFE TODAY. YER A REAL BRAVE FELLA, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YA FER DOIN' WHATCHA DID."
HOWIE SMILES SHEEPISHLY AND KICKS AT A SMALL ROCK ON THE GROUND. "AW, IT WAS NOTHING, REALLY."
"AND YER SO MODEST, TOO. IT'S AWFUL HARD TO FIND A DECENT MAN LIKE YER KIND AROUN' THESE DAYS....." LIZZIE SIGHS, AND GIVES HIM A FIRM HANDSHAKE. "YER A GOOD MAN, MR. HOWIE D. A FINE ONE AT THAT."
HOWIE RETURNS HER GESTURE AS A PAIR OF COP CARS PULLS IN BESIDE THE COUPLE. "EVENING, OFFICER." HOWIE GREETS, AS THE UNIFORMED MAN STEPS FROM HIS VEHICLE. "SORRY FOR ANY MISHAP ANY OF THIS HAS CAUSED."
"OH, NO PROBLEM AT ALL, SON. EVERYTHING'S FINE AND TAKEN CARE OF, SO YOU NO NEED TO WORRY." HE SHAKES HOWIE'S HAND AND TURNS TO LIZZIE. "MISS, WE NEED YOU TO ACCOMPANY US DOWN TO THE STATION AT THIS TIME, IF YOU PLEASE."
LIZZIE NODS AND BEGINS TO MAKE HER WAY AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WHEN HOWIE REACHES OUT OT STOP HER. "WAIT A SECOND. WHAT IS SHE GOING TO JAIL FOR? SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG."
THE OFFICER TRIES TO EXPLAIN BUT LIZZIE CUTS HIM OFF. "THAT'S ALRIGHT, OFFICER. I'LL EXPLAIN." THE OFFICER NODS AND STEPS INTO THE CAR. "HOWIE, I'D LIKE TUH INTRODUCE YA TO SUMEONE." SHE NODS TO THE OFFICER WHO RESPONDS BY LOWERING THE WINDOW TO THE BACK DOOR.
HOWIE STANDS WIDE-EYED BESIDE LIZZIE AS MERLE POKES HIS HEAD OUT AND GLARES RUEFULLY OUT AT HIM.
"DADDY, I'D LIKE FER YA TUH MEET MR. HOWIE D. HOWIE D., I'D LIKE FER YA TO MEET MUH DADDY, MERLE........"
