Mésalliance
by
Minx Trinket
Rating: PG
Disclaimer:
There once was a girl called the Minx
Whose writer's block gave her a jinx
So she wrote about Days
Till it cleared up the haze
And she's hopin' to hear what you thinks.
Summary: Inspired by today's (9/17/02) show, just a little vignette. Tuck this away under plot developments I'd like to see.
FADE IN:
INT. THE CHEATIN' HEART - NIGHT
Only a few patrons fill the smokey room as PHILLIP trudges in, hands in pockets, "don't-screw-with-me" scowl in place. He throws himself onto a stool. The bartender ignores him.
PHILLIP
Hey. Can I get a beer?
BARTENDER
Can I see some ID?
Phillip glares. He pulls out his wallet and drops THREE, HUNDRED-DOLLAR BILLS onto the counter. The bartender stares at them a while, then starts pulling a pint. He slides it down to Phillip without a word and scoops up the cash.
Phillip doesn't thank him. He takes a big swig, coughs a little, and stares morosely at the bottles behind the bar.
EXT. THE CHEATIN' HEART - NIGHT
SAMI walks down the street, cell phone to ear. Her red eye is turning into quite a shiner.
SAMI
C'mon, Brandon! Answer, dammit.
She stops outside the bar, tapping her foot impatiently. Finally, she ends the call and shoves the phone into her purse.
SAMI
This is not good.
FLASHBACK:
INT. NICOLE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
Victor and the nurse are restraining Nicole. Brandon examines the bruise under Sami's eye.
BRANDON
I can't belive she'd attack you
like that for no reason.
SAMI
Neither can I, but that's
exactly what happened. It
was pretty scary.
Brandon squints thoughtfully at her for a minute.
BRANDON
I gotta go check something.
'Scuse me.
He walks out.
END FLASHBACK Sami ponders this.
SAMI
What were you checking?
What could you be checking?
(beat)
And why aren't you answering?
(beat)
This is so not good.
She glances up at the Cheatin' Heart's neon sign, frowns, then shrugs.
SAMI
One drink. Why not?
INT. CHEATIN' HEART - CONTINUOUS
Sami enters and looks around. She spots Phillip at the bar and starts, surprised.
SAMI
What the heck?
At the bar, Phillip is about halfway though his drink. He's drawing in the frost on the side of the glass, lost in his own misery. Sami walks up behind him.
SAMI
Well well, Junior. I'm doin' the
math here and it's not adding
up to twenty-one.
Phillip glances at her, then back at his drink.
PHILLIP
Get lost, Sami.
SAMI
Is that any way to talk to
your... half-nephew's mother?
PHILLIP
Y'know, using the word
"nephew" around me is
probably not a great idea
right now. In fact, talking
to me at all? Not in your best
interest. I'd move it along if I
were you.
SAMI
Sure, I'll move it along. I'll
move it right down to your
mom's place and tell her
just what her precious baby
boy is doing.
Phillip sighs. For once, he doesn't have the energy for a fight.
PHILLIP
Do what you want.
He stands and heads for the men's room. A confused Sami watches him go.
SAMI
Wonder what's gotten into
him.
(beat)
Wonder if it's something I
can use.
Sami takes the stool next to Phillip's and calls to the bartender.
SAMI
'Scuse me! Hi! Can I get an
ammaretto sour?
The bartender's face shows disdain for her choice, but he mixes it anyway and brings it to her.
BARTENDER
That'll be four-fifty.
SAMI
Put it on the kid's tab.
She reaches for the drink, but the bartender pulls it back.
SAMI
Oh, gimmie a break. You
want me to tell the Salem PD
you've been serving minors?
I can have you put out of business
before you can say "Roach Motel."
My dad runs this town.
PHILLIP (O.S.)
Yeah, but my dad owns it.
Sami turns. Phillip is standing behind her, eyes narrowed. Staring contest. Finally, Phillip looks at the bartender.
PHILLIP
Give her the drink.
The bartender hands it off and goes to the other end of the bar. He knows better than to be near this.
Phillip takes his seat and focuses on his drink once again. Sami focuses on him.
SAMI
So what's with the sorrow-
drowing?
(no response)
What could possibly be wrong
in the charmed life of the royal
heir? Is it acne? The hearbreak
of halitosis? You got girl trouble?
At this, Phillip's hand tightens around his glass. Sami catches it.
SAMI
Ah, so that's it. Some girl
didn't fall for the dimples?
Well, don't worry about it,
Junior. Lots of other fish in
the sea.
PHILLIP
What do you know about it?
SAMI
(bitterly)
Plenty.
PHILLIP
Right.
SAMI
Look, kid, as far as heartbreak
goes, I have been there, done
that, and worn out the t-shirt.
I know what it's like when someone
you love --
PHILLIP
"Love"? Please! What do you
know about love? What do you
know about loving someone so
much, that when they're gone
it's like... it's like...
SAMI
It's like somebody's torn you
in half and burned the other
piece. It's like you're drowning
on dry land. It's like everything
around you is chaos, none of it
makes any sense, you can't move,
you can't scream, and even if you
did, no one would hear you do it.
(beat)
Like that?
Phillip is gaping at her.
PHILLIP
(quietly)
Yeah.
SAMI
(gently)
Like I said. Done that.
(beat)
Wanna talk?
Phillip shakes his head and turns back to his drink.
PHILLIP
Sick of talking.
Sami's smile is slow and wicked.
SAMI
I can help with that too.
PHILLIP
No thanks, Sami.
Sami shrugs, grabs a pretzel. She knows better than to push. She lets him stew awhile. Finally --
PHILLIP
This is all his fault. He's
done something. I know it.
He's been --
SAMI
Who's been?
Phillip looks at her suspiciously. Sami rolls her eyes: Oh, come on!
PHILLIP
Brady.
SAMI
(confused)
Brady? I thought he was
seeing whatsername, that
opera chick who's got --
PHILLIP
(sudden fury)
What did you hear? Who
told you?
SAMI
Nothing! I just see them
together all the time. He
was sleeping in her hospital
room and stuff. I just --
(beat; gets it)
Ohhhhhh... she was your girl.
Ha. Well, there's a shocker,
Brady Black playing homewrecker.
Like father like son.
PHILLIP
What do you mean?
SAMI
I mean, it's clearly in the
blood. He did the same thing
to you that his dad did to my
dad.
PHILLIP
Y'know, I never thought of
that. That makes a hell of a
lot of sense.
Sami leans in toward Phillip, not seductively but definitely buddy-buddy.
SAMI
Well, whad'ya know. Looks
like you-n-me got something
in common, Junior.
She clinks her glass against his. He picks his glass up.
PHILLIP
Don't push it.
Sami backs off, but with a little smile, as Phillip chugs the rest of his beer and signals the bartender for another. Sami stands to go.
PHILLIP
(sarcastic)
Leaving so soon?
SAMI
Things to do, places to be.
But listen, Phillip. You ever
need to talk, need some
advice...?
She looks at him significantly. Phillip looks her up and down for a long beat.
PHILLIP
I'll keep it in mind.
Sami smiles brightly and sashays out.
EXT. THE CHEATIN' HEART - CONTINUOUS
Sami comes outside wearing her patented victory smirk.
SAMI
Oh, the possibilities.
She happily saunters away
FADE OUT.