Tuesday, June 03, 2008

If I was Head Writer of Days of our Lives--Part 16

INT: PARK BY THE FOUNTAIN: NIGHT
John walks around the fountain. Part of him wants to leave, yet he cannot. The moonlight reflects off the surface of the water, making the coins below shine. He sees the lira. He stares at it. Images appear on the surface of the water of a woman and a man holding another lira. The male hands lift her hand to his lips; John sees himself and Marlena in the Italian courtyard. Together they drop the coin in the water. In slow motion, the water splashes up as the coin drifts to the bottom. A tear slides down John’s cheek and falls into the fountain created tiny ripples along the surface distorting the images. He reaches to touch the Marlena’s face in the illusion. His fingers touch the water. For an instant, he is startled. Instead of pulling back, he keeps reaching for the lira. Over extended, he topples into the water. Sputtering, he kneels in the water and continues to search for the lira. Roman walks ups.

ROMAN
John, what in the Sam Hill are you doing?


John finds the coin and slowly stands.

JOHN
I lost something.

ROMAN
And you thought you would find it in there.

JOHN
I wanted it back.

ROMAN
That’s public property.

JOHN
It has my name on it.

ROMAN
Marlena donated it in your name.

JOHN
And you point?

ROMAN
The point is--what did you take?

JOHN
Nothing that wasn’t mine to begin with.

ROMAN
What kind of answer is that?

JOHN
(Stepping out of the fountain)
The only one that you are going to get. If you have a problem with that officer, you can either write me a ticket or you can get out of my way.

ROMAN
Are you going back to Chez Rouge looking like that?

JOHN
None of your business.

ROMAN
What do you want me to tell Marlena?

JOHN
What makes you think I need you to tell her anything?

Walking away, John tucks the coin into his pocket. Roman stares first at John then at the fountain. Smiling he returns to Chez Rouge.
CUT

INT: CHEZ ROUGE: NIGHT
The lights are low. Several couples, including Bo and Hope, Maggie and Mickey are dancing as Doug sings “Lady in Red”. He finishes the song. The lights come up a little.

DOUG
A song so appropriate for tonight with so many beautiful women in the room. I would like to introduce another one. You all remember our own international singing sensation, Chloe Lane.

A light shines on her as she walks to the stage to stand next to Doug.

Welcome back, Chloe.

CHLOE
It’s good to be back. Europe was fun, but there is no place like home.

DOUG
So you clicked your heels together.

CHLOE
And here I am.

DOUG
Ready to sing.

CHLOE
I was born ready.

DOUG
Maestro.

Albert begins with a flourish then smoothly goes into “Tonight I Celebrate My Love for you”

Doug and Chloe sing. Bo stands and bows to Hope. She offers him her hand. He kiss it and leads her to the center of the dance floor. The dance alone for a few moments before the other dancers join in.

In the background, Roman walks in. He looks around and sees Marlena. He purposely walks to her

ROMAN
Marlena, would you like to dance.

MARLENA
Roman. Gosh, you startled me. Have you seen John?

ROMAN
(Sitting down)
As a matter of fact, I have. He was out by the fountain. Or better said he was in the fountain.

MARLENA
In the fountain?

ROMAN
I’m not sure if he fell in or jumped in.

MARLENA
Is he okay?

ROMAN
Just as rude as ever. He said he lost something and wanted it back.

MARLENA
(Smiling)
He did?

ROMAN
Marlena, you need to be careful. I don’t think he is stable.

MARLENA
Did he say where he was going?

ROMAN
He didn’t say. But the way he was dripping, I suspect home.

MARLENA
(Standing)
Thanks Roman.

ROMAN
(Standing)
Dance.

MARLENA
You’re so sweet. Another time. I need to go find something I lost.

Marlena collects her things and quickly leaves.

ROMAN
They’re both crazy.

He briefly looks at the table before following her out.

BO
(Whispering in Hope’s ear)
I love you Fancy Face.

HOPE
Right back at you Brady.

Tonight I Celebrate My Love for you ends and Doug backs off the stage, leaving Chloe in the spotlight. Immediately she starts singing “The Rose.” Chloe smiles and focuses on Philip. He smiles back and walks closer to her but remains in the shadows. Victor stands and offers his hand to Caroline. She hesitates for a moment, then takes his hand and they walk out on the dance floor together.
CUT

INT: ENTRANCE WAY TO DIMERA MANSION: NIGHT
Chloe’s song carries over as a voice over as Sami walks out of the study to the front door. She reaches for the doorknob, yet she hesitates before opening it. She wipes her tears away and straightened her hair. She turns the knob and opens the door. Lucas stands on the other side. They look at each other. He reaches out and wipes her tears away. She kisses the palm of his hand, slowly pulling him closer to her and into the house. He studies her face. She caresses his cheek, her fingers trailing down to his chest. Careful she slips her arms around and they kiss.
CUT

EXT: FOUNTAIN: NIGHT
EJ and Ava walk up to the fountain.

EJ
After all that popcorn, you can’t be hungry.

AVA
I’m not. But I don’t want to go to the hotel yet.

EJ
(Sitting on the edge of the fountain)
Back to reality. I don’t know where I’m going to sleep tonight or any night. I don’t think I’ll be much welcome--I was going to say my father’s home. But it’s not. And even if it was, I still wouldn’t be welcome.

AVA
You could stay with me.

EJ
(Kissing her hand)
Thank you. I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair.

AVA
(Tweaking his nose)
I have a suite with a couch just your size.

EJ
Couch?

AVA
Couch.

EJ
I’m fairly tall.

AVA
It’s a perfect match. I know it.

EJ
Are you sure?

AVA
We could check the fit.

EJ
What if it doesn’t work?

AVA
If we don’t try. We’ll never know. Wouldn’t it be better know, instead of always wondering? If the couch fit that is.

EJ
I don’t know what to say.

AVA
Say you want a fresh start.

EJ
I want that. More than you’ll ever know. Just to erase the past and never look back.

AVA
There is an old saying my grandmother taught me. Although you can’t go back and make a brand new start, you can start from now and make a brand new end.

She digs in her purse and pulls out two dimes, offering one to EJ

EJ
What’s this for?

AVA
Tens represent endings, so that there can be a new beginning. Toss it in and make as wish.

EJ
What are you going to wish for?
AVA
If I tell you, it won’t come true. Wish from your heart and kiss it before tossing it in.


EJ
You first.

Ava closes her eyes. Without opening them, she kisses the dime and tosses it into the fountain. She opens them to see where it landed. He looks at both sides of the dime.

You didn’t have any nasty tissues in your purse.

AVA
EJ!

EJ
Just asking. I remember what you did--


AVA
It’s no fun to tease you when you are down. Just do it.

EJ
(Closing his eyes)
I feel silly.

AVA
You look like you always do.

EJ
Thanks a lot.

He kisses the dime and tosses it in. In slow motion, it drifts downward to overlap Ava’s.

New beginnings.

Ava smiles and takes his hand.

AVA
Unanswered questions.
CUT

EXT: DOCK: NIGHT
Marlena walks down the stairs. She looks around. Not seeing anyone, she is disappointed. There is a noise from the shadows.

MARLENA
(Startled)
Who’s there?

A figure moves within the shadows.

John, is that you?

Roman walks down the stairs

ROMAN
Doc, what are you doing here?

MARLENA
Did you follow me?

ROMAN
It’s a good thing. The docks aren’t safe.

Marlena looks back to the shadows, but the figure is gone.

Let me take you home.

MARLENA
Roman. I can find my own way home.

Angrily, she leaves him alone on the dock.
CUT

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You - *you* wrote that? As fanfiction?

I'm overcome with emotion right now. If Days wrote that, then I don't believe it; it's too good for them, but thank-you for posting it in such detail.

But your title - "If I was Head writer" - leads me to think that it was fanfiction. In which case - I LOVE YOU. In a totally non-lezzy way, but I would bear your children. That was awesome! I loved curt, brutally witty John and spunky Marlena. Oh! More! It's so great.

You should post on fanfiction.net!

Theresa Chaze said...

Thank you. I did apply for the Head Writer gig. Luckily, I didn't get it. If I had I wouldn't be producing our paranormal thriller Never Can Say Good-bye. Just so you know Bill Hayes will be featured in it. He also wrote an amazing duet for it. If you like to listen to it and learn more about our film go to our website at http://cproduction5.wix.com/cosmos-productions-#!page2/cjg9