"The One With the Gazebo" 13

17A. OXFORD GARDENS CABIN -- 2 p.m. THE NEXT DAY

(QUINTON AND NOLA ENTER A RUSTIC BUT ELEGANT CABIN. THE LIVING ROOM IS DECORATED WITH A PLUSH SOFA AND CHAIRS AND ANTIQUE FURNITURE, INCLUDING A HAND-CARVED TABLE. AS QUINTON TIPS THE BELLBOY AND SHUTS THE DOOR BEHIND HIM NOLA WANDERS AROUND THE ROOM, STOPPING AT A BOUQUET OF HEATHER SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE.)

NOLA: Do they have this in all the rooms?

QUINTON: It's part of the place's charm.

NOLA: This place is so beautiful, Quinton. How did you find it?

QUINTON: My mother used to stay here when I was at Oxford. Back then it was only the main house -- these cabins were built about ten years ago.

NOLA: Why haven't we ever stayed here before?

QUINTON: It was more convenient to stay at the hotel when we had the children with us. And then we had the house when we were living here. I had forgotten all about this place until I brought Anastasia over for school and ran into Colin Henshaw, a classmate of mine at Oxford. He told me he'd taken the hotel over from his parents and invited me to stay. Now I always come back here whenever I'm in Oxford.

NOLA: I can see why. It's quite charming.

QUINTON: I liked it because it reminded me of you.

NOLA: Me?

QUINTON: The first thing I thought when I saw this place again was 'I can't wait to bring Nola here. She's going to love it.'

NOLA: But...

QUINTON: I know things weren't going well between us, but I believed even back then that everything would work out and I would have the chance to bring you back here.

NOLA: Did you ever stop believing in us?

QUINTON: Never.

NOLA: Never?

QUINTON: There may have been moments when I thought things were hopeless, but I never stopped loving you, Nola. Or wanting you. (HE BRUSHES HER HAIR WITH HIS FINGERTIPS. NOLA SHUDDERS AT HIS INTENSITY. QUINTON LEANS IN FOR A KISS, BUT THE SPELL IS BROKEN BY A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.) Hold that thought.

(QUINTON GOES TO THE DOOR AND OPENS IT TO FIND COLIN.)

COLIN: Sean, I heard you were here.

QUINTON (shaking his hand): Colin, good to see you. Come in, there's someone I want you to meet. (HE HOLDS OUT HIS HAND TO NOLA, WHO COMES TO HIS SIDE.) This is my wife Nola. Nola, this is Colin Henshaw.

COLIN: Nice to finally meet you, Nola. Sean has told me a lot about you.

NOLA: You have a beautiful place here.

COLIN: Thank you. I would have had lunch waiting for you, but Anastasia didn't mention you were coming.

QUINTON: She doesn't know. We thought we'd surprise her.

NOLA: You know Stacy?

COLIN: My son Joseph is very taken with her, so we see quite a bit of her here. She's a lovely young woman.

QUINTON: We think so. Have you seen her since she returned from Tanquir?

COLIN: She was here yesterday. She told us about your sister. I'm very sorry.

QUINTON: Thank you. It's been a difficult time for us.

COLIN: This is the perfect place to get away from all that. Why don't I have Emily fix you a bite to eat while the two of you are getting settled in?

QUINTON: That would be wonderful, thank you.

COLIN: Nola, it's been a pleasure to meet you. I hope you and Sean will have time to join my wife and I for dinner before you leave.

NOLA: That would be lovely.

COLIN: I'll be back in a few minutes with your lunch.

(COLIN EXITS.)

NOLA: It's strange to hear someone call you Sean.

QUINTON: He just can't get used to calling me Quinton. Does it bother you?

NOLA: Bother me? Oh, because of....No, it doesn't bother me. Actually, I kind of like it. It's a good Irish name. And it suits you.

QUINTON: I can tell that something's bothering you , Nola. What is it?

NOLA: How long have you known about this boy Stacy's dating?

QUINTON: Joseph? Colin and I introduced them when she first started here. I thought they were only good friends, but last time I was here, it was obvious that things had changed.

NOLA: You don't seem too upset about that.

QUINTON: That's only because I don't let myself think about the fact that my little girl is growing up. And at least she's chosen someone like Joseph, whom I know is a nice young man.

NOLA: Are things serious between them?

QUINTON: I don't think we need to plan a wedding just yet, but Anastasia does seem quite fond of him.

NOLA: Why haven't I heard anything about him before today?

QUINTON: I don't know. I didn't think she was keeping him secret.

NOLA: She wasn't keeping him secret from you.

QUINTON: Why is this bothering you so much?

NOLA: She tells you everything, and she barely speaks to me.

(QUINTON PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER COMFORTINGLY.)

QUINTON: Is it really that bad?

NOLA: That my daughter hates me?

QUINTON: She does not hate you.

NOLA: It certainly feels that way.

QUINTON: She doesn't, Nola. I don't know why she didn't tell you about Joseph, but it wasn't because she hates you. Maybe she felt guilty about being happy when you were so unhappy. You know how she hates to hurt anyone's feelings.

NOLA: I don't know.

(SHE FLOPS DOWN ON THE SOFA WITH A SIGH. QUINTON SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER AND PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND HER.)

QUINTON: I'm sure that's all it was, that she didn't want to hurt you.

NOLA: But it wouldn't have hurt me. I would have been delighted for her -- I AM delighted for her.

QUINTON: And I bet that as soon as you tell her that she'll tell you all there is to know about her and Joseph.

NOLA: I hope so.

QUINTON: I know she will.

NOLA: Are you going to call her now?

QUINTON: In a minute.

(HE STARTS LAVISHING KISSES ON NOLA.)

NOLA: Are you trying to distract me from worrying about Stacy?

QUINTON: Uh huh.

(HIS LIPS TRAVEL FROM NOLA'S FACE TO HER NECK.)

NOLA: Mmmm. I definitely think it's working.

(SHE BEGINS TO RETURN HIS KISSES.)

DISSOLVE TO: 17B. STACY'S APARTMENT

(STACY AND JOSEPH ARE ALSO ON THE SOFA KISSING.)

JOSEPH: I thought you didn't miss me.

STACY: I lied.

JOSEPH: So I shouldn't be insulted that you fell asleep on me last night?

STACY: I'm really sorry about that. I guess I was just wiped from the trip and everything.

JOSEPH: I thought I was telling a facinating story, and I come in from the kitchen to find you fast asleep.

STACY: I'm wide awake now. Tell me your story.

JOSEPH: It's a long one.

STACY: I'm free for the rest of the day.

JOSEPH: Just the day?

STACY: Just the day.

JOSEPH: I guess you really didn't miss me that much.

STACY: Oh stop. If I did tell you that you could stay the night here, you'd probably faint in disbelief.

JOSEPH: True. If I tell you my story again, do you promise not to fall asleep on me this time?

STACY: That depends.

JOSEPH: On what?

STACY: Whether you keep my interest enough for me to stay awake.

JOSEPH: Oh, I'll keep you interested.

STACY: Yeah?

JOSEPH: Yes, ma'am.

(HE STARTS TO KISS HER AGAIN.)

STACY: Mmm, that's very interesting.

(THE PHONE STARTS TO RING.)

JOSEPH: Don't answer that.

STACY: I wasn't planning to.

(THE PHONE PICKS UP AS STACY AND JOSEPH CONTINUE TO MAKE OUT.)

STACy (on machine): Hi, this is Anastasia. I'm back, but I'm not ready to deal with people just yet, so leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as I can cope with whatever you want from me. See ya.

(THERE'S A LONG BEEP.)

QUINTON (on filter): Hi, honey, it's Dad. I guess you're over at the University. I hope you won't be angry with me for not telling you beforehand, but I'm here in Oxford....

(STACY PULLS AWAY FROM JOSEPH.)

STACY: He's here?

(SHE JUMPS UP AND GRABS THE PHONE OFF THE KITCHEN COUNTER.) Daddy?

(INTERCUT BETWEEN STACY'S APARTMENT AND THE CABIN. QUINTON IS SITTING ON THE COUCH. NOLA IS NOWHERE TO BE SEE BUT CAN BE HEARD OCCASSIONALLY HUMMING FROM THE OTHER ROOM.)

QUINTON: Hi, princess.

STACY: Did you say you were in Oxford?

QUINTON: Yes. I thought I'd surprise you. I hope you're not angry with me.

STACY: Angry? Of course not. I've been worried about you.

QUINTON: I'm fine, sweetheart. How are you?

STACY: Still a little jet lagged, but okay. Are you staying at the Cabins?

QUINTON: Yes. And I'd like you to meet me for dinner, if you can. I have something very important I need to speak with you about.

STACY: Sounds serious.

QUINTON: It's nothing to be worried about. Can you come here? I want us to have some privacy. I'll send a car for you.

STACY: Joseph's here, I'll have him bring me. Say six o'clock?

QUINTON: That sounds fine. It will give us time to get settled in and rest a little. I'll see you then. Bye.

STACY: Daddy, wait....Did you say us?

(QUINTON HAS ALREADY HUNG UP. NOLA POPS HER HEAD OUT OF THE BEDROOM.)

NOLA: You didn't tell her I was here, did you?

QUINTON: No, that would spoil the surprise.

NOLA: I hope she likes this surprise.

QUINTON: Would you stop worrying? (HE CROSSES HER AND TAKES HER INTO HIS ARMS.) Everything is going to be fine.

NOLA: Promise?

QUINTON: Promise. (HE KISSES THE TOP OF HER HEAD.) Anastasia won't be here until six, so you have time to rest if you want to.

NOLA: First I want to get a shower. I feel icky.

QUINTON: You look anything but.

NOLA: You're such a wonderful liar. Call me when the food comes.

(SHE KISSES HIM QUICKLY AND DISAPPEARS INTO THE BEDROOM.)

CUT TO: STACY'S APARTMENT

(STACY IS STILL STANDING BY THE PHONE, LOST IN HER THOUGHTS.)

JOSEPH: Hello?

STACY: What?

(JOSEPH GETS UP OFF THE SOFA AND CROSSES TO HER.)

JOSEPH: Did you forget about me?

STACY: No. Of course not. It's just....my dad said something weird.

JOSEPH: He's an archaeologist -- a lot of things he says sound weird to me.

(STACY SWATS HIM ON THE SHOULDER.)

STACY: Joseph, I'm serious.

JOSEPH: I'm sorry. What did he say?

STACY: I told him that I would me him at six, and he said 'That will give us time to settle in and get some rest.'

JOSEPH: So?

STACY: He didn't say me he said us. And I could have sworn I heard a woman humming in the background.

JOSEPH: Maybe it was your mum.

STACY: If they were back together they would have called to tell me. Or A.J. Would have told me when I talked to him last night. He can't keep a secret to save his life.

JOSEPH: He could be getting better at it.

STACY: If Daddy does have someone with him, she must have caught him at a vulnerable time, when he was too upset about my Aunt Vanessa and things not working out with my mom to be thinking right.

JOSEPH: You sound like you have someone specific in mind.

STACY: I'd rather not think about it.

(SHE TRIES TO FIGHT THE TEARS BRIMMING IN HER EYES.)

JOSEPH: I still think it could be your mother. Hasn't your father being trying to reconcile with her for some time now?

STACY: Yeah, but she hasn't been willing to give him another chance.

JOSEPH: Maybe losing your aunt changed things.

STACY: I hope so.

JOSEPH: Didn't you tell me that your parents had their own lives and you didn't care what they decided to do with them?

STACY: Yes, but I was lying through my teeth.

JOSEPH: Lying through your teeth? You Americans do have the strangest expressions. Is that the same as regular old lying?

(STACY CHOKES OUT A LAUGH DESPITE HER TEARS.)

STACY: Yes.

JOSEPH: I hate to see you so upset, little bird. Why don't we go over to the cabins and see if someone is there with your father?

STACY: Because what if someone is?

JOSEPH: If it's your mother then you'll stop worrying. And if it isn't, then you can start dealing with that.

STACY: I can't deal with that.

JOSEPH: I'll help you find a way.

(STACY CARESSES HIS FACE LOVINGLY.)

STACY: I don't deserve you.

JOSEPH: I say that every day about you.

STACY: You shouldn't.

(SHE KISSES HIM. HE HOLDS HER TIGHTLY.)

JOSEPH: It's going to be fine, Anastasia. You'll see.

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