"If Tomorrow Never Comes" Part 2

Doris watches as Nicole takes to the stage to sing one more time, slowing the mood as she sings a ballad. A number of couples begin to slow dance:

“It’s more than I could ever say with words,

It’s more than tears and fears,

living in different worlds.

When You’re out there on your own,

You’re not alone.

Until my heart stops beat, you’ll beat in me

The one that keeps me going,

Stronger than my wildest dreams.

’til my heart stops beating,

It’s longer than life,

This is a love forever,

Until my heart stops beating.

No matter where you go,

When your head is low,

I’ll be there.

They say nothing ever lasts forever,

And you know they say, nothing lasts that long.

After all is said and done,

We still held on.

Until my heart stops beating,

You beat for me.

The one that keeps me going,

Stronger than my wildest dreams.

‘til my heart stops beating,

Longer than a life.

This is a love forever,

Until my heart stops beating.

And when my dreams fall from the sky,

I still believe, you and I,

Until my heart stops beating.

No matter where you go,

When you’re head hangs low,

I’ll be there.

Until my heart stops beating,

You’ll beat in me.

The one that keeps me going,

Stronger than my Wildest dreams.

‘til my heart stops beating,

Stronger than life,

This is a love forever,

Until my heart stops beating.

‘til my heart stops,

I’ll be there.”

Doris swallows hard as Nicole performs, choking back the emotions she’s feeling. It was almost as though Nicole somehow knew that something tragic was about to happen to her. It was all the more emotional after Doris had overheard Nicole confess she was still in love with Jesse. Doris notices Jesse standing over the other side of the room with Ian and Dusty, watching the performance. Jesse is totally unaware of Nicole’s feelings for him.

Ian: “Do you think Nicole is singing about you mate?”

Jesse is surprised by the question: “No, everything is cool between me and Nicole. We just good friends. Actually we’ve been very adult about our break up.”

Dusty is listening intently to their conversation. She still had feelings for Jesse herself. Although she knew he didn’t see her in that way, she couldn’t stop the feelings she had for him. She’d always been concerned that Nicole and Jesse would get back together, so was relieved to hear Jesse’s words.

As Nicole brings the song to an end the crowd gives a round of applause. She leaves the stage and moves over to where Danny and Mickey are standing. Doris springs into action and quickly rushes over to the other side of the room. She is so intent on saving Nicole that she doesn’t notice she has been spotted by Bruno and Coco.

Bruno: Doris?

He reaches out and grabs Doris by the arm which stops her in her tracks.

Bruno: "Doris, what’s going on? You never had an opportunity to explain what on earth is happening. The last time we saw you Agent Crane took you into the teachers’ lounge!”

Doris looks at him and then to Coco feeling lost for words. She then looks over towards Danny and Nicole who are heading towards the door.

Doris: “Look Bruno, I’m sorry I don’t have time to explain things now I’ve got something really important to do. I’ve really got to go!”

Bruno: “Doris, you nearly ruined our friendship so I really think you owe me an explanation.”

Doris: “You’re right Bruno, I do and I promise next time I see you, I’ll explain everything as best as I can but right now it’s a matter of life and death and I’ve got to go.”

She gives Bruno an apologetic smile and quickly turns and heads towards the door. Bruno and Coco exchange surprised glances.

Coco: “This is turning into one weird evening!”

As Doris opens the door she expects to be standing out on the street but instead she finds herself in a darkened make-up room at the school. She can’t believe her luck that things could change at such a crucial moment and cries out.

Doris: “No! No! Not Now!"

Doris slumps to the floor, frustrated that her mission to save Nicole has been halted so quickly. Every time things get interesting, she moves in time and something else happens so she can’t follow things through. She wishes for once she had some control over what is happening to her.

She is so wrapped up in her thoughts that she doesn’t notice the lighting in the make-up room is changing. A strange orange light emits from the large mirror in the corner. After a few moments the light catches Doris’ eye. She’d seen the lights once before, way back during the time she’d seen Lisa the ghost in the make-up room. As Doris watches suddenly Lisa appears in the mirror, her long blonde hair and dress blowing in the wind as she smiles.

Lisa: “Doris, I’ve come to help you.”

Doris is happy to see Lisa again but confused why she is there.

Doris: “I thought, I’d helped you pass over and you were at peace?”

Lisa: “You did and I am, but I saw how your encounter with Tracy left you questioning if you were still alive. There isn’t much that I can do for you but I knew that I could bring you back to the point where we met and I could reassure you, that you’re not dead yet so don’t give up on living. You are still alive.”

Doris smiles as she finds Lisa’s words comforting.

Doris: “Thank you, that means a lot to me. Since all this started happening I’ve begun to question what is real and what is not so it’s nice to have some reassurance. I don’t suppose you know anything else about what is happening to me do you?”

Lisa shakes her head: “I’m sorry Doris, I wish I could help you more but I shouldn’t really have bought you here to talk to you, so can’t say anymore.”

Doris nods understandingly but something Lisa has said rings in he ears.

Doris: “You brought me here?”

Lisa nods: “Yes”.

Doris: “If you brought me here, can you send me back? Back to the party I mean to help Nicole ?”

Lisa smiles: “Yes, I can send you back. Just open the make-up room door and you’ll be back.”

Doris: “Thank you Lisa, thank you, it is so good to see you again.”

Lisa disappears and the mirror returns to normal, showing Doris’ own reflection. She stands for a moment looking at her face in the mirror. She notices how pale and tired that she looks. After a moment She comes back to her sense and realises that there's not a moment to waste and rushes to the door. As she opens it, she finds herself back at the party and a voice talking directly to her.

Bruno: “I thought you left already? "

Doris turns to see Bruno smiling.

Bruno: "Well it looks like this is the next time we see each other , so I'm ready to hear that explanation from you".

Doris sighs: “Oh Bruno, ....I truly am sorry. One day I’ll explain it all and you’ll understand but until then...”

Her words trail off as she rushes to the door.

Bruno's words call after her: "Wait.. Doris?"

As Doris opens the door she is greeted by a blast of cold air, she shivers as she steps carefully out onto the snowy street. She is just in time to see Danny holding a car door and Nicole disappear inside.

Doris calls out: “Nicole, please wait!”

However, Danny has now moved into the car and pulls the door shut, so her words go unheard. Doris moves as quickly as she can on the icy, snowy street, towards the car but she hears the engine start and the car shakily pulls away. Doris can’t believe she’s too late and wonders how she can now stop the car. She then notices a yellow cab passing by. Instinctively she calls out “Taxi!”

To her surprise the cab instantly pulls over for her to get in.

Doris snaps at the driver: “Quickly follow that car!”

The driver turns to her and laughs: ”What? Do you think this is like the movies?”

Suddenly Doris stops in her tracks as she recognises the driver as Angelo Martelli, Bruno's deceased Father. She wonders "How could he be here when he died 4 years ago?" Doris is totally confused as to how people from different time periods keep merging into one.

Angelo: “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

Doris ponders the irony of what Bruno’s father had said. If only he knew that she had just been talking to Lisa and a few hours ago talking to Tracy and now she’s in a cab being driven by Bruno’s dead father. She shakes her head.

Doris: "I’m fine, it’s just a little cold out there and it’s important that I talk to the people in that car".

Angelo shrugs, as the cab pulls away down the street and he starts to follow Mickey’s car.

Angelo: “If you don’t mind me saying, you seem a little tense. How about a little music to help soothe you. My son is a composer. He’s just written this for my Sisters new born.”

Angelo pushes a cassette into the tape deck and after afew moments Doris hears Bruno’s voice singing:

“Welcome, what's it like to be so new?

The first for your company, a fresh point of view.

If only you could say what's on your mind,

What would you talk about?

What would we find, in your eyes?

Could you teach us how to laugh, when the blocks fall down?

Could you show us how to cry, with the lonely clown?

Could we ever wonder why, snow falls from the sky?

Could We Be Magic Like You? ...."

A warm smile crosses Doris’ face as she remembers, like it was yesterday, the first time Bruno played that song for everyone.

Angelo: “Your friends in that car are driving a little erratically and in this weather I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t have some kind of accident. I think we are better off keeping our distance.”

Doris snaps: “No! we need to stay close to them. If anything happens we need to help them!”

Angelo: “What are you talking about? What’s the story here?”

Doris: “Look, could you just drive, I’m worried about my friends in the car!”

Angelo: “Lady, if I’m risking my life, you at least owe me some explanation.”

There is silence while Doris considered the taxi drivers words, but her attention is then distracted as she sees an opportunity to overtake Mickey’s car and bring it to a stop.

Doris: “You are right, I do owe you an explanation (Angelo smiles) but first if you speed up a little we can overtake and stop them”.

Angelo looks worried: “I’m already doing the speed limit and I don’t want to get a ticket.”

Doris: “You have a son right? I’m sure you’d do anything to protect him?”

Angelo nods in agreement.

Doris continues: “Well my daughter is in that car and the guy driving it has been drinking. I just want to get her out of the car as quickly as possible so that she’s safe. You can understand that can't you?”

Angelo understands a parent’s need to protect their child and puts his foot down on the accelerator to increase the cabs speed. As he comes along side the other car, Mickey looks over at him and suddenly loses control of the car. Slipping on the ice the car swerves onto the sidewalk and straight into a sign post.

Everything happened so quickly and Angelo struggles to keep control of his cab, but eventually manages it and brings the car to a stop. He and Doris exchanged shocked, worried glances as they see two of the three kids have been thrown through the window screen and are lying on the sidewalk.

Doris’ shaking hand moves up to her face as she stares at the bodies of Danny and Nicole lying motionlessly on the sidewalk. She can see the snow next to them stained red with blood. Her voice shakes with emotion.

Doris: “Oh My God! I was trying to stop the accident and now I’m the one who’s caused it...”

To be continued.......