Love of Her Life Read Online Free PDF

laugh and gab face-to-face on the bed.  The dark riverbank rolls by. 
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    Next card, five of clubs. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    What are the other two? 
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    Looky here.  Got me an ace of hearts. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    Final card?
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    Jack of diamonds. 
     
    Chieko flops back on the bed in hysterics.  Harmonia studies
    her, thoughtful, and sips champagne. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    Ace and two of hearts.  What's your
    next move?
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    Placid, like Delia's face that night. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    I wonder where she is now. 
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    She's out there.  Doing her thing. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    Telling herself she's doing all right. 
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    She's not married.  Not divorced. 
    She made it through the gauntlet. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    The Jack of diamonds is a throwaway. 
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    If you put down too many, you're
    desperate.  Time to bluff. 
     
    CAPTAIN (V.  O.  )
    A couple of Jacks will do nicely. 
     
    Chieko massages Harmonia's hand.  She shakes her head, no. 
     
    BARTENDER (V.  O.  )
    A queen and a king.  Straight. 
     
    Chieko pats Harmonia's hand and removes hers. 
     
    CHIEKO
    Everyone fantasizes. 
     
    HARMONIA
    I try so hard to only think of him. 
     
    CHIEKO
    He stood you up.  Rejected you. 
    Another man comes along, shows
    interest.  He's not a bad guy.  Has
    a brain. 
     
    Harmonia smiles and wipes a tear from her eye. 
     
    HARMONIA
    He does, doesn't he?  Wow.  For a
    bartender, he's really savvy. 
     
    CHIEKO
    Don't judge a man by his occupation. 
     
    HARMONIA
    Or a woman. 
     
    Chieko nods. 
     
    HARMONIA
    I always thought being a Geisha would
    be kind of beautiful. 
     
    CHIEKO
    Oh it was.  It was that, more often
    than not.  I felt beautiful. 
    Beautiful things surrounded me. 
     
    HARMONIA
    What would you do, if you were me?
     
    CHIEKO
    I would let go of the fantasy. 
     
    Harmonia looks down. 
     
    HARMONIA
    I can let go of the fantasy.  But
    not the real Ri.  I can't stop caring
    about him.  I can't shut that off. 
     
    CHIEKO
    Be friends then. 
     
    HARMONIA
    And give the bartender a real shot?
     
    CHIEKO
    Find out what's real.  Isn't that
    who you are, Harmonia?  Someone who
    cares about authenticity. 
     
    Harmonia nods and wipes her other eye.  She sighs. 
     
    HARMONIA
    For someone who idealizes being
    authentic, I've been quite the fake. 
     
    CHIEKO
    We all have to fake it sometimes. 
     
    The two women laugh. 
     
    HARMONIA
    Can men fake an orgasm?
     
    CHIEKO
    Of course.  And they do, too.  Why
    do you think porn shows it?
     
    HARMONIA
    Oh that's why!
     
    CHIEKO
    Proof is in the pudding. 
     
    Harmonia laughs. 
     
    INT.  DELTA QUEEN LOUNGE - MOMENTS LATER
     
    Chieko and Harmonia sit at the bar.  The real Orion serves them drinks.  Harmonia gives him a sweet smile.  He blushes and finds something to do. 
     
    HARMONIA
    Davis?
     
    He doesn't respond.  It's a bit noisy, with a band playing a song as sultry as a Southern night. 
     
    HARMONIA
    Davis!
     
    He snaps to and turns around. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Yes, m'lady?  Sorry, I was in my
    head, listening to the music. 
     
    HARMONIA
    It is a great song. 
     
    She watches the band a moment. 
     
    BARTENDER
    Did you want something?
     
    HARMONIA
    Oh yes.  I'm curious.  May I ask you
    something personal?
     
    He looks nervous at Chieko. 
     
    CHIEKO
    I'll go away. 
     
    BARTENDER
    No, stay.  Go on, ask. 
     
    HARMONIA
    How did you get to be a bartender on
    this boat?
     
    BARTENDER
    The captain and I go way back. 
     
    Harmonia nods, but has a look of dissatisfaction. 
     
    BARTENDER
    What do you really want to know,
    sister?
     
    He serves another customer.  Harmonia ponders his moves as she waits for him to return. 
     
    HARMONIA
    Do you have any siblings?
     
    The Bartender