THE DIVORCE PAPERS (NOT)

Bo and Nora sat in a small room in the courthouse. This was it. They were
there to sign divorce papers. They didn't both have to be present, but they
sort of thought they should be out of respect for each other and the life they
had shared. Nora scanned the papers.

NORA: (with resignation in her voice) Everything looks like it's in order.

Bo just nodded his head. Nora picked up the pen to sign her name. She
swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath while clicking the
pen. Then she dropped it and pushed her chair back.

NORA: I think I'm going to be sick.

She ran out of the room toward the women's restroom. Bo went after her but he
didn't know what to do. Should he go in? Wait? Or what? He paced outside
the door.

BO: Nora, are you all right? Can you hear me? Say something, Nora.

Inside Nora was standing over the sink hyperventilating. She wet a paper towel
with cool water and put it on her forehead and wiped her face. She let the
cool water run over her wrists. A wave of nausea rushed over her. She gripped
the sides of the sink with both hands to steady herself. She looked into the
mirror and that's when the dam broke. The tears gushed like never before. She
thought she was going to faint. She felt her way to the wall and slid down to
the floor. There she was-- Nora Hanen Gannon Buchanan, lawyer extraordinaire--
crying uncontrollably on the floor of a public restroom in a courthouse, for
gosh sakes. But she didn't care. It just didn't matter. She sat there
crying-- not even trying to stop. Outside, Bo couldn't stand it anymore. He
walked into the restroom.

BO: Nora? Nora. Are you okay?

NORA: Do.. I.. look.. okay?

BO: Come on, get off the floor, honey. Come here.

NORA: NO. Just leave me alone.

Bo got down on the floor with her and put his arms around her. Every now and
then a woman would walk in, but they all seemed to know these two people needed
privacy and they left.

NORA: Just go. I'll be all right. Sign the papers and leave them there.
I'll sign them after you're gone.

BO: No. I'm not signing the papers and I'm not leaving.

NORA: We agreed to this. We've had plenty of time to think about it. It's the
right thing to do.

BO: No, it's not. We both know it's not the right thing to do.

NORA: Then what?

BO: If you'll get off the floor I'll tell you.

He put his hands under her arms and pulled her up.

BO: All we have agreed on is that we have a problem. We haven't really
reallytalked about ways of possibly dealing with it. You have just assumed I
can't deal with the circumstances... and I've certainly given you reason to
think that. But what we need is some time alone together to talk. We need some
UNINTERRUPTED time away from Llanview. Away from everybody.

NORA: I can't leave Matthew.

BO: I don't mean Matthew. Matthew is not the problem. Red.. will you do
this? Will you let me call Asa and get his jet? Let's take Matthew and go
away for a while to the Bahamas or the Virgin Islands or Bermuda? Somewhere.
Anywhere.

NORA: I can't just take Sam's child without telling him.

BO: (he puts his hands on her shoulders) I don't expect you to. Call and tell
him. Tell him the TRUTH. He can't stop you from taking a vacation-- even with
me. He knows you aren't running away with Matthew. But don't tell him where
we're going. Tell him we will tell Renee. We'll stay in touch with her and
she'll know where we are. But I don't want him following us. Do you agree?

NORA: Yes.

BO: (he cups her face in his hands) You won't back out on me? We need this
one last shot.

NORA: I won't back out. I love you.

BO: (kisses her) I love you too. Let's go pack.

Three hours later, Asa's jet was landing in Bermuda. A bungalow by the beach
was waiting. Being a Buchanan does have its perks! The house caretaker couple
were old friends of Asa's. Bo and Nora had no problem leaving Matthew with
them while they took a walk on the beach. The sun was setting and the sky was
shades of coral. The white sand looked almost pale blue in the low light.

NORA: That sound. It's so soothing.

BO: I've always loved the ocean-- (with a little smile) despite what almost
happened to me in it. You gotta respect its power. It comes in. It goes out.
Nothing can stop it. Nothing controls it. Even a storm brings renewal.
There's peace in that.

Nora picked up a cracked shell.

NORA: I wonder how many storms this one's weathered?

BO: Looks like quite a few. But it's still here.

NORA: (softly) You're right, it is. It's still here...

They sat down against a large boulder. Nora leaned against Bo's chest with her
head on his shoulder. He put his arms around her. She laced her fingers
through his. They sat there saying nothing, but the silence spoke volumes. It
was the comfortable silence they had always had between them. It said,
'you'reall I need.' They sat there until the sun went down.. taking with it
some of the tension of the day.

BO: Are you tired?

NORA: Yes.

BO: Let's go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow.

They walked back to the bungalow and fell asleep in each other's arms.

When Nora woke up the next morning, she reached for Bo but he wasn't there. She
got out of bed and heard talking from Matthew's room. She looked through the
doorway and saw Bo holding him.

BO: You and I don't know each other very well, but I'd really like to get to
know you. I think we could be pretty good buds.

Matthew's eyes were wide and bright. He seemed totally comfortable with Bo.

BO: You know, I was at the hospital the night you were born. I don't mind
telling you, I was really, really scared. I prayed that you and your mom would
both be okay. I've never felt so helpless. I wanted so much to see you, but I
couldn't. I didn't think it would be right. Anyway, you don't need to know
that stuff. All you need to know is that I love you. I had a son once. His
name was Drew. I didn't know him when he was your age and I'll always regret
that. When he died, I just hope he knew how much I loved him. It's important
that people tell each other that.. cause you never know how much time you'll
have with them. So just know this, little guy, I love you. I loved you before
you were even born.

Nora felt those darn tears coming again. She wiped them away and walked into
the room.

NORA: Good morning you two!

BO: (to Matthew) Look, your mommy decided to get up and play with us!

Nora takes Matthew from Bo to give him his bottle.

NORA: (to Matthew) Would you like to see the ocean later, sweetie?

BO: You better believe it. Matthew and I are going fishing for marlin!

Nora gave Bo the smile that he hadn't seen in soooo long. It was the "I love
you truly, madly, deeply" smile. Matthew finished his bottle and began to nod
off to sleep. Nora put him in his bed.

NORA: Sleep tight my angel.

Then she took Bo's hand and lead him into their bedroom. She put her arms
around him and kissed him long and hard.

BO: Now that.. that was...hmmm. Let's just say I've missed THAT.

Nora pulled him down on the bed.

NORA: I'm going to show you how much I love you, Buchanan. And if I don't get
it right the first time, I'm going to keep doing it over and over until I get
it right. It could take some time.

BO: (smiling... eyes twinkling) I would expect nothing less from you, Red. Do
what you have to do!

Bo and Nora made love that morning like it was the very first time. And, in a
sense, it was.