The Return of Diane Chambers
[May 1996. Boston. Cheers. Evening]
(It is an evening like any other at Cheers. Norm is in his bar stool next to Cliff drinking beer and Cliff is driving a bar patron crazy with his boring, inaccurate facts. Sam is behind the bar making drinks and Carla is serving the clients that are near the entrance. Down the stairs, a woman with sexy, slim legs, white heels and a cream-colored suit, is seen stopping on the first few steps. Sam smiles envisioning the rest of that woman's appearance and goes to his office to put on some cologne. While Carla is working with her back to the door, the woman enters, but, far from being a stranger, it is Diane Chambers. Unlike last time, her hair looks very natural and she wears a light lipstick, in a shade between apricot and pink. Although she has been there a thousand times, a certain nervousness can be seen on her face)
Diane: Hi.
(Seeing Diane after three years of not even hearing from her, Norm and Cliff are surprised and exchange glances, probably foreshadowing an upcoming wave of disgust, disappointment and loathing from Carla. When she turns around and sees Diane, she screams in fright and, shaken with panic, tries to lean on the table, but ends up tipping it over, which makes her fall and causes all the drinks to land on the floor. This reaction does not surprise Cliff and Norm, nor the other regulars. Sam, hearing the sound of breaking glass and an echoing metallic noise, runs out of his office, startled)
Sam: What happened?! A dead man?! A robbery?!
(Seeing Diane, Sam freezes on the spot, astonished)
Sam: Diane...
(The customers by the entrance stand up to put the table back in place and sit down to wait for things to calm down before ordering their drinks again. Diane's facial expression, which previously denoted nervousness, now denote guilt, as she did not expect her entrance to cause such a commotion, even though she did not expect a positive reaction from Carla)
Diane: (To Sam, with a nervous smile) Hi... (Holding out a hand to Carla) I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Did you get hurt?
Carla: (Angry, she slaps her hand to push it away) Don't touch me. (Stands up) What are you doing here? (To Sam) Did you know she was coming?
Sam: No.
Diane: I didn't tell anyone.
Carla: (Angry) Why?! You wanted me to die of shock?!
Diane: No. Even though you hate me, I have nothing against you. I was just nearby and thought it would be a good idea to stop by for a drink. I've missed this place.
Carla: Too bad those in this place can't say the same about you.
Sam: Carla... Don't speak for us. Good to see you here, Diane, it's been a long time. What can I get you?
Diane: Just some water.
Norm: "Water"? You come to a bar and ask for "water"? Is L.A. the city of sobriety? (Laughs)
Carla: You're not pregnant, are you?
(Diane is puzzled by the question and looks at Carla with a look between confusion and disapproval)
Diane: No.
Carla: Prove it.
Diane: And how do you want me to prove that?
Carla: Easy. A pregnancy test.
(Carla jumps over the bar to grab her purse, pulls out a pregnancy test and hands it to Diane. Sam, Diane, Norm and Cliff look at her between surprised and concerned and Norm and Cliff exchange glances. When Carla looks at them again, she notices that everyone is staring at her)
Carla: What? You never know when you might need one.
(At that answer, everyone rolls their eyes or shakes their heads in surprise)
Making your way in the world today
takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries
sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you wanna go
where everybody knows your name
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.
You wanna go where people know
people are all the same.
You wanna go where everybody knows your name.
[Cheers]
(When Diane comes out of the lady's toilet holding the test in her hand, she is surprised to see Norm and Cliff turned towards the hallway and Sam and Carla standing next to them, all impatiently awaiting the result. Sam looks visibly nervous)
Sam: So?
(Carla, with a mischievous smile, runs up to Diane and raises her head to see the result)
Carla: (As if rejoicing) Positive!
Sam: (Very surprised) You're pregnant?!
Diane: (Serious) No. It must be a false positive. (Slightly fed up with the whole pregnancy thing) The test must be defective.
(Sam, seeing Diane's conviction, is a little surprised and wonders if she is just acting or if she really meant what she said)
Sam: How come you sound so confident?
Diane: Because it's been months since I've been in a relationship, and I haven't missed period since then.
Carla: No wonder you look so bitter.
(Diane stares at her and sits down at the bar to drink her glass of water)
Diane: Besides, I had a medical check-up just a few weeks ago, if I had been pregnant, they would have told me.
(Sam, suspiciously, looks at Carla as if to tell her to speak)
Carla: (Resigned) Alright, alright. I always carry two tests in my purse. A fake test that always comes back positive and that I keep in case I need to scare off a man, and the real thing.
(Diane looks at her with a smirk as if saying "I knew it")
Carla: Then why don't you want alcohol? Have you become a teetotaler like Sammy?
Diane: No. I've tied up the flight with paperwork, and between jet lag, bureaucracy and work, I'm shot.
Woody: (Enters and is surprised to see her) Miss. Cambers! Have you become an actress? 'Cause I hope you're not talking about guns.
(Everyone looks at him with the typical "As clueless as usual" face and Diane laughs a bit, seeing that no matter how much time passed, he will not change)
Diane: (Happy to see him) Woody!
Woody: (Happy to see her) I didn't expect to see you here. What's the reason of your visit?
Diane: I was in town and I thought it would be nice to stop by and say hello. How are you doing?
Woody: Fine I guess. I'm still married with a kid and I'm still happy. Did you finally run for Queen of England, Miss Chambers? I haven't heard anything on the news.
(Diane is perplexed by the question, wondering how a man who thinks the British monarchy works like a beauty contest became a city councilor, and after a few seconds, she opens her mouth to answer)
Diane: No, no... That... That was a joke, one cannot reach the crown so easily.
Woody: Well, after all it's too far away. (Confused) Or is it because you're American?
Diane: Both... Although the far away thing is rather metaphorical.
Woody: No, I mean...
Diane: (Smiles and places a hand on his shoulder as a sign of understanding and affection) Don't worry, I understood what you meant.
(Woody smiles)
Sam: (Pouring drinks) And tell us, Diane, what are these negotiations you've come to Boston to make?
Diane: (Turns to Sam and smiles excitedly) I've come to buy a house. I'm moving! I'm going to live here again, and probably forever!
(Hearing her, everyone looks at her surprised and perplexed, not expecting that answer at all. Before anyone can open their mouths, the sound of glass breaking and a metallic rattle are heard in the back)
Carla: (In the pool room) NOOOOOOOOOO!
Sam: If Carla keeps this up, she's gonna break Coach's record.
Norm: (Joking) Do you miss us so much you couldn't resist coming back here?
Diane: (Smiles) Well, that was one of the reasons. (Very happy) The other is that I have been hired by a Dramatic Arts and Literature company. Starting tomorrow I will begin working on the writing of a new tv series and as a theater director on a friend's play.
Sam: (Very happy) That's great, Diane!
Norm: Let's get a beer to celebrate!
(Sam pours Norm a beer and starts to prepare Carla's order again while she looks at Diane with despair, but still with a glimmer of hope)
Carla: That means you'll be very busy and won't be spending much time here, right?
Diane: Actually, I wanted to ask you if I could come back to work here.
Carla: (Angry) What?! No way, blondie! Your place is the theater! If you do any better there than here...
Diane: (Looks at her between annoyed and resigned) For your peace of mind, and it will probably surprise you, I'll tell you that I've taken a waitressing course and that my skills have improved considerably since last time.
Carla: Was that course just theoretical?
Diane: No. In fact it was mostly practical. Well, the first week was mostly theoretical, but the other three weeks we could say that they integrated theory into practice.
Cliff: How come you have a good job and you still wanna go back to work here?
Diane: To write down some ideas. There's always something going on in this bar. If I wrote down all the funny or interesting things that have happened from the first time I worked here ten years ago until now, I would have material for at least five seasons. But... Although I have a general idea of what I want, there are things I need to finalize. I have the end to one of my story lines thanks to Frasier, but I'm not sure what would be the best for the other one.
Sam: (Confused) "Frasier"?
Diane: Yes. A few months ago I went to Seattle for work reasons and, since I was in town, I took the opportunity to stop by and say hello. He eventually invited me to have dinner at his place and I invited him to a rehearsal. Disagreements with the script arose and Frasier ended up helping me re-write the last scene. Well, not actually write it, because we just acted, improvising obviously, but thanks to that improvisation I was able to finish my play.
Sam: (Somewhat worried) You two didn't...?
Diane: (Surprised at the question) No, no! Although we could say we had our redemption arc (smiles).
Carla: And about that play you're directing... Did the writer go crazy or did he die and you got it on the rebound?
Diane: The latter...
(Everyone is surprised)
Diane: But it wasn't a rebound! Well, not entirely. As I said before, the writer was a friend of mine. Before he died, he asked me to please bring his work to the stage, and that's what I will do, I want to fulfill his last wish.
Sam: So, Diane, about working here... Do you plan to do it part time? I mean 'cause you're now a director and so.
Diane: Yes, part-time. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. would be fine?
Sam: Yes, that's great. Most people leave work in the afternoon, it's good to have help during peak hours. Besides, Rebecca went to work for a company in New York about two weeks ago, they offered her a better contract, and we needed to fill that position.
Diane: (Surprised) I had no idea. Although I'm happy for her (smiles).
(When Diane hears some customers coming in, she turns to the door and looks at Sam excitedly)
Diane: I think I'd better start working.
(...)
(Seeing Diane carrying two trays and serving all the drinks without messing things up, Sam and Carla look at her surprised)
Sam: (Surprised) Boy, you've gotten a lot better at this.
Carla: (Surprised) I never thought I'd live to see the day when Diane did a decent job.
(Diane, upon hearing them, looks at them with a smirk, happy and content)
(...)
Diane: Sam, before I go... Can I ask you a favor?
Sam: Yes, sure.
Diane: Could you come home with me and help me assemble some furniture?
Sam: (Perplexed and surprised at the question) Now?
(When Diane looks at him with a face between sorrow, shame, regret and supplication, Sam realizes he has no choice)
Diane: I'm sorry, it's just that I don't even have the bed ready to sleep in tonight.
Sam: Why don't you stay in a hotel? Besides, if you had so much work to do, you should have gone home from the beginning instead of staying here.
Diane: I wanted to show you how much I had improved.
Sam: (Going to the door to grab his jacket) Yeah... You may be a better waitress now than you were ten years ago, but otherwise you haven't changed a bit. Woody, can you take care of closing the bar?
Woody: Sure.
Sam: Great. Thanks. (To Diane) Come on.
(Diane smiles excitedly, exits the bar and runs up the stairs)
(...)
(At night and with Diane next to him, Sam drives through the dark and now not so crowded streets of Boston. While he is focused on the road, she looks out the window, smiling excitedly)
Sam: Are you trying to compete with the moon or the stars?
Diane: (Confused) What?
Sam: C'mon, you haven't stopped smiling since you got in the car!
Diane: (Happy) I'm just excited. But tell me, Sam, (with a mischievous smile) do you really find my smile so bright?
Sam: Yes. It makes me want to throw a cloth over your head, like people do with the dead.
Diane: (Looks at him as if saying "You haven't changed a bit") Very funny. And it's called a shroud. But that doesn't matter, we've arrived. (She smiles, takes off her seatbelt and gets out of the car, somewhat nervous)
(Sam gets out of the car and is surprised to see that they are in front of the place that was once their house)
Sam: (Perplexed and surprised) Is this for real? What are you up to?
Diane: Are you angry?
Sam: No, just surprised. But I have a question. Why?
Diane: Well, I saw that you had put it up for sale and left it in the hands of a realtor. I asked and the previous residents, who have lived here as rentals, left last month, so I thought it was a good opportunity to get back what was once ours.
Sam: "Ours"?
Diane: Yes, in the past. Now the house is mine.
Sam: But why do you want such a big house? You live alone. You didn't fool us all by taking advantage of the prank test, did you?
Diane: No. Why does everyone think I'm pregnant? Do I look fat?
Sam: No, quite the opposite.
Diane: Then?
Sam: I don't know, you're the one who bought a house with two bathrooms and three bedrooms. (Smiles mischievously) Oh, I think I get it. (Points at her) You're seeing someone.
Diane: (Serious) No. Didn't you hear what I said at the bar? I've been single for months.
Sam: Well, you can sleep with someone without dating someone. It's not the same thing. And you stopped me a lot of times because you didn't want sex.
Diane: Because I was angry, or because we weren't dating at that time. Just because I'm not always thinking about sex like you, it doesn't mean I'm going to spend months without doing it with a partner.
Sam: See? You said you have a partner! I knew it!
Diane: (Fed up and annoyed) It was a supposition! (Tired) Anyway... Let's go inside. I want to have time to take a shower and eat something before I go to bed. Or to the floor at this rate.
Sam: Okay. Do you have anything in the fridge to pay me back for my help or do I take it out of your salary?
Diane: Don't be so rude. I asked for it as a favor, I'm not paying you back.
Sam: Then good night. (He turns to leave)
Diane: Wait! (She grabs him by the shirt and he turns around and looks at her) I'll invite you to dinner. Today I went to have lunch at a restaurant and I ordered two more meals so I can have dinner today and lunch tomorrow, you can take whichever one you like best.
Sam: Then what are you gonna eat tomorrow?
Diane: I'll go to the café next to my work and order something. Though I might be a bit late for work, I really need to do some grocery shopping.
Sam: Ok, no problem.
Diane: (Entering the house) Let me change into something comfortable and we'll start assembling the bed.
Sam: All right.
(...)
(After a while, Diane enters the living room with her hair in a ponytail and wearing pajama pants and a short-sleeved pajama shirt. Upon seeing her, Sam is surprised)
Sam: I was expecting chore clothes. (Holding back his laughter) Though it's better than the banana nighty (laughs).
Diane: (Looks at him annoyed) Can you stop laughing? I want to finish this as soon as possible.
Sam: I'm sorry (laughs).
(Sam picks up the bed base, puts it in its place and stands up to get the mattress)
Sam: And this is what you needed help with?
Diane: Stop. To keep it from moving, it has to be attached. Aren't the screws and the screwdriver there?
Sam: (Looks in the toolbox) Yes, they're here. Hold the boards where they go so they don't move.
Diane: All right. (Bends down, kneels on the floor, grabs the boards and looks seriously at Sam) But no jokes about hitting my fingers or about breaking the bed.
Sam: Boy, you're such a killjoy! (Sighs resignedly and looks at her) Am I that predictable?
Diane: (Sketches a smiles) Nah, just a bit. I said that because I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.
(Sam smiles remembering the time they were furnishing the house when they were still a couple, keeps screwing and, suddenly, the smile vanishes from his lips)
Diane: Are you okay? What are you thinking about?
Sam: (Serious and somewhat uncomfortable) Nothing.
Diane: It's about us, right?
Sam: (While screwing) Yes... Coming back here has made me think... about what could have been... (Sketches a sad smile) Next year we would have been married for ten years... And our kids will be in Elementary School. (Laughs as he imagines the scene) Can you picture that? A little blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl sitting at her desk doing her homework focused and in silence, then her older brother startles her cracking her bedroom window with a ball (laughs).
Diane: (Smiles) I would have killed you.
Sam: I know (laughs).
Diane: I wonder... If we'll still have time...
(Hearing her, Sam comes out of his self-absorption and his smile suddenly fades away. Serious and very surprised, he looks Diane in the eyes)
Sam: What?
Diane: (Somewhat embarrassed, she lowers her head) If I'm honest with you... I didn't come to Boston just to work. Yes, I was offered a job here, but I could have turned it down and premiered the play in a different place, or just come for the premiere like I did with Seattle. What I mean is... It's true that literature is my work and an important part of my heart, but my family and the other half of my heart is here in Boston. Or rather, I should say in Cheers. I thought that if I pursued my dreams, I would be happy, but it hasn't been entirely the case. Yes, I felt jubilant when I won my first award and when I published my first novel, and I'm very content with all my accomplishments, but when I got home and all the time I wasn't at work... I felt like I was missing something.
Sam: A cat?
Diane: (Smiles at the joke and taps his on the arm in protest) No!
(Sam laughs at her reaction and smiles when he sees her smile)
Diane: (Serious, embarrassed and ashamed) After what happened with Frasier I realized how sad and pathetic my life was. I lied to him just like I did to you the last time we saw each other, except things have been worse for me this time. In these three years... I have thought of you quite often. I've missed you, Sam. And the rest of the gang too. My intention was to walk into a place and have everyone shout my name, like they did Norm's (smiles).
Sam: And they still do.
Diane: (Smiles) It hasn't happened with my novel, or my tv series, or my plays... Even though you all always thought my place wasn't at Cheers, that's where I feel at home. Ironic, isn't it?
Sam: A bit.
Diane: (Smiles sadly) You must have had a better time than I did. You must have been having fun dating a lot of women.
Sam: Not really.
(Diane, hearing him say that, is surprised and Sam lowers his head a little uncomfortably)
Sam: Remember when you told me I didn't know how to interact with a woman in a non-sexual way?
Diane: Yes.
Sam: Well, you were right.
(Diane, hearing him admit that, is surprised)
Sam: This is an uncomfortable thing for me to talk about, but... after what you said... I went to a sex addicts group.
(Diane looks at him in surprise again)
Sam: (Still with his head down) Don't say anything. Let me finish first. (Continues) Well, I met a girl there and we got engaged...
(Diane, thinking that Sam is now engaged, is saddened and all glimpse of hope vanishes from her eyes)
Sam: But... just before we got married... I found out she had slept with other men...
Diane: (Is saddened to hear that and lowers her head) I'm sorry...
Sam: No, wait, I'm not yet in the worst part.
Diane: (Surprised, she raises her head and looks at him) There's more?
Sam: (Sickened) Yes... (Turns his face, embarrassed) Those men... were Cliff and Paul...
(Hearing those names, Diane opens her eyes wide in surprise and presses her lips tightly together trying to hold back her laughter. Sam, seeing that she does not say anything, raises his head to look at her and is not surprised to see that her face is turning red from restraining herself)
Sam: (Resigned, he makes a "go ahead" gesture with his hand) Ok, go ahead.
(As Sam says it, Diane bursts out laughing. Sam smiles as he sees Diane laughing and then grimaces as he remembers about Sheila)
Sam: Ever since then, every time I try to flirt with a woman, I imagine the scene and I don't want to sleep with her anymore.
Diane: And what are you going to do? Ask every girl you're attracted to (in a deeper tone of voice) "Hey, haven't you by any chance slept with Paul Krapence or Cliff Clavin"? Or are you going to stay single for the rest of your life? (A little confused) In any case, does this mean you're no longer a womanizer?
Sam: I think so. When I started approaching 40... I noticed that more than partying and women I wanted stability, but without falling into a routine: lots of sex, but with feelings, not a one-night or one-week thing. That's when I realized I was getting old.
Diane: (Smiles) No, Sam. That's not getting old. It's called maturing. Usually people experience that in their 20's, others do it in their 30's. It's just taken you a bit longer than the rest (smiles in a teasing way).
Sam: You never get tired of teasing me, do you?
Diane: I've missed it (smiles).
(Sam smiles and places the mattress on the bed base)
(...)
Sam: (Leaning on the kitchen door frame and looking into the bedroom) Diane, dinner is ready. Shall I serve it to you or keep it warm on the stove?
Diane: (From the bedroom) I'll be there in a minute, I'm almost done.
Sam: (Entering the bedroom) Do you need any help?
Diane: Now that you mention it... The pistachio green and the gaudy red look awful on these walls.
Sam: Yes, even I've noticed that. Tomorrow while you're at work, I'll go buy some plastic to cover all the floors and furniture and I'll paint all the walls white. The day after tomorrow I'll give them another coat and in the weekend we can go to the paint store so you can choose what color you want for the house. Don't worry, even though you think I'm a mess, I'm pretty good with this stuff.
Diane: (Looks at him in surprise) Sam... Thank you... I didn't expect you to offer to help with so much (smiles).
Sam: Weren't you going to ask me if I didn't offer?
Diane: No. Actually I was thinking of painting the house myself or calling someone to do the job. I was just going to ask you to help me cover everything in plastic, it's easier between two people. But if you say you're good at painting, I'll give you a vote of confidence (smiles). The fact that you mentioned covering the floor and the furniture so they don't stain has already put my mind at ease, I thought you wouldn't notice that detail. (Happy) Shall we go have dinner?
Sam: Yes.
(Diane leaves the bedroom cheerfully and briskly and Sam walks behind her slowly, serious and thoughtful, and stops just outside the door)
Sam: Hey, Diane... Before that... Can I tell you something, or do you think I'll ruin your meal?
Diane: (Turns around and looks at him scared) You didn't see a rat, did you?! Or a roach?! (Looks sideways nervously)
Sam: Calm down, I wasn't talking about bugs. (Serious) It's... about what I told you before. You know, since I'm not always flirting... I've spent more time thinking and reflecting about my life. And I've realized something important.
(Diane looks at him seriously, a little surprised to notice such a serious and mature attitude from the man who until not long ago was the perfect example of Don Juanism)
Diane: That it feels empty?
Sam: No. Well, yes, but I mean that I know why I felt it was empty. When you left me to write your book... I was ready to get married, I had made up my mind to spend the rest of my life with you, grow old together and all that.
(Diane is surprised and, moved, tries to approach and hug him)
Diane: Oh, Sam...
Sam: (Making a "stop" gesture with his hand) Before you say anything, let me finish. As I was saying, I was ready for something serious, and even though I dated a lot of women afterwards, I feel that deep down I wanted to find what I had with you.
(Diane looks at him between surprised and moved)
Sam: That's why I want to ask you, Diane. (He takes her hands) Do you still have feelings for me? Because if it were up to me, I'd pick up where we left off nine years ago.
Diane: (Very surprised) At the wedding?
Sam: Well, not exactly. I'm not saying let's get married right now, I'm just asking you if you're okay with us being a couple again, because what keep us apart last time was the distance and our dreams, but now there's none of that. We're both here again, in Boston. You have written not only your novel, but also a TV series and some plays. And I've sailed the world. Now the only dream I have left is to marry you and, if you agree, to start a family.
Diane: (Very happy and excited) I'd love to! (She jumps to hug him and kisses him) And about the kids... I know that last time I told you I had three and you told me you had four, but... I'm over forty and you passed them a few years ago, so I think we'd be fine with two in a row. Besides, imagine what our life would be like if I had four Sam Malone at home. I'd probably end up in a Golden Brooks again.
Sam: (Laughs) And if you had four Diane, I'd probably end up drinking again.
Diane: A drunk can never be a good father.
Sam: And kids need their mother around, and emotionally stable, not screaming or crying to the point of dehydration. Come to think of it, we should pick names. I have two, one for a boy and one for a girl.
Diane: So do I. Let's do one thing, if we have two boys, we'll use the two male names we chose; and if we have two girls, we'll use the two female names we chose.
Sam: And what if we have a boy and a girl?
Diane: Well, obviously we'll have to choose between two names in each case. But let's not rush, we have to start from the very beginning, like with this house. When we have everything ready, we'll start trying.
(Turned on, Sam begins to kiss her neck while hugging her)
Sam: (In a flirtatious tone) There's no need to wait that long. It takes nine months for a baby to be born. I can get you pregnant tonight and tomorrow we can continue with the preparations.
Diane: No way. I'm not going to have sex while looking at such ugly walls.
Sam: (He moves away suddenly, annoyed) We can turn the light off!
Diane: (In protest) Sam!
Sam: What?!
Diane: You're being hasty. I want to get this a little more organized first. If I got pregnant now, I'd be stressing all day because not only the house isn't ready for us, but because we have to buy things for the babies and learn about babies. The first few weeks are the most important for the fetus to settle. And we're not even married to begin with.
Sam: All right, all right... We'll wait a little bit. But you need to relax. (He walks until he is in front of her) Come on, let's go to the kitchen. I'm sure eating will help.
Diane: Yes, but before that, one more thing. About us dating again... Carla's going to die when she finds out... (Pleading like a little girl, happy and joyful, and practically jumping up and down) Please, let me be the one to tell her...
Sam: (Smiles at her reaction) All right...
(...)
(After dinner, Diane walks Sam to the door, holding back her impulse of asking him to stay, because although that is what her heart wanted, she knew that a man like Sam was not going to be able to sleep next to the love of his life after three years of not seeing her and not try anything else, and she was also aware that she was looking forward to it as much as he was and, if he tried, she was not going to be able to resist the temptation. Besides, spending a couple of days or weeks without physical contact was going to give them some quality time to talk and catch up, not just about the last three years, but also about the six years before that, since the last time they had seen each other they had limited their conversation to just the most important facts, not the anecdotes. As they reached the door, they both noticed that there was a full moon and a beautiful starry sky and smiled. However, Sam's Corvette parked in front of the house soon brought them back to reality. They both knew it was time to say goodbye, although neither wanted to. Sam was making a big effort not to pounce on Diane kissing her passionately. He knew that was not the right thing to do, and he wanted to show her that, over the years, he had matured and, as much as he desired her, he respected her, he respected her decision to wait, and he was able to enjoy time alone with her and a wider range of activities. Diane was the first to speak, and this brought Sam out of his reverie)
Diane: Thanks for the help, Sam.
Sam: No... No problem... Thank you for dinner.
(Before saying goodbye, the two stood looking at each other for a few seconds before kissing. The kiss was long and tender, not passionate. What they were feeling now was nothing more than longing. At that moment, Sam prayed to the universe that this was the very first page, not where the storyline ended. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, that if another unforeseen event came along to split their paths again, he would probably fall apart. Mostly because this time everything seemed perfect, there was no more forced laughter or fake smiles, no more walls of insincerity or shifting eyes. And above all, there was no rush. This time Diane was not coming for a few days, she was coming to stay. When they parted lips, Diane was the first to speak)
Diane: See you tomorrow.
Sam: Yeah... See you tomorrow...
(As Sam walked to his car, he could not help but notice that he had not heard the sound of the door closing. That told him Diane was still there, watching him leave. She was trying to prolong the moment, and his thoughts just keep echoing her name)
Sam: (Turning around) Diane... Good night.
Diane: (Smiles) Good night.
(With a smile, Sam turned around and, when he heard the door close, he smiled again and mumbled something, taking advantage of the fact that Diane could no longer hear him)
Sam: (Quietly, happy and to himself) Thanks for coming back.