Chapter 6:

OPEN ON:

WEDDING DAY!

INT. CHURCH – BRIDAL SUITE – AFTERNOON

MARTHA: Wow! You look absolutely stunning, Tatum!

Tatum is standing in the mirror, fully adorned in her wedding dress, the choker around her neck, her makeup on point. Gentle curls frame her face. Behind her, Renee fusses with the gown. The other bridesmaids, Carrie, Tanya and Leslie stand there in their bridesmaid outfits.

RENEE: Hold still! Ugh, this dress is outrageous! Why couldn't you have picked something more traditional?

CARRIE: Sorry that your daughter's taste clashes with your uppity, snobby sensibilities.

RENEE: Wonderful choice in friends, Tatum. Is this how you let them speak to your mother?

The door opens – Gale enters, full-on dressed for the occasion. She warmly embraces Tatum as Renee steps aside.

GALE: Tatum! You look stunning! Billy won't be able to keep his eyeballs in his head.

TATUM: Thanks Gale. (Beat) I mean it. Thanks for everything, letting me live with you and Dewey for the past couple years. You've been like a mother to me. (She glares at Renee who rolls her eyes)

Gale senses some awkwardness.

GALE: Well, much of the thanks should go to your actual mother. And since she's the one paying for the whole wedding – I'm going whole hog on the lobster rolls.

RENEE: Well, at least my son married someone with a sense of fine cuisine. If Tatum had her way, we'd be serving our guests eggrolls.

Gale turns to Tatum and puts her hand on her shoulder.

GALE: But I bet they would have been the most delicious eggrolls ever.

TATUM: (smiling) Thanks Gale.

GALE: In any event, I should be getting back to Dewey. I just wanted to get a sneak peek of the beautiful blushing bride.

Gale leans in to hug Tatum and whispers into her ear.

GALE: (whispering) Don't worry about her. She gave me grief on my wedding day too. I ended up decking her one.

Gale smiles warmly at the rest of the bridesmaids before gracefully exiting the room.

RENEE: Now, if there're no more interruptions -.

The door opens again and Renee throws her hands up in frustration. Her eyes lock on to the newest visitor and pure, unadulterated rage fills her very being.

RENEE: (losing her composure) Aaaw, crap!

A middle-aged man, beard grizzled, tie askew enters, drink in hand. Tatum's eyes light up.

TATUM: Daddy!

She throws herself onto him and he laughs.

MR. RILEY: Hey Munchkin!

TATUM: You came all the way from Florida?

MR. RILEY: You didn't think I was gonna miss my little potato's big day, did 'ya?

RENEE: John. I wasn't expecting you to show.

JOHN RILEY: Huh? Why not?

RENEE: Let's see – high school graduation – no-show. College – nope, no Daddy. And when your little potato was almost kebabbed twice in two separate murder sprees – why, there was no John! (Beat) Please tell me you didn't bring Crissi?

TATUM: (nudging Carrie) His 25-year old new model.

JOHN: Now, let's not all fight. It's a wedding! It's bad juju!

RENEE: One thing I can agree with.

JOHN: Can – can I just have a moment alone with my daughter?

Renee sneers, but motions for the rest to follow. John watches the wedding party leave and it's just him and Tatum.

JOHN: You really look so beautiful, honey.

TATUM: Thanks, Daddy.

John sits down.

JOHN: I know I haven't been around for a lot of things – mostly to avoid your mother. But I wasn't about to miss this. My pumpkin's big day!

TATUM: Well – I can't blame you for avoiding Mom. But – still. Everything else -?

JOHN: I know, I know. I didn't even make it to Dewey's wedding with Gale. I paid for their honeymoon though!

TATUM: Dad – let's be real. What happened all those years ago? Why did you leave mom? I mean, besides the obvious mom being mom and all …

JOHN: (sighs) Your mom was dishonest about quite a few things. She kept a lot from me and from you and Dewey. He was too little to remember clearly … I don't regret leaving her but I do regret leaving you and Dewey. But I had to go. The lies and mental games were too much! The reason I left was -.

MAN'S VOICE: Ahem.

The minister is standing there, religious robes over his shoulders and a Bible in hands.

MINISTER: We're ready when you are.

Tatum gives John a peck on the cheek.

TATUM: We'll talk later.

She gets up and nods.

INT. CHURCH SANCTUARY - AFTERNOON

The church is packed full of friends and family of the Loomis' and the Riley's. The bridal party includes Mrs. Loomis, Carrie, Martha, Tanya and Leslie. On the other side, Billy stands at attention in a tux. Greg stands next to him and Dewey beside him. Gale sits in the front row with Billy's mother, DEBBIE LOOMIS. And of course, Greg's girlfriend, Mona, who sits there, arms folded spitefully that she wasn't included in the wedding party.

The music begins: "Here Comes the Bride."

Dewey leans in and clasps Billy's shoulder.

DEWEY: Ready partner?

BILLY: (nodding) To be with the girl I love for the rest of our lives? Longer than you know.

The minister takes his place. Tatum appears at the end of the church and the audience gasps at the sight of her. Billy's mouth falls open at the first look and tears well in his eyes.

BILLY: She's incredible …

Tatum isn't used to this amount of attention, but she takes it all in stride. She nervously walks down the aisle, past friends and family. She makes eye contact with John who is sitting near the front. He smiles encouragingly and she finds newfound resolve. She makes it to the end of the aisle and turns, facing Billy. She smiles at him as the music stops.

MINISTER: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of these two in holy matrimony.

The minister continues speaking. Tatum stares at Billy and mouths "I love you" to him. He whispers it back as the preacher opens his Bible.

MINISTER: A reading from scripture. "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevered. Love never fails." So the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Now is the time for the saying of the vows. The groom may go first.

BILLY: (looking heartfully at Tatum) Tatum … whether by fate or by God's will, we found each other. No matter how many times we drifted apart, walked out of each other's lives, we were brought back together. When two people share one soul, no force can ever truly drive them apart. I promise to always love you, to be your rock when you need support, to be a cushion to fall on … I want to make new memories with you. I want to experience parenthood with you, to look into a baby's eyes and see your eyes reflected back at me. I want to sail across every ocean, jump every gulf. I vow, now and forever, to always cherish you and to always hold you in the highest regard. To always be honest with you. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our lives.

Tatum looks up at Billy. Tears are forming. She looks out at the audience, at the bridesmaids, at the groomsmen. Dewey is wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. She realizes she has to tell Billy – tell everyone. She sighs.

TATUM: Billy – there is something I've been holding in. Something I should have told you from the day I found out. I – (she resolves herself). Billy, I have ca-

THE DOORS TO THE CHURCH ARE KICKED OPEN!

The crowd gasps as DEPUTY HICKS and several police officers swarm the area. But they are not alone. A half dozen PANTHYR guards are swarming the church including Ned and Angelique, rifles raised. All aimed at Billy.

MINISTER: What is the meaning of this? In the house of God?

The PANTHYR guards part ways to reveal Governor Terrence and Mayor Osborne. The mayor looks highly uncomfortable, but the Governor is smiling his toothy grin.

GOVERNOR TERRENCE: Please excuse the interruption. We apologize for the disruption of this special day. (Nods to a cop)

The crowd gasps as Billy is placed in handcuffs!

TATUM: What are you doing?!

GOVERNOR TERRENCE: Billy Loomis – you are under arrest for the murder of Candace Daniels and several others.

BILLY: What?

DEWEY: Governor – you don't have any proof -.

GOVERNOR TERRENCE: She received several calls from his office line before she was murdered. The killer uploaded a video of the murder of one of her colleagues … it came from Billy's IP address.

BILLY: WHAT?!

The audience is murmuring and in shock. Two PANTHYR guards grab Billy, roughly shoving him down off the altar, leading him away as he struggles.

BILLY: I didn't do anything! Dewey! Tatum! I didn't!

TATUM: (storming up to Terrence) Governor, he couldn't have – he was with me last night!

GOVERNOR TERRENCE: Really? The whole night? Can you back that up? Because according to our records, you purchased a plane ticket from NYC last night.

He stares at her as she looks down, defeated.

Billy is still struggling as he's led away. Gale stands up and yells.

GALE: Billy!

The guards stop for a second and Billy stares at her.

GALE: I'll find out who really did this – you'll be free soon, I promise!

The guards lead Billy out the door. In the front, Renee smirks, relieved that the wedding was interrupted.

Meanwhile, Dewey stares at Deputy Hicks who stares back defiantly. The mayor seems embarrassed to have stormed a church in the middle of the wedding. The governor, however, is smiling. He walks down the aisle, waving at everyone, grinning and blowing kisses.

GOVERNOR TERRENCE: I'll be having a rally tonight! Don't forget – vote Terrence!