The Keeper
Written by: Juana
Story summary: Ben’s secret is about to be told. But many other’s are still being kept. Felicity struggles with how to deal with the knowledge she gains about Ben’s situation and his love for her. Noel is down for the moment…but definitely not out.
Disclaimer: I do not own them….I get it! They will never be mine…not all of them anyway. Some of them are mine…..Lyssa, Tate…etc.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) Dear Sally….open mouth, insert foot. Pretty much the motto I am doomed to live by. Well the most awful thing happened to me. Noel found out the truth about me and Ben and in a really….really….bad way.
INT: DEAN AND DELUCA: KITCHEN
FELICITY AND BEN ARE IN THE KITCHEN. NOEL HAS JUST WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR AND HEARD THE LAST PART OF THEIR CONVERSATION.
NOEL: Well Felicity….explanation?
FELICITY: (shocked) Noel? I didn’t know that you were standing there.
NOEL: Okay that much is obvious…it’s the rest I’m a little hazy on. Did I just hear you say that you and Ben made love?
FELICITY: Oh…you heard that?
NOEL: Uh huh….Yes. What’s going on here Felicity?
BEN: Maybe I should get going.
NOEL: Oh no you are not going anywhere until I get some answers.
BEN: This is between you and Felicity….this doesn’t concern me.
NOEL: You know Ben your attitude is starting to wear a little thin. If what Felicity just said is true….it should concern you a great deal.
FELICITY: (hurt by Ben’s words) Let him go Noel….he doesn’t need to stay around for this.
BEN: Felicity it’s not that I don’t want to stay….I just don’t know how my being here would help.
NOEL: Aren’t you curious why she lied about sleeping with you?
BEN: What?
NOEL: That’s right. Apparently your deflowering of Felicity wasn’t something she wanted me to know about…to the point of lying.
BEN: Okay….now I’m confused.
NOEL: Well it goes like this. I asked Felicity if you and she had been fully intimate and she said no. Emphatically no.
BEN: (to Felicity) Is that true?
FELICITY: It’s complicated Ben. Yes I lied to Noel about sleeping with you.
BEN: Why?
FELICITY: I don’t know exactly. I guess I was just trying to keep from hurting him.
NOEL: Or….wait. Here’s another scenario. Maybe you just wanted to keep your options open.
FELICITY: Noel…it’s not like that at all. Don’t go putting words into my mouth.
BEN: Well then what was the reason? Now I’m curious too.
FELICITY: I won’t have you two ganging up on me. I had my reasons.
NOEL: Well I feel all better now. Do you honestly think that explanation is going to cut it Felicity?
FELICITY: I don’t know what you want me to say Noel.
NOEL: How about the truth?
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) The truth? I wasn’t really sure what that was. I didn’t know how to explain my actions to either one of them. Why did I sleep with Ben? It all seemed so clear to me in Palo Alto….but back here in New York it suddenly seemed so unexplainable. Besides did I really owe Noel an explanation? He seemed to think so.
NOEL: I’m waiting.
BEN: You know what? I don’t want to do this. I really don’t want to do this. I’m leaving.
FELICITY: Ben? Are you mad at me?
BEN: I’m frustrated Felicity. I guess I’m a little hurt that you would cover up what happened with us….but….well things are different for us now so maybe it’s for the best.
FELICITY: I’m sorry Ben. I hope you understand that I’m glad it happened.
NOEL: What!
FELICITY: Not now Noel. (turns back to Ben) I really mean that. I know I was a little crazy earlier….but I need you to know that I don’t regret it….not for one second.
NOEL: Yoo hoo over here. Boyfriend standing in the room.
FELICITY: Please Noel….just give us a minute.
NOEL: Okay. I don’t have to take this. You don’t seem to care one iota what your doing to me. It’s all about Ben.
NOEL WALKS OUT OF DEAN AND DELUCA’S KITCHEN ANGRY.
BEN: Maybe you should go after him.
FELICITY: (looking at Ben) Maybe. Ben are we okay?
BEN: (looks intently at Felicity) Yeah….were cool. I’m sorry about the way I’ve been….I want you to know that.
FELICITY: Can we work things out?
BEN: (hesitates) Um……God this is so hard…..No. Things can never be the way they were.
FELICITY: (starts to cry) I don’t understand.
BEN TAKES FELICITY INTO HIS ARMS AND LETS HER CRY INTO HIS CHEST. AS SHE IS STANDING SO CLOSE TO HIM HE STARTS TO RUN HIS FINGERS THROUGH HER HAIR. SLOWLY SHE LOOKS UP AT HIM AND SEES THAT HE IS LOOKING DOWN AT HER.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) So there we were standing in each others arms. Neither one of us saying a thing but yet saying so much. I knew in that moment Sally that he still loved me. But then as all moments do it ended and he stepped out of my life.
BEN: I have to go Felicity.
FELICITY: Please Ben. Not yet….just hold me.
BEN: I can’t Felicity….I’m not strong enough. I’m afraid if I stay right now…..I’ll never want to go….and there are other concerns here besides myself.
FELICITY: You keep doing that Ben. Alluding to other concerns and responsibilities….what are you trying to tell me?
BEN: Nothing….please just understand that I have to leave.
FELICITY: Ben for the past few months we have told each other everything. We trust each other….remember?
BEN: I can’t Felicity….not this time. I’m sorry.
BEN WALKS OUT OF THE KITCHEN AT DEAN AND DELUCA.
NEXT MORNING: FELICITY’S ROOM. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. MEGAN IS SITTING RIGHT BY THE DOOR BUT IGNORES IT.
FELICITY: (typing on her computer) Are you going to get that?
MEGAN: (clearly not busy) I’m busy.
FELICITY: I don’t think sitting on your ass….fanning your nails constitutes as busy.
MEGAN: Somebody certaintly is grumpy today. What’s the matter not getting any?
FELICITY: (disgusted. Gets up to answer door) If this is for you I’m telling them you're not here.
MEAGEN: Dose of reality? My friends never come here.
FELICITY: Good point. (opens door) Hey Julie. What’s up?
JULIE: Do you have a minute Felicity?
FELICITY: Sure come in.
JULIE: (sees Meagen) I need to talk to you in private.
MEGAN: Please….there is no lame ass secret that you have that could possibly interest me.
FELICITY: (to Julie) I’ll get my coat and we can go somewhere else.
JULIE: Thanks.
FELICITY GRABS HER COAT AND EXITS THE DORM WITH JULIE.
CUT TO DEAN AND DELUCA. BEN IS WORKING WHEN JULIE AND FELICITY WALK IN.
JULIE: (sees Ben) Maybe this isn’t the best place.
FELICITY: Why? What’s wrong? (looks over and sees Ben) Is it Ben? Because really I’m fine. I can be in the same room with him.
JULIE: Felicity…..what I have to tell you is about Ben. It will undoubtedly upset you. I think that we should leave.
BEN WALKS OVER TO FELICITY AND JULIE AS THEY GET UP TO LEAVE.
BEN: Hey.
JULIE: Hey. We were just leaving.
BEN: (looking at Felicity) I just wanted to make sure you were okay.
FELICITY: I’m fine. Just having some coffee with Julie. I didn’t know you were working.
BEN: I wasn’t. I traded with Darlene so she could take her boyfriend out for his birthday.
FELICITY: Oh.
THERE IS AN AKWARD SILENCE BETWEEN THE THREE.
BEN: Okay. Well I should probably get back to work. Take care.
FELICITY: Yeah. You too.
JULIE: We should go.
FELICITY: I can’t go now Julie. I just told him I was fine.
JULIE: Felicity, I’m pretty sure this is not where you want to hear this.
FELICITY: I’m a big girl Julie. Whatever it is I can take it.
JULIE: Okay. Don’t say I didn’t warn you though.
FELICITY: Let it be noted that I was duly warned and chose to ignore that warning.
JULIE: I heard something today.
FELICITY: About Ben?
JULIE: It’s indirectly about him.
FELICITY: Indirectly? So then it’s about someone Ben knows?
JULIE: Yes. It’s about Lyssa.
FELICITY: Oh. Frankly Julie….I’ve had about all the news about Lyssa that I can take.
JULIE: She’s pregnant.
FELICITY: Excuse me?
JULIE: It’s Ben’s baby.
FELICITY SITS THERE IN UTTER SHOCK.
JULIE: Felicity? Are you going to say anything ?
FELICITY: (looks over at Ben) It’s Ben’s?
JULIE: Yes.
FELICITY: Does he know?….what am I saying….of course he knows. It all makes sense now. That’s why he got back together with Lyssa.
JULIE: I don’t know. Maybe.
FELICITY: God I feel sick.
JULIE: You look a little pale. Maybe we should go.
FELICITY: Yeah. I think that’s a good idea.
FELICITY AND JULIE WALK OUT OF DEAN AND DELUCA.
NEXT SCENE: LATER THAT DAY- BEN’S APARTMENT. THE BUZZER RINGS.
BEN: Hello?
FELICITY: Ben…it’s Felicity….buzz me up.
BEN: Felicity? What are you doing here?
FELICITY: It’s freezing out Ben….buzz me up.
BUZZER GOES OFF.
NEXT SCENE: BEN ANSWERS THE DOOR TO FELICITY.
BEN: This is a bad idea Felicity. I think that you should go.
FELICITY: Not until we talk. We can use your room.
BEN: Lyssa is asleep in there. This is a bad time.
FELICITY: Then grab your coat and come with me.
BEN: All right you got me I lied. Lyssa isn’t here. But Felicity she could show up any minute. She’s like that.
FELICITY: Ben I came here to have a conversation with you and it’s going to happen one way or the other…..so either let me in or we can talk right here.
BEN: Fine. Come in. I don’t remember you being this pushy.
FELICITY: (sits down on couch) I’ll come straight to the point. I know that Lyssa is pregnant.
BEN: What? How?
FELICITY: That doesn’t matter. The important thing is that I do.
BEN: I wanted to tell you Felicity. But frankly I didn’t know how you would react.
FELICITY: You should have given me the chance to show you. I can be very supportive Ben.
BEN: I appreciate that Felicity. Really. But Lyssa wouldn’t…. believe me. She wants you as far away from me as is humanly possible.
FELICITY: You’ve given Lyssa a lot of power here Ben.
BEN: She pretty much holds all the high cards.
FELICITY: You mean the baby?
BEN: Yes.
FELICITY: Do you love Lyssa?
BEN: (hesitates) No.
FELICITY: Then be with me Ben. We can work through this together.
BEN: Felicity….that’s not gonna happen. I’ve made a commitment to Lyssa.
FELICITY: Based on the fact that she’s pregnant. Ben are you willing to give up everything we developed for that?
BEN: Yes.
FELICITY: How can you say that? I see the way you look at me Ben. I know that you love me.
BEN: Felicity….you are only making the inevitable harder for the both of us. Can’t you see that?
FELICITY: No. I don’t think you’ve thought this through Ben.
BEN: Yes I have. Ever since I found out….I’ve done nothing but think. Don’t you think for one minute I didn’t stay up nights thinking about you and what losing you would do to me.
FELICITY: Then why? Ben you can have it both ways.
BEN: No I can’t. Don’t you see. I had a decision that I had to make and I did. It wasn’t easy for me but Felicity it was the only choice. You have to believe that.
FELICITY: Ben…couples do it all the time. I understand that you want to be a father to this baby and I totally respect you for that…but don’t do it at the cost of us.
BEN: Don’t Felicity. Don’t make me out to be the villain here. I have a responsibility to my unborn child and I intend to do right by it.
FELICITY: (Voice over recording to Sally) So now I understood what I was up against….a baby. Lyssa’s baby. Sally how am I suppose to convince Ben that we belong together when he feels that the only way to be a father is to be with Lyssa?
NEXT SCENE: FELICITY AND BEN ARE WORKING AT DEAN AND DELUCA. LYSSA IS SITTING AT A TABLE WITH HER GIRLFRIEND. BEN WALKS BY AND ACCIDENTALLY BRUSHES UP AGAINST FELICITY. HE SAYS HE IS SORRY AND SHYLY SMILES. LYSSA SITS WATCHING THE WHOLE INTERACTION.
MAGGIE: Lyssa are you listening?
LYSSA: Huh? What? I’m sorry I was just thinking.
MAGGIE: That’s okay. I asked if you had told Ben about the miscarriage yet?
LYSSA: (angry) No. I told you….I’ll tell him when I’m ready.
MAGGIE: Lyssa he deserves to know. He has been great to you. Most guys would have headed for the hills but he stuck around.
LYSSA: I have an idea Maggie….let’s pretend that this is none of your business.
MAGGIE: You don’t have to be such a snot. I was just trying to be a friend.
LYSSA: Well the best thing you can do for me….friend…is to keep your mouth shut. I’ll tell Ben when I feel he needs to know.
SALLY: (Voice over recording to Felicity) Dear Felicity, a baby is a pretty major thing and I give Ben credit for being man enough to do the morally right thing. I know you're hurting but try and understand that what Ben is going through is life altering. I know that you love each other and I believe in my heart that love always finds a way around the obstacles that get placed in the path of relationships. Be patient and let Ben do what he feels is the right thing. It may go your way and it may not…but regardless you have the privilege of being able to say that the man you love is a keeper. Maybe not yours to keep….but definitely a keeper.