Dan's Story:
Part 4: Conclusion
a screenplay by davebccanada
copyright 1999
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9: 0400
Quietly they sneak out of the house to the car. Irene carries Danny pressed to her bosom and slips into the front seat ahead of Dan. He slides in behind her but doesn't slam the door. Holding the handle he starts the car and lets it idle into the street, then pulls ahead and around the corner as he puts on the lights and closes his door.
Dan: "I don't think a soul could have heard us. We're away and all's well! Wow, I was afraid that Betty might catch us at some time, but we were lucky."
Irene: "It has been such a wonderful week. I'm just sorry it can't last longer, but I'm glad that Marie's well enough to come home today and Iris, too. Now I have to put your housecoat and slippers away again. Will we ever have another time to use them, Dan?"
Dan:(flippantly) "I don't think they'd be appropriate for the garage." he chuckles. Danny has tugged at the front of her blouse and it has become unbuttoned. He is pulling at a breast and Irene grins, "Just like his father!"
Dan glances over and laughs. They all laugh.
Dan unloads her luggage for her and carries it to the door. They embrace and kiss by the car. He promises to call and she waves as he leaves.
Dan pulls in home as quiet as he can, shutting off the lights and ignition before turning in. The car coasts to a stop and he unloads Danny. They go into the house and he undresses him for bed. Danny settles down and Dan goes through the house on a search for anything out of place that might indicate someone else has been there. In the bathroom he finds some soiled tissues in the garbage that might give them away. In the living room he finds a white sock that he's not sure of. Is it Marie's? Not worth the chance. It goes into a bag with the tissue. He looks under the cushions on the couch, under the edge of carpets, everywhere he can think. He ends up back in the bedroom. Checking the bed he finds stains and a wet spot, black hairs on the pillow and traces of lipstick. He strips the bed and fills the washing machine. While they're washing he makes the bed with fresh linen.
Then he sits down in the kitchen at the table with a beer and tries to think of anything he might have overlooked. He starts over again with the bathroom. Black hairs in Marie's hair brush, he removes them; black hair imbedded in the soap in the shower, he washes the soap to remove them; he can find nothing else there.
He moves to the living room and comes up empty handed. Next the kitchen and dining area. In the garbage are lipstick stained cigarette butts and tissues; Dan removes the garbage and inserts a clean bag. Next the laundry room where he finds the mate to the sock that was under the couch. It's down between the washer and dryer. He is fairly certain they are Marie's but better safe than sorry. He dumps that sock into the garbage bag with the other.
He pulls the bedding out of the washer and puts it into the dryer. He checks the spare room. Nothing. Now the master bedroom again.
He notices that the sun has come up and it's going to be a bright day. Carefully he searches their bedroom again and comes up empty. Finally he lays down across the bed.
Around nine Danny wakes him with his cry. Dan gets up, changes him and gets him something to eat. He's fussy and Dan figures he wants Irene's attentions. "Sorry, Tiger, I'd like her attentions too, this morning, but we're both out of luck." Just then Betty raps on the door and Dan goes to let her in.
Dan: "Well, good morning. Come on in. Want some coffee?"
Betty: "O.K." she speaks to Danny, "How are you this morning, Daniel? Missing Mommy? She's going to be home today." She speaks to Dan, "I'll finish feeding him here for you." She takes up the spoon and he eats for her as good as gold.
Dan sits her coffee on the table but she is slurping from his as she feeds Danny. He fixes hers for himself. He sits down beside Betty and watches her feed the baby as he drinks his coffee. "He was fussy for me. What's your secret? Must be the pretty face."
Betty:(turning with a mischievous smile) "Of course! Haven't you noticed."
Dan": "Your an imp! You have an impish smile, bewitching eyes and only a witch could wrinkle her nose like you do. I think you're a good witch. Tell me, are you?"
Betty: "When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad ... You figure out the rest." she giggles and goes back to feeding Danny. Dan says nothing. She leans back against him and says, "Aren't you going to finish it for me?"
Dan: "Be careful, little imp, my wife has been away for almost a week now. I might grab you and carry you to my lair." He tries to look like a hungry wolf.
Betty just laughs and says, "I'm going to tell your wife on you if you do. So there!"
Dan: "She would just feel sorry for me and say she doesn't blame me for being horny around you. That you got what you deserved. So there!"
Betty half turns and sticks her tongue out at Dan as he does the same to her. She turns back to Danny and Dan slides his arm around her waist and draws her back against him again. She doesn't move as his hand moves up to her ribs but she whispers, "Are you thinking what I think your thinking." She glances up and back at him.
Dan:(holding her tight) "That all depends on what you think I'm thinking." he grins down at her.
Betty: "I think your thinking what I think your thinking and I think I better get out of here before its too late to think any more." She pulls away from him and puts Danny's dish in the sink, getting up to do so.
Dan: "Can you look after Danny this afternoon while I pick up Marie and Iris? She's to be released around four."
She turns and comes close to him again saying, "Bring him up any time. I'll be home all day." She leans forward and kisses Dan on the lips, then quickly ducks away and says as she goes out the door, "See you later. Behave yourself!"
Dan calls after her, "What else can I do?"
Dan puts the baby in his playpen and does up the few dishes. He brings a sci-fi novel to the living room and sits reading with Danny close by. He dozes off to sleep and wakes around noon. Danny is asleep so he quietly gets some lunch; a sandwich and a beer. When Danny wakes up around one Dan changes him and feeds him some baby food. He bundles him up and takes him up to Betty's.