Brenda is getting dressed when she hears a knock at the door -- she opens it to find Larry. She sighs.

Larry: I really need to talk to you, Brenda.
Brenda: Larry, I think we've talked about everything that we're going to talk about, okay?
Larry: May I come in?
Brenda: Larry, I don't want to argue with you anymore, please!

Larry comes past her and into the house.

Larry: I'm not gonna argue -- I promise I won't argue. I just want to talk. Please --

Larry begins taking off his coat as he turns to face Brenda, who is very upset.

Brenda: Don't do this to me!
Larry: Don't do what?
Brenda: You know how much I value our friendship! Don't put me in a bind like this.

She grabs his coat and hands it to him.

Brenda: Get your coat -- I want you to leave!
Larry: Brenda, I --
Brenda: Please!
Larry: I really hate what has happened to us. I care about you, I want to help you, Brenda, but -- can we just talk, please?

--end scene--

Larry: I've been through hell the last couple of days. You won't see me, you won't answer the phone -- you don't talk to me.
Brenda: I just think it's best.
Larry: I don't. Damn it, Brenda -- when I told you I loved you, I meant that.

Brenda turns away from him a bit.

Larry: And I care about you, and I'm -- I'm worried. I want to help you, Brenda. But how can I if you won't talk with me?
Brenda: Larry, it's not that I don't want to talk to you. I just -- I don't want to fight with you!
Larry: I don't want to fight either, Bren! I -- I didn't come here to fight. I came here to talk and to, you know, hang out a little. Maybe listen to music, I --

Brenda softens a little.

Brenda: What do you want to listen to?
Larry: I don't care. I really don't. I mean, uh, Rachel's Folly, anything, country-western -- it doesn't matter.
Brenda: I don't want to listen to any music.
Larry: Fine. I don't -- I don't want to listen to music either. (chuckling) Did you miss me just a little? Little?

Now, Brenda smiles.

Brenda: Yeah, I did!
Larry: Yeah?
Brenda: A little.
Larry: God, I don't want to lose you, Brenda. I don't -- I don't like this gulf that's between us.
Brenda: Yeah, but, Larry, you put it there. And the only way you're gonna bridge this thing is that if you accept my decision about what I want to do with my child.
Larry: Ignore the -- the danger? Just pretend it's gonna go away?
Brenda: (determined) I'm gonna have this baby.
Larry: Yes, you are. All I'm saying is that if you deliver the child now, this toxemia thing is over with.
Brenda: It's too soon, and it's too risky.
Larry: Brenda, listen to me --
Brenda: Listen, this is exactly what I didn't want to do. We are never gonna see eye-to-eye on this thing, so I don't know why we're gonna go through it again!
Larry: Okay, fine, I'm sorry. I sure didn't mean to start an argument again.
Brenda: You and I are just a little too close, I think, to be objective about this.
Larry: So what's your solution to that?
Brenda: I think that you ought to go.
Larry: Oh, come on, Brenda. Kicking me out's not gonna solve anything. Look, you're not getting rid of me that easy. Not this time.

--end scene--

Larry puts his hands on her shoulders reassuringly.

Larry: Brenda, no more fighting. Okay? I promise. I did not come here to fight. Come on -- sit down, take it easy, 'cause I know you need your rest --

He leads her over to the sofa, and she plops down.

Larry: And I don't -- I just -- I agree with Dan on that.
Brenda: (skeptically) Do you?
Larry: Yeah.
Brenda: Well, if you agree with Dan so much, I'd like to ask why you took him off my case.
Larry: No, no, no, no, no, if you want me to start explaining about that, then we will get in an argument. I don't want to talk about Dan. I want to talk about you.
Brenda: Yes, I know what you want to talk about, and I also know what Dr. Spencer wants to talk about. You want me to be aware of the risk of having this child. I know that.
Larry: But he explained to you that toxemia only affects the first pregnancy.
Brenda: Yes, he did!
Larry: So you know, then, you'd be able to have other children after this.

Brenda becomes suspicious.

Brenda: What is your point, Larry?
Larry: Brenda, my point is you're young, and you're healthy. And there's no reason on God's earth that you can't have a normal pregnancy after this.

Brenda is upset.

Brenda: Do you have any idea what you're asking me to do? Do you -- what you're asking me to go through for the rest of my life?
Larry: I understand, and I know that's a painful decision to make.
Brenda: You do? You understand?
Larry: Yeah.

Brenda gathers her strength.

Brenda: You know, my mother went through something very similar to this with her first pregnancy. And her doctors gave her a choice. She could either terminate the pregnancy, or she could perhaps lose her life. So she listened to her doctors' advice, and she lost her baby.

Larry shakes his head sadly at this revelation.

Brenda: Larry, she never got over that. Her whole life, she never forgave herself, even after she had me and she had Tyler. I remember as a little girl, I'd sit and watch her just stare off into some empty space in the corner of the room with tears running down her eyes, and I didn't know what it was about. But when I got old enough to know what it was about, I swore that I would never, ever let myself regret something like that or long for something the way she did.

Brenda begins to cry.

Brenda: Do you understand that? I want you to understand that.

Suddenly, Brenda seems to feel a sharp pain.

Brenda: Oh!
Larry: (worried) What's wrong? What's wrong?

--end scene--

Brenda laughs reassuringly.

Brenda: No, it's nothing to worry about. Everything's fine. Baby's just kicking. He's been pretty active today. Come here -- I want you to feel this --

Brenda tries to pull Larry's hand toward her stomach, but he is still processing this information.

Larry: Wait a minute -- he's kicking?
Brenda: Before he settles down. Put your hand here.

She moves his hand to her stomach, and they wait a moment.

Larry: Oh, my God!

They both laugh happily.

Brenda: It feels like like he's training for the Olympics or something.
Larry: Oh, God -- I think he just tried to kick a field goal.
Brenda: I think he made it.
Larry: There he goes again.
Brenda: Isn't it incredible, Larry?
Larry: (in wonderment) Oh, it's the miracle of life.
Brenda: That's right. It is a miracle. And I am gonna do everything in my power to make sure this little baby has a happy, healthy life. Now, you wouldn't deny him that, would you, Larry?

They both laugh again as the baby kicks.

Larry: I can't. I can't. Oh -- this kid is tough. He's a fighter, just like his mom.

Larry nods, his mind now changed.

Larry: Maybe he does need a little more time.
Brenda: God, I need your help through this, you know?
Larry: Well, you got it. You know, I've -- I've done everything I can to keep you alive this long. And now I think it's about time I -- I tried to help you and the little football player make the whole last nine yards.
Brenda: Come here.

She hugs him.

Brenda: You know how long I've waited to hear you say that?
Larry: God, I'm sorry it took so long, Brenda.
Brenda: Oh, please, don't say you're sorry -- I'm just so thankful for you! Come here.

She kisses him.

Brenda: Oh.

She kisses him again.

Larry: I'm sorry. I just --
Brenda: No, don't --
Larry: I'm sorry. I'm -- thank you. No, you're welcome. Oh, listen to me.
Brenda: What?
Larry: This is going to take a little change of life here. You're gonna have to sort of straighten out. You're gonna have to eat right --
Brenda: (laughing in disbelief) Me straighten out?
Larry: Yes, and rest, and rest --
Brenda: Yes --
Larry: And put your feet up here. Come here.

Larry gets her legs and moves them so they are propped up on the coffee table.

Larry: Get those feet up.
Brenda: I like this change!
Larry: I want you to start doing -- do you want any, uh, like any coffee or --
Brenda: No --
Larry: (remembering) No, you can't have coffeee --
Brenda: Herb tea.
Larry: Herb tea.
Brenda: Mm-hmm.
Larry: (snapping his finger) I got it. Wait a minute. You just sit here. Hold on. I'll be right back.

She takes his hand in hers reassuringly.

Brenda: Okay.
Larry: All right.

Larry heads toward the door.

Brenda: Where are you going?
Larry: I'll be back. Listen, you put those feet back up.
Brenda: My feet are up. My feet are up.
Larry: Okay, I'll be back.

He grabs his coat.

Larry: I won't be long.

He blows her a little kiss and then leaves, and Brenda sighs and throws her arms up in relief.

Brenda: Oh.

--end transcript--