Long Shot
by
Minx Trinket
Disclaimer: Like sands through the hourglass, so are our copyright infringements.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Minxy is Benevolent: she bringeth Brady and Chloë together. The Minxy is Cruel: she teareth them apart. The Minxy is Unknowable: you'll have to read it to see how it ends.
Notes on the Music:
Most readers will recognize "O Holy Night." [The day after I wrote and first published this, I learned that there is a recording of Nadia Bjorlin singing this song out there somewhere. I'd appreciate any leads on where to find it.]
Chloë's other song in Part I is "River" by Joni Mitchell, first recorded for her 1971 album Blue and covered endlessly since. Snoop around, you'll find it.
Shawn's brief ditty is Cole Porter's "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)," though he obviously has a different definition of "it."
To hear the Madama Butterfly aria, search for "Butterfly" at www.aria-database.com. Also, this is the aria heard in the background of Malcom McLaren's "Madame Butterfly," a dance hit from the 80s.
The song "Long Shot," which also gives the series its title, is by
Antigonë Rising. These folks were voted one of the "Top 10 Unsigned Bands" by VH1 last year. They, simply put, rock. Lyrics are available at www.antigonerising.com/longshot.html. The site has some of their MP3s too, though, sadly, not that song.
The song in "Trials" is "Enjoy the Silence." Originally recorded by Depeche Mode, it's Tori Amos' acoustic cover that inspired its use.
And if you don't know the Foo Fighters' "Everlong"...turn off the computer. Or at least turn on the radio once in a while.
PART I
RESOLUTION
FADE IN:
EXT. SALEM PARK - CHRISTMAS EVE - NIGHT
SHAWN, BELLE, BRADY, and CHLOË sit on a bench beneath the town Christmas tree, wondering up at the lights. Their eyes shine like little kids'. Shawn has his arm around Belle, who is snuggled happily against him. Brady's arm is on the bench behind Chloë, and she's leaning toward him, but you wouldn't call it a snuggle. A sparse parade of last-minute shoppers and strolling couples wander past. The kids are oblivious to them.
CHLOË
Wow. It's beautiful, isn't it?
BRADY
Yeah.
BELLE
I love Christmas Eve. I love the trees and the
lights and the snow and the cold and the
snuggling....
She snuggles closer to Shawn.
SHAWN
Looooooove the snuggling.
Brady and Chloë shoot each other an "Oh, please" look. Chloë shrugs and puts her head on Brady's shoulder. He grins and puts his arm around her -- casual, just friends, right?
BELLE
There's one thing missing though.
BRADY
Grilled cheese sandwiches.
Belle tosses a little snow at him.
BELLE
No, Christmas carols.
SHAWN
Ahhhhhhhhh....
BRADY
That'd be your cue, Chlo'.
CHLOË
Why's it my cue? I'm not the only one
around here who sings, hint hint,
nudge nudge.
BELLE
Yeah, Brady. Why don't you give us
a number?
SHAWN
How 'bout a yodel?
BRADY
Watch it, piano man.
(to Chloë)
Duet?
CHLOË
You yodel?
BRADY
Off topic. C'mon, pick a number, I'll join in.
Chloë sighs. She ponders for a minute, then starts in on "O Holy Night."
CHLOË
(sings)
O Holy Night,
the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear savior's birth.
Brady joins her, singing low harmony.
BRADY AND CHLOË
(singing)
Long lay the world
in sin and error pining,
'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope,
a weary world rejoices,
while yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.
Shawn and Belle look at each other. The sound is incredible. Chloë hits the high notes like a church bell. They finish the verse.
BRADY AND CHLOË
(singing)
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices.
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine!
O night! O holy night.
Shawn and Belle clap enthusiastically. So do a couple of passersby. Chloë blushes. Brady regards her proudly.
BELLE
Encore! Encore!
SHAWN
Bravo! Brava! Brav...ee!
CHLOË
Thanks, guys.
BELLE
I'm serious! Encore!
BRADY
Yeah. Solo this time. Give us another.
CHLOË
Guys....
BRADY
(teasing)
C'mon, do it. Everybody's doin' it! What
are you, chicken?
He starts making chicken noises. She punches him lightly in the gut.
CHLOË
Okay, okay. Sheesh.
(beat)
This is kind of a weird one, but, well....
(singing)
It's comin' on Christmas,
they're cuttin' down trees,
they're puttin' up reindeer
and singin' songs of joy and peace.
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on.
But it don't snow here,
it stays pretty green.
I'm gonna make a lot of money,
then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene.
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on.
I wish I had a river so long
I could teach my feet to fly.
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on.
I made my baby cry...
Brady's smile suddenly falters. Belle and Shawn notice and shoot each other "uh-oh" looks. Chloë doesn't notice and continues.
CHLOË (CONT'D)
(singing)
He tried hard to help me, you know,
he put me at ease
and loved me so naughty
made me weak in my knees.
Oh I wish I had --
Brady stands abruptly, practically spilling Chloë from the bench. He storms away.
CHLOË (CONT'D)
Whoa! Brady! What the --
She follows.
SHAWN
And so begins round ten.
BELLE
Ding ding ding.
EXT. ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK - CONTINUOUS
Brady is stomping toward the exit. Chloë runs to catch up with him. She grabs his sleeve and turns him around.
CHLOË
Okay, what did I do now, Brady?
BRADY
What do you think?
CHLOË
Honestly? Not a clue.
BRADY
I just couldn't sit there and listen to that,
listen to you sing about him like that.
CHLOË
Huh?
BRADY
Don't give me that. You were singing about Phillip!
CHLOË
Okay, once again, "Huh?" What does Phillip
have to do with --
BRADY
Oh, come on. "I made my baby cry"?
You know, I keep thinking, "Someday,
Chloë's gonna get past it."
But here you are, it's Christmas
Eve, for cryin' out loud, we're having
a good time, and then all of a sudden
you're singing about him and being all
weepy and guilty and --
CHLOË
You think I was singing that about Phillip?!
BRADY
Weren't you?
CHLOË
No! Brady, that song is like a zillion years
old or something. I learned it when I was six!
I just like it, okay? Geez, I think you're the
one with Phillip on the brain --
BRADY
Oh you do?
CHLOË
Well, you're the one who keeps --
Brady grabs her shoulders and KISSES HER, HARD. Chloë gasps and starts, wide-eyed, then melts into the kiss and puts her arms around him. He pulls her rougly up against him when suddenly --
They're apart. Brady shakes himself. It was all in his head.
Chloë is still talking.
CHLOË
-- don't believe me but Phillip didn't even
cross my mind.
(beat)
It wasn't about him. I swear.
(beat)
Like it's your business if it was. But it
wasn't.
Brady ponders this. She seems sincere.
BRADY
Sorry. I just assumed.
CHLOË
Yeah, well, you know what that makes
out of you and me, right?
Brady grins.
CHLOË (CONT'D)
C'mon back to the tree. I wanna hear you
yodel "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
BRADY
Yeah. Just...gimmie a minute, okay?
She frowns suspiciously at him. He backs up toward some trees.
CHLOË
Yeah, okay.
She goes. Brady turns and heads into the trees.
EXT. A PATCH OF WOODS - CONTINUOUS
Brady picks his way into the depths of the trees, leans back against one, and bangs his head against it a few times.
EXT. NEAR THE CHRISTMAS TREE - CONTINUOUS
Chloë finds Shawn and Belle where she left them. She sits beside them.
CHLOË
(casually)
Your brother is crazy.
BELLE
(soto voce)
About you.
CHLOË
Hmm?
BELLE
I said, "Is that news?"
CHLOË
No. Just saying the status is still quo.
SHAWN
Where did he go?
CHLOË
I, um, think he heard the call of nature and
is looking for a likely tree.
BELLE
Huh?
(gets it)
Oh ew!
SHAWN
Aw, you're just jealous 'cause you can't be
like a bear in the woods and --
BELLE
Shawn!
CHLOË
Okay! Changing subject! Changing it quickly!
Belle? What did you ask for for Christmas?
BELLE
Thank you, Chloë.
SHAWN
(singing)
Bears do it! Bees do it!
The girls squeal in disgust and start pelting him with snow.
EXT. A PATCH OF WOODS - CONTINUOUS
Brady is trying to talk sense into himself.
BRADY
Brady, Brady, Brady what the hell are
you doing? This is getting ridiculous. She's
not over him, and you're not over her not
being over him. It's gotta stop. It's gotta stop.
(beat)
Okay, New Year's Resolution. Get over
Chloë. That's what I'm gonna do.
(beat)
Of course, there's still about a week 'til
New Year's....
He heads back toward the Christmas tree.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE BLACK PENTHOUSE - LATER
Belle, Chloë, and Brady emerge from the elevator.
BELLE
Okay, I'm gonna go in and shake the boxes
under the tree. You coming Brady?
BRADY
Yeah, in a minute, Tink.
BELLE
(significantly)
Ohhhh. Okayyyyyy. Good night, Chloë.
CHLOË
'Night Belle.
BELLE
Merry Christmas!
CHLOË
Merry Christmas.
BELLE
I'll be going inside now.
BRADY
Good.
BELLE
Yes. Yes, it is good.
Belle waggles her eyebrows at her brother and goes into the apartment, shutting the door behind her. Brady grins sheepishly at Chloë.
BRADY
Strange girl.
CHLOË
It's love. Addles the brain.
BRADY
Uh, yeah.
(beat)
Sorry about before.
CHLOË
Don't worry about it. I know it's just
'cause you care. I can forgive you being
a huge idiot 'cause I know you're just
worried about me.
BRADY
Can we forget it happened?
CHLOË
Forget what?
Brady smiles, takes her hand, and kisses it. Chloë's face softens. So does the focus. Brady turns her hand over slowly and kisses the palm, and we know it's just a fantasy this time because there's misty light and the music swells as his kisses move down onto her wrist, then her inner arm. She reaches up and touches his face, then draws it down to her own.
They kiss, tenderly at first, then it builds swiftly to passion. Chloë is moaning quietly. Brady's arms are around her, drawing her in.
BRADY (V.O.)
Uh, Chloë?
We SMASH TO Chloë's startled face. She shakes herself a little. That was her fantasy!
Brady cocks his head at her. He jiggles her hand a little.
BRADY (CONT'D)
Earth to Chlo'. You still with me, kid?
CHLOË
Yeah! Yeah, sorry. Just spaced out for
a second. I'm really tired.
BRADY
Well, why don't you stay the night?
(off her look)
You and Belle can have a pajama party.
CHLOË
No, it's Christmas Eve. You know,
family and all that. I'd be in the way --
BRADY
No you --
CHLOË
-- and besides, Nancy'll pitch a fit if I'm
not home by midnight.
BRADY
Want me to call her and work the ol' Brady
Black magic? Tell her you're too tired.
Sleepy driving! Dangerous thing!
CHLOË
I'm fine, Brady. Really. I should go home.
BRADY
(beat; defeated)
Yeah, okay.
She leans in and kisses him on the cheek. He kisses back. It lingers. They both feel it. Brady reaches up to stroke her hair, but before he can she pulls back. She walks away backwards, grinning at him, and reaches for the elevator button.
He's grinning too. He's about to move toward her.
The doors pop open. She backs into the elevator and hits the buttons.
CHLOË
Merry Christmas, Brady.
BRADY
Merry Christmas, Beautiful.
She flashes him the full-on, electric Chloë smile as the doors slide closed.
