Scene: The Crawford Mansion.
Sam stumbles back and nearly falls to the ground as the ray of light simply vanishes before him. He extends his arms out as if he’s trying to grab something….or someone. His daughter is once again gone in the physical sense, but her memory will always go on in his heart.
Tears begin to form in each eye, but Sam Crawford could never let anyone see him giving in to his emotions. He quickly rubs his eyes with his hands and looks around careful to ensure no one is around. He must leave the study now…he can’t stand to be in the room for another moment as he begins to feel suffocated.
As he’s walking down the hall, flustered as can be, he runs into the last person he wants to see. No, not his wife Monica- but his hard-nosed sister, Penny.
"Penny, not now."
"Excuse me? What in the hell has you up in arms? I was just going to say hello…"
"Penny, it’s never just a ‘hello’ with you. There’s always something more…some scheme you are up to."
"Oh little brother, you should know me better than that!"
"I do know you better than anyone and that’s why I said what I did." Sam replies.
"So what happened in the study you just walked out of? I was shocked not to see Monica behind you. She’s usually to blame for your temper tantrums."
"Oh Penny, just please…"
"To my surprise, Monica was actually at the front door. I guess the help is getting lazy around here and who would think that a Crawford has to get the door now. Incredible, eh?"
"Is there a point to this rant of yours, Penny?"
"I just think you should check things out…It sounded like things were getting pretty heated between Monica and this girl….she started to raise her voice."
"Penny, you know Monica quite well. She raises her voice in every sentence she owns."
"Fair enough," Penny replies. "But I think you should check things out…"
"Fine, fine…I will see what’s going on." Sam concedes.
Scene: Outside the Crawford Mansion:
Monica stands floored at the younger woman’s statement. Ashley has just revealed that she is Sam’s daughter, and for the first time, Monica can’t find the right words to say.
"Did you hear me? I’d like to see Sam now if it’s alright." Ashley continues.
"I don’t think I did hear you, no. I thought you said you were Sam’s long lost daughter…but I have known him for thirty years….there is just no way." Monica retorts.
"Well, I’m 31- so I suppose I was conceived before you two met. It seems I was the guilty little secret he had with a younger high school senior that he never wanted to get out."
"No. No way. There is simply no way that Sam would have gone for a high school senior when he was nearly twenty-five at the time. That’s not his style to do something like that and then lie about it."
"Well, it’s certainly your style." Sam cuts in and stares at Monica. "What’s going on?"
"Thank God you are here, Sam. This trashy woman is claiming to be your…your…I can’t even say it without laughing. Your daughter." Monica chuckles.
Sam cracks a small smile. "Excuse me? And you are?"
Ashley and Sam stare at each other for a moment. Neither of them say a word. Sam senses an immediate familiarity about the young woman- it’s as if he’s looking into his own eyes when he peers into hers.
"My name is Ashley Davison. You might know the name….my mother was Diane Davison."
Sam’s eyes grow wide at the mention of that particular name. He certainly remembers Diane…but a child? There was no way he had a child with her. Or was there?"
"Monica, will excuse us please?"
"Excuse me? This is my damn house. I deserve some answers, damn it!"
"Monica, just please. I will tell you everything once we get things sorted out and I send the nice girl on her way."
Ashley shakes her head in disbelief. She didn’t fly across the country for this. She was here for some answers and she wasn’t leaving until she got them.
Scene: Adam Crawford’s Apt.
Adam stares at a portrait of his sister as a stream of tears begin to trickle down his cheek. It’s been just over six months since he last saw Kaylee. He remembers his last moment with his sister like it was yesterday- they were shopping at the mall for new clothes. Kaylee always loved to bring along her wise, older, and very gay brother who had impeccable fashion taste.
He begins to chuckle when remembering things she used to say to him. She always trusted his opinion, and while she wasn’t keen on the idea of having a gay brother when he first came out, the idea grew on her through time and her deep love for Adam overcame any mixed emotions she had.
Adam suddenly looks over and sees her reflection in the mirror as if she’s standing behind him. He rubs his eyes and shakes his head, but when he opens his eyes once again she is clearly standing behind him.
"Adam….oh Adam…"
"Kaylee? No…no, it can’t be."
"It’s me. I’m here. I don’t know how and I can’t explain everything that has happened, but I’m here and I need you to do me a favor. I don’t know how long I will have…"
"A favor? Anything, sure….I just…I just can’t believe this is happening. I must be dreaming." Adam rubs his eyes once again.
"No Adam, you are certainly not dreaming. It’s me. It’s your sister and I have something very important to tell you."
"Please do…"
"You must go to dad’s study and look in his top right drawer. Inside you will find a diary."
"A diary? Dad’s?" Adam seems perplexed.
"No. It’s my diary, Adam. Dad has it and he keeps it hidden for good reason- there are many things in there that would….that would…"
"That would what?" Adam raises a brow.
"That would tear things apart for some people. But near the end you will find out why I did what I did. I trust you that you will do the right thing, Adam. I trust that you will seek out the diary and do what’s right."
"Of course. Anything for you…I just thought it would be so personal to you."
"Dad can’t hide the truth forever, Adam…you all deserve to know…"
"Know what exactly?"
Just then, as soon as she appeared before him, she was now gone. He calls out her name for her to return to him, but she is no where in sight and he is once again alone in his apartment.
Scene: The Coleson Residence.
Lindsey looks down at a family portrait and sighs. It had to have been taken in the mid-80s- Luke and Leslie were still so young. Bo looked as dashing as ever. She produces a smile as she remembers what a lady’s man Bo was….correction, always has been. If she had any major complaint it was that her husband was always so flirtatious around other women- especially that she-devil, Monica Crawford.
"I remember the day that was taken," Bo says from behind her. He tightly wraps his arms around Lindsey. "Luke and Leslie had just started kindergarten and you had just sealed some huge deal with the fashion line the day before. I remember how happy you were about it."
Lindsey smiles and nods her head. "I didn’t think you remembered little things like that."
"Well, it wasn’t a little thing. It was a big thing for you and it made you very happy."
"I couldn’t imagine losing a child, Bo. My heart just goes out for Drake and Karen so much."
"I know, honey. I couldn’t imagine it either…we’re doing everything down at the station to find their baby girl though. She’ll turn up soon enough, babe."
"Perfectly healthy I hope…" Lindsey begins to tear up.
"Don’t you worry. I know how you have a soft spot for children, Lindsey- and it’s really hitting home this time. It was one thing when Drake was kidnapped all those years ago and held prisoner- he was a grown adult. Kristina, on the other hand, is an innocent child and is so helpless…"
"You’re right. I should call Karen and see how she’s doing."
"That sounds like a good idea, babe. I’m going to head back to the station and see if anything new has turned up. I swear to you we will find that baby girl….if it’s the last thing I do, I will make sure that precious little baby is delivered safely back to Drake and Karen."
"And it’s when you say things like that…that I really am so happy that I married you, hon."
Scene: The Crawford Mansion.
"In all due respect, Mrs. Crawford, do you think we can have a word alone?" Ashley looks towards Monica.
A shocked Monica looks back at her husband and doesn’t accept defeat that easily. "Sam, you have to be kidding….right? This woman is out of her mind."
"Look Monica, why don’t you just give us a moment? I’ll be inside soon." Sam looks back at Monica and rolls his eyes. He knows how feisty she is and she hates being left out of anything in his life.
"Fine….just fine!" Monica stomps off like a defeated teenager whose father has just told her to go to bed.
"Well, she’s certainly a handful, isn’t she?" Ashley looks up at Sam- the man believed to be her father.
"Oh yes….you can bet on that. After thirty years of marriage though what can you do? We share two beautiful children- well, shared….one passed away last fall." Sam explains.
"I’m so sorry. What was her name?"
"Kaylee. Kaylee Marie…she was a beautiful young lady. Just had some problems and…well, I don’t really want to get into it."
"That’s okay. I’m just eager to learn about, ya know…the family I never knew."
Sam studies her for a moment before speaking. He wants to kick her on the curb and pretend this whole meeting never happened…however, as he stared into her piercing blue eyes he saw his own. He saw his reflection….could she actually be who she said she was?
"How did this trip of yours all come about?"
"My mother," Ashley begins. "Diane Davison. I believe you had a brief affair with her when you were in college- but, as I understand, she was a senior in high school and it was all hush hush."
Sam freezes at the first sound of that woman’s name. He certainly remembers their time together- but a child? No, he would have known about it. There was no way."
"Apparently she wanted to keep the whole thing hidden. So, as it turns out, she did her classes at home during her senior year after you met and she gave the baby….myself….to my grandmother to raise."
"It’s all a very fascinating story. Quite heartwarming indeed. However, I think you have come to the wrong door step…" Sam begins to shut the door.
Ashley stops the door and forces her way in. "No. I did not come this far for you to dismiss everything I’ve said like this. I’m not going anywhere- we are going to have a long chat and I’m going to get the answers I’ve been looking for all this time."
Scene: Nick Schneider’s Apt.
Nick Schneider glances around the living room that holds so many memories…He remembers his first date with Kaylee when they returned to his condo and watched a movie after dinner. They both agreed that the theatre wasn’t as quite inviting and once he held her in his arms all those years ago he finally realized what heaven could feel like.
This day was bittersweet indeed. For years he had wanted to leave the only place he had called home and venture out into the unforgiving world. Now he was getting ready to do just that, but his reasons for leaving were quite different now. For a part of him was gone. A portion of his heart was missing and he knew it would never fully be the same.
He wraps a final picture of Kaylee and he and sets in in the tiny box. Tears begin to form as he tries his best to keep his composure. Hell, no one is around though- he decides he can let it loose and weep like never before.
Then, before he has time to realize what is happening, a bright flash appears in the room and moments later an angelic figure stands before him that he recognizes all too well.
"No….no….it can’t be." Nick rubs his eyes. There is no way that Kaylee could be standing before him like this.
"Nicky….oh God….I have missed you so much."
"How is this possible? No….it’s not. This must be a dream." He tries to convince himself, but he realizes that even if it is a dream he will welcome it with open arms.
"I have missed you so much, love….why? Why did you do it?" Nick continues. Not knowing how much time he will have with her, he scrambles for answers.
"All of that will be revealed soon. But trust me, Nick, it had nothing to do with you. I loved you with all my heart and you are the only one who kept me going for all those years."
"Oh Kay….I feel the same way. And now that you’re gone I feel I can barely breathe anymore."
"Please, Nick, I need you to move on. If not for yourself, do it for me….I want you to be happy and remember the amazing times we had. I know we both will never forget those amazing memories."
"Never, Kaylee…"
"I want you to leave and find yourself like you’re about to do. But I never want one thought to go through your mind like the ones I know you’ve been having…you did nothing to cause my death or to influence any decision I made. My death was made in vein…"
"Made in vein? What do you mean?" Nick questions.
"Good bye, Nick….I love you. I will always love you. You have such a wonderful life ahead of yourself. Don’t ever look back and know how much you will always be loved. You will always have a guardian agel looking from above…"
"Kay….Kaylee!" Nick screams as she begins to fade away. "Please don’t go….God, please don’t go!"
Moments later Nick is left alone in the room with mounds of packed boxes while he tried his best to pick up the pieces of his broken heart and make sense of it all.
To be
Continued...