PART II
SNAP
INT. TUSCANY - NEW YEAR'S EVE - NIGHT
This is the party, as one would expect. Most of the town is present, including all of THE BLACKS, all of THE BRADIES, THE KIRIAKIS ENTOURAGE, a handful of HORTONS, and THE WESLEYS.
Chloë, NANCY, and CRAIG are sitting together at a table, and Chloë actually seems to be having fun.
Across the room, at a table with VICTOR and NICOLE, PHILLIP watches her blankly.
Brady is whirling Belle around the dance floor. Shawn dodges through the other dancers and taps him on the shoulder. Without missing a beat, Brady spins his sister into Shawn's arms, and the new couple waltzes off.
Brady glances at his watch. A quarter to midnight. He approaches the Wesleys' table.
BRADY
Hello, Dr. and Mrs. Wesley. Chloë.
CHLOË
(mock serious)
Brady.
NANCY
Oh, Brady! Don't you look handsome
tonight! Not that you don't look handsome
all the time, doesn't he, Chloë?
CHLOË
(embarrassed)
Nancy...
BRADY
Thank you, Mrs. Wesley.
CRAIG
Nancy, I don't think the boy came
over here to discuss fashion. I believe
he's here to take our Chloë for a turn
around the dance floor, right Brady?
BRADY
Yes, sir. Chlo'?
CHLOË
Sure.
(to her parents)
Excuse me.
NANCY
Go right ahead!
Brady leads her away. Nancy watches them fondly, until her gaze falls across Phillip, who watches the couple with that same blank stare. Nancy glowers at him.
NANCY (CONT'D)
They shouldn't let his kind in here.
CRAIG
Nance....
NANCY
Little weasel. Little spoiled rich
weasel. Daddy's money is the only
reason anyone puts up with him.
CRAIG
Nancy, could you let it go for just
one night, please?
NANCY
I just don't want him spoiling Chloë's evening!
Craig glances over his shoulder at Chloë and Brady dancing. They're laughing, having a ball, pretending to slam into Belle and Shawn.
CRAIG
I don't think it'll be a problem, honey.
NANCY
Oh, he's just biding his time, mark my
words. Before the night is over he'll
make a scene and she'll end up in tears.
CRAIG
Nancy, let it go. It's New Year's Eve, Chloë
is having a great time with Brady, and I don't
want to spend the rest of the night talking
about Phillip Kiriakis.
(takes her hand)
I want, instead, to take my beautiful
wife out onto that floor, and I want
to dance with her 'til the end of the year,
and I want to kiss her at midnight. Okay?
NANCY
(beat)
Craig Wesley, you are one smooth talker.
CRAIG
Well, I have to be.
He leads her out onto the floor.
INT. TUSCANY FOYER - LATER
MAGGIE glances up at the clock above the hostess' podium. It's three minutes to midnight. She enters the dining room.
EXT. TUSCANY VERANDA - CONTINUOUS
A breathless Brady and Chloë step out onto the veranda. Brady closes the French door behind him, but the latch doesn't catch and the door swings open about an inch. He doesn't notice, since he's fixated on Chloë.
BRADY
Careful. It's kinda icy.
She waltzes over to the railing and looks over the edge. She pouts.
CHLOË
Well, that's an awfully short way
to the ground.
BRADY
(looks)
You were hoping for a nosebleed?
CHLOË
Yeah! I wanted to get that whole Top-
of-the-Eiffel-Tower vibe. This is more
like...top of the slide at the playground.
BRADY
Well, look up at the stars, then. Can't beat
that view with a stick.
CHLOË
(looks)
Yeah. Whoa. Look at that! It's beautiful!
BRADY
(looking at Chloë)
Yeah, it is.
Chloë looks at him but he looks quickly at the stars.
BRADY (CONT'D)
So.
CHLOË
So.
BRADY
(beat)
So....
CHLOË
Y'know, all things considered, it hasn't
been too bad a year.
BRADY
All things considered.
CHLOË
Yeah. I mean, I could've done without
the naked pictures of me on the Internet.
BRADY
I could've done without the spinal injury.
CHLOË
Totally. Not to mention the jewel thieves.
BRADY
That was less than fun.
CHLOË
But there was some good stuff.
(beat)
Like you and me. Being friends.
BRADY
Yeah.
They grin. She bumps into him. He bumps her back. They skid a little on the ice. They laugh while regaining their balance.
CHLOË
Wanna know my New Year's Resolution?
BRADY
Sure.
CHLOË
I am resolved to totally get a grip on my
priorities and...to start working on my
singing again.
BRADY
That's excellent, Chloë.
CHLOË
You'll help, won't you?
BRADY
Of course I will. But you don't need
my help.
CHLOË
Yeah I do. You know you're the only one
who can get it out of me. The emotion in
my voice? Zippo when you're not around.
You're like a muse to me.
BRADY
You're not gonna burst into a Madonna
tune now are you?
CHLOË
No. I'm just saying...I'm just saying...
thanks. For believing. For just being there.
Brady can't speak. He nods and looks down at his shoes.
CHLOË
So, you got a resolution?
BRADY
Yup.
CHLOË
Gonna tell me?
BRADY
Nope.
CHLOË
Why not?
BRADY
It's kinda personal.
CHLOË
All resolutions are personal, Brady.
That's kinda the point.
BRADY
Yeah, well, this one is the deep-dark-
shameful-secret personal kind.
CHLOË
Really? How intriguing. Okay, fine.
I'm sure you'll tell me eventually.
BRADY
Oh you are, are you?
CHLOË
Yup.
They go back to pondering the stars.
O.S. we hear the sound of the voices inside chanting.
VOICES (O.S.)
Nine! Eight! Seven!
CHLOË
Oh my gosh! It's almost midnight! C'mon!
She grabs his hand to lead him back inside.
Brady makes a quick decision and pulls her toward him instead. He puts his arms around her. She blinks at him in surprise. They look into each other's eyes...
VOICES (CONT'D; O.S.)
Two! One! Zero!
...and he kisses her.
VOICES (CONT'D; O.S.)
Happy New Year!
...and slowly, reluctantly, the kiss breaks. Their eyes stay closed, foreheads pressed together. They're both breathing hard. Brady is shaking his head slowly in disbelief.
CHLOË
Happy...um...New...something....
BRADY
That resolution didn't last two seconds.
Before she can even say "Huh?" he is kissing her again. This is passionate and hungry now, months of longing welling up and bubbling over.
CHLOË
(between kisses)
Oh...my...God...I...Brady....
BRADY
(between kisses)
Shhhh...no talk...just kiss....
Brady's kisses move down along her neck, and Chloë turns her face aside to expose the skin to him. Her eyes flutter open.
Phillip is two inches away.
CHLOË
(screams)
Phillip!
Brady looks up and gets A FIST in his face. HIS FEET slide on the icy floor and he TOPPLES BACKWARDS over the railing.
CHLOË (CONT'D)
NO!
She reaches over the railing, trying to catch him, but Phillip spins her around and grabs her by the throat.
INT. TUSCANY - CONTINUOUS
The struggle is fully visible through the doors, but no one notices.
Shawn and Belle are still kissing. John and Marlena waltz past.
JOHN
Okay, you two. Time to come up for air.
They break the kiss, giggling.
EXT. VERANDA - CONTINUOUS
Phillip has both hands on Chloë's throat. He is squeezing. His voice is oddly calm.
PHILLIP
'S'okay, Chloë, I gotcha. He's gone.
Chloë claws at his hands, but she can't get him off. Her eyes bulge. She struggles for breath.
PHILLIP (CONT'D)
Brady won't hurt you. I promise.
Chloë tries kicking him but her feet slide on the ice.
INT. TUSCANY - CONTINUOUS
Shawn and Belle are dancing again. Belle looks around curiously.
BELLE
I wonder where Chloë and Brady went.
The Wesleys waltz by.
NANCY
(singsong)
I saw them go out on the balcony, just
before midnight....
SHAWN
Well, that's a good sign.
BELLE
Yeah, but....
(beat)
I don't see Phillip either.
SHAWN
That's not a good sign.
EXT. VERANDA - CONTINUOUS
Chloë looks desperate.
PHILLIP
You look so pretty tonight, Chloë.
CHLOË
(whisper)
Please, Phillip....
PHILLIP
So beautiful....
He moves in to kiss her. As his body draws close, she KNEES HIM IN THE CROTCH. Phillip howls in pain and releases her throat. She tries to run, but slips and falls. She scrambles to her feet, but Phillip grabs her by the hair. She tries to scream for help...
...but when she opens her mouth, there's no sound.
She lunges for the door.
INT. TUSCANY - CONTINUOUS
Belle leads Shawn off the dance floor.
BELLE
I think we should find -- Oh my God!
Chloë and Phillip burst through the French doors and into the restaurant. The crowd gasps and stumbles back as they hit the ground. Phillip still has her hair. She kicks at him.
Belle and Shawn run at them to break it up. Shawn gets Phillip off Chloë and to his feet, while Belle drags Chloë away. Craig and Nancy push through the crowd to her.
Phillip struggles in Shawn's arms.
PHILLIP
Chloë!
NANCY
Keep him away from her!
PHILLIP
No!
Phillip breaks from Shawn's grasp, but BO BURSTS from the crowd and TACKLES him. Father and son get him pinned to the ground.
Victor stands, horrified, but seems frozen in place.
Meanwhile, Craig is examining Chloë's neck.
BELLE
Chloë, are you okay?!
CHLOË
(whisper)
Brady...pushed Brady...fell over....
JOHN
He did what?
John dashes onto the veranda, Marlena close on his heels.
EXT. VERANDA - CONTINUOUS
John looks around.
JOHN
(calling)
Brady! BRADY!
He looks over the railing.
ANGLE ON Brady, who lies on the ground unconscious, his leg twisted under him.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Oh my God!
John LEAPS over the railing. Marlena rushes over.
MARLENA
John! What are you --
(sees Brady)
Oh no.
(whips out cell phone; dials)
Hello, this is Dr. Marlena Evans of University
Hospital. I'm at Tuscany, and I've got two
injured people here -- yes, right away -- yes,
of course it's serious! -- and the police --
yes, the police! -- an assault -- yes, thank you --
and hurry!
She stashes the phone and runs back into the restaurant.
INT. TUSCANY - CONTINUOUS
NANCY
Craig, she's not breathing right.
CRAIG
I know. I think her trachea's partially
collapsed.
NANCY
Oh, God! Craig! Do something!
CRAIG
We gotta get her into Emergency and
get her intubated.
(to room)
Somebody call an ambulance!
(to Chloë)
It's okay, honey. It's okay. You still
getting some air?
Chloë nods.
Marlena runs into the room and brushes past Belle toward the exit.
BELLE
Mom, where's Brady?
MARLENA
It's okay, honey. An ambulance is on
its way.
BELLE
Mom!
But Marlena is out the door.
Nancy kneels next to Belle and takes Chloë from her arms.
NANCY
Go, honey.
BELLE
Thank you, Mrs. Wesley.
She dashes after her mother.
Chloë grabs desperately at Nancy. She is fighting to breathe.
CHLOË
(whisper)
Brady?
NANCY
Dr. Evans is with him, honey. He's
gonna be fine.
The paramedics and cops that Marlena called flood the room.
EXT. BENEATH THE VERANDA - MEANWHILE
John kneels by his son.
JOHN
C'mon, c'mon son! Wake up!
Speak to me, boy! Wake up!
Brady's head rolls, and he slowly comes around.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Son!
BRADY
Dad, where's Chl --
He winces and writhes in pain.
BRADY (CONT'D)
Oh God!
JOHN
It's okay. Lie still. Doc called an
ambulance. It's on it's way.
BRADY
My leg! Not again! Oh God, not
again! Please --
JOHN
Does it hurt?
BRADY
Yes it hurts!
JOHN
That's good! That's good! If you
can still feel it, it's gonna be okay.
It's not like last time. You're gonna
be okay!
Marlena rushes up and kneels beside Brady's twisted leg.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Doc --
MARLENA
It's broken, but there's no blood, which
means the bone didn't pierce the skin.
JOHN
What does that --
MARLENA
It's a good sign. He's not losing blood,
and there's less chance of infection,
but we still have to --
Belle comes running up.
BELLE
Oh God, Brady!
JOHN
Isabella, get back inside!
She ignores him and kneels beside her brother.
BELLE
Brady!
BRADY
M'okay, Tink.
But he winces and gasps again.
MARLENA
(to Belle)
Is Dr. Wesley with Chloë?
BELLE
Yes.
(beat; quiet)
She's having trouble breathing.
Brady tries to sit up. John forces him back down.
BRADY
Chloë!
JOHN
She's in good hands, son. The Wesleys
are with her. You just think about
you, okay?
BELLE
It's okay, Brady. It's gonna be okay...
(beat; to Marlena)
...isn't it?