I need an emotional scene 🥺 where Mark Scout grabs Helena Eagan by the shoulders and tries to shake reality into her by saying he's not gonna treat her the way Jame Eagan did. He forcefully declares: "I'm not HIM! I'm me! Mark!" and then he gets cognitive dissonance as his battered brain half-remembers Helly's plea to Mark S.
"Helena, what's wrong?" Mark was trying his best to live up to her high standards. He even got a nice haircut to feel more youthful.
"Why do you think something's wrong?" The forced smile told the whole story. Helena had had an unpleasant argument with Jame earlier in the day, and her mind kept going there, unfortunately. He was so disappointed.
"I don't know, you just seem...not quite yourself, I guess? I don't know." Mark tried to be supportive.
"How is all this going to work, Mark? Are you disappointed in me? Kier teaches us not to let weakness live in our VEINS! And I'm feeling pretty weak right now, Mark. Father was warming up to the idea of US at first, but now he is beginning to doubt that we're a sustainable couple, and that whole thing about not loving me--but AT THE SAME TIME making HER the golden child 😢😭 ...he yelled at me for like 20 minutes today.
"WHAT?!" Mark Scout was gutted.
"What if being married to you is no better? What if I'm just trading in one disappointed man for another? 😭😢
Mark Scout held her slumping shoulders firmly with both hands. "Listen to me, your father is his own man---evil global implications aside, he's WRONG about you---just plain wrong. And there's no reason why he shouldn't love you. I do, so...you just need to stahhhpp with this thinking 'you're weak' business. You're like the head of the company...you're HELENA f#@%ing EAGAN! As far as me being disappointed?? Are you f#@%ing kidding me? Don't compare me to Jame. I'm not HIM! I'm me! Mark! I'm the guy who should have been keeping his eyes on the icy road..."
Helena was stunned and tried to remain calm. "Wait...you... remember that? I thought..."
"I'm just glad my crappy car's brakes didn't fail because then I'd never get an opportunity to marry a woman that satisfies my every need."
