Rupert Holmes, Howard Meltzer, and AMC own the rights to Remember WENN...I just like to play.
I have a tendency to throw in literary, movie, and historical allusions into my Voyager stories...I've so far only done one in another RW story (it's no fun when no one comments). This is my second. I decided on this one--and then did some research. I was ecstatic to discover it really was possible for this meeting in Scott's past to have occurred (I love it when a plan comes together.). The other historical stuff did actually occur (including the events that prompt Maple's comment. I figure she probably knows somebody who would know that).
Mackie smiled when he looked up from the newspaper he was reading from. At the sight of Betty's frown, his own smile faded. "What," he mouthed.
Betty handed him a piece of paper from the teletype. She motioned toward the microphone, that he should read this instead of the newspaper for their listeners.
He nodded. "We interrupt the morning news for a breaking story from..." He finally read the words, and looked up at Betty. "London." He slipped into a more urbane voice. "Prime Minister Churchill announced yesterday that English airpower now equals German airpower." He stopped for a second as he read through the second sentence, then continued. "He has also restated his promised to declare war on the Japanese Empire within an hour, should the United States and Japan become embroiled in a conflict." He put the paper down and picked up the newspaper. "Here in Pittsburgh..."
Betty closed the door behind her and shook her head sadly.
"You look down," Maple said from the greenroom door.
"It just seems that everything is falling to pieces."
"It does get depressing at times." She smiled. "A friend of mine said the navy has evacuated families from Guam...Where's Guam?"
Betty thought a second. "West of Hawaii."
"Waikiki, I've always wanted to go there. And to think Mr. Eldridge didn't want to take a trip there. Sunshine, warmth..." She shivered. "Beats a Pittsburgh winter."
#
#
Gertie looked up at the sound of the cough. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for a Scott Sherwood." The stranger was an older man, Gertie wasn't sure how old...
"He's on the air right now...I'll let him know you are here..." She stared at him expectantly, waiting. He shifted his weight and looked at her. "I need a name?" She finally said.
"Bill," he leaned over the desk. "We're old friends."
"Oh." Gertie wasn't impressed. "He'll be off the air in five minutes." She went back to her knitting, but after several seconds she realized the stranger wasn't going to move. "You can have a seat." She nodded toward the sofa. "He's acting now." She turned the volume of the radio up to prove her statement. Then she very purposefully went back to her knitting, but stopped after two dropped stitches, since he continued to stand there. She took a deep breath. "I'll let him know you are here. Mr.???"
"Thank-you." He watched her as she left her desk then concentrated on studying his surroundings.
She looked back and shook her head. She tapped on the door and waited for Scott to look her way. He walked over.
"What is it, Gertie?"
"You have a visitor."
He looked where she pointed. "Oh." He frowned.
"Who is it?"
"A face from the past. I'll be back." He walked down the hall.
Gertie watched as the two men shook hands and then left.
"Who was that?" Betty asked from behind her.
"Some guy named Bill."
"Bill? Scott is on the air..." She pushed on the doors to the studio and dropped the next scripts off with a thud. Gertie smiled slightly. Hilary and Jeff were improvising some inane banter to cover his departure. Typical.
#
#
Scott let the door close behind them, before he turned toward the man. "Long time no see."
Bill smiled. "Spain. I guess I'm not surprised to find you at my favorite little-station. It seems appropriate."
"Are you still involved in...well..." Scott let the question go unfinished. Bill jerked his head in an affirmative. "Then no wonder this little-station is your favorite. Tell me, do we still have a gang of Nazi saboteurs sending out coded messages?"
"No, you took care of that...Most impressive. You still running your scams?
Scott shook his head. "No, I think I've...This little-station has become my home."
The other man laughed. "Scott Sherwood settling down. I don't suppose I can interest you in joining with me?"
"I think this station has done enough in that regard, don't you?" Scott leaned against the wall. "You aren't the type to accidentally find anyone. What gives?"
"Not here. Meet me at that bar around the corner..."
"O'Malley's?"
"O'Malley's in two hours. I believe you aren't involved with any show then. I'll tell you then."
"Two hours it is." They shook hands.
#
#
"Will Daphne ever find her way home? Will the polar bear find her? Find out in the next exciting episode of Valiant Journey." Mackie frowned as he put his script down and walked out the door. "This is ridiculous," he said to the door as it closed behind him.
"What is?" Mackie jumped slightly.
"Jeff, don't sneak up on me like that."
"Sorry. What's ridiculous?" Jeff glanced quickly into the studio. Hilary was speaking.
"The plot. Icebergs, now polar bears..."
Jeff chuckled. "Foley did some nice growls."
"For a Malamute, maybe."
#
#
"Scotty," Maple said as she entered the greenroom and stopped. "Why are you sitting here without the lights?" She started to turn them on.
"Don't."
"You're on in three minutes--what's wrong?" Even without the lights, she could see him sitting on the couch, deep in thought. She sat down in a chair across from him.
"Nothing..."
"Yea. Nothing. I've known you too long, Scotty. This is more than nothing. Is it that Bill guy?"
Scott looked up at her, "There is no such thing as a secret..."
"Foley saw you at O'Malley's with him. A ghost from your past?"
"Sort of...More from the future."
She raised an eyebrow in puzzlement, "Scotty, that makes no sense."
"Nothing seems to make sense."
"Well, what did he want..."
"Nothing."
"Nothing." She shook her head. "What deep, dark, secret of yours is he holding over you?"
Scott smiled slightly. "Interesting choice of words."
"You still aren't making any sense."
"Mapes, I can't discuss it."
"He's blackmailing someone else at the station?"
Scott stood. "No...It's nothing that easy. Oh, will you look at the time."
She raised her hands in frustration as he walked out the door.
#
#
"And just *what* did you think you were doing?" Hilary asked Maple in a low voice.
Maple looked at the organ keyboard. "Playing the organ?"
Hilary shook her head. "Is that what it is called. You drowned out my lines no less than three times."
"Gee's Hilary, I did?" She smiled quickly at Lester, who just shrugged as he adjusted the microphones. It was Mackie who threw both women an evil glare.
"We're on the air," he hissed then continued with the opening for the next show. As he finished, Jeff and Eugenia entered the studio.
"Thanks, Maple," Eugenia whispered as she sat down and started to play.
"No problem." Maple smiled sweetly at Hilary.
Jeff grabbed the actress's shoulders to keep Hilary from strangling Maple.
"Oh, Elizabeth. I think I remember our last time to this spot. I..." Jeff said softly, not letting go of her.
"Brent, we've never been here before." Hilary shrugged off Jeff's hands and turned her attention to the script. Maple would have to wait. "At least I haven't. Who do you remember being here with?"
"I must not remember correctly."
"That's not surprising, Brent. Your chronic conditional amnesia has scrambled what memory you have." She lowered her voice to a growl. "Who is Patricia?"
Jeff looked at his script, then flipped through several pages. "Patricia?"
"The blonde secretary on the third floor?"
"Is that her name? She just said hello in the elevator yesterday."
Hilary snarled and would have spoken...Except Mackie interrupted.
"Brent, Elizabeth. How good to see you again." Both Jeff and Hilary quickly flipped the page to find where he had jumped in.
#
#
"Hello," Betty stepped into the manager's office. "You've been avoiding me. What happened?" Her voice was quiet and concerned.
Scott looked up from the accounting books and smiled at her. "Nothing."
"Who's Bill?"
"An acquaintance from Spain. We met briefly in Toledo."
"Oh." He stood and walked over to her.
She didn't resist when he reached out and took her hand to pull her closer. "Everything is changing..." He said quietly.
"Scott, what's wrong?"
"Everything...Nothing."
"You're talking in riddles." She bit her lip, then tried to pretend her next thought didn't bother her. "You're leaving?"
He shook his head. "Not like that. I...Betty, I couldn't leave you."
She felt herself blush, and turned her face. He continued speaking. "I'd always thought I'd have more time..."
"Scott?" She didn't look at him, but she noticed his hand reach into his jacket pocket and pull out a small, well-worn box. She closed her eyes when his other hand touched her chin, and gently turned her face to look at him.
"I love you Betty, and..." She opened her eyes to find his intently watching her. "Will you marry me?"
She closed her eyes again and nodded.
"Really?"
She smiled. "Really." She glanced down at the silver ring he was holding. Fine entwined silver vines, highlighted with tarnish with a very bright blue sapphire.
"I'd figured I would have it cleaned before...Before I asked." He raised her left hand and kissed each finger. "It was my grandmother's engagement ring, and my mother's...Now yours."
"Oh...Scott." She felt her eyes watering up as she watched as him slipped the ring onto her finger.
A thud in the hall caused both Scott and Betty to turn. Mr. Foley was standing there with his jaw hanging open. He looked at the couple several seconds, then smiled.
"Not a word," Scott said as he shook Foley's hand. Betty tried to say something, but was smothered in a hug. "Promise?"
Foley nodded and walked away.
"He's a worse gossip than Gertie. We'd better tell everybody now." Scott again took her left hand and escorted her into the hallway.