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Favorite Scenes   September 22, 1993 Doorbell at Hank’s. H: Okay, okay. (opens door) N: I know it’s late, I’m sorry. H: Nora, I asked you to ring once. You rang three times. N: Is Sheila here, did I wake her up, she isn’t awake, is she? H: No, she’s dead asleep. N: Well, I know it’s late, but you’re the only person I can talk to about this. H: Oh. Well, I’m honored- I think. N: Please don’t use that tone with me, Hank. I came here because- believe it or not, I still trust you. H: Really. What is so urgent that you have to trust me with it in the middle of the night? Wait a minute, hold it- don’t tell me that you’re here to hash over Marty’s rape case again. N: (half laughs) No, no. This is a case against me. H: What are you talking about? N: I have proof now, Hank. I have proof that I killed Sarah Buchanan N: I did it, Hank. I did it. (on verge of tears/hysteria) H: Look, come on, just take it easy, Nora... N: I mean, talk about your iron-clad case, I mean, if you were prosecuting, you would be gloating about all the evidence you have. H: What evidence? Nora, we went through this thing last spring. Remember, you checked it out? And all of the facts proved that you had nothing to do with Sarah Buchanan’s death. N: I have new facts. I ran into Jack Tucker at the courthouse today. H: What’s a Jack Tucker? N: He’s the truck driver who saw the accident and pulled Bo and Sarah out of the river after it happened. H: Yeah, and then? N: He was still absolutely sure that the car that forced Bo off the road was a blue car, with a license plate beginning with an MA, but he remembered something else this time. The car also had a bumper sticker on it from Scotty’s Car Rental. H: So? N: So that’s the same place where I rented my car! H: Nora, look, it was Thanksgiving, a holiday, Scotty’s probably rented a hundred cars that day, and besides, I thought you found out the car you rented was yellow. N: Hank, this is the first time that Jack even mentioned that the car was a rental, let alone that it came from the same place I rented my car. I mean, that bothered me so much that I went back to Scotty’s Car Rental just to double check on the car that I had rented. H: Okay, and what did they tell you this time? N: They told me that there had been a glitch in the computer and that they made a mistake when they spoke to me last spring. H: A mistake. N: Yeah. I wasn’t driving a yellow car. I drove away in a brand-spanking new blue sedan with a license number MA 45H29. In that car, I ran Bo off the road and killed Sarah Buchanan. H: Nora! N: It’s so obvious, Hank! H: Nora, you listen to me. Rental car companies, they buy whole fleets of the exact same make and color car. N: So what are you saying? What, that the roads were clogged with identical blue rental cars that night, any one of which could have forced Bo off the road? H: What I am saying is you are jumping to a conclusion with very little evidence. What you have are the first couple of letters on a license plate with no proof whatsoever that they match the license plate on the car the truck driver saw. N: I’ve got more evidence that puts me behind that wheel of that car, and on that bridge. H: Like what? N: Oh, go make coffee, Hank, it’s a long story and I better start at the beginning. H: Coffee. Right. N: Do you have a map of Llanview? H: Yeah, I do. N: Get it. (he does) H: Here you go. N: Okay. All right. It’s Thanksgiving night, I’ve got a nine o-clock flight to go visit my folks in Chicago. I get in my little rental car and I head to the airport here north on Airport Road. H: At what time? N: Oh, my flight was at nine, I left the house at about eight, it puts me on the road between eight and 8:45, which is the exact same time that Bo and Sarah were on the road heading south from the airport. H: Nora, Nora, I know exactly what you’re getting at here... N: You saw the police report, Hank. What time did it say the accident happened? H: Somewhere around 8:30. N: Caused by a car coming in the opposite direction from Bo’s, and veering into his lane. H: Nora, there were lots of cars on the road. N: And one truck. The driver of which said he saw a northbound blue car that came from Scotty’s Rental Cars, forced Bo’s southbound car off that bridge and into that river. H: Nora, running someone off the road is an experience that you’re not about to forget. Now, you say you had absolutely no recollection of running Bo’s car off the road. N: None. H: Then how could you have done it? N: Blackouts. Don’t you remember me telling you that I thought I had a blackout for a second or two that night because of my migraines? H: Wait, wait, wait, wait- hold it. You’re not going to tell me that you’re going to pin your forgetting this accident on a freak blackout? Nora, that is much too easy. N: You know, I’d agree with you if it was a freak blackout, but I have had several blackouts since that night, Hank. Some of them lasting only a few seconds, some of them lasting five, even ten minutes long. And at the end of them, I don’t know how long they’ve lasted, I have no idea what’s happened during them. H: Then you’re saying Thanksgiving night, you had a blackout... N: While I was driving to the airport between 8 and 8:45 in my little blue rental car from Scotty’s Rental, I experienced the first of what I now know to be a series of blackouts. H: You can’t be sure that you had a blackout. N: Oh, Hank! I’m driving down the road one minute and the next thing I know, I’m parked underneath this pancake house sign with absolutely no idea how I got there! Now, if that isn’t a blackout, what is it? H: All right, Nora, look. Where was this pancake house sign when you woke up next to it? N: (pointing) It’s right up here, on the far side of the bridge that Bo drove off of. H: And you don’t remember crossing the bridge? N: I was having a blackout, Hank, haven’t you been listening to me? H: Nora, I have heard every word. I’m just trying to make sense of this, huh? N: It is as plain as the lines on this map. I drove across this bridge during a blackout at the exact time that Bo was coming the other direction. I swerved into his lane, caused the accident, and the next thing I knew, I’m parked underneath a pancake house sign, having not a clue that I just killed somebody! H: Wait a minute, wait a minute. You said that you never remembered how long these blackouts lasted. N: That’s right. H: Then, Nora, how could you be certain that Bo was going across the bridge the same time you were? Look, for all you know, you could have been sitting by that sign for hours. N: I had a 9 o-clock flight to Chicago, remember? I made the flight. That means that blackout was no more than one, two minutes tops. H: No. No, it just doesn’t sit right. N: All right, fine. I’ve got more proof, and it’s not on any map. H: Okay, like what? N: Dreams. I’ve been having recurring nightmares. It’s the same old thing, it’s just a series of images that just float up to me out of total darkness. H: What kind of images are they, Nora? N: Toy dogs with bobbing heads, which just happen to be the logo for Scotty’s Car Rentals, and there are headlights that come at me and horns blaring, and then there’s this stack of pancakes that go twirling around at me. H: Nora, random images, they don’t prove a thing. N: If they were random images, that would be fine, but how can they be random when they happen over and over and over again, night after night... H: (angry) Nora! N: Oh, Hank! Open your eyes. You’re a lawyer, you’re the prosecutor. All the pieces fit. I’m the one you’ve been looking for. I was the driver of the car that forced Bo off the road that night. I killed Sarah Buchanan. H: Nora, do you remember your closing argument at Marty’s trial? N: (laughs) Do I? H: You made a great case for how appearances can be deceiving. Look, the same thing holds true here. N: Oh, now who’s dreaming, Hank? H: Nora, this case is 10% observation and 90% speculation! N: You know, I kept trying to fight it, too, Hank, but in the end, the facts were just too overwhelming. H: No. No, they’re not. Nora, look, you say your blackout caused Bo’s accident, but there was no one on that bridge to put you there when it happened. N: You don’t think I had a blackout? H: Okay, I’ll accept the blackout. But you had no proof, none, of what happened during that blackout. N: Why are you fighting so hard to deny the obvious? H: (angry) Because I- because I don’t believe you did this. N: I went back and got the computer printout that Bo and I used when we first started investigating, first started trying to find out who that driver was. And of all the blue cars with a license plate beginning MA, there’s only one rental car. It’s from Scotty’s Car Rental. I rented it. H: Nora... N: No, there’s more, there’s more. I went to the pancake house sign tonight before I came over here, just to double check and see where it is relation to the bridge. Guess what? It’s got a new post. H: So? N: So, obviously, the old one had to be replaced. Something happened to it. Like my car hitting it last Thanksgiving. Maybe that’s how my car got stopped that night. Probably. H: Probably does not count. N: Oh no. Scotty’s also told me (that there was a dent in my car when I returned it) I called the insurance company, they verified the claim. They paid 369 dollars in repairs. H: All right. All right, let’s say it’s true. N: It is. H: And I’m not saying that it is! But there still couldn’t be a court case against you. N: I caused someone’s death!! H: In a blackout! Which, by definition, means you were not aware of what you were doing. So you cannot be held legally responsible for it. N: Legally, no. Okay. But I am responsible, aren’t I, Hank? Right? Right? Right. You know it, I know it. I’m guilty. I killed Bo’s wife. H: Nora, Nora, it doesn’t matter what I think. N: Oh, it does to me. H: Nora, I’m not a judge or a jury, I mean, this is not a courtroom. Look, Nora. Go home. N: (starts to get hysterical) No, no. H: Look, Nora, go home. N: No, no. H: That’s where you need to talk about this. N: No, no, no, no, no. H: Nora, you have told this to the wrong person. Bo needs to hear this. N: I can’t tell him! I can’t tell him! H: Do you have a choice? N: I have a choice! My choice is to spend the rest of my life with Bo! If I tell him what I know, he’ll hate me, I’ll lose him! H: You don’t know that! N: Yes, I do! I killed his wife, Hank! I killed his wife! He loved her more than anything, he could never forgive that, he’s a man, he’s not a saint! H: Come on, Nora, take it easy, take it easy! N: No, no, no, I don’t know what to do, but I can’t do that. H: Do what you told Powell- when he came to you all knotted up in fear. Nora, Nora, tell the truth! N: I killed Sarah! I killed her, I killed Sarah! H: Nora, Nora... N: I killed her. H: Nora... N: I know I killed her. H: Baby, you think you did, that’s all that counts, okay? Because I know you. And the longer you keep this bottled up inside of you, the more it’s going to eat away at you. N: It’s better that way, it’s better that they won’t find out. H: No, no, no, no, don’t kid yourself. Don’t kid yourself. Nora, every time you look at Bo, every time, you’re going to feel guilty, and every time that man looks into your eyes, he’s going to know that you’re hiding something, now is that the way you want to live, huh? N: No. H: Yeah. Look, could the pain of losing Bo be worse that what you’re going through right now, huh, could it? N: I can’t tell him. I can’t tell him. Oh, please don’t make me tell him. Oh, Hank, please don’t make me. Don’t make me tell him. Don’t make me tell him. H: Nora, listen, I am, baby, I am your friend. I’m your friend. (hugs her) If there were any other solution, I would jump on it in a flash, you know that. Baby, this is- there’s no other way out. You’ve got to tell Bo. Nora, you’ve got to tell him, okay? Now, listen to me. You’ve got to tell him. (goes to door and opens it) Nora. Nora. You go home and you do it now. (look of shock on her face) Tell him, Nora.   September 23, 1993 N: (on phone) Yes, could you please tell me what time your visiting hours are for new inmates? Powell Lord. Okay, thank you. (hangs up- Bo walks in with cereal, milk and orange juice) Well, that looks healthy. B: You don’t get any. N: Why not? B: Because you are guilty. You abandoned me. You got up in the middle of the night and you just left. Now, where did you go, Nora? What’s going on? N: I left you a note, didn’t you get it? B: Oh, yeah, I got it- I hugged it to my heart. N: Ohh... B: But it couldn’t dance- among other things. N: Bo, I just couldn’t sleep, I’m sorry... B: No, it’s okay. Look, I just missed you, and... N: And what? B: And I was a little bit worried. I mean, here you are, you’re out there in the middle of the night all alone and stuff... N: Bo, I was fine. B: Really? N: Yes. B: Are you sure? N: Mmhm. B: Nothing’s wrong? N: No. Nothing. B: You’ve been having all these headaches. N: Bo. I was suffering the tortures of insomnia, not migraines, okay? And when I can’t sleep, I go to my office and I work. B: So you’re saying that this is something that I have to get used to? N: No, no, this is just something that happens when I can’t sleep. (kiss) B: Okay. N: Okay? B: It’s okay, sure, sure. I think. (kiss) So go ahead, you can have some of these viddles. (disdainful look) Look, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. N: Never one of my favorites, but since you’ve gone to all the trouble, what the heck, I might as well just give it a little bit of a shot. (sits down and pours orange juice on her cereal- Bo notices) B: Nora, that’s orange juice. N: (looks at carton) Well, this way I get two food groups in one. Ever try it? (picks up spoon but can’t eat it) B: Why don’t you just admit that you hit senility at a shockingly young age? N: Never! Knock on wood. (does) Come in! (they laugh) B: What’s the scoop? N: About what? B: What is bothering you? (speaks very slowly) N: Nothing. (slowly) B: Look, I’m too smart for this game, all right? You are in trouble. Now, what’s up? B: Ever since yesterday, you’ve been... N: Worried about Powell. B: What about Powell... N: I just can’t stop thinking about him, it’s pretty dopey, huh? B: Yeah, yeah, a little. N: Wait a minute! B: But very sweet. N: Thank you, that’s much better. B: Look, if you’re so concerned about him, why don’t you just go get in the car? N: The car? B: Yeah, unless you want to walk to Statesville. Just visit the kid, see how he’s doing. N: You know how they say great minds think alike? B: Yeah. N: Yeah, well, it works. Even when one of the minds is yours. I was thinking of doing just that thing today. (kiss) B: What, visiting Powell or apologizing for that crack? N: Oh, sweetie! Visiting Powell. B: Good, good. If it makes you feel better, fine, I’m sure it will make him feel better too, but- N: But? B: Something else is bothering you. Now, what’s going on, come on... N: Nothing is wrong, I told you, it’s just because I... B: I know, I know, I heard you before, you told me it was all Powell, but it seems to me that there’s something else upsetting you other than just Powell. N: He did such a brave thing, you know. Think about it, Bo, he was able to admit his guilt, he was able to confront the truth head on, face the consequences without flinching. I know what kind of courage that must have taken. B: Thanks for coming by on such short notice. Jewler: When someone from the Buchanan family calls, we at Hardgood Jewelers always find time. B: Sit down, sit down. I’ll tell you, this is what this is all about. I have this friend, actually, she’s, um, I’m in love with this woman, okay, that’s really what this is all about, she is the greatest, the absolute greatest, but lately, I don’t know, she’s been having like, um, a rough time, feeling a tremendous amount of pressure and everything, so, what I wanted to do, I wanted to get her something special. I mean, really, really, really special. N: (remembering what Bo said about no forgiveness while waiting to see Powell) Hiya Powell, how you doing? P: I’ll tell you this, it’s nice to see a friendly face. Why are you here, they’re not changing their mind about the sentence, are they? N: Oh, no, no, no- relax, relax, no, I’m not here on legal business, I just stopped by. I’m sorry to just stop by like this, but I just wanted to know how you’re doing. P: I’m okay, I guess. N: I thought about you last night, you know, your first night. How was it? P: I guess it will take some getting used to. There’s no privacy in this place. I mean, none. N: I know. P: It’s a little scary, dirty, noisy. And the other inmates, I guess the less said, the better. N: Anyone bother you? P: No, no, it was fine. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I put myself in here and I’m going to pay for what I did. Is something wrong, I don’t mean to pry, but is something wrong? N: Powell, I’m very proud of the way you’ve handled all of this. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so distracted, it’s just that I have a lot of troubles, and I can’t seem to get them off my mind. P: I know that feeling. The past few months, I didn’t know how I’d make it through the day, I was so wound up with what I had done. I could hardly finish a sentence. N: And how are you now? P: Lots better- most of the time. I think about what I did every day, and I wish I could change it, but at least I don’t have to fight off that awful panic, when everything’s a secret, and you’re never going to be able to tell the truth, and if you don’t, you feel like you’re just going to die. N: Do you still feel like you did the right thing, even though you landed here? P: I’m here, but I can sleep. No more nightmares. At least I can live with myself. N: I...I guess I feel very much the way I imagine you felt for the last few months, you know. I did something horrible. P: You? N: Yes, I did. I mean, I didn’t even know that I was doing it at the time, I had absolutely no idea that it happened, but that doesn’t change the fact that it did happen, and that I’ve hurt someone that I love very, very much. Hurt them more than I can ever even fathom. P: What are you going to do? N: Well, I know I should tell this person, but I just don’t know how. I just don’t know how to say the words, I don’t know how to admit what I’ve done. You see, I can hardly say the words to myself, let alone say them to anybody else, so... P: I’m sorry, but I can’t imagine you’ve done anything that terrible. Are you sure? N: Oh, positive. Powell, how did you do it? P: Do what? N: How did you find the strength, the courage to do what you did? Where did you find it? B: (talking to Viki) The trip was okay, staying at the ranch...? V: I didn’t stay at the ranch. The children did, I stayed at a lodge nearby. B: Yeah, that’s right, that’s right- separate quarters. V: Bo, I don’t want to give the children mixed signals about the divorce. We are going ahead with it, you know, and Clint is fully aware of that. B: I know. It’s inevitable. But it’s pretty obvious that you really are in love with Sloan, you know. Things like that even manage to sink into my thick skull every now and then. V: I really do love him. B: Yeah. If there’s one thing that I’ve ever learned, it’s don’t go against your feelings, you know. Don’t even try. V: I couldn’t agree with you more. It sounds to me like you’re talking about Nora. B: Oh, could be. V: So, what is that grin for, huh? B: I bought something today. V: Are you going to show me what it is? B: Thought you’d never ask! (she laughs- he shows her the ring) V: Wow. V: Oh, Bo. That’s beautiful. B: Yeah. You think Nora will think so? V: Yeah, oh, yeah, she will. I guess this means... B: The minute that she gets home, I’m going to pop the question. P: Seems sort of funny, you asking me what to do, since I could never have done what I did if you hadn’t had faith in me. You know, you knew how rough it was, keeping the truth all bottled up. Look what happened, it almost drove me to suicide. I guess what I’m saying is that you made me see that forgiveness is always possible. It is, no matter how horrible the crime, no matter what, and I can’t imagine that you could have done anything so horrible that you couldn’t be forgiven. N: You’d be surprised. P: I don’t believe it. And if you believe that, then you’ve got to listen to your own advice, Nora. You’ve got to do what you told me to do. Just take a deep breath and tell the truth.