Love of Her Life (5 page)

He moves in slow.  She gasps.  He stops. 

He leans down, kisses her tenderly.  He sits up.  She smiles at the short, bald, pudgy Bartender.  She pulls him closer. 

END FANTASY

EXT.  CHIEKO'S CABIN G339 - NIGHT

Mike taps on the door.  He waits.  And waits.  He taps again. 

MIKE

Chieko?  Could I have a word with

you?

He waits. 

Chieko opens the door, wearing only a silk robe. 

CHIEKO

Do I know you? 

MIKE

We haven't been formally introduced. 

My apologies for intruding. 

CHIEKO

Well mannered.  You were in the lounge

with Harmonia. 

MIKE

Mike Hammond. 

CHIEKO

Orion's delegate.  It's all so

amusing.  What do you want?

MIKE

Harmonia needs some space.  She asked

me to see if you might let me in.  I

swear, I'll be a perfect gentleman. 

Chieko laughs and shuts the door. 

Mike turns around and faces the river. 

MIKE

Strike three. 

EXT.  BARTENDER'S CABIN - NIGHT

The Bartender is asleep with a pillow in his arms.  A knock at the door awakens him. 

MIKE (O.S.)

Ri. 

A louder knock. 

MIKE (O.S.)

It's me.  I need a place to sleep. 

The Bartender stirs and opens the door. 

BARTENDER

Don't you call me 'Ri'. 

MIKE

Sorry.  Slipped. 

Mike enters. 

MIKE

I swear I won't touch you. 

BARTENDER

Cute.  How's that working for you?

MIKE

Struck out. 

The Bartender flops into bed, hugs the pillow, and faces the window. 

Mike strips to his boxers and lays down close to the opposite edge, facing away from him. 

BARTENDER

She let me kiss her. 

MIKE

You?

BARTENDER

She's clueless. 

MIKE

How'd it go?

BARTENDER

She ate it up.  Me, my kiss. 

MIKE

She kissed you back?  You, really?

BARTENDER

It was holy.  The purest honey I've

ever tasted. 

MIKE

Wow.  What's your next move?

EXT.  DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - MORNING

Harmonia enjoys the new day.  Mike approaches, holding up a cell phone. 

MIKE

Guess who's on the phone for you. 

Harmonia snatches it. 

HARMONIA

What is your problem, fool?

Orion laughs (on the phone). 

INT.  BARTENDER'S CABIN - SIMULTANEOUS

The Bartender laughs on his cell phone.  He talks with his 'REAL ORION' voice, which is much lower, almost no accent. 

BARTENDER

How's the cruise?  Is Mike behaving

himself?

HARMONIA (O.S.)

(filtered)

Don't you even speak to me that way. 

How could you?

He laughs. 

HARMONIA (CONT'D)

Where are you?

BARTENDER

I'm at work. 

HARMONIA (O.S.)

What did you do for your birthday?

BARTENDER

Don't worry.  I'm celebrating. 

He has a huge grin on his face. 

BACK TO DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - SIMULTANEOUS

Harmonia looks half mad. 

HARMONIA

You should have come, Ri.  It's

wretched without you. 

She listens. 

HARMONIA (CONT'D)

I don't understand this at all. 

Orion?  Hello? 

She looks at the phone. 

HARMONIA

Damn it. 

MIKE

The signal is weak out here. 

HARMONIA

He's at work.  When do we reach the

next port, what is it?

BACK TO BARTENDER'S CABIN - SIMULTANEOUS

The Bartender closes the phone and chuckles.  He puts on his

uniform.  He laughs as he puts on the "Davis" name badge. 

There's a knock at the door. 

MIKE (O.S.)

Hey, it's me. 

The Bartender opens the door.  He talks in his "Davis" voice. 

BARTENDER

She's mad as a mother hornet. 

He closes the door behind Mike. 

MIKE

She's planning to fly to Vegas from

Vicksburg. 

The Bartender laughs. 

MIKE

Serious, Ri.  I mean - what's your

name?

BARTENDER

Davis.  Don't forget.  I want to

play my cards right.  She can't find

out until I want her to know. 

MIKE

She's clueless. 

BARTENDER

People believe what they want to. 

I've got to see how far I can get

with her without her knowing that

I'm the real Orion. 

EXT.  BARTENDER'S CABIN - MORNING

The Bartender and Mike walk out. 

MIKE

I slept with Chieko last night. 

BARTENDER

Good for you. 

MIKE

Slept.  It was nice.  At least it

was friendly.  And I wasn't on the

floor. 

BARTENDER

Maybe you'll get luckier tonight. 

MIKE

That's what I'm thinking. 

BARTENDER

Let me think.  Vicksburg - we reach

there around noon today.  Can she

get a flight from there?

MIKE

I have no idea. 

BARTENDER

I've got to go talk to the captain. 

They part company.  The Bartender heads toward the Engine Room. 

HARMONIA'S FANTASY:

EXT.  WOODS - DAY

Fantasy Orion holds her in his arms.  She plays with his furry body as she listens to him, like a child listening to her brother tell her all about the world. 

FANTASY ORION

I don't know when I stopped believing. 

His lips keep moving, and the words become hers. 

HARMONIA (V.  O.  )

There's no such thing as soul mates. 

FANTASY ORION

I stopped caring a long time ago. 

HARMONIA (V.  O.  )

Didn't care anymore if I got cynical. 

Got drunk.  Watched TV.  Did nothing. 

FANTASY ORION

It wouldn't be the way you imagine. 

HARMONIA (V.  O.  )

Nothing ever is. 

FANTASY ORION

You'd want more and more. 

HARMONIA (V.  O.  )

It's always something. 

Now it's the Bartender holding her. 

HARMONIA

Kiss me. 

END FANTASY

EXT.  VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI - DAY

Harmonia stares at the Port of Vicksburg from the boat. 

EXT.  DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK

Chieko finds Harmonia staring at the port. 

CHIEKO

Have you decided?

TITLE ON BLACK:  "TWO OF HEARTS"

EXT.  VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI - DAY

Harmonia and Chieko window shop. 

CHIEKO

But it's so much deeper than that. 

Don't you see?

HARMONIA

No.  What should I see in that?

CHIEKO

Fantasies come from the very soul. 

HARMONIA

But--

CHIEKO

--No buts.  You're negating it. 

HARMONIA

--I promised myself I wouldn't. 

CHIEKO

What does that say about you?

HARMONIA

I am trying--

CHIEKO

--There is no such thing as trying. 

HARMONIA

--to be true to myself. 

CHIEKO

You are being true to yourself now. 

HARMONIA

How?  I said I would not fantasize

about another man. 

CHIEKO

Your intentions reveal your personal

core values. 

HARMONIA

So I should--

CHIEKO

--There is no should. 

HARMONIA

--look at this and see who I am. 

CHIEKO

Exactly. 

HARMONIA

I promised myself I would not

fantasize about another man because

I value loyalty. 

CHIEKO

And what else?