CHAPTER TEN: BITS OF HOPE

AT THE BIG BILLY'S DINER, SOMEONE IS KNOCKING THE DOOR WHILE BILLY IS CLEANING THE COUNTER.

BILLY: JUST THE SIGN SAYS IT'S CLOSED. PATT, ARE YOU OKAY?

PATT: I DONT KNOW WHERE TO GO. I JUST NEED A DRINK FOR TONIGHT. I WANT TO SLEEP.

BILLY: I WILL TAKE YOU AS CONSIDERATION. THE DINER IS OPEN FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

PATT: THANK YOU, SIR.

BILLY: WHAT DO YOU LIKE FOR A DRINK?

PATT: YOU CAN CHOOSE FOR ME, SIR.

BILLY: OKAY, I WILL OFFER YOU A GLASS OF SCOTCH.JUST CALL ME BILLY FOR GOD SAKE.

PATT: IS GOD REALLY EXISTING, BILLY?

BILLY: IF YOU BELIEVE ON HIM. HE LIVES IN YOU.

PATT: THEN, WHY HE LEFT ME LIVE ALL ALONE?

BILLY: PATT, DEATH IS PART OF LIFE. WE ARE HURT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY TO OUR LOVED ONES. BUT DONT HATE GOD.

PATT: I DONT KNOW WHO I AM GOING TO TRUST ANYMORE.

BILLY: SON, YOU HAVE ME. YOU CAN TRUST ME.

BILLY TAPS PATT'S BACK AS PATT IS STARTING TO CRY AGAIN. AT ASHLEY'S ROOM, VERONICA SEEMS SO QUIET AND ASHLEY FEELS BOTHERED TO VERONICA'S SILENCE. SOMEONE IS CALLING ASHLEY'S PHONE. AFTER THE CALL, ASHLEY TALKS TO VERONICA.

ASHLEY: V., SOMEONE IS WAITING OUTSIDE FOR YOU.

VERONICA: WHO IS IT?

ASHLEY: JUST TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE.

AS VERONICA GOES OUT, SHE SEES RANDON WAITING FOR HER WHILE LEANING ON HIS CAR.

RANDON: VERONICA, CAN WE TALK?

VERONICA: IF YOU ARE RANTING ME AGAIN ABOUT MY FAULTS TO YOU BEFORE. JUST GO HOME.

RANDON: I AM SORRY. YES, YOU HURT ME BEFORE BUT I CANNOT DENY THE FACT THAT I AM HURTING YOU NOW. I AM SORRY. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE PAST BUT I KNOW YOU ARE TRYING TO FIX IT. I APPRECIATE YOU WITH THAT. I AM SORRY FOR TELLING YOU THIS THAT I AM STILL STUCK FROM THE PAIN OF OUR PAST. IT IS ALWAYS A LIVING CURSE FOR YOU AND ME. I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT I DONT BLAME YOU. I BLAME MYSELF. STOP BLAMING YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THE TWO OF US BECAUSE WE BOTH KNEW, YOU AND ME MADE LOVE AND MISTAKE TO OUR RELATIONSHIP, NOT ONLY TO YOU OR NOT ONLY TO ME. SO, IF YOU ASK ME MY FORGIVENESS, I FORGIVE YOU, VERONICA. PLEASE, FORGIVE YOURSELF BECAUSE I WILL FORGIVE MINE. I HOPE YOU FORGIVE ME. I REALIZED THAT OUR FRIENDSHIP IS STILL REMAIN, IS STILL THERE AND IN HERE. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BLAMING FAULTS AND BUILDING PRIDES. I HOPE WE SHOULD GIVE A REASON, JUST THAT REASON TO SAVE US. THAT'S ALL I WANT YOU TO KNOW. NO, THAT'S ALL I NEED YOU TO KNOW, VERONICA.

VERONICA: RANDON, I FORGIVE YOU. PLEASE FORGIVE YOURSELF TOO. I AM STILL HOLDING TO THAT REASON.

VERONICA RUNS TO RANDON AND HUGS HIM WITH LONGINGNESS. THEY EMBRACE EACH OTHER JUST LIKE BEFORE.

VERONICA: THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME THESE THINGS. I HAVE BEEN ALWAYS SEEKING OF YOUR ANSWERS FOR YEARS AND FINALLY YOU TOLD ME. I AM SORRY TOO, FOR CAUSING YOU WITH SO MUCH THAT I NEVER REALIZED THAT I WAS TEARING YOU INTO PIECES. I AM SORRY FOR BEING SO BLIND AND NUMB. I AM SORRY FOR BEING INCONSISTENT AND SELFISH. I AM SORRY FOR NOT TELLING YOU THAT I WAS LOOSING THE MAN I LOVED BEFORE. UNTIL I REALIZED THAT I HAVE LOST YOU TOTALLY. BUT RANDON, I AM NOT SORRY FOR LOVING YOU AND FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE IN EXPERIENCING YOUR LOVE TO ME BEFORE. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU STILL HAVE ME. NO, I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM ALWAYS HERE BESIDE YOU AND FOR YOU. YOU CAN STILL HAVE ME FOR THAT REASON.

RANDON: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VERONICA.

ASHLEY: CAN I HAVE A HUG TOO? I AM JUST HAPPY SEEING YOU BOTH OKAY.

VERONICA: (LAUGHS) YOU ARE RUINING THE MOMENTUM, ASHLEY.

RANDON: (LAUGHS) COME ON IN HERE, ASHLEY.

THEY HUG EACH OTHER LIKE IN THE OLD PHOTOGRAPH. AT THE DEAN'S HOUSE, IN PENELOPE'S ROOM, PENELOPE IS STILL CRYING ABOUT PATT. LARRY KNOCKS HER DOOR TWICE.

LARRY: PEN, IT IS LARRY. I KNOW YOU NEED TO BE ALONE BUT I WONT TAKING ANY CHANCES TO SUFFER IT BY YOUR OWN SELF. YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, PEN. IF YOU CAN, PEN.

PENELOPE: JUST COME IN, LARRY.

LARRY: HI, I BROUGHT YOU A GLASS OF MILK.

PENELOPE: THANK YOU, LARRY. YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THAT.

LARRY: I HAVE TO DO IT ESPECIALLY TODAY THAT YOU ARE NOT FINE. WHAT HAPPENED PEN?

PENELOPE: I CANT TELL YOU NOW. I AM SORRY.

LARRY: IT MUST BE A WRONG QUESTION TO THIS KIND OF SITUATION. HOW ARE YOU FEELING PEN?

PENELOPE: IT HURTS ESPECIALLY THAT SOMEONE NEVER SEES YOUR TRUE INTENTIONS. IT HURTS FOR SEEING THAT SOMEONE HURT.

LARRY: I KNOW IT HAS BEEN HARD TO COPE UP EVERYTHING. BUT YOU NEED TO FEEL HURT, PEN. YOU NEED TO CRY IT ALL OUT. I KNOW IT'S NONSENSE TO THINK OF IT BUT WHEN YOU FEEL IT AND FELT IT, SOONER OR LATER, IT WILL DISAPPEAR LIKE HEAVY CLOUDS ARE POURING INTO A RAIN. THEN, IT WILL RELEASE A CLEAR SKY. SOONER RATHER THAN LATER,YOU WILL BE OKAY.

PENELOPE: THANK YOU, LARRY FOR TELLING ME THOSE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. I DO BELIEVE THIS ISNT YOU TONIGHT. A GHOST MAYBE.

LARRY: (LAUGHS) DID YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF KNOWING SOMEONE?

PENELOPE: WHAT IS IT?

LARRY: YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT SOMEONE IS FAR FROM YOUR IMAGINATION. THIS, WHAT WE HAVE NOW, IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

PENELOPE: (LAUGHS) YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.

LARRY: YOU ARE LAUGHING, PEN. LAUGHING IS THE FIRST STEP TO BE JUST FINE.

DOCTOR DEAN VISITS HER HUSBAND IN HIS OFFICE.

GOV. DEAN: MY DEAREST, WHY ARE YOU HERE? I TOLD YOU THAT I WILL BE HOME LATE. YOU SEE, WE NEED TO SETTLE THINGS ABOUT MR. GIBSON'S DEATH.

DR. DEAN: IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE CONCERN ABOUT, FORD? OR ARE THERE SOMETHING MORE?

GOV. DEAN: MR. KILM, PLEASE LEAVE US FOR THIS MOMENT.

MR. KILM: YES, GOVERNOR.

GOV. DEAN: WHY ON EARTH YOU ASKED ME THOSE QUESTIONS, LISA?

DR. DEAN: JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH, FORD. THAT'S ALL I NEED FOR YOU.

GOV. DEAN: ABOUT WHAT, LISA? ASK ME, BE SPECIFIC.

DR. DEAN: ABOUT GREGOR'S YOUNGER BROTHER, JIM. IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT, RIGHT?

GOV. DEAN: ITS BEEN YEARS, LISA. I HAVE TOLD YOU MANY TIMES AND EVEN THE INVESTIGATORS TOLD US THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

DR. DEAN: WHAT ABOUT MR. GIBSON'S DEATH? YOU HATE HIM, RIGHT?

GOV. DEAN: ARE YOU ACCUSING ME THAT I KILLED HIM, LISA? IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK OF ME THE WHOLE TIME?

DR. DEAN: YOU CANT BLAME ME, FORD. JUST TELL ME ONE THING, THE TRUTH.

GOV. DEAN: YOU WANT THE TRUTH, RIGHT?

DR. DEAN: YES, FORD. I DO.

GOV. DEAN: YES.

DR. DEAN: YES?

GOV. DEAN: YES, I HATED HIM BUT IT DOESNT MEAN I ENCOURAGE MYSELF TO KILL HIM. I AM NOT PATHETIC AND I AM NOT THAT KIND OF STUPID, LISA. NOW, THAT I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH, DO YOU BELIEVE ON ME? ON THIS? HMMM, LISA?

DR. DEAN: IN EVERY HEARTBEAT, I WANT TO TRUST YOU. I NEED TO BELIEVE IN YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MY HUSBAND AND YOU ARE THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN. BUT PEOPLE LET ME FACE TO THE REALITY THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, FORD. OR MAYBE IT IS WAY MORE POSSIBLE.

GOV. DEAN: WE SHOULD END THIS CONVERSATION, LISA. I HAVE A LOT TO DO AND A LOT OF THINGS TO THINK. MR. KILM WILL DRIVE YOU HOME. JUST GO HOME AND TAKE SOME REST.DOCTOR DEAN WALKS OUT TO GOVERNOR DEAN'S OFFICE. HE LOOKS DISAPPOINTED TO HIS WIFE'S ACCUSATIONS. WHILE DRIVING HOME, DOCTOR DEAN ASKS MR. KILM.

DR. DEAN: MR. KILM, YOU DO KNOW SOMTHING, DONT YOU?

MR. KILM: ABOUT WHAT, DR. DEAN?

DR. DEAN: NOTHING, FORGET ABOUT IT.

MR. KILM: OKAY, DR. DEAN.

AT THE HOSPITAL, GREGOR IS STILL AWAKE THE WHOLE NIGHT AND EXPECTING THAT ELISE WILL OPEN HER AMUSING EYES. OLD SALL KNOCKS THE DOOR FOR CLEANING THE FLOOR.

GREGOR: OLD SALL, GOOD EVENING.

MR. SALL: JUST DOING MY THING, BOY. I HOPE IT'S NOT AGAINST TO YOUR WILL.

GREGOR: NO, NOT AT ALL, OLD SALL.

MR. SALL: IS SHE THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN? SHE'S THE SUBJECT IN EVERY CORNER IN THIS HOSPITAL.

GREGOR: SUBJECT IN EVERY CORNER, HOW?

MR. SALL: LIKE, SHE'S THE ONE WHO FOUND THE BODY OR WHAT IF SHE KILLED MR. GIBSON. FOR ME, ITS A NONSENSE JOKE, WHAT'S THE CONNECTION? SHE'S NEW HERE, MIGHT BE A STRANGER, BUT SHE'S NOT THE KILLER.

GREGOR: BUT SHE'S NOT A STRANGER TO ME

MR. SALL: MY DEAR BOY, SHE'S INNOCENT FOR ME TOO. DONT WORRY.

GREGOR: YOU DONT KNOW HER WELL, OLD SALL. YOU JUST MET HER TONIGHT. WHY YOU TOLD ME THAT SHE'S INNOCENT?

MR. SALL: IT IS EASY. YOU MUST LOOK AFTER TO HER ACTIONS. HER ACTIONS JUSTIFY HER INNOCENCE BY SERCHING FOR MR. GIBSON. SHE FELL FROM THE HILL, PROBABLY, SHE DOESTN HAVE THE TIME TO STAB THE MAN. AM I CORRECT?

GREGOR: YOU ARE CORRECT THE WHOLE TIME, OLD SALL. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.

MR. SALL: SOMETIMES, YOU ONLY NEED TO DO IS TO BELIEVE. LOGIC IS SO RARE OF THESE DAYS. I BLAME THE TECHNOLOGIES. NOW, I HAVE TO GO. PLEASE TELL HER THAT IT WAS NICE MEETING HER. TAKE SOME REST, BOY. DONT KILL YOURSELF.

GREGOR: THANK YOU, OLD SALL.

MR. SALL: DONT MENTION IT.

GREGOR CLOSES THE DOORN UNTIL HE HEARS SOMEONE CALLING HIS NAME. ELISE IS FINALLY AWAKE.

ELISE: HI

GREGOR: HELLO

ELISE: WHERE AM I?

GREGOR: IN THE HOSPITAL

ELISE: OUCH, WHAT HAPPENED?

GREGOR: TAKE IT EASY, YOU HAVE A LEG INJURY. THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CUT YOUR LEFT LEG., PROBABLY TOMORROW.

ELISE: WHAT?!

GREGOR: (LAUGHS) JUST JOKING BUT SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE A LEG INJURY, IT WILL BE FINE FOR DAYS.

ELISE: DONT JOKE ME LIKE THAT, YOU PUNK. HOW'S FAMILY GIBSON?

GREGOR: I SAW PATT EARLIER, WAITING FOR HIS FATHER'S ASH.

ELISE: PATT? THE SHY GUY?

GREGOR: YES, THAT GUY.

ELISE: MY GOD, IT'S BEEN HARD ON HIM. I TALKED TO HIM ONCE IN THE SCHOOL.

GREGOR: HE IS A NICE GUY.

ELISE: GREG?

GREGOR: YES.

ELISE: THANK YOU FOR FINDING ME.

GREGOR: WHO WILL BE THE ONE TO SAVE YOU?

ELISE: (SMILES) I GUESS YOU ARE RIGHT.

GREGOR: ARE YOU HUNGRY?

ELISE: A BIT, I THINK I AM.

GREGOR: WHAT DO YOU WANT? APPLE OR ORANGE?

ELISE: APPLE IS BETTER.

GREGOR: OKAY.

ELISE: WHAT ABOUT BILLY? HE WILL BE WORRYING ABOUT MY BILLS.

GREGOR: DONT WORRY, GOVERNOR DEAN ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER.

ELISE: WOW, THAT'S AMAZING

GREGOR: SURPRISINGLY AMAZING

ELISE: WHAT ABOUT RANDON? HOW IS HE?

GREGOR: WELL AND FINE

ELISE: I THINK HE'S HAVING FUN BECAUSE VERONICA ARRIVED. DONT YOU THINK?

GREGOR: I THINK.

ELISE: VERONICA IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL LADY. I TALKED TO HER ONCE DURING THE NIGHT AT THE GARDEN.

GREGOR: TELL ME, ELISE. HOW DID YOU MET WITH RANDON THAT NIGHT?

ELISE: HE APPROACHED ME FIRST, THEN, VERONICA CAME ALONG. AFTER THAT, WE HEARD MR. GIBSON'S VOICE, SCREAMING.

GREGOR: SKIP THAT TOPIC, IT IS NOT HELPING YOU.

ELISE: THEN ASKS ME THINGS FAR FROM THAT, GREG.

GREGOR: WHAT WERE YOU DREAMING?

ELISE: ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD, MY LIFE BEFORE.

GREGOR: HOW ABOUT IT? ARE YOU ENJOYING VISITING YOUR PAST LIFE?

ELISE: I RATHER NOT BE. IT'S VERY DARK AND COLD.

GREGOR: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

ELISE: HOW ABOUT YOU? DO YOU WANT TO VISIT YOUR PAST?

GREGOR: IF I HAVE A CHANCE, I WILL.

ELISE: BUT WHY?

GREGOR: MAYBE, I CAN STILL SAVE MY BROTHER FROM FALLING AND FROM DROWNING. OR I CAN DIE WITH HIM, SUFFER WITH HIM.

ELISE: HE DIED FROM FALLING AND FROM DROWNING, AM I HEARING IT RIGHT?

GREGOR: JUST LIKE WHAT YOU HAD EXPERIENCED, WHEN I SAW YOU UNCONSCIOUSLY LAYING ON THE GROUND. I AM SCREAMING INSIDE. I WAS REMEMBERING THE FEELING WHEN I SAW HIM DEAD LIKE A LOG.

ELISE: THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, GREG. YOU SAVED ME NOW. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. JIM IS PROUD OF YOU.

ELISE TOUCHES GREGOR'S HANDS AND SMILES AT HIM FOR ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. MAYBE NOT NOW, BUT SOON.