The
Diner of Love
3503 Angel Square Court
Llanview, PA
"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some
Lovin' In the Diner"
"There ain't no lovin' like some diner lovin', hey ho"
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"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some
Lovin' In the Diner" |
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What can I get you?
Coffee's a dollar
I hope you like whip cream.
I just love the Voice of the Night. We have this special connection. |
MARCAL SCENES PAGE 37
Scene 42 3 Good Deeds & A
Shot of Delphinium, Straight Up DECEMBER 22, 2003 Setup: Al gave into his impatience and told Marcie he was Al. Unfortunately, Marcie didn’t believe him and now thinks Michael is sadistic. Al was snatched out of Michael’s body as a result and things looked bleak. Al, however, was given one more chance if he could get Michael to complete three good deeds in 24 hours. As this scene opens, Al and Luna are in Rodi’s watching Michael stir up bad will, as usual. Al: How am I supposed to figure out why this guy's an emotional train wreck when he doesn't talk to anybody? Luna: Well, you got less than 24 hours. Find a way? Michael: Hello! Hello! Anybody home? Al: So all I have to do is figure out what makes Michael McBain tick and get him to perform three selfless deeds in 24 hours. Piece of cake. Luna: Darling, keep your eyes on the prize. You do it and you'll be let back in Michael’s body, and then you got till Valentine’s Day to get Marcie to fall back in love with you -- or him. God, you know what I mean. Al: Luna -- Luna: Huh? Al: This poor guy wouldn't know a good deed if it jumped out and bit him in the face, ok? He's totally self-centered. Michael: Can I order before New Year's? Roxy: Hey, would you put a sock in it, pal? I don't even work here. I'm just filling in for my daughter because I gave her these presents from her dead husband, and she freaked out and she went AWOL. Michael: Fascinating. How about a drink? Roxy: I don't even know where she is. Michael: A drink, some food. Why is that too much to ask? Roxy: It's not too much to ask. I want to take your bar order first, ok? First things first. Al: I don't know, Luna. I mean, I really don't know. Michael: How long does it take to make a drink? Roxy: I'm an artist, and an artist doesn't like to be rushed, ok? Luna: Hey, might be a good time to get Michael started on deed number one. Al: Um -- I don't have any idea what I'm supposed to be doing here, Luna. Luna: Come on, pudding. Honey, the idea is right there inside of you. All you got to do is just trust your know-how. Good luck. Al: Luna! Luna, where did you go? You can't leave me here all by myself! Ron and Marcie walk into Rodi’s and head for a table. Ron: Hey, what's the matter? Marcie: That guy, Michael McBain. He was the one that got into that fight with Greg I was telling you about. And then he told me that -- Ron: What? Told you what? Marcie: No, just forget about it. Ron: I don't think so, Marce. What did he say? Marcie: He told me that he was Al. Ron: What? What the hell does that mean? Marcie: I have no idea. Ron: You know what? Never mind. I'm going to make sure this guy never comes near you again. Ron jumps up and heads toward the bar. Marcie: No. No, no, no. Don't, Ron. He's not worth it. Come on, sit down. Sit down. Michael: You know, anybody with half a brain could run this place. Roxy: Well, then go find someone else with half a brain. There's plenty of them. Stop messing with my holiday spirits. Michael: Well, maybe messing with holiday spirits is your problem. Marcie: Listen, why you can't lay off of her, Michael? Roxy may not have a medical degree, but she works a lot harder than you do. Al: All right, Marcie. Michael: You don't even know what's going on here. Marcie: Why do you think that you can treat Roxy like garbage? You know, you think that the world owes you something. Roxy: It owes him a good, swift kick in the keister. Michael: What's with you? I saved your brother's life. Al: Hello. (He whispers something in Michael’s ear.) Michael: You're right, Marcie. I -- I'm sorry. I was a jerk. I don't even know why I said any of those things. Sometimes I think I'm so smart, I -- I guess sometimes I just don't get it, do I? Marcie: I guess not. Al: Yes, yes!
In the meanwhile, Natalie was so disturbed by the present and note from Cristian, she had to leave the bar. She went to Asa’s cabin where she and Cris had spent a romantic evening. John has tracked her down because Roxy was so worried about her. He knocks on the door and she opens it. Natalie: So, how did you find me? I didn't tell anybody where I was going. John: Well, it's -- it's kind of what I do -- find people that don't want to be found. You used a credit card at the gas station in town. Natalie: Why are you looking for me? John: Roxy's worried. Natalie: It was -- it was Cristian's gift. I just -- I couldn't deal with it. And I'm not going back to Llanview, so don't even bother asking, please. John: I just drove by to see if you're all right, and you're all right, so -- [John sniffs] John: Are you -- you cooking something? What is -- don't even tell me that's macaroni and cheese. Natalie: I picked up a box on my way up here. Want some? John: Yeah.
Meanwhile back at Rodi’s Al and Luna do a celestial high five. Luna: There you go, sweet pea. Al: Selfless good deed number one. Luna: Mm-hmm. Selfless good deed uno. Roxy: That was decent of you because Marcie’s been through hell. Michael: Yeah. It's a bummer about her boyfriend. But, you know, things are tough all over. Roxy: Oh, it's tough? You got to work through the holidays? Michael: Doesn't matter. I haven't been home to see my family since I went off to boarding school when I was 12 years old. Roxy: Ooh-la-la. Boarding school. Michael: Mm-hmm, a full scholarship kid. And my first year there, all the rich kids went home for the holidays, so I had the whole place to myself. Which would've been neat, except it was Christmas. My mom couldn't scratch together enough money to get me home, so I packed a bag and I hid. I let the guys think I went back to jersey. And so, when they left, I went back to my dorm and I spent Christmas in the student lounge watching "it's a wonderful life."
At the cabin, John is telling Natalie his story. John: You never think a scholarship's going to not include train fare home for Christmas. Natalie: There was no way? I mean, you didn't try or -- John: I told Michael I'd send him the money, and he said he had to study. Natalie: You didn't buy it? John: No. He was just too proud to take a handout from his brother. Natalie: Was your mom upset? John: Well, dad -- dad had died a year earlier, and I think she just wanted her boys with her for Christmas. Natalie: What? John: Nothing. No, I just had this -- I remember I told her I would try to be both Michael and me that night, you know? So I sort of set these two chairs side by side, and we had two place settings, and for a while I'd sort of skip back and forth between the two chairs, and when I was in his chair, I would say things he would say, and then I would jump back over to my chair and argue back and forth with him. She thought it was pretty funny. Natalie: Seemed like you must've known him pretty well. John: I don't know. I know that he and mom were never -- I mean, they tried, but they were never close. They tried, but they could never quite break down those walls that they had put up between each other. Ok, that's enough. It's your turn.
Back at Rodi’s, Al watches and listens to Michael intently trying to figure out his next move. Luna: Uh-huh? Al: I've been thinking about it, ok? Luna: Ok. Al: Listen, what Michael learned in boarding school was that he had to fend for himself. He could basically rely on nobody. Luna: Right, right. Al: Now, if he hadn't left home -- Luna: Uh-huh? Al: And he had stayed with his mom and John -- Luna: Right. Al: He might be a completely different person. Luna: You are getting the picture, baby doll! Don't forget, you still got to get him to perform two good deeds, though, ok? Roxy: So Corinne -- that's my stupid sister-in-law -- she snatches Rexy -- that's my son -- and she drags him off to the wild in Michigan. I don't think Nattie ever forgave me for that. Michael: Did you forgive you? Roxy: Never. No way. Tried to get my act together and I wanted to have a nice Christmas for Natalie, but, lo and behold, Christmas Eve, there's not one Christmas gift under the tree because I was flat-busted broke. Michael: Casino, right? You were living right there in AC. Roxy: Yeah, man. Well, where else do you get something for nothing? So I kept on thinking about these, you know, toys and games for Nattie, and, you know, I'm playing and I'm winning, and I'm up about half a grand -- Michael: Until you went bust. Roxy: It's kind of like you were there. Michael: So then what'd you do? Roxy: What else? I went out and I got even drunker with some no-name guy who wanted to buy. I couldn't go home because the look on her face would've killed me.
Natalie: And here it is, Christmastime, and she left me all by myself Christmas Eve. My own mother, you know? The one person you're supposed to be able to depend on, and she just leaves me alone. Totally alone on the biggest family holiday of the year. It's -- how could he do that? John: "He"? Natalie: What? No, my mother. John: You said "he," -- "how could he do that?" Natalie: No, I -- I didn’t. What difference does it make? John: I think maybe you were thinking about Cris. Natalie: What -- why would I say anything about Cris? Why would I say that? We were just married, ok? How could he let Flynn just drag him off like that? John: He was trying to protect you. Natalie: Then -- then he should've protected me by staying alive! He -- he should've fought harder to get away! He -- he should not have left me alone on Christmas! John: It's ok to be mad. Natalie: Oh, how can I be? He's dead. John: Nat, it's ok to feel whatever you're feeling. And it's ok to forgive him. Hey -- it's ok to forgive him. Look at me. John: Hey. John: Hey. Hey. You want to go home? Natalie: I don't know. John: Nobody should be alone on Christmas. Let's get you back.
John and Natalie arrive back at Rodi’s. Roxy is very glad to see them. Roxy: Well, you know, you had me worried sick, you know that, kiddo? Natalie: I'm sorry. Roxy: Hey, did you find her? John: Ah -- Roxy: You remember the night that I left you alone on Christmas? We'll I've been feeling terrible about that. I've been feeling terrible about that for years. You forgive me? Natalie: Do you forgive me for worrying you? Well, of course I forgive you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I worried you. Roxy: It's ok. Anyway, Larry’s filling in for you, so you want to go to Viki's? Natalie: Yeah, yeah. Let me just -- I got to get something first, ok? John: Hey, look, you two have a good time, all right? Roxy: You want to come with? John: No, I got work to do. Roxy: It's Christmas Eve. John: "No rest for the wicked" or something like that, right? Roxy: Something like that. John: Hmm. Roxy: Ok, I’ll just be a second. Roxy disappears around a corner. Natalie turns toward John. Natalie: Thank you for finding me, looking for me. And – Roxy reappears as quickly as she disappeared. Roxy: Ok, baby, we are going to get in our duds and we are going to go party. John: Yeah, party. Roxy and Natalie leave. John notices Michael at the bar. John: Hey, Michael. Michael: Hey. John: Look, I just wanted to say -- Merry Christmas, Michael. John slides on the stool next to Michael. Michael: So, how's your case going? John: I hate this case. Michael: Did you ever like a serial-killer case? John: Well -- no. You working tonight? Michael: It keeps me off the streets. John: And the streets are better for it. Michael: Who started that, anyway? John: That would be dad. Michael: Figures. But sometimes I think mom pined for him so much because neither one of us joked around the way he did. John: You may be right. Al whispers something in Michael’s ear. Michael: What do you say I drive us home to AC. On Christmas after I finish my shift? You know, we'll surprise mom. John: Yeah, I think that would -- that'd be great. Al: Good deed number two. Luna: You are cookin with gas! Al: Good. Because e sooner I get into Michael’s body, the sooner I can make Marcie fall in love with me. Luna: Yeah. It'll be just that easy.
December 23, 2003 At Ultra Violet, Flash is singing Xmas carols from the bandstand. Flash: Hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king peace on earth and mercy mild god and sinners reconciled joyful, all ye nations rise join the triumph of the skies with angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem hark, the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king At the radio station, River is doing his version of Voice of the Night, Spirit of the Night: Merry Christmas Eve, Llanview. This is the spirit of the night with midnight logic, live at ultra violet, reaching out to you. 2,036 years ago, the Middle East was at peace because of a baby, a baby who changed the world. At the hospital a very concerned Marcie drags Ron into the ER. Ron: I'll be fine -- Marcie, Marcie -- Marcie: I can't even believe that you lost your epi pen. Ron: No -- Marcie: They told you that you shouldn't go anywhere without it, and then you don't even say anything. Ron: Ok, ok. Marcie: Oh, go ahead. Go ahead and laugh, but it's not funny. We're going to get you a new prescription. I don't want to risk you dying again of an allergic reaction. You scared me half to death. Ron: Hey, listen to me. You don't have to worry about losing anyone else, ok? Michael: Christmas is no time to clog up the ER. If it's not life or death. Al and Luna are perked on the counter, watching the events unfold. Al: This is a lost cause, Luna. My undertaker had a better bedside manner than this guy. Luna: Oh, come on. You already got Michael to perform two selfless, good acts. Surely you can coax him into another one. But you better chop-chop. You're running out of time. Singer: O night divine River drops a pearl of wisdom on the radio: Sometimes, the real miracle of Christmas is that more people don't murder each other. - I hate colds. - Colds are nasty. Ron: I can't believe this guy's going to ruin our Christmas Eve. Marcie: I know, but he did give me that apology at Rodi's, don't you remember? Ron: Yeah. Marcie: I was even starting to think that maybe he wasn't a jerk after all. Ron: Yeah, well, maybe you thought wrong. Al whispers in Michael’s ear: You told this guy to come in for a
checkup, now you tell him he's clogging up the ER? What's the deal with that,
man? Marcie is worried about her brother, ok? Do the right thing and check the
guy out! Michael walks over to Ron and Marcie. Michael: Ok. Looks like no one's dying in here. Let's make this quick. I got to check you out before I write another script. Trust me, I don't need this when I'm practically covering the ER. On my own. Marcie: Well, then why don't we just forget about it? I don't trust you, anyway, with my brother. You're a total jerk. Come on, Ron. Al whispers to Michael: Listen, don't let her go, all right? Tell her why
you're such a jerk. Tell her that you spent your whole life alone, that you're
afraid to let people care. At least here people need you, right? You hide behind
your smarts. Listen, man. Life is about more than brains. Listen to me. This
girl will get it, ok? You just have to say it. The doors are flung open and Kelly and Kevin rush in with Jesus. Kelly: We need a doctor. Michael: Gurney! Over here. Put him down here. Kelly: Please, he's got a temperature of 103, and he seems to have stomach pain. Michael: Hey, buddy, how you feeling? Could you sit up for me, please? We're just going to listen to your breathing real quick here. Ok. Kelly: He was fine one minute, and then he just started burning up. Can you help us, please? Michael: Any vomiting? Kelly: No, no. No, I mean, he was just fine. He -- Michael: Ok. Can you open your mouth for me, buddy? Boy: Ah. Michael: That's good. Good. Ok, well -- lay back for me. We're going to bring him in here. That's what we're here for. Kelly: Ok. Michael: All right, guys. Al: Luna, he's forgetting all about her. What am I supposed to do?
Meanwhile at Llanfair, Viki is upset because she has misplaced her wedding
ring. Roxy: Viki, if I were your ring, where would I be? It was 13-karat gold, right? Viki: You know, Roxy, I know it's in this house because I haven't left here today. Roxy: Yeah, well, maybe you better retrust your steps. But in the meantime, I got something that's going to cheer you up. Just wait. Natalie: You know, I was going to take off Cristian’s ring, but I can’t. If I lost it, I'd be a wreck. Viki: Roxanne told me what happened last night. Oh, honey, getting Cristian’s card -- that must have just thrown you for a loop. Natalie: Yeah. I spent the night at grandpa's lodge last night. Roxanne sent John McBain to come find me. Viki: And did you mind being found? Natalie: You know, when he finally got there, I think I was ready to not be alone. We had a good talk. Viki: Well, we all need to talk, you know. Sometimes strangers are the best people to talk to. Natalie: He's really not that much of a stranger, really. Jessica: Hey -- look who I found at the door. Viki: Oh. John: I'm really sorry about this. I was told at the station the commissioner might be here. Viki: No, he's not, so you'll have to settle for us. And River continues as Spirit of the Night: Even though I don't have a lot of reason for faith this Christmas, I'm hoping my own private angel, far away, will feel the angels all around her. And I hope she knows that someday I'll be with her again when the people working against us finally give up. Dorian: River? Spirit of the Night: When they're out of the way and I'm with her again, everything will be better.
Kelly and Kevin are now sitting with Ron and Marcie in the waiting room. Kelly: Why won't they tell us anything? They know we're waiting out here. Michael walks out. Kevin: Excuse me. Here you go. Kelly: What's happening? Michael: Well, with tenderness to his abdomen and fever that high, my first guess is going to be appendicitis. I'm going to recommend that he go into OR. Immediately. Kevin: What, you're sure? Kelly: Oh, my god. Michael: Well, if the appendix bursts, it could be fatal. But you're the parents. I'll need your consent. Kevin: Actually, we're -- Kelly: We're not his parents. We found him. He was abandoned. Michael: Then you can't sign the consent for surgery. I'll have to get some authorization, but you did the right thing by bringing him in here. Check legal. I need this child prepped for surgery, stat. Al: Well, at least she gets to see him doing something good.
Luna: Except that little boy doesn't need surgery. You better stop him, now. Do you get prescription strength heartburn? Kelly: Don't worry, sweetie. The doctor's going to make you feel better. I'm going to be right here. Al whispers to Michael: Get to a supervisor. Do it right. It might not be
appendicitis. Don't be a hero. Take it to your supervisor. Michael walks over to Jordan.
Michael: Dr. Kingsley. Jordan: Yeah. Michael: Would you mind taking a look at this? Jordan: Sure. Michael: Tell me what you think? Jordan: That's what I'm here for. Michael: First I thought appendicitis, but now I'm not sure. Jordan: No vomiting? Michael: Not yet. Kelly: You're going to have a little sleep, and when you wake up, you'll feel much better. Jordan: Hi. How you doing? Kevin: Good. Jordan: Dr. Kingsley. Kevin: Kevin. Kelly: Hi. Kelly. Jordan: Can we get his temp again, please? How are you doing today? I hear your tummy hurts a little bit. I'm going to touch your stomach. You tell me where it hurts, ok? What's he been doing tonight? Kelly: Well, he seemed really hungry, so we -- we fed him. He ate a lot. He had a lot of candy. Jordan: Mm-hmm. Nurse: 99, and that's without medication. Michael: You're kidding. Jordan: You know, children's temperatures can spike for a number of reasons, but his abdomen is tender in several areas. It's because he overate. Kelly: Thank god it's nothing serious. Jordan: Mm-hmm. There's nothing wrong. You take him home, let him rest. And no more food tonight. Only liquids. Kelly: Thank you so much. Jordan: You're welcome. Have a good night. Kelly: Thank you. Kevin: Thanks a lot. Kelly: Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. Michael: Well, I'm -- I'm sorry I got you so alarmed. I -- I just didn't want to take any chances. Kelly: Thank you. Kevin: Thanks. Michael: Sorry I kept you and your brother waiting. Marcie: It's ok. You had something more important to attend to. I'm just glad it turned out ok. Michael: Yeah, me, too. Even if I did act like a jerk. Marcie: Well -- Michael: Man, this -- this job is -- I mean, people turn to you, and they hand you their lives, you know? The lives of their children. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get over that. Well, come on, Ron. Let's get you checked out. Ron: Ok. Marcie: Thanks. Al: Well -- I mean, that was good. That counts, right?
Luna: Yeah. Now you just got one more thing you got to do. Just one more. Al: Ah, hold the phone. Listen, I made this guy perform three selfless deeds. What now? Luna: Calm down. Close your eyes. Al does as he was told and when he opens his eyes he is once again back in the black space with the little angel, Gabrielle. Little Gabrielle: You did a good job, Al. Three good deeds. Al: Good enough to get a second chance? Little Gabrielle: Oh, yes. You'll be allowed back into Michael’s body. But, remember, you only have until Valentine’s Day to get Marcie to fall in love with you. Al: Whatever you say. Listen, this time I promise I'm going to do everything right. Little Gabrielle: You'd better, or I never get to live in your world at all. Al: I don't understand. What happens to you depends on me? Little Gabrielle: You haven't figured it out yet? Al: Who are you? Little Gabrielle: I told you. I'm Gabrielle. I'm named after my grandmother. If you and Marcie fall in love again, I'm your daughter.
Meanwhile back on the mortal plane at Llanfair, John and Natalie are awkward around each other. Natalie: John -- John: I'm just going to take off. Natalie: You're here. Why don't you just stay? And River continues as Spirit of the Night: Years ago, a miracle occurred right here in town at St. James church. David: Dorian, this place is crawling with mistletoe. I'm not kidding this time. Dorian: Oh, David, why fight it? Spirit of the Night: Because someone took a chance and wished for the impossible to happen, it did. You have to wonder if wishing for something so hard can make it come true. At St. James church on Christmas Eve, a young woman wished for a baby. If you know this story, there's no denying the power of Christmas. At Asa's, Gabrielle plays with Jesus. Gabrielle: (laughs) Do it again. Asa: Bo, who the hell's the kid? Boy: Me llamo Jesus. Kelly: His name is Jesus? Spirit of the Night: I wonder where and who that little boy would be if he hadn't been put in a manger and found by people who loved him instantly, if someone hadn't wished so hard to make a dream come true that a miracle happened.
Al is once again back at the hospital and he and Luna are looking over a sleeping Michael. Luna: You ready, darling? Al: Yeah. I'm going to do everything right this time. Luna: Oh, goddess, I hope so. Al: I have to. If I don't, Marcie and I will never have our little girl. Our little Gabrielle. Marcie and Ron walk toward the ER door. Marcie: Oh, hey, you get your new prescription? Ron: Yep. Marcie: Good. Ron: I guess it's the only drug store open tonight. So, you want to go see "Miracle of the Bells" tonight? Marcie: Oh, no, I was actually invited to a party at Llanfair. Ron: Are you sure you're up for that? Marcie: Yeah, I think it might be good for me to be around people tonight. You want to come? Ron: Seriously? Marcie: Yeah. Ron: Sure. Let's go see how the other half parties. Al walks out of the exam room. Al feels his face and then takes a look in a reflective surface of a cart. Al: How does Michael McBain get into a party at Llanfair? He looks down and notices a medical file, picks it up and reads it. Al: Ben Davidson. River doing his Spirit of the Night schtick: Well, folks, the party people at ultra violet are heading home now. And who knows? Maybe when they get there, they're going to find a miracle. Even though that kid in the manger at St. James grows up to be a kid who gets mad at both his parents and his grandmother, he still believes in the power of Christmas. Asa, Matthew, Bo, Kelly, Kevin, Gabrielle and Jesus are celebrating at Asa’s. Asa: Let her rip, Matthew. There's plenty more where that came from. Everyone laughs. Matthew: Maybe Jesus wants one. Renee: Hey. Kelly: Yeah? You want one of those? Want to open that up? Yeah, I think so. Here, take this. Hey, help -- help me out here. Bo: That's a wonderful thing you just did. Kevin: What is that? Kelly: Wow! Kevin: Oh, my gosh! Kelly: What is it? Gabrielle: That is a very special son you have. Jesus: Like that! Kelly: Yeah! At Lindsay’s loft, Jen finally decides to go home. Lindsay: Hey. Jen: Hey. Can I stay here tonight? I just -- I don't want to go out and get all drunk and crazy. Lindsay: I've been waiting for you to come home. Merry Christmas. Jen: Merry Christmas. At Llanfair, John and Natalie part ways. John: Yeah, well, thanks for the hospitality, but I think I'm just going to take off. Natalie: John, I'm glad you came, even though it was strange. John: Yeah, it was a strange one. My brother Michael -- he asked me if I want to drive down to Atlantic City to see our mother on Christmas. You want to talk about miracles? Hey -- Merry Christmas. Natalie: Merry Christmas. Al knocks on Viki’s backdoor. She opens it. Al: Mrs. Davidson? Viki: Yes, come in. Merry Christmas. Al: Merry Christmas. Um -- I'm Dr. Michael McBain over at Llanview hospital. Viki: Is it Ben? Al: No. I'm sorry. Dr. Davidson is -- he's the same. I was checking him out, though, and I found this. He shows her a ring. Viki gasps. Viki: Oh, my -- where was it? Al: It was right next to the bed. You must've dropped it. Viki: That's very strange because I thought I had it this morning. Well, it doesn't really matter, does it? Oh, my god. Thank you. This is the best Christmas present -- thank you very, very, very much. Thank you. Al: No problem. Marcie walks in and sees them and smiles. ***************
December 24, 2003 Marcie is in Angel Square in front of the Luna statue. Marcie: I thought I'd be bringing Al home to meet the family this Christmas. Luna: You're not just going to stand there, are you? Al: Oh, what difference does it make, Luna? I'm back in Michael’s body, but you know what? She is a very long way off from being in love with me, and I don't know how to make her love me by Valentine’s Day. Luna: Darling, just remember who you are inside. Marcie will find you there. Luna: Oh, for heaven's sake, is that -- I -- is that delphinium? I think it is. And -- oh, you know what they say -- if it grows in the wintertime, it's got some sort of magical powers. Al: Magic? Really? Like what? Luna: Well, some people say that if you smell it, you can recover some sort of feeling that you've lost. Al: Like love? Michael-Al rushes over to the statue and rips out a sprig of the delphinium then rushes off. Luna: Yeah, reckon so. Hey, hey, wait -- darling, there's something else you need to know! Al bumps into John. John: Hey, Michael. What time do you want to head out tomorrow to see mom? Al: Ah, listen, I -- I really can't talk right now. John: I should have known -- you're going to bail. Al: Listen, I just -- I can't talk right now, ok? Luna: Hey! Just because you're back in Michael’s body doesn't mean you can ignore his life or his feelings. And what about all those good deeds you worked on? Al: Where did Marc go? Luna: You listen to me. That whole business about that flower -- that's just an old wives' tale. And even if it did have some sort of magical powers, it wears off. And when it does, things are even worse than before. Al: Worse? Luna: Yes, worse. Al: I don't think they could get any worse, Luna. You know, I know where Marcie is. Luna: If Al gets Marcie to fall in love with him for a second time, it would kill him to lose it again. Oh, goddess. Luna climbs up on the statue base and assumes the position of the statue.
At the radio station, Marcie is in the control room when Ron walks in. Ron: Marcie. Hey, Marcie -- you really don't think I’m going to leave you here alone, do you? Marcie: Gordo's here. He'll make sure I get home ok. Don't worry about me. Ron: Hey, hey -- this is something you need to do? Marcie: It is. He looks at her but then nods. Ron: Ok. Merry Christmas, sis. Marcie: You, too. I'll see you tomorrow morning? Ron: Yeah. Marcie: Don't go opening any Christmas presents without me. Ron leaves and she continues to rummage through a collection of CDs. There is a box labeled Voice of the Night. She touches it gently. When she turns around she sees Al watching her. Marcie: Are you following me again? Al: Well, it's late, and there is a serial killer on the loose. Marcie: The Music Box Killer is looking for a very specific kind of a girl. Al: Yeah. Beautiful. Marcie: In the Madison Kensington way. Al: Listen, I'm sorry I went out with her. I wish I never had. Is there any way we could just not talk about that tonight? Marcie: Oh, we don't have to talk about anything. Al: What are you doing here? Marcie: Came to be with Al. Al: What? Marcie: Well, Gordo, the station manager -- he gave the spirit of the night some time off, so, you know, they're just playing old Christmas music, and -- well, Al -- he would have came in, and he would have talked to everybody who was alone and didn't have anywhere to go. He would have spent his Christmas with them. Al: That would have been cool. Marcie: Yeah. Yeah, he was real cool, even if he didn't know it. I didn't even know he was the voice of the night for a long time. It was kind of a night like this. It was cold and it was snowy. And I heard this voice. He came on the radio, and he started talking to me, saying all these things that I needed to hear. I think that's when I first fell in love with him. Can I be alone? Al: Yeah. Sure. I just wanted to give you something. I know how much you like Gerber daisies, but I found this. Marcie: Thank you. Al: It's a delphinium. They smell really good. Go ahead. Try it. Marcie: You're right. It's beautiful. Marcie takes the sprig of flowers and sniffs them. Al: Are you ok? Marcie: I -- I don't know. I -- I feel kind of strange. Al: Hold on. Let me see if you have a fever. He presses his hand against her forehead gently. Marcie: I changed my mind. I don't want you to go. Al: Then I won't go. Marcie: I think there is something different about you. Al: There's nothing different. I'm the same guy that loved you yesterday. I'm the same guy that'll love you for the rest of your life. Marcie: I -- I can't believe this. Al: Marcie, that's all you have to do -- believe. Marcie: God, why didn't I see this before? You were there all the time. Al: You know? Marcie: How could I not? Al: You know who I am? Marcie: Of course I know who you are. You're sweet. You're sensitive. You admit when you're wrong. You apologize for your mistakes. You know, you saved that kid, and you even made peace with your brother. Al: You think I'm -- Marcie: You're Michael McBain. You're the man I love. Al: Yeah. Yeah. But -- I mean, what about Al Holden? Marcie: I'll always love Al. You're not so different deep down. Al: No, I guess -- I guess you're right. I'm not. Marcie: But I want to know you. I want to know everything about you. Al: Well, there's not really much to tell. Marcie: Come on, there has to be. Like -- well, why did you become a doctor? Al: I went to med school because my dad died on an operating table at the hands of a drunken, incompetent surgeon, and I promised myself that I would never let that happen to another person. At least not on my watch. Marcie: I'm sorry. I had no idea. Al: Neither did I. I mean I never realized it until today, till just now. See, that's what you do for me, Marcie. You make me realize things about myself that I… I never did. Marcie: I can see it. It's in there. Al: Then you can see how much I really love you. They kiss. Al: I just want help people heal, you know, and sometimes I get so caught up in it that I kind of forget my bedside manner. Marcie: Well, you were fine with Ron. Well, most of the time. Al: That's because of you, Marcie. You see, you make me a better person. The digital clock flips to 12:00. Christmas Eve is over. Marcie is shocked to see that she is in Michael's arms. Marcie: What are you doing? Al: What do you mean? Marcie: I need to get out of here. Marcie jumps down and rushes away. Luna appears. Luna: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa -- let her go. Al: What just happened here? Luna: What did I tell you? I told you the magic wouldn't last, but do you listen to me? Al: She loves me, though. She just said so. Luna: Honey, she's not going to remember a thing. Oh, darling, I’m sorry. I'm just as sorry as I can be, but I told you. Al: Oh, no, I'm not giving up now. Not when I’m so close. What's going to happen next? Marcie walks back out into the hall outside of the control booth. Al rushes to her. Al: Marcie, are you sure you're ok? Marcie: Yeah, yeah, Gordo just came back from a break, and he said that a loop just broke and that there's going to be dead air if I don't find that tape. I know there was a tape of Al's that I wanted to play. I can't find it. So why did you become a doctor, again? Al: You don't remember? Marcie: No, you never told me. Where's that tape? Al: You know, what do you need a tape for? Marcie: Because I -- Al: You have a great voice. Why don't you just sing? Marcie: Oh. Marcie smiles. Al: Sing. Marcie: Ok. Marcie: (sings) Silent night holy night all is calm all is bright round
yon virgin mother and child holy infant so tender and mild sleep in heavenly
peace sleep in heavenly peace silent night holy night shepherds quake; at the
sight glories stream from heaven above heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the
savior is born Christ the savior is born
SCENES INDEX
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