Ben Davidson

Attic Proposal Transcript

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One Life to Live
Show 8150
Airdate - Tuesday, May 23, 2000
Directed by Gary Donatelli
Produced by: Mary O'Leary
Breakdown: Ron Carlivati
Script Writer: James Fryman
Copyright, ABC

BEN'S CARRYING VIKI IN HIS ARMS. HE GENTLY KICKS THE DOOR CLOSED BEHIND HIM, LAYS DOWN ON THE BED, SITS BESIDE HER)

BEN
Same room...same bed...same two characters at the Crossroads.

VIKI
What d'you suppose they'll do this time?

BEN
Same as they did the first time...find their way to each other.

VIKI
A little battered by life.

BEN
But a lot wiser. The craziness, the loneliness, the hurt all get left behind...for good.

VIKI
I like this story.

BEN
Wait'll you hear the rest of it, Blondie, it'll knock your socks off. (SHE SMILES, HE TOUCHES HER CHEEK)

VIKI
Ben.you know I'm not out of the woods yet.

BEN
You helped me fight for my life in this room. You loved me and you took care of me. Let me do the same for you. (ON: VIKI, THE LOVE SHINING IN HER EYES)

BEN LIES NEXT TO VIKI, CRADLING HER IN HIS ARMS

BEN
I have so much to make up to you. I should've been there.

VIKI
(SMALL LAUGH) I told you, you were . I'd conjure you up when I needed you most. In fact, you showed up in this very room when I was falling apart and kept me going. You were with me during my surgery.

BEN
(IN THE SAME SPIRIT) I hope I got you out of the OR. That's no place for a date.

VIKI
You took me to paradise. It was heavenly. I mean it.

BEN
You walked into Crossroads one night dressed to the nines and gave me a smile that kept me going. Still keeps me going.

VIKI
Piece of cake. Your assignment was much tougher. You had to spirit me away from the operating table and take me out dancing, without the surgeon even noticing I was gone. And you did it, and it was lovely.

BEN
(TOUCHING HER FACE) How're you feeling now?

VIKI
If you asked me an hour ago, I'd have given you a very different answer. But now...I feel very, very good. (HE DISENGAGES, RISES)

BEN
In that case, Blondie - may I have this dance? (BEFORE SHE CAN ANSWER, HE SCOOPS HER UP IN HIS ARMS AND WHIRLS HER AROUND. SHE LAUGHS AND HE STOPS, LOOKSAT HER A LONG BEAT, THEN KISSES HER. AS HE CONTINUES TO CARRY HER, VIKI PUTS HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK AND RETURNS THE KISS)

KEVIN APPROACHES THE ATTIC, BUT STOPS WHEN HE HEARS VOICES BEHIND THE DOOR. HE CAN MAKE OUT BEN'S VOICE, BUT NOT WHAT HE'S SAYING. THEN HE HEARS AND EXPLOSION OF LAUGHTER - VIKI'S. HE SMILES, GRATEFUL, EMOTIONAL, THEN RETREATS. GO INSIDE: VIKI IS STILL IN BEN'S ARMS, LAUGHING. HE PUTS HER BACK ON THE BED, LIES DOWN NEXT TO HER.

BEN
We're going to do a lot of dancing.

VIKI
Remember the night you re-opened Crossroads?

BEN
The night I tried to win you back...and couldn't

VIKI
You painted a picture of our future.I wanted so badly to believe it.but I didn't dare.

BEN
Then I'll paint it again for you. Close your eyes. (SEE VIKI'S FACE AS HE TALKS) We're back in Florida.beach, sand, sky, elegant hotel...you on my arm, both of us dressed to the teeth...the maitre d' escorts us to our table...we order wine...a sumptuous dinner.

VIKI
(REMEMBERING) A lobster for me...a steak for you.

BEN
You got it, Blondie. Because you look beautiful in a bib...and I don't.

VIKI
(LAUGHING) Go on.

BEN
After dinner, we take off our shoes and stroll out on the beach in the moonlight...can you feel your toes crunching the sand? (SHE NODS, SMILES) Good.

VIKI
(WHISPERS) Don't stop.

BEN
I have to...there's something missing. (SHE OPENS HER EYES, SEES BEN HOLDING A LOVELY ENGAGEMENT RING) This'll complete the picture. Blondie - will you marry me? (ON VIKI)

VIKI LOOKS AT THE RING, THEN AT BEN

VIKI
Oh, Ben...so much as to happen before we can live that beautiful dream. I have cancer. I have a battle to fight.

BEN
We'll fight it together.

VIKI
And if we lose that battle?

BEN
We won't. You have the courage and strength to defeat it. And, you're just too stubborn not to. (SHE SMILES)

VIKI
My fantasy Ben said the same thing to me before my surgery...when I felt so lost.

BEN
He was right, but you don't need him anymore. I'm here, and I'll never let you feel lost again. Never. The dream begins right now, Blondie. I know what you're facing, better than most people.but now we're facing it together...and we'll win. That's a promise.

VIKI
I believe you.

BEN
(LAUGHS A LITTLE) Asking you to marry me is getting to be a habit. The only way to break it is for you to say, yes.

VIKI
I love you so much.

BEN
Then say it.

VIKI
(WHISPERS) Yes. (THEN LOUDER) Yes...yes, yes, yes! (ON THEIR JOY)