One More Time by Lori
(The gatehouse. It's pitch black inside and out and it's storming outside. Ned comes in and is about to turn on the light when a voice stops him.) B: Don't turn on the light Ned. N: Bren? B: Yeah it's me. N: Where are you? B: On the couch. (Ned begins to make his way over to couch. He reaches it and sits down. N: Why are you sitting in my house and in the dark? And are you okay? You sound funny like you've been crying. B: Do I? Maybe because I have. N: Bren, you're starting to scare me. Why were you crying? B: You really want to know? N: Yes. B: Then turn on the light. (Ned turns on the lamp behing the couch and looks at Brenda. In the dim light we seen Brenda bruised and bloodied. Her clothes are torn and her hair is messed up. She has scratches on her arms and legs.) Hideous isn't it? N: How? Who? B: It was Jax. He saw me at the park the other day and I was with Sonny. He got so angry I was almost scared to go home with him. But I did. Then yesterday the pictures of me and Sonny, on the front page of the paper? Did you see them? N: Yeah I did. B: I don't even know how they got there. I know where and when they were taken. I was in the park after I got Sonny out of jail. Ned if you could have seen him. It was like I didn't know him at all. He was a complete and total stranger. I don't know who he was. He was just some guy who looked liked the man I married. I was able to fight him off and then I just wandered around for a while. (She holds up her left hand) I threw my rings in the Port Charles River. I almost jumped in after them. After a while I needed to rest so I came here. I hope you don't mind. N: You're always welcome here. You know that. But I'm surprised that you didn't go to Sonny's. B: I didn't think he'd want to see me. N: Are you kidding? I checked my messages at the office. I must have at least ten messages asking if I'd seen you. B: Really? (knock at the door) N: Go upstairs. (Brenda quickly hugs Ned and runs upstairs. Ned make sures she's upstairs before he opens the door to admit Sonny) Hi Sonny. S: Didn't you get my messages? N: Every last one of them. But I just got home. S: I haven't seen or heard from Brenda all day. I must have left her twice as many messages as I left you. Have you seen her? N: She's upstairs. But before you go up there I should tell you she's pretty banged up. S: Jax? N: Yeah. S: How bad? (Brenda comes in) B: This bad. (Sonny turns around) Pretty horrible, huh? N: I'm going to go have some coffee and ice cream. (Leaves) S: My God, Bren. Are you okay? B: No. But that's nothing new I haven't been okay for a long time now. (Sits on the couch and Sonny sits next to her) S: I can't believe he would do something like this. B: Why not? You never liked him to begin with, remember? S: But to hurt you like this. He's supposed to love you. B: Nobody loves me, Sonny. Not my father, not my sister, and not my so-called husband. S: That's where you're wrong Brenda. I love you. B: How could you? Nobody else does. S: I don't know how I couldn't. It seems like I've loved you for my entire life. I don't remember what it's like not to love you. (Brenda is starting to get teary eyed) Please don't cry. I hate it when you cry. B: I can't help it. I've waited for those words from you for so long and now that I'm finally hearing them I think I'm entitled to get a little emotional, don't you think? S: You are entitled to do anything you want as far as I'm concerned. C'mere. (He reaches out for her and she crawls into them. They wrap their arms around each other gently and just hold each other until a knock at the door disrupts their peace. Ned enters and heads for the door. Brenda and Sonny stay nestled on the couch until they hear the voice of the person at the door. TBC
(Gatehouse. A very drunk Jax staggers in.) J: Hey Ashton. Where's my wife? (Spots Brenda and Sonny) B: You're drunk, Jax. S: The lady's right. So why don't you go sleep it off J: Lady? Oh you mean Brender. I see you've decided to B: Oh I should be loyal to you? You know what Jax, you S: And I never will. Ned do want some help showing N: No I can handle him. You stay here. J: Yes Sonny boy, stay here and console your lover. I B: It won't be over until the day they put me in a J: Don't give me any ideas you little tramp. S: Ned get him out of here. (Ned nods and taking Jax's N: I'll be right back. (Sonny nods and Ned leaves. B: The way he looked at me tonight. The venom in his S: What? B: I need to know that you've forgiven me. For the TBC
(Gatehouse. Sonny and Brenda are still standing at the window in each other's arms.) S: You want to know if I forgive you? B: I need to know. S: Bren, I forgave you a long time ago. You must know B: Sometimes late at night I think about the last time S: But I did. Now I need to know if you forgive me. B: For what? S: For the name calling, the backstabbing, and for B: If you hadn't married her, you'd be dead right now. S: What? B: I was in the back of the chapel the day you married S: But then I said that she wasn't making me do B: I know. Do you know that I went as far as to call S: I'm glad it didn't. I'm glad you did everything you B: Even Canada? S: Especially Canada. Everything you did made me B: I love you too. Always. S: And Forever. You know when you feel this way about B: (Smiling) What? S: Get married. B: Is that a proposal? S: Not a formal one. First I want to ask permission. B: From who? S: You always said that Ned is the closest thing you B: If he knows what's good for him he will. That is so S: Not again. (Pulls her into his arms and hugs her B: It's okay, I'm fine. S: You sure? B: Yes I'm sure. (Ned comes back in) Ned. Good you're N: Okay, go ahead. S: Well Ned, you're the closest thing to family that N: What is it? S: I want to marry her. We'd like your blessing. B: What do you say Ned? TBC
N: You're asking for my blessing? B: Yes. Do we have it? N: Sonny, it's stopped raining. Why don't you take a S: Point taken. See you later, baby. (kisses Brenda, B: So, what's up? N: Sit down, Bren. (Brenda and Ned sit on the couch) B: Yeah. N: Why do you need my blessing? I'm not family. B: That Ned, is where you're wrong. You're my brother N: What makes you think I approve? B: I know you don't but you've got one up on Julia. You N: Julia loves you too, you know. B: Let's not get into that right now, okay? The subject N: Do you love him? B: With all my heart and soul. I can't even begin to N: I can imagine how it feels. B: I'm sorry Ned. I know how it must have felt saying N: It's not permenant. That I can promise. B: Hey, we're getting off topic here. Are you going to N: You have my permission and my blessing to marry B: I'm sure the threat of you will keep him in line. S: Well judging from the smile on your face, I take he B: No I'm this happy because he refuses to let me marry S: Anything but that. Let's go home, I want to celebrate. B: (shakes her head and bites her lip.) That's not home FTB TBC
S: Bren.... B: No. I mean it Sonny. You and Lily shared that place. S: I understand Brenda. I may not like it but I B: (laughing) Yes I do but we could use the boathouse. S: (smiling impishily) Vaguely. B: Only vaguely? (Sonny moves closer and takes her S: Did I say vaguely? I meant vividly. Very vividly. -NEXT MORNING- (Brenda woke up in the boathouse next to Sonny. An old B: Mmmm. Good morning to you too. S: That is the best good morning I've gotten in a long B: Really? I'm glad. I haven't been this happy to open S: I love you Bren and this makes me so happy. B: Lying on the floor of a boathouse makes you happy? S: I'd be happy in a gutter if you were with me. B: Oh honey. That is without a doubt the nicest thing S: It's still early. Give me time. (Brenda laughs and |