Love of Her Life (11 page)

She sits in the middle, next to him.  Orion sits on the other side of her. 

The chauffeur makes his way to the driver's seat. 

Orion hands Davis a $100 bill. 

HARMONIA

Some sort of wager?  About me, I

suppose. 

DAVIS

I told him you sounded like the

forgiving type. 

The limo pulls away from the curb. 

HARMONIA

I accepted a ride to the airport,

doesn't mean you guys are forgiven. 

Were you in on this pathetic scheme? 

DAVIS

Pathetic isn't my style.  I had

nothing to do with my brother's lies. 

HARMONIA

Let's imagine I believe you.  So

what?  Now what? 

DAVIS

Now it's time for the real Harmonia

to get to know the real Orion. 

She glances sideways with disdain at Orion. 

HARMONIA

I know what I need to know. 

DAVIS

Come to Vegas. 

HARMONIA

Why? 

ORION

Because he's the real Orion. 

She looks at Davis, baffled. 

DAVIS

Except my name is Davis. 

FLASHBACK: 

TITLE OVER:  "TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE CRUISE"

EXT.  LAS VEGAS - DAY

A limo pulls into the driveway of a home with distinctive architecture.  Orion is the driver. 

Orion gets out of the limo and helps Davis out of the back, into a wheelchair. 

Davis pushes himself up a ramp that leads to the front door. 

Orion opens the door, they both enter. 

INT.  DAVIS' HOME - MOMENTS LATER

Davis checks an answering machine. 

HARMONIA (V.  O.  )

Orion, hey, it's Harmonia.  I've got

tickets to a Mississippi riverboat

cruise to celebrate your birthday. 

Can't wait to finally meet in person! 

If you don't want to, send a delegate--

just kidding!  I hope you want to. 

Orion groans. 

ORION

Want to be my delegate? 

DAVIS

Why don't you want to go? 

ORION

I totally screwed up. 

DAVIS

How?

Orion looks shamefaced at his brother. 

ORION

You're younger and lots prettier. 

DAVIS

And? 

ORION

She thinks I look like you. 

DAVIS

Does she know you're paralyzed?

ORION

If I wanted pity, I'd have used my

own picture. 

DAVIS

Does she know you were in prison? 

Orion cringes and walks to a bar. 

INT.  HOME BAR

Davis follows. 

Orion hands Davis a bottle of water and opens a bottle of beer for himself. 

DAVIS

Does she think you're an architect? 

ORION

She thinks I'm a poker dealer.  And

a poet. 

DAVIS

Stealing my poems, using my picture,

lying about your job--how did you

think that was going to work? 

ORION

It was working.  Look, you weren't

supposed to find out, and she wasn't

supposed to like me that much. 

DAVIS

You sure don't understand women. 

You thought you could feed her poetry

and satisfy her with sex chat?

ORION

Chicks play online games, too.  I

thought we were having fun.  Now she

wants to get real. 

DAVIS

Maybe I should take your place on

that cruise, see how real she wants

to get with a guy whose penis is

broke. 

Davis wheels himself to a workout room and pumps iron. 

INT.  HOME GYM

Orion joins his brother and turns a TV on to a sports channel. 

ORION

Maybe you should.  Maybe we both

should go, see what happens.  Maybe

she'd like us both--we could be

polygamists. 

DAVIS

It's called polyandry when it's two

husbands. 

ORION

Why do you know everything?

DAVIS

I read everything. 

ORION

She'd like you better than me.  She's

smart.  Real sweet.  I don't think

she'd forgive me for playing with

her heart, but she could love you. 

END FLASHBACK

BACK TO LIMOUSINE - CONT'D

The limo approaches the New Orleans Airport - Departures. 

Harmonia looks from Orion to Davis. 

DAVIS

Then it's settled, I said.  We'll

both go, get the whole truth out in

the open, and see how real you want

to be. 

HARMONIA

Then why weren't you on the boat

instead of Mike?  And what the hell

was Eric there for?  What's with all

the head games?

DAVIS

My brother may be older, but he's

not wiser.  Let's just say, he has

issues. 

ORION

Everybody has issues, little brother. 

The question is, are your--

HARMONIA

--issues compatible.  You always

said that. 

ORION

Now you know what my issues are. 

DAVIS

Not entirely. 

ORION

She knows enough.  Don't you, little

sister?

Harmonia nods. 

ORION

I'm guessing his issues are on the

obvious side.  So what do you think?

HARMONIA

I think I should have held onto the

liquor and chocolate. 

DAVIS

Will you come to Vegas?

HARMONIA

I have this issue called a job. 

They're pretty hard to come by. 

DAVIS

I have this issue called needing a

business partner I can trust.  Maybe

our issues are compatible. 

HARMONIA

Maybe they are.  Why do you think

you can trust me?

DAVIS

You've been talking to my brother

for a year, and you obviously weren't

lying.  You find out he's a liar and

you didn't turn psycho bitch from

hell.  I respect a woman who doesn't

slap a man even when he deserves it. 

HARMONIA

Maybe our issues are compatible. 

Davis gives the $100 bill back to Orion. 

ORION

I told him you'd like him better

than me. 

HARMONIA

Is everything a game between you

two? 

INT.  NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT BAR - LATER

Harmonia, Davis and Orion sit at a table.  A server comes to

take their order. 

ORION

Whiskey sour for me. 

DAVIS

Ice water with lemon. 

HARMONIA

That sounds refreshing.  I'll have

the same. 

She smiles at Davis.  The server goes to the counter. 

HARMONIA

I still want to know why you were

not on the boat and what all that

was about with Mike and Eric. 

ORION

Davis got sick.  I panicked, started

talking to my poker buddies.  Crazy

ideas are like popcorn. 

HARMONIA

Speak of your minions...

Mike and Eric show up at the bar with Chieko. 

CHIEKO

Look at the three of you all chummy

now. 

(to Orion)

Not quite the ménage à trois you had

in mind, is it? 

ORION

It's all good. 

HARMONIA

You're a real dreamer, Orion. 

(to Chieko)

The pretty brother is in the habit

of thinking before he speaks. 

ORION

Ouch. 

CHIEKO

Mind if we all join you. 

It's agreed.  They all get situated.  The server brings the three drinks previously ordered. 

ERIC

Double Bourbon. 

MIKE

Cape Cod. 

CHIEKO

(to Server)

I'd like a Red Headed Slut. 

Mike groans. 

Harmonia sighs, her sense of humor is exhausted. 

DAVIS

Issues? 

She smiles and nods. 

CHIEKO

We've  been in each other's business

for a week.  Don't hold out on me. 

DAVIS

I'm doing my best to allure Harmonia

to Vegas. 

CHIEKO

What's in Vegas?

DAVIS

My half-full life. 

CHIEKO