Author's Note: Ack! Another one! These things are infectious, I tell you! Aheh. Okay, these won't keep coming. It's just that I did the last one, and this one followed naturally. Slight change in cast for this one though.

Anise Delacroix is walking briskly down the corridor, shaking her head, and she reaches the tower passage, entering to climb the ladder. Footsteps are heard rushing up behind her, and Tom Sawyer bursts onto the scene, surging up the ladder after her, wearing a stupid, enthusiastic grin.

TOM:

[eagerly]

Love is a many splendoured thing! Love lifts us up where we belong! All you need is love!

Anise reaches the top of the ladder, sighing, shaking her head again.

ANISE:

[pleading]

Please, don't start that again.

Anise pushes out onto the tower, and walks into the centre of the promenade, Tom right behind her. He laughs quietly, cocking his head, before he does something that catches Anise by surprise.

TOM:

[singing enthusiastically to her]

All you need is Love!

Though she is surprised by the sudden turn of events from her companion, she shakes her head stubbornly, putting on a brave face as she turns away, as though exasperated.

ANISE:

[matter of fact]

A girl has got to eat.

Unshaken by the dejection, Tom pushes up behind her, and repeats himself:

TOM:

All you need is love!

ANISE:

Or she'll end up on the street!

TOM:

All you need is love!

Anise sighs, lowering her head a little, and closing her brown eyes. Softly, she sings as well.

ANISE:

[almost sadly]

Love is just a game…

Tom is not put down by this either, almost as though he hasn't heard it. He pushes around in front of her, and circles her, almost playfully predatory in his motions.

TOM:

I was made for loving you baby,

You were made for loving me.

Anise turns with him, following him mainly with her eyes, as she tilts her head, and puts on a smile.

ANISE:

[somewhat darkly]

The only way of loving me baby,

Is to pay a lovely fee.

Tom almost pouts, and pulls a momentarily sad face, before pushing closer to her.

TOM:

Just one night,

Just one night…

She pushes Tom away, and he staggers back, jaw dropped with a laugh. She shakes her head stubbornly.

ANISE:

There's no way,

Cause you can't pay!

Tom runs past her, and with a gasp, Anise watches as he hops up onto the conning tower railing, grabbing one of the poles to swing around as he regards her again.


TOM:

In the name of love,

One night in the name of love!


Anise is watching him with wide eyes, shocked at his behaviour, and she moves towards him as if to pull him down chidingly.

ANISE:

You crazy fool,

I won't give in to you.


Tom hops down, and his tone goes with him as he lands before her, making her start slightly. He takes one of her hands in his, looking saddened.

TOM:

Don't… leave me this way,

I can't survive,

Without your sweet love,

Oh baby, don't leave me this way…


Anise pulls back from him, taking her hand away, and turns to the ocean at the side of the railing, the wind playing through her chocolate-coloured hair as she sings to the waves.

ANISE:

You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs…

Tom is by her side, and he regards her as he leans on the railing in a casual way, with one elbow.

TOM:

I look around me,

And I see it isn't so,

No…

ANISE:

Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs…

As he starts, Tom walks around her, singing into her ear at the beginning, and then slowly growing more confident, and increasing his volume. As he walks back, away from her, he is always facing her, locking eyes.

TOM:

Well, what's wrong with that?

I'd like to know,

Cause, here I go again!

[grins]

Love lifts us up where we belong,

Where eagles fly on a mountain high!


Anise follows him, as if backing him into a corner, in a challenge.

ANISE:

Love makes us act like we are fools,

Throw our lives away,

For one happy day!

TOM:

We could be heroes!

[winks]

Just for one day…


Anise turns and walks away again, with Tom hot on her heels as she tries to dissuade him again, despite his vehemence.

ANISE:

You… you will be mean…

His grin spreads at this comment.

TOM:

[laughing slightly]

No, I won't!

It appears as though she is pulling excuses from everywhere now.

ANISE:

[shrugs]

And I… I'll drink all the time!

Unwavering in his insistence, Tom takes her directly to the railing, moving swiftly, as though time is of the essence, and his voice is loud now, almost trying to encourage her to get caught up in the song.

TOM:

We should be lovers!


Another shake of her head, as she looks away from him.

ANISE:

[softly]

We can't do that…

He turns her head back, first to him, then out to sea again.

TOM:

We should be lovers,

And that's a fact.


Anise turns to him, and gives him a pleading look.

ANISE:

Though nothing will keep us together.

Tom takes her by the shoulders, looking down at her squarely.

TOM:

We could steal time,

Just for one day.


Anise sees the look in his eyes, and the two stare into each other's gaze for a moment, before Tom prompts her into singing along with him. As they sing, they regard each other and the ocean alternatively, as though filled with a new hope.

BOTH:

We could be heroes,

Forever and ever!

We could be heroes,

Forever and ever!

We could be heroes…


Tom releases Anise completely, and throws his head back, overtaken with emotion for a moment.

TOM:

Just because I will always love you.

Anise turns to him, and their voices blend beautifully as their words mingle.

ANISE:

I can't help loving you…

[happy sigh]

How wonderful life is…


It appears she's convinced… they turn face to face, and sing directly to one another, their voices soft and affectionate, tender almost in their sound. Tom is smiling, and though Anise is not, the light in her eyes shows her contentment.

BOTH:

Now, you're in the…

[pause]

World…

With a smile, Anise leans her head up, and the two kiss.