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Doris sits holding Will’s lifeless body in her arms, for what seems like an eternity. Her face is tear stained and she gently rocks him backwards and forwards. She whispers the words to a song that Will had sung to her all those years ago when they had first met:
“I got the same problem as you, I'm lonely too.......
Try our luck with love, if only for awhile
If we just take a chance then I know this romance could be perfect for you and me,
cause we’re lucky in live and we’re lucky enough for two....”
Doris had mourned Will’s passing over 25 years ago and thought she was over the loss but recent events had brought back those powerful emotions she had experienced as a teenager, the hurt, the pain, the anger. However, now she was also experiencing something else. A strange feeling of calmness. Watching Will being murdered, especially by someone she’d also been close too, had been very traumatic but one of the things that had always played on Doris’ mind, was that Will had died alone, with his body being left like a piece of trash in the street. This time Will had died in the arms of someone who loved him. He hadn't been alone and Doris took a little comfort from that.
Suddenly the lights change and Doris finds herself alone in the restroom, standing in front of the basin looking at the blood on her hands and arms. She takes a deep breath and sighs. Looking in the mirror she studies her face, with her eyes all red and puffy due to crying. Slowly she scrubs the blood from her hands and arms and washes her face. All the time her thoughts are on Will and how he’d died so young. Anger starts to rise inside her particularly at Sandy and his addiction. A thought strikes her, that what if Sandy is out in the bar, like he was the first times she'd found herself washing blood off her hands? Her anger increases and she scrubs her hands harder in an attempt to vent the anger towards him, not sure exactly what she will say to him.
Eventually she has removed all the blood from her skin and reapplied some make-up to her face, from her bag, in an attempt to make herself more presentable. Again she takes a deep breath and makes her way to the door, pausing momentarily as she opens it. Her mind is now wandering, what if she’s gone back in time again and Will is still alive? She decides that if he is, she will tell him what is going to happen in an attempt to avoid it happening again. She knows it’s wrong, and it could have consequences but she can’t face seeing Will being killed again, she simply doesn't feel strong enough to cope with that.
Rushing into the bar she frantically looks at the stage in the hope of seeing Will but he’s not there and the stage is actually empty, although a man with his back towards her appears to be about to go on stage. He is older and carrying more weight than Will and a banner at the back of the stage reads “amateur night”. Doris quickly looks around the room looking for any sign of Will or Sandy. To her relief and disappointment, certainly concerning Will, she can’t see either of them.
She hears some music coming from the stage and turns back to see who it is. The man, who’d previously had his back to her is now fully visible and Doris watches in amazement as he sings a country song. She can’t help but stare and feels like her eyes are going to pop out of her head. Before her is Quentin Morloch on stage performing.
"I've been walkin' these streets so long
Singin' the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle's the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone
Well, I really don't mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you're down when you're ridin' the train that's takin' the long way
And I dream of the things I'll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There'll be a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' card and letters from people I don't even know.."
Doris is transfixed as she watches her old vice principle singing. She’d never had any idea that he had any appreciation for music, certainly not country music and she had no idea that he ever did any singing himself. It all seemed totally out of character for the stern authoritarian, she’d known. Morloch notices Doris staring and winks back at her. Doris suddenly feels totally self conscious, not sure if he’s recognised her or not. She smiles weakly back at him and a broad smile crosses Morloch’s face.
As the song finishes Morloch, rushes off the stage and straight over to where Doris is standing. Nervously she looks around for somewhere to hide but there isn’t anywhere and besides it’s now too late. Morloch is wearing blue jeans, a tan shirt, cowboy boots and a Stetson, looking every part the cowboy. As he approaches he holds out his hand to greet her.
Morloch: “Hi, I’m Quentin Morloch, Do you come here often?”
Doris chokes back the laughter she feels at Morloch’s corny pick up line. Morloch notices and cringes realising what he’d said.
Morloch: “Sorry, I’m not trying to pick you up or anything. It’s just I noticed you starring at me while I was singing and I knew I’d never seen you here before, so I wondered if it’s your first time. Not that I’m here all the time or anything, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. So of course you could be a regular and I not know it.”
Morloch realises he’s rambling: “Sorry, things like this don’t normally happen to me and I’m not used to talking to beautiful women in bars.”
Doris gives a weak smile, flattered by Morloch’s compliment but at the same time feeling very awkward and not knowing how to get out of the situation. She is however relived that he doesn’t seem to recognise her. She takes his hand and shakes it. She then hesitates realising that she needs to introduce herself. Nervously she looks around the bar and sees Nancy greeting some people at the entrance.
Doris: “Hi, I’m pleased to meet you, I’m erm, I’m Nancy!”
Morloch’s voice booms as he enthusiastically shakes her hand: “I’m pleased to meet you Nancy, let me buy you a drink.”
Without even asking what Doris would like to drink he returns with two large glasses of beer and hands one to her. Doris smiles hesitantly and accepts the drink. Morloch then realises he didn’t ask her what she actually wanted.
Morloch: “I’m sorry I should have asked you if beer was okay. I can get you something else if you prefer?”
They sit down at a nearby table and Doris takes a sip of the beer: “No, no this is fine, thank you!”
Morloch grins and then there is a long pause, with him wondering what to say next.
Doris breaks the silence: “I enjoyed your song. Are you a professional? Do you sing a lot?”
Morloch blushes slightly not used to compliments: “No, I'm certainly not a professional and can just hold a tune but I’d had a couple of drinks and thought why not give it a go. I see people in here do it all the time and thought I’d give it a go. I'm starting a new job tomorrow and I thought getting in touch with being a performer might help me understand these people.”
Doris is slightly puzzled: “Understand them?”
Morloch: “Yes, it’s at the School of the Arts. Have you heard of it?”
Doris smiles knowlingly: “Oh, yes I think I've heard of it.”
Morloch looks around him to see if anyone can hear him then moves closer to Doris as he lowers his voice.
Morloch: “Well, it’s not really me. Do you know they don’t even have any kind of sports programme there. I mean what kind of school doesn't play sports? How can the guys learn to be guys without a little football or baseball?”
Doris shrugs, remembering once when Lydia’s dance class were in a competition with a bunch of Jocks and the dancers beat them.
Doris: “I think I've heard that dancing is better exercise than a lot of sports.”
Morloch winces as though he’s in pain and then laughs a hearty laugh.
Morloch: “That sounds like liberal poppycock to me. No self respecting athlete would ever be beaten by a dancer!”
Doris smiles knowingly: “We’ll I guess you’ll find out when you start the job.”
Morloch sighs: “It’s not my ideal job you know. I’m not even sure how I’m going to relate to these people. I’m not expecting there to be much discipline in a school where they spontaneously burst into song and dance all the time. I suspect they will see me as the bad guy who’s only there to spoil their fun.”
Doris nods sympathetically: “Well, maybe you should tread lightly when you arrive and try not to step on anyone’s toes.”
Morloch looks puzzled: “We’ll, I think I need to assert my authority and let them know who’s the boss. Although I’m only the Vice Principle, there is no Principle at the school so I will be running things and I think I need to let them know who is in charge.”
Doris: “Well, I’d be careful if I was you. You seem like a nice guy and you don’t want people to think you’re an ogre or something.”
Morloch shakes his head: “Well I’m not there to make friends I’m there to bring the school into line!”
Doris sighs: “Well, it can be pretty lonely at the top!”
Morloch replies wistfully: “Don’t I know it!”
After a brief silence Doris continues the conversation.
Doris: “Are you married?”
Morloch shakes his head and grins: “No, I’ve never found anyone who could tame me! There was some one once, Dee Dee Callaghan but she went off with my best friend, so it wasn’t to be.”
Doris gently squeezes Morloch’s hand: “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Morloch places his other hand over Doris’ hand and holds it for a few seconds. Feeling uncomfortable and worried that Morloch may have got the wrong impression she tries to pull her hand away.
Morloch realises and removes his hand: “I’m sorry, I’m really not used to this.”
Doris smiles reasuringly: "It's okay."
Morloch and Doris sit chatting and drinking for over an hour. Doris finds it interesting getting to know Morloch as an adult rather than the disciplinarian she’d known as a teenager. Even when she was at school she’d often thought there was a big softy under all Morloch macho exterior. She even finds herself laughing with him and the alcohol they consumed helped both of them feel less awkward. The conversation had helped Doris take her mind off of Will, Sandy, her other self, her son, Leroy and all the drama she’d experienced recently. As the evening went on she was even starting to relax and enjoy herself.
Morloch looks at his watch: “We’ll I’d better be heading off home, I've got an early start tomorrow. I don’t want to be hung over on my first day.”
For a few moments there is silence again and Morloch fidgets nervously with his keys.
Doris notices: “Are you okay Quentin?”
Morloch takes a deep breath: “I don’t suppose, erm I' mean...Oh no of course you wouldn't
Doris is again puzzled: "You don't suppose I wouldn't what?"
Morloch takes a deep breath: "I don't suppose... you’d want to come back for coffee, would you?”
Doris looks at the man in front of her, a little shocked by the proposition, knowing that coffee really meant sex. As a teenager, she’d never considered Morloch to be even slightly good looking but now as an adult and having got to know him a little he seemed kind and strangely attractive. Doris was now feeling more shocked by her own thoughts than by the proposition and wasn't sure what to do. Maybe it was the alcohol but she felt a little lost and lonely and just wanted someone to hold her and make her feel like an attractive woman.
Morloch blushes thinking the long silence means that he had overstepped the mark and he quickly begins to back track.
Morloch: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that, please forgive me. We’ve only just met and I know you’re not the type of woman who goes back to strangers apartments on the first date. I’ll get you a taxi but I would like to see you again if that’s possible?”
Doris smiles, partly relieved that she didn't have to answer Morloch proposition but also partly disappointed that she didn't say yes more quickly and be able to find some comfort in his arms.
Doris: “I think we’ll be seeing a lot of each other for the next couple of years!”
A huge grin spreads across Morloch’s face as he leads Doris out into the car park. Suddenly Doris goes cold thinking of how Sandy murdered Will in the very same car park. As they approach the main road Morloch calls “Taxi” and a yellow cab pulls over at the side of the road. Doris looks over at Morloch and is just about to speak when she loses her footing, almost slipping, Morloch catches her and holds her close to his chest.
Doris laughs: “Sorry, I think I've had too much to drink, but thank you for catching me.”
Looking up into Morloch’s eyes Doris slowly places a tender kiss on Morloch’s lips.
Morloch is shocked but happy by the affection. He opens the taxi door for Doris to get inside.
Morloch: “Goodnight Nancy, I hope to see you soon.”
Doris looks at the open door and hesitates for a second. She’d enjoyed the kiss and wonders if it’s too late to accept Morloch’s offer to go back to his apartment. Slowly she gets into the car.
Doris: “Goodnight Quentin.”
Doris shuts the taxi door and the car pulls away. Doris looks, watching Morloch standing on the side walk until he’s no longer in view. She wonders whether she made the right decision not to go with Morloch or not.
The taxi driver interrupts her and brings her back to reality: “Where to lady?”
Doris recognises the voice and realises she is in the back of Angelo Martelli’s taxi. For a moment Doris isn't sure what to say or where to go.”
Doris: “Can you just drive for a little while please?”
Angelo: “Sure, it’s you money!”
Angelo presses the play button on the cassette player and Bruno’s voice fills the cab.
Angelo proudly announces: “This is my son!”
Doris smiles and then closes her eyes relaxing to the music: “He’s very good.”
“Be My Music... “We’ll write the music together....”
Doris feels very relaxed as the music soothes her. Slowly she opens her eyes, looks around and is puzzled as to where she is. Her mouth feels very dry and she has a slight headache. The music has stopped and she is bathed in sunlight from a large window. A large white duvet is wrapped around her and she is lying on a double bed. Looking around the room Doris has no idea where she is. It’s obviously a bedroom but the question is who does it belong to? Memories of her time with Morloch come to her mind and she wonders if she changed her mind and went back to Morloch’s after all. She then hears whistling coming from outside the door and thinks to herself that someone sounds very cheerful.
The door opens and Angelo Martelli enters carrying a tray with breakfast on it.
Angelo: “Good morning Nancy, I bet you could use a good breakfast after last night?”
Doris swallows hard and gives a weak smile wondering what Bruno’s father is referring to. Did she spend the night with him?
At that moment a voice can be heard behind Angelo as Bruno comes running up the stairs and enters his father’s room.
Bruno: “Pop, I think it could be good if we spend the day together!”
Bruno stops, noticing someone in his father’s bed.
Angelo: “Bruno, I’d like you to meet Nancy, she spent the night last night.”
Doris reluctantly looks up at Bruno standing in the doorway.
Bruno recognised her as the person, he though was Doris made to look older, who had warned him that something bad might happen to his Father on the first day of School. The smiles falls from his face leaving him in complete shock.
Bruno: “Nancy?”
To Be Continued......
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