Fee Fo Final Chapter 11

SCENE 26B

INT: WILL DARCY'S CABIN IN NORTH CAROLINA – EVENING

(A twenty-something sits at a dining table. Darcy puts a plate in front of her.)

GEORGIA: I see your culinary skills are improving.

DARCY: You be the judge.

G: Only if you tell me what is going on with you, Will. You've been sulking all weekend. Does this have anything to do with that cute redhead from Houston?

D: No.

G: Oh, that was truly convincing, Will. Please tell me about her, then, if it's not her that upset you.

(Darcy sighs and knows he's caught.)

D: OK, Georgia, you win. Yes, it is the redhead. Her name is Reba and she won't get out of my head for some reason. There is no rational reason for me to even give her the time of day.

G: You're looking for a rational reason that she's on your mind? Such as?

D: Well, she is very clever. She's an avid reader. She thinks well on her feet and usually her remarks are thought through. I've never heard her malign anyone personally, though she takes people to task on their thought processes. She has a wonderfully earthy sense of humor, and an amazingly powerful and controlled singing voice. She has a successful business and many friends. I have seen her encourage shy people and stand up to verbal bullies.

G: Sounds like a perfectly rational woman.

D: But her family is a mess. Her ex-husband still hangs around with his new wife and they're having problems, surprise, surprise. She's got that twangy accent when she talks and often brings it into her singing as well, whining and sliding her lower jaw like she's chewing on beef jerky. Her daughter and son-in-law are not from the deep end of the gene pool, and frankly, that whole Barbara Jean obsession thing is just a little creepy to me.

(Georgia listens as he rambles, having no idea who these people are.)

G: I think you need to let me meet her.

D: That's not really possible. We didn't part on the best of terms.

G: Oh, Will, you didn't hurt her feelings?

D: I hurt hers; she hurt mine.

G: Surely not intentionally.

D: Georgia, I can't explain it; it's too complex.

(Georgia looks at him.)

D: She doesn't want me, Georgia.

G: I can't believe that she knows you, then. Any woman who really knows you would fall in love with you instantly.

(Darcy hugs his sister.)

D: Oh, Georgia, you're the perfect baby sister! But I insulted her. In my pride, I put down her entire family and made a preposterous presumption. I told her that despite my misgivings about her bizarre family and her lack of social connections, I wanted her to marry me. And I fully expected her to accept just because of who I am.

(Georgia pulls away during this recitation, then pops him on the arms when he's done.)

G: You pompous ass!

D: Yeah, that's what she should have called me, but she showed remarkable restraint.

G: Well,100 points for Reba and negative 10,000 for you.

D: Anyway, I wrote her an e-mail apologizing and attempting to explain why she needed to steer clear ofMike Wickham.

G: Oh, my goodness,was he about to…

D: Who knows, the letch. Anyway, I did all I could do. If she had forgiven me, she would have written back.

G: You feel unforgiven.

D: That, too, but mostly, I just want to know that she is happy and free of Wickham, that her life is going well and hopefully she bears no lasting scars from my mistakes.

(Georgia hugged him again, but without looking at him,says:)

G: You still love her, though, don't you?

(Darcy swallows and closes his eyes.)

D: Her hair is the most incredible mix of amber, gold, auburn, and cardamom. She has elegant hands – like a prima ballerina, but she's she hardest working woman I've ever met. Her eyes sparkle when she's intent on making a point. She has a quick smile, but when she's thinking and no one is watching, her lips part and I just…I'm just gone.

(He sighs and winces.)

D: Just…gone.

(Georgia looks at him finally.)

G: I'm so sorry, Will. But there's always hope.

D: I'm afraid not in this case. In what instance could I ever see her again? In what scenario would she even stoop to looking at me?

G: Never say never. Now tell me- what kinds of books does she like?

SCENE 27

EXT: BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS – FALL – THREE MONTHS LATER - AFTERNOON

(Reba, Cheyenne,Van, and Elizabeth and Baby Denver are at Mount Pisgah Park Restaurant)

R: The colors are incredible.

(Baby starts crying and Reba picks him up out of the high chair.)

CHEY: Mom, he's never going to stop crying if you pick him up whenever he starts.

R: We're in a public place, Cheyenne. You just don't let your baby ruin other people's dinners just to teach him a lesson.

ELIZABETH: Grammie, can we go to the gift shop?

V: I think somebody's got her eye on another Beanie Baby.

R: Don't say that word in my presence,Van.

(Reba stands up with the baby and takes E's hand.)

CHEY: Well, we did promise her one on this trip.

R: Let's let Mom and Dad have some together time.

(She takes them into the gift shop. Elizabeth heads straight for the stuffed animals. Reba hears an oddly familiar voice.)

D: Look, Georgia, they have a DVD of Monty Python's Dead Parrot sketch! Let me get it for you!

(Their eyes meet at the same time. Georgia looks from one to the other, smiling.)

G: Will! Introduce me!

D: (recovering) Georgia, this is Reba Hart from Houston. Reba, this is my sister, Georgia Darcy.

R: I've heard so many wonderful things about you, Georgia. It's good to finally meet you.

D: And who is this young man?

R: This is my grandson, Denver Montgomery. My granddaughter Elizabeth is over there in the Beanie Babies.

(She sighs.)

D: Too much BJ influence?

R: No, I'm afraid that was just some twisted mutant gene.

D: Are Van and Cheyenne here,too?

R: (shocked that he would ask) Yes, we left them at the table arguing about directions.

D: Well, can I suggest a brief hour's stop-over at our cabin for maps fresh off the Internet, some incredibly sinful brownies and ice cream made by Georgia, and an entire playroom full of toddler toys for Denver and dolls for Elizabeth?

R: I wouldn't dream of imposing on the spur of the moment…

G: Oh, please, Reba, we are so bored. I madeWill take a vacation and he's at loose ends without work, so he forces me to go on long hikes with nothing but water and one apple…

D: You've never been in better shape even with a trainer. You know you love it.

G:…And then he grills me on the flora and fauna of the region.

R: At least he didn't put rocks in your backpack.

(Georgia eyes Will)

R: You didn't.

G: Oh, come home with us, Reba. We can sing a duet and Will can play for us.

R: Just do me a favor.

D: What's that?

R: Don't ask Cheyenne to perform.