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Mason and Mary are in CC's room.
Mary: I have to record this information.
Mason: Oh, it must be pretty much the same from day to day.
Mary: Well, yes. But I still have to monitor it and mark down on paper.
Mason: Well, I'm not chastising you for doing your job. I just want you to look ahead to your off hours
Mary: Oh, Mason. I'm gonna be really busy today. I don't think I'm gonna have any off hours.
Mason: Mary... you can't keep going straight from here to the clinic.
Mary: The clinic needs my help, Mason. I just got started.
Mason: And I'm sure it's worthwhile. But they can do without you for one evening. Be... besides, your... your work at the clinic is one of the things I wanted to discuss over dinner. I was... I was thinking that may be I could help you out in some way. Like... by... drumming up some financial support.
Mary: What is this? You're resorting to out and out bribery!
Mason: Well, the offer is sincere, I promise you. But to answer your question, yeah! I'll resort to about anything to get you to have dinner with me. So, when do you finish up here?
Mary: Ahm... well... seven, but I can't...
Mason: No "Buts"! No "Buts". Champagne will be on ice at precisely seven o'clock. In the gazebo. Ahm, that's not something you want to resist, is it? Dinner under the starts?..
Mary (sighs dreamily): The gazebo is so beautiful.
Mason: Ughuh. And so seldom used. It's a pity. Except the night of our little... song fest, if you remember.
Mary: No! Wait a minute! You're not going to have me taking another chorus of... Oh...
Mason: By the light of the silvery moon.
Mary: By the light of the silvery moon.
Mason: No, not unless the spirit moves you, no.
Mary: Well, I will never forget what a losing battle it was to keep you quiet.
Mason: I promise to be more discreet tonight. In fact, I think it might be a good idea if we didn't discuss our plans with anyone.
Mary: Why?
Mason: Well... I just don't want anybody feeling neighbourly and pulling up a chair. Tonight I want you all to myself.
Mason leaves the room. Mary smiles exuding hope and happiness.
* * *
Mason comes downstairs.
Gina (talking on the phone): No, I don't know where Mason is at the moment. But if you leave your number I'll have him get back to you. Mghuh. All rightie. That's Charles Gateworks. Oh, Caterers! Sorry.
All right. I'll tell him. (to Mason) Mason, you just got a phone call from Charles Caterers. Throwing a party.
Mason: Celebrate what?
Gina: I'm only kidding. You wouldn't have a party without inviting me. Then why... why did a caterer call you?
Mason: I may be representing them in a suit.
Gina: Oh, a law suit. What happened? Tell me, a poisoning?
Mason: Mgh. Take your choice.
Gina: Really? Well, with everything going on around here with the corporation and all... I didn't think you'd take on another case unless it was really a big one.
Mason: Gina, I don't intend to let my private practice die on the vine. Besides, this is something that's been pending for months. Common, don't be so suspicious. It's too early in the day.
Mason playfully pinches Gina's bottom and leaves.
Later on he has a meeting with a caterer in the gazebo.
Deborah: Mr Capwell?
Mason: Yes.
Deborah: Hi! Deborah Middleton, Charles Caterers.
Mason: Miss Middleton. How do you do? I didn't hear you drive up.
Deborah: Oh, I parked in there, as you suggested.
Mason: Oh, good. Thank you. I would... I would like the preparations to be as subtle as possible. I would like to start with caviar, then your paupiettes de soles, and finish with strawberries. (Mason doesn't notice Gina who's just come over to the gazebo.) Now, the only problem I have is with your soup. If you will forgive me I find your consommй madrilиne just a bit...
Gina (to herself): Oh, I knew he was up to something. Bless his devious little heart. He knows how much I love surprises. Well, may be I'll just do something special for him too. I'll buy myself a brand new dress! (Happy with her decision, Gina leaves.)
Mason: ...very leisurely paced as it were.
Deborah: Oh. This must be a very special lady.
Mason: Oh, indeed, she is.They don't come much more special.
* * *
Mason and Eden are in CC's room.
Mason: Go ahead! Lift the switch! See what happens. I heard all about it. The old man begged you before he died, "Don't let me hang on if I'm some kind of vegetable. No heroic measures." Why don't you obey the command, Eden? You used to always do what Dad said
Eden: I don't need this, Mason. I don't need any of you diatribes.
Mason: You got me all wrong, Eden. I'm on your side. I support your desire to end this miserable charade the way Dad wanted you to. Just because it's for selfish reasons doesn't mean it's not right.
Eden: Shut up.
Mason: Eden! I of all people understand your desire to ensure that things stay the way they are. Power's nice, isn't it? It's fun. And here you are, just a small electrical connection away from having it all. Yeah, I wonder which plug you pull first. We want the end to be as instantaneous as possible, wouldn't we? (Eden slaps his face.) I know the truth hurts.
Eden: This is not the truth. I love my father. And I've always loved my father. I've loved him more than anyone in this family ever has. And if I could have my way I'd have him back just the way he was. Because I know the minute he came back, he'd throw you out of this house so fast your had would spin.
Mason: He tried that... it didn't take.
Eden: More is the pity!
Eden leaves.
Mason (to CC): Like father like daughter. Wouldn't you be proud?
Mary comes in. At first she doesn't notice Mason sitting on the settee.
Mason: Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Mary (turns around abruptly): Mason, I didn't know you were here. You've been spending a lot of time in this room today, haven't you?
Mason: Yeah. It's kind of peaceful in an eerie sort of way. Almost hypnotic listening to the equipment sigh.
Mary: I know just what you mean. I like to think of your father as feeling peaceful in some way.
Mason: If he is, it'd be the first time in his life. The man who thrived on the chaos and uproar. He didn't know the meaning of the word "peace". Sometimes I think that's the only thing I've inherited from him.
Mary: Taste for conflict?
Mason: More like a compulsion. Sometimes I don't even have to have provocation, I just go straight for the jugular. But I... I promise to be on my best behaviour tonight.
Mary: Yes. But who knows what Mason Capwell's best behaviour is.
Mason: Well, with you it seems to be positively exemplary. I don't know what it is about you, but you seem bring out alarming reserves of decency in people.
Gina comes along. She is beaming with excitement.
Gina: Well, Mason, what do you think?
Mason: Why are you whispering?
Gina: Well...
Mason: He can't hear you.
Gina: Yeah, I know. I always feel I should whisper when I come into this room. Well, anyway... What do you think, ha? Mm?
Mason (not sure what she means): Ahm... Oh, you've had your hair done.
Gina: Yeah! You like it?
Mason: Well, it's very nice.
Mary: It's really pretty, Gina.
Gina: Oh, good! I mean, I couldn't just wear it any old way. This is a special occasion hairdo.
Mason: What's the occasion.
Gina: Oh, Mason... you love games, don't you? All right... OK... Ahm... Forget I said anything. I won't... I don't wanna spoil this.
Mason (baffled): You have a date. Is that it?
Gina: You bet I do. I thought you'd never ask. (Gina leaves)
Mason (laughs): I do believe that Gina's got a boyfriend.
Mary: Does that make you happy?
Mason: Oh, yeah. I was afraid she might come trooping out to the gazebo tonight and plump herself right down in between us. It'd be just like her to do something like that. That's one reason I didn't want you talking about our plans for the evening.
Mary: Well, why would Gina care one way or the other about our plans?
Mason: Why indeed? I've been trying to figure it out for myself. Well, hm... if you forgive me, I still have some preparations to oversee. I hope you are looking forward to this evening as much as I am.
Mason leaves.
* * *
Eden has organised a photo-shoot for a business magazine right in the house.
Photographer: ...to smile this time.
Eden: I thought it was a business magazine.
Photographer: All right. A business likes a smile. Not too big.
Eden: OK.
Mason: Yes, Eden. Not too big. We wouldn't want you looking too happy with Dad fading away upstairs.
Eden (to the photographer): Ignore him. Unlike most grown men he doesn't have anything better to do than tease his younger sister.
Photographer: OK. Your other profile. Oh, yeah. That's it. OK. Hold it.
Gina: Gosh. I didn't know they were gonna be taking pictures right here in the house.
Mason: Yes. Eden seems to have seen no harm in setting up a photo studio just steps away from her father's deathbed. (Eden is just about to burst into tears.) Questionable taste I would think.
Gina: Mason, how can you mention taste? Didn't you see her dress?
Mason laughs.
Eden (to the photographer): Will you excuse me for a minute.
Crying Eden leaves the set. In the doorway she runs into Cruz.
Cruz: How're you doing?
Eden: I'm all right. (hugs Cruz)
Cruz: What's wrong?
Eden: Can we leave? Can we please leave?
Cruz: Yeah.
Later on Gina, all dolled up in a pink satin dress, comes downstairs. So does Mason. His got a bouquet in his hand. However, at seeing Gina he hides the flowers behind his back.
Gina: Well... I'm ready for my special night.
Mason (laughs uncomfortably): Well... You look wonderful. I'm sure your companion will be very impressed.
Gina (confused): Oh... right! Yes... Do you really think he will?
Mason: Oh, you can count on it.
Gina: Well, I'm sure your companion will be very impressed too. (winks at Mason)
Mason (winks back): Well... Ahm... Here's to a... a memorable evening.
Mason leaves. Gina waves a pretend good-bye to him.
Gina: Now all I have to do is wait until he comes back and spirits me away. Oh, this is so romantic. We'll walk arm in arm to the gazebo. And then I'll see all the trouble he went to just to surprise me. Oh, Mason. You really know how to show a girl a good time. (sighs dreamily)
Some time later.
Gina: It's almost seven o'clock. Where can he be? Well, enough is enough. He will not come to me, I'll just go to him. (happy with her decision goes to the gazebo)
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