Tad: You got me. (pausing, hearing no response) Hello?
Dixie: (taking a deep breath, relieved to have finally made contact, trying to muster the energy to tell him the whole truth) Tad, it’s me. It’s Dixie.
Upon hearing her voice, Tad’s jaw drops in surprise and the color drains out of his face.
Tad: Dixie…(trying to collect his thoughts, to conceal his true emotions)…is it really you?
Dixie: (smiling at the sound of his voice, happiness shining in her eyes) It’s me.
Tad: Umm…I don’t know what to say. (attempting to fake enthusiasm) It’s great to hear from you.
Dixie: (joy spreading across her face) It’s great to hear your voice, too.
Tad: I’m a little surprised…You sound like…you sound like you’re just next door.
Dixie: (happily) So do you.
Tad: So, how’s the City of Light? Is Lanie still playing the piano? Or is she too busy dragging you around, showing you the sights to bother with Chopin?
Dixie: (kind of confused, but still smiling broadly) What?
Tad: Adam told me that you’d gone to visit her. So, you guys must be beating them off with a stick.
Dixie: (laughing softly) No. (more serious) Tad, there’s something I need to tell you, about that night I was supposed to meet you on the roof of the Statdler.
Tad: (pain evident in his eyes, his face) Come on, Dixie. You know the rules. (trying valiantly to conceal his pain) No questions asked, no explanations necessary.
Dixie: I do. But I have to clear this up.
Tad: No clarifications required.
Dixie: Tad, this is really important and…
Tad: Means I don’t have to explain why I wasn’t there.
Dixie: (total shock) I’m sorry? You weren’t there? (she pauses, totally speechless, then continues, haltingly, unable to believe what she’s just heard) I…oh, I tho…That’s amazing…I thought all this time that you missed me. (clearly devastated, she’s near tears)
Tad: (taking a deep breath, preparing to tell another lie) Wait a minute. You mean that you weren’t there? (wincing at having lied to her, but continuing to fake nonchalance and a bit of relief) That’s such a relief, you know. That’s, that’s the reason I thought that you’d gone to Paris. (struggling to keep up the charade, he buries his face in his hands).
Dixie: (still completely crushed, utterly dumbfounded) What?
Tad: See, I thought that when I didn’t show up, you were so upset that that’s why you’d run off to see Lanie.
Dixie: (chin quivering, tears forming in her eyes) No, that’s not what happened.
Tad: Well, then I guess we’re both off the hook, huh? Neither one of us showed up, so neither one of use has to explain. No fault, no guilt, right?
D: Right.
T: I suppose it really did work out for the best. No point in feeling guilty if no one got hurt. (the look on his face and the pain in his eyes clearly state otherwise, but he keeps up the illusion (stupid idiot)
D: (barely keeping her emotions in check) No, nobody got hurt.
T: Well, I guess that’s it. You take care.
D: (a single, solitary tear runs down her cheek) Tad, there’s one more thing I have to tell you.
T: What’s the one more thing?
D: I hope you have a happy life.
T: (closing his eyes, using every once of strength not to break down) A happy life…
D: (starting to cry, the anguish finally apparent in her voice, although her words speak differently) A really happy life.
T: (tears welling up in his eyes, his grief painfully evident) Well, the same goes for me. I hope you…you make a real good go of it.
D: Thank you.
T: Dix…Thank…thank you for New York. It was fun.
D: (finally mustering the strength to bid farewell to the love of her life) Good-bye, Tad.
They both stay on the phone for a few more moments, neither one wanting to be the one that severs that final connection. Finally, Dixie, on the verge of breaking down, shaking with grief, lowers the phone from her ear and hangs up. She leans her head back against the pillows, crying softly for her lost love. Tad, too, hangs up the phone, staring at the small black piece of plastic, and then, releasing much of his pent-up emotions, smashes the phone down onto the desk with such force that it bounces back and flies across the room. We see Dixie once again, and by this time, she’s crying with body-wracking sobs, her entire body heaving. Watching Dixie sob like that, knowing that her heart was breaking, was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I can remember. Never have I wanted more to jump into the TV and wrap my arms around her, to try to comfort her (not to mention so I could knock their heads together for being so idiotic), especially considering the only people there with her were that idiot Braden and her awful Uncle Palmer, who’s only response to the news that she and Tad were over was "Thank heavens—now you can finally get on with your life." At least Tad had his father to offer a sympathetic ear and some good advice, as well as some comfort.