Love of Her Life Read Online Free PDF Page A

"myth!"
     
    CHIEKO
    What's your next move?
     
    END ORION'S FANTASY
     
    INT.  DELTA QUEEN LOUNGE - DAY
     
    The Captain sits at the bar with an almost empty bottle of  water.  The Bartender finishes with a customer and wipes the
    counter in front of the Captain. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    You should tell her. 
     
    The Bartender shakes is head. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    I think it's a mistake. 
     
    BARTENDER
    It's the only way to know. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    Not knowing is more fun.  You're
    both backwards.  You already have
    something special.  What you're doing
    now is making it ordinary. 
     
    Mike sits next to the Captain.  The Captain leaves. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    Talk some sense into this fool. 
     
    The Bartender sets a beer in front of Mike. 
     
    MIKE
    What's that about?
     
    The Bartender shrugs. 
     
    MIKE
    What's the score?
     
    BARTENDER
    Reality zero.  Fantasy two. 
     
    TITLE ON BLACK:  "ACE OF HEARTS"
     
    EXT.  RURAL ROAD - NIGHT
     
    Orion, much younger, stands alone.  A classic V8 Chevy leaves him in a cloud of dust.  A WOMAN is at the helm. 
     
    Orion mops his eyes with his forearm.  He removes a cap revealing his full head of hair. 
     
    ORION (V.  O.  )
    Let me go with you. 
     
    He stares into the tail lights as she accelerates away from him. 
     
    INT.  CLASSIC V8 CHEVY - NIGHT
     
    The woman driving has an 80's hairstyle and clothing.  She turns on the radio.  STATIC and a country western station, she passes, keeps turning the dial. 
     

Her expression is as placid as a Canadian lake in winter. 
     
    She glances at Orion in the rearview mirror. 
     
    WOMAN (V.  O.  )
    Orion.  Enough.  I am not having
    this conversation one more time. 
     
    Now Orion is in the passenger seat, looking at her, his eyes starting to tear, desperation gripping his face. 
     
    ORION
    Delia.  We have a good thing.  Don't. 
     
    He stops himself.  He never takes his eyes off her.  She drives casual, unharried. 
     
    WOMAN
    What?  Don't be me?
     
    He stares at her as if by will he can hold her in his arms. 
     
    ORION
    I am not trying to possess you.  I
    am not trying to change you. 
     
    She stops the car. 
     
    They sit there, her foot on the brake.  She gazes at the stars.  He gazes at her. 
     
    WOMAN
    I want you to get out of the car. 
     
    Orion blinks, unmoving. 
     
    She waits. 
     
    WOMAN
    Now please. 
     
    Orion reaches for her. 
     
    WOMAN
    Orion, I want you to let me go now. 
     
    END FLASHBACK
     
    EXT.  ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT
     
    Orion, in his Bartender uniform, stands next to the Captain.  Through a window, they stare at dark trees on the riverbank as the boat rolls along, the paddle churning. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Right in there.  1982.  She left me
    on the side of the road and drove
    away in daddy's red Chevy. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    A liberated woman. 
     
    BARTENDER
    An emasculated man. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    You still haven't let her go. 
     
    A wry smile creeps over Orion's face. 
     
    BARTENDER
    I never knew her. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    What's all this got to do with
    Harmonia?  She let you kiss her. 
    She's been talking friendly to you. 
     
    BARTENDER
    You'll tell her.  She'll be mad as a
    mother hornet.  I'll beg for mercy. 
    She'll forgive me.  We'll walk off
    this boat together. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    Sounds like the start of something
    good. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Happily ever after.  Only fairy tales
    end that way. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    Take your cards and play. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Yeah, take a look at these cards. 
    Two of hearts.  First couple years. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    Two more, you got a three of a kind. 
    Beats a pair of aces. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Next card, three of spades.  Third
    year, I'm making love to her, she's
    fantasizing about another man. 
     
    CAPTAIN
    The moment you think that, tell
    yourself a story. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Such as? 
     
    CAPTAIN
    She's fantasizing about another woman. 
     
    The Bartender smiles and nods. 
     
    INT.  CHIEKO'S CABIN G339 - NIGHT
     
    Chieko and Harmonia