Setting: The Penthouse
Time of Day: Late afternoon
Marlena is walking from the kitchen into the living room when she hears the doorknob turn and John enters.
Marlena: Hey, handsome.
John: (startled) Doc! What are you doing here?
Marlena: Well, hello to you, too.
John: Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. (He sets his keys and briefcase down on the lamp table.) Is everything okay?
Marlena: We need to talk.
John: Not to jump to conclusions here, but I can only assume that your being here means it isn’t good. When did you get here, anyway?
Marlena: I arrived a few hours ago. Belle called me last night saying she needed to see me right away, and I of course, took the next flight out. I hope you don’t mind my being here. It’s just that I need to inform you of what’s going on.
John: Of course I don’t mind you being here. This is your home. So what’s going on?
Marlena: (Obviously ignoring his comment.) It’s Belle. (Marlena pauses to take a deep breath.) John, she’s pregnant.
John: What?
Marlena: (She grabs his arm in pleading to calm him down.) Now before you go to yelling, and say something you don’t mean, I must tell you… she’s upstairs. (John tries to turn and take off upstairs, but she pulls him back.) No, you’re not going up there like this. Anger is not what she needs right now.
John: Well, you sure are taking this calmly.
Marlena: Because I’ve had a few hours to let it soak in. Look, she trusts us. She wanted us to know. That’s why she called me.
John: She obviously doesn’t want me to know. She hasn’t told me yet.
Marlena: John, she’s a girl. I’m sure it was easier for her to tell me something like this than her father. (She notices John glaring at her.) Oh, don’t give me that look. I know what you’re thinking. How can she feel close to a mother who’s never around?
John: (He doesn’t deny that is what he is thinking.)
Marlena: I talk to my daughter all the time. The same goes for all of my children. I know as much about her as you do. Speaking of which, do you have any idea who the father is? And if you’re thinking it’s Shawn Brady, you couldn’t be more wrong.
John: What? Of course it’s Shawn Brady. He’s her boyfriend.
Marlena: John, you don’t have to be dating to have sex and create a child. You and I proved that.
John: Then who is it?
Marlena: You really have no clue, do you? I take it back. I know more than you do and I don’t even live here.
John: Is this going to turn into a competition? Because you really have no right to come in here talking like this.
Marlena: Well, now I thought you just said this is my home, too. Or at least that is until I decide to stake my parenting position.
John: That’s not fair. You know I trust your judgment. (He then realizes that their arguing is silly.) So, who is the father?
Marlena: The one and only… Philip Kiriakas.
John: (Confused.) Philip? When did that happen? (He walks over to the couch and sits down. John is confused and feels a little left out since he did not know anything about Belle seeing Philip.)
Marlena: (Marlena feels sorry for him, and realizes that this is no time for I told you so’s. She goes over to him and sits down next to him.) Hey. Don’t feel bad. She and Philip got together right after she and Shawn had a fight. The only reason I knew is because she told me. I would have never guessed that she and Philip were even remotely interested in each other. But apparently, they were only interested enough for one night.
John: He doesn’t know, does he?
Marlena: No.
John: She’s going to tell him, though, right? He’s got a right to know. He’s got responsibilities.
Marlena: Yes, she’s going to tell him. In fact, I suggested she have him come here tonight. (She glances at her watch.) He should be here about seven. Look, she’s not jumping for joy about this. She knows that this will change her life forever, but John… having a baby is not the worst thing that could happen. No, I would not have chosen it to happen to my nineteen year old daughter, but there’s nothing we can do about that. We have no right to be angry. Besides, that’s not what she needs from us right now.
John: (nods.) I know, you’re right. You usually always are.
Marlena: I think you should go talk to her.
John: I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me.
Marlena: I think you’re wrong. She may be pregnant, but she still needs her daddy. She’s about to become a mother, a woman overnight, but she is still very much a child. Try to keep that in mind and you’ll do fine.
John has just come down from talking to Belle. Marlena is waiting in the living room mindlessly thumbing through a magazine.
Marlena: How did it go?
John: Surprisingly well. You were right. Again.
Marlena: (She notices that he seems down and wonders did more go on than he is ready to talk about.) Wanna talk about it?
John: Not really. I’m just scared because I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. (Changing the subject.) What time did you say Philip would be here?
Marlena: (Marlena is caught a little off guard by John’s sudden change in direction.) Um, seven. I told her we’d give her some privacy, so if you’ve got any errands you need to take care of, tonight would be a good time to do it.
John: Do you really think that is a good idea? Leaving her alone with him?
Marlena: I’ve never known Philip to have a violent streak. Besides, Belle told me Brady was due home around six. I’ll feel better knowing he is here with her, because we really should let her do this on her own.
John: (He knows Marlena is right about Philip and it would be better for Belle to be on familiar ground. He sighs and then answers her earlier question.) I don’t have anywhere I need to go. What about you? I assume you’ll be in Salem for a while to help Belle.
Marlena: Yes, I will be here for her the whole way. Tonight, I figured I’d use this time to check into a hotel.
John: A hotel? No way. That’s out of the question. This is your home.
Marlena: (She is a little surprised at his remark.) Don’t you think that would be a little odd? (She didn’t have to spell it out. John knew she meant that it would be odd for them to be living under the same roof again.)
John: Fine. I’ll check into a hotel.
Marlena: No way. You’ve been living here for years. I’m not kicking you out.
John: Well, I’m not letting you stay at a hotel.
Marlena: Then we’re gonna have to come to some sort of compromise.
John: You will take our bed… (he trailed off because he realized what he just said) and I’ll take the guest room down here.
Marlena: I wouldn’t feel right coming in here and taking over our old bedroom. That’s yours now. I’ll sleep in the guest room.
John: Look, we compromised, didn’t we? Now, just let me do this for you. I’m not having my… (John wanted to say wife.) I’m not going to let you sleep anywhere except your bed.
Marlena: Fine. But if this doesn’t work out I’m checking into a hotel.
John: Deal. Now. How about some dinner?
Marlena: You mean, you and me?
John: I think we’ve got a lot to talk about. Suddenly how our family of three has turned into a family of five. Well, with you back and a little one on the way. Come on, let me take you to dinner. I’ll bet you haven’t been to Chez Vous in years.
Marlena: (She wondered if he had ulterior motives.) No, I haven’t. I’ll go get changed. (She instinctively turned to walk up the stairs before remembering that she has not lived here for years. She stopped and flashed her trademark smile at him. And she pointed at her luggage.) I guess being here just feels natural. I seem to have forgotten my things aren’t up there yet. Could I talk you into carrying my bags upstairs for me? They’re kinda heavy.
John: (He smiled back.) I dunno. What’s in it for me?
Marlena: (She flashed him a wicked grin.) I’m letting you take me to dinner, aren’t I?
John and Marlena arrived at the restaurant around seven. They agreed to be gone before Philip ever arrived. They now sat in a corner booth in the back looking over their menus.
John: (He takes a sip of his wine and then sets the glass down while looking at the beauty sitting across from him.) So, where did you fly in from this time?
Marlena: (She was unsure whether his question had a sarcastic tone, or not.) I was at my Miami office when she called me yesterday.
John: Miami, uh? I bet that is a sight to behold.
Marlena: What is?
John: A hot blonde like you in Miami. Out on the beaches. Black bikini and tanned body. Your male servants at your every beck and call bringing you daiquiris on the beach.
Marlena: Doctors hardly have time for such.
John: But babes with a bod like yours are like a magnet to young guys. It’s like your beauty suddenly replaces their brains.
Marlena: (Laughs) Is that how it was with you?
John: (He eyes her with intense eyes, but is interrupted by the waiter.) Ah! Saved by the bell.
John and Marlena both watch as the waiter walks away.
John: (He is somewhat noticeably nervous about being out to dinner with Marlena.) So… your plans are to stay in Salem to help Belle. For how long?
Marlena: For the duration.
John: And then what? You up and leave for Miami? L.A.? She’s your daughter, Marlena. She deserves more of your time.
Marlena: You’re very good at jumping to conclusions. Either that, or you get off on beating me down. I said the duration, John. I’ll help her for as long as she lets me.
John: So you plan on being here for a while.
Marlena: I’ve already called Dr. Wesley at University. I’m meeting with him first thing in the morning to discuss starting up my old practice again.
John: (He is taken aback by her comment. He had no idea of her intentions until now. He tries hard to hide his enthusiasm of her being here permanently.) I had no idea. I think that’s great.
Marlena: So you’re okay with me being in Salem for good?
John: For good? You mean, you’re going to give up your other duties in L.A. and Miami?
Marlena: Well, I’m sure I’ll have to commute for a little while on an as needed basis, but yes, I plan on moving my life back to Salem.
He is thrilled, but refrains from questioning her permanent living arrangements. Fortunately, he doesn’t have to because she alludes to her plans.
Marlena: So you think we’ll be able to cohabitant for a while? At least until the baby is born and Belle is doing okay. I know it will be a little awkward at times, but I think we can handle it.
John: I’m okay with it. I think it will be… fun.
Marlena: (Laughs.) Fun?
John: Interesting. (He then picks up his wine glass.) I’d like to propose a toast.
Marlena: (She readies her wine glass while eying him suspiciously.)
John: To us, and our interesting arrangement. (They both smile and clink their glasses together.)
INCOMPLETE
The Jarlena Journal 