Date: Monday May 22, 2006
Adam's p.o.v
Heavy hearted, Joan walks into my art studio. I am building a sculpture in her honor. "Hello, Jane" smiling, I acknowledge her presence. "Adam, you might
become the next great Michelangelo" Joan predicts. "Only in my dreams" I laugh. "It has been two days since we have graduated from high school. I know
that you have already started making your plans for the future" Joan continues. "So what is your point?" suspicious, I wonder. "I am pregnant. I discovered
that I was pregnant on May eleventh. I missed my period, therefore I took a pregnancy test. The test results turned out to be positive. I didn't tell you
sooner because our high school graduation was coming up. I thought it would be better for me to tell you about the pregnancy afterwards. I am planning to
keep the baby. My parents support me. I hope you will to" sobbing, she explains. Her announcement changes my life forever. Being a father will be the
greatest challenge of a lifetime. ON other hand, Joan needs my support. I provide comfort for her in the present time. I vow to take care of our growing
family.
Date: 10-10-2006
Scene: The hospital-Obgyn's office-Ultrasound test
Situation: Joan is having her first ultrasound test
Joan (admiring her growing baby bump): I have a little baby in my tummy
Adam (touching Joan's stomach): I know
Obgyn (placing a fetal heart monitor on Joan's stomach): Now let us see how this little baby is doing?
Joan (excited): Definitely
Obgyn (showing Joan and Adam a sonogram of the baby): This is your beautiful baby girl
Adam: We didn't want to know the baby's gender, but it is what it is
Joan (overcome with emotion): I am going to have a daughter
Adam (looking at the sonogram): The baby is as small as a tadpole
Obgyn: The baby will get bigger with time, trust me
Adam (to Joan): We are going to have a daughter, can you believe it?
Joan (crying, she kisses Adam): I love you
Adam (smiling): I love you too
Joan (touching her stomach, she talks to the baby): Hello, Baby Hope
Date: 10-11-2006
Scene: The Bookstore
Situation: Cute Boy God visits Joan at work
Cute Boy God(approaching Joan): Hello, Joan
Joan(startled, she drops some books on the ground): Hello, God
Cute Boy God(helping Joan to pick up the books): I am sorry for frightening you
Joan: Among all the places in the world, you had to visit me at the bookstore. I am very busy with work today so I don't have time for you.
Cute Boy God: You can never hide yourself from me because I will always find you. I will always have time for you in my schedule.
Joan: God has a sense of humor
Cute Boy God: You have been ignoring me since May seventh. How long are you going to continue ignoring me?
Joan: You are not real so I don't really have to feel a thing for you
Cute Boy God: I created you in my image, never forget that
Joan: But still there hasn't been any scientific evidence
Cute Boy God: I am real no matter what you may think
Joan: I need proof of your existence
Cute Boy God: You should read the bible
Joan: I can't understand the bible because it is hard to read
Cute Boy God: It is not my fault that you are pregnant. It is a little thing called having free will.
Joan: I hate free will
Cute Boy God: But the other Joan embraced it
Joan: I am not Joan of Arc so please don't make me into her. I don't love you enough to want to die for you.
Cute Boy God: Anyway, how are things going with you and Adam?
Joan: Adam loves me and I love him back in return. We are looking forward to our baby's arrival. Hope, this is will be the name of our unborn daughter.
Cute Boy God: Imperfect, everybody hurts sometimes. The question is will you care enough to love me after you lose hope in everything else?
Joan (confused): I don't understand
Cute Boy God (walking out of the bookstore): I will talk to you later, Joan
Sammy(yelling at Joan): Please stop daydreaming and get back to work
Joan (getting back to work): Ok
Date: 10-12-06
Scene: The Morning-Joan and Adam's bedroom
(Tired, Adam rests in the bed while Joan is in the bathroom urinating)
Joan (crying, she screams from the bathroom): Adam!
Adam (worried, he runs into the bathroom): Yes, what is your problem?
Joan (shows Adam some blood clots in the toilet): I urinated and blood clots came out of my body
Adam (choked up): I know it isn't normal for pregnant women to have blood clots
Joan (putting the blood clots in a plastic bag): I need to go to the hospital right now
Scene 2: The hospital-Obgyn's office
Joan (giving the doctor the bag containing the blood clots): Blood clots came out of my body when I urinated in the toilet this morning.
Obgyn(looking into the bag): I see
Adam (anxious): So is everything alright with the baby?
Obgyn(placing a fetal monitor on Joan's stomach): I don't know,but let me check
Joan (praying): OH GOD, please save my baby
Adam (assuring Joan): Our baby is alive
Obgyn(showing Joan and Adam an image of the baby): I can see the fetus and its body is not moving. No fetal heartbeat can be located on the ultrasound. Your daughter died as the result of a miscarriage.
Joan (heartbroken, she sobs): I miss my baby
Adam (devastated): No!
Obgyn(giving Joan some pills): The baby needs to be delivered in order for you to feel better. These pills will be able increase your contractions. Your labor should start either tomorrow or the next few days.
Joan (sniffling): OK
Adam (kissing Joan): I love you
Date: 10-13-2006
Scene: Adam and Joan's bathroom-the bathtub
Situation: Joan is in labor and it is Adam's job to deliver the child in the bathtub.
Joan(entering the final stages of labor, she cries out in pain): Adam, is it time for me to push yet?
Adam (checking Joan's cervix): You are fully dilated so you can start pushing right now
Joan (struggling with an extremely painful contraction, she screams and begins pushing): AHA..AHA..AHA
Adam (holding a tiny dead baby girl in his arms): Hope is finally here
Joan (exhausted from pushing): Hope is so tiny and yet beautiful
Adam(putting Hope in a shoe box): Rest in peace, my angel
Joan (sobbing): We should bury Hope in the cemetery after her memorial service
Adam (kissing Joan): I love you
Joan (sniffling): I love you too
Date: 10-14-2006
Scene: The Cemetery
Situation: Hope's Funeral
Joan (crying, she holds the shoebox containing the dead fetus): Goodbye, my angel
Adam (choked up): Hope will never be forgotten for as long as her spirit remains here with us
Joan (giving the shoebox to the pastor): We can bury the baby now
Pastor (burying the shoebox in the ground): Rest in peace, precious beloved child of God
Joan (crying in Helen's arms): Mom, I miss my baby. Judith is gone and now so is Hope.
Helen (consoling Joan): Joan, God will give you and Adam more children in the future
Joan (angry, she breaks out of Helen's embrace): Please don't mention him meaning God to me anymore. I am suffering right now
because of him.
Helen: Joan, thats not true
Joan (hysterical): I don't understand why I am in so pain if he does love me
Will: Joan, God must be testing your faith
Joan (yelling): I don't believe you
Kevin: Joan, you need to calm down. You might disturb the dead from resting in peace.
Joan: Please shut up, Kevin
Luke: Joan, I am very deeply sorry for your loss. What can I do to ease your pain?
Joan (sobbing): I am dying inside myself. Why have you decided to open your eyes now instead of during the times when I needed you the most?
Luke: I was blind to the truth
Joan: Unbelievable
Carl Rove: We all are here for you now. That has to count for something, right?!
Joan(looking down at the ground): Somewhat
Adam (pulling Joan into a tight embrace, he kisses her): I love you
Joan (becoming emotional again): I love you too
Adam: Eventually things will get better with time
Joan (doubtful): What if..
Adam: Nomore What ifs, Jane. Let us dream and think positive thoughts.
(Joan kisses Adam one more time then she pays a visit to Judith's grave. Heartbroken, Joan pours out her heart before Judith in the form of tears. Patiently, God stands in the shadows waiting to embrace Joan)
Date: 4-1-2007
Scene: The Park-Adam and Joan are having a picnic; they are accompanied by their beloved beagle named Sassy.
Situation: Adam asks a nineteen year old Joan Girardi to marry him
Joan (patting her beagle named Sassy): You are just so adorable, oh, yes you are
(Delighted, Sassy barks making Adam and Joan laugh)
Adam: I love Sassy as if she was my own child
Joan: I am looking forward to the day when Sassy will give us grandchildren. I will love the puppies nearly as much as I love her.
Adam (talking to Joan): I can't imagine myself with anyone else
Joan: You are stuck with me for life
Adam: I would like it to stay that way forever
Joan: So what is your point?
Adam (presenting Joan with a huge Diamond ring): Joan Agnes Girardi, will you marry me?
Joan (doubtful): Is this a April Fool's joke?
Adam: No, I mean it from my heart
Joan (overcome with emotion, she puts the ring on her finger): Yes, Adam, I will marry you
Adam: I know you are still struggling with the loss of Hope. Are you sure that you want to marry me right now?
Joan: I think we should get married since we are living together
Adam (kissing Joan): I love you, Jane
Joan (smiling): I love you too
(Excited, Sassy barks again in response to Adam and Joan's good news)
Date: 12-20-2007
Scene: Saint Margaret Cathedral
Situation: A Twenty year old Joan is marrying Adam Rove
Minister: Adam Rove, do you take Joan Girardi as your wife?
Adam(with a smirk): I do
Minister: Do you promise to love, support and honor Joan with all of your being until death do us part?
Adam(placing a ring on Joan's finger): I do
Minister: Joan Agnes Girardi, do you take Adam Rove as your husband?
Joan: I do
Minister: Do you promise to love, support and honor Adam with all of your being until death do us part?
Joan(placing a ring on Adam's finger): I do
Minister: Adam, you may now kiss your beautiful bride
Adam(kissing Joan): I love you
Joan(smiling): I love you too
Minister(to the congregation): Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mister and Mrs. Adam Rove
Date: 12-21-2007
Scene: The Honeymoon
Scene 1: The Airplane ride from Maryland to New Orleans
Joan (fearful, she grabs hold of Adam): I fear something bad may happen to our plane
Adam (taking Joan's hand in his): Give me your hand, let me hold it for a while. You can trust me with your life and I will not let you down.
Joan (tired, she rests her head on Adam's shoulder): I am going to take a nap
Adam (stroking Joan's hair): Dream sweet dreams, my love
(Five hours later the plane arrives in New Orleans and Adam wakes up Joan. Hungry, They eat lunch at a nearby seafood restaurant. After Lunch, they check into a hotel where they make love)
Date: 12-22-2007
Scene: The Ocean
Situation: Adam and Joan are surfing
Joan (she is losing her balance her surfboard): I am going to fall
Adam (holding Joan's hand): Please hold my hand and you will not fall
Joan (squeezing Adam's hand): OK
Adam (admiring Joan's beauty): You look really hot in your bikini
Joan (blushing): Thanks
Date: 12-23-2007
Scene: The Club-Joan and Adam are dancing
Joan (swaying back and forth): I was always born to dance
Adam (feeling up on Joan's body): I was always born to love you
Joan (Kissing Adam): I love you
Adam (smiling): I love you too
Date: 12-24-2007
City: New Orleans, Louisiana
Scene 1: Nighttime-The Ocean
Situation: Fireworks light up the night sky while Joan and Adam are riding on a boat eating dinner
Adam (putting a locket around Joan's neck): Merry Christmas
Joan (admiring her locket): Thanks for the locket
Adam (kissing Joan): I love you
Joan (giving Adam "I love you" teddy bear): This teddy bear is for you
Adam (smiling): Thanks
Joan: I am late
Adam (confused): Late for what?
Joan: My period
Adam (worried): So what?
Joan: I might be pregnant
Adam: How can you be so sure?
Joan: I can take a pregnancy test
Adam: Hopefully, the test results will be positive. I am looking forward to being a father.
Scene 2: After Dinner-Hotel Room
(Anxious, Adam paces outside of the bathroom door waiting for Joan's pregnancy test results)
Joan (crying, she exits the bathroom clutching the pregnancy test in her hand): I am not pregnant
Adam (doubtful): Are you serious?
Joan (showing Adam the pregnancy test): Yes
Adam(crying, he embraces Joan): I will always love you even if we don't have any children
Joan (sobbing): But I had a dream...
Adam (curious): What was your dream about?
Joan: I dreamt that I became pregnant and then gave birth to a daughter
Adam: Keep on dreaming, Jane, we will have a baby someday
Joan (smiling at the thought): You will make such a great dad
Adam (smiling at the thought): You will make such a great mom
Date: 3-11-2008
Situation: Joan discovers she is pregnant with Dream (her future daughter)
Scene 1: The Dining room- Breakfast time
Adam (worried): Jane, you haven't eaten your breakfast. I wonder if everything is alright with you?
Joan (feeling unwell, she plays around with her food): Adam, I have lost my appetite. I blame all of it on the flu.
Adam (concerned): How may I help you?
Joan (nauseous, she runs out of the dining room to use the bathroom): Please excuse me
Adam: I'll be here if you need anything
(Ten Minutes later a hysterical Joan yells for Adam. Panicky, Adam makes his way toward the bathroom)
Adam (running into the bathroom): What is your problem, Jane?
Joan (crying, she presents Adam with a positive pregnancy test): I am pregnant
Adam (confused): I thought that you had the flu
Joan: Apparently, I have been experiencing morning sickness all along. Morning sickness is a symptom of pregnancy.
Adam (excited, he embraces Joan): I love you for having my baby
Joan (clutching her stomach): I thank you for giving this baby to me
Adam (touching Joan's stomach, he talks to the baby): I love you, sweet precious beautiful blessed dream of mine.
Joan (sobbing): I never knew good things could come out of the month November until today. I am now looking forward to November because our baby will born sometime in that month.
Special Event: Easter 2008
Place: Will and Helen's house
Joan (nauseous and slightly pregnant, she approaches the front door): I am going to vomit
Adam (rubbing Joan's back): We can go back home if you want to
(Still unwell, Joan vomits on the ground. Adam offers her a peppermint and bottled water.)
Joan (coughing): Morning sickness is not fun
Adam (touching Joan's stomach): I recall you were hospitalized twice
Joan (hopeful): Thankfully, we're in the safe zone
Adam: We should tell your family about the baby today
Joan (Ringing the doorbell): Ok
Action: Numerous trips to the bathroom interrupt Joan's time with her parents and siblings. Although they were suspicious, they didn't say anything. Adam and Joan kept the pregnancy a secret until they decided to come clean. Everyone was happy for them.
Time Period: A Flashback
Situation: During the early stages of the pregnancy, Adam and Joan experience a false alarm in which is a miscarriage
Joan's p.o.v
I had a terrible nightmare the night before. I dreamt I lost the baby during a skiing trip with Adam.
Who knew I would wake up and experience a bloody show in the bed? Adam rushed me to the
hospital where our faith was put to the test. While the doctor searched for a fetal heartbeat,
Adam and I held our breaths. We dreaded another miscarriage. "OH God, Not Again!
Please spare her and me" I prayed silently. Thankfully, God answered my prayer.
Time Period: Joan's nightmare 11/3/2008
Place: A Delivery Room
A Possible Scary Situation: Dream's traumatic birth
Joan (crying and screaming as she pushes really hard): AHA...AHA..AHA..
God (in his doctor form): Your labor is not in vain
Joan (hyperventilating, she grabs a hold of God's arm): I can't breathe
God (loosening his grip on Joan): Your suffering is all in your head
Adam (he asks God and the attending nurse): Please help my wife
Judith Montgomery (the attending nurse, places an oxygen mask on Joan): This oxygen mask will help you breathe more better
Joan: Thanks
Judith: You are welcome, JoJo
Joan (having contractions again): I have to push again
Adam: You can do this
Joan (squeezing Adam's hand as she pushes): GRR...AHA..AHA
God and Judith (counting): 1..2..3..4..5
Adam (stroking Joan's hair): I love you so much
Joan (starting to tear and bleed, she begs anyone): Please make it stop hurting me. Please get it out.
Adam: Jane, you got this. Please don't give up. You are almost to the finish line.
God and Judith (still counting as they apply pressure to Joan's stomach): 1...2...3...4..5
( Joan lets out more last big strong scream and push. Dream enters the world with a brain hemorrhage. Joan can feel Dream or herself starting to slip away from the world. God says "well done, my good and faithful servant." In reality, Joan wakes up quite shaken)
Date: 11-4-2008
Situation: Joan and Adam's daughter, Dream Jane Rove is born
Scene: Hospital Delivery Room
Time Period: During the first part of the labor
Joan (squeezing Adam's hand): Adam?!
Adam (stroking Joan's hair): Yes, honey
Joan (struggling through a contraction): I read somewhere that young women can die in childbirth.
Adam (touching Joan's big swollen belly): You are not going to die
Joan: Please save the baby anyway
Adam (choked up): sure
Action: Tirelessly, Joan labors on. Joan's labor has been long and difficult so far. She rocks back and forth on a ball in the present time. Adam holds his wife very tightly. This exercise has been one of many attempts, different positions to make the baby move further down the birth canal.
Joan (cries into Adam's arms): This hurts
Adam (stroking Joan's hair): Your pain is temporary
Joan (feeling sensation down below): I have to push
A nurse (taking away the ball): We won't need this thing anymore
Adam (helps Joan back onto the bed): Here we go again
Joan (pushing): So it begins
Obgyn (counting): 1...2...3
Joan (screaming and pushing hard with every contraction): AHA...AHA...AHA
Obgyn: It seems as if the baby doesn't want to come out
Joan (exhausted): Please get it out
Obgyn: Stay strong, sweetheart
Joan: I don't know how long I can carry on this way
Adam (choked up, he squeezes Joan's hand): I love you so much
Joan (still screaming): AHA..AHA..AHA
Adam(still choked up): Joan, you can do this. I have a lot of faith in you.
Joan (crying out in pain, she begs anyone): I am in a lot of pain, please make it stop.
Obgyn(checking the baby's heartbeat): The baby's heartbeat is going down
Joan (panicky): So what?
Adam (worried): So what?
Obgyn: A caesarean section needs to happen
Joan: Will my daughter be alright?
Obgyn: Your daughter will be alright if she is delivered by a caesarean section
Adam (holding Joan): Don't worry, Joan, I am here
Joan (emotional, she clings onto Adam): Adam, I am still afraid. I will never be able to live with myself if Dream doesn't make it. All that I am asking is for our daughter to be born healthy and strong. I have already lost one baby and don't want to lose another one.
Adam (comforting Joan): Our dream is not going to die
Scene 2: Hospital Emergency Room-Caesarean Section
Adam (to Joan): How are you holding up, my love?
Joan (drugged up, she is delirious): I see unicorns, mermaids and angels
Adam (assuring Joan): Don't worry, Jane, everything will be alright
(Suddenly, Joan blacks out and Adam is thrown out of the operating room)
Scene 4: Afterbirth-Joan's recovery room
Adam (talking to Joan's spirit): You have given birth to a very beautiful daughter. I love you so much for giving me the gift of life. It would be a miracle if you would wake up.
(Sleeping, Joan remains unresponsive. Meanwhile, a maternity nurse walks into the room carrying baby Dream in her arms. Dream is wrapped up in pink blankets)
Nurse(placing Dream in Adam's arms): I do believe this beautiful baby girl belongs to you
Adam (holding Dream): She does belong to me, well thanks
Nurse(smiling as she leaves the room): God bless you
Adam (speaking to Dream): Sweetheart, you are surely a very big girl
(Dream just cooes making Adam laugh and cry tears of joy)
Joan (waking up from her coma): Adam..
Adam (giving Dream to Joan to hold): This is our daughter
Joan (crying as she holds Dream): Hello baby, I love you so much. You are my little precious miracle baby.
Adam (kissing Joan): I love you
Joan (singing): I will always love you
Adam(checking his blackberry): Barack Obama has won the election. He is now the president of the United States.
Joan(speaking to Dream): Dream Jane Rove, you surely do have a very bright future ahead of you
(Dream then cooes making Adam and Joan laugh)
Time Period: A Flashback
Date: 11-4-2008
Scenario: Dream's birth
Adam's p.o.v
During breakfast this morning, I made Jane laugh so much her water broke. Painful, contractions
followed soon afterwards. Nothing was funny anymore. I drove my wife to the hospital where we
waited for our daughter to be born. An emergency cesarean section was required because Dream's
heartbeat was in distress. Later on, we discovered the umbilical cord had been tied around her
neck.
Time Period: A Flash back
Date: 11-5-2008
Scenario: Joan and Dream are discharged from the hospital
Scene: Joan's recovery room
Joan (waking up in Adam's arms): Adam
Adam (in bed with Joan, he removes a strand of hair from her face): Good morning, love
Joan: Thanks for spending the night with me
Adam: In or out of the hospital, I want to be with you
Joan (getting out of the bed): We will go back home today
Adam (making out of the bed): With our newborn baby
Joan (getting out clothes herself): Our precious Dream
A nurse (carrying a dressed Dream into the room): Here she is
Joan (gathers Dream up in her arms): OH, my sweet darling
(Adams uses a camera to capture the tender hearted moment.)
The nurse: The doctor said the umbilical cord was wrapped around Dream's neck. That's why she was delivered via a cesarean section.
Joan (choked up): Dream is here now. That's all what matters.
Adam (a little emotional): Yeah
The nurse (leaving the room): God bless you
Action: After Joan gets washed up and dressed, she heads back home with Adam and Dream. Adam throws a surprise homecoming party for his wife and daughter.
Date: 11-8-2008
Place: The Roves' house
Situation: Joan and Adam are having a party to celebrate Dream's birth
Everyone (singing to Dream): Happy birthday to you
Joan (holding a sleeping Dream): Thanks
Adam (cutting the cake): since Dream doesn't have any teeth, her cake is ours. Everyone dig in.
Joan (laughing): Sure
(The doorbell rings. Helen tends to Dream while Joan answers the door. Joan encounters God in his UPS delivery man form.)
UPS God (handing Joan a package): Congrats, Joan
Joan (opening the package): You gave me baby clothes
God: I am sure Dream can use more baby clothes
Joan: Thanks
God: You are welcome
Joan: You knew Dream before she was born. Now that she is here, what does the future hold for her?
God (walking away): Don't worry about tomorrow
Joan (yelling behind God): What if I can't wait?
Helen (carrying dream, she approaches Joan): Who were you talking to?
Joan (shows Helen the baby clothes): The ups man dropped off baby clothes
Helen (referring to Dream): Your baby is dearly loved
Joan: Dream Jane Rove surely is
Time period: A flashback
Date: 11-4-2013
Scenario: Adam and Joan discover Dream (5) has autism
Place: A doctor's office
A doctor (reading test results): Dream has autism
Joan (doubtful): Dream is normal. She is not whatever you say she is.
A doctor: Dream has been despondent
Adam: Dream is shy
Doctor: Dream refuses to make eye contact with people
Joan: So what?
Doctor: Dream has poor social skills. She is not developing normally.
Joan (angry, she exits the room): I am going home
Adam (following behind Joan): Jane..Joan
(Joan and Adam pick up Dream and Matthew (3) from the children's playroom. They head straight home where they discuss what steps to take next.)
Time Period: The Present Reality
Date: 11-4-2016
Scenario: Dream's Eighth birthday
Joan's p.o.v
An eternal sunbeam, a freak fright train journeys on for another eight miles. You spread hope and joy everywhere you go. I consider you to be a miracle. Numerous, your smiles remind me of the shiny bright stars in the night sky. Sometimes why is never enough to explain your fragility, your special needs. Nevertheless, your life remains a dream.