A "Finish the Scene" for "An Affair to Dismember"

submitted by Heather (HLOUGH@aol.com)




Max wipes his eyes with fatigue.  He picks up his heavy head from his 
shoulder, and calls for the check.  He looks at his watch, and figures 
that he has spent 5 hours at Sardi's reading over the edited script for 
his new production.  He lugs outside for what seemed to be a mile, and 
hails a taxi to the best of his ability.

Taxi Driver:  Where to Mac?  Hello?  Mac?

Max:  (half asleep), What?  I am sorry?

Taxi Driver:  Where to?

Max:  Oh, I'm sorry.  914 Park Ave.

Taxi Driver:  All right, you got it.

They arrive..... Max is fast asleep in the back.

Taxi Driver:  Hey wake up Mac, we are at your house.

Max:  Oh, thanks.  Here you go.  (Not realizing that he gave the cabbie 
a 100 dollar bill). 

Taxi Driver:  Thanks a lot Mac.  You got one in my book.

Max:  Sure, no problem.

Max goes up to the front door, struggles with the key, and comes in. 
Not noticing a crying Fran on the couch, he goes right to his office.  
He drops his coat on the couch, takes off his sport coat, undoes his tie, 
and unbuttons the 3 first buttons on his shirt.  He walks over to his 
desk looks at it, and than does a double take.  He notices the letter 
from Miss Fine on the desk.  He smiles, looks around, and opens it. 
His eyes, at first blurred, then put into focus.  It reads:

My Dear Mr. Sheffield,
	I hope you will not be hurt by what I am about to say.  I have 
met someone.  Not just anyone, but your brother Nigel.  I have also 
accepted a proposal from him.  I am leaving tonight with him to sail to 
London, where he and I will be married.  I am so sorry that I have to 
leave you, and the kids, but you know I love them and, yes, I love you 
too.  You must never forget this.  Please tell them good-bye from me, 
and tell them that I will come and visit all of the time.  I always 
thought that you and I would be together, but I guess that I was wrong.  
Tell Niles how much I am going to miss him, and also what a 
wonderful man he is.  Tell Miss Babcock that you are all hers now.  I 
really wish you both the best of luck.  Well, I better go.  I will be back 
right after my honeymoon to visit all of you.

			Love Always, 
			Miss Fine 


Max's fatigue all of the sudden turned into heartache.  He could feel 
the tears begin to rise, until he just could not hold them anymore.  
They fled out, as though he had never cried before (the last time he 
cried was when Sarah died).  Fran looking up from her own sobbing 
saw a light in Max's office.  She went in, to find him crying.  She had 
never seen a man cry before (especially Maxwell Sheffield), and 
wasn't used to it.  She walks towards him (his head was buried in his 
arms), she taps him on the shoulder.  He looks up in amazement.

Max:  Miss Fine?

Fran:  Yes?

Before she can say another word he kisses her on the lips so 
passionately that she can't even breathe.  He breaks away and holds 
her. 

Max:  How could you just run away like that from me? 

She kisses his tears away.

Fran:  I can't. That's why I came back.

Max:  I love you.

Fran:  I love you back.

Max picks her up and carries her up the stairs.  He carries her to his 
room and the door shuts. 


		THE END