Tad and Dixie are up in Napa doing the nasty when the investigation finally breaks. Edmund is missing and Brooke figures out where Giles has him stashed. She heads up to Willow Lake with Derek and a rope. When they arrive it appears they are too late. Brooke then sees Edmund's face sticking out of the quicksand. With Derek's help she jumps in and pulls him out. When Brooke tells Derek to drop them off at her Aunt Phoebe's cabin, he agrees and exits. Brooke asks if she made the right call. Edmund nods saying there is no one he trusts more.
At the cabin, she gives him some brandy to drink and finds that his hands are slashed from the fishing wire he was holding onto for dear life. She then starts to help him undress. Edmund says it;s just like her to get him drunk so she can have her way with him. Brooke jokes that every woman is sure to fall in love with a guy who's a dead ringer for the swamp thing. As Brooke unbuttons his shirt she asks him to tell her if anything she does hurts. Edmund says she has got to be kidding. When Brooke goes to unbuckle his belt the sexual tension could be cut with a knife. Edmund says he thinks it's every man for himself. He goes off to get changed. When we comes back they are both in bathrobes. As Brooke cleans his wounds she starts to cry. Edmund tries to lighten the mood by saying she's beautiful when she's crying about him dying. Brooke tells him not to joke anymore because it's not funny.
Brooke and Edmund are pretty much kissing and hugging and touching during all of the dialogue in this episode... Brooke pulls away from Edmund's hug...
Brooke: I nearly lost you. If you had died, part of me would have died with you.
Edmund: Which part is that?
Brooke: The part that loves you.
Brooke and Edmund pull into a passionate kiss. Edmund's holding Brooke's face, and then he goes to hold her head while she holds his face. Brooke starts to cry....
Brooke: Edmund, I never stopped loving you... ever
Edmund: I know, I know. (short kiss) Because I never stopped loving you. You were always the one Brooke, the only one.
Long passionate kiss here..... Edmund then starts kissing Brooke's neck while Brooke is holding around his neck tight. Her tears are starting to flow...
Brooke: Oh... This feels so, so right. I have missed you so much. I would wake up in the morning, and you wouldn't be there, but you were always with me, always in my dreams... (she kisses his neck ) always. (she kisses his ear and he kisses her on the cheek, then the lips twice, then kisses her chin while she is talking) This, this, this is how it should be. This, this...
Edmund holds her face again for this whole part and Brooke is still crying...
Edmund: You are all that kept me going. (KISS KISS) I tried to write, I would write about you. (KISS) (he strokes her face) I would work in the garden, I would just see... you (brushing back her hair now) A rose against your skin, (kiss) the smell of roses in your hair. (kiss) Everything I did was for you. (kiss) Everything... (Kiss) your eyes, your touch, your hair, your love. (Kiss kiss) My life isn't worth a damn without you. (Kiss) Oh baby... (kiss kiss) you are everything, everything right, every reason. (kiss, kiss, kiss ) You're everything I want.
No dialogue here... Brooke has her hands on Edmund's chest, and she is kissing up and down his neck all the way up to his chin. Edmund has his head tilted back a little also. Brooke grabs his hand next and starts kissing his hand. Then Brooke holds his face again....
Brooke: I want you too.
They start kissing passionately, both holding each other's faces. Edmund grabs Brooke's hand and starts kissing it, and then everything stops and Edmund stares at her wedding ring.
Brooke: Edmund we love each other, we have waited so long, it's what we both want.
Edmund: What about your husband? What about Tad?
Next scene... Brooke now has her back to Edmund, and Brooke and Edmund are back to reality. Brooke isn't crying anymore, and Edmund is not all emotional anymore either, he is very serious...
Brooke: I forgot about Tad, I literally forgot about him.
Edmund: And I had to go and remind you.
Brooke: Why did you?
Edmund: Well there are rules about taking advatage of women with amnesia
Brooke turns and faces Edmund..
Brooke: But you wanted me
Edmund: More than I have ever wanted anyone or anything else in my life. But you have a husband and a little boy. Tell me something...
Brooke: If I can..
Edmund: Everybody that means anything to you, your whole.... your family, they just cease to exist... now... because you are with me. How does that make you feel? Do you hate me?
Brooke: (shaking her head): No
Edmund: What then?
Brooke: It's not a simple answer.
Edmund: I'll take the complicated one.
Brooke: I don't know if I can find the, the words. You know when you said that you saw your life flash in front of your eyes? When I saw you, tonight, and you were helpless and dying it was like my life passed in front of my eyes. Like a... like a photograph you know, where the foreground is very clear, and the back is, it's very fuzzy and out of focus. It's like I only saw you. You! There, and now here again, it was you, it was like there was nothing else that existed at that moment. YOU were everything, my love, my life, everything.
Edmund: But you have a new life now, with Tad and Jamie.
Brooke: And you with Maria
Edmund: Our relationship is nowhere near your marriage
Brooke: But she means a lot to you, just the same
Edmund: Yeah, it's... Maria and I bring out the best in each other ok. Umm we don't have to work at our relationship, it just happens.
Brooke turns her back to Edmund again...
Brooke: Yeah lucky you
Edmund: Lucky us, you know we're alive. Look um, Brooke maybe this whole thing is just like an aberration. Like a wrinkle in time. You know we were back for a moment, and then snapped back to where we belong. You go your way and I go mine.
Brooke: That's fine except for one thing.... Brooke turns to face him again.. that we still love each other
Edmund walks over towards Brooke...
Edmund: Yeah, and to love you and not be able to make love to you...
Then he puts one hand up to her face, and she kisses the palm of his hand, and then holds the back of his hand...
Brooke: Oh Edmund.... What are we gonna do? Edmund is holding Brooke's face still...
Edmund: What to do... I will tell you what I won't do. I won't put my life on hold again. I won't do one step forward and two steps back with you while Maria is in the middle getting trampled. I won't leave here until I'm sure that we have a shared future or just a history. I won't deny that I love you or that you love me. We have seen that tonight. So I won't settle for anything less than our best effort to make up our minds, and our hearts and our lives, now and forever.
Brooke: So tell me, how you really feel.
Edmund takes a deep breath...
Edmund: Remember the wedding present I gave you? It was a letter. I released you; I released you to Tad. And I said have a good marriage and a happy life, and I said that I would get over it. Well you are looking at the Pulitzer Prize winner for pure fiction. Here's the re write... I love you Brooke. Do you know how good that feels to be able to say that again? Out loud. I love you. It's everything real, and it's everything right. I want you to leave Tad and come away with me now, tonight. Come on Brooke... do it. Let's go home.
Next scene...
Brooke: Edmund, tonight I saved your life and you saved mine, and I guess that makes us... even. But after you and I... ended, there was somebody else that came to my rescue, and I still owe him for that.
Edmund: Tad
Brooke: My husband.
Brooke walks past him and they are both back to back...
Brooke: I mean after the aftermath of you and me, the you know, the higher than highs and lower than lows, I remember feeling bruised and shaken. I... I got off the merry go round and the thrill was gone, but the pain was still there. But so was Tad. But it wasn't a wild ride, there were no higher than highs or lower than lows it was just... it was just smooth sailing. Still waters. I mean Tad could take me around the world, and I knew I wouldn't fall off the edge. It felt safe, it felt right. It felt even more right when we were with Jamie.
Edmund turns toward Brooke...
Edmund: Do you love him?
Then Brooke turns toward Edmund. They were having trouble looking at each other in these parts because they were in so much pain talking about Tad.
Brooke: All the love that I felt for Tad before our son was born, it came back to me. I mean it wasn't, it wasn't like you.... it didn't sweep me off my feet, but it was familiar. Inviting, it was warm. I mean loving Tad is like... It's like a day by the ocean.
Edmund: And loving me is?
Brooke: It's deep, it's a phenomenon.
Edmund: It's undeniable, it's why we're here... right now
Brooke turns her back to him again...
Brooke: I would throw my marriage in caution to the wind, just like that... Just to finally admit how much you mean to me.
Then she turns back toward him again...
Brooke: But loving you doesn't change the facts of my life with Tad because it's a good life. I mean, I wrap it around myself. It makes me feel safe, and loved. I mean part of me... it's a dream, it's a dream I dared to dream, and see it through. It's about being a family. Part of me wants to go and run out the door, and run to my home and lock the door and hold tight to my husband and my son the other part of me wants to hold your hand and make love to you all night long. And forget that the world ever existed, and I can't do both. How do I choose?
Edmund steps closer to Brooke and she turns her back on him again...
Edmund: Do you go with me or stay with Tad?
Brooke: I don't know.
Edmund: You know we have been here before haven't we? Budapest, you made me choose.
Brooke: So now you're paying me back?
Edmund: No. No I was a crazy man back then.
Brooke: It would be so much easier for me now if you still were. I mean for me to decide.
She turns back toward him
Brooke: You've changed, you've changed so much.
Edmund: I am the man I should have been. Well you know you always told me to get my act together. I was just slow you know. Guys are slower than girls are. You taught me.
Brooke and Edmund are holding each other's hands now...
Brooke (with a huge smile): You taught me. Really, my life read like a little blurb underneath the high school yearbook picture you know.... Brooke English, editor of Tempo magazine, workaholic, doesn't do anything without an appointment, little miss perfect. Doesn't even kiss on the first date. (she laughs)
Edmund: I always liked the challenge.
Brooke: Well you got one. You turned my whole world upside down. You were like a one-man anti-gravity machine. I mean for the first time, I was free floating in my life. And that's quite high for somebody who fastens their seatbelt to back their car out of the driveway. You took me up so high, and I didn't care.... If I came down, where I landed, at all. (Edmund holds Brooke's face again with one hand) I was free, you set me free.
Edmund: Until we spun out of control, and... crash landed with Tad to break your fall.
Brooke: Eyes wide open. My feet were on the ground, the directions were clear, I meant every word of those vows I said to Tad on our wedding day and you come along, and wham, I forget the words... because the rules don't apply any longer. It's like the first time I... I met you that night at McKay's.
Edmund kisses Brooke's hand...
Brooke: I had as much chance of getting away from you then.... as... I don't know the moon has in changing its orbit.
Edmund: Well then, I'm here.... come with me
Brooke: I would have... I would have made love to you as if the past 6 months never even happened. No right, no wrong, no tomorrow ... just us. Don't you see I can't do that? I can't make a split second decision Edmund. I need time. I need more time.
Edmund: Sorry Brooke... time has run out.
Brooke looks away from him again and closes her eyes...
Edmund: I need your answer. I need it now. We can't go back to the way things were, not after tonight. Now this is as open and as honest as we get Brooke. I can't risk the sun coming up tomorrow morning with you and me in paradise and all of sudden you feeling suddenly frightened or ashamed. There is nothing to feel ashamed about. What we feel about each other comes from deep inside our souls. You said that yourself.
Brooke turns back towards him...
Edmund: So I need to know right now. It's now or never, it's Tad or it's me. I need your answer Brooke, and I need it now. Now we can't go back to where were last night. Not to the way things were. Right now we are as open and honest as it gets, and I can't risk waking up with you tomorrow morning in paradise and all of a sudden having you feel frightened or ashamed.
Brooke walks away from Edmund, and her back is toward him...
Edmund: Because there is nothing to be ashamed about. How we feel about each other comes from deep inside our souls... you have said that. That's why it's now or never Brooke. It's Tad or it's me.
Brooke turns back toward Edmund...
Brooke: I can't make that choice. I can't.
Edmund: The clock has run out, the game is over. Time to go home to Tad if that's what you want. But I won't be there anymore if you look back. Not anymore. This is it. It's him or it's me... It's your call.
Brooke lunges into Edmund and hugs him; the tears start rolling down hard....
Brooke: Ohhhhh Edmund, how can I let you go...
Edmund and Brooke are hugging. Brooke is crying because she knows she can't be with Edmund, and Edmund is smiling because the thinks that Brooke has chosen him... He grabs Brooke's hair, and then her head with both hands.
Edmund: You'll... you'll stay? You'll stay with me? You'll leave Tad?
He has his left hand on her face, and is stroking her cheek with his thumb. She is giving him this lost look because she can't tell him that she can't leave Tad.
Edmund: You won't regret this. I'll help you. I will help you. All right?
Brooke reaches up and touches his face and is rubbing his temple with her index finger while Edmund is still stroking her cheek...
Edmund: We can talk to Tad together, or separate if you want, it's... it's your call. And, and if you want I will make sure Tad knows that Jamie... I won't try to replace....
Brooke takes her hand and puts it over Edmund's mouth so he will stop talking, and then she turns her back to Edmund again, even though Edmund's hand is still holding Brooke's face, and she is holding his hand onto her face. Brooke has her eyes closed through most of this and is crying, very emotional scene....
Edmund: I'm in left field here aren't I? You... you can't do it. You can't do it can you?
Brooke shakes her head no. Then she turns back towards Edmund, she is holding one of his hands with both of hers, and he brushes the hair off of her cheek with his other hand...
Brooke: We're married. I took vows.
Edmund: To be um... faithful till death do you part.
Edmund starts to get emotional here and turns his back away from Brooke and starts to lose it...
Edmund: YEAH BUT 5 MINUTES AGO YOU JUST....
Edmund takes a few seconds to let everything sink in. When he turns around he sees Brooke, who is holding both of her hands over her face and is crying. Her mascara is running down her face for this whole scene because she and Edmund are crying the whole time.
Edmund: Okay okay okay okay...
Brooke and Edmund can't stay away from each other, so yet again, they lunge toward each other...
Brooke: OHHHH I LOVE YOU! I WANT YOU....
Edmund holds Brooke's head, and kisses her on the cheek, and Brooke holds Edmund's face in her hands also...
Brooke: But I married him. And, and....
Edmund is now crying along with Brooke....
Edmund: And you took vows.
Edmund kisses Brooke on the forehead and holds her face in his hands, and strokes her cheek again with his thumb...
Brooke: Obviously I don't know myself very well, or maybe I am a hypocrite or something. But then those vows mean something to me. They mean family, they mean commitment.
Brooke puts her hand on Edmund's, which is still holding her face...
Brooke: And that has to come first. It has to not matter how much I want something else, or someone else. You...
Brooke starts rubbing Edmund's shoulder... Then, Edmund is still holding Brooke's face with both hands. Brooke puts both of her hands on top of Edmund's while he holds her face... Brooke's tears are still coming strong....
Edmund: You've made up your mind?
Brooke: If I have to choose now, it has to be Tad.
Edmund walks away from Brooke. He kind of throws his arm in disbelief of everything happening. You could see the tears in his eyes, and his nose was running also from all the emotion in this scene...
Brooke: I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry Edmund.... I just... tonight it was like a had a glimpse of the world without... without you and I... I guess I just got carried away.
Edmund: We both got carried away.
Brooke is still doing the water works strong, and Edmund's face is wet. Edmund can't look at Brooke, he is looking away while she talks to him...
Brooke: And we didn't make love, and that's thanks to you. And even if we had, things wouldn't have changed.
Edmund: Yeah... family comes first Brooke: It is like you said... the game is over and neither one of us can look back, and when we say goodbye this time, it really does have to be forever.
Edmund is really crying harder at this point, Edmund is breaking down....
Edmund: Forever is a very long time Brooke. I don't know if I can do it.
Edmund is now looking at Brooke...
Brooke: It has to be as you said. That we have to let go of each other. And never look back.
Edmund: We tried that.
Brooke: Well we have to stop trying and just do it. Brooke is being the stronger one here, Edmund is having trouble accepting everything Brooke is saying... Brooke is still crying though...
Edmund (in a cracked voice): How?
Brooke: Don't you feel it? It's different this time. It really is the end of it all.
Edmund takes a deep breath...
Edmund: The end of it all.... I'm gonna go... go get dressed.
Brooke: Edmund....
Edmund: Don't say anything else... I know
A heartbroken Edmund slowly walks to the bathroom to change.... Edmund comes back out and he and Brooke are both dressed again in their original quicksand clothes. (They were washed)... He is rolling up his sleeves...
Edmund: You know I couldn't have done all this without you... Nail Westfall, bust up the scam, keep breathing.
Brooke walks a little closer to Edmund...
Brooke: We're even.
Edmund: Thanks.
Brooke: I am gonna miss... working with you.
Edmund: Yeah the game was great while it lasted.
Brooke: I guess I just wanted any excuse to be.... near you.
Edmund: I guess we both did.
Brooke: Well at least we are honest.
Edmund: We always were. Now get out of here before I do something I shouldn't.
Brooke starts walking out of the cabin, and gets to the door...
Edmund: We'll always have the quicksand...
Brooke stops and she almost starts to cry again. She takes a couple seconds, and then she turns around and quickly walks back into the cabin and over to Edmund. They desperately grab each other, and Brooke is lost in his arms, with her eyes closed and her mouth is open...
Brooke: I love you Edmund.
Brooke pulls herself away from Edmund without looking at him, and walks out the door without looking back. Edmund watches the woman he loves walk out of his life forever... Or at least that's what they thought!