Chapter 5- The Second meeting didn't go as well

(Sam throws open the door of his office and strides out looking purposeful. Diane hurries after him.)

Diane: Sam! Sam wait ( she runs in front of him wanting to get to Shawn before Sam does. They are there in no time and Diane hastily introduces the two)! Shawn this is Sam Malone. Sam this is Shawn Malley. (Shawn get up from his seat. Sam and Shawn look each other up and down, sizing each other up.)

Sam: So you're Shawn, Diane's fiancé? ( he walks around Shawn surveying him. Everything and everyone else in the bar seem to be suspended in time.)

Shawn: Yeah, and you're the famed Sam Malone? (Diane covers her eyes but peeks out from behind them. Shawn circles Sam. It's uncanny how much they look alike. One six foot three and a half the other six foot four, both have thick dark hair and they dress similarly.)

Sam: Yeah I am.

Shawn: Okay cool wanna go shoot some pool?

Sam: Yeah sure ( the whole bar breathes a sigh of relief as the two men walk back to the pool room. They look even more alike from the back.)

Diane: Whew! That didn't go half as bad as I expected ( she bends down to where Carla is still laying on the floor). Oh Carla get up this is really getting ridiculous. You have to face the facts. Sam and I are connected forever now, there's no getting around that.

Carla: (she gets up) Okay, okay Dye-ane ( she puts special emphasis on the word "dye" and touches her hair as she says it.)You're right. But don't think that this means I won't insult you.

Diane: Oh I wouldn't have it any other way.

Carla: Besides I don't have to worry about you anymore.

Diane: Oh well that's good- wait Carla why exactly don't you have to worry about me?

Carla: Because you're taken! Well I never saw why anyone liked you in the first place but you're getting married. Besides Sammy would never take you back after what you did to him. Keeping Samantha from him for nine years? You're just lucky you have her because if you didn't I doubt he would even talk to you.

Diane: Well Carla none of this matters now. Sam's met his daughter, I'm getting married, and we're a lot closer now, so-

Carla: Wait, wait, wait what'd you mean closer?

Diane: Oh don't worry Carla, not in Boston.

Carla: Well thank god for that ( she walks off. Suddenly shouts can be heard from the pool room.)

Sam: (from the back room) She could never be as happy with you as she was with me!

Shawn:( also from the back room) Are you kidding me? She is 10 times happier with me than she ever was with you! (Samantha looks up at her mother with wide eyes)

Diane: It's okay honey you stay here and mommy will go take care of this.

Samantha: Okay mommy but please hurry up I'm getting very tired.

Diane: Okay Ill be just a second ( she hurries off into the pool room. When she gets there she finds Sam and Shawn standing inches apart looking at each other with hatred.)

Diane: What is going on here?! (Sam turns around)

Sam: Diane who were you happier with? Him or me?

Diane: Well actually neither of you- (she gets very nasty looks from both of them) I mean, why does it matter?

Shawn: (he walks over and puts his arms around Diane) Because ( he gives her a small kiss on the cheek but it looks rather awkward) this bozo thinks that he made you happier than I do.

Sam: Except I know better. We made a baby together. I make her happier.

Diane: Listen can we please just drop this nonsense? And speaking of my-, our daughter Sam can you go wait with her? I need to talk to Shawn alone for a minute (Sam gives Shawn a strange look but walks out in the bar to where his daughter is).

Sam: (out by the table Samantha is sitting at) Uh, do you guys mind if I, ah, take Samantha for a minute.

Fraiser: No of course not Sam, after all she is your daughter (Sam takes her by the hand and goes into his office where she stands patiently by the couch).

Sam: Hey I think I have so books or something around here. Uh, do you want to read one with me?

Samantha: Umm, okay (Sam sits on the couch and Samantha climbs up on his lap).

(meanwhile back in the pool room)

Shawn: WE should get married tomorrow. The sooner we get married the sooner all our problems will be solved.

Diane: Our problems won't just go away if we get married!

Shawn: What's wrong? Don't you love me? don't you want to marry me?

Diane: Of course I do!

Shawn: Well then marry me, marry me tomorrow.

Diane: Okay.

Shawn: All right then. Let's go get Samantha, then we can go back to the hotel and get a flight to New York in the morning.

Diane: Well I don't know- (she tries to stop him but he is already walking off by the time she started to say something. She walks out of the back room to find Shawn talking to Fraiser and Niles. She walks into Sam's office. Sam is asleep and so is Samantha, her head is on his chest and Sam's arms are around her. An open book is almost falling out of his hands. She takes one lone look at them and almost breaks down again. She shakes them both gently awake.)

Diane: Samantha sweetheart, I know it's late and you're tired but we're going to go back to the hotel now and you can get some rest. Say good-bye to daddy.

Samantha: ( she looks very tired but bounces quickly up) But I'm not sleepy and we haven't finished the book!

Diane: Well honey-

Sam: Listen Samantha it's okay. You go with mom and we can finish the book tomorrow.

Samantha: Okay Daddy (she smiles).

Diane: Actually, Samantha, Shawn and I are going to fly back to New York tomorrow.

Sam: (takes her by the arm and turns her around) What the hell do you mean you're going back to New York tomorrow?

Diane: Sam we'll be back next weekend. You can see Sa-

Sam: Oh no. Oh no no no Diane. I just met my daughter that I didn't know about for nine years! I am not waiting for next weekend to spend time with her!

Diane: Well Shawn and I think it would be best if we got married tomorrow in New York (she tries to keep her voice down but Samantha can still hear them talking).

Samantha: I don't want you to marry Shawn! I love daddy! Why can't you marry daddy?

Diane: Samantha I can't. We've talked about his before. I love Shawn and I'm going to marry him. Now come on sweetie we have to go now ( she looks as if she feels terrible for doing this but she does it anyway). Say good-bye.

Samantha: (she goes over and hugs Sam's legs. She is not very tall obviously but Sam beds down so that he can fully hug her).

Sam: Good-bye Samantha ( he looks so unlike himself at that moment that Diane can barely recognize him). Okay I-I'll se you next weekend. I lo- I lo- ( he laughs for a minute and then looks up at Diane) thought I was talking to you there for a minute! I love you Samantha.

(Diane takes her daughter's hand once again and walks out of Sam's office. Sam follows them. They walk over to Shawn and the three of them walk out, Samantha held in Diane's arms and Shawn in the lead. Samantha is already beginning to nod off. Sam stand behind the bar wondering if the woman, well now two women he loves will leave him yet another time.)