Authors: C.Y. Dillon
He moves in slow. She gasps. He stops.
He leans down, kisses her tenderly. He sits up. She smiles at the short, bald, pudgy Bartender. She pulls him closer.
END FANTASY
EXT. CHIEKO'S CABIN G339 - NIGHT
Mike taps on the door. He waits. And waits. He taps again.
MIKE
Chieko? Could I have a word with
you?
He waits.
Chieko opens the door, wearing only a silk robe.
CHIEKO
Do I know you?
MIKE
We haven't been formally introduced.
My apologies for intruding.
CHIEKO
Well mannered. You were in the lounge
with Harmonia.
MIKE
Mike Hammond.
CHIEKO
Orion's delegate. It's all so
amusing. What do you want?
MIKE
Harmonia needs some space. She asked
me to see if you might let me in. I
swear, I'll be a perfect gentleman.
Chieko laughs and shuts the door.
Mike turns around and faces the river.
MIKE
Strike three.
EXT. BARTENDER'S CABIN - NIGHT
The Bartender is asleep with a pillow in his arms. A knock at the door awakens him.
MIKE (O.S.)
Ri.
A louder knock.
MIKE (O.S.)
It's me. I need a place to sleep.
The Bartender stirs and opens the door.
BARTENDER
Don't you call me 'Ri'.
MIKE
Sorry. Slipped.
Mike enters.
MIKE
I swear I won't touch you.
BARTENDER
Cute. How's that working for you?
MIKE
Struck out.
The Bartender flops into bed, hugs the pillow, and faces the window.
Mike strips to his boxers and lays down close to the opposite edge, facing away from him.
BARTENDER
She let me kiss her.
MIKE
You?
BARTENDER
She's clueless.
MIKE
How'd it go?
BARTENDER
She ate it up. Me, my kiss.
MIKE
She kissed you back? You, really?
BARTENDER
It was holy. The purest honey I've
ever tasted.
MIKE
Wow. What's your next move?
EXT. DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - MORNING
Harmonia enjoys the new day. Mike approaches, holding up a cell phone.
MIKE
Guess who's on the phone for you.
Harmonia snatches it.
HARMONIA
What is your problem, fool?
Orion laughs (on the phone).
INT. BARTENDER'S CABIN - SIMULTANEOUS
The Bartender laughs on his cell phone. He talks with his 'REAL ORION' voice, which is much lower, almost no accent.
BARTENDER
How's the cruise? Is Mike behaving
himself?
HARMONIA (O.S.)
(filtered)
Don't you even speak to me that way.
How could you?
He laughs.
HARMONIA (CONT'D)
Where are you?
BARTENDER
I'm at work.
HARMONIA (O.S.)
What did you do for your birthday?
BARTENDER
Don't worry. I'm celebrating.
He has a huge grin on his face.
BACK TO DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK - SIMULTANEOUS
Harmonia looks half mad.
HARMONIA
You should have come, Ri. It's
wretched without you.
She listens.
HARMONIA (CONT'D)
I don't understand this at all.
Orion? Hello?
She looks at the phone.
HARMONIA
Damn it.
MIKE
The signal is weak out here.
HARMONIA
He's at work. When do we reach the
next port, what is it?
BACK TO BARTENDER'S CABIN - SIMULTANEOUS
The Bartender closes the phone and chuckles. He puts on his
uniform. He laughs as he puts on the "Davis" name badge.
There's a knock at the door.
MIKE (O.S.)
Hey, it's me.
The Bartender opens the door. He talks in his "Davis" voice.
BARTENDER
She's mad as a mother hornet.
He closes the door behind Mike.
MIKE
She's planning to fly to Vegas from
Vicksburg.
The Bartender laughs.
MIKE
Serious, Ri. I mean - what's your
name?
BARTENDER
Davis. Don't forget. I want to
play my cards right. She can't find
out until I want her to know.
MIKE
She's clueless.
BARTENDER
People believe what they want to.
I've got to see how far I can get
with her without her knowing that
I'm the real Orion.
EXT. BARTENDER'S CABIN - MORNING
The Bartender and Mike walk out.
MIKE
I slept with Chieko last night.
BARTENDER
Good for you.
MIKE
Slept. It was nice. At least it
was friendly. And I wasn't on the
floor.
BARTENDER
Maybe you'll get luckier tonight.
MIKE
That's what I'm thinking.
BARTENDER
Let me think. Vicksburg - we reach
there around noon today. Can she
get a flight from there?
MIKE
I have no idea.
BARTENDER
I've got to go talk to the captain.
They part company. The Bartender heads toward the Engine Room.
HARMONIA'S FANTASY:
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Fantasy Orion holds her in his arms. She plays with his furry body as she listens to him, like a child listening to her brother tell her all about the world.
FANTASY ORION
I don't know when I stopped believing.
His lips keep moving, and the words become hers.
HARMONIA (V. O. )
There's no such thing as soul mates.
FANTASY ORION
I stopped caring a long time ago.
HARMONIA (V. O. )
Didn't care anymore if I got cynical.
Got drunk. Watched TV. Did nothing.
FANTASY ORION
It wouldn't be the way you imagine.
HARMONIA (V. O. )
Nothing ever is.
FANTASY ORION
You'd want more and more.
HARMONIA (V. O. )
It's always something.
Now it's the Bartender holding her.
HARMONIA
Kiss me.
END FANTASY
EXT. VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI - DAY
Harmonia stares at the Port of Vicksburg from the boat.
EXT. DELTA QUEEN SUN DECK
Chieko finds Harmonia staring at the port.
CHIEKO
Have you decided?
TITLE ON BLACK: "TWO OF HEARTS"
EXT. VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI - DAY
Harmonia and Chieko window shop.
CHIEKO
But it's so much deeper than that.
Don't you see?
HARMONIA
No. What should I see in that?
CHIEKO
Fantasies come from the very soul.
HARMONIA
But--
CHIEKO
--No buts. You're negating it.
HARMONIA
--I promised myself I wouldn't.
CHIEKO
What does that say about you?
HARMONIA
I am trying--
CHIEKO
--There is no such thing as trying.
HARMONIA
--to be true to myself.
CHIEKO
You are being true to yourself now.
HARMONIA
How? I said I would not fantasize
about another man.
CHIEKO
Your intentions reveal your personal
core values.
HARMONIA
So I should--
CHIEKO
--There is no should.
HARMONIA
--look at this and see who I am.
CHIEKO
Exactly.
HARMONIA
I promised myself I would not
fantasize about another man because
I value loyalty.
CHIEKO
And what else?