Love of Her Life Read online

  LOVE OF HER LIFE

  By C.Y. Dillon

  Copyright © 2009 “Delta Punk”; 2013 Re-titled “Love of Her Life”

  U.S. Copyright Office Record: PAu003360702

  All rights are owned by the author; movie rights are available for option.

  Synopsis: Harmonia went to courageous lengths to plan a very romantic first date with the man she feels strongly to be her soul mate, but he has a better man in mind for her.

  Written for mature audiences; adult language and sexual situations.

  This is a contemporary romantic comedy written for the screen, original script 80 pages in standard screenplay format, all rights owned by the author, movie rights available for option.

  Ebook License Notes: This script is published online so that story scouts can easily access it, and readers are welcome to tell others about this story. However, your download, whether a free promotional copy or purchased, is for your entertainment only. Please respect the hard work of this writer. Many people have ideas for a movie and many people steal others ideas. It is a painstaking process to create memorable, unique characters, craft a plot, and script what each person will say at each turn—please support artists by refusing to participate in pirating and plageurizing. International and U.S. copyright laws apply and will be enforced.

  Author’s GuaranteeThe standard screenplay format has been modified been modified here to accommodate conversion for e-reader devices. : I have done my utmost to ensure this file is readable in Kindle format and free of errors. If your download has errors, please contact Amazon for a refund.

  LOVE OF HER LIFE

  FADE IN:

  EXT. PORT OF NEW ORLEANS - PRESENT DAY

  A red paddle wheel churns up muddy water. Jazz from the Delta Queen Mississippi River boat refines the air.

  INT. HARMONIA'S CABIN G319 - DAY

  The hope of Jazz and the paddle are ever present.

  HARMONIA and MIKE sit apart on a bed. They're grownups. He's obviously younger. She's dressed to mesmerize the way an earth goddess does it. He's got that stunning-leading-man look working for him.

  They stare at the cabin wall. A small window with a river view is visible behind them.

  MIKE

  This is lovely.

  HARMONIA

  Barmy.

  MIKE

  I like this song.

  HARMONIA

  Nice.

  MIKE

  I could be a god in this bed. You

  could pretend you're not terribly

  disappointed.

  HARMONIA

  I could?

  MIKE

  This could be a great week.

  HARMONIA

  Great. Sex with someone I don't

  know.

  He reaches over. She avoids his touch and walks out the door.

  MIKE

  He wouldn't have sent me if he didn't

  believe I could--

  The door closes. Mike sits alone, facing the closed door.

  MIKE

  --be your soul mate.

  EXT. DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - DAY

  Harmonia stares at dirty water. The paddle churns up a used disposable diaper.

  HARMONIA

  Charming.

  The deck is crowded. ERIC (21) pushes his way through and stops next to Harmonia. He's got that tough-boy-band look working for him.

  ERIC

  We paid too much for this.

  He flashes a smile at Harmonia.

  HARMONIA

  Vintage Americana. Priceless.

  He offers his hand.

  ERIC

  I'm Eric.

  HARMONIA

  Don't react. My name is Harmonia.

  She gives him a polite handshake. He holds longer than he should. She pulls free.

  ERIC

  How could I not be curious?

  HARMONIA

  My parents had an unnatural obsession

  with all things Greek.

  ERIC

  What about you?

  She contemplates the polluted river.

  HARMONIA

  My obsession?

  She strolls away, shaking her head.

  HARMONIA

  It's all bull shit. And it's--

  Eric pushes through people to keep up with her.

  ERIC

  --It's bad for you. George Carlin

  always nailed it.

  Harmonia gives him a tiny smile, though she continues to get away from Eric.

  HARMONIA

  Carlin was brilliant.

  ERIC

  I saw him live in Vegas.

  She stops, does an abrupt turnabout, and throws ice water at him with her eyes.

  HARMONIA

  Did he send you? Damn it, Ri. This

  is--

  ERIC

  It was my idea. I came on my own.

  HARMONIA

  --insane.

  ERIC

  I had to see if--

  She huffs and hurries away.

  HARMONIA

  No way.

  He pursues her.

  ERIC

  --maybe you'd--

  HARMONIA

  This cannot be my life.

  ERIC

  I feel like I know you. He talks

  about you every day.

  She covers her face with both hands and keeps walking.

  HARMONIA

  He talks about me. Great.

  She stops at the end of the boat. Her knuckles turn white as she grips the rail. Her eyes fix on the swarthy woods lining the river.

  She contemplates the murky river between her and the woods.

  ERIC

  I told him he should come. Either

  way, you'd be disappointed. He might

  as well--

  HARMONIA

  --get some action?

  Eric shuts up and uses the brain in his skull for a moment.

  ERIC

  He should meet you in person at least

  once. This would have made a very

  nice first date I think.

  HARMONIA

  You think?

  ERIC

  I think you'd like the real Orion.

  HARMONIA

  I already like him too much.

  ERIC

  But you don't even know the real

  Orion.

  She eyes him with suspicion.

  INT. DELTA QUEEN LOUNGE - MOMENTS LATER

  Eric follows Harmonia in. She sits at the bar. He sits

  next to her without asking.

  ERIC

  It's not so bad. You're the

  adventurous type. Go with it.

  She shakes her head. The BARTENDER (looks old enough to be her father, short, balding, pudgy, constant poker face) puts napkins in front of them. On his uniform is a name badge, "Davis".

  BARTENDER

  What's your pleasure?

  His voice is high-toned and he has a heavy Southern drawl.

  HARMONIA

  Anything with chocolate.

  He studies her a moment.

  BARTENDER

  You look like a Peppermint Patty.

  Harmonia laughs.

  HARMONIA

  Perfect. Who taught you to mind

  read?

  Eric thrums his fingers on the bar.

  ERIC

  Bourbon for me.

  Harmonia closes her eyes.

  HARMONIA

  I don't mean to be rude, but would

  you please sit somewhere else?

  Eric moves one stool over. Harmonia mutters as she rummages through her purse.

  HARMONIA

  Send in the clowns.

  She removes a PHOTO of a man standing by a river in a forest.
r />   The Bartender makes the Peppermint Patty - hot cocoa, a generous splash of peppermint liqueur, a towering swirl of whipped cream.

  He gives the consolation prize to Harmonia. He pours a shot

  of bourbon and takes it to a table.

  BARTENDER

  You heard the lady.

  Eric follows the bourbon.

  Harmonia licks whipped cream off the straw and gazes at the face in the photo.

  BARTENDER

  Let me know if there is anything

  else I can do for you, sister.

  She smiles.

  HARMONIA

  Sister. That's cute. Must be a

  southern thing.

  BARTENDER

  Born and raised.

  HARMONIA

  I have a friend who lived in New

  Orleans. He calls me 'little sister'.

  She shows the photo to the bartender.

  BARTENDER

  It's a show of affection.

  The Bartender nods and motions that he's got a new customer to tend to. He takes care of business.

  Harmonia gives her complete attention to the Peppermint Patty. With the straw, she doodles in the whipped cream. She gazes at it and smiles. She sips and savors.

  The Bartender returns.

  BARTENDER

  Your boyfriend couldn't make it?

  She shakes her head.

  HARMONIA

  We're only friends. We've never met

  in person. He was supposed to be on

  this boat, see if we could be more.

  BARTENDER

  So you're a free bird.

  She gives him a curious once-over.

  HARMONIA

  You talk an awful lot like him.

  BARTENDER

  You said he's from these parts.

  HARMONIA

  His accent isn't as strong as yours.

  Another customer sits. The Bartender takes care of business.

  She stirs the last remnant of whipped cream into the cocoa.

  The Bartender returns.

  BARTENDER

  You were right ticked when you came

  in here. You must have been excited

  at the prospect of meeting him.

  HARMONIA

  Mind reading again.

  BARTENDER

  First time on the river, sister?

  HARMONIA

  Yes. And the only time.

  BARTENDER

  No repeats, huh?

  She eyes him.

  HARMONIA

  Am I that common?

  BARTENDER

  In my line of work you learn to read

  people. You're the kind who keeps a

  list of things you want to do in

  this lifetime.

  HARMONIA

  Wow. You're psychic.

  Another customer sits at the bar. The Bartender tends to his business.

  Harmonia watches him with intrigue and murmurs to herself.

  HARMONIA

  You wouldn't. No, Orion, you know

  better than to do that.

  Mike slides onto the stool next to her.

  MIKE

  Will you have dinner with me? We

  can at least be friendly.

  She sags in defeat. She doesn't look at Mike.

  HARMONIA

  How could you do this to me, Ri?

  Where is he going to sleep?

  Mike's eyes widen.

  MIKE

  I swear, I won't touch you unless

  you ask me to.

  HARMONIA

  I can't bear the thought--

  MIKE

  Don't be like that.

  HARMONIA

  --of another man touching me. Yes,

  I said you could send a delegate,

  but you had to know I was joking--

  The Bartender returns to take Mike's order.

  MIKE

  Cape Cod.

  HARMONIA

  --I never thought you would take it--

  MIKE

  Listen, Harmonia. I swear to Ares

  and Aphrodite, I won't even try.

  I'll wear jammies.

  She glares at him and bursts out laughing.

  HARMONIA

  Jammies? You can sleep on the floor.

  MIKE

  I have a bad back.

  HARMONIA

  Wonderful. How can you be a god

  with a bad back? Orion is a god in

  bed.

  The Bartender laughs. He sets the drink in front of Mike and lingers within earshot.

  MIKE

  "What if I was in a wheelchair?" He

  said you said--

  HARMONIA

  He said I said. Whatever. I said

  it to him. Not you.

  MIKE

  I've read--

  HARMONIA

  What? What have you read? The Kama

  Sutra?

  MIKE

  What's that?

  Harmonia smirks.

  HARMONIA

  Look for it at Amazon. "Kama Sutra

  for Dummies. " Being a god isn't about

  what you do to body parts.

  MIKE

  Wow. Orion didn't say you're cruel.

  HARMONIA

  I'm being polite. Please go. See

  if there's a lonely woman here who's

  looking for company.

  MIKE

  That'd be you.

  He sips his drink.

  HARMONIA

  It's not me.

  She sucks the last of the whipped cream off the straw.

  MIKE

  Like it or not, that's what you are.

  Lonely. Looking for your soul mate.

  HARMONIA

  Does Orion find you charming?

  The Bartender laughs. She looks, inquiring, at the Bartender.

  BARTENDER

  Sorry. Occupational hazard.

  HARMONIA

  Who cares anyway? I'm sure I can't

  make myself. Why did he send you?

  MIKE

  He says I could be your soul mate.

  HARMONIA

  Bull shit. He's testing me.

  The Bartender tends to business at the other end of the bar.

  HARMONIA

  Do you know Eric?

  MIKE

  Sure I know Eric. He works at the

  Flamingo.

  HARMONIA

  You're all poker dealers?

  MIKE

  I'm a hotel manager. Eric is a

  player.

  HARMONIA

  What's he really like?

  MIKE

  Eric?

  HARMONIA

  Orion.

  She gets a dreamy look on her face.

  HARMONIA

  It's the least you could do as a

  gentleman. Tell me about him.

  MIKE

  Nothing special. You wouldn't notice

  him if you met him in everyday life.

  HARMONIA

  Is he really a Sasquatch? Six-foot-

  four and hairy all over?

  MIKE

  Harmonia, wake up. On the internet,

  all a man's got to do is type what a

  woman wants.

  She grimaces.

  HARMONIA

  We've spent hours on the phone. I

  like Orion for who he is inside. I

  don't care what he looks like, really.

  Is today his 30th birthday?

  MIKE

  Yes.

  She looks quite sad.

  HARMONIA

  What is wrong with that man? What

  is he doing? How could he possibly--

  did his children plan something for

  him?

  MIKE

  No. He hasn't heard from them in

  years.

  She shakes her head.

  HARMONIA

  Pitiful. The autistic one makes sense.
br />   Why are the other two so upset at him?

  MIKE

  I wouldn't say if I knew.

  HARMONIA

  He must have done something. There's

  something he's scared to tell me.

  The Bartender tidies up nearby.

  BARTENDER

  If a man--excuse me, do you mind?