Viki - Dorian Transcript
February 22, 2000
Robin - Erika last scene
This is the
actual dialogue that was scripted for Dorian and Viki's last show together when Robin left the show int 2000. Dorian is leaving town with Drake, having finally emerged from her loss of Mel. Viki and Ben are estranged. Viki has been told she might have breast cancer but hasn't told Ben yet.
One Life to Live
Show #8085
Airdate – February 22, 2000
Directed by John
O'Connell
Scriptwriter: James Fryman
Breakdown: Anna Theresa
Cascio
Copyright, ABC
Dorian: Off Camera
Victoria? (VIKI SLOWLY LOOKS UP: DORIAN STANDS IN THE DOORWAY. SHE APPROACHES)
What happened? Why did you let him go? (VIKI LOOKS AT HER A LONG, LONG MOMENT,
STRUGGLING FOR CONTROL, ABOUT TO CRUMBLE, NEEDING SOMEONE…AND FINALLY)
Viki: I might have breast cancer. (IT TAKES A MOMENT TO REGISTER…AND AS THE
FRIGHTENING TRUTH SEEPS IN, DORIAN DOESN'T HESITATE; SHE MOVES IN, FOLDS VIKI
INTO HER ARMS. ON THE TO WOMEN CLINGING TO EACH OTHER)
VIKI GENTLY DISENGAGES FROM DORIAN'S HOLD, VALIANTLY PULLING HERSELF
TOGETHER, STILL VULNERABLE)
Viki: A biopsy…that's the next step. And I'm so damned scared…
Dorian: I'll stay, Viki. I'll help you through this.
Viki: No, you are not going to do that.
Dorian: I know what you're feeling.
Viki: I remember, but, Dorian –
Dorian: No “buts.” I'm not going. When you and Ben aren't together? How could
I do that to you?
Viki: How could you do this to me…not go? Put your life on hold…give up the
chance at love? I am not going to let you do that, Dorian.
Dorian: Your family…they know?
Viki: Only Kevin as yet, but once I have the results of the biopsy, I'll tell
the others…if there's anything to tell.
Dorian: Then let me stay through the biopsy results.
Viki: If you want to give me hope, Dorian, do it by taking this chance with
Drake. Nothing would make me feel more optimistic about the future…and I am not
being noble.
Dorian: Well, I'm not so sure about that. Nobility is such a part of your
nature, Viki, I doubt you're even aware of it, but, okay, I'll do as you ask.
And I'll remind you again that I did go through this once…including, even, the
dreaded diagnosis of cancer and surgery…which pray God, you won't face…and I am
still here. I know that doesn't make it any easier.
Viki: I wish it did.
Dorian: (STEPS IN CLOSER) Why face it alone? Viki, don't go through this
without Ben.
Viki: I don't have Ben.
Dorian: Yes. Yes, you do. Victoria, for once in your life, stop being so
damned strong; stop being so…so Viki. (AT VIKI'S FAINT SMILE) You need Ben. Ben,
who loves you. You need that – now more than ever. And if you told him, whatever
it is that's torn the two of you apart would vanish in a heartbeat.
Viki: I know that he still loves me. I know he'd forget about all the revenge
and retaliation…for a while…and I'd be the most important thing in his life
again. Because I might be sick. (SHE TAKES A PAUSE) I can't do it, Dorian. I
don't want him back because he feels sorry for me; because I might have some
disfiguring disease that he'd want to “doctor” me through. I know he'd see me
through this, with grace, and heart, and love…but so help me, I don't want him
with me because I need him…which I do…so badly it hurts.
Dorian: You're ascribing motives to him that may not even exist.
Viki: - no. I want him back because he chooses me over everything else.
Because he loves me. I want him to choose me for me, not for what some illness
makes me. Surely you understand that. Surely… (AND SHE'S ON THE VERGE OF LOSING
IT; DORIAN SEES IT. SHE STEPS IN, TAKES VIKI'S HAND. IF THERE'S BEEN A SINCERE
MOMENT IN DORIAN'S LIFE, THIS IS QUIETLY IT).
Dorian: I understand. You're so strong – much stronger than I – whether you
feel that way or not right now. Difficult as it is for me to admit, that's what
I've admired about you…all this time…we've been through so much…and we're not
through, Viki. You and me…we're not through. Yes, I'm going away. But we'll
endure. The two of us. We'll endure. (HOLD THE LOOK BETWEEN THEM; THESE TWO,
THESE STRONG, BATTLE-SCARRED VETERANS, THESE TWO, SO DIFFERENT, SO MUCH THE
SAME…ALL OF THAT IN THEIR EYES…)
Blair: Off Camera There you are. (THEY'RE SHAKEN OUT OF THE CONNECTION; THEY
TURN – BLAIR'S IN THE DOORWAY) We've been waiting to say goodbye…everybody
downstairs…unless you've changed your mind…(DORIAN LOOKS AT VIKI…WHO SMILES,
JUST FOR HER, AND LOOKS TO BLAIR)
Viki: Dorian hasn't changed her mind. She's leaving with Drake. (LOOKS
DIRECTLY AT DORIAN) And she's going to drink up enough life for all of us. (IT'S
A MANDATE. AND ON VIKI AND DORIAN, EACH GAINING STRENGTH FROM THE OTHER'S
SINCERE SUPPORT)
VIKI'S ALONE, GATHERING HERSELF, CLEARLY ABOUT TO LEAVE…DORIAN ENTERS WITH
THE CHAMPAGNE AND TWO GLASSES)
Viki: Dorian
Dorian: Sshhh. (SHE SMILES, SILENTLY HANDS HER A GLASS, FILLS IT, AND THEN
HER OWN) Before you go, we're going to drink a toast, Victoria. (SHE RAISES HER
GLASS; VIKI DOES THE SAME) It's been a long time for us.
Viki: Hasn't it.
Dorian: A long, road we've traveled, you and I (FAINT SMILE) mostly together.
For better or worse.
Viki: We've shared a lot of history. A lot of life.
Dorian: And I want you to know…I cherish it all.
Viki: As do I.
Dorian: Let's you and I not drink to the future. Let's drink to the past. Our
past. The people and things we've shared; all we've lived through together…and
not to the future. Not to the things neither of us can possibly know. (HOLD
THEIR LONG LOOK, VIKI TOUCHED, EYES SHINING IN GRATITUDE, MOMENTARILY ABLE TO
FORGET ALL BUT THIS, THIS MOMENT FROZEN IN TIME).
DORIAN AND VIKI STAND WITH THEIR GLASSES ALOFT
Dorian: To my worst enemy…and oddly…my best friend.
Viki: To you, Dorian. You've made my life hell over and over again…and yet,
in a very real and, profound way…you've made my life. I'll miss you.
Dorian: You've been such an irritant to me for so long…the grain of sand
grating at me…and suddenly, none of it matters. Now I see the pearl. The jewel
that was there all along. (AT VIKI'S SMILE) Someday, when I've been away from
you long enough…away from wanting to be like you…I'll come back. And you – you
are going to be here. Right here. Shining with that pride of yours; with that
spirit, that life you have…that life I'll always admire. You'll be right here.
(HOLD THEIR LOOK, SO MUCH EMOTION, SO MUCH HISTORY, SO MUCH SHARED
EXPERIENCE…VIKI COMES IN TO HER; THEY EMBRACE. AND VIKI WHISPERS:)
Viki: One way or another, Dorian, I'll see you shine as well. Wherever you
are…wherever I am…I'll see you…and we'll both shine…
Dorian: That, dear Viki is a date… (ON THEIR LIFE AND DEATH EMBRACE)
