Chapter Twenty-Five

(The following scene occurred on Aug 4, 1983, the day of live broadcast on Search for Tomorrow.)

Warren: (He's slept on the sofa bed in the club since his wife kicked him out. He's half dressed and in a foul mood) Wendy, what are you doing here?

Wendy: Good morning. I'm here because you don't return my phone calls, Warren. Did Ringo tell you I called?

Warren: Yep. He did, but you have to remember the fact that I told you that we can't see each other right now. (Warren puts on his shirt as he speaks)

Wendy: Warren, I have to know what's going on.

Warren: You wanna know what's going... look around, huh? I'm living out of my office, sleeping on this thing at night (he folds up the sofa bed), ordering all my meals out, and I'm getting REALLY sick of it.

Wendy: Well, I am not exactly having the time of my life either.

Warren: No?

Wendy: I never get to see you anymore.

Warren: Well, that's just the way it is right now.

Wendy: For how long?

Warren: Right now I don't know.

Wendy: You're angry at me for coming here.

Warren: Mmm hmm... that and other things.

Wendy: What other things? Warren, you tell me... what did I do wrong?

Warren: You went and blabbed everything to your mother. I know you did, because she laid me out in front of Lloyd Kendall in her office.

Wendy: I needed somebody to talk to.

Warren: Your little talk just cost me a shot of buying Channel 6.

Wendy: And you're blaming me for that?

Warren: No, no. I am blaming your mother, but don't worry, I will find some way to get even with her.

Wendy: This is terrific. This is just terrific. I come by here so you can make me feel better, but instead, you make me feel worse.

Warren: Look, I am sorry. Go home. I'll call you later.

Wendy: Warren, just tell me that everything will be okay, huh? Just do that.

Warren: Everything is going to be fine.

Wendy: How can you say that?! You know that Suzi walked in on us.

Warren: Kissing... just kissing. You have to remember that.

Wendy: We have been doing a LOT more than kissing. And Suzi isn't going to forget it.

Warren: Sure she will. She'll forget all about it. I will move back into the apartment and you will get your own apartment. (Warren reaches out for Wendy and raises her chin so she can look at him) Just like we planned. Alright? And everything will be wonderful. (he caresses her cheek)

Wendy: That's not what I wanted to hear.

Warren: That's the way it is.

Wendy: It doesn't have to be. Warren, we could tell her the truth. We could tell her that we're in love and...

Warren: Whoa... woah! Wait a minute. You know we can't do that.

(The phone rings. Warren answers and argues with someone on the phone about losing the liquor order. Meanwhile, Wendy isn't looking well. She lays her hand on her stomach as nausea strikes. She has to sit down on the sofa, looking pale and uncomfortable.)

Warren: (after hanging up the phone) Come on. I need to find some orders. Let's go.

Wendy: (Waves him away with her hand) Warren, I'm not feeling very well. Lemme sit here a couple of minutes please.

Warren: Alright. I don't want Brian finding you here. (he looks over at her in concern, then he leaves his office)

Wendy: (stands up quickly) I'm going to be sick. (She runs to the nearest bathroom to throw up)

Characters in this segment: Warren & Wendy

Not Feeling Well

~ Aug 4, 1983 ~

Waves of dizziness and nausea assaulted Wendy even after she emptied the contents of her stomach in the bathroom. She returned to Warren's office and sat down on the couch. Her hand was still on her stomach. *Ohhh please don't let me throw up again... that was just awful,* she was thinking. She had never felt to sick in all her life. Maybe it was because of Suzi catching her and Warren in a passionate embrace. She had betrayed her best friend, but she couldn't help it. She loved Warren. Where was he? She needed him right now. She felt sea-sick and weak.

She looked pale and uncomfortable when Warren strode into his office to find that she was still there. "Wendy, I thought I told you that you better leave," he said impatiently. "What if Brian shows up? He's going to start ask questions."

She didn't say anything, just gave him a look of sadness. "Honey, are you still feeling sick?" he asked as he sat down next to her and tenderly caressed her cheek. "You don't have a fever. I hope you're not coming down with the stomach flu."

"I'll be okay," she said as she tried to give him a reassuring smile. "It's probably just a touch of the flu. I'll go home and rest. You'll call me later, won't you?"

He lightly kissed her on the lips. "I'll try, but you know we have to cool it for awhile."

"I'm really going to miss you, Warren."

"I'll miss you, too, but you have to go."

He stood up and took her hand as he helped her rise to her feet. She managed to do it without getting sick. Despite that accomplishment, she still felt slightly dizzy. "I don't think I can make it into the club tonight. I feel horrible."

"I don't expect you to be there. Go on home and rest," Warren urged. He held her in his arms a few moments, but then he returned to his work. She longed for him to hold her longer, but she also needed the comfort of her bed.

Xxxooo

Wendy awakened the next morning still feeling ill. After she threw up in the bathroom, she grabbed the phone from her nightstand and gave Warren a call. "Hey, I don't think I can make it into the club tonight either," she said.

"You're still feeling sick?"

"Yeah. The room is spinning... and I can't keep anything down. Not even water."

"Honey, I am sorry you're feeling sick, but I can't have you here at the club right now anyway. Brian's been lurking around... Kristin, too... and if Suzi shows up -."

"I know... I know. She can't see us together. Not right now. But Warren, it's hard being apart from you."

"It's just for a little while longer, sweetheart. I promise," Warren said gently. "Just until I can get Suzi off my back. I don't want her getting anymore suspicious than she already is."

A tear slid down Wendy's cheek. "Call me later?" she asked hopefully.

"I will as soon as I can. Get some rest," he said before he hung up the phone.

Wendy replaced the receiver back on the hook, then she lay her head against the pillow. She hadn't even bothered to brush her hair. It was a tangled mess of curls around her pale, oval face. If only Warren could be with her with his arms around her, comforting her and distracting her from this strange sickness that had suddenly overtaken her. It made her feel drained, but her longing for Warren grew greater than the waves of nausea that continued to plague her.

"Uggghhhh... my life is a mess," she moaned.