The Last Hope
Chapter 1
"Before we say goodbye…"
The plane trip was too long. Candice White Andrew was coming back from a trip to Japan. She needed a change of ideas after her breakup with the man she loved, Terrence Grandchester, a rising star in Hollywood. When they broke up, he was the star of Shakespeare famous play "Romeo and Juliet". Candy was so in love with him and he loved her like crazy too. They had met on a boat taking them both to England. They found themselves in the same boarding school for their biggest pleasure. They had gotten close and they had spent the most wonderful summer in Scotland. But back to school for the new year, didn't start up great… Eliza Reagan, Candy's cousin, who was also in love with Terry, had tried everything to get them into trouble, and she had succeeded. The result was: Terrence had left school and Candy too. She had followed him at the airport and she had missed him. So she took the first plane for Chicago. And despite Uncle William's disappointment, who was invisible, by the way, she was able to finish her school year and get into med school. Terrence had found a job in a theatre in Broadway and his troupe came to Chicago for a play and that's how they were able to see each other again… Candy was on call and she switch with another colleague at the last minute and she got there just in time and she watched the play from the third balcony… Terrence at looked in her direction, like he knew unconsciously that she was there… they had started writing each other and calling each other every day. They were making plans for the future… Candy was supposed to transfer herself to a hospital in New York. But the accident, at the theatre when Susanna Marlowe saved his life had changed everything… They had broke up and he had to marry Susanna Marlowe…
So Candy was coming back from a trip to Japan. The plane stopped at New Delhi where other passengers got in. The Indian capital, where the time change had 30 minutes more; New Delhi time was GMT+ 5 hours and a half. Candy found that fascinating. Another passenger came in last. The place next to Candy was empty and a passenger sat there. Candy was looking out the window and didn't pay much attention. Her neighbour finished settling up and Candy felt all funny… he was wearing a hat and sun glasses… She would've know him anywhere…
- Terry?! She asked stunned
Terrence Grandchester was going back to America after shooting a movie in India. The private Jet he had rented had a mechanical problem and he didn't want to wait, he had to get back to America in time for Thanksgiving. So he took a commercial flight, in first class of course and he was wearing sunglasses and a hat, a disguise to hide his celebrity…hearing a voice calling him by his short name, hearing her "voice" calling him, like in a dream, he couldn't believe it. He turned around to look at her… he took off his glasses and his hat.
- Freckles?!
- How are you?
- As you can see, I'm all tanned…what about you? Where are you coming from?
- From Japan…
- Oh…
- I wanted a little change of scenery… and I meet you…
- Maybe destiny is trying to tell us something…
- Really? What?
- I don't know… but I'm glad you're sitting next to me, he said smiling
Candy looked at him and she smiled too… It had been so long since she had seen him…
The plane took off and they started talking. They talked about the past, and about the present too…
- So Dr. Freckles, where do you intend to work?
- To tell you the truth I'm with doctor without boarders… I go where they send me, but Japan, was a little vacation and I have to go back to Chicago for Thanksgiving… How is your fiancée?
- I really don't want to talk about her… let's not waste the little time we have together with unwanted subject of conversation… tell me about your patients…
Candy looked at him. He was right. Whey talk about difficult subjects? She told him about her patients, about the strangest cases, they talked about everything and nothing, avoiding talking about the principal subject of their break up: Susanna Marlowe.
- Terry, you're getting married…
- I'm going to do what's expected of me… that's all, the honourable thing… but I'm convinced that there's a reason for our meeting on this plane, totally by chance…
- It's a coincidence…
- Really? I don't believe in coincidences, everything happens for a reason… Look at our meeting, my mother rejected me so I took the boat to meet the love of my life …
- Terry…
- I love you Candy, I love you so much that my heart bleeds… I'm going crazy without you…That's why I'm taking roles taking me on the other side of the world, so I won't think about the present, I'm working day and night…
- And I took a job taking me on the other side of the world too, to try to forget you… but things are what they are…
- I know my love, he said, softly touching her cheek…
The plane was now flying over Romania where they were supposed to stop in a city called Timisoara for an hour. But the weather was very bad, there was a snow storm. The plane landed with difficulty… Candy and terry continued talking. An hour later, the pilot's voice was heard…
- Ladies and gentlemen, this is your commander speaking. I'm sorry to tell you that the plane will not be able to take off as planned. We will have to spend the night here and leave tomorrow morning, when the weather clears up…
There were some whispers and mumbling of protest, but the passengers really had no choice.
Terry looked at her smiling.
- I told you there was a reason…
- A reason? A snow storm in a country where we don't speak the language?
- That's not important, as long as we spend time together… before we say goodbye…
- Like in that French son by Nana Mouskouri?
- " Faisons l'amour, avant de nous dire adieu… " (Let's make love before we say goodbye…)
- Shut up Terry! Said Candy laughing
- Jeane Manson sang that, by the way…
- Really? I wonder why I thought it was Nana Mouskouri…
- Candy… don't change the conversation… Nana Mouskouri sang: Only love can make a memory…
- Only love can make a moment last…
- Love is not what's missing between us… it would be stupid to let this unique opportunity pass us by… It will never going to come again… because you and I are going to respect our arrangement… but for the moment, they are giving us a piece of sugar, let's take advantage…
- All right! Oh my God! What am I saying!? You know that I can't resist you when you sing love songs to me…
- " Faisons l'amour, avant de nous dire adieu… " (Let's make love before we say goodbye…)
Candy looked at him smiling. They were avoiding touching each other in public, Terry was a celebrity, he wasn't going to put Candy in a compromising position.
They got out of the plane half an hour later to go to different hotels, where the passengers aere going to be sent for the night. Candy and Terry found themselves in the same room of course. It wasn't a 5 star hotel, it was clean. They ordered room service because they wanted to be alone. Terry turned around and looked at Candy who was taking her shoes off.
- My feet are hurting! I wonder what I was thinking putting on those horrible shoes! I should've put my baskets on! They are much more comfortable!
Terry didn't reply, he approached her and took her in his arms and started kissing her like there was no tomorrow… Candy had been waiting for that, since they had met on the plane, she kissed him back, passionately, they made love on the bed, on top of the covers… Then they went to take a shower together and they continued having fun under the shower… When they got out of the bathroom they found that room service was there and getting cold. They ate and then they went back to bed to make love all night long. They didn't sleep at all. Candy was used to night shifts so she had no problem and with the jetlag… Terry was used to shooting movies in the middle of the night was also fine… They kissed a lot too, since they couldn't do it in public…
- Don't leave me…, said Terry
- Terry you know you have to do your duty…
- I know, but being with you is the most beautiful thing… … Ne me quitte pas… (Don't leave me…)
And he started singing…
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Il faut oublier
(We have to forget)
Tout peut s'oublier
(Everything can be forgotten)
Qui s'enfuit déjà
(We're already running away)
Oublier le temps
(Forget the time)
Des malentendus
(Misunderstandings)
Et le temps perdu
(And Lost time)
A savoir comment
(To know how)
Oublier ces heures
(To forget those hours)
Qui tuaient parfois
(That sometimes killed)
A coups de pourquoi
(With blows of why)
Le cœur du Bonheur
(The heart of happiness)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Moi je t'offrirai
(I will offer you)
Des perles de pluie
(Pearls of rain)
Venues de pays
(Coming from countries)
Où il ne pleut pas
(Where it doesn't rain)
Je creuserai la terre
(I will dig the ground)
Jusqu'après ma mort
(Until after my death)
Pour couvrir ton corps
(To cover your body)
D'or et de lumière
(With gold and light)
Je ferai un domaine
( I will build a palace)
Où l'amour sera roi
(Where love will be king)
Où l'amour sera loi
(Where love will be lae)
Où tu seras reine
(Where you'll be queen)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Je t'inventerai
(I will invent for you)
Des mots insensés
(Senseless words)
Que tu comprendras
(That you'll undersand)
Je te parlerai
( I will talk to you)
De ces amants-là
(About those lovers)
Qui ont vu deux fois
(Who saw twice)
Leurs cœurs s'embraser
(Their hearts embrace)
Je te raconterai
( I will tell you)
L'histoire de ce roi
(The story of this king)
Mort de n'avoir pas
(Dead for because he was unable)
Pu te rencontrer
(To meet you)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
On a vu souvent
(We've seen often)
Rejaillir le feu
(Reignite the fire)
De l'ancien volcan
(Of the old volcano)
Qu'on croyait trop vieux
(Which we thought was too old)
Il est paraît-il
(It seems)
Des terres brûlées
(Burnt ground)
Donnant plus de blé
(Giving more wheat)
Qu'un meilleur avril
(A better April)
Et quand vient le soir
(And when evening came)
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie
(For a sky to embrace)
Le rouge et le noir
( Red and black)
Ne s'épousent-ils pas
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Je n'vais plus pleurer
(I won't cry anymore)
Je n'vais plus parler
( I won't talk anymore)
Je me cacherai là
( I will hide there)
A te regarder
(To look at you)
Danser et sourire
(Dance and smile)
Et à t'écouter
(And listen to you)
Chanter et puis rire
(Sing and laugh)
Laisse-moi devenir
(Let me become)
L'ombre de ton ombre
(The shadow of your shadow)
L'ombre de ta main
(The shadow of your hand)
L'ombre de ton chien
(The shadow of your dog)
Mais
(But)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
Ne me quitte pas
(Don't leave me)
- Oh Terry, I don't want to leave you either…
- I know, things are what they are…
- You're very romantic, singing songs to me like that… what a difference from that snotty nosed kid from the boat…
- I was a real bastard, wasn't I? Seeing you again at school was a dream come true for me… because I couldn't stop thinking about you…
- You had a weird way to show it…
- I thought I had my whole life in front of me to show you my love… I thought we'll have the time to grow up and love each other freely…
- I don't regret being with you … after Anthony… I was afraid something might happen to you, that you'd die like Anthony… I heard when your boyfriend dies on you, you're going to spend the rest of your life burying the men you love…
- Candy…
- Susanna saved you from a certain death Terry… I'm forever grateful to her for that
- Oh Candy!
He took he in his arms to kiss her fierily…
When they took the plane back, they were talking and smiling. They didn't want to be sad. They had an interlude and they had taken advantage of it to the maximum… But during the night on the plane, that was taking them back to America…
- I want to kiss you Freckles…
- People are sleeping
- If I wasn't officially engaged… I can't risk it…
- All right, we can go to the washroom…
- I'll follow you in two minutes…
So they found themselves in the plane's washroom in First Class, kissing for a long while…
When the plane got to New York, Candy was crying.
- Goodbye my love…, she said
- Goodbye my heart…, he said
- It still hurts …
- I know…
- I'm happy to have met you… I love you Terry
- I love you Candy
Terrence had to call upon all the forces of the universe, to get out of that plane an leave Candy behind. He went on to do his duty.
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu
Avant de nous dire adieu
(Let's make love before we say goodbye)
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux
Puisque c'est fini nous deux
(Let's make love since it's over between us)
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va
(Let's make love like it was the firls time, one more
time you and I, since love is leaving)
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu
Avant de nous dire adieu
(Let's make love before we say goodbye)
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux
Puisque c'est fini nous deux
(Let's make love since it's over between us)
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va
(Let's make love like it was the firls time, one more
time you and I, since love is leaving)
Je peux tout te pardoner
I can forgive you anything
Et faire semblant d'oublier
And pretend to forget
Je veux bien fermer les yeux
(I can close my eyes)
Et faire tout ce que tu veux
(And do what you want)
Je veux bien te partager
( I can share you)
Et ne veux te supplier
(I don't want to beg you)
Mais reste encore
(But I'm staying a little more)
Je me ferai si petite
(I will make myself little)
Que tu ne me verras pas
(You won't see me)
Et je me ferai si tender
(I will be so loving)
Que demain tu m'aimeras
( That you will love me tomorrow)
Je serai toute d'amour
(I will be all love)
Et je serai toute à toi
(But I will all yours)
Mais reste encore
(But stay some more)
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu
Avant de nous dire adieu
(Let's make love before we say goodbye)
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux
Puisque c'est fini nous deux
(Let's make love since it's over between us)
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va
(Let's make love like it was the first time, one more
time you and I, since love is leaving)
Adieu
(Goodbye)
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terrence Grandchester had done his duty, he did what was expected of him. He was a gentleman and he proved it. Marry a woman he didn't love only for duty, like his father. Like they say, like father, like son… He had sworn he wouldn't do what his father did, but circumstances had decided differently…
Being a gentleman and do his duty, the honourable thing, had a very bitter taste at the end of the day…
In that bitterness, there was a least a little taste of sugar in the person of his daughter, little Nelly. She was the only ray of sunshine in this entire fiasco and Terrence had put all his love on her, the love he couldn't give her mother, all his hope. She encouraged him to live and he found life was still beautiful even if he wasn't with Candy. His career was doing fine, he even won an Oscar, which he dedicated to his daughter, all the awards he won, he dedicated them to his daughter, she was the apple of his eyes, but a few years later, he was struck by bad luck once again… Little Nelly, got sick, a rare disease, a very rare form of leukemia with no hope of remission and little Nelly died in her father's arms one night at the hospital… Terry died with his daughter… His relationship with his wife was nonexistent and it completely disappeared. He let go of himself and refused all the work that was offered to him. His wife tried to get him some help, but he didn't want to hear it. He was wondering in parks like a homeless guy and wouldn't go back to his place. His mother tried to get him some help too, but her son was a stubborn man. She decided to take care of his business, because he at least gave her power of attorney. So she let him be. He had to get out of that state on his own, she was hoping he would wake up one day and take his life back.
Terrence Grandchester, the former raising star of Broadway, Hollywood's golden boy was now a wanderer, with a beard, dirty walking in Central Park with other homeless people. Life wasn't nice to him…So he decided to abandon everything…
Susanna Marlowe, very ashamed by her husband's situation, had asked Terry for a divorce when he rarely came home, so he signed the papers. He would curse Susanna for entering in his life, she had ruined everything… He was punished for doing the honourable thing… They had taken his little angel from him to punish him and ruin his life… That's what he had in his mind and nothing and nobody was able to help him…
Susanna was saying that Terrence and her mutually agreed to separate after the death of their daughter, citing Hollywood's eternal culprit, irreconcilable differences…Terry had refused to share his grief with her, he had pushed her away brutally, yet she was as devastated as he was, she was her daughter too. She understood that day that it was over between them. What kept Terry near her was their daughter because he wanted a family for his little girl, with a mummy and daddy and he would act around her, after all, they were both very talented actors. Little Nelly didn't suspect anything. She died happy to have had a mummy and a daddy with her in the room…
Life was sometimes just one big stage scene where we are all actors… He had had the lead role for a while, but now, he was just a simple walk on actor, nobody knew his name because he wasn't even on the casting list…