Love of Her Life (3 page)

BARTENDER

The unforgivable?

Harmonia blinks as if the light was suddenly turned on. 

HARMONIA

That's it.  He's been lying to me. 

Is he a midget? 

Mike laughs and sucks on the lime.  He laughs again. 

CHIEKO, a young Asian American woman, sits next to Harmonia. 

HARMONIA

Screw it all.  It's all bull shit--

CHIEKO

--And it's bad for you.  Carlin was

brilliant. 

Harmonia smiles at her. 

HARMONIA

Hi.  I'm Harmonia.  And I'm an idiot. 

CHIEKO

Welcome Harmonia.  I'm Chieko.  A

former idiot.  I've pretended to be

smart  for nine months. 

Harmonia laughs. 

INT.  CHIEKO'S CABIN G339 - NIGHT

Harmonia and Chieko laugh, facing each other, sitting on the bed of a premium cabin with a view of the river. 

HARMONIA

That's what I told him! Most men are

just awful in bed.  I refuse to fake

another orgasm. 

CHIEKO

It's selfishness.  Laziness.  Nothing

more, nothing less. 

HARMONIA

There's no excuse for it.  Tell me

another story. 

CHIEKO

Okay.  I'll tell you about my Orion. 

Chieko gets comfy.  She gazes at the river. 

CHIEKO

My Orion is a Native American.  You've

heard of the Four Corners?

HARMONIA

I stopped there once. 

CHIEKO

He's a ranger with the Navajo Parks

and Recreation.  He lives in Window

Rock, Arizona, with a fat slob bitch,

shows him no respect.  Disgusting. 

HARMONIA

That bothers me more than anything. 

A woman lets herself get repulsive,

withholds sexual pleasure, whines,

pisses, moans--

CHIEKO

--Nags, manipulates, clings.  I

despise that sort of woman. 

HARMONIA

Me too.  No regard for the reputation

of Womanhood. 

Harmonia and Chieko admire one another's beauty, the sort older women have when they care. 

INT.  ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT

The Bartender and the CAPTAIN, who looks about the same age, stand looking ahead.  The paddle wheel churns. 

BARTENDER

Do you think she could be?

CAPTAIN

This little game of yours could very

well turn her, if she isn't already. 

BARTENDER

I wouldn't mind if they'd let me in

the middle. 

The Captain chuckles. 

BARTENDER

Did you see them?

CAPTAIN

I've seen everyone on this ship. 

They'd make a pleasing sandwich. 

BARTENDER

Asian women are hot. 

CAPTAIN

Harmonia is the one I'd go for, if I

were you. 

BARTENDER

What do you think I'm doing?

CAPTAIN

How are you going to approach it?

INT.  DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - MORNING

Harmonia and Chieko stand with coffee and soak in the scenery. 

HARMONIA

Have you ever thought you could?

CHIEKO

Sure.  Who hasn't?

HARMONIA

Did you try with anyone?

CHIEKO

Yes.  When I was 23. 

HARMONIA

Me too! We have so much in common,

except you got paid for it and I

never asked for a cent. 

CHIEKO

Ask and ye shall receive. 

The Bartender approaches the two women, holding his own coffee. 

BARTENDER

Beautiful morning. 

He leans on the railing, next to Harmonia, gazes out. 

BARTENDER

You've found a kindred spirit. 

HARMONIA

I have!

The sounds of the river and the paddle hypnotize the threesome.  Eric invades their space. 

ERIC

Ladies.  Mr.  Bartender. 

He stands next to the Bartender. 

BARTENDER

Enjoying your vacation?

ERIC

Things could be worse. 

The Bartender laughs as if it's an inside joke. 

HARMONIA

I'm getting off at the next port. 

ERIC

Why?

HARMONIA

Figure it out. 

CHIEKO

A woman who has made up her mind,

there is no turning it. 

Eric and the Bartender take this in. 

BARTENDER

Chasing the storm. 

Harmonia looks at him as if he's said something most peculiar.  She looks to Chieko. 

HARMONIA

Interpretation. 

They laugh.  The two men look at each other and shrug. 

CHIEKO

What doesn't kill you will make you

stronger. 

ERIC

Nietzsche went insane, didn't he?

HARMONIA

Not because of that gem. 

CHIEKO

Probably syphilis.  Come on,

girlfriend, let's get some fruit. 

The two women walk away. 

BARTENDER

Bye ladies. 

ERIC

Things don't seem to be working out. 

BARTENDER

Nothing ever goes as planned.  You

have to be like that. 

He points to a leaf on the river.  Eric watches the leaf collide with the paddle. 

ERIC

Life sucks. 

The Bartender laughs, pats the younger man on the back. 

BARTENDER

You can't always get what you want. 

He walks away. 

EXT.  PORT OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI - DAY

Harmonia disembarks the Delta Queen. 

INT.  PHONE BOOTH - MOMENTS LATER

Harmonia swipes her credit card to place a call. 

Through the glass she watches an ELDERLY COUPLE.  The woman pushes the man in a wheel chair.  He has an O2 nasal tube

and oxygen canister. 

INT.  BARTENDER'S CABIN - DAY

A cell phone rings.  The Bartender looks at the display.  The number is "unavailable".  He lets it go to voicemail:

ORION (V.  O.  )

(filtered)

Hi, you've reached Orion--

BACK TO PHONE BOOTH - CONT'D

Harmonia listens to Orion's voicemail and studies the elderly

couple. 

ORION (CONT'D)

--I'm sorry I'm not available right

now.  Leave a message. 

The couple stops at a GREETING CARD STAND outside a GIFT SHOP.  The man points at a card with difficulty.  The woman smiles.  She holds the card in front of him. 

HARMONIA

Orion.  Okay, first I hope you had a

happy birthday, whatever you decided

to do instead.  I can't stay mad at

you, friends forever, right?

The old woman opens the card and reads it.  The old man chuckles and nods.  She puts the card back.  They move on. 

Chieko knocks on the phone booth and motions for Harmonia to meet her in the gift shop.  Harmonia nods. 

INT.  PORT NATCHEZ GIFT SHOP - MOMENTS LATER

Harmonia and Chieko browse souvenirs of Natchez and the Mississippi River. 

CHIEKO

What did he say?

HARMONIA

Nada.  Voicemail. 

The two women say "Whatever" at the same time. 

CHIEKO

When I was finally able to retire

from my career as a Geisha, I rejoiced

that it was the last day I would

ever have to fake happiness. 

Harmonia laughs. 

HARMONIA

I don't have to fake anything with

Ri.  That's one reason I need him. 

CHIEKO

I've eliminated 'need' from my

vocabulary. 

HARMONIA

Congratulations.  I need Orion.  I

only wish I could make him understand

that.  I think he's scared out of his

wits that I'm going to break his heart. 

CHIEKO

Are you going to stay on the boat?

HARMONIA

It's too much hassle to try to get

to Vegas from Natchez.  Anyway, I

don't know where he is.  It's making

me nuts. 

CHIEKO

You're chasing the storm, like the

Bartender said. 

HARMONIA

I don't care.  I like twisters. 

CHIEKO

Suit yourself. 

INT.  BARTENDER'S CABIN - DAY

There's a knock at the door.  The Bartender opens it.  Mike enters. 

MIKE

She didn't come in last night.  I

don't know where she slept. 

BARTENDER

I know. 

MIKE

Where?

BARTENDER

With the former Geisha. 

The men ponder this with glee.