I can say Wow. What dialogue between RJ and Tea. I thought it was powerful stuff. Here is one angry man who thought that since he was being good that he just may get Tea's attention. I think Tea gave him more attention when he was the "bad boy" of Llanview.
I know this is my personal opinion here, but just where is the conflict with Tea. I would definitely understand if she saw Sykes as just a friend, but RJ. Oh come on, woman, get some excitement in your life.
I loved the whole scene between RJ and Tea. I wish there was more.
RJ is in his apartment reading the Sun's headlines "Hot Club up In Smoke!" RJ throws the paper down in disgust and calls the airport to find out whent the next plane out of Llanview is and he doesn't care where it is going to, he just wants to leave as soon as possible. The door bell rings and RJ asks who is there while he is on his way to answer the door, "Who's there?" "Tea." As he opens the door, "Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?" "Look I want you to know that I feel terrible about your club." RJ replies, "Uh, these things happen." Tea, "Well, I know how much it meant to you. Can I come in?" "Of course. Where are my manners?" as RJ opens the door wider to let Tea enter. Tea walks in and takes in his place, "Wow, this is beautiful." RJ, "thank you. You know I would have invited you before but I guess I was silly to think you would accept." Tea, "RJ." "Look, I know I just read you wrong, that's all." "What do you mean?" Tea asks. RJ tells Tea, "Well, I...well I though you were saying after Todd you needed space, some time, so I didn't push. I just didn't realize how quickly you'd be ready to move on. (There was more here but I can't read my writing, LOL!)
Tea, "That's...that's not, that's not what happened. Look, I think of you as a friend." RJ: "Word every man longs to hear, but that's my problem - not yours though. You could tell you friend that the ocntest is over. He doesn't have to try to nail me for everything." Tea: "John's investigating has nothing to do with me." "Love really is blind." "He's a detective. His job is to investigate." "And you an assistant district attorney. So what's you job? To drop in on a friend and snoop around for evidence?" Tea: "I came here because I care about you. I was worried about you." "Well stop. Just don't, I don't want your concern, I don't need your worry." Well, what do you need RJ?" RJ responds, "Your love. Tea, I want you to want me." Tea asks, "RJ, when did this happen? I really did not mean to lead you on." RJ responds, "I guess you didn't. I mean you didn't know I was there anyway." Tea gets a little indignant, "That's not true." "Oh come on Tea."
Tea: "I thought of you...I think of you as a friend and you're telling me that you're in love with me." RJ: "Yea, what was I thinking. And you're smart, sexy, funny, classy. The most strikingly beautiful woman in town who can make a room vibrate just by walking in. How...how in the world could I fall for a woman like that?" Tea: "That's not me RJ. That's some fantasy woman that you created." "Maybe so but that night you stood on my bar and declared you were finished with losers..." "I was drunk."
RJ: "I wasn't and I saw you in a different light. I watched you and I thought wow, why not. That's my reward. All those people who told me crime doesn't pay; maybe that's what they meant. Maybe if you don't do crime, maybe you get a chance with someone special." RJ laughs, "How stupid was that?"
Tea: "Oh no, that's not stupid; it's very sweet. But you know, I'm really not that wonderful."
RJ: "Just do me a favor, ok? Stop trying to let me down easy." "I'm truly sorry if I hurt you."
RJ: "I'll get over it." Then Tea notices that RJ's bags are packed and ready to go, "What are those for?" "I need a break." "The policed told you not to leave." "Well, I spent most of my life not doing what the police tell me." Tea pleads, "RJ, don't do this."
RJ: "Mmm, now you are starting to sound like your boyfriend." Tea is getting upset, "Look, leave him out of this, ok? That is totally unfair."
RJ: "Well, I'm a black man in America so don't tell me about fair. I busted my butt trying to go straight, run a clean club and nobody believed it. Moreover, they didn't care because my place and position, my treatment has been predetermined while John the whitest, dirtiest cop in Llanview just gets given chance after chance and then he gets you. So don't talk to me about fair."
Tea: "This is not about your being black, RJ. This has nothing to do with race at all."
RJ: "Everything is about race. If you were black or had kinkie hair you'd know that."
Tea: "I may not have kinkie hair, but I am Puerto Rican." "And whiter than the whitest white woman." Tea is furious now, "Why don't you just go straight to hell. Don't you dare presume that you know who I aim. You don't know anything about me, about my life, about my choices. About John, who by the way isn't constantly making excuses for himself."
RJ: "What excuses does he have to make? You all make them for him. He's raised by a senator and still can't keep the badge clean. So what happens to him? NOTHING!. Now, now let me cross the street against the light and I've got cops coming out of the woodwork."
Tea: "Your brother's black. Does he run into as much trouble as you do?"
RJ: "Oh please, please do not throw St. Hank in my face. He decided long ago to blend into society, hide who he is, so he gets up everyday, puts on his suit and his designer noose and plays by the rules."
Tea: "I thought that was what you were trying to do." "Well look what it got me." "So, so what feel sorry for yourself and go back to the life of crime?"
RJ: "You know coach, you really need to work on that pep talk. Don't you see I did it your way? I played by the rules and I still get harrassed by the law, shot down by you and I got debt up the wazoo." Tea: "Please, do not try to make me feel guilty."
RJ: "You're not hearing me. You see I did what I was told, but where is my prize, huh? So why not be aexactly what everyone is seeing me as, anyway?"
Tea: "THat is the lamest copout I have heard in my life, 'I'm black. Nobody likes me, so I'm going to give up."
RJ: "Why not? What do I get if I don't"
Tea: "I'm not your prize for being good, RJ. And I'm not responsible for your actions."
RJ: "Well, you don't have to worry about that, Tea. I didn't burn the club because of you. I burned it down to find out who I am, who I've always been. Yup, that's right, I burned my club. I torched Indigo. What are you going to do about it? Well, counselor, you gonna drop the dime on me? Maybe Hank will give you first chance in the case."
Tea: "I dont believe this." "No? Just ask around. Even those who don't know me will tell you I'm capable of it."
Tea: "No. I don't believe that you would put Nora and LIndsay in danger." "I didn't know they were there. I'm an arsonist, not a killer. See the insurance polices can pay off real big."
Tea: "Don't talk like that." "No. This is the real me talking; didn't they tell you?"
Tea: "You're really scarey. I'm shaking in my boots. Hard core criminals don't confess." Tea lets out a light laugh, "Huh, especially not to prosecutors. So why did you?"
They are interrupted by the doorbell.
