Scene: Club Elf
Chris is at the bar getting drunk. Joseph brings over three pretty girls.
Joseph: Chris, I'd
like you to meet Mademoiselles Marie, Fifi and Genevieve. Girls, this is Mr. Christian Pascual.
Girls: Bonsoir,
Monsieur Pascual. (tittering)
Chris: Hi. Nice to
meet you, girls. Have a great time here
tonight.
Chris turns back to his drink. The girls look at him funny and then they
leave to go dance by themselves.
Joseph: Chris, what the hell?
You just blew off some hot French stewardess tail!
Chris: I'm not in the mood, okay?
Joseph: You may not be in the mood, but I am.
Chris: Then go after them!
What does that have to do with me?
Joseph: You look like your grandma's been run over by a
reindeer for days! Ha ha!
Chris barely cracked a smile.
Joseph: Aw c'mon man.
You're still thinking of Carol, it sounds likes she has way too much
baggage, even for you...
Chris: Seriously dude, just leave me alone.
Noelle comes in the club with her posse. She sees Chris at the bar and makes a beeline
to him.
Noelle: Well, well, well.
Look who's here. Mr Christian
Pascual, the only man who ever dumped me.
Chris: Not now, Noelle.
I'm not in the mood.
Noelle: So where is she?
Where is this woman you are supposed to be in love with? Why are you drinking all by yourself?
Chris ignores her and keeps drinking.
Holly: Noelle, c'mon girl, you're causing a scene...
Joy: Yes, people are staring at us..
Ivy: Noelle, this is low of you, it's embarrassing...
Noelle ignores her friends
Noelle: Hey, look at me when I am talking to you! You may have a nice new suit but you are
still the same ghetto thug that you've always been and always will be! No amount of ...
Chris: Shut Up! I
don't give a rat's a$$ what you think of me!
Chris leaves the bar.
Noelle: (screaming as Chris is walking away) You go to hell! You go to hell and die!
Chris: (thinking as he is walking away) Hmm, look at
that. Carol's relaxation techniques do
work.
***
Scene: Pascual home living room.
Chris is watching a movie.
His grandfather Melchor walks in.
Melchor: Oh. Hi,
Chris, I didn't expect you to be home so early.
Is everything okay at the club?
Chris: Huh? Oh yes, everything’s fine. Joseph is there, he's a good manager.
Melchor sees what's playing on TV.
Melchor: You're watching 'Miracle on 34th Street'
again?
Chris: Yeah.
Melchor: Chris, I received a call from Miss Baltazar. She said she can't continue our agreement.
Chris is silent.
Melchor; (continues) But I told our editor Beth that as far
as I'm concerned, Miss Baltazar had fulfilled her end of the bargain and we
will publish her book. Anyone that can
bring about this change in my grandson must be exceptional.
Chris: That she is.
Melchor: Chris, if there is something you want to talk about,
I am right here for you. I thought that
we said that we were going to try to communicate better.
Chris: I love her but she doesn't want to have anything to do
with me.
Melchor: Huh? Who? Is this still about Noelle Navidad?
Chris: No, no. I am
not in love with Noelle. I'm in love
with Carol.
Melchor: Carol who? Miss Carol Baltazar?
Chris nods.
Melchor: (surprised) Isn't she much older than you?
Chris: No, we're the same exact age.
Melchor: Really? She
hardly seems your type.
Chris: There's a lot more to her than meets the eye.
Melchor: Well, they say the ladies that are wound tight are
usually the best once you have unleashed the tigress inside.
Chris: Have you been talking to Joseph?
Melchor: Huh? Joseph?
No. You say Miss Baltazar does
not want to have anything to do with you?
Chris: Yes. It turns
out that our psychotherapist has her own issues to deal with.
Melchor: What is the problem?
Chris: She had made some mistakes that she can't forgive
herself for. She thinks she can retreat
from the world so she won't get hurt again.
Melchor: Ahhh.
Regrets. That I understand. I certainly have many regrets in the way I
dealt with your mom. If I have been
different, maybe she wouldn't have run away and disappeared like that. I wish everyday that I can change the
past. Maybe she would still be with us
right now.
Chris: Lolo, please stop beating yourself up over that.
Melchor: It's hard not to.
Chris: Like I said, I really believe that mom had regrets
too. She's talked many times about
calling you, especially around Christmas time.
Melchor: I wish to God she did. I truly do.
Chris: Me too, Lolo.
Melchor: I especially regret how my actions affected
you. If Gabby were here, we would have
been here to take care of you even if she couldn't. You wouldn't have been in as much trouble as
you were! .
Chris: Ha ! I don't know about that!
Melchor: Well okay, maybe I got a little carried away there.
They share a chuckle.
Chris: I love Carol very much. I hope she can forgive herself enough to give
us a chance.
Melchor: Promise me Chris that you won't let your life be
filled with regrets. If you love Miss
Baltazar like you say you do, then you fight for it.
Chris: I plan on fighting.
But at this point, it may take a miracle. (he looks at the TV, the scene is the part of
the movie when they see Kris Kringle's cane).
Melchor: Miracles can happen! Look at us.
Who would have thought a month ago that we would be speaking like
this.
***
Scene: Cemetery
Carol is walking through the cemetery. She stops in front of a tombstone.
On top of the tombstone is a statue of an angel. The inscription on the tombstone is “Baby
Angel Baltazar Yu”
Carol sits down in front of it. She puts some flowers and cleans up around
the tombstone. She prays and meditates
for a long time.
Carol: (tears streaming down her face) Angel...my little Christmas Angel. Can you ever forgive me?
No comments:
Post a Comment