The Convention

                                - By Ceil -

The Setting: A tall and posh high-rise hotel in Chicago holds the annual
Media Movers and Shakers Convention for the regional publishing and
broadcasting area.

Holly has been to these media conventions before -- the last time was in
Acapulco -- which seems all too unreal to her now -- her complicated and
equally dreary life with Fletcher has changed her so much -- a little voice
inside nags her still -- she wonders if it is really for the better -- is
she a good person or is she really more like Roger than she cares to
admit...

At the convention, Holly has rubbed elbows with all her fellow publishers
-- for the first time in as long as she can remember she feels somewhat
energized and vital. She and Gilly were planning to catch up on old,
happier times, but Gilly was unable to make the convention; a program she
is producing was still in need of some final details.

The evening has turned out to be less than exciting; she finds the need in
her to let loose just the tiniest bit -- Fletcher need not know a thing...

Looking in the mirror in the ladies room, Holly: "What possessed me to buy
this dress today?" She adjusts the waist of the cream color silk shift
dress she is wearing. "This is definitely a Reva Lewis dress isn't it --
excuse me -- Reva Shayne. I guess that means that Alan Spaulding would
definitely approve of it." Rolling her eyes at that incredulous thought,
she thinks to herself wouldn't that beat all if I even wore a dress
entirely for the benefit of Alan Spaulding. Roger would surely break a
blood vessel over that one... Roger -- that is the second time tonight that
she has thought of him -- maybe it was from being at this convention and
thinking about their last attendance at the one in Acapulco -- perhaps it
was the sounds of the piano she heard emanating from one of the distant bar
lounges in the hotel lobby. The pianist's selections strangely reminded her
so much of Roger's...

She shakes those thoughts away. She is going to enjoy herself tonight, come
what may....

Holly takes a stool for herself in the nearest lounge. At this time of
early evening, she is surprised that so few people are in sight; perhaps
they are at dinner in one of the many local eateries or perhaps many
couples have adjourned to the spacious rooms upstairs. .. That would indeed
fit the stereotype of what conventions are all about -- even in this day
and age... Maybe she will have Nick work on a story about that very
subject. As a tall blond man approaches the stool beside her -- she thinks
perhaps not...

Man: "Good evening."

Holly: "Hello." (she looks at him briefly -- something possesses her to
start a conversation)

Holly: (Eyeing him skeptically) "You know, you remind me of my ex-
husband..."

Man: (an embarrassed laugh) "I don't think I have ever heard that one
before... your ex-husband, huh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Holly: "No really. That is true. You remind me of my last ex- husband -- he
was European, he had the same type of looks that you do."

Man: "Ah ha! My name is Charles, by the way."

Holly: "Holly."

Charles: "So, Holly, did you love him? Your recent ex-husband that is?"

Holly: (looking straight ahead for a moment) "I think I have only been in
love once in my life." (Her mind wanders to Roger... She shakes her head,
turning to thoughts of her present husband, Fletcher. In the distance the
piano music has stopped)

Holly: (Feeling suddenly uneasy) "Why don't we have a drink upstairs."

Charles: "I would love that very much, Holly."

As the couple descend to the elevators, a man with dark looks approaches
the bar.

As they enter her suite, Holly feels strangely as if she has lived this
situation once before; but it does not occur to her; where and when.

Charles: (Helping himself to the mini-bar) "Well, this night is improving
rapidly; why don't I be your ex -- er, that is -- new husband and this can
be our honeymoon."

Holly: (her mind wandering to another time and place; and not totally
comprehending; she gives in to his request. She looks at him in a daze)
"Yes."

Holly removes her silk dress; the cream teddy she bought this morning,
clinging to her skin...

Charles approaches, drink in hand, "Yes, yes this is going to be quite an
evening; I'm all prepared."

Holly has moved closer to Charles; giggling faintly, she only wants to feel
vital once again...

Suddenly, the door swings open...

Holly: (Seeing her less than recent ex-husband, Roger) "I don't believe
you, Roger! What are you doing here??!!"

Charles: "Who is he?"

Roger: "Her ex-husband."

Charles: (facing Holly, and moving away) "You said he looks like me?

Roger looks at Charles and then at Holly; puzzled by this entire situation.

Holly moves backwards toward the wall; as Charles drops his drink on the
bar, grabs his jacket and leaves... Roger turns to the door and shuts it;
he doesn't want Holly to be humiliated by this awkward scene.

Roger looks thoughtfully at Holly; as Holly turns away from his stare.

Holly: (in a whispered voice; that slowly grows in intensity) "You are
completely unbelievable, Roger. You followed me here, didn't you? I'll bet
you gave Gilly plenty of reason to stay behind; you must have sabotaged her
work, didn't you?"

Roger: "Holly, we have to talk about what happened here..."

Holly: "Nothing happened, no thanks to you!"

Roger: "Don't you see Holly, you have become so distraught after losing
the..."

Holly: "Don't you tell me how I should feel!!!" (she moves further away
from him, still dressed only in her lingerie....)

Roger: "Holly, please understand. I came here just like you did; Gilly
couldn't make it and I came in her place... I wasn't going to bother you at
all. I was just downstairs in the lounge, playing the piano, while the guy
had a smoke outside."

Holly: "That's why you followed me... you, you, you Spy you!!!"

Roger: "Holly." (shaking his head, knowing he needs to appease her right
now) "Please, please honey, let me help you. We can work everything out
between us... We will get help... we both will..."

Holly: (turning further away from his sight) "I was getting myself some
help, right here and now... and you ruined it!"

Roger: "Holly, you don't mean that. Look, this whole situation couldn't
even have been safe..."

Holly: (mumbling to herself) "First he's Secret Agent Thorpe and then he's
Doctor Thorpe, Professional Therapist."

Roger: "Look, Holly, I will turn my back, and you can get dressed and I
will take you home."

Roger turns his back and Holly looks toward him thoughtfully...

Roger: "I know I can help you through this now. Please believe in me."

(Unbeknownst to Roger, Holly has slipped off her remaining clothing and
moves toward him.)

Holly comes up behind him, and Roger feels the smooth contours of her body
against his shirt. Holly flings her arms about his neck and shoulders,
draping soft, wet kisses over his neck and ear. Roger, with eyes closed,
backs against her, breathing deeply.

Roger: (breathlessly) "Holly" (deep sigh) "We can't do this. This isn't
what you need right now..."

Holly: (working her way through the knot in his tie and going on to the
buttons of his shirt) "This is exactly what I need... You just said I need
to be safe; what better way than this."

Roger: (The struggle to contain himself is taking all his resolve) "That's
true, honey. But this isn't the way for you to deal with everythin'... (the
words begin to fade, as her kisses become hungrier and her hands move to
the buckle of his belt)

(Holly turns him to finally face her)

Roger: (Yet another deep breath as he takes her into his view) "Oh, Holly,
you are so beautiful..."

Holly: "Show me then, let me know it; help me feel something, anything,
again."

Roger: "Holly, you know how much I love you, I can give you the love and
understanding you need and can only find from me... Please let me back into
your life; I promise you we will always be strong for each other."

A branch from the tree outside, slaps the french door of her bedroom as
Holly awakens from her dream... She is covered in plaid flannel sheets and
blankets; she tears away at them; revealing her equally plaid two-piece
pajamas. She turns to see Fletcher tossing in his sleep...

Holly: "Fletcher, go outside and twist the branches away from the window.
It woke me up from a satisfying... ahh, sound sleep."

Fletcher: "Humm, wake me up when the fish start biting..."

Holly: (turns away, getting out of bed to go outside; sighing, under her
breath with increasing sarcasm) ... "FISH BITES..."

- The End -