Meera had done a fantastic job of promoting the show, which was partly due to the name Raymond Reddington being thrown around. The cast and crew were excited for opening night, and even did a mini meet and greet, in costume, for the audience. Cooper and Reddington met with everyone backstage just prior to starting.
"As you all know, Cooper and I are so very proud of you. You've all worked so hard, and now it's time to shine. Break a leg everyone!"
The cast dispersed and prepared for the first scene. Lizzie snuck a peek from between the curtains and saw the full house. She was excited to be performing for this many people. As she scanned the crowd her eyes fell on the front row. And her heart missed several beats while her lungs seemed to stop working. Frozen, she stood in complete shock unable to think, or move. There sat Tom, front row, center. "What the hell is he doing here?! I haven't seen him in almost a year … Why is he here? Why NOW?" she thought to herself. Just as her nerves and butterflies were ready to take over her entire body, she felt two hands rest on her shoulders. It was Red.
"Lizzie," he whispered, "this is your big night. I know he's there. I saw him walk in." He turned her around to face him. She didn't know if she was going to be able to do this show after all. She felt his arms slide around her, pulling her in close to him. "Lizzie, you're going to be magnificent tonight! I promise. I'm right here, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Do you still trust me?" She pulled away and looked him in the eyes. She saw something there that she'd never seen in anyone's eyes before; she saw strength and determination, she saw peace, and she saw happiness. For the first time in a year she felt invincible, as though nothing could touch her, just as long as she was in his arms.
"Don't leave me," she pleaded with him. "Please, don't leave me. I can't do this without you."
"I'm never going to leave, Lizzie …" Kate, who was rushing to get everyone into position, cut off his words.
"Places everyone. PLACES please! One minute to overture."
Red gave her one final squeeze and kissed her on her forehead. "Break a leg, sweetheart," he whispered, and then he disappeared into the wings of stage right. She moved into the opposite wing and prepared for her opening scene. The orchestra began the overture and she watched as the curtain rose and the play began. Lizzie took her place in the chair and her lines flowed, like a stream running through the picturesque countryside. It was perfect. As the end of Act 1 approached, she had no nervousness and no reservations. She stared Red in the eyes and delivered her part flawlessly. She saw a slight stitch of a smile in his lips, as he tried not to break character. That small smile was so reassuring to her. During the intermission and costume change, she felt a subtle squeeze on her elbow. She didn't have to look to see who it was; she knew it was Red.
Act 2 began, and flowed even better than the first. It was if the entire cast was in perfect sync, everyone was on their marks, and the lines were delivered without any issues. Lizzie could feel the tension start to rise in her stomach as the finale quickly neared. In all of the rehearsals, the kiss had never been practiced. She figured that Red didn't want it to look "rehearsed".
As she finished up the last lines with Mr. Bennet, the lights went black and she quickly ran to the wings for her final costume change. The narrator began to 'set up' the final scene, as she and Red are ushered onto the stage by Kate.
We move through a vast wedding party, following Elizabeth and Darcy. We meet all of our characters. Lydia and Wickham are missing. Let everyone have an end. Darcy leans in, and then pulls Elizabeth off into the shadows. We see them disappear into the park, where we see them in the moonlight. They walk further from the house, up a hill and past an outcrop of rocks. Darcy turns to Elizabeth and smiles.
Red held out his hand and helped her onto the rocks. They sat side-by-side, and stared at the backdrop, which had been painted so that it seemed as if they were looking at the distant lights of 'Pemberley'.
D: Allow me, Mrs. Darcy.
E: How did it begin?
D: I cannot fix the hour, or the spot, or the look. It was too long ago and I was in the middle before I knew it had begun.
E: Now be sincere, did you admire me for my impertinence?
D: For the liveliness of your mind, I did.
E: You may as well call it impertinence, though make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible. And, in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as maybe… and I shall beg …
Red leaned in and kissed Lizzie, stopping her from completing her lines. It was the most soft, seductive, and passionate kiss she had ever tasted. She was lost in the moment. The thunderous applause snapped her back into reality. The curtain closed leaving them alone in their moment. She pulled back and met his eyes; something had changed not only in him, but in her as well. Something had been born this night.
