From: fburgess@mail.awinc.com (F. Burgess) Folks, Hey, everyone! Thanks for waiting for this. Well, guess what? We're looking at *five* parts now...this story is just too long for four. And all I have time for now is the first section of Part 4--you should have the rest of it in your "cyberhands" within a week! Hope you like this installment, and can stand the wait till October's conclusion! As usual, all characters and situations are copyright Procter and Gamble. Take care, people! Keep watching the light, Marc Wilkofsky STARTING OVER AGAIN: PART 4 (OF 5) SCENE 1. The Journal. Early morning. Dinah strolls into the main pressroom, and notices that the voice-mail light is blinking on her phone. A very sluggish Samantha enters right behind her, and walks over to her desk, where she spots a note. Dinah sits down, presses the speakerphone button, enters her voice-mail code and listens to the message. MICHELLE'S VOICE: Hi, Dinah...I thought I'd let you know that I'll be coming into work a few hours late today...I've been keeping Rick company at the hospital, while he watches over Mindy...I've gotten a little sleep, but I'll be going home and getting a little more this morning...so I'll be in by early afternoon. Could you please tell Fletcher in the nicest way possible? Thanks--'bye! DINAH (presses the speakerphone button again): Humph. Some people are just too lazy... SAM (holding and looking at the letter): Oh no... DINAH: What--you were hoping for Michelle to do some errands for you today? Like hand out copies of your big cover story? SAM: No... (holds up the letter towards Dinah) This is a reminder from Fletcher that he and Holly will be out today...they're taking Meg on a trip...and I'm supposed to be in charge. DINAH (gets up, smiling): What? You? You've got as much managerial experience as you've had sleep last night...give me that! (grabs letter, starts reading) "...and that you're in charge today..." Oh, come *on*... "Holly wanted to ask that you make sure Michelle finishes her photocopying project, and I'd like to make sure you watch over Dinah; her latest column's due today..." Watch over Dinah?!? (tosses sheet back to Sam; it falls to the floor) Looks like it'll be the other way around! SAM (too tired to pick up the sheet): What? But... DINAH (walks over to Sam's chair, rolls it towards her) Honey, you obviously need some rest...just sit down here for a while, and I'll take char--make sure things run smoothly around here. SAM (approaching the chair): Dinah, I'm fine...really... DINAH: No, you're not, Sam...don't tell me you're capable of running a newspaper when you can't even walk... (Sam sits down) There you go. (Sam immediately falls asleep, as Dinah grins) CUT TO: SCENE 2. Annie is asleep in her and Josh's bed. Suddenly, she wakes up screaming. ANNIE: You can't have him!! Noooo! Nooo... JOSH (half-dressed, he runs into the bedroom, and over to Annie, then wraps his arms around her, trying to calm her down): Annie...honey, what's wrong? You have a nightmare? ANNIE (flustered and almost crying): Oh, Josh...I still have you...you're still here. (she hugs him) JOSH: Of course I am, Annie... (places her head on his chest and runs his fingers through her hair) I'll always be here for you...always... (Close-up on Annie's eyes, as she has a flashback. She recalls her talk the night before with Harley, in the Towers Club lobby.) HARLEY: "Always..." That was their watchword, Annie. Reva used to tell me about it all the time...about the first time they pledged to *always* love each other...about the time they both almost drowned, and she could feel him say "always" to her in her mind..."always, Reva..." Let me tell you, that's become my least favorite word. ANNIE: I can understand that. HARLEY: *She* probably uses it as her mantra when she meditates, though. (they both laugh) Listen, hon, this isn't a light subject. ANNIE: I know...it never has been, Harley. I'm sure it wasn't for you. HARLEY: How much do you love Josh, Annie? ANNIE: Josh means everything to me...he's given me new hope...my world revolves around him... HARLEY: Enough with the cliches, hon...how much do you love the man? ANNIE: Well, I'd say, "With all my heart," but you'd bust me for cliche usage again. HARLEY: No, that's a start...would you do anything for him? ANNIE: Of course I would... HARLEY: Would he do the same for you? ANNIE: I believe so... HARLEY: You believe so...how much do you trust him? ANNIE: I trust him completely...as he does me. HARLEY (smirks): Are you sure of that? ANNIE: Yes, I'm positive...we've had our problems with that, but everything's... HARLEY (breaking in): Uh-huh. ANNIE: What do you mean, "uh-huh"? What are you driving at? (Harley tries to reply, but Annie keeps going) Are you trying to prove that I have as much of a hold on Josh as you did when he left you? HARLEY: No, Annie, I'm not...because you have *less* of a hold on him... (Annie looks shocked) I had to battle a memory, while you have the real thing on your hands. Josh and I...we had it all...and we thought "all" included "forever"...for one beautiful split second, it did...but as soon as there was the tiniest chance Reva was alive, I became the other woman. He never meant to hurt me...he wanted me to "always" be happy, and wished that for me when he left...we both know what a great guy he is. But he realized that neither of us would be happy as long as *she* was out there somewhere...and once we both understood that truth, the fact that it was over hurt a heck of a lot less. ANNIE: Did you...try to hold it together? HARLEY: Annie, every minute I was with him, I fell more in love with him...but I knew well enough that as my heart filled, his slowly emptied...I could see it happening, day by day. And that kind of slow pain I can't take. So I didn't want to make it worse by not only stalling, but hurting myself more and more...so when he told me his decision that one awful night, I didn't fight. I didn't yell. Boy, could I have yelled--but I didn't. ANNIE: You loved him enough to let him go. HARLEY: That's the worst cliche in the book...but it's not only true, it's my point. We both know how much they love each other, Annie. That's *love*--present tense. He'll never be free of that. ANNIE: He says he is...he's told me he is... HARLEY: Hon, this is a man who left a solid relationship with a super girl for a two-second image on a travel video-- ANNIE: --and he's also a man with firm convictions, a caring, honest heart, and (holds up her hand) a ring on her finger that promises he'll stay devoted to me! I hear what you're saying, Harley, and I'm really sorry you had to grow through that--believe me, I can more than relate, But things have *changed*--sure, she's alive and back in this town. He may even still have feelings for her--I can accept that. I can accept it because I know he loves me more than her, because I've never left him, I've never hurt him, I've never broken his heart--all I've done is give him a brand-new, wonderful life...the life he alwa--has wanted for a long time. HARLEY: Annie, have you been learning to spit out bull from the doctors you work with? 'Cause you're doing a fine job! ANNIE: What? HARLEY: I know you mean what you say, but don't you realize...it doesn't matter if he loves you more, or you love him more than she does. (puts her hands on Annie's shoulders) Your love for him will never...ever...amount to as much as the connection they have for each other...their combined love. (Annie looks upset) It's a force of its own...and it's ready and waiting to cause some serious damage...you just wait. ANNIE: I plan to do more than *wait*! I plan to... JOSH (putting on his tie) breaking into her flashback): Honey? I've gotta run... ANNIE (focusing on him): Wait! Wait...it's Saturday...where are you going? JOSH: Don't you remember? Mindy's in the hospital...I have to go see her... ANNIE: Oh, that's right...it's just horrible what happened to her... Who...else will be there? JOSH: Dylan, I think...and Rusty...and Rick took her case, so he should be there... ANNIE: What about... JOSH: Reva? Don't worry, sweetheart... (kisses her on her forehead) She had too rough a night last night to handle this today...I doubt she'll be there. ANNIE: I'm coming with you. JOSH: What? Oh, come on... (notices her almost wild eyes) Whatever you say, honey. Maybe you can check in on some other patients while you're there. Let me make you breakfast. (leaves the room) ANNIE (out loud): I'm going to do everything I can to keep him, Harley. And that includes not letting him out of my sight. CUT TO: SCENE 3. Reva and Buzz's bedroom. Reva wakes up slowly, then looks to her side to find...nobody. REVA (upset): Did he just sit on the couch all night? (sits up in bed) Oh, Buzz... (tears form in her eyes) I never wanted to hurt you... But when that monster asked who I'd rather keep alive...I chose Josh. (starts crying) And since you're such a stubborn fool, you never trust me again... (steels herself) No, I was the fool. (springs out of bed) Buzz has to realize I was going crazy with fear when I made that choice! So it shouldn't matter as much... Oh, who are you fooling, Reva? It's over...I made sure of that by blabbing the truth... *now* what am I gonna do? (Suddenly, the doorbell rings. She jumps up, grabs and puts on her robe, and runs downstairs to the door, where she finds...) ABBY (signing as she speaks): Hi, Reva. REVA: Abby! What are you doing here so early? ABBY (entering the home): I wanted to see if you were all right after last night. REVA (sitting with Abby on the couch): Oh, sure--why in the world wouldn't I be? I lost my husband, I freaked out my family, and then I find out my ex-niece is in a coma after being caught in a car explosion! ABBY: Yes, everyone was so upset when Frank came over and told us the news... REVA: I have to say, I was almost grateful for the interruption...I know it sounds terrible... ABBY: No, I understand--you were looking for any way to get out of talking to Buzz and your ex-husband... REVA: And I sure got a way! ABBY: Well, I know this is a bad time, but I have to ask you for some advice... REVA: About what, sweetie? ABBY: About...my loveli-- (suddenly, the phone rings) REVA: *Uh* oh...wonder who's calling now? ABBY: It couldn't be that horrible person, could it? REVA: If it is, he'll be sorry he called... (picks up the phone) Hello? Dylan? (Abby's face perks up tremendously) Dylan, I'm so glad you called! How's Mind--what? Oh, no! We--we'll be right down there! Okay--now, don't worry! (hangs up) ABBY: What? What is it, Reva? REVA: It's Mindy....she's taken a turn for the worse! (running up the stairs) I've got to get over there...! (stops, notices Abby's dejected look) Sorry, but I can't talk now. ABBY: Would you mind if I came with you? REVA: What? Oh, no--no, not at all! (running up the stairs again) Just give me 10 minutes to get ready-- ABBY: Reva? REVA (turning around) What? ABBY: She's going to make it...she has to. REVA: Just keep praying! Oh, poor Dylan... (Reva is out of sight, as Abby runs her hand through her hair) ABBY (sighs): Dylan...one day, Dylan...one day... ****Section 2 of Part 4--coming in one week!****