A Little Whine With Your Dinner?

Bo and Lindsay are sitting in Bo's apartment on Bo and Nora's couch. Bo is reading the newspaper.

Lindsay: Bo, I want to throw a small dinner party for Will's birthday
Bo: Uh huh
Lindsay: It's next Tuesday OK?
Bo: Uh huh
Lindsay: What should it be...a sit down dinner or buffet. Better make it a buffet since your table is so small.
Bo: Uh huh
Lindsay: Will loves the way I make my lasagna. We'll have that and salad and garlic bread. We'll start with antipasto, I know a great little store that makes it fresh daily.
Bo: Uh huh
Lindsay: There'll be just the six of us. You, me, Will, Jessica, Sam and I guess we'll have to invite Nora.
Bo: Yep. Anything you say...Wait a minute, Lindsay did you say something about dinner and Nora?
Lindsay: Will's birthday dinner, Bo
Bo: Oh, when is that?
Lindsay: I told you. Next Tuesday.
Bo: Gottya (goes back to reading his paper)
Lindsay: Let me call them and set it up. What time shall I tell them to come?
Bo: I don't have my watch on, I think its around 8:00.

Lindsay goes into the bedroom to make her calls. She calls Will's house and gets his answering machine. She tells him about the dinner and to invite Jessica. Also, to come around 7:00.

Lindsay then calls Sam's. Nora answers.
Nora: Hello
Lindsay: Is Sam there. I need to talk to him.
Nora: Lindsay - hello. Thanks for asking, I'm fine, Matthew's fine and I think Sam is fine too, and just how are you?
Lindsay: Nora, for God's sake, is Sam there?
Nora: Nope
Lindsay: Do you think you could give him a message?
Nora: Gee, maybe if you go real slow and spell the big words.
Lindsay: It's Will's birthday next Tuesday. BO and I are having a birthday dinner for him and I think his father should be here. If you can't get a babysitter don't worry. Sam can tell you all about it when he gets home.
Nora: Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world. And just to be sure, we'll bring Matthew with us.
Lindsay: Swell. 7:00 at Bo's great new apartment. Oh do you know where Bo lives? You haven't been here yet have you? I can give you the address
Nora: Actually Lindsay, I have been there many times...(under her breath)when it belonged to Patrick.
Lindsay: You've been here? In Bo's apartment?
Nora: Many, many times.
Lindsay slams down the phone. Nora looks at the receiver and grins.

Tuesday

It's the day of the dinner party and Lindsay closes the gallery early. She is getting very nervous about this evening. All I need is for the lasagna to flop or the salad to be limp or the wine the wrong year and Nora will delight in telling the world. No Lindsay, No. I will not let that "I'm the best at everything" woman intimidate me! From what I've heard, Nora can't even boil water.
Lindsay goes into the kitchen and pours herself a glass of wine.

Nora has taken the day off. Her assistant is ill and MaryAnn is owed some time off so Nora decides to ditch everything and spend the day with Matthew. The day flies by, but the two of them have fun playing with some new toys and going for a long walk. She is not looking forward to this dinner that Bo and Lindsay were having for Will. Who knows what rotten thing Will will say to her and what if Sam and Will get into another fight? And seeing Bo and Lindsay together...blech! Lindsay had given her an out, and she should have taken it. Nora puts Matthew down for a nap and she pours herself a glass of wine. And then another. Medicinal reasons of course. An hour later and the bottle was practically empty.

7:00pm Tuesday Night, Bo's Apartment

Bo: Nora, I'm glad you could come. Are you alone?
Nora: Nope...Sham and Matthew are right behind me. (Nora gives Bo a big kiss right on the lips)
Bo: Nora! Have you been drinking? (Grinning)
Nora: Jush a little. Shhhh...jush our little secret, ok?
Bo(laughing): OK, Lindsay's in the kitchen, she'll be out in a minute.
Nora: yipppeee
Sam comes to the door completely laden down with Matthew, 2 bags, a present for Will and a foldup playpen.
Bo: Here Sam, let me help you. Let's set up the playpen over here by the window. You guys make yourself
comfortable and I'll bring us some drinks. (He looks at Nora and winks). Nora would you prefer Club Soda?
Nora: Wine would be fine...yep, fine and randy..I mean dandy. (Sam stares at her)
Sam puts Matthew in the playpen and sits on the couch. Nora takes the armchair and practically falls into it.
Sam: Are you alright?
Nora: Now why would you ask?(looking very seriously)
Sam: No reason I guess.
Lindsay comes out of the kitchen and takes a deep breath. Bo starts passing out the wine.
Lindsay: Have some cheese and crackers. Will phoned and he and Jessica are going to be late.
Nora: Not hungry, thanks. Ummmm good wine!
Lindsay: Well I hope you will be hungry for dinner. I spent a long time preparing it.
Nora: Maybe, andthenagain, maybe not.
Lindsay has taken a seat beside Sam on the couch and Bo is sitting on the arm of the couch beside her.

They are finding small talk very difficult. Lindsay keeps asking questions and the men reply with one word answers. Nora is sitting with her legs crossed, swinging her free leg, looking around the room, grinning. The conversation comes around to Sam's trip to the Napa Valley years ago and they discuss California wines.
Nora: Speaking of good wines (she holds out her empty glass but Bo tries to ignore her)
Lindsay: Bo, Nora needs more wine. Thirsty tonight?
Nora: Oh yeah. Gee that cheese looks great- what store did you steal that from? Boy, I'm starving!
The three look at Nora as if she had two heads.
Lindsay excuses herself and goes back into the kitchen.
Nora: Hey, we should invite Hank, then all my men would be here. (She starts laughing and can't stop) Well there was RJ, but I'm talking about
Sam and Bo together: Nora!!!
Nora: Oooops (she zips her lips) Ahhhh look at Matthew he is sooooo cute when he's all curled up sleeping. Hey Matthew, this is Uncle Bobo's house, yes it is.
Sam and Bo look at the ceiling, the floor, the walls etc.
Sam: Are you really alright dear?
Nora: Yes I'm reeeeeally alright dear
Lindsay opens the kitchen door: Sam could you come here for a few minutes, I need your expert advice about
something. Sam gets up and goes into the kitchen. Bo and Nora stare at each other. Bo slides down and sits on the couch.
Bo: This is awkward isn't it?
Nora: Gee...and I thought it was just me. (Nora stands up, wavers and sits down on the couch beside Bo). But, what the heck in life is easy, huh?
Bo: I know what you mean.
Nora: Like take this couch for instance. I have to pretend that it's just a couch, nothing important...just a couch. But I'm not drunk enough to not remember what we did on this couch. Bo, do you remember the time
Bo: Nora, I don't think we should go there.
Nora: But Bo...
Nora lunges for Bo and pushes him back until he is lying flat out. She then throws her body onto his and starts kissing him. She is relentless, kissing him harder and starts opening his shirt. He is fighting to get up and then gives up. He takes Nora in his arms and starts returning her kisses passionately. He can't help himself. It is something that he has wanted for over a year.

Sam and Lindsay come in from the kitchen.
Will and Jess open the front door and are standing in the living room.
All speaking at once:
Oh my God
Nora
Bo
What the heck?
Get off of him
Let her go
I don't believe this.

Nora turns around. Bo sits up. Then they turn around and start kissing all over again.

THE END