Love of Her Life

LOVE OF HER LIFE
 

FADE IN:

EXT.  PORT OF NEW ORLEANS - PRESENT DAY

A red paddle wheel churns up muddy water.  Jazz from the Delta Queen Mississippi River boat refines the air. 

INT.  HARMONIA'S CABIN G319 - DAY

The hope of Jazz and the paddle are ever present. 

HARMONIA and MIKE sit apart on a bed.  They're grownups.  He's obviously younger.  She's dressed to mesmerize the way an earth goddess does it.  He's got that stunning-leading-man look working for him. 

They stare at the cabin wall.  A small window with a river view is visible behind them. 

MIKE

This is lovely. 

HARMONIA

Barmy. 

MIKE

I like this song. 

HARMONIA

Nice. 

MIKE

I could be a god in this bed.  You

could pretend you're not terribly

disappointed. 

HARMONIA

I could? 

MIKE

This could be a great week. 

HARMONIA

Great.  Sex with someone I don't

know. 

He reaches over.  She avoids his touch and walks out the door. 

MIKE

He wouldn't have sent me if he didn't

believe I could--

The door closes.  Mike sits alone, facing the closed door. 

MIKE

--be your soul mate. 

EXT.  DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - DAY

Harmonia stares at dirty water.  The paddle churns up a used disposable diaper. 

HARMONIA

Charming. 

The deck is crowded.  ERIC (21) pushes his way through and stops next to Harmonia.  He's got that tough-boy-band look working for him. 

ERIC

We paid too much for this. 

He flashes a smile at Harmonia. 

HARMONIA

Vintage Americana.  Priceless. 

He offers his hand. 

ERIC

I'm Eric. 

HARMONIA

Don't react.  My name is Harmonia. 

She gives him a polite handshake.  He holds longer than he should.  She pulls free. 

ERIC

How could I not be curious?

HARMONIA

My parents had an unnatural obsession

with all things Greek. 

ERIC

What about you? 

She contemplates the polluted river. 

HARMONIA

My obsession? 

She strolls away, shaking her head. 

HARMONIA

It's all bull shit.  And it's--

Eric pushes through people to keep up with her. 

ERIC

--It's bad for you.  George Carlin

always nailed it. 

Harmonia gives him a tiny smile, though she continues to get away from Eric. 

HARMONIA

Carlin was brilliant. 

ERIC

I saw him live in Vegas. 

She stops, does an abrupt turnabout, and throws ice water at him with her eyes. 

HARMONIA

Did he send you?  Damn it, Ri.  This

is--

ERIC

It was my idea.  I came on my own. 

HARMONIA

--insane. 

ERIC

I had to see if--

She huffs and hurries away. 

HARMONIA

No way. 

He pursues her. 

ERIC

--maybe you'd--

HARMONIA

This cannot be my life. 

ERIC

I feel like I know you.  He talks

about you every day. 

She covers her face with both hands and keeps walking. 

HARMONIA

He talks about me.  Great. 

She stops at the end of the boat.  Her knuckles turn white as she grips the rail.  Her eyes fix on the swarthy woods lining the river. 

She contemplates the murky river between her and the woods. 

ERIC

I told him he should come.  Either

way, you'd be disappointed.  He might

as well--

HARMONIA

--get some action?

Eric shuts up and uses the brain in his skull for a moment. 

ERIC

He should meet you in person at least

once.  This would have made a very

nice first date I think. 

HARMONIA

You think? 

ERIC

I think you'd like the real Orion. 

HARMONIA

I already like him too much. 

ERIC

But you don't even know the real

Orion. 

She eyes him with suspicion. 

INT.  DELTA QUEEN LOUNGE - MOMENTS LATER

Eric follows Harmonia in.  She sits at the bar.  He sits

next to her without asking. 

ERIC

It's not so bad.  You're the

adventurous type.  Go with it. 

She shakes her head.  The BARTENDER (looks old enough to be her father, short, balding, pudgy, constant poker face) puts napkins in front of them.  On his uniform is a name badge, "Davis". 

BARTENDER

What's your pleasure?

His voice is high-toned and he has a heavy Southern drawl. 

HARMONIA

Anything with chocolate. 

He studies her a moment. 

BARTENDER

You look like a Peppermint Patty. 

Harmonia laughs. 

HARMONIA

Perfect.  Who taught you to mind

read?

Eric thrums his fingers on the bar. 

ERIC

Bourbon for me. 

Harmonia closes her eyes. 

HARMONIA

I don't mean to be rude, but would

you please sit somewhere else?

Eric moves one stool over.  Harmonia mutters as she rummages through her purse. 

HARMONIA

Send in the clowns. 

She removes a PHOTO of a man standing by a river in a forest. 

The Bartender makes the Peppermint Patty - hot cocoa, a generous splash of peppermint liqueur, a towering swirl of whipped cream. 

He gives the consolation prize to Harmonia.  He pours a shot

of bourbon and takes it to a table. 

BARTENDER

You heard the lady. 

Eric follows the bourbon. 

Harmonia licks whipped cream off the straw and gazes at the face in the photo. 

BARTENDER

Let me know if there is anything

else I can do for you, sister. 

She smiles. 

HARMONIA

Sister.  That's cute.  Must be a

southern thing. 

BARTENDER

Born and raised. 

HARMONIA

I have a friend who lived in New

Orleans.  He calls me 'little sister'. 

She shows the photo to the bartender. 

BARTENDER

It's a show of affection. 

The Bartender nods and motions that he's got a new customer to tend to.  He takes care of business. 

Harmonia gives her complete attention to the Peppermint Patty.  With the straw, she doodles in the whipped cream.  She gazes at it and smiles.  She sips and savors.