Delia and Roger Are Interrupted By Jill
(March 1976)(Frank and Delia have just had another fight, and Delia stands in front of her bedroom mirror trying to look seductive before heading off to the hospital. She gets off the elevator, sees Roger, and smiles. She goes over to him.)
DELIA: Hi. I'm...glad I ran into you. I came to see Faith.
ROGER: That's very thoughtful of you, Dee, but don't be surprised if she's not quite herself.
DELIA: Well considering what she's been through, I really can't blame her. Is her leg any better?
ROGER: Yes, it's much better, in fact, and her double vision is clearing up so it's all for the good.
DELIA: Then what's the matter with you?
ROGER: I guess I'm not used to people noticing.
DELIA: (smiles and nods) Well, don't forget, I know about that.
ROGER: You know, I'm beginning to think that I'm the only person that cares about what's happening.
DELIA: Try me.
ROGER: Delia, I honestly think that when Seneca Beaulac took his wife off of life support, he committed murder! I believe that he behaved in a manner contrary to medical ethics from beginning to end, and that's why this morning I filed an official complaint with the chief of the medical board. And I just...I know what's going to happen!
DELIA: What?
ROGER: Well, they're going to say that I'm just pressing to have him relieved as head of the department because of personal reasons.
DELIA: Who's they?
ROGER: (realizing) I guess I was mainly thinking of my father.
DELIA: You don't like Dr. Beaulac, do you?
ROGER: No. No, not much. (pause) Delia, I'm going to tell you something that only a couple of people know.
DELIA: Yeah?
ROGER: My contract isn't going to be renewed in June.
DELIA: (shocked) Why?
ROGER: Because when Seneca Beaulac found out about my gambling, he learned about the $6500 involved in Frank's accident (Delia nods) and that I took the money from the ER, he called me in, and delivered a spectacular lecture on (stammers) medical ethics unbecoming of a physician, and in effect he fired me.
DELIA: (sighs) Well look, Roger, that's awful. See, now I understand why you're on the spot about the other thing.
ROGER: I'm afraid so. But I don't like him! I think he's arrogant and overbearing. But Delia, I swear, I wouldn't react any differently if the physician involved were my own father!
DELIA: Now are you the one who asked for him to be fired from neurology?
ROGER: No, I just want him relieved until there's a medical and legal decision made in the case.
DELIA: You mean there's no case yet?
ROGER: No. No, but there's going to be!
DELIA: You're going to push it, aren't you?
ROGER: Oh, you bet I am!
DELIA: I feel sorry for you. You really have a lot of responsibilities.
ROGER: I'm taking on a lot, Dee. But I feel that I have to!
DELIA: You know what you need?
ROGER: What?
DELIA: You need a nice relaxed evening away from all of this. A good dinner and a good bottle of wine and someone who makes you laugh a little bit (smiles) and who makes you think nice thoughts.
ROGER: (smiles apprehensively) At my place?
DELIA: I'd love it!
ROGER: (nodding) I'd love it too.
DELIA: Are you on duty tonight?
ROGER: No.
DELIA: Well neither am I. I mean (they laugh), I mean, Frank's going to be out late.
ROGER: Can you make arrangements for the baby?
DELIA: Mm-hmm. Starting early?
ROGER: Yes. 6:30?
DELIA: Great. A whole long evening together, and you don't have to go back to the hospital and I don't have to get home early. I can't wait.
(They grin. In the next scene, Delia and Roger are in his apartment, sitting on the couch drinking brandy.)
DELIA: But most of all, what I really can't get over, is that everything's real: the silver, the flowers, the glasses. (She tests the crystal, and then laughs.) There! What kind of glass is this?
ROGER: It's crystal. They were my mother's. I'm glad you like them.
DELIA: Oh, who wouldn't? (She notices his arm around her shoulder, and lifts it up.) Oh, I think I'd better hang onto these. They look like they're lost.
ROGER: Poor little sheep.
DELIA: (still holding his hand) Well, I'll look after them. Oh, somebody could really get used to living like this. Everything's beautiful.
ROGER: But you're missing one thing? (Delia looks confused.) The most beautiful thing in the room is you. That's because you're so alive.
DELIA: You know, in 25 years, this glass is going to be as beautiful as it is this minute.
ROGER: So will you, in a different way.
DELIA: No. No, I'll probably be worn and old and tired like my mother.
ROGER: I hope not. I think life will be kinder to you.
DELIA: I'd like that. You know, by the time my mother was thirty years old, she was worn out, and when she got to be forty, she was an old lady.
ROGER: Why, because of work?
DELIA: No, from worrying. She thought she'd never have enough money to feed me and Bobby, and she was ashamed because we got our clothes from the church, and she always had to visit the hospital every month to see Papa, who never even realized who she was. See, most of all, I think she got worn out so early because she could never hope for anything better.
ROGER: Delia, how can I justify the way I grew up, with money and possessions, after the childhood you had?
DELIA: No, I don't want to make you feel bad.
ROGER: No, but even so...
DELIA: See, it's not that you should have any less, it's just that more people should have what you have.
ROGER: I wish they could. I do.
(They smile.)
ROGER: How about some more?
DELIA: Yeah. Hey, did I put a damper on everything?
ROGER: No, I was just sad for you, that's all.
DELIA: You were sad for me? Really?
ROGER: Yeah.
DELIA: Thank you.
(He pours her another drink.)
DELIA: (drinking) And thank you for this.
ROGER: You know Delia, we had so much - so much money, that is - but this really wasn't a happy house to grow up in. After Mother died, it was always lonely.
DELIA: Your mother meant a lot to you, didn't she?
ROGER: My mother, my mother thought that I was the most interesting and wonderful and amusing person to be with! (They laugh.) She used to love to just sit and talk to me.
DELIA: That's great.
ROGER: I knew she didn't care about Jill or Faith the way she cared about me, and that it really wasn't fair, but I couldn't resist her. She always wore silks and lace and smelled of lavender. She died when I was ten and everything changed.
DELIA: My mother died when I was twelve and then the Ryans took me in.
ROGER: You were lucky. Nobody took me in. (laughs) I was the poor little rich boy. (pause) Hey, does that sound like self pity?
DELIA: (shakes her head) No, it sounds as if your sisters and your father didn't like you very much.
ROGER: Well the Ryans took them in, in a way, or at least it seemed they did. They were always over there helping Maeve in the kitchen or upstairs with Mary and Siobhan and Kathleen. (They laugh.) The boys and I didn't really get along so I knew there wasn't much hope for me to be a part of it all.
DELIA: But you wanted to be.
ROGER: Oh, sometimes. (They laugh.)
DELIA: You know what's funny? You were very rich and I was really poor, and we both wanted to be taken in by the Ryans. Well I made it!
ROGER: (puts his arm around her head) I wish you were happier about it all.
DELIA: Well so do I. But if I were happier then I wouldn't be here, would I?
ROGER: (takes her glass and puts it on the table, then moves closer) You know, I think that since neither one of us really had a mother, that we should be extra nice to each other to make up for it.
(He starts kissing her neck.)
DELIA: That's nice.
ROGER: Now mind you, the feelings I'm having right now aren't exactly maternal.
DELIA: Well I'm not exactly thinking about my mother.
ROGER: I think you are lovely.
DELIA: (nervously) I like it that you think that.
ROGER: You don't have to be home early this evening, do you?
DELIA: No, no I don't.
ROGER: That's good, because there are so many things that I want to say to you. But first, I need to kiss you, Dee.
(They kiss, and then start to get intimate when there is a knock at the door.)
JILL: Roger? Roger, it's Jill. Open the door. Look, I've got to talk to you, it's important.
(Roger and Delia look terrified. She knocks again.)
JILL: Roger?
ROGER: Hey Jill, this isn't a very good time.
JILL: Oh, would you please open the door?
ROGER: Uh, look, whatever it is, can't it wait until morning?
JILL: I'm sorry, I have to speak to you now.
(Roger and Delia start getting her things together.)
ROGER: Alright, just give me a minute to get my shoes on, will you? Uh, I was just about to sack out. It was a rough day at the hospital.
(He hides her in the bedroom.)
DELIA: (whispers) Are you sure she's not going to be able to see me?
ROGER: No, just be quiet.
(He closes the door.)
JILL: What are you doing in there?
ROGER: Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming!
(He opens the door. She figures out there's a woman there and tells him so, but says she's perfectly willing to have the conversation with her hiding. LOL She then questions him, as Seneca's lawyer, about what he saw when Seneca took Nell off the respirator. After she leaves, he locks the door and opens the bedroom door.)
ROGER: She's gone now.
DELIA: I was afraid she was gonna come in and look.
ROGER: No, I wouldn't have let her do that. The questions she asked me were perfectly legitimate, but snooping around isn't.
DELIA: (shaken) Did Dr. Beaulac really hold Nell in his arms after she died?
ROGER: (nods) Yes.
DELIA: Poor man.
ROGER: Well I'm very sorry about that part of it. Do you want some more brandy?
DELIA: (takes it, then puts it down) No, no I don't think so. I think I'd better go.
ROGER: Jill really spoiled the mood, didn't she?
DELIA: Yeah, I guess she did.
ROGER: Scratch another one up for Jill.
DELIA: Look Roger, it's just as well. I shouldn't get home late.
ROGER: (throws his arms up) Well what can I say after I say I'm devastated?
DELIA: Well, some other time. Maybe.
(She gets her coat and he helps her.)
ROGER: Is that a promise?
DELIA: Yeah, it's a nice idea. Thank you, I had a wonderful dinner.
ROGER: Thank you for being such good company. Thank you for telling me about your mother.
DELIA: I loved telling you. Uh...I'm glad you were interested. I really ought to go.
(She turns to leave and he kisses her cheek. Then he opens the door.)
DELIA: Don't call me, I'll call you. Okay?
(They laugh.)
DELIA: Bye.
(She leaves, and he looks up.)
ROGER: Well, I can always cuddle up with a good book. Dammit, Jill!