Love of Her Life (9 page)

Ri--

She sighs.  She looks up at the constellation of Orion. 

HARMONIA

--You don't trust me. 

The Captain approaches Harmonia. 

CAPTAIN

Miss Theakos. 

She is startled out of her meditations. 

CAPTAIN

May I sit?

HARMONIA

Certainly. 

CAPTAIN

It's magical.  The Mississippi River. 

The Autumn nights. 

HARMONIA

Yes it is. 

CAPTAIN

Is it everything you hoped it would

be?  Your vacation?

She smiles and shakes her head. 

HARMONIA

Yes and no. 

CAPTAIN

Isn't that always the case?

HARMONIA

Yes. 

CAPTAIN

I see it every week.  Reality tears

up the dream, the way the paddle

tears up the river. 

HARMONIA

Slow and methodical. 

The Captain nods. 

HARMONIA

Davis tells me you and he go way

back. 

CAPTAIN

I'm glad you brought him up.  I came

to talk to you about him. 

HARMONIA

About your bartender?

CAPTAIN

About my friend.  I think he's made

a terrible mistake. 

HARMONIA

Now this is odd.  How is your concern

for Davis any of my business?

The Captain wipes his face. 

CAPTAIN

This is very awkward.  I wish he

would tell you himself. 

HARMONIA

It's not your place to tell me

anything about Davis. 

CAPTAIN

That isn't his real name. 

HARMONIA

It's truly none of my business!

CAPTAIN

It is.  This whole charade, it's a

mistake. 

Harmonia gets up to leave.  The Captain touches her hand like a father. 

CAPTAIN

This is about Orion. 

She studies the Captain. 

HARMONIA

Excuse me. 

As she walks away the Captain calls after her. 

CAPTAIN

That's his real name. 

Harmonia stops.  The Captain watches her. 

HARMONIA

The bartender? 

CAPTAIN

Yes. 

She faces the Captain. 

HARMONIA

Whose picture have I been looking at

for the past year?

CAPTAIN

His brother.  And he is in a

wheelchair. 

She purses her lips.  She sits. 

HARMONIA

Is this all some juvenile game?

CAPTAIN

Me telling you?  No. 

HARMONIA

He didn't tell you to tell me?

CAPTAIN

He said he would tell you.  He didn't. 

Twice.  I decided enough is enough. 

She nods. 

INT.  DELTA QUEEN LOUNGE - NIGHT

The Bartender serves customers.  Harmonia walks in and heads

straight to him. 

HARMONIA

May I have a word with you?

He finishes with the customer and steps away from the bar to join her in a private place. 

She looks in his eyes with daggers. 

HARMONIA

All that time.  This is how you really

are?  Mind games? 

She rips the "Davis" name badge off his uniform and walks away.  She lets it fall to the floor. 

The Bartender looks about the lounge at people staring.  He picks up the name badge, puts it on, and returns to the bar. 

EXT.  DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - NIGHT

Harmonia stands at the rail, staring at the black water. 

Chieko joins her. 

CHIEKO

I heard. 

Harmonia grabs Chieko and kisses her.  Chieko stops her. 

HARMONIA

Why not?  You wanted to the other

night. 

CHIEKO

We both like men too much. 

HARMONIA

Whatever. 

CHIEKO

Have you asked yourself the real

question?

HARMONIA

Why did I believe him in the first

place?

CHIEKO

Why you wanted to. 

HARMONIA

Doesn't matter now. 

CHIEKO

You should give the real Orion a

second chance. 

HARMONIA

It's all bull shit. 

CHIEKO

Yes, it is.  That's what's out there,

Harmonia.  More of it.  Choose. 

HARMONIA

I choose to be alone then.  I can't

stand liars.  He knew that about me. 

This is sabotage, nothing less. 

CHIEKO

Yes it is. 

HARMONIA

I'm not the saboteur in this.  He

is. 

CHIEKO

You're right. 

HARMONIA

Shut up. 

CHIEKO

You're going to keep being right,

making him wrong.  You're going to

walk off this boat alone. 

HARMONIA

Yes I am. 

Chieko pats her shoulder and walks away. 

CHIEKO

If you say so. 

Harmonia turns about. 

HARMONIA

Yes I say so!

Chieko smiles at her. 

CHIEKO

I got it.  Anything else?

HARMONIA

Knock it off. 

CHIEKO

I got it. 

HARMONIA

Stop getting it.  I know what you're

trying to do. 

CHIEKO

What am I trying to do, Harmonia?

HARMONIA

You're trying to make me get off it. 

I know this game, remember?

CHIEKO

I remember, little miss graduate. 

You did the real thing.  So what?

HARMONIA

So don't think you can get me off

it.  I ain't getting off it, got

that?

CHIEKO

Loud and clear.  You go, girl. 

HARMONIA

Thank you.  I am. 

CHIEKO

Anything else?

Harmonia walks over to her and kisses her again. 

HARMONIA

That.  I love you, okay?

Chieko looks at the people on the deck staring at them. 

CHIEKO

People are watching us. 

HARMONIA

Fine.  Someone on this planet should

have a pulse. 

CHIEKO

Okay.  I love you too.  Now what?

HARMONIA

I don't want him anymore.  He's a

liar.  He's a moron. 

CHIEKO

I got it.  You're pissed at him. 

Suddenly you believe we'll be good

together?

HARMONIA

I could be gay for you. 

CHIEKO

I think you're cool too, Harmonia,

but I can't be gay for long.  Neither

can you. 

Chieko wraps an arm around Harmonia and walks her to the side.  They stare at the dark horizon. 

HARMONIA

I'd have to train him.  I don't think

I can. 

CHIEKO

Can you let him train you?

HARMONIA

To do what exactly?

CHIEKO

To be his woman. 

HARMONIA

I don't want to be a liar's woman. 

CHIEKO

Hate yourself then. 

HARMONIA

Shut up. 

CHIEKO

It's true. 

HARMONIA

I know it's true.  I don't care. 

CHIEKO

You're mad as a mother hornet, like

he said you would be. 

HARMONIA

When did you find out about this?

CHIEKO

Only a short time ago.  Mike explained

the whole mess to me. 

HARMONIA

Yes I am.  Mad as a mother hornet. 

And I am going to stay mad this time. 

CHIEKO

Oh baby, you are such a liar. 

HARMONIA

I'm not getting off it.  It won't

work and you know it. 

CHIEKO

Because you say so. 

HARMONIA

It doesn't work to start a

relationship based on lies. 

CHIEKO

Harmony, dear, have you completely

forgotten the game?

HARMONIA

What?

CHIEKO