Part 42:
Opening music...
Luke: What's wrong?
Noah: Nothing.
**They kiss. A cellphone ringing interrupts them. Noah goes to answer it.**
Noah: Yeah?
Colonel Meyer: "Yeah?" That's how you answer the phone.
Noah (flustered): Yes, sir. I-I-I mean, No, sir.
Colonel Meyer: You're already late.
Noah: I-I'm-I'm sorry, sir.
Colonel Meyer: Would you mind telling me what you were doing that is so confounded urgent?!
**Noah looks over at Luke.**
Colonel Meyer: I think I asked you a question and I think I would like an answer.
Noah: Um... I wasn't doing anything. I was, uh, I just lost track of time.
Colonel Meyer: I'm not the only one you inconvenienced here, Noah. You think you would like to explain how you lost track of time to Miss Coleman?
**Colonel Meyer hands his cellphone to Maddie.**
Maddie (coy): Hello, Noah. Were you doing something that you shouldn't have been?
Noah: No, I, um, *laughs* just lost track of time.
Maddie: Don't worry about it. It's actually a good thing. It'll give your father and I some more time to get to know each other...See you in a bit.
Noah: Right.
Maddie: Oh hey, is - is Luke there?
Noah: Yeah. He's, um, he's right here.
Maddie: Okay, I posted, uh, tomorrow's schedule. Could you have him... take a look at it?
Noah: Right.
**Noiah hangs up his cellphone, turns toward Luke.**
Noah: Um, Maddie posted tomorrow's schedule if you wanna take a look at it.
Luke: **short laugh of disbelief** So, that's all - that's it? We're gonna talk about work? Huh?
Noah: Oh, uh, you mean that?... Yeah, I betcha didn't see that comin'.
Luke: Well I don't think you did either.
Noah: Luke, you're not mad or anything, right? I mean we're still friends?
Luke: Why would I be mad?
Noah: Cause of the way I messed with your head.
**Luke pauses for a moment.**
Luke: Really?
Noah: Hey, you're always so serious about everything, you know - you're always so serious about being, you know....
Luke: Gay?
Noah: Yeah.... so - so I thought this would be a good way to shake things up a bit, you know... lighten you up.
Luke: Noah... you can say whatever you wanna say... but we both know what happened.
Noah: Look, I was out of line, okay? My - my dad's in town and I act sort of weird when he's around but, you know, it was a joke! I hope you do get tha-
Luke: No, I don't th-
Noah (angry): Look, it was a joke!!! Don't go making more out of it than it was!!!
**Noah jerks away and quidkly departs, leaving Luke in a confused state.**
Scene shift to Colonel Meyer and Maddie waiting in the restaurant
Colonel Meyer: You know, when I was Noah's age I neever would have let my girl cool her heels like this.
Maddie (uncomfortable): I really don't mind, it's okay.
Colonel Meyer: See, now you're just making excuses for him. That's why a stint in the army would teach him a little discipline, make a man out of him.
Maddie: See, I already think he is.
**Noah rushes into the restaurant.**
Noah: I'm sorry.
**Noah stumbles into another patron at the restaurant**
Noah: Oh, I'm sorry.... I'm sorry.
Colonel Meyer: **sighing as he stands up** You know... it's alright. It's alright. Maddie was right, it was good that she and I had some time to talk.
**Maddie has also stood up and is leaning forward to embrace Noah.**
Maddie: Your tie is all screwed up, you should have let Luke help you.
**Noah releases a nervous laugh.**
Maddie: Hi.
Noah: Hi.
**Maddie and Noah kiss.**
Colonel Meyer: You're really giving up Weslayan for him?
**Maddie turns towards the Colonel**
Maddie: No.
**Noah is confused**
Noah: You're not?
Maddie: No. I'm-I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for myself.
**Maddie turns back towards the Colonel**
Maddie: Getting to know your son helped me to be strong enough to do what I really want to do, and not what I'm supposed to do.
**Noah smiles at Maddie**
Noah: Maddie, I-
Colonel Meyer: No, no, that's alright. I really like the way she talks to me like that. Yeah. I could - I could have turned her into a hell of a soldier.
**Noah looks at Maddie suspiciously**
Noah: Did you, um, put something in his drink?
**Colonel Meyer smiles at both of them.**
Colonel Meyer: No, she just made me see that this might be the best place for you after all.
**Colonel Meyer's cellphone rings as Noah and Maddie smile at one another again.**
Colonel Meyer: I'm gonna take this outside, so that she'll, she thinks it's top secret. It's really important.
**Colonel Meyer gets up from his seat.**
Colonel Meyer: You.... treat her right!
**Maddie chuckles. Noah and Maddie both get up as Colonel Meyer leaves the room.**
Noah (surprised): He just tried to make a joke.
Maddie: Mm-hmm.
Noah: What a day. *short laugh* Thank you, Maddie.
Maddie: You're welcome. I think it just took a third party to help him see that you're good at what you're doing, and-and on your own.
Noah: No, it took you. Just like it took you to put me on the right track in the first place.
Maddie: You're making me sound like your life coach now.
Noah *chuckles*: I don't want that.
**Maddie laughs**
Noah: I want you to be my girlfriend.
Maddie (surprised): I'm not already?
Noah: No, I'm serious. I wanna do this, I mean really do it..... I want us to move in together, I mean right away.
**Noah and Maddie sit back down**
Maddie (incredulous): You want us to move in together??
Noah: I think... it could solve a lot of problems.
Maddie (disgusted): How romantic.
Noah: No... that came out wrong. *nervous laugh* I mean... I just realized... I wanna spend as much time with you as I can... I wanna wake up with you every morning.
Colonel Meyer: You're getting a place together?
**Noah stands up and turns toward Colonel Meyer**
Noah: Sir, I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were -
Colonel Meyer: Ah, I see. Well, I guess right now I should be giving my little speech about traditional values.
**Noah is worried.**
Noah: I guess.
Colonel Meyer: But... now that I'm not going to be paying Northwestern tuition... maybe I can give you a hand with the rent.
**Colonel Meyer grins. Noah grins in response.**
Noah: You would do that?
Colonel Meyer: Son, I am looking at a man who has made a lot of good choices lately.... I wish your mother could see you now.... She'd be very proud of you. **clears throat** like I am.
**Noah smiles at Colonel Meyer**
Scene change to WOAK interns office.
**Luke is typing on his laptop computer as Maddie walks in.**
Maddie: Another scene for Invisible Girl?
**Luke quickly closes his laptop.**
Luke: Oh, no, sorry. This is personal.
Maddie: Oh, did something happen that you need to write about?
**Luke looks at the computer then back at Maddie**
Luke: Ummm.... how was lunch?
Maddie: Ah, surreal. Turns out that the Colonel is like putty in my hands... And out of the blue, Noah decided it would be a really good idea for us to live together.
Luke: He did.... **blinks and shakes his head**... Noah wants you to live together?
Maddie: Yeah, at first it was a financial... arrangement, and then he-he was different. Look, I'm gonna tell you something, but don't laugh, okay?
**Luke swallows**
Luke: I'm not laughing.
Maddie (dreamy): He was very, very romantic.
Luke (torn): Maddie... There's.. there's something you don't know.... about Noah.
**Maddie looks surprised and stunned.**
**Colonel Meyer has entered WOAK and is standing in the hallway outside the intern window's office. He can hear everything that's going on. He also looks a little upset with whatever Luke is about to say.**
