At last everything was ready for the filming of the movie to begin. The part of Jack would be played by James Naughton, that of Abigail by Elizabeth Montgomery, and that of Ellen by Karen Grassle. Abigail wasn't able to watch the actual filming, but she and the rest of her family watched a private viewing of the movie before it was broadcast on TV.

Abigail, Jack, David, Matthew, and Beryl all showed up to watch the movie.

"Ellen said she had a headache," David explained to the others.

"Well, tell her we missed her," Beryl said.

Abigail found the first part of the movie, which portrayed her life as a seventeen-year-old cheerleader prior to the coma, very difficult to watch. Hoping that none of the others would hear her, she sobbed quietly during the romantic scenes between her teenage self and David as a teenager. Jack heard her and put his arms around her, and she let him hold her.

"Well, that was simply terrible!" Beryl spluttered indignantly once the movie had ended. "They made me look like some kind of needy, over-possessive control freak!"

Her words broke the tension that was in the air, and the others all laughed with relief.

"My God, Abigail, I just love you so much," Jack whispered as he got into bed with her that night. "I don't think I even realized just how much until now."

"That was so very hard to watch," Abigail told him. "To see again what my life was like before...to feel all those memories come flooding back..."

"I know, sweetheart. I know," Jack murmured into her hair. "You're by far the bravest person I've ever known, Abigail Parrish, and I just feel so very honored and grateful to be married to you."

Abigail answered the phone and, to her surprise, heard David's voice at the other end. He sounded stressed; panicky, almost.

"Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow, Abigail? I really need to talk to you."

"Why, of course, David. What's on your mind?"

"It's too much to get into over the phone. I'd have to tell you in person."

Abigail arrived at the appointed meeting place to see David sitting with his head in his hands and a forlorn look on his face. He nodded in acknowledgement as she was seated.

"It's Ellen," he said in despair. "I've had to have her admitted to a drying-out clinic."

"What?" Abigail was so startled that she didn't even notice the heads that turned to look at her with curiosity.

"The drinking has gotten out of control," David continued. "I haven't seen her sober in so long that I can't even remember it. The house is absolutely filthy, and she never cooks anymore. Matthew and I mostly just eat TV dinners now. She just sits watching soap operas and drinking wine all day. Sometimes I come home from work and find her out cold. Yesterday we had a raging argument and she got in the car and drove away. I called the police on her, and they picked her up and charged her with DUI. I paid her bail and brought her home and we got into another tremendous fight. In the end I threatened to leave if she didn't agree to be admitted to the clinic."

David folded his arms on the tabletop and rested his head on them, and Abigail heard him sobbing. Her heart went out to him. Lightly she touched his arm.

"David?"

He raised his tear-streaked eyes to look into hers.

"I think it would be a good idea for you to talk to Jack. He knows what you're going through because he's been through the same thing himself."

David shook his head. "Abigail, can't you see? You're the only one I can talk to. I could always talk to you about anything, anything at all."