	Sign In Sign-Up

Victoria Emery is resting her head on Owen Harper’s chiseled stomach. Her head moves with his breathing and she smells his cologne. They have just had sex and Victoria is thinking of how incredibly their bodies move together. Their sex is never boring and always a brand new adventure. Their bodies are in complete and total sync and connect in ways that she remembers for days and months after their encounters. But, this time, she can’t help but feel a little guilty. While she and Thad DeLongpre are anything but serious, she still can’t shake the feelings of guilt that are swirling around her brain right now.
"You know, I’ve never known you to be so quiet afterwards. I mean in the past, you’ve been even more vocal afterwards than you were…during," says Owen.
"So what exactly are your trying to say?" Asks Victoria.
"Something’s different about you," says Owen.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Yeah you do. What’s going on with you? What has changed?"

_____________________________________

Bain Roberts is sitting in the hospital cafeteria. He is taking small bites out of a tuna sandwich. Thad DeLongpre walks in and sees him. He goes to the serving table and gets a bowl of applesauce and joins Bain at his table.
"I hope you don’t mind," says Thad.
"No. Please. Have a seat," says Bain.
"Why are you sticking around? You could have been home by now."
"I just want to make sure she’s okay."
"Brian said she’s doing better."
"I know, but, I was hoping for something more definite than ‘her vitals have improved.’"
"At this point, I’m not sure you can get more definite. I’ll tell you, she’s strong, she’s a fighter, and if anyone can bounce back from getting hit by a car, it’s Katie."
"Yeah?"
"I’ve known her for awhile," Thad smiles, the first time since he’s been at the hospital.
"Are you two close. Are you the protective big bro?"
"Yeah…. we're close, even though I used to terrorize her when were little."
"I used to terrorize my little sister."
"So where are you from?"
"Up north."
"How long are you here for?"
"As long as it takes."
"Takes for what?"
"To get some questions answered."

______________________________

"You know I fell in love with you the very first moment I saw you," says Porter Dandridge. "I took one look and I was completely and totally under your spell."
Katherine DeLongpre has been moved to a regular room. Her fiancé, Porter Dandridge, sits by her bedside. As Porter speaks to her, hoping that she can hear him in her unconscious state, he takes her hand. "You know, we’ve got a ton of wedding plans to make and you know I suck at choosing china patterns. So if you want to make sure that we don’t end up getting married at Chocolate Bar and eating off of paper plates, you’d better wake up. Katherine, you gotta wake up."

______________________________

The guests at the DeLongpre party are still in shock by Sumner’s announcement. The news that Sumner DeLongpre has taken a wife, especially one many years younger will be fodder for all of the gossip columns for weeks, months. The crowd begins sizing up the beautiful blonde, which embarrasses Jory and causes her to cling to Sumner tightly. All of this attention has thrown her for a loop, she wasn’t expecting to be scrutinized and put on display so quickly.
Sumner puts his arm around her waist and holds her tightly, this makes her feel safe and a little less self-conscious. Jory scans the crowd and sees the guests whispering and can tell that they are dissecting her even before they really know her. There is one group that can’t keep their eyes off of Sumner and his new bride.
August, Meredith, Pamela, Leslie, and Claudia are left speechless by Sumner’s announcement and remain that way until Sumner takes Jory and leads her over to the group.
"Jory I’d like you to meet August and Pamela," says Sumner. "August and Pamela I’d like you to meet your new Stepmother." August and Pamela look at each other, then at their father, and finally at Jory, who all of a sudden, wishes she were anywhere but here.

________________________________

"Wow. How crazy is all of this?" Asks Ian to Briggs. Briggs isn’t listening to his friend because he is still mesmerized by the beautiful blonde. "Brig. Brig! Brigs?" Ian waves his hand in front of his best friend’s face. "Earth to Briggs. Earth to Briggs Origen. Come in."
"What," says Briggs.
"Where did you just go?" Ian notices the blonde that Briggs can’t take his eyes off. "Holy Moly… so that’s where you went."
"Oh my God. Look at her. She’s amazing," says Briggs.
"She is pretty hot," says Ian.
"Hot? Hot doesn’t even come close to what she is. She…she is incredible, she is beautiful, she is…. she is…"
"A total stranger. You have idea who she is," says Ian.
"She won’t be a stranger for long."
"What does that mean?"
"I’m going over there and I’m going to find out who she is…

_____________________________

"Drink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine….Or leave a kiss but in the cup and I’ll not look for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise…doth ask a drink divine….But, might I of Jove’s nectar sup, I would not change for thine… I sent thee late a rosy wreath, not so much honoring thee as giving it hope that there it could not withered be….But though there on didst only breath….and sent’st it back to me. Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, not of itself but thee," recites Porter.
Katherine lies on her hospital bed, like aY2K Sleeping Beauty, the sound of the heart monitor accenting Porter’s recitation. Katherine is a beautiful young woman, who looks eerily like her dead mother. Her fiancé, Porter, is holding her hand and reciting her favorite poem to her, hoping that it will help break through her subconscious.
"When I found out that was your favorite poem I sit myself down and read it and read it and read it again until I had it completely memorized. I think that’s when I knew I loved you. I do love you so much Katherine. I’d be lost without you." A nurse walks into the room and sees Porter talking to Katherine.
"You know there are some studies that say that she can probably hear everything you’re saying to her. So you keep right on talking to her, comforting her. I bet she’s hearing every word," says the Nurse.
"I hope so," says Porter.
"So when’s the wedding?" Asks the Nurse.
"New Year’s Eve…. Wait, how did you know we were getting married?"
"There was a big photo spread and story in "Town and Country" last week about you and Miss DeLongpre," says the Nurse.
"I forgot about that."
"I could tell, just by the pictures, that you two are very much in love."
"She means everything to me." The Nurse has gotten Katherine’s chart and is looking at monitors and writing down her findings in the metal folder. "I’d be lost with out her."
"Well you keep talking to her and letting her know how much you love her, that’s always the best medicine." The Nurse pats Porter on the shoulder and leaves the room. Porter walks to the window on the other side of the room and stares at the activity below. With his back turned, he doesn’t see Katherine’s right hand beginning to move.

______________________________
"What kinds of questions do you need answered?" Asks Thad to Bain.
"Just some questions about my past. About who I am," says Bain.
"And you expect to find them here in Persephone Pointe?"
"Yeah I do."
"Where are you staying?"
"The Persephone Pointe Hotel. But, I’m looking for an apartment, someplace I can call my own, while I’m here."
"You know there’s an apartment available in Porter’s building," says Thad.
"Porter? Oh Porter. Yeah where does he live?"
"In a warehouse close to Town Square."
"They’re pretty nice places."
"Do you have a number for the rental office?"
"No, but I can get it. Another friend of mine lives there as well. I’ll give her a call and get the number," says Thad.

________________________________

"Nothing has changed," says Victoria.
"I don’t believe you. You’re different somehow," says Owen.
"Where were you headed before?"
"I was going to a party," says Victoria.
"Well why don’t we go shower and change and we can go to the party together," says Owen.
"No that can’t happen. You can’t go to this party, you can’t go anywhere near this party."

________________________________

"You’re going over there and introduce yourself to a complete stranger?" Asks Ian to Briggs.
"She’s not a stranger Ian," says Briggs.
"You know her?"
"Not her name, but she’s not a stranger. When I look at her, Ian, I feel as though I’ve known her forever…"
"Obviously this sappy version of Briggs Origen is something brand new and just off the showroom floor."
"Look at her Ian, I don’t her name, I don’t know anything about her, all I know is that I have to go over there and be close to her."

_______________________________

"Hello Jory," says August. "It’s nice to meet you."
"It’s nice to meet you August. Sumner has told me lots of wonderful things about you," says Jory. She extends her hand, which August shakes.
"Darling this is Pamela," says Sumner. The crowd has surrounded the group and his watching every moment of the introductions, whispering and wondering what is really going on below the surface.
"Pamela it’s nice to meet you."
"Marjorie. I had a doll named Marjorie when I was a little girl. She was my favorite doll, and the prettiest, and I would always dress her up and do her hair before all of my other dolls," says Pamela.
"How sweet, whatever happened to the Marjorie doll?" Asks Jory.
"I cut off all of her hair and when she wasn’t pretty any longer, I pushed her off of the third floor balcony, then I went and picked her up and threw her off the bluff and now she’s probably at the bottom of the sea decomposing," says Pamela.
"I see," says Jory stunned and a little taken aback. Sumner eyes his daughter then puts his arm around his new wife.
"Darling this is Meredith, August’s wife," says Sumner.
"Hello Meredith, when is the baby due?" Asks Jory.
"November. It’s nice to meet you Jory," says Meredith.
"This is Leslie Montgomery, who is very much a part of this family," says Sumner.
"It’s nice to meet you Leslie," says Jory.
"And this is Claudia Eglasca who keeps this whole place running."
"Hi Claudia, I'm pleased to meet you," says Jory.
"Oh Jory," says Pamela. "This is my daughter Rachel, I’m sure the two of you can find something in common, like Backstreet Boys or who is she? Um…oh yeah… Brittany Spears," says Pamela. Rachel lightly nudges her Mother.
"Mother, I only have one Backstreet Boys CD," says Rachel. "It’s nice to meet you Jory, I love your outfit."
"Thank you. I was actually admiring yours. And by the way, Nick is kinda cute," says Jory. They both laugh, the first time either one of them has felt truly welcomed here.
"Well didn’t I say these two would get along," says Pamela

__________________________________

"So why can't I go to this party?" Asks Owen.
"Because it's invitation only," says Victoria.
"Can't you bring a guest?"
"No."
"Then blow it off and lets go sailing," says Owen.
"I have to go to this party."
"What's so great about this party?" The phone rings.
"It's just something that I don't want to miss." The phone rings again. "Hold on…" She grabs the phone. "Hello?" Owen gets up from the bed, still naked, and walks around the room. Owen has an incredible body and chiseled features, which makes him quite popular with his many fans on the circuit. He walks into the kitchen to get a bottle of water from the fridge, when he sees a picture of Thad and Victoria stuck on the front of the refrigerator with a Dumbo magnet.
Back in the room Victoria is talking to Thad, who tells her about Katherine and wants the number for her landlord. She tells him that she will come down to the Medical Center to be with him, but he tells her that it won't be necessary. She gives him the number and he hangs up. Owen walks back into the room.
"Who was that?" Owen asks.
"No one," Victoria replies.
"Well you sure talked to 'no one' for quite a while," he says.
"I would hardly call 5 minutes a while."
"So does 'no one' have a name?"
"Why are you asking so many questions?"
"Is this 'no one'?" Owen holds up the picture of Thad and Victoria. "So who is this guy and what does he mean to you?"

__________________________________

"Here's the number. All of the apartments are great and pretty reasonable if you're on a budget," says Thad. Thad and Bain are walking down the corridor, headed towards Katherine's room.
"I hate hospitals. I always have," says Bain.
"I hate the way they smell. Hey…" says Thad to Porter. The two men walk up to the third that is now outside of his fiancé's room.
"Why are you still here?" Porter asks Bain.
"Just concerned," Bain says.
"That's very nice of you," says Porter.
"Bain is going to stick around The Pointe for awhile, I told him about that apartment in your building." Porter nods his head. "Any new developments on Katie?"
"Nothing."
"Why don't you go grab a bite and Bain and I will hang out here and wait for August."
"That's okay. I want to be here when she wakes up," says Porter.
"I know you must be hungry. Go get a sandwich," says Thad.
"Why don't I go get you something and bring it back," says Bain.
"You wouldn't mind?" Asks Porter.
"No. What would you like?"
"Turkey?"
"All right….I'll be right back," says Bain. He walks back down the corridor to the cafeteria with the other two men looking after.
"He's a nice guy," says Thad.
"If you say so," say Porter.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know, I just get vibes from that guy…"
"Vibes? What kind of vibes?"
"Not good ones. Not good at all."

__________________________________

Bain is in line at the cafeteria when his cell phone rings, "Hello?'
"Bain it's your Mother."
"Hey Mom."
"Are you there?" Asks the woman on the other end.
"Yes."
"Is there anything I can do to persuade you to come home and forget all of this?"
"Mom…"
"Your Father and I wish that we would have handled things differently. We wish we would have told you the truth sooner. Bain, from the first moment we laid eyes you, you were our son and no one else's. We didn't tell you because we thought it wouldn't matter."
"But it does matter Mom I still love you and Dad and the rest of the family as much as I ever have, but I have to get to the truth. It's important to me."
"Son, you're just going to dig and dig and dig until you hit on something that might have been best left buried," says the woman.
"This is my life and it's my truth and I have to know what that is… and if it unearths buried secrets and scandals then that is just too damned bad."

______________________________

"C'mon, we're going over there," says Briggs to Ian.
"Why do you want me to come?" Asks Ian
"Maybe she has a hot friend for you…."
"Well what are you waiting for, lets get stepping…."

________________________________

"So what do you think, gold-digger or cheap slut?" Whispers Meredith.
"What do you mean, she can't be both," says Leslie. The two women chuckle to themselves. Jory notices the two women laughing and gets an uncomfortable feeling.
"Mom, I'm going to go walk around," says Rachel.
"Okay darling. Have fun," says Pamela. The girl walks off.
"So Jory how did you and my Daddy meet?" Asks Pamela.
"We met in a quaint little tavern on the Massachusetts Border. It looked like something out of Kerouac," interjects Sumner.
"How charming," says Pamela. At this moment, August remembers what is happening with Katherine.
"Daddy, before you made your announcement, I was about to tell you about Katie," says August.
"What about you sister?" Asks Sumner.
"She's in the hospital."
"What is she doing in the hospital?" Asks Sumner.
"There was an accident," says August.
"Please tell she's all right August. Please tell me that your sister is all right."

____________________________________

Rachel is walking around the estate, amazed at how big it is. Her mother told her stories about it, but she had no idea just how big the estate was. It looks like a castle to Rachel. Rachel sees two young boys playing and running down a path. "That seems interesting," she says to herself. The girl follows the path to the end and finds a beautiful pond.
She walks up to it and thinks that this would be a great place to come and unwind and write in her journal. There is a small dock and she walks over to it, takes her shoes off, sits on the edge, and dangles her feet into the water….

__________________________________

"Hey she went down the path to the pond," says Ian.
"Cool. Let's go," says Briggs. The two friends turn and walk down the path to DeLongpre Pond.
"I don't think I've ever seen you so enthusiastic about meeting someone," says Ian.
"Because all the other 'someones' weren't her," says Briggs.
_________________________________

"What's going on darling?" Asks Meredith.
"Katie was hit by a car," August says.
"Oh my God. Is she at the Medical Center?" Asks Sumner.
"Yes," says August.
"Well we've got to get over there," says Sumner. "Come on darling," Sumner says to Jory.
"Pammy, are you coming?" Asks August.
"Um…sure…of…of…course," Pamela says with hesitation. Pamela and Katherine are anything but close. "Claudia, when Rachel returns will you tell her where I am?"
"Of course," says Claudia.
"Meredith?" Asks August.
"I'll stay here and send the crowd home and deal with the press," says Meredith.
"Thank you," says August.
"I can't believe this is happening," Claudia says to Leslie.
"He loves Katherine so much. It's so obvious how strong that father-daughter bond is," says Leslie.
Pamela, August, Jory and Sumner are heading for the garage when all of a sudden they hear screams.
"What is that?" Asks Jory.
"Probably some kids playing," says August.
"Kids don't scream like that when they play," says Jory.
"Rachel. Where's Rachel?" Asks Pamela.

_________________________________

Briggs and Ian have heard the screams as well. When they realize that the sounds are coming from the end of the path, the two boys break into a run and head for the pond.

_________________________________

"Pammy it's just kids," says August. Pamela looks around but does not see her daughter. The partygoers are looking towards the path to the pond.
"It's coming from the pond," says Pamela.
"There's a pond? Someone might be in trouble," says Jory.
"Daddy I'll stick around and handle it, you and Jory go on to the hospital," says August.
"I've got to find Rachel," says Pamela.

________________________________

Briggs and Ian run up to the girl who is standing at the end of the docks and screaming.
"Are you okay?" Asks Briggs.
"What's going on?" Asks Ian.
"Are you okay?" Briggs asks again. The girl stops screaming and is shaking and upset.
"It touched my foot," she says.
"What touched your foot? Asks Briggs.
"It's caught on the piling." The girl points down. Both Briggs and Ian look to where the girl is pointing and then back it each other.
"Oh man," says Ian. Rachel sees it and starts screaming again. People have started running down the path to the pond.
"What the hell…oh geez…." says Briggs looking at Ian then at Rachel.
"It touched my foot and I looked down and then I saw," says Rachel shaking. "Is it… I mean…it is, isn't it? Briggs looks at his friend then puts his arms around the girl, who is shaken and upset. Briggs holds her tight. Ian kneels down to inspect what's caught on the piling and looks back at Briggs and nods his head. The girl looks up at Briggs and says, "it's a…. it's…it's a dead body, isn't it?"

This has been Persephone Pointe

The Poem "Song To Celia - II" was written by Ben Jonson (b.1572 - d.1637)

The events and characters depicted are fictitious. Any similarities to actual persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental. All brand names are used fictitiously.

Be sure to check out "Come Nightfall" and "Deception." Links are posted on the promo page.

JOIN US AGAIN MONDAY FOR THE CONTINUING STORY OF PERSEPHONE POINTE.

PERSEPHONE POINTE
Is A Presentation of
January First Productions
©2000
All Rights Reserved