The One With the Gazebo" 12

QUINTONÕS LAB -- 10 a.m.

(QUINTON WALKS AROUND THE ROOM, MUTTERING TO HIMSELF AS HE CHECKS THE EQUIPMENT IN THE ROOM AND MAKES NOTES ABOUT IT ON A CLIPBOARD. NOLA WATCHES HIM FROM THE DOORWAY WITH A BEMUSED SMILE, BUT QUINTON DOESNÕT NOTICE HER.)

NOLA: How bad is it?

QUINTON: Worse than I thought. ItÕs amazing the advancements that have been made since the last time we worked in here. (HE CRPSSES TO HER AND KISSES HER.) Good morning.

NOLA: Morning. I came in to drag you down to breakfast, because I know you came in here first thing this morning.

(SHE STARTS WANDERING AROUND THE ROOM, CHECKING THE EQUIPMENT HERSELF.)

QUINTON: How would you know that?

NOLA: Because I know you.

QUINTON: I couldnÕt sleep, so I decided to get a jump on things in here.

NOLA: I slept like a baby last night.

QUINTON: If I had known that maybe I could have gotten some sleep instead of waiting up in case you changed your mind about joining me.

NOLA: I told you last night, Quinton, one day at a time.

(QUINTON COMES UP BEHIND HER AND PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND HER WAIST AS HE MURMURS IN HER EAR.)

QUINTON: Well I hope the time for that thing comes soon.

NOLA: WeÕll see.

(SHE PULLS AWAY FROM HIM, BUT QUINTON PULLS HER BACK.)

QUINTON: I donÕt want breakfast, I want you.

(HE PULLS HER INTO A PASSIONATE KISS. A.J. STUMBLES DOWN THE HALL, DRESSED ONLY IN PAJAMA PANTS, AND SPOTS HIS PARENTS THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR.)

A.J.: I know I had this dream last night, but I could have sworn I was awake now.

(NOLA PULLS AWAY AND COVERS HER FACE IN EMBARASSMENT, BUT QUINTON JUST GRINS AT HIS SON.)

QUINTON: You are awake.

A.J.: And IÕm not hallucinating or anything, right?

QUINTON (laughing): No.

A.J.: Cool. Mom, donÕt look so embarassed. ItÕs not like IÕve never seen you two making out before.

NOLA: A.J.!

(SHE DUCKS BEHIND QUINTON.)

QUINTON: A.J., itÕs not nice to embarrass your mother.

A.J.: So, do the two of you have something youÕd like to tell me?

(QUINTON TURNS TO LOOK AT NOLA.)

QUINTON: Nola?

NOLA: WeÕll discuss it over breakfast. Go get dressed, and IÕll meet both of you downstairs in a few minutes.

(SHE WALKS OUT OF THE LAB, BUT A.J. STAYS PUT.)

QUINTON: You heard your mother -- go get dressed.

A.J.: YouÕre not going to tell me anything?

QUINTON: Do I really need to?

A.J.: No, I guess not. That lip lock was pretty self explanatory.

QUINTON: A.J., please donÕt embarrass your mother anymore when we get downstairs. I think sheÕs still a little uncertain about the decision sheÕs made, and we donÕt want her having second thoughts.

A.J.: I wonÕt spoil things, Dad, I promise. IÕve been waiting as long as you have for you and Mom to get back on track.

(QUINTON PUTS AN ARM AROUND A.J. AND RUFFLES HIS HAIR LOVINGLY.)

QUINTON: YouÕre a good kid, you know that?

A.J.: Yeah, but donÕt tell anyone. YouÕll ruin my rep.

(QUINTON LAUGHS.)

QUINTON: I owe you a thank you.

A.J.: For what?

QUINTON: Taking such good care of your mother when I didnÕt.

A.J.: No problem.

QUINTON: And for giving me a second chance when I screwed up at being your dad.

A.J.: Well, youÕve given me more than a few second chances in my life. Besides, we were all pretty screwed up after what happened to Sean and Stephanie.

QUINTON (nodding): Hmm.

A.J.: Is all the bad stuff over now?

(QUINTON IS SURPRISED BY THE QUESTION.)

QUINTON: I donÕt know, A.J., I think the worst of it is.

A.J.: I hope so. WeÕve been through enough.

QUINTON: We certainly have.

A.J. (Yawning): I need a shower to wake up. Tell Mom IÕll be down in five, okay? (QUINTON NODS AS A.J. STARTS OUT.) Oh, and Dad?

QUINTON: Yes?

A.J.: IÕm really glad you finally got through to Mom.

(HE WALKS OUT.)

QUINTON: So F p 0 F am I.

CUT T Dw CHAMBERLAIN LIVING ROOM

(A BREAKFAST SPREAD OF BAGELS, MUFFINS, FRUIT, JUICE AND COFFEE IS SPREAD ACROSS THE TABLE. NOLA SITS ON THE SOFA DRINKING COFFEE AND READING THE PAPER AS TONY ENTERS.)

TONY: Nice spread.

NOLA: Help yourself.

(TONY DOES SO, THEN SITS IN A CHAIR ACROSS FROM HER.)

TONY: YouÕre really making yourself at home here.

NOLA: I am at home.

TONY: Excuse me?

NOLA: I said I am at home.

TONY: Is that why you called me over here?

NOLA: I thought you might want to know whatÕs going on.

TONY: So what is going on? You and Quint back together. (NOLA NODS NONCHALANTLY.) For good?

NOLA: I hope so.

TONY: How did this come about?

NOLA: I decided to follow my heart and not my head.

TONY: And do you feel good about this decision?

NOLA: Yes.

TONY: But?

NOLA: But what?

TONY: DonÕt tell me youÕre not a little scared about this.

NOLA: IÕm scared to death. But it was the only decision I could make. I love him, Tony. And I love the life we have together -- our children, our travels, that way he can make my dreams come true almost before I dream them. All that was too much a part of me for me to leave it behind.

TONY: Even though it means risking your heart to do so?

NOLA: I never was one to shy away from risks.

TONY: No, you never were. So whatÕs next for you two?

NOLA: I want to go see Stacy, tell her whatÕs going on. I think it would be better than telling her over the phone.

TONY: You just want an excuse to see her.

NOLA: Can you blame me? ItÕs been months, and the last time I was with her I could tell she was blaming me for everything that happened with Quinton and I.

TONY: I think you were just being paranoid.

NOLA: No I wasnÕt. Quinton can do no wrong in her eyes. SheÕs always been DaddyÕs little girl.

TONY: IÕm sure everything will be fine when she finds out you and Quint are back together.

NOLA: I hope so.

TONY: So after you tell Stacy, then what?

NOLA: I donÕt know. What would you do next if you were me?

TONY: Move in here. These are some cushy digs.

NOLA (smiling): Yeah, it certainly is more luxurious than the boarding house.

TONY: Are you even going to stay in Springfield? Quint really only came here to win you back, didnÕt he?

NOLA: How did you know that?

TONY: Everyone knew that.

NOLA: Quinton hasnÕt mentioned leaving here. But with everything going on, I donÕt think weÕll be making any decisions like that right away.

(QUINTON ENTERS.)

QUINTON: What are we not making any decisions about, beautiful?

(HE SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER AND KISSES HER.)

NOLA: Tony asked if we were going to leave Springfield.

QUINTON: I wasnÕt planning on it. Not right away at least. I feel like I should be around for Bill and Dinah for a little while.

NOLA: Oh.

QUINTON: Did you want to leave town?

NOLA: No, but I was hoping to go to Oxford for a couple days to see Stacy.

QUINTON: I figured you would. ThatÕs why it took me so long to get down here. I was on the phone making reservations.

NOLA: Really?

QUINTON: Really.

(NOLA KISSES HIM.)

NOLA: Thank you, Quinton. This is the best surprise I could have gotten today.

QUINTON: IÕm glad youÕre happy.

NOLA: What about A.J., though? I donÕt want him to miss classes.

QUINTON: HeÕs a grown boy, Nola, heÕll be fine on his own for a few days.

NOLA: IÕm not leaving him by himself. HeÕll have the keg coming in the back door as weÕre walking out the front, if he even waits that long.

TONY: IÕll keep an eye on him for you, Nol.

NOLA: DonÕt you have to get back to Chicago?

TONY: Not really. I donÕt have any pressing business there.

QUINTON: Are you sure, Tony. A.J. Can be a handful.

TONY: I can handle him. ItÕll be nice to play Dad. I donÕt get to do that often enough these days.

NOLA: You should talk to Ross about that whole situation while youÕre here.

TONY: I donÕt want to drag Tommy into an ugly fight.

NOLA: Ross may be able to help you see Tommy more without things getting ugly. Call him.

TONY: Okay, IÕll call him.

(A.J. ENTERS FRESH FROM THE SHOWER AND DIGS INTO THE FOOD.)

A.J.: Good morning all. Uncle Tony, are you going to stay here with us while youÕre in town? ItÕs much nicer than that hotel.

NOLA: HeÕs going to stay here with you.

A.J.: YouÕre not staying here, Mom? But I thought...

QUINTON: Your mother and I are going to Oxford for a few days. We want to talk to your sister about everything thatÕs happened.

A.J.: I donÕt need a babysitter, Uncle Tony.

TONY: Good, because I donÕt want to be one. I just want to stay in this beautiful house while IÕm here in Springfield, even if it means putting up with you.

NOLA: If you prefer you can stay at the boardinghouse with Bridget.

A.J.: No, no boarding house. IÕll stay with Uncle Tony. (HE LEANS IN AND WHISPERS TO TONY.) IÕll even introduce you to some of the girls around the University.

TONY (smiling): When are you and Quint leaving, Nol?

(A.J. LAUGHS.)

NOLA: I canÕt leave him with you. I donÕt know which one of you is going to corrupt the other one more.

A.J.: Too late. You already said I could stay with Uncle Tony. So, when are you two leaving?

QUINTON: Ross wants to meet with me about VanessaÕs estate this afternoon, so I thought weÕd take an overnight flight tonight, if thatÕs okay with you, Nola. (NOLA NODS.) If you talk to Anastasia before then, donÕt say anything, A.J. I want her to be surprised.

NOLA: YouÕre not even going to tell her weÕre coming?

QUINTON: No, IÕd rather surprise her.

NOLA: But she doesnÕt like surprises.

QUINTON: SheÕll like this one. Trust me.

A.J.: DadÕs right, sheÕs going to be really excited.

NOLA: I hope so.

QUINTON: She will, because this is what she wanted, itÕs what we all want. (HE LOOKS AT NOLA.) You do want this, donÕt you?

(SHE LOOKS AT QUINTON, TONY AND A.J. ANXIOUSLY STARING AT HER.)

NOLA: No pressure, guys. (NO ONE LAUGHS.) Of course, of course I want this. I wouldnÕt be here if I didnÕt.

QUINTON: If you want us to wait on talking to Stacy, we can. Or we can explain everything to her over the phone.

NOLA: No, I need to see her. We have a lot we need to talk about.

(HOLD ON NOLA, THEN FADE OUT.)

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