L: So you want to gossip? The sewing circle just left.
T: What are you doing, straightening up for your successor?
L: We're in no rush.
T: Glad to hear it because the idea of you and Jake sailing anywhere, let alone off into the sunset is a complete joke.
L: Thank you for your support.
T: Oh come on Liza. Lets be practical. I mean in the first place your nautical expertise has got to be somewhere between Ginger and Mrs. Howell.
L: You know it's always something I've wanted to try, though.
T: That's what scares me. Because it's not a lark for Jake, he's taking this very seriously.
L: Oh and I'm taking him for a ride.
T: A person doesn't change their values overnight.
L: I've known Jake for months, he's changed me.
T: I guess it's too bad that your little metamorphous just happens to coincide with a marriage with Adam.
L: Knowing Jake, I've realized that I've made some mistakes.
T: And you're going to reward him with a rebound relationship?
L: Jake's a big boy, he doesn't need you to save him from my evil clutches.
T: I'm not saying you're evil, just reckless
L: You know, you praised me for the fast clean break from Adam. I can't make two intelligent decisions in a row?
T: Liza, my brother is only going to disappoint you.
L: He hasn't so far.
T: Wait a minute. Jake is a wonderful person. He's down to earth. He's thoughtful. He's scholarly.
L: He's going to make a wonderful doctor.
T: Maybe, but he's never going to be a high roller.
L: That’s not what I want.
T: That's all you've ever wanted.
L: That's all I've ever been. I don't need to ride on someone's coattails to get that, Tad.
T: You, never.
L: Jake made me realize that I’m meant to be a lot more than somebody's trophy.
T: Sounds like great advice. So by all means use him as a sounding board. Use him as a crutch. Just don't use him.
L: If I had your track record I'd worry, but my stats aren't that bad. I've had one bad failed marriage and several flubs.
T: Jonathan Kinder was a flub?
L: I deserve to have happiness in my life, and Jake makes me happy.
T: What does he get out of it?
L: Ask him.
T: He's too far gone.
L: Whoa You have a high opinion of your brother don't you?
T: Lets just say I fooled myself enough to know the signs. He wants a little excitement, you want a little tranquility. That's a phase, not kismet.
L: Is that so?
T: Liza you could never make my brother happy.
L: I can't make Jake happy?
T: You've got nothing in common. You're a workaholic, he's a poet. He wants hearth and home. You want success and power. He's a Brady, you're a Borgia.
L: Oh shut up Tad. Just shut up.
T: I'm not saying something you don't already know. Stop fooling yourself and him.
L: We're going to San Francisco and we're going to have wonderful life.
T: You're never going to make it to San Francisco.
L: Is this another one of your predictions?
T: You're going to jump ship before you're a mile away from the dock. This is Jake's dream, not yours. You're not finished with WRCW or Pine Valley. Stay here.
L: What you think I'm going to be able to keep this job after I divorce Adam?
T: Absolutely. He's a businessman. He'd have to look long and hard to find himself another assassin.
L: Is that how you see me?
T: When did it stop being a compliment? Wait a minute. All I'm saying is that you're brilliant at the game. It's what you live for. It's what you're good at. If you want to idle for awhile, fine be my guest Dabble in nature. Flirt with Jake. Just do it here. Don't run away. This is your home.
L: I'm not running away. I'm moving out. I'm tired of the pressures. I'm tired of the stress, the mind games. I want Jake.
T: For now.
L: No forever. When you look at us all you see are differences. You don't have a clue how much we really are alike.
T: Come again?
L: When it comes to the really important things in life Jake and I want the same thing.
T: No, I don't think.
L: Yes, it's called love and respect, sharing a life where love deepens and gets stronger as time goes by.
T: Liza, Liza Liza it's me you're talking to. It's Tad. I've known you too long. And I'm sorry, but from everything I've ever seen, I don’t think you're capable of loving someone.
L: Get out of my office.
T: Let me explain.
L: I'm not going to have this conversation with you at work.
T: The door is shut. It's not like I accused you of being the wicked witch of the west.
L: No, no you went lower than that.
T: It's hardly your fault. You were raised without it. You were raised without love. Your father was a nonstarter. Your mother phoned it in from other men's beds.
L: Including yours.
T: I'm not proud of that.
L: Don't you dare judge me or my parents. I will take my gene pool over of the swamp that Opal and Ray came out of any day of the week.
T: Just like high school. It really takes me back. Somewhere out there Jennie is laughing her head off.
L: Don’t - Jenny doesn't have anything to do with this.
T: She knew that to get love you had to give it and you hated her for that.
L: I want to tell you something. In high school it's better to be feared than loved, take it from me.
T: We're a hell of long way from high school.
L: Yes we are. I've been a long time away from this godforsaken town. Doesn't time change anything Tad?
T: I'm not sure. In some ways you're exactly the same. You're still absolutely capable of using intimidation to get all the attention and all the respect you didn't get when you were at home.
L: Maybe I have some of those rough edges because the person that I loved first slept with my mother.
T: Ok. Alright. Jake is a man who lives to save people.
L: He doesn't pity me Tad. He loves me.
T: He wants to love you.
L: But I'm just a shallow workaholic robot that's not worthy of love is that it?
T: Maybe you should work out some of those rough edges on your own.
L: Do you trust Jake?
T: Sure I do.
L: Did Ruth or Joe send you?
T: No, no my parents have nothing to do with it.
L: Then what's all this? I don't get it because when I got engaged to Adam you came to the country inn when I was on retreat and you begged me to reconsider. You said hold out for love. That's what you said to me.
T: Yes I did.
L: So then what's with all this? I don't remember you listing off my alleged shortcomings at the inn.
T: You've put on quite a show since then. Forgive me for holding out a little hope for you.
L: Hope for me or hope for us? Is that what all this is about Tad, our very unfinished business? Maybe you can't let go.
T: Or maybe you haven't listened to a word I said.
L: No. Gloria Marsh nails Tad and gets herself a prince in the bargain. And what am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to sit back pining away for what might have been?
T: Where are you getting this?
L: It's the only subtext I can figure out for this psychobabble. But hold onto your ego Tad. I don't want you. This isn't about revenge. I'm not going out with Jake to spite you. What Jake and I have together has nothing to do with you. I met a wonderful guy, and he loves me. Tad, are you the only one who's allowed to start over?
T: Of course not, but Gloria and I we share the same goals and interests. We make sense.
L: This isn't a competition to see who's Pine Valley's favorite couple. As you know I don't care if this whole town is shaking their head in disbelief. I found something real.
T: Then why run away?
L: I'm not.
T: Why leave? Jake could start his medical career right here in Pine Valley at the university.
L: What can I say? He left his heart in San Francisco? I will tell you this though. Your opinion matters to him. Be a gentleman and wish us well.
T: And if I can't?
L: Then don't hold out hope because your opinion doesn't matter that much.
T: It will never work with Jake. I know it and deep down you know it too.