"So ... now that I escorted you home ... a nightcap?"
"Oh, Scott, that's the oldest trick in the book."
"But is that a No?"
"One quick little drink. Call it ... a night beret."
Jill poured drinks, served, and clinked glasses with Scott. She took her first sip when the phone rang.
"That IS a quick little drink," mused Scott.
"Excuse me ... Hello?"
"Dr. Hainesworth? This is Dr. Rivera. Is Dr. James there?"
"Why ... no." Jill couldn't help her reflexive deception, the atmosphere at VAVOOM was feeling very man-hungry lately and she reserved a right to a certain female territoriality. "What's the problem?"
"I've been trying to reach him, but he's not at home. Jill ... I trust I can call you Jill at a time like this ... Jill, Dr. Peabody is dead."
Jill got round-eyed, enough to spark Scott's interest. "Really!? What happened!?"
"I was just chatting with the good doctor, and then ... he must have had a heart attack. I called an ambulance ... but it was too late. He simply ... slipped away."
"How horrible that must have been for you." Even as Jill spoke the words, as a polite and automatic response, she could not help but let a little skepticism creep into her tone.
"We'll have to get together and plan some sort of memorial service. Jill, listen ... I believe that our work was important to him, and that he would have wanted us to carry on. So I'll be taking charge of VAVOOM first thing in the morning. If you should happen to see Dr. James, I hope you will let him know."
"Oh, I will ... Thank you." Jill hung up.
"So? What is it?"
"Dr. Rivera just witnessed Dr. Peabody's death. She's in charge of VAVOOM now. She called here, hoping to find you."
"Dr. Peabody is dead!? ... What a terrible loss."
"I agree. Scott -- I think we should leave VAVOOM."
"What!?"
"It's not the same anymore. Something is happening ... with the new personnel, and the xi radiation, and now Dr. Rivera in charge ... something very wrong. I can't put my finger on it, but it's just wrong."
"I think I can. You've wanted women's liberation ... and now it's here, and you're not sure you like it after all."
"Oh, Scott, it's not that at all. It's just that ... science needs to be tempered with human understanding, and the feeling over at VAVOOM has become so ... mercenary."
"We have each been university faculty. We've been in mercenary settings before ... I think you just made the case that VAVOOM could use us now more than ever."
"Scott, I don't want to change."
"Calm down. Whoever said anything about you changing? Your duties will never bring you near The Pit."
"I know, but ... I just have this feeling, that I'll wake up one day, and I won't be me anymore, I'll be this other person ... Scott, I don't want that."
"Neither do I -- but I can understand why I may not be exactly the person you need to hear from right now. Listen, promise me you'll go in and that the very first thing you'll do is to see Dr. Reiner. All right?"
"All right, Scott. I guess that only makes sense."
"You were right. On a night like this, a night beret is the most that can be afforded. Chin up, darling. See you tomorrow." He kissed her and left.
Go back - Go to the parent episode.
Sat Jan 28 17:36:11 2012