Tuesday, May 13, 2008

If I was the Head Writer of Days of Our Lives--Part Eight

SAMI
John said the twins and I could stay here.

JOHN
Don’t look at me. I let you keep the cat.

SAMI
John, Ali needs to be with her father.

JOHN
What am I running here a Christian Charity?

ROMAN
Well, you were a priest.

JOHN
(With sexual untones)
Thank God I forgot that.

SAMI
John, I still don’t need that image in my head.

ROMAN
Have you changed the way you feel about Lucas?

SAMI
I love him with my whole heart.

ROMAN
Then what is it? Haven’t you forgiven him?

SAMI
I want to. He lied to me.

ROMAN
After all the times to you, lied--

JOHN
Maybe she is having a hard time forgiving, because everyone keeps throwing her past into her face. It’s hard to forgive others if you never have been forgiven.

ROMAN
Are you saying that Marlena and I were bad parents?

SAMI
They were terrific parents.

ROMAN
John, are you saying that was a bad father.

SAMI
It was me. I was bad seed.

ROMAN
Is that how you really feel?

SAMI
I’ll never be able to make up for what I did.

JOHN
Let’s make this simple. I forgive you. And since you brought up the priest thing--I also absolve you.

ROMAN
Your mother and I have always loved you.

SAMI
You just didn’t like me much.

JOHN
So which husband do you want to live with?

SAMI
I never stopped loving Lucas.

JOHN
What about EJ?

SAMI
What about him? Once the immigration thing is over, so is the marriage. The only reason I haven’t divorced him already is that I didn’t want to keep him away from Johnny like I did to Will and Lucas.

EJ
(Walking down the stairs)
Technically darling, I still have legal custody of Johnny.

SAMI
What are you saying?

EJ
He’s my son.

SAMI
I’m his mother.

EJ
I don’t want Lucas living under the same roof as us.

ROMAN
You have nothing to say about it.

EJ
On the contrary. It is you who has nothing to say.

JOHN
Remember me. The homeowner. On whose good graces, you have food and shelter.

EJ
Like you would let me forget.

JOHN
Good. Now that we have an understanding. John’s House of vagabonds and stragglers can find room for one more.

SAMI
John, thank you.

She kisses his cheek and goes back upstairs.

EJ
I have to go to work.

EJ leaves, slamming the door behind him.

JOHN
At this rate, I'll need a longer dinner table. We can be like the Waltons. One big happy family.

ROMAN
The Waltons?

JOHN
Strange isn't it.

ROMAN
To answer your question. The old and the new are more a like than you think.

JOHN
No reason to be rude.


CUT

INT: ROOM IN WEST WING: MID MORNING
Sami is looking the twins in the playpen. Her phone is in her hand. She stands up and walks around the room. They are being watched from above. Moonshine watches her from the back of a chair. He meows at her and Sami walks to him.

SAMI
I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I love Lucas. But EJ is Johnny's father. I won't do that again. It hurt Will so much. But how can EJ be a part of my life after everything he has done to me and my family. If it wasn't for him and Stephano--

(She looks at Johnny)

But I wouldn't have Johnny. How can someone so beautiful come out of something so ugly? If EJ would just go away, no. That would hurt my son. Is it wrong to pray for things to be different? If EJ wasn't his father, life would be simpler--but EJ would stop trying to be a better person.

I want Lucas with me. Sleeping beside me every night. Waking up with him every morning. Not to mention all the dirty diaper duty he needs to catch up on--but if I show the world how much I love Lucas--Johnny will loose his father.

The perspective from above glides closer. A gentle breeze blows through Sami's hair brushing it from her face. It scatters the immigration papers to the floor. Sami picks them up and puts them back on the table. A single sheet slides off the table onto the floor. It is the print out of the immigration information she took off the net, including the INS phone number.

WOMAN'S VOICE
(Whispers)
Call.

Confused, Sami looks around.

Call.

The pages again are blown off the table, leaving only Johnny's birth certificate.

Remember.

SAMI
I think your mommy is loosing it.

(Dialing the phone)

I don't know why I'm doing this. Mickey would have asked.

The phone rings. Sami listens. Every few minutes she taps one of the buttons.

I should just hang up.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
US Immigration and Naturalization. How may I help you?

SAMI
(Nervious)
Hi. I have a weird question for you.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
I'll do my best to answer it.

SAMI
A friend of mine was born in the here. But there was a mix up with his birth certificate. His mother took him out of the country when he was an infant. Would he still be considered a native?

IMMIGRATION PERSON
Yes.

SAMI
His father was a terrible person so his mother tried to hide him.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
It sounds like a soap opera.

SAMI
There are court documents proving the mix up and people are willing to testify that he was born here.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
So what's the problem?

SAMI
The government is trying to deport him.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
If there is legal documentation that he was born here, he can't be deported.

SAMI
Mr. Burke has been investigating for several months.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
Is that the agent in charge?

SAMI
Yes.

IMMIGRATION PERON
First name?

SAMI
I don't know.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
One minute. There is only one Burke in the INS. Angie Burke in the DC office.

SAMI
No. This is man. His office number is 1-202-555-3425.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
(After a moment)
That isn't an INS number. National Service Center's number is 1-800-375-5283. Angie Burke's extension is 882. Do you have the case number?

SAMI
Yes. What is it? LND2561279310.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
One moment. There is no such case number.

SAMI
Are you sure?

IMMIGRATION PERSON
LND2561279310.?

SAMI
It doesn't exist?

IMMIGRATION PERSON
No. What is his name?

SAMI
Elvis Wells DiMera.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
One moment. There is no one by that name in our system. Why do you think Mr. DiMera was being investigated?

SAMI
Mr. Burke has been investigating us for months.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
I see. How do you reach Mr. Burke?

SAMI
He usually calls us. I got the phone number off his card.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
What's his badge number?

SAMI
I don't know. He showed it to EJ.

IMMIGRATION PERSON
What's the phone number?

SAMI
1-202-555-3425. And you are sure that there isn't a way a person born in this country can be deported?

IMMIGRATION PERSON
Any person born on US soil is a citizen for life. Could you send us a copy of his business card?

SAMI
Do you want copies of the rest of the paperwork he gave us to fill out?

IMMIGRATION PERSON
Yes. Please. Send it to our DC office the investigative division. I'm going to give them the heads up to look for it. Is there anything else I can help you with?
SAMI
Do you have a cure for stupidity? I need one.

IMMIGRATION OFFICER
Sorry.

SAMI
Thanks anyway.

Sami hands up the phone.

I can't believe I fell for it. It was so real.

She thinks about throwing her phone, but stops.

I'm going to need this.

CUT

INT: SALEM INN: MID MORNING
EJ walks into the lobby and looks around. He goes to the front desk.

EJ
Eva Vitali. She's expecting me.

DESK CLERK
Name

EJ
EJ Wells.

DESK CLERK
Room 214.

EJ
Thanks.

EJ walks toward the elevator.
CUT

INT: HALLWAY OF SALEM INN: MID MORNING
EJ walks down the hallway and knocks on the door of room 214. After a few moments, Eva, opens the door.

EVA
It's been a long time.

EJ
Yes, it has. Are you going to invite me in? Or do you want to talk about your legal issues in the hallway?

EVA
(Motioning for him to come in)
I'm sorry EJ. I didn't mean to hurt you.

EJ
It's all water under the bridge.

EVA
I am sorry.

EJ
I thought--it doesn't matter what I thought. Your father called. He wants me to represent you.

EVA
I hear you are married and have a little boy. It worked out for you.

EJ
I hear you kidnapped part of the Brady family. Another thing the Vitali and DiMera families have in common.

EVA
EJ, we were children.

EJ
My feelings for you weren't childish.

EVA
I don't know what to say. I really didn't mean to hurt you.

EJ
You fell in love with Patch.

EVA
I did. He was everything I thought I wanted.

EJ
At one time, I was what you wanted.

EVA
Be honest. Would you give up what you have now to go back?

EJ
Tell me what the police know?
CUT


Technorati Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments: