AS THE MOUSE

OVES©

Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Wednesday June 12th 2002
"Mr. Morgan can I bring you dessert?" Stanley's housekeeper asked.
"No. That's okay.  You can go home for the evening.  We'll be fine thank you," Stanley said picking up his wineglass from the dining room table and taking a sip.
"Thank you Mr. Morgan. I left your telephone messages on your desk in your study."
"Thanks," he said watching his housekeeper leave for the evening.  He glanced across the dining room table and saw his lover Starlene brooding as she stared at her dinner plate.
"Now we're alone for the rest of the evening Honey.  Why don't you eat your dinner then we can go upstairs," he said smiling trying to pretend there wasn't any friction between them.
"I would think you'd be worn out after your lunch with Nicole," she said referring to his lunch at the Plaza with his former young secretary.
"Nothing happened Honey. We were just planning her engagement party.  I've told you all of that."
"I know what you told me Stanley.  I know what I heard you saying to her on the phone too."
"I told you it's not like it sounded."
"Not like it sounded and not what it looked like.  Gee. I've always heard the saying if it walks like a duck and quacks."
"Starlene. We've been through all this a million times now.  Come on we'll have drinks in the living room," he said getting up from the table and walking to her chair.
"I know we've been through this but I'm not convinced Stanley," she said as he pulled out her chair and took her arm.
"I've told you I love you Honey. Only you," he said leading her towards the living room of his Upper East Side mansion.
"But why did you say that on the phone about you and Nicole meeting out of town after she's married?  Why Stanley. Why?"
"I told you Honey.  We were kidding. So many people seem to think the worst of our innocence. I was making fun of it," he lied taking a seat on the sofa and patting the cushion beside him for her to sit down.
"It's hard for me to believe Stanley. Really, really hard."
"Well, what can I say? I've told you the truth."
"So you love only me?" she asked taking a seat beside him on the sofa.
"Only you," he said rubbing her thigh in the short skirt she was wearing.
"Then marry me Stanley.  Let's get married right away."
"I don't know."
"Stanley.  That's the only thing that will convince me that you love me."
"Don't you want to let all of this die down some first?" he asked.
"No.  I want to get married right away."
"I'll think about it."
"How long?"
"Give me a few days, okay?"
"That's it… a few days and that's it Stanley."
"Or what?" he asked smiling.
"You'll see," she said unsure of what she would do to punish him or convince him to marry her.
"I'll get us another drink," he said starting to get up from the sofa.
"No.  I'll do it. You put on some music," she said smiling seductively as she got up from the sofa. "Put on something romantic.  I'll get the drinks," she said walking towards the kitchen. She walked down the hallway towards the kitchen and glanced back to see him looking through his Frank Sinatra CD's.  She picked up her pace as she walked down the hallway and into his study. Her heart raced when she saw the stack of telephone messages his housekeeper had left on top of his desk.
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PHOTOS BELOW.