A Saturday Morning Movie
After brushing his teeth, Brady walked into the living room. He looked around and saw that the television and the VCR were on, but Chloe was missing.
Br: (to himself) Where is she?
Upstairs, Chloe was feverishly brushing her teeth. After she rinsed and gargled, she ran into her room, snatching the comforter off her bed. She turned out the light and headed downstairs, carrying the comforter in her arms.
Br: (looking up) There you are.
Ch: (walking downstairs) What, were you worried?
Br: A little.
Ch: You really need to break that habit. (showing the blanket) In case it gets too late.
Chloe walked to the couch and sat down.
Ch: Um, Brady, where's the snacks?
Br: (sitting down) Diva, we just had chicken and BLTs. Aren't you full yet?
Ch: No. (looking at Brady) Ha! I told you I could eat you under the table.
Br: You must be very proud.
Ch: (standing up) I am. Do you want anything? Popcorn? Chips?
Br: No, I'm fine.
Ch: (walking to the kitchen) Okay, but don't start the movie yet. I want it to be a surprise.
Br: Okay.
Brady sat on the couch and stared at the blue screen. He leaned on the couch and waited. Chloe came out of the kitchen with a nectarine.
Br: (sitting up) A nectarine? Why didn't you tell me you had nectarines?
Ch: Hello, I didn't know you were into them. And I thought you were full.
Br: I am, but I always have room for nectarines.
Ch: Well, they're in the crisper, if you want one.
Br: (leaning on the couch) I'll get one later. (looking at the TV) Well, let's start the movie. I assume it's something you already have.
Ch: (smiling) Yeah.
Br: And it's something we've already seen.
Ch: (smiling) Uh huh.
Brady thought for a moment.
Br: Is it Moulin Rouge, starring leggy Nicole Kidman, corseted in all of her red-headed glory?
Ch: (glaring) And don't forget yummy Ewen McGregor, in all of his innocent, yet smolderingly sexy glory.
Br: (annoyed) Well, is it?
Ch: (sighing) No, but you're close. Close your eyes.
Brady obliged as he waited for the movie's audio to provide a clue. He heard a familiar overture swell, as he smiled in recognition.
Br: (smirking) Can I open my eyes, now?
Ch: (slyly) Sure.
Maria:
The hills are alive… with the sound of music…
Br: You never get tired of this, do you?
Ch: As a matter of fact… no.
Chloe smiled as she took a bite from her nectarine. Brady watched her as she savored it. She looked over at him and smiled.
Ch: (giggling) Would you like a bite?
Br: (eyes gleaming) Yeah.
Ch: (sitting up) Okay, but please leave me with something, besides the seed.
Brady held her hand as he guided the fruit to his lips. His eyes locked on hers as he bit into it. She smiled as he savored the juiciness of it.
Ch: (smiling) How was it?
Br: (looking at her) Succulent.
Ch: (bringing the fruit to her mouth) Did you have any doubt?
Br: (leaning back and watching her) No.
Chloe took another bite and turned her attention to the movie.
Ch: Guess what my favorite part of the movie is.
Br: (wryly) Sixteen, going on seventeen…
Ch: Good guess, but no.
Br: (reaching for the fruit) The lonely goat herd…
Ch: No.
Br: (biting the fruit) So long, farewell…
Ch: No.
Br: (sitting up) Oh, I know. It's the part when Rolf literally blew the whistle on the von Trapps.
Ch: (snatching the fruit) No way!
Br: (sarcastically) It is too. Man, that's pretty evil. Instead of calling you Diva, I should be calling you Devil Woman.
Ch: (laughing) I'll tell you when it's on.
Br: Okay, Devil Woman, but it better not be…
Ch: It isn't…
~*~
Rolf:
You wait, little girl, on an empty stage
For fate to turn the light on
Your life, little girl, is an empty page
That men will want to write on
Ch: (looking at Brady) …to write on.
Shaking his head as he laughed, he returned his gaze to the TV.
Br: This is it, isn't it?
Ch: No, I told you earlier…
Brady hummed along with Rolf and Chloe chimed in.
Br: Hey, this is my verse.
Ch: I like this song too.
Br: (slyly) No, you like Rolf. I can see you sprouting horns and hooves, Devil Woman. You love Rolf.
Ch: (hitting him) Stop it.
~*~
Br: (leaning on her shoulder) Baroness Schraeder… purrrrrrrrrr
Ch: (dropping her shoulder) Eww. I hate her.
Br: I don't like her either, but she is hot!
Ch: She's a witch.
Br: … who is hot.
Ch: It figures that you would go for her.
Br: (looking at her) What is that supposed to mean?
Ch: (feigning indifference) You do have a penchant for blondes, i.e., Nicole Walker.
Br: I wasn't aware that I did or that you were paying attention.
Ch: (covering) I wasn't. It's just that… the Baroness is totally wrong for Captain von Trapp.
Br: I agree, but there isn't anything wrong with him having some fun with her.
Ch: I bet more than a few men have said the same thing about Nicole. The similarities between the Baroness and Nicole are astounding.
Br: (looking at Chloe) Don't worry, the Baroness will be out of the picture soon.
Ch: (under her breath) Yeah, but will Nicole?
~*~
Maria:
High on the hill was a lonely goat herd…
Br: (voice cracking) Yodel….
Ch: (making a face) If you are my friend, you will never do that again.
Br: (resting on her shoulder) Not your favorite part, huh?
Ch: No. And after 'your tribute', never again.
~*~
Chloe relaxed in Brady's arms.
Ch: (whispering) This is it, Brady.
Chloe smiled as the captain watched Maria, strolling in the garden. He followed her to the gazebo and they engaged in an emotional dance. Chloe grew giddy as Maria and Captain von Trapp tiptoed around their feelings. Then it happened. Captain von Trapp uttered, in the same breath, that his engagement to the Baroness was over and that he loved Maria. Chloe became as breathless as Maria.
Ch: (whispering) Isn't it wonderful, Brady? (looking up) Brady…
His eyes were closed, his head tilted to the side. Chloe stared at him, hoping that he was just resting his eyes. When she heard his soft snore, she realized it was a lost cause. There was a part of her that was somewhat relieved that he didn't see her when the captain confessed his love. She slowly returned her gaze to the movie. She felt herself blushing as Maria and the captain experienced their first kiss. Maria's breath caught as she relaxed in his arms. Chloe placed her fingers to her lips, trying to hold in her excitement. When the music began, she closed her eyes.
Maria:
Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
Chloe opened her eyes and looked at Brady's sleeping face.
Maria:
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth
Chloe placed her head on his chest.
Maria:
For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
Chloe closed her eyes and listened to his heart.
Maria:
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Chloe opened her eyes and carefully pulled away from him. She became embarrassed that she was reenacting Maria and Captain von Trapp's love story with an unconscious Brady, especially when she was only his friend. Although there wasn't enough room on the couch, she inched away from him. She tried to get her bearings and returned to watching the movie. Brady slowly lowered his head onto her shoulder. When he nuzzled her neck, she tensed up, only to relax, as she watched him sleep.
Captain:
For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
Chloe couldn't resist the urge to rake Brady's cow licked hair with her fingers. A crooked smile crept across his face.
Maria:
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Chloe pulled the blanket onto Brady's shoulders and rested her head on his, as she curled up on the couch.
Maria and Captain:
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
Chloe turned her head and sniffed his hair.
Maria:
So somewhere in my youth
Brady sighed in his sleep.
Captain:
Or childhood
Chloe tenderly kissed his head.
Maria:
I must have done something…
Brady draped his arm around her shoulder and snuggled her.
Maria and Captain:
Something good
Chloe carefully reached for the remote and looked at Brady.
Ch: (pressing rewind) One more time.
~*~
Nancy quietly walked downstairs. She approached the living room, which was illuminated in blue, from the TV. The blue light bathed the two sleeping figures on the couch. As she walked toward the couch, she saw Brady and Chloe in each other's arms. She became alarmed, for a moment, but she approached them. She brushed Chloe's hair away from her sleeping face and tried to wake her. Chloe murmured and buried her head in Brady's chest. Nancy touched Brady's shoulder.
N: (quietly) Brady…
Brady slowly roused from his sleep. He looked up at Nancy, then felt Chloe's arms around him. He looked down at her sleeping face and returned his gaze to Nancy.
N: (quietly) Brady, can you help me with her? I can't wake her.
Brady looked down at Chloe. He carefully tried to loosen her grip without waking her. It didn't work.
Ch: (whimpering) What are you doing, Brady?
N: (quietly) We're trying to get you to bed.
Ch: (drowsy) But we didn't finish the movie.
Br: (whispering) I know, Diva.
Brady slowly stood up.
N: Come on, sweetie. Let's go upstairs.
Chloe sunk into the couch. Nancy looked at Brady.
N: Brady, can you take her?
Brady nodded. He scooped her into his arms as Nancy covered Chloe with the blanket. Brady slowly carried Chloe upstairs. After Nancy turned off the TV and VCR, she followed them.
Ch: (drowsy) Where are we going?
Br: (quietly) To your bedroom.
Ch: (whimpering) We have to finish the movie.
Br: (quietly) We'll finish it, some other time.
Ch: (whimpering) When?
Br: (quietly) Soon.
Nancy opened Chloe's bedroom door and Brady carried her inside, carefully placing her on the bed. Chloe curled up, as Nancy covered her with the blankets.
Ch: (whimpering) I want to finish the movie, Mom.
N: You will, but you need your rest.
Ch: (whimpering) It's our last night together.
Nancy looked at Brady and motioned him to go to Chloe.
Br: (kneeling next to the bed) It isn't our last night together.
Ch: (drowsy) Yes, it is. You won't be back.
Br: (touching her cheek) Yes, I will. I promise.
Ch: (looking in his eyes) You need to rest. You're taking the weekend off.
Br: I can amend my promise…
Ch: No. You need to rest. (sadly) I'll just have to wait.
N: (quietly) Chloe, sweetie, try to get some rest.
Nancy kissed her cheek.
N: 'Night, baby.
Ch: (drowsy) 'Night, Mom. (looking at Brady) 'Night, Bambi.
Br: (making a face) Um, 'night, Thumper.
Nancy and Brady quietly exited Chloe's room. Nancy watched as Brady loped down the stairs. Brady went to the guest room and stripped down to his jockeys. He crawled into bed, cradling a pillow underneath him. He placed his head on it and closed his eyes.
Br: (to himself) Bambi?
*** The preceding chapter contains lyrics featured in The Sound of Music. Richard Rodgers composed the music and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics to the following: The Sound of Music, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, The Lonely Goatherd, and Something Good.