Ben Davidson

Attic Proposal #2 Transcript

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One Life to Live
Show 8153
Airdate - Friday May 26, 2000
Directed by Gary Donatelli
Produced by Mary O'Leary
Breakdown: Ron Carlivati
Script Writer: James Fryman
Copyright, ABC

[SAME DAY AS 8152; NIGHT] BEN AND VIKI LIE TOGETHER ON THE BED, BEN CRADLING HER IN HIS ARMS. MOONLIGHT WASHED IN THROUGH THE WINDOW. EVENTUALLY:

BEN
I've come to a decision.

VIKI
Sounds serious.

BEN
It is. I'm never leaving this room.

VIKI
(EYES DRIFTIN TO HER ENGAGEMENT RING) We're even. I'm never taking off this ring.

BEN
It's right where it belongs. And so are we. We've been apart for much too long.

VIKI
Which somehow makes being together that much sweeter. (LOOKS AT HIM) You do realize, you will have to leave this room at least once. (AT HIS LOOK) You are planning on attending our wedding.?

BEN
(SCANS THE ROOM) Maybe we should get married right here.

VIKI
In the attic?

BEN
Why not? I've spent some of the best moments of my life in this attic. You saved my life here. (LOOKS AT HER) You're still saving it. Admit it. The idea's starting to appeal to you, isn't it?

VIKI
It's rather bohemian, don't you think?

BEN
I suppose. (HUGS HER) Doesn't matter. We could get married on the moon; it'd still be wonderful. And you're going to be dazzling. More beautiful than ever. (HE KISSES HER LIGHTLY) I'm not letting you go, by the way. Not again. They're gonna have to marry us like this.

VIKI
Now there's an idea that appeals to me.

BEN
I love you. (AND AS THEY KISS AGAIN, GENTLY, VIKI'S RING SPARKLING IN THE MOONLIGHT)

BEN MOVES FOR THE ATTIC DOOR

VIKI
I thought you were never leaving this room.

BEN
Except to get you what you need.

VIKI
Ben, please. I'm fine, really.

BEN
You will be. (STOPS) I'm going down to the kitchen to get you something to eat. And you're gonna humor me...by eating it. Ex-doctor's orders. (HE OPENS THE DOOR, STOPS SHORT)

VIKI
What is it? (WE SEE HE'S FOUND A TRAY OF FOOD ON THE FLOOR. THERE'S A NOTE ATTACHED)

BEN
Apparently, someone agrees with me. (HE RETRIEVES THE TRAY, MOVES TO HER, HANDS HER THE NOTE, WHICH SHE READS)

VIKI
"Mom - in honor of the two of you finally coming to your senses, dinner's on us. Love, Joey and Kevin. P.S. Ben...make sure she eats."

BEN
(SHAKES HIS HEAD) They're too much.

VIKI
They're just exactly enough. I wouldn't have made it through this without them. Especially Kevin. He's been with me constantly, from the beginning.

BEN
Should've been me. Not that Kevin's a bad second.

VIKI
You're here now.

BEN
Now and forever. (HE KISSES HER. SCANS THE TRAY) So...what looks good?

VIKI
(FAINT SMILE) You. Apart from that, nothing.

BEN
I know the chemo can suppress your appetite. But your sons are right...you have to eat to keep your strength up. (VIKI HOLDS A DIFFICULT MOMENT. HE SEES IT) You okay? Hey, it's only dinner.

VIKI
...it wasn't just chemo, Ben. (A PAUSE. SHE RAISES HER EYES TO HIS) I had a modified radical mastectomy. And breast reconstruction. (BEN LOOKS AT HER.REACHES OUT, GENTLY STROKES HER CHEEK)

BEN
If you think for one minute that'd make me feel any differently about you.I love you, Blondie. Nothing's gonna change that. Ever. And you still have to eat. (AS HE TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS)

VIKI AND BEN COME OUT OF THEIR EMBRACE, CONTINUE TO HOLD EACH OTHER

VIKI
I should have told you right away. I'm sorry; it's just...it's been so difficult for me to talk about.

BEN
We have all the time in the world. We'll talk when you're ready.

VIKI
Where did you come from?

BEN
(WRY) That's kind of a tricky question lately.

VIKI
(SHAKES HER HEAD) How did I get so lucky?

BEN
Luck had nothing to do with it. It's you. (BEAT) And as long as we're still making love right here in this attic when we're old and gray, nothing else matters.

VIKI
(PULLS HIM INTO A HUG) You're a constant surprise, you know that? I'm fighting cancer, and I feel like I've never been more alive; never had as much hope. Because of you. I know I've never been more in love. I almost feel guilty. When I think about what Bo's going through...and Sam.

BEN
(MAKES HER LOOK AT HIM) Nora would want us to be happy. I believe that (PAUSE) At one point she told me I was an idiot for letting you get away. She couldn't have been more right.

VIKI
She said the same thing to me about you. (PAUSE) How I miss her...I still can't believe she's gone.

BEN
Neither can I. (RUEFUL) And Sam's barely holding it together.

VIKI
I dreamed I saw her...at Cherryvale. I was on the medication, but I could've sworn I saw her. In the bed right next to mine. (BEN'S STRUCK HARD. HE PULLS BACK, LOOKS AT HER)

BEN
Viki...what if it wasn't a dream? (ON VIKI)

VIKI LOOKS AT BEN CONFUSED

VIKI
But it had to be a dream. Nora's gone.

BEN
Is she? Sam's had a really hard time believing that. He's been convinced she got out of that train somehow. And now you tell me you saw her.

VIKI
I said I thought I'd seen her, Ben. I was full of medication, half-asleep.

BEN
(FEELS HE'S ONTO SOMETHING) Tell me exactly what you remember.

VIKI
(AS SHE RECALLS) I woke up.I thought I was still dreaming. There was a woman in a bed next to mine. Her face was bruised; I couldn't make her out clearly...but I do remember she was Nora.

BEN
Viki, what if it really was? What if Nora was brought in after Sam had already checked the place?

VIKI
But, Ben, when I woke up, no one was there. There wasn't even a bed.

BEN
She could've been moved.

VIKI
(INCREASINGLY HIT) Wait a minute...I remember something else...one of my doctors, Dr. MacIver...he was telling me about a woman who was still unidentified. (LOOKS AT HIM)

BEN
I'm gonna go to Cherryvale have a look for myself. (POINTS AN ACCUSATORY FINGER AT HER) I want you to eat everything on that tray while I'm gone, you understand?

VIKI
Yes, sir.

BEN
(KISSES HER, STARTS OUT; PAUSES.) What was that doctor's name?

VIKI
MacIver. Colin MacIver.

BEN
MacIver.