Cold Feet, Warm Heart

Maddie, dressed in nightclothes, is sitting up in bed. She is awake, and staring into space. We get the impression that it has been a restless night - bedclothes are rumpled and appear to have been readjusted many times, an open novel lays face down on the bed, and a half eaten plateful of cheese and crackers sits on the bedside table.

RADIO: Happy Halloween, boys and ghouls. Hope your night was full of mischief, and your day is full of spooky surprises. Now, here's Bobby Boris Pickett and the Crypt Kickers with a spirited rendition of Monster Mash…..

The office is "over-decorated" for Halloween, with an overabundance of witches' cauldrons, bats, jack o'lanterns, etc. The entire staff is in costume, including Miss DiPesto, who is dressed as Little Bo Peep.

The office door opens, and a caped figure slides in -- all in black from head to toe, shrouded, and carrying an enormous knife, red with blood. The figure positions itself outside the bathroom door, knife raised in the air.

Maddie opens the bathroom door, and the figure leaps into her path, brandishing the knife. She screams, a blood curdling scream, which brings the entire staff running. They burst through her office door. Meanwhile, the figure has fallen to the floor and is rolling - laughing hysterically. He sits up, and we see that it is David - quite enthralled by Maddie's reaction.

Maddie: This whole Peter Pan routine - you're the guy in the green suit, and those people (gesturing to the outer office) are the lost boys and girls, following you blindly, not realizing that Captain Hook and the crocodile are just over the next hill.

Maddie: Well, I don't. It's terrible………..teaching little children to be beggars, and to play nasty tricks on anybody who doesn't participate. That's fun?? I hate Halloween, David. And I particularly hate this Halloween!!

Maddie: Oh my God………….is he OK?……….what does the doctor say?…. Where are you?……………..I will be there on the first plane….keep calm, Mom. I'll be there as soon as I can………….Mom, tell him I love him.

Maddie hangs up the phone, and sits a few seconds, a look of sheer horror on her face. A single tear runs down her cheek. She puts her face in her hands for just a moment….. then snaps into action. She rushes to the door, swings it open, and calls.

Maddie: I need to leave now. I'll catch a cab and go directly to LAX. Please call and get me the earliest possible flight. Call me on the cell phone, and you can give me all the details about the flight.

Maddie: Thank you………. I'm so sorry. I never lose control that way. I am going home because my father is ill, and I don't have much information. I guess I just realized how scared I am. I'm almost 40 years old, and I still lean on him, depend on him. I think I've done just about everything in my life for his approval. We're like two sides of the same coin - we argue, we make up, we disappoint each other, we regain each other's trust - I don't know what I'll do if he's not OK……….

Maddie: Not much, here's what I know. My father has been taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was in the ER, but they were transferring him to Cardiac ICU. If you find Mr. Addison, let him know I've got my cell phone, but I probably won't be able to keep it turned on in the hospital. I will try to keep in touch - but all of you are perfectly capable of keeping things running smoothly.

Maddie bumping into Alex at the office, in the hotel parking lot hitting him with her purse, Maddie sitting on bed staring at floor, and jumping up to hug Alex. (from Every Daughter's Father is a Virgin)

David: She still here? Ok, here's the deal - everybody be quiet and tiptoe right out that door. Before you know it, we'll all be gone, and she'll be here by herself - another Friday night alone with her Lean Cuisine.

David: Chicago……Chicago??? Are you kidding me? What does that babe have against seeing California first? There's San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara - why does she fly seven states away whenever she's unhappy with me?

She goes to her desk, and busies herself on the telephone. Almost impossibly fast, David emerges from his office, tucking his polo shirt into the waistband of his jeans. The only evidence of his former costume is the horns which remain on his head. Agnes decides not to tell him he has overlooked them.

David: She has got to be scared out of her wits. Her father is like a god to her - a really hard act to follow. I envy the family relationship they have. And I really like Mr. Hayes - he was taking absolutely no crap from me. I respect that - I would be the exact same way if I had a daughter.

Boy, I was a big help today, too, wasn't I? A mouth the size of the Grand Canyon - never shy about shooting it off either. I still don't agree with her about the maturity thing, but I really have some bad ideas sometimes………like that fake attack thing today. The I just took off……….doing the same thing I always fault her for…running away! And the worst thing is - I wasn't there when she needed me.

He pulls the car up in front of his apartment building, and dashes in. He pulls a suitcase from the closet, and hurriedly tosses in, shirts, slacks, suits, sweaters, underwear. He goes to the bathroom where he tosses toiletries in a dopp kit, and all the while, the music continues to play.

David is back in the car. He pulls up in front of Maddie's house and uses a key from his key chain to open the door. He runs up the steps to her bedroom. He removes a suitcase from the closet, and begins to pack, but much differently from his own packing frenzy. He is careful, choosing items carefully, and placing them neatly in the suitcase. He has some dilemmas over choice of lingerie, and finally takes everything from the lingerie drawer. In the bathroom, he suffers the same confusion over cosmetics, and toiletries, and ends up with 2 bulging makeup bags, which he places into the suitcase.

Suitcase in hand, David looks around Maddie's bedroom for a moment. He goes to her bedside table and picks up a framed photograph of her mother and father. He looks at it carefully for a moment, weighing it in his mind, then tucks the photo into the suitcase, and heads out.

At the end of a long corridor, we catch a glimpse of David. He walks to the nurses' station, and enters into a discussion with a pretty redheaded nurse. She walks him to a utility closet, where he stows the suitcases. She then gestures down the corridor to where Maddie is sitting. He favors the nurse with a dazzling smile, and starts to walk down the hallway towards Maddie.

Maddie: My father is in Cardiac ICU and my mom is in there with him now. They have been watching his condition. They've determined that they need to do a triple bypass. They are going to prep him for surgery shortly.

David: C'mere. (he puts his arm around her) Maddie, your dad is gonna be just fine. He's a strong, healthy guy, right? (she nods) He takes care of himself, exercises - the guy I know isn't gonna let this keep him down.

Maddie: I think he felt that way once, after the first time he came to the agency. But something changed his mind, maybe hearing me talk about you over the years. When I was in Chicago……(hesitating)…when I was pregnant…..he had some pretty nice things to say about you.

David: (looking guilty) I never thought I would be discussing this with you…I swore I wouldn't tell you. I swore everybody from the office to secrecy too. In fact, I planned to swear everybody I met for the rest of my life to secrecy.

David: Well, let me start from the beginning. You left for Chicago, and I went on a downward spiral. I wasn't doing a great job of holding anything together. Then I found out from Agnes that you were pregnant. Faster than you could say pink or blue, I was off to the airport - despite your phone calls, I knew I needed to be with you, and I really thought that when I got there, you'd change your mind.

David: When we finally got it all straightened out, I went back to L.A. Due to a few screw-ups, the agency was in a shambles - rent not paid, furniture repossessed, the staff had walked out. I guess I thought it was as low as I could go! And then, into the middle of this walks your father!

David: He didn't have to be a genius to figure out that I was in big trouble. But his big concern was the pregnancy - he was like a lobbyist for holy matrimony…selling me on how well it could work out, even if it hadn't started out under the best of circumstances.

David: No kidding. Well I had completely lost my center…I was reeling. I said a couple of stupid things - yeah, I know, big surprise!!! You and he are very much alike, he did a great job of pushing my buttons. He was totally disgusted with me and my attitude, and wrote me off completely. Left me sitting in a restaurant with egg all over my face.

David: It was actually Agnes who convinced me I was being a total jerk. I knew I had to pull my life - our lives back in line. But it was important to me that I made your father understand that I was going to commit to you and make everything all right. I chased him to the airport, ran all over, and finally found him. He reacted as if I had the plague, even went so far as to try to sic airport security on me.

David: Not quite….the fare to Denver was cheaper. But I accomplished what I wanted to - I got his undivided attention. At first, he totally blew me off, but I kept at him, assaulting his pride and his fairness, until he had to listen. I bent his ear for the better part of an hour. He turned out to be really great - listening, offering advice, and helping out financially to let me get us out of the soup.

David: I told him that I loved you more than life itself. I told him that I had lost focus - but that the only important things in my life were you and the baby, and that no matter who the father was, I was going to do my best to make our lives together a reality.

Maddie: Well, he must have believed you. Thinking about it, he spent a lot of time while I was there, asking questions about you, giving me his opinion about you - generally being the president of the David Addison fan club.

Doctor: It was almost a textbook procedure - he is in excellent shape, and the operation was extremely successful. He should be here for about two weeks, and we will have to work with him, setting up a regimen of diet and exercise. But rest assured, he will be just fine.

Virginia: I am completely amazed at the science of modern medicine. It's barely 24 hours since Alex had the surgery, yet he seems much better already. His color is good, and they are talking about getting him out of bed for a few hours tonight.

Virginia: Maddie, I insist! Listen to me - you know, I am not going anywhere. I won't leave him. I have gotten a few hours sleep, and they have set up a cot in your father's room so that I can stay with him. I'm fine - you can bring me some clean clothes and a few other things I need when you come back.

Maddie opens the front door, while David carries two suitcases. He places them at the foot of the stairs, as Maddie walks into the living and flops down on the sofa. David motions for her to sit up, sits on the couch, and pulls her back down to a prone position, lying with her head in his lap. He strokes her hair softly.

David opens his eyes, realizing he has drifted to sleep. He looks down at Maddie sleeping, and gently strokes her cheek. He leans down and kisses her softly on the lips. She stirs slightly and smiles in her sleep. David again leans back and closes his eyes, surrendering to sleep once more.

He pulls up to the front of a deserted looking building, in a non-descript neighborhood. The sign reads "Como Inn". The only indication of activity is the valet, who approaches the car, and a white spaniel puppy who clamors excitedly for attention.

They enter through the outer door, and find themselves in a Roman fantasy. The halls are decorated with marble pillars, dark woods, and classic artwork. To the left is a beautiful bar, furnished with comfortable chairs and sculptured lamps. The mellow voice of Frank Sinatra croons.

They follow him through an archway into a small dining room. Maddie gasps with pleasure as they enter the room. It was as if they had come into a beautiful garden in Tuscany…………heavy wooden beams, grape vines twining over them, dominating the room.

They address themselves to the task at hand, David taking charge of ordering wine and dinner, letting Maddie sit back, and enjoy her surroundings. They have a pleasant dinner, trading small talk, and just relaxing, letting the troubles of the last few days melt away. The waiter clears their dishes, and refills their wine glasses. David raises his glass and smiles at Maddie.

Maddie: I was a happy, outgoing kid, not above using my looks to get some attention…a cheerleader type. I started modeling when I was fourteen years old. It started out to be just a lark - stuff for the local department stores, a few catalogues. It was a fun thing to do while I was going to high school. I got some great clothes, and a little attention, both of which I was very impressed with. A few of the things that I did got some notice, and soon we were getting calls from some top talent agencies, all of whom wanted to represent me. My parents were dead set against anything that would interrupt my regular life - my schooling, my friends, normal teenaged fun. But they also wanted to give me the freedom to learn from the experience.

Maddie: And I have to admit I ate it up. I decided that I wanted to try modeling full time after high school. My parents were not happy, but again, it was my decision. They had made me apply to colleges, but I made it clear that was not where I was going. It made for some tense moments that year, particularly with my mother. My dad was always a little more lenient with me. He pretty much caved in whenever I wanted something.

Maddie: Then and now. So two days after graduation, an eighteen-year-old know-it-all, I headed for New York. Everything was arranged……I had a job with the Fordham agency, an apartment to share with two other young models………..it was a dream come true. On my first assignment, I met him - Eric Graydon, the photographer, have you heard of him??

Maddie: I can read that expression…….yes, there were tons of issues there…….I was eighteen and he was forty………I was on my way up, and he was on the opposite path. I fell head over heels, and he thought he had found his way back to the big time. Without going into much detail, he took complete control of my life. He manipulated me into working only with him, and totally took over management of my assignments. I was his meal ticket. The only truly saving grace was that I was smart enough not to move in with him. I was terrified my father would kill me….or him…if I ever did that. I became different, more withdrawn and understated, very unlike myself. My parents picked up on the differences, and called the only person they trusted in New York, Monica Fordham. Monica had tried several times to talk with me about Eric and what he was doing to me, but I was eighteen years old, and in the throes of my first love. I dismissed everything she tried to tell me.

Maddie: One afternoon, I was sitting in my living room with Eric, when there was a knock on the door. There was my father, about five times as big as life, and livid. He started raging at Eric, accusing him of all kinds of manipulation, and threatening him with legal action, and bodily harm, to say the least. Eric fled…….I have never seen anyone take off so quickly in my entire life. Before I knew what was happening, I was back in Chicago, enrolled in Northwestern University, and absolutely hating my parents for spoiling my big opportunity, and costing me the love of my life.

Maddie: It took me about 6 months to realize what had happened to me. I know now that my dad had done the best thing for me, although I certainly wouldn't admit it to him. And I also know now that the whole experience changed me. It made me more than cautious……it made me cold, wary, "icy"…………sound familiar??? I have trust issues, lots of them, and even after 20 years, and lots of therapy, my life, my relationships have been greatly affected by that experience.

Maddie: I'm saying that, even though my logical mind says I need to open up, give myself……that eighteen-year-old inside me pulls back every time. I don't know whether I can't trust others, or I can't trust myself. I've had dates, boyfriends, relationships…..but it all leads to nothing.

David: I said, be quiet! I don't want you to talk. You'll start to talk, then I'll start to talk - and before you know it - overlapping dialogue, lots of yelling, and neither of us listening to what the other has to say. I want you to listen to me with no interruptions, got it?

David: And please remain seated at all times, with your arms and legs inside the vehicle. No attempts at the great escape. Remember, I have the claim check, and this is not a very nice neighborhood for a walk. Now, may I proceed?

David: I understand you feel that story tells a lot about you and your dad. It tells a very predictable story about your father. He loves you very much and would do almost anything to protect you. Whether you are eighteen, or thirty-eight, or a hundred and eight, he's still gonna be there for you. I hope I will provide the same kind of love and support for my kids someday. I respect your father a great deal.

But you, Madolyn Hayes, you are some piece of work…a work in progress, but nonetheless, a piece of work. You mean to tell me that everything that has happened between you and me is somehow related to that overblown tale of woe that happened twenty years ago?

I appreciate your story. I appreciate that the situation was life altering for an eighteen year old. But Maddie, you're not eighteen any more - and you're using the whole situation as a crutch, a defense mechanism to keep from committing.

David: Not a chance, lady. You've got enough insecurities to keep a crack psychiatric staff busy for quite some time. In fact, nothing about you is easy. It's not easy to love you - but, as I've found out - it's too late for me to fight that battle. I'm in, kiddo, for as long as it takes. Now, what about you?

David: You think not? Evidence notwithstanding, you've treated me that way. Even after five years, knowing me as well as you do, you're still waiting for the other shoe to fall. This is it Maddie…this is me……..no skeletons, not withholding a thing. I'm the guy, the same guy you've been depending on this week. He's not gonna shrivel up and blow away when we go back to L.A.

David: Not deep inside you. You know it, but you don't really feel it. But we're gonna work on that. I've got too much invested in this relationship to give up at this point. I've waited, and waited, and I'll wait some more. We're going to end up together - you know it, and I know it, you feel it and I feel it. So know this, whether it takes ten more years or ten more minutes, I want to be the one who wakes up beside you every morning.

David: I don't think we should talk about it any more tonight, Maddie. It's been a long couple of days, and we both need some sleep. And now that you are all in good shape, I need to think about heading back home. Remember, we have a business to run.

David: Gotta go….you have more to deal with here, and you need some time to think. You're a thinker, Maddie (he grins). All of this, everything we need to work out, will be there when you get back to L.A. Just promise me one thing.

David: How come you always save the sweet stuff for the last possible minute, when I have to walk away from you? Well here's a news flash for you, Blondie. There is nowhere on earth I would have rather been than here with you.

Alex: Oh honey, I didn't mean to make you sad. Babies just make everybody happy! And there isn't a couple our age around who isn't thinking of grandchildren. But you know what, more than ever, I know that everything happens for a reason. There are lots of things that happen….lots of sadness in the world. We've all had hurt and disappointment in our lives. But we can't stop living, can't close ourselves off to avoid being hurt. Life gives us lots of second chances….we need to use them to get past things and move on.

Alex: Maddie, I will be a father till the day I die. Luckily, that day is coming later instead of sooner. It's my job to make sure your battles are fought, your problems are solved. But you might just have found the guy I would be comfortable handing that job over to.

Alex: Maddie, honey, don't wait too long. Life is a wonderful thing, love is a wonderful thing. I'd like to get the opportunity to see you really enjoy it. And don't forget…we haven't given up on that grandchildren thing yet.

Through the window, we can see that it is approaching dusk. Maddie is seated behind her desk, surrounded by several large stacks of papers. Her suitcase sits next to her desk, together with her briefcase. She looks up as David enters her office.

Maddie: I know, I'm just feeling a little mischievous today. To answer your question, Daddy seems to be getting along just fine, and Mom is up to speed with keeping him in line. It was time for me to come back…..let them get back to their routine.