Posted: Nov 24th 2003, 1:29 am
Just when you thought it was safe to read the forum, here's another scene. This scene doesn't so much bring the story closer to a conclusion as muddy the waters. But the images seemed so strong, I had to write them.
*****
Part Thirty – Lost and Found
Location: Auditorium at the university, Chase house, the campus grounds, early morning. Angela is finishing teaching a class. Danielle, who spent the night at her parents’ house, is making coffee.
[Auditorium]
Angela – Okay, that’s all for today. Remember that your term papers are due next week. There are no excuses for late papers.
Angela VO* -- I feel sort of creepy when I speak like a teacher. No excuses for late papers -- give me a break.
(Angela walks up the steps towards the exit. Students gather their belongings. An older man emerges from the crowd. Angela stops walking. All of the students exit.)
Angela – Why, it’s Shelby Preston Garrett – I’m not sure if I should curtsy or not.
(Shelby bows.)
Shelby – A curtsy isn’t necessary.
Angela – What brings you to this side of the campus? Slumming?
Shelby – I came to speak to you. I obviously don’t need a refresher on Nathaniel Hawthorne. You are wasting your time teaching freshman survey courses. You should be writing full time.
Angela – Let’s talk while walking, shall we? I have to get back to my apartment and finish packing.
[Chase house]
[Someone knocks on the front door.]
Danielle – I’ll get it!
(Danielle leaves the kitchen and walks to the living room.)
Patty (walking downstairs) – Ask who it is first.
Danielle – Mom, I’m not eleven.
Patty – Humor me.
(Danielle rolls her eyes and stops at the door.)
Danielle – Who is it?
Peter [from outside] – Peter Ellis.
(Danielle looks at Patty, who shrugs. Danielle opens the door.)
Peter – Hi.
Danielle – Hi.
Peter – Is this the Chase house?
Patty – Yes, it is.
Peter – Well, of course it is. What a silly question to ask. You are Mrs. Patricia Chase. And you are Miss Danielle Chase.
(Danielle looks at Patty.)
Danielle – Mom?
[The campus grounds]
(Shelby, who is behind Angela by several paces, starts to run. He runs past Angela and sits on a bench. Angela laughs. She stops at the bench.)
Shelby – I could never keep up with you when you have to be somewhere. Please have a seat. I’ll tell you why I’m here.
(Angela sits on the bench. She turns toward Shelby.)
Angela – Okay, why are you here?
Shelby – I need to get the ring back.
Angela – The ring?
Shelby – Come on. The engagement ring I gave you, my grandmother’s ring.
Angela – I’m not wearing it.
Shelby – Of course not. But can you give it back to me?
Angela VO* -- It’s at this moment when I realize that I don’t have any idea where the ring could be.
[Chase house, kitchen]
(Peter finishes his orange juice. He puts the glass on the table.)
Peter – Angela had your pictures on her desk in her dorm room. You guys haven’t changed hardly at all.
Patty (blushing) – More juice, Peter?
Peter – Sure. [to Danielle] Well, that’s not totally true. You’ve changed a little bit.
Danielle – I have?
Peter – Oh, yes. You’ve changed just enough to notice.
Danielle – Notice what?
Peter – Umm…Now that I’m pinned down. You’ve grown up.
(Danielle blushes. Patty hands Peter a glass of juice.)
Peter – Thanks.
[The bench]
(Angela stands.)
Angela – So, I’ll get the ring back to you just as soon as I get back from home.
(Shelby stands.)
Shelby – That sounds good to me.
Angela – You know, this is kind of an ironic situation.
Shelby – Is it?
Angela – Yes, it is. It’s ironic that the woman who you were seeing while you were dating me will be wearing my ring.
Shelby – Well, you can keep it if you want. I just thought it might be good to keep it in the family.
Angela – No, I don’t want it. I’ll get it back to you first thing.
Shelby – See you Monday.
Angela – See you Monday.
(Angela starts to walk away.)
Shelby – Angela! (Angela stops and turns to face him.) The hammer was a nice touch in your story. I guess I deserved it.
Angela – You deserved it.
*****
Part Thirty – Lost and Found
Location: Auditorium at the university, Chase house, the campus grounds, early morning. Angela is finishing teaching a class. Danielle, who spent the night at her parents’ house, is making coffee.
[Auditorium]
Angela – Okay, that’s all for today. Remember that your term papers are due next week. There are no excuses for late papers.
Angela VO* -- I feel sort of creepy when I speak like a teacher. No excuses for late papers -- give me a break.
(Angela walks up the steps towards the exit. Students gather their belongings. An older man emerges from the crowd. Angela stops walking. All of the students exit.)
Angela – Why, it’s Shelby Preston Garrett – I’m not sure if I should curtsy or not.
(Shelby bows.)
Shelby – A curtsy isn’t necessary.
Angela – What brings you to this side of the campus? Slumming?
Shelby – I came to speak to you. I obviously don’t need a refresher on Nathaniel Hawthorne. You are wasting your time teaching freshman survey courses. You should be writing full time.
Angela – Let’s talk while walking, shall we? I have to get back to my apartment and finish packing.
[Chase house]
[Someone knocks on the front door.]
Danielle – I’ll get it!
(Danielle leaves the kitchen and walks to the living room.)
Patty (walking downstairs) – Ask who it is first.
Danielle – Mom, I’m not eleven.
Patty – Humor me.
(Danielle rolls her eyes and stops at the door.)
Danielle – Who is it?
Peter [from outside] – Peter Ellis.
(Danielle looks at Patty, who shrugs. Danielle opens the door.)
Peter – Hi.
Danielle – Hi.
Peter – Is this the Chase house?
Patty – Yes, it is.
Peter – Well, of course it is. What a silly question to ask. You are Mrs. Patricia Chase. And you are Miss Danielle Chase.
(Danielle looks at Patty.)
Danielle – Mom?
[The campus grounds]
(Shelby, who is behind Angela by several paces, starts to run. He runs past Angela and sits on a bench. Angela laughs. She stops at the bench.)
Shelby – I could never keep up with you when you have to be somewhere. Please have a seat. I’ll tell you why I’m here.
(Angela sits on the bench. She turns toward Shelby.)
Angela – Okay, why are you here?
Shelby – I need to get the ring back.
Angela – The ring?
Shelby – Come on. The engagement ring I gave you, my grandmother’s ring.
Angela – I’m not wearing it.
Shelby – Of course not. But can you give it back to me?
Angela VO* -- It’s at this moment when I realize that I don’t have any idea where the ring could be.
[Chase house, kitchen]
(Peter finishes his orange juice. He puts the glass on the table.)
Peter – Angela had your pictures on her desk in her dorm room. You guys haven’t changed hardly at all.
Patty (blushing) – More juice, Peter?
Peter – Sure. [to Danielle] Well, that’s not totally true. You’ve changed a little bit.
Danielle – I have?
Peter – Oh, yes. You’ve changed just enough to notice.
Danielle – Notice what?
Peter – Umm…Now that I’m pinned down. You’ve grown up.
(Danielle blushes. Patty hands Peter a glass of juice.)
Peter – Thanks.
[The bench]
(Angela stands.)
Angela – So, I’ll get the ring back to you just as soon as I get back from home.
(Shelby stands.)
Shelby – That sounds good to me.
Angela – You know, this is kind of an ironic situation.
Shelby – Is it?
Angela – Yes, it is. It’s ironic that the woman who you were seeing while you were dating me will be wearing my ring.
Shelby – Well, you can keep it if you want. I just thought it might be good to keep it in the family.
Angela – No, I don’t want it. I’ll get it back to you first thing.
Shelby – See you Monday.
Angela – See you Monday.
(Angela starts to walk away.)
Shelby – Angela! (Angela stops and turns to face him.) The hammer was a nice touch in your story. I guess I deserved it.
Angela – You deserved it.