Scarecrow and Mrs. King
"Alone in the Darkness" A filler scene for "Mission of Gold"
Written by Anne Riener
"Mission of Gold" was written by Lynne Kelsey which originally aired on February 20, 1987.
"Alone in the Darkness" A filler scene for "Mission of Gold"
Written by Anne Riener
"Mission of Gold" was written by Lynne Kelsey which originally aired on February 20, 1987.
Lee Stetson sat stoically in the frigid waiting room silently wondering why hospitals were always so cold. The fluorescent overhead lights cast a harsh glow on the faces that had been nothing but a blur to him since his arrival a few hours ago. He could hear the clattering of carts blend with the occasional sounds of laughter coming from the nurse’s station. Somewhere a baby cried and a mother tried to hush the infant. While the distasteful, overpowering smells of disinfectant, ammonia, and urine assaulted his senses.
The hardened agent showed no emotion as he waited for news on his wife, but inside his heart was breaking. It had been so much easier not to become attached since people merely disappoint or leave, and for over thirty years he had been the lone wolf, a philosophy that worked fine for him—until the day she walked into his life and changed—everything. This woman who not only saved his miserable existence, but had also picked up the broken pieces and made him whole again.
How could fate be so cruel?
Fate had brought her to him when he’d needed her the most. Was this same fate going to take her from him? If he could, in a heartbeat, he would gladly trade places with her, for without Amanda, he would die alone—so very alone.
His mind drifted back to earlier in the morning. The weather was beautiful; palm trees gently blew in the sea breeze, the faint smell of the salty Pacific Ocean was in the air, and the warm California sun filtered through the windshield of their rental car, as he drove down the California highway. Lee lowered the visor to block the sun from his eyes. Glancing over to his beautiful partner, he smiled. Her eyes met his and she smiled back.
Two days ago, he had given his heart completely to her. Hell, she had grabbed his heart three and a half years ago when she had agreed to walk with him at the train station that fateful October morning. Overcome by the desire to touch her, he’d reached over and grabbed her hand. Raising it to his mouth, he’d tenderly kissed her wrist.
“You wanna tell him we’re married, don’t you?” Amanda had asked him.
Lee mentally shook his head. How was it she could read him like a book?
He continued to drive along the highway towards the pier in Las Palmas. They had settled on meeting Lee’s old friend Barney there, because they were behind schedule. A smiled curled Lee’s lips thinking about the reason why they were running late.
After Lee pulled the car up to the dock, he stepped out and stretched. When all of a sudden, he heard his friend Barney frantically call out, “Get down, Lee! They’re shooting at us!”
On instinct, Lee hollered to his wife, “Amanda, in the car!”
Lee ducked behind the vehicle, grabbed his 9mm from its holster, and searched for the gunman. He heard the sound of bullets ricocheting off a chain-link fence post, and then—silence. Thinking it was safe, he opened the car door, and saw his wife lying motionless against the driver’s door window. Blood soaking through her white sweater.
Rushing over to the passenger side of the car, he threw the door open, and pulled her close to him. His heart leapt into his throat. “Amanda,” he managed to choke out, but she was unresponsive. In the background, he heard Barney say, “I’ll call for an ambulance.”
Lee cradled her limp body in his arms, her face ashen, her breathing irregular, he could feel her life slipping away from him, just like when Dorothy had died. He felt his life crashing down around him. She was his life, his other half, and he didn’t want to let her go.
When help arrived, a paramedic had to forcefully remove him to get to her.
Sitting there in the waiting room scenes continued to play in his mind; the paramedics standing over her trying to save her life, the even larger bloodstain on the other side of her sweater when they rolled her over, the woman he vowed to stand by in sickness and health being loaded into the back of an ambulance.
Anger welled up inside him, and in a moment of weakness, he pounded the armrest with his fist, then he looked up at the ceiling.
Damn, why do they always have to make these lights so bright!
Reining in his emotions, he clenched his jaw so tightly it throbbed, but nothing compared to the dull ache in the pit of his stomach.
“I guess you tough guys aren’t so tough after all.”
Leaning forward, he covered his face with his hands, and closed his eyes. Waves of memories crashed over him and his mind wandered back to an early childhood memory.
He was riding in the backseat of a sedan with his uncle, who was wearing dress-blues with rows of service ribbons across his chest and Major bars on his epaulets. They had just left his grandmother’s grave site. Lee remembered being cold, scared, and all alone. He stared out the window. Tears streaked his young face, but he dared not let his uncle see—the Major had already told him big boys don't cry, but all Lee wanted to do was climb up into his uncle’s lap and be told everything was going to be all right—just like his mum had done when he was afraid or sad.
Lee shook off the recollection wondering why that particular memory had crossed his mind. Then as if reading his thoughts, Barney lightly touched his shoulder. “She will be fine, Lee.”
However, it wasn’t going to be fine. It was his fault Amanda had been shot. His fault she was fighting for her life. His fault the boys would grow up without their mother. His fault—because he had let her get too close.
You’re a fool, Stetson. A fool to think you could love Amanda and she wouldn’t get hurt. You lost everyone else who was ever close to you, what made you think Amanda would be different?
Amanda had told him earlier what a great idea it had been to be on their honeymoon in California—away from the bitter cold of Arlington, Virginia. Unable to get warm—Lee involuntarily shivered, while his mind drifted to another childhood memory.
Lee and the Major had walked into the mess hall kitchen and saw Barney standing over the stove.
“Sarge, what’s for dinner?” His uncle had called out.
Barney turned around, and smiled at Lee. “How are you feeling, Sport?”
“Fine,” Lee managed to squeak out.
Barney then addressed the Major, “The men had pork and beans, but I can whip up something special for Lee.”
“Nonsense,” the Major replied, his voice harsh and cold. “He doesn’t need anything special. He can have what the rest of us are eating.”
“Major Clayton, Sir, the boy just had his tonsils removed—”
“We don’t want to spoil him—he can have what the rest of us are eating,” his uncle repeated firmly.
*****
“Lee?” Barney came into his room and switched on the lamp on his nightstand.
Lee sat on the edge of the bed, his flushed cheeks tear streaked. Using the sleeve from his pajama top, he wiped away the tears and snot from under his nose.
“Are you all right?” Barney sat next to Lee, handing him a tissue.
“I’m sorry, Sir.”
“What for?”
Lee dabbed his eyes. “For seeing me cry.”
Barney shrugged lightly. “I cry.”
“You do?”
“Sure I do, and you wouldn’t think any less of me, would you?”
“No, Sir.”
“What have I told you, Lee? Call me Barney or Sarge.” He put his arm around Lee. “Now, can you tell me what’s wrong?”
Lee sniffled, trying to hold back his tears. “I hate hospitals, I hate my uncle, and I HATE beans.” He buried his head in Barney’s chest and wept.
Barney patted him on the back several times. “There. There. Let it all out.”
“They . . . they wouldn’t let me be with grandma . . . hospital . . . rules . . . Mum, Dad . . .”
“I know. Life has dealt a tough hand.” Barney lifted Lee’s chin and looked into his eyes. “I promise—things will get better.”
Lee stopped crying and held up his finger. “Pinky swear?”
Returning the gesture, Barney smiled. “Pinky swear.”
*****
Glancing down, Lee twisted the gold band adorning the third finger of his left hand. His ring—a token of his eternal love and devotion to her. Having no beginning, and no ending, it symbolized the love between them would never cease.
No, he would not give up hope. She’s fighting. My Amanda would never give up. . . .
*****
“. . . I love you, Mrs. Stetson.”
Lee leaned forward, slowing closing the distance between them, tasting her sweet lips for only the second time in so many days. Pulling back to gaze upon her face, he watched her sleep. He then laid his head down on the bed next to hers. Closing his eyes, he listened to her breathe. She was alive. Before exhaustion overtook him, a feeling of peace washed over him like a blanket, and for a brief moment, he flashed back to a memory of Rupert Simpson tearing puzzle pieces apart in the conference room of the Agency. Yes, his relationship with Amanda was just like a puzzle and when two pieces were meant to be together, the pieces fit together, perfectly. He felt whole again. She had not left him and he would be forever grateful for second chances. And maybe, just maybe, fate wasn’t cruel after all.
The hardened agent showed no emotion as he waited for news on his wife, but inside his heart was breaking. It had been so much easier not to become attached since people merely disappoint or leave, and for over thirty years he had been the lone wolf, a philosophy that worked fine for him—until the day she walked into his life and changed—everything. This woman who not only saved his miserable existence, but had also picked up the broken pieces and made him whole again.
How could fate be so cruel?
Fate had brought her to him when he’d needed her the most. Was this same fate going to take her from him? If he could, in a heartbeat, he would gladly trade places with her, for without Amanda, he would die alone—so very alone.
His mind drifted back to earlier in the morning. The weather was beautiful; palm trees gently blew in the sea breeze, the faint smell of the salty Pacific Ocean was in the air, and the warm California sun filtered through the windshield of their rental car, as he drove down the California highway. Lee lowered the visor to block the sun from his eyes. Glancing over to his beautiful partner, he smiled. Her eyes met his and she smiled back.
Two days ago, he had given his heart completely to her. Hell, she had grabbed his heart three and a half years ago when she had agreed to walk with him at the train station that fateful October morning. Overcome by the desire to touch her, he’d reached over and grabbed her hand. Raising it to his mouth, he’d tenderly kissed her wrist.
“You wanna tell him we’re married, don’t you?” Amanda had asked him.
Lee mentally shook his head. How was it she could read him like a book?
He continued to drive along the highway towards the pier in Las Palmas. They had settled on meeting Lee’s old friend Barney there, because they were behind schedule. A smiled curled Lee’s lips thinking about the reason why they were running late.
After Lee pulled the car up to the dock, he stepped out and stretched. When all of a sudden, he heard his friend Barney frantically call out, “Get down, Lee! They’re shooting at us!”
On instinct, Lee hollered to his wife, “Amanda, in the car!”
Lee ducked behind the vehicle, grabbed his 9mm from its holster, and searched for the gunman. He heard the sound of bullets ricocheting off a chain-link fence post, and then—silence. Thinking it was safe, he opened the car door, and saw his wife lying motionless against the driver’s door window. Blood soaking through her white sweater.
Rushing over to the passenger side of the car, he threw the door open, and pulled her close to him. His heart leapt into his throat. “Amanda,” he managed to choke out, but she was unresponsive. In the background, he heard Barney say, “I’ll call for an ambulance.”
Lee cradled her limp body in his arms, her face ashen, her breathing irregular, he could feel her life slipping away from him, just like when Dorothy had died. He felt his life crashing down around him. She was his life, his other half, and he didn’t want to let her go.
When help arrived, a paramedic had to forcefully remove him to get to her.
Sitting there in the waiting room scenes continued to play in his mind; the paramedics standing over her trying to save her life, the even larger bloodstain on the other side of her sweater when they rolled her over, the woman he vowed to stand by in sickness and health being loaded into the back of an ambulance.
Anger welled up inside him, and in a moment of weakness, he pounded the armrest with his fist, then he looked up at the ceiling.
Damn, why do they always have to make these lights so bright!
Reining in his emotions, he clenched his jaw so tightly it throbbed, but nothing compared to the dull ache in the pit of his stomach.
“I guess you tough guys aren’t so tough after all.”
Leaning forward, he covered his face with his hands, and closed his eyes. Waves of memories crashed over him and his mind wandered back to an early childhood memory.
He was riding in the backseat of a sedan with his uncle, who was wearing dress-blues with rows of service ribbons across his chest and Major bars on his epaulets. They had just left his grandmother’s grave site. Lee remembered being cold, scared, and all alone. He stared out the window. Tears streaked his young face, but he dared not let his uncle see—the Major had already told him big boys don't cry, but all Lee wanted to do was climb up into his uncle’s lap and be told everything was going to be all right—just like his mum had done when he was afraid or sad.
Lee shook off the recollection wondering why that particular memory had crossed his mind. Then as if reading his thoughts, Barney lightly touched his shoulder. “She will be fine, Lee.”
However, it wasn’t going to be fine. It was his fault Amanda had been shot. His fault she was fighting for her life. His fault the boys would grow up without their mother. His fault—because he had let her get too close.
You’re a fool, Stetson. A fool to think you could love Amanda and she wouldn’t get hurt. You lost everyone else who was ever close to you, what made you think Amanda would be different?
Amanda had told him earlier what a great idea it had been to be on their honeymoon in California—away from the bitter cold of Arlington, Virginia. Unable to get warm—Lee involuntarily shivered, while his mind drifted to another childhood memory.
Lee and the Major had walked into the mess hall kitchen and saw Barney standing over the stove.
“Sarge, what’s for dinner?” His uncle had called out.
Barney turned around, and smiled at Lee. “How are you feeling, Sport?”
“Fine,” Lee managed to squeak out.
Barney then addressed the Major, “The men had pork and beans, but I can whip up something special for Lee.”
“Nonsense,” the Major replied, his voice harsh and cold. “He doesn’t need anything special. He can have what the rest of us are eating.”
“Major Clayton, Sir, the boy just had his tonsils removed—”
“We don’t want to spoil him—he can have what the rest of us are eating,” his uncle repeated firmly.
*****
“Lee?” Barney came into his room and switched on the lamp on his nightstand.
Lee sat on the edge of the bed, his flushed cheeks tear streaked. Using the sleeve from his pajama top, he wiped away the tears and snot from under his nose.
“Are you all right?” Barney sat next to Lee, handing him a tissue.
“I’m sorry, Sir.”
“What for?”
Lee dabbed his eyes. “For seeing me cry.”
Barney shrugged lightly. “I cry.”
“You do?”
“Sure I do, and you wouldn’t think any less of me, would you?”
“No, Sir.”
“What have I told you, Lee? Call me Barney or Sarge.” He put his arm around Lee. “Now, can you tell me what’s wrong?”
Lee sniffled, trying to hold back his tears. “I hate hospitals, I hate my uncle, and I HATE beans.” He buried his head in Barney’s chest and wept.
Barney patted him on the back several times. “There. There. Let it all out.”
“They . . . they wouldn’t let me be with grandma . . . hospital . . . rules . . . Mum, Dad . . .”
“I know. Life has dealt a tough hand.” Barney lifted Lee’s chin and looked into his eyes. “I promise—things will get better.”
Lee stopped crying and held up his finger. “Pinky swear?”
Returning the gesture, Barney smiled. “Pinky swear.”
*****
Glancing down, Lee twisted the gold band adorning the third finger of his left hand. His ring—a token of his eternal love and devotion to her. Having no beginning, and no ending, it symbolized the love between them would never cease.
No, he would not give up hope. She’s fighting. My Amanda would never give up. . . .
*****
“. . . I love you, Mrs. Stetson.”
Lee leaned forward, slowing closing the distance between them, tasting her sweet lips for only the second time in so many days. Pulling back to gaze upon her face, he watched her sleep. He then laid his head down on the bed next to hers. Closing his eyes, he listened to her breathe. She was alive. Before exhaustion overtook him, a feeling of peace washed over him like a blanket, and for a brief moment, he flashed back to a memory of Rupert Simpson tearing puzzle pieces apart in the conference room of the Agency. Yes, his relationship with Amanda was just like a puzzle and when two pieces were meant to be together, the pieces fit together, perfectly. He felt whole again. She had not left him and he would be forever grateful for second chances. And maybe, just maybe, fate wasn’t cruel after all.
