No Kissing Allowed

Chapter 32: The Reunion Special (Segment 6)

[Cut to bungalow exterior. Cora walks away unsteadily with her arms extended for balance.]

CORA: [calling out] Jamie! Jamie!

[Fade out to live closeup of Danna in the studio.]

HOST: We lost track of our lovebirds in paradise that night, and now look. They've gone MIA on us again! [She looks off stage, pressing a finger to her earpiece] Are they coming back? [She sits down on the empty couch] Ah, the joys of live television! I know we're all dying to know what happened that night after Jamie and Cora wandered out of camera range. Hopefully we'll have a chance to ask them. But for now, let's take a peek at what happened backstage, moments ago.

[Cut to backstage at the studio. A shaky low-resolution image follows Jamie from behind. He walks briskly through a corridor and addresses a crew member. Audio is subtitled for clarity.]

JAMIE: Mel! Did you see her? Where did she go?

PRODUCER: That way. You'd better hurry!

[Jamie breaks into a jog. He turns a corner. Cora comes into view. She walks toward a door marked "Exit."]

JAMIE: Cora!

[Cora turns around.]

JAMIE: [breathless] Wait! Let me explain.

CORA: They're still taping us. [She points over his shoulder].

JAMIE: For God's sake! [Jamie turns and approaches the camera with his palm up to block it.] Give us a moments peace, would you? [The image goes black, then cuts to a different camera angle.]

CORA: Don't bother. It's not worth it.

JAMIE: Please give me a moment.

CORA: No, I can't be here. I need to go.

JAMIE: Listen to me. I need you to hear this. [He grips her by the shoulders.] I didn't know about the cameras. Whatever else you may believe of me, I could never sink that low.

CORA: It seems awfully convenient for you, doesn't it?

JAMIE: Cora, please. You can't believe anything Danna tells you. She's had it in for me since—

CORA: Sure. [She shrugs off Jamie's hands.] You didn't know a thing. And yet somehow, by pure coincidence, you didn't reveal one single personal thing about yourself the entire time, except for the one night— [voice rising] —the one and only night when you were out of camera range. Is that the story?

JAMIE: I know how it looks, but—

CORA: Stop. Just stop.

JAMIE: But—

CORA: Please don't insult my intelligence. I feel stupid enough as it is.

[She turns away from him and heads for the exit.]

JAMIE: [calling after her] Cora! Wait.

[Cora stops but doesn't turn around.]

JAMIE: Believe what you want, but I meant everything I said to you that night. Every word.

[Cora shakes her head.]

JAMIE: [voice ragged with emotion] Please. Please believe that much.

CORA: [turning to face him] It doesn't matter anymore.

JAMIE: Yes, it does! [More softly] I can't let you walk out of here thinking none of it was real.

[Cora wipes her cheek. She walks up to him, kisses her fingertips, and presses them against his lips.]