Scene 1:
Nicole's heart sank as she heard Shannon's blood curdling scream coming through the hallway. She leapt up on off the couch she was sitting on and nearly tripped over an unpacked box that was sitting on the floor. When she reached the hallway she saw a light was on in Shannon's bedroom. Shannon was sitting on the floor, crying and obviously frightened.
"Shannon? What is it?" Nicole looked around the room for any sign of an intruder, and when she found none, she sat on the floor next to Shannon and hugged her. "Was there someone in the house?"
Shannon took a shaky breath and then started to speak in almost a whisper. "The hallway light wouldn't turn on either, so I thought the electricity might be out. I came in here just to double check and I thought I saw something. I turned on the light and saw…I mean, I think…Nicole," she looked to face her sister, "I'm not sure what I saw."
"What do you think it was?" Nicole asked.
"It looked like…like Uncle Sal." Shannon started to sob again.
"I think maybe you've just had a long day, perhaps?quot; Nicole started.
"No! He was sitting in that corner over there! " Shannon stood up and ran to the place where she had seen the apparition. "He was clutching his chest and trying to write something. He looked at me with such agony that I just screamed." Shannon sank to the floor in tears once again. "I know it sounds crazy, but that's what I saw."
Nicole went over to where Shannon now was and tried to comfort her. "Shannon, it's okay, it's okay. I don't think you're crazy, but I do think you let your imagination get the best of you." Nicole said. Then she took a deep breath. "You know what I think? I think it is the stress of moving into this place. I know you and Uncle Sal had a close relationship, especially since you shared the same birthday. When we were kids and came to visit them, I was always jealous of you because he took you to the park or the circus while Aunt Edith made me stay and help in the kitchen. When he died it tore you up, and I don't think you ever admitted to yourself how much it hurt. Now that we are here, in his house, your mind is making you deal with it."
Shannon's sobs subsided and she began to wipe the tears from her face. "Maybe you're right. And this was Uncle Sal's favorite room. I choose it because it made me feel closer to his spirit, you know? I just feel so guilty that I wasn't here the night he died. Damnit! I was supposed to be here. But I decided to go to that dance competition instead. If I had been here, maybe I could have done something." Her voice cracked.
"It's not your fault Shannon. It's no one's fault. It was his time to go and there was nothing you could have done. Uncle Sal knew how much you loved him, how much we all loved him. There is no need to feel guilty." Nicole stood up and offered Shannon her hand. "Maybe it would be best if you didn't sleep in here tonight. We can set out sleeping bags in the living room and have a good old fashioned slumber party, just like we used to do when we were kids. What do you say?"
"Can we make popcorn? And drink hot chocolate?" Shannon gave an uneasy smile.
"It wouldn't be a slumber party without it." Nicole smiled back at her.
"Yeah," Shannon took Nicole's hand and pulled herself off the floor, "I'd like that."
Nicole smiled and left the room. Shannon started to follow her, but before she shut the door, she turned and looked inside one more time trying to find any trace of what she had seen earlier. What she found was a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.
Scene 2:
It was a beautiful sunny day at the home of the O'Neills. Renee was in the bathroom get ready, as she had a doctor's appointment that day. Ted was downstairs singing, holding up the mobile he had purchased the day before.
"Joxer the Mighty
He's very tidy
Everyone admires him
He's so handsome it's a sin
He's Joxer, Joxer the mighty!"
"I'm ready!" Renee descended from the stairs looking radiant as always. "What were you singing honey?"
" Oh that? It's just a little song I made up." Ted had hidden the mobile behind the couch when he heard Renee coming and he hoped she wouldn't realize something was going on. But somehow she always knew.
"Do you want anything to eat before we go?" Renee started to head to the kitchen, but there was a knock at the door. "Oh I'll get that!" She said and answered.
She opened the door to reveal the tall, dark figure of Kevin Dimira, disguised with a moustache and glasses.
"Hello!" Renee greeted. Ted came up behind her.
"I'm new in town and thought I'd come over and introduce myself. My name is Hans Gulogaust. Nice to meet you." Kevin said.
"Welcome to Corinth! I'm Renee O'Neill and this is my husband Ted." Renee shook his hand a smiled. Ted shook it also, but didn't share Renee's bright grin.
"The Widow Twanky usually shows new people around." Ted eyed the man suspiciously.
"Ted she's probably busy showing Shannon and Nicole around." Renee burst in.
"Shannon and Nicole?" Kevin replied curiously.
"Yes, they're new in town also. We met them at Sorbo's cafe last night! Seemed like such nice girls! Chris and Ryan seemed to think so also, didn't they?" Renee looked at Ted.
Ted interrupted. "Honey, we better be going or we're going to be late."
"I'm sorry for keeping you both. Have a good day, and thank you for the... information." Kevin gave a sly smile and got into his car.
"He seems like a nice man!" Renee said as she smiled at Ted.
Ted had a doubtful look on his face. "Yeah...nice man."
Scene 3:
"Hey Nicole!" Shannon walked from the kitchen into the living room. "Do you know where the screwdriver is? One of the kitchen cabinet doors has fallen loose."
"Yeah. There one over here on the couch." Nicole walked over to pick it up. "I was using it to put the legs back on the coffee table."
Nicole held the screwdriver out for Shannon to take, but Shannon shook her head. "Actually, I was thinking that you should do it. Don't you remember what happened when I tried to fix that toaster?"
"Good point." Nicole smiled and started towards the kitchen. "While I'm doing that, do you think you could finish unpacking that box for me?"
"Sure, no problem." Shannon said as Nicole disappeared into the kitchen. She started to make her way across the room to the box Nicole had been working on when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!"
Shannon opened the door and saw Chris and Ryan standing there.
"Hi Shannon." Ryan said with a smile.
Shannon smiled back. "Hey guys. Come on in."
"Where's Nicole?" Chris asked as he looked around the room.
"Oh, she's in the kitchen. One of the cabinet doors came off and she is trying to fix it."
"Well, maybe I should?quot; Chris started.
"Ryan, maybe you should go and see how she is doing." Shannon interrupted him. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind a little help."
"Uh…but?quot; Ryan was about to suggest that Chris go instead when Shannon interrupted again.
"Thanks Ryan. You're a doll." Shannon smiled and pointed. "The kitchen is right through that door."
Ryan looked over at Chris and shrugged his shoulders. Then he turned and walked into the kitchen.
"Ohhhh Chris?" Shannon said in a very seductive tone.
"Yes?" Chris responded.
"Our light switch doesn't seem to be working, would you be so kind as to take a look at it?" She said this very innocently.
"Sure, I'll do that right now!" Chris answered.
"Aw thank you, every woman needs a man like you around." Shannon said back in the seductive tone she used before, "It's the light switch here in the hallway."
"Is it hot in here or is it just me?" Chris asked as he followed Shannon into the hall.
Shannon smiled. "Oh it's hot in here!"
Chris took off his shirt and began to work on the light switch.
Shannon leaned over on a table next to it, and began flirting with him. "Ooh, you work out a lot don't you?" She said as she stared at his bulging muscles.
"Yeah I do." Chris seemed uninterested but then he perked up. "Hey can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything!" Shannon responded with a huge grin.
"What does Nicole like to do?" He asked curiously.
The smile Shannon had on her face quickly disappeared. "I dunno. I really don't pay that much attention. She's um into martial arts--"
"That's great, so am I!" Chris said with enthusiasm. "What kinda music does she like?"
"Why?" Shannon said, getting annoyed.
"Well I have tickets to a concert Saturday night, and I thought I'd ask her to go with me." Chris replied.
"Ooh I love concerts, which one?" Shannon said, once more trying her best to get Chris' attention.
"Garth Brooks. Does Nicole like his music?" Chris asked, hoping that she did.
"Yes." Shannon sighed unhappily.
"Great! I'll ask her to go then." Chris responded with a pleased tone.
Shannon looked down and put on her best sad face with a tone that matched. "Yeah. You do that. I'll just sit here...all alone...with nothing to do..."
"Aw come on, no you won't!" Chris answered.
Shannon's eyes lit up. "I won't?"
"Of course not! Ryan will ask you to do something!" Chris exclaimed.
Shannon sighed. "Oh. Well he's nice-"
Chris interrupted. " I'll tell him you said that!"
"No that's ok--" Shannon started to say.
Chris climbed down from the ladder. "Well I really didn't find anything wrong with it, but it should work now." He looked around. "I think I'll go find Nicole."
"She's probably still in the kitchen with Ryan." Shannon had given up trying to flirt with him at this point.
"I think I'll go see if she needs my help. Thanks for the chat Sharon." Chris said and started to leave.
"It's SHANNON." Shannon said loudly.
"Oh Shannon right, sorry about that!" Chris left the room and headed for the kitchen.
Scene 4:
Twanky's students were leaving the studio. She waved goodbye to them. "Remember girls, next week same time! And a prompt dancer is a successful one!" She started to pack up her things to leave also, but then saw Willard standing there gazing at her.
"For you...." Willard held out the flowers and flashed that smile only Willard can.
Twanky's face scrunched up in disgust. "Well shame on you! Don't you know that stealing flowers from someone else's garden is wrong, not to mention very RUDE! I can tell you didn't go to a private school."
Willard looked sad and hung his head. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to give you flowers as beautiful as you."
"Humph." Twanky said, not impressed. "I want you to go right now and apologize to the poor people you took those from. Now shoo!"
Willard started to leave but then remembered why he had come there. He wanted to ask his beloved Twanky on a date. He stopped and started to speak.
"Go go!" Twanky said as she waved her arms to the door.
"But I wondered--" Willard started to say before Twanky interrupted.
"Unless you want dancing lessons, I cannot help you!"
Willard started to stutter. "I...I...I'll ttt....ttt...ttakkke dance lessons."
"Humph. Well you will need much work! I suggest 3 times a week." Twanky said.
Willard got a big grin and flashed his toothless smile. "3 times a week.... with you."
"For your DANCE lessons!" Twanky said sternly. "We shall begin tomorrow morning, bright and early, when the first rooster crows!" And with that she spun off into the back.
Willard just stood there dazed. "I think she likes me..."
Scene 5:
Chris walked into the kitchen to find Nicole and Ryan in a heated debate.
"I don't think so. If you put it on like that, it will fall right back off again." Nicole exclaimed.
"It looks fine to me." Ryan exclaimed.
"Yeah, and it'll work fine too, unless we want to do something practical, like, hmm, I don't know, open the cabinet!"
"Oh really, Miss. Smarty Pants?" Ryan retorted, "You didn't exactly have it on right when I came in here."
"Tell me again why you came in here? I don't remember having a help wanted sign hanging in my window."
"Just give me the screwdriver and I'll fix it, okay?"
Nicole was about to say something else when she heard Chris' voice behind her, "It just brings a tear to my eye to see how well you two are getting along."
"Uh, we were just, uh, discussing the finer points of cabinet mending. Weren't we Ryan?" Nicole could feel her face turning red as she nudged Ryan in the side.
"What? Uh, yeah, that's right,'" Ryan added, "and we almost had it fixed too. Until you interrupted us."
"Guys, I could have gone on a there week trip to the Bahamas, come back and you two still wouldn't have finished." Chris began to chuckle. "Ryan, why don't you let me help Nicole. I think Shannon could use a hand out there."
Ryan looked at the mess they had made of the cabinet. "Good idea." With that he left the room.
Nicole looked up from her place on the floor and saw Chris walk over to her.
"I've got one question for you?" Chris began, "What did that poor cabinet ever do to you?"
Nicole looked down and saw the mess she had made of the cabinet door. She started to laugh, "It doesn't look too good, does it?"
"Here, let me help." Chris sat down next to her and took the screwdriver from her hand. Nicole watched as started to attach a hinge onto the door. She could see his powerful arm muscles move as he turned the screwdriver from right to left in slow but consistent movements. She had gotten lost in the rhythm when she was suddenly thrust back into the moment by Chris' voice. "Do you think you can hold this for me?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Nicole asked waking up out of her daze.
"The door? Can you hold it while I finish attaching it?"
"Uh...yeah, sorry." Nicole slid closer to where Chris was sitting and held the door in place. From this position she could faintly smell the cologne he was wearing wafting up from his skin. She was careful this time not to get too caught up in the experience.
"Uh, Shannon tells me you are a fan of Garth Brooks." Chris started.
"I love Garth Brooks. I heard he was in town this weekend, but unfortunately the show was sold out weeks ago. I've always wanted to see that man in concert."
"Well, it just so happens that I have two front row tickets to the show. I thought maybe you'd like to go with me." Chris flashed her a big smile.
"I'd love to go, but you just met me. I'm sure there must be someone else you'd rather take." Nicole replied.
"That's the point. I'd like to get to know you better."
"I don't know...." Nicole started.
"Come on," Chris interrupted, "It's Garth Brooks."
Nicole started to give another excuse but she could see by the look in his eyes that he wouldn't take no for an answer. She smiled, "Okay. I'll go."
"Great!"
Scene 6:
Shannon moped out of the hallway and into the living room. She was frustrated that things with Chris hadn't gone as she had hoped. She plopped down on the couch and looked at the utter mess of half unloaded boxes strewn across the room. She kicked one that was next to her foot, "Stupid boxes!"
"Are you all right?" Shannon's heart raced as she heard a man's voice behind her. She knew it had to be Chris so she put on her best smile and turned to face…Ryan.
"Oh," her smile faded, "It's you."
"You sure know how to make a guy feel welcome" Ryan grinned at her.
"I'm sorry." She replied, "It's just that I thought…I mean…uh, oh, never mind." Shannon paused for a moment and the spoke again, "Wait a second, I thought you were in the kitchen helping Nicole fix that cabinet."
"I was," Ryan began, "But I was kicked out for lack of mechanical skills." He started to laugh. "Don't worry though, I left her in good hands. Chris is in there with her."
"That's what I'm worried about." She muttered under her breath.
"What?" Ryan asked.
"Oh, uh…I just said that maybe I should go in there and make sure everything is okay." Shannon stood up from the couch and started to walk to the kitchen door.
"Shannon, wait." Ryan called after her. "I think they can handle things just fine on their own. Besides, I want to ask you something."
Shannon turned back around to face him, "What is it?" she asked with obvious impatience in her voice.
"Well, I just wanted to know if?quot; Ryan never got any farther because the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Shannon walked over to the door and opened it. On the other side she saw a slender girl of average height with long blond hair and blue eyes standing with a nice looking young man with curly, blond hair. "May I help you?" Shannon inquired.
"We're looking for Ryan." She said
"Hey Aspen!" Ryan ran to the door and gave the girl a big hug, "When did you get back in town?"
"Last night," she replied, "But I'm only going to be in town one more night."
"Girlfriend?" Shannon inquired.
"No," Ryan laughed, "Shannon, let me introduce you to my sister, Aspen, and my other roommate, Dean."
"Nice to meet you Shannon." Aspen offered her hand to Shannon, who shook it.
"It's nice to meet you too." Shannon replied, "Please, come in."
Aspen nodded and she and Dean entered the house. "We can't stay for long. Mom and dad want to take all of us to dinner." She looked around the living room, "Hey Ryan, where's that hunky friend of yours?"
"Chris?" Ryan started to laugh, "He's in the?quot;
"Aspen!" Chris and Nicole had emerged from the kitchen and Chris ran over and wrapped Aspen up in a big bear hug. Shannon laughed quietly to herself when she saw that the huge grin Nicole had been wearing had been wiped off her face.
"Nicole, this is Aspen." He turned in Nicole's direction but had his arm around Aspen. "She is Ryan's twin sister, but we hung out so much as kids, that I think of her as my sister too. Unlike her brother, Aspen had talent and is now off touring with her band. We hardly get to see her anymore."
The smile returned to Nicole's face as she walked over to shake Aspen's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"And this is our other roommate, Dean" Ryan piped in.
Nicole shook his hand as well. "Please, have a seat. Make yourselves at home"
"Actually, we were sent to fetch these two losers off your hands." Dean grinned, "I hope they weren't too much trouble. You know, I have trouble taking them anywhere."
"My parents are taking us all out to dinner. You two are welcome to join us." Ryan added, smiling at Shannon.
"No, we don't want to intrude. Besides, we have a lot of unpacking left to do, right Shannon?" She looked at Shannon who was staring at Chris.
"Uh?ya, right." Shannon replied without taking her eyes off Chris.
"I hope you don't mind us running out on you so soon." Chris said.
"No, not at all. You're here helping us, remember?" Shannon spoke directly to Chris, "But feel free to come over anytime you want."
"Sure thing." Ryan answered.
"Nice meeting you ladies." Dean said as he turned to walk out the door, followed by Aspen.
"You sure you don't want to come?" Chris asked, "You're more than welcome to."
"Well, I guess we could?quot; Shannon started.
"No, we'll be fine. Thanks for the invitation though." Nicole smiled as Chris and Ryan walked out of the door.
Scene 7:
That night Widow Twanky sat on her porch in her rocking chair with her eye's on the Conrad's house. She was worried, but so far nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Don't worry girls, I'll do everything within my power to keep you safe." Twanky murmured. "I may not have been able to help your Uncle, but I'm not going to let the same thing happen to you."
She sat rocking for another few minutes and had almost fallen asleep when she thought she heard a scream coming from next door. A moment later she heard another scream. She shot up out of her rocking chair and ran as fast as she could across the lawn to the little house next door.
"Don't worry girls, I'm on my way." She cried.