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Mason comes to the CC's room. Mary is in there.
Mason: She creates beauty wherever she goes.
Mary (busy with the flowers): They are beautiful, aren't they? I'm just trying to brighten up the room a little bit.
Mason: You have.
Mary: How are you?
Mason: I'm fine. All things considered. A little pain today from some old wounds.
Mary: Oh, how's your arm? Should I check the bandage?
Mason: Oh, I don't doubt that a touch of those healing hands could heal whatever ills my body, Mary. Speaking of psychic wounds… You know what day it is?
Mary: Ah… no.
Mason: It's the anniversary of the Great Man's birth. You know I don't think I really believed that he was ever helpless infant like the rest of us. I always imagined him springing full-grown in the world. Seeing him like this I believe it. (to CC) Oh, happy birthday Dad. At least from me. First time in my life you haven't been able to shout at me.
Mary: Mason, come outside with me. Let's talk
Mason: That's a lovely offer Mary, but I'd like to have a little birthday visit with my father, before my siblings come in.
Mary: You know some things that you say to him…
Mason: Offend you. Well, I am… deeply sorry about that. But the fact is Mary, that communication between my father and me has never been better. Even though it's one way. Even though he can't hear me. Probably because of that.
Mary: Tell me something. What pleasure do you get out of saying cruel things to a man who's unconscious and may be dying?
Mason: Oh, I'm not trying to be cruel Mary. I'm just trying to tell the truth. [I've] been running from it my whole life, it's time to stop and face it. Well, I've wasted a… a lot of time over the years trying to win your attention, Dad. Last year on your birthday I thought I'd finally found the way to do it. The ultimate gift. Something you had coveted and schemed for but never captured. The Lockridge Beach Front Property. I got it for you. And what happened? My ultimate gift was upstaged by Eden's less than triumphant return from her protracted stay in Europe. If Channing had given it to you, you would've turned it into a national shrine. I don't know why I was so hurt and surprised by it though. God knows it happened to me enough in my life. Over and over again I tried to make an impression on you. There were the golf clubs with your initials on each one in gold. You never used them. The brandy decanter that had belonged to Napoleon. I even gave you the papers authenticating it. When you accidentally broke it… although they say there are no real accidents… you never even bothered to apologise. If Channing had given it to you, you would've wept over each individual shard.
Mary: Mason! Come outside with me!
Mason: Oh, I know Dad… Nothing more embarrassing than a grown man clinging to infantile hurts and injustices, using them as an excuse not to get on with his life. Do you think that's what I'm doing Mary?
Mary: No. I mean I… I hope not.
CC's heart rate quickens.
Mason: What's going on?
Mary: His heart activity has become very erratic in the last… well, since you've been in here.
Mason: That's purely coincidental, I assure you.
Mary: Well, probably it has happened before, but the doctor wanted us to make note of it every time.
Mason: Can't have anything to do with me. I've never had any effect on my father's heart, unless it was to harden it. Well, I don't wanna overstay my welcome.
Mary: Mason, you gonna have to let go of your anger some day. For your own sake.
Mason: Ah… Spoken like a true ex-nun.
Mary: Spoken like a true friend I hope.
Mason: Yeah, I did consider you my friend, but I think we have a conflict of interests here now. I think your main loyalty is to him. You watch over him like a tigress over her cubs.
Mary: I have compassion for a man who is sick and helpless. But I don't even know your father. Except as a patient…
Mason: And… you know me inside out, right?
Mary: No! No, but I… but I am learning more about you every day. Listen, I am off work in like five minutes. You wanna have some lunch and talk?
Mason: What's your conclusion then Mary? How would you rate me on the scale of say one to ten?
Mary: I don't rate people by numbers.
Mason: No? You must do it by type. How would you rate me on the scale of say angel to monster?
Mary: Mason, I wish that I could change the way things were between you and your father, but I can't.
Mason: No, you can't. And you haven't answered my question.
Mary: Look, I'll be downstairs in a few minutes and I just have to finish off a few things in here.
Mason: You're dodging. You think I'm a monster, right?
Mary: Mason! Don't talk like that.
Mason: Hey! It's OK. Join the club! I may join it myself. (leaves the room)
Mary: Mason? Mason! Look, I'll be down in a few minutes, why don't you…
Having failed to stop Mason, Mary dials Rosa.
Mary: Rosa, it's Mary upstairs. Listen, Mason's on his way down. Would you ask him to wait for me? … Oh, can you stop him? … Oh, no, never mind. Thanks Rosa.
Mary watches Mason from the window.
Mary: Oh, Mason.
* * *
Santa Barbara Airport. Lonely Mason is waiting for his flight when Mary comes along.
Mary: What's a nice guy like you doing in a place like this?
Mason: Lady, are you trying to pick me up?
Mary: I guess I am. (sits down next to him)
Mason: Do you do this kind of thing often?
Mary: Only with guys that I like… a lot.
Mason: Ah… well, you'll have to excuse me but I am a little in my cups. I'd ask you to join me but I only have one cup.
Mary: Mason, I couldn't let you run off to Los Angeles without having answered your question.
Mason: What question was that?
Mary: You remember. The one that upset you so much that you almost ran over Kirk Cranston in your driveway, which is how I found out you were here.
Mason: Well, at least something good came out of it.
Mary: Yeah, the question was “Do I think you're a monster?”
Mason: O-oh! Shouldn't we have a fanfare and drum-roll or something? Quiet ladies and gentlemen, Mary Duval is going to attempt to answer the sixty four billion dollar question.
Mary: Shut up.
Mason: What?
Mary: Just… shut up. You think… because I didn't rush in and say “No”, that my answer was “Yes”? But you didn't give me a chance to say anything before you were answering for me.
Mason: Well, you could've… contradicted me.
Mary: Mason, you gotta give people a chance to be themselves, or else they're gonna be constantly disappointing you.
Mason: You're usually the only one that doesn't disappoint me.
Mary: Oh, yeah, but then I said one thing that didn't live up to your expectations and… and suddenly you're off to LA drinking.
Mason: Doesn't take much for that to happen.
Mary: No, you're very lucky that I'm in a good mood today, because I have a very bad temper. And you did the thing that really… bothers me the most.
Mason: Well, which of the many things I've done wrong is that?
Mary: Oh, you're doing it again.
Mason: What?
Mary: You're… you are putting words in my mouth and… and… and thoughts in my head that aren't mine.
Mason: Is that what I did?
Mary: Yes. So can I answer your question in my own way now?
Mason: Go ahead.
Mary: No, I don't think you're a monster. I've never thought you were a monster. And I don't think I ever will think you're a monster.
Mason: Even after all the things you've heard me say to and about my father?
Mary: Yeah. But I think that you trust me, and you trusted me to understand you.
Mason: That's a… very perceptive observation Mary.
Mary: Wanna hear another one?
Mason: What the heck? Go ahead.
Mary: Despite of everything that you've said, I don't think you hate your father.
Mason: Well, one out of two isn't bad.
Mary: I think that you love him very, very much. (Passengers flying to LA are invited to board the aircraft.) It's your flight, isn't it? (They stand up.)
Mason:(coughs) You know… all that smog isn't… good for people. Even bad for monsters. Hungry?
Mary nods her head. Content and happy, they leave together.
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