Aired March 16, 1988
Background: Several weeks before, Kayla had been brutally raped by her husband, Jack Deveraux.
When Steve found out about this heinous act, perpetrated by none other than his own biological brother, a big fight ensued between the two men on the roof of the loft. Jack fell off the roof and nearly died. His life was saved by none other than a guilt-ridden Steve. At great risk to his own life, Steve donated a kidney which gave Jack a new lease on life. Meanwhile, Kayla was going through a terrible time. She was hurting more than she had ever hurt before. Jack had once been her friend and she’d tried to help him. She’d married
him in an effort to give him the will to live, though her heart always belonged to Steve. In return for that sacrifice, made on behalf of friendship, Kayla had been terribly mistreated when things didn’t go the way Jack wanted them. And to make matters worse, the love of her life had saved the life of her rapist. Did Jack mean more to Steve than she did? This was the question that tormented Kayla. She didn’t know the answer.
Why should she? When Jack was rejecting the kidney for psychological reasons, hadn’t Steve asked her to go to Jack, to forgive him? Hadn’t he reacted negatively when she told him she would press charges? She was plagued with nightmares in which Jack and Steve were close, where they made light of her suffering, saying she had overreacted to the rape. Beset by her own fears, Kayla needed to ask Steve for the ultimate favor. She needed to ask him to testify on her behalf and against his brother Jack at a pretrial hearing. Would he do it? She didn’t know. But she had to ask. It would be impossible to proceed without his cooperation.
She went to Steve. She told him that she needed him to testify against Jack.
The scene begins:
Kayla: Maybe it’s not fair that I ask you. Jack IS your brother.
Steve: Did you think I’d put him before you?
Kayla: I don’t know.
Steve: You know, baby, when I was in the Merchant Marine, I used to go to all these different towns. I’d get shore leave. Every town I went into, I’d walk down the streets and I’d always notice all the little kids, especially the boys. Boys that were about the same age as Billy would’ve been then. And, uh…I used to think about Billy all the time so I guess they reminded me of him. I guess it kind of gave me some hope that I might find him someday. Then I did. He showed up and I just wanted to wipe away all the years between us. I wanted to take care of my baby brother again…give him all the love I had stored up for him. I would’ve done anything in the world for him, Kayla. But no matter what I tried to do, everything I did for Billy went sour. Nothing worked. So all this time I’ve been trying to figure out why.
Kayla: Have you?
Steve: Well, yeah. It’s because it was all a dream. It was all a fantasy, baby. I…Billy was a little baby they took away from me in the orphanage. I loved that baby. But I hate what he turned into. I’ve been trying to deny that, you know. I’ve just been trying hard not to see that. So I just had to admit that to myself, that’s all.
Kayla (softly) Steve…
Steve: Oh, baby. I’ve been trying to divide myself between you and Billy. But there is no more Billy. Only you. I’ll testify for you, baby. I’ll do anything to make you happy. Anything to take away the pain I gave you.
They move toward each other. They embrace for a brief moment. Mickey comes over. He needs to be sure that Kayla is still going ahead. It won’t be easy, he warns. But Kayla is not one to shrink away from a difficult challenge. She is determined and will go ahead. Assured that this is what Kayla wants, Mickey leaves. Kayla and Steve look at each other. Kayla moves toward Steve.
Kayla: We’re all set then, huh?
Steve: Yeah. Baby, it’s good you don’t have to do this alone anymore, huh?
Kayla moves into his arms. This time, she lingers and allows herself to really lean on him.
Kayla: (softly) I was scared by myself.
Steve: (with regret) I know.
Kayla: I felt so far away from you. I don’t like feeling far away from you.
Steve: I didn’t like it, either.
Kayla: So I like it better this way. US. TOGETHER.
Steve: Me, too. Me too, baby.
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