Chapter 8- Something totally unlike her

(That night Sam walks into Cheers after catching a very late flight back to Boston. He looks sad, tired, defeated. He walks behind the bar. Norm is the only one still there, he looks at him.)

Sam: Norm, how many women have I had?

Norm: Thousands Sammy, why?

Sam: Well all those women I've nailed, all those thousands of women and the one I thought I'd never see again, the one I thought was gone forever, the one that left me, was the one who got pregnant. Why did she have to be the one Norm? (Norm get up and walks to where Sam has just sat down at the table by the door.)

Norm: Well maybe because she is in fact the one Sam.

Sam: Yeah maybe, wait what? I don't know Norm.

Norm: Sammy what happened?

Sam: I went there, New York, and I stopped Diane's wedding and then I proposed ( there is a long silence as Sam stops talking)

Norm: And....?

Sam: And what? She said no, like always. She said no again. So I came back here.

Norm: Do you love her?

Sam: What? No! I don't know, yeah. And I want to be a part of Samantha's life. You saw me, I always wanted kids and now I have one, so... ( he trails off putting his hands over his eyes and rubbing them tiredly) God why did she have to get pregnant? Why do I love her?

Norm: Sammy remember what I told you 10 years ago when we all smoked those cigars, when Diane left again? About love?

Sam: Yeah, what you said about my true love, you meant Cheers right?

Norm: I don't know I was just hoping you could refresh my memory, I don't remember. But I'm glad you figured it out (he pats Sam on the shoulder). Look Sam all I'm saying is that if things are meant to be with you and Diane it'll work itself out. You gotta give it time Sammy.

Sam: Yeah thanks Norm, I'll see you tomorrow.

Norm: (his finger is to his lips) Yeah but this is strictly off the record. You know.

(Sam nods his head and Norm leaves. Sam goes into his office and sits in his chair. He closes his eyes and thinks about when Diane was still working at Cheers. His mind flashes over memories of when they first met, their fights, her smile, their kisses, his proposals and her declining his proposals. He can see the house they one owned and the dreams e once had. He opens his eyes and gets up from the chair. He leaves his office turning off the light and closing the door behind him. He walks across to the door and turns off the lights in the bar and leaves.)

(The next day at Cheers, Woody is behind the bar, Carla is serving drinks to a table in the corner and Norm and Cliff are discussing something totally pointless and irrelevant to the topic at hand. A pretty normal day at Cheers.)

Woody: Where's Sam today? I didn't see him come in. Did he come back from New York?

Norm: (stops having a loudest burping contest with Norm long enough to answer Woody) No he came in early this morning and locked himself in his office, he hasn't come out since (he turns to Cliff and burps).

Woody: (pouring a drink) Things didn't go so well with Ms. Chambers?

Norm: Well- (he is interrupted as Sam comes out of his office. He looks a little wobbly and his face is stubbly. He's wearing the same clothes he had on the day before. Carla turns around and sees him.)

Carla: Whoa! Sammy, what happened to you?

Sam: Nothing Carla ( turns to Woody). Can I have a beer please Woody? ( everyone in the bar turns around in shock)

Carla: (she runs over in front of Sam and puts her arms out as if to protect him) Sam NO! Woody can I have some coffee please. Sam you've been drinking! You're drunk!

Sam: (he tries to go around her but she blocks his attempts) No just hung over. Carla, will you please leave me alone? I am an adult I can take care of myself.

Carla: (takes a cup of coffee from Woody) This is not taking care of yourself! Sam you promised me you'd never drink again. What happened?

Sam: Nothing Carla, there's nothing anymore. Diane won't marry me, I'm never going to see my daughter again ( he looks into the cup of coffee but doesn't drink it, instead sitting it on the bar).

Carla: (with fury) I knew it! I knew this is all her fault! I hate her! I'm going to kill that skinny blonde- ( breaks off) Look what she's done to him!

(Carla continues to rage and Diane quietly comes in the door. Norm see her first and puts his fingers to his lips signaling for her to be quiet. He carefully gets up and walks over to Carla, followed by Cliff and Woody. They grab her before she can realize who just arrived.)

Carla: (screams) She's here!!! (she fights to break free but they keep a strong hold, dragging her into the pool room to calm down. Sam realizes who just walked in.)

Sam: (putting his hands out in front of him) No. No, no, no. I don't want to talk to you ( he backs up) Stay away from me. (of course being Diane she comes over to him insisting that they talk. Sam sighs and walks into his office with his coffee in hand. Diane follows.)

Sam: Look, all I want from you is to bring Samantha to Boston so I can see her.

Diane: Let me just explain-, Sam what happened to you? Have you been drinking? ( she looks very surprised and upset)

Sam: I had a rough night last night.

Diane: Oh Sam I was afraid something like this might happen. But you didn't even let me explain before you walked off back there in New York ( she sighs and sits down on the couch). That wasn't where I wanted to be proposed to, not like that. It wasn't the right time. I should have thought about you before I said no. I'm sorry.

Sam: Well thank you. But don't you think that this explanation means I'm going to propose to you again. I've done that for the last time.

Diane: (looks very sad and as her eyes start to water she looks down. She starts to talked and sounds like she's as if she can't) Oh, oh I know that Sam. I thought that was my last chance and I don't expect you to. By the way you didn't take the ring you gave me. I noticed it's the one you gave me the first time we were engages (she holds the ring out to Sam who takes it and looks at it closely).

Sam: Yep and this is the real thing not a fake. (looks at her) You know for awhile back then I actually thought we might get married. Thought we were finally coming to our senses, like it was gonna work. I should have known better I guess.

Diane:(she's really crying now) I was never truly happy after I left you, both times. But it was worse the second time. I had something there to remind me of you, every minute of every day. And of course you know that I only was with Shawn because he reminded me of you. It was terrible. I don't know why I didn't come back sooner. Things could've been different, better. I know this though ( she looks into his eyes). I never want to leave you again. Will you marry me?

Sam: (he looks totally and completely surprised, and for a minute can't speak. But then he finds his tongue) What? Diane no, this is not how you want it. I should be asking you!

Diane: No Sam, you're not going to and you've already asked me enough times ( she looks defiant). I've always given you the answer I knew was wrong in my heart. Sam Malone, will you marry me?

Sam: (his mouth is wide open but he gives an answer) Yeah. Yeah I'll marry you.

Diane: (she can't contain her excitement and jumps up and down but then quickly composes herself, trying not to look too happy. She clears her throat.) Thank you Sam! (she hugs him) Now you ask me.

Sam: What?

Diane: Sam! I don't want to look back on this and remember that I asked you. Sam just ask me quickly.

Sam: Diane!

Diane: Oh please Sam, you already said yes. (she pouts making him feel guilty)

Sam: Alright, alright (sighs and rolls his eyes but then gets down on one knee and takes out the ring) Diane Chambers, will you marry me?

Diane: ( pauses) Yes! I will! ( Sam looks surprised but happy, and he slips the ring on her left hand. they kiss) Now, what do you say we go rent a hotel room and make up for lost time okay?

Sam: (with "that" look) Yeah that sounds great. But wait what about Samantha?

Diane: (laughs) Sam! What a father you've become! Well actually I ran into Kelley, Woody's wife, and Samantha really hit it off with her girls, Bailey and Sarah. She's having a little sleep over at their house tonight.

Sam:(also laughs) Well then what are we waiting for? We've got 10 years to catch up on! Let's go!

(They leave to go and celebrate their engagement.)