February 14 and 15, 2001

Transcribed by Lee

Nora is sitting up in bed, working when the phone rings. She answers.

Nora: Hello.

Colin: Hey, Nora. It's me. I need to see you.

Nora: Colin! Well, that would be wonderful. How about first thing in the morning?

Colin: No. No, Nora, I'm going to be gone by then.

Nora: What? What are you talking about, Colin? What's wrong?

Colin: What isn't wrong? You were right, Nora. Everybody in Llanview's moved on. Everybody's got something except me. All I have is my ex-wife's house – and that's cold and empty just like my life. So I figured it would be time to move on. I just wanted to call and say goodbye.

Nora: No, no, no, no, no. Colin, wait. Wait. Wait. No don't go anywhere. We need to talk. We should – I'm coming right over.

Colin: Thank you, Nora. You don't know ho much that means to me.

They hang up.

Nora: (dials) C'mon, Max. pick up. Pick up. Pick up. (dials again) Nigel, it's Nora. Is Asa there? I need to speak with him right away.

Nigel: I'm afraid Mr. Buchanan is unavailable.

Nora: Ok, you have to give him a message for me, will you please? Tell him I can't reach Max and I'm going over to Colin's house – right now!

Nigel: I'll see he gets it.

Nora: You're a peach.

They hang up. Nora sighs. She picks up the ruby necklace Colin gave her from the night table, leans over and blows out the candle.

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Colin: (shirtless, sweaty, working out with big dumbbells) It's going to be a night to remember, Nora.

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Colin answers the door with his shirt hanging open.

Nora: (breathlessly) Sorry it took me so long to get here. I had to get Marianne to babysit Matthew and

Colin: I'm just glad you came. A phone call is no way to say goodbye to someone as important as you are. Uh –...

Nora: moving in to the living room Frankly, Colin, I came over here to talk you out of this. You know I don't want you to leave here. I don't think you should be making major decisions like this on the spur of the moment. Frankly, I don't think you're in any condition to make these kinds of life-altering decisions.

Colin: No condition? And what kind of condition am I in, Doctor?

Nora: Well, I don't know. I heard you on the phone and now I'm looking at you and I'm beginning to wonder – Is everything all right?

Colin: Yeah, Nora, I'm fine. I'm fine. I just uh – I don't know – I've been feelin' a little lost lately, feelin' a little alone. I'm wondering why I'm staying here. I'm wondering what I have in my life.

Nora: Well, what, uh, well, you have a lot of things in your life. You have a lot more than you even realize.

Colin: What does that mean?

Nora: Well, you have your talent.

Colin: My talent? Nora, that's useless – ever since my wife went and blackballed me at every hospital in the area.

Nora: Um, well, you've got friends.

Colin: Friends, Nora? I lost all my friends.

Nora: No, no, you didn't lose all of your friends, Colin.

Colin: Are you really my friend, Nora?

Nora: Yes, Colin, I am your friend. And as your friend, I am begging you, don't leave town. Don't let Lindsay win.

Colin: Oh, c'mon, she's already won.

Nora: No. No. No. Why? What is it she's got over you? What is it? C'mon, let me help you. Let me help you. We can confront Lindsay and we can, can, we can get you free of her?

Colin: We can?

Nora: Yes, Colin, we, you and me, together.

Colin: You know, Nora, if I thought that could really happen…

Nora: It can happen – if I know the truth about Lindsay's involvement in my kidnapping and that's the only way it can. Oh, God, Colin, I don't want you to leave town. I really don't want you to leave town. I wanted us to get closer. I don't want us to be drifting apart. . But Lindsay's involvement in my kidnapping, the truth about Lindsay's involvement in my kidnapping is a barrier between us.

Colin: Yeah.

Nora: And only you have the power to take that barrier down.

Colin: And then what happens?

Nora: And then what happens? And then there's no barrier there. And this bond that you and I feel, this connection between us will have a chance to become

Colin: To become what, Nora?

Nora: Whatever it's supposed to be.

Colin: Yeah.

Nora: I'm being as honest with you as I possibly can be, Colin. I just need you to be honest with me. Please. Fill in the blanks of my life, will you please?

Colin: I want to, Nora. I really do.

Nora: Then do it! Please! Tell me the story of the missing months of my life. If you don't, then we can't get any closer than we are right now. We can't -- please!

Colin: I don't know. He hesitates and walks away.

Nora: No? No? You're just going to leave town with pieces of my life and not share them with me? You're not the man I thought you were. You're not the friend I thought you were. You're not the friend I thought you could be. Goodbye, Colin. (She turns and walks out into the foyer.)

Colin: Nora, wait! (She stops.) Fine. You want to know the truth? I'll tell you everything.

They return to the living room and Nora takes off her jacket and scarf.

Colin: I'm not sure exactly where to begin, Nora.

Nora: Well, begin at the beginning. I'm not going anywhere.

Colin: OK, it all started at the train wreck. I wanted to help. I heard there was a passenger trapped.

Nora: Yes, I know. That was me. I'm familiar with this part of the story – painfully familiar.

Colin: Right.

Nora: But I'm sure it was a rough night for you as well.

Colin: No, no, Nora – see that's just it. When I think back on that night, I feel content. I feel strangely content. You see, something happened when I rescued you, Nora. There I was. I literally brought you back from death. And I know we were total strangers but somehow that experience connected us. Somehow it made me... I (sigh) don't know how to make you understand. I... I...

Nora: Well, just try. I – we have plenty of time.

Colin: I, I, you know, I think the only way you're going to understand is for me to show you where it happened.

Nora: What? The site of the train wreck?

Colin: No. No, the room where you stayed.

Nora: Um, uh, you really think that would help?

Colin: I know it would help, Nora. Let me show you. Let me help you understand. (she nods.) C'mon.

He takes her by the hand and leads her slowly up the stairs. At the top of the stairs she stops.

Nora: Uh, no, Colin. I, I'm, uh

Colin: What's wrong?

Nora: I, I'm...

Colin: Nora, Nora, there's nothing scary on the other side of that door, OK? It's the place where we first talked, where we first got to know each other. C'mon. C'mon.

He leads her into his bedroom. There are candles burning, flowers everywhere. The bed is turned down.

Colin: This is it. I wanted you to see it. This is where it all happened, Nora. And I'm going to tell you all about it (reaches for her with both arms) right after I make love to you. I want to make love to you, Nora. You're the only one for me.

Nora: Colin, what about Lanie?

Colin: Lanie's gone, Nora. When I lost her, I thought to myself that was it. I thought I would never love again. And then I met you. You came into my life and you changed all that.

Nora: Well, Colin, that's very easy to say.

Colin: Of course it's easy to say because it's true. Nora, I thought you wanted the same thing. I thought you said you were having the same feelings for me, didn't you?

Nora: Well, yes, but

Colin: And then you kissed me. And then you kissed me and I know that was sincere.

Nora: But Colin, I'm – this is – I'm – uh, overwhelmed. But this is too much for me. It's too fast. I don't want to ruin things by rushing.

Colin: Rushing? Nora, come on. It's been months. What more do you need?

Nora: I need the truth. I need to know what happened to my memory. I need to know that you had nothing to do with it. I can't just be with you here like this. I can't. Not until I know the truth.

Colin: OK. OK. You want me to prove my love to you? I'll prove it to you. (Touches her face, then moves back with arms at sides.) I want you to trust me, Nora. I want you to be comfortable with me.

Nora: Well, your being honest goes a long way toward getting me there.

Colin: Nora, when you were in this bed, injured and in pain, and I was taking care of you, I often wondered if a moment like this could ever happen -- just you and I together, no barriers between us.

Nora: I want the same thing, Colin. I don't want any barriers between us. But don't you see, you have the power to get them down. You have that power, right here, right now. Right now.

Colin: Yeah. You're right. Nora, sit down. (Gestures toward the bed, but she resists) Please. Sit down. No, no, no. Please. It's going to make this so much easier for me to say, Nora, please. Sit down. Trust me. (she sits down and hetakes her hand and smiles.) I can't believe you're really here. And you're wearing the necklace I gave you. (slides his hand along her neck just under the necklace.) It looks beautiful on you. (Walks over to dresser, takes deep breath, squares shoulders, looks over at her nervously, opens the drawer and removes something, returns to Nora, who looks uncomfortable.) First of all, Nora, I want to say that I never intended to keep you here away from you friends and family.

Nora: I believe that.

Colin: Good. (Sits down on bed facing her with his hand extended toward her. There is a small black jeweler's box on his palm.)

Nora: (looking apprehensive) What is this?

Colin: (Opens box to reveal a large, flashy diamond engagement ring.) This is proof that I'm serious.

Nora: Oh, my God! Colin. Colin. I don't want a ring. I don't want to ring. Don't you understand? I don't want some profound expression of affection for me. I just want the truth. The truth. GIVE ME THE TRUTH!

Both sigh with frustration.

Colin: I gave you a ring, Nora. I thought that would mean something to you.

Nora: It does mean something. It means something very serious. It means a commitment.

Colin: A commitment. Yes. I thought that's what we both wanted here – a commitment. I mean I'm already committed to you and I thought you were committed to me – unless I'm misreading your signals here.

Nora: No. No. No. It's not that. It's just that – it's just – aww – uh, this is not easy for me. This is, this is very big. I'm not there yet. I need time. You've been very patient with me but I need more time.

Colin: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. (Shouts.) Don't. You said there was a connection between us, that's what you said, Nora. You said there was something between us, Nora. YOU SAID IT!

Nora: Well, you said you'd give me the truth. How can I possibly trust you?

Colin: You can trust me, Nora.

Nora: Why, because you tell me I can trust you? No. I need proof. I need the truth from you. I need -- (grabs her with both hands and kisses her violently as she tries to push free and finally does.) NO! DON'T TOUCH ME! (Horrified, raises hand to her mouth, realizing what she's said and what she's given away.)

Colin: You lied to me.

Nora: No, I haven't lied. I...

Colin: No, no, no, no, no, Nora. You lied to me. You're using me! Lindsay told me you were using me and you lied to me! You're using me, Nora!

Nora: No, Colin. I just reacted out of instinct. No! You cannot bring a woman up into a bedroom filled with candles and champagne and a bed turned down when she's not ready and just grab at her! I thought you understood. … don't...

Colin: Understand? Yeah, I understand. I understand just perfectly, Nora. You're using me.

Nora: No, I'm not.

Colin: You are using me. You don't care about me. This isn't about us. This is about you. About you nailing Lindsay. That's all it's about. You used me. I opened my heart up to you, Nora and you used me.

Nora: No.

Colin: I'm in love with you, Nora.

Nora: Colin, you're not in love with me. You just -- want to get me into bed.

Colin: I'm not... is THAT what you think? I just want to get, I want you to take a look a this, Nora. (Opens door of armoire to display the shrine.) Take a look. Take a real good look, Nora! And you question how much I care about you?

Nora: (staring at it in horror, speaking slowly as if dazed) I know you would never want to hurt me, Colin. I want to tell the whole world. I want them to know you're not the monster they've made you out to be.

Colin: No, no, no. Nora! I love you. No, don't, no. Don't, Nora, Don't do it. Just don't, Nora. Don't do it – STOP! (Throws flower arrangement which hits the wall above the headboard, not far from her.) STOP!!!

Nora: (screams) Oh!!!!!!!!

Colin: (He moves to her, grabs her by the shoulders and begins shaking her.) We could have, we could have had something special, Nora. Do you understand that? You and me, we could have had something but now we have nothing, NOTHING, NORA!!!!

Asa: (Enters, gun in hand.) Get away from her, MacIver, or I will kill you.

Colin: (Lets go of Nora, turns to face Asa) You have no business being here, Buchanan so you'd better turn right around and get the hell out of here.

Asa: Are you all right, Nora?

Nora nods.

Colin: You have no right to interfere, Buchanan. This is between Nora and me. She came here on her own.

Asa: You're out of your damn mind, MacIver, if you think I'm going to buy that. Nora wouldn't give a punk like you the time of day. The guy that kidnapped her? No way. Now. You listen to me, MacIver. You're gonna see my son, Bo. You're gonna give up Lindsay. And you're gonna tell him the whole story. All about her part in all this.

Colin: I don't know what you're talking about, Buchanan. Someone must have given me a drug to erase my memories.

Asa: Then you're a dead man.

Nora: (Stepping between them.) No, Asa, you can't shoot him.

Asa: How the hell can I? You're in the way. MOVE!

Nora: No, Asa, please. You'll go to prison.

Asa: Not a chance. I'm gonna save my ex-daughter-in-law's life. This guy kidnapped you once before. That gives me cause. They won't charge me. And if they do, it would be worth it.

Nora: No, Asa, it's not. You're not going to get what you want, Asa. Please.

Asa: All right.

Nora: Thank you.

Asa: (To Colin) You ever lay a hand on Nora, YOU WILL DIE.

Nora: C'mon, Asa.

They leave.

Colin: Nora!

Colin watches her go from the bedroom doorway, then turns, walks to the shrine and picks up Nora's picture to look at it. Then smashes it to the floor.

Colin: No!!!!!!!!!! No, No. No.

He wrecks the shrine, violently sweeping objects off the shelf and onto the floor and crying.

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