Roger and Delia First Kiss
(March 1976)(Delia has just implemented her plan to get back at Frank by giving him the silent treatment. She has driven him out of the house for a while, so she goes to the phone and calls Roger at the hospital.)
ROGER: Dr. Roger Coleridge.
DELIA: Hello, Dr. Roger Coleridge.
ROGER: (laughs) Delia!
DELIA: How did you guess?
ROGER: You have a very special voice.
DELIA: (smiles) Oh, that's a nice thing to say.
ROGER: Well, did you just call me to let me hear your voice?
DELIA: Actually, I thought maybe we could communicate in person.
ROGER: I'd really like that.
DELIA: (smiles) Then how about another cooking lesson? You know, I've got a lot to learn.
ROGER: Well you know you're always welcome in my kitchen.
DELIA: Tonight?
ROGER: Well unfortunately I'm on duty later on, but I could certainly get away for dinner.
DELIA: Wonderful. What should I bring? Water chestnuts? Peanut oil? Just say the word.
ROGER: No, I have all the basics. Just bring yourself and we'll use our imagination.
DELIA: (grins) Ah, creative Chinese cooking, I love it!
ROGER: Okay then, my place, and you won't have any trouble getting away?
DELIA: Mmm, no, Johnny's going to take care of Little John and I'll just leave a note on the mantle and, uhm, I don't think anyone will miss me. They didn't last night.
ROGER: Well I did - the minute you went home.
DELIA: (smiles) Then it's a good thing I'm coming back so soon.
ROGER: How soon? Half an hour?
DELIA: (laughs) I can't wait. We are going to have such a good time making dinner.
(In the next scene, Delia is sitting in Roger's apartment, having a drink, wearing the blouse she bought to seduce Frank after the first cooking lesson. It is dark and there is a fire going.)
ROGER: You know, I think that we can whip up a very respectable dinner. Say about five courses?
DELIA: Sounds like hard work.
ROGER: Well we don't have to start right away. Mmm, you know I think I need this as much as dinner.
DELIA: Maybe more. See cause you always have time to eat, but you don't always have time to just relax. No interruptions, no demands.
ROGER: Mmm...I wish I weren't on duty tonight. I'm glad you called. I didn't expect anything good to happen today.
DELIA: Yeah, I guess you're very upset about Faith.
(He nods.)
DELIA: It's wonderful that Pat found her but, well, it was an awful experience. You know, it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. See?
(He feels her hand.)
ROGER: I can feel it. Shall I get you a sweater?
DELIA: No, I'll just have some more wine. That'll warm me up.
(He reluctantly lets go of her hand.)
DELIA: You know, I can't believe nobody missed you last night.
DELIA: Nobody missed me, and when I got back home, nobody wanted me.
ROGER: Delia, I'm sure that's not true.
DELIA: No, it's true. Maeve was tired, Little John was sleeping, Johnny was busy down in the bar, and Frank was out.
ROGER: Very late?
DELIA: (shakes her head) No, not too late. So I put on my nightgown and I waited, but he didn't want to go to bed. He had a lot of reading.
ROGER: He must be out of his mind!
DELIA: (laughs) Oh! You are wonderful! You know, I think that is the first time that anyone has ever made a joke about Frank?ROGER: I didn't know I was going to say it, I hope you don't mind.
DELIA: Mind? You know that's like a breath of fresh air. I mean the rest of us always get laughed at, right, so why shouldn't he sometimes?
ROGER: (smiles) You know, you're beautiful when you laugh.
DELIA: Well, you made me laugh and that hasn't happened lately. Thank you.
(She puts her hand on his leg and he puts his hand on top of hers.)
ROGER: You're welcome. You still shivering?
DELIA: No. No, I feel very cozy now. (smiles) It's crazy, this morning I was so depressed until I called you. See I felt like kind of running out and hiding someplace. But I spend a little time with you and I feel good. (smiles) How do you do it?
ROGER: Believe me, I don't have that kind of effect on most people. It's not me, Dee. It's us.
DELIA: It's a surprise, it's a crazy, crazy surprise. I thought that there was nobody in the whole world that I could talk to. Nobody! And now Roger Coleridge is my friend.
ROGER: (smiles) You're my friend too. You know, we just naturally get along.
DELIA: I think it's more than that. We have fun and we make each other laugh. (smiles) I love being with you.
ROGER: I love it too.
DELIA: Do you really?
ROGER: (nods) Yes. An old acquaintance becomes a new friend. I think that's beautiful. (He puts his hands on her face.) And I think you're beautiful.
(He kisses her. After a little while, she pulls away.)
DELIA: Maybe it's good that you have to go back to the hospital.
ROGER: It's the last place in the world that I'd want to go back to.
DELIA: But like it or not, that's where you're going.
ROGER: I suppose I must.