Christmas Wrapping (Read 3,237 times)

[André DiMera]

As there's about two weeks until Christmas, it is time for the naming and previews for my annual Christmas story. Like most of my previous Christmas stories, it will be based on something that I quite enjoy. In this case, two songs. The name of one is the title. The other shall be revealed as the story goes along. Also, as with all others, this story is not based on the current events of the show. As such, there will be many differences to how things are. I hope you enjoy it. And now:

Previews

It's the day before Christmas...
PHILIP: What are you doing here?

A time for meeting up with old friends.
SHAWN-D: Thought I'd heard you were back in town.

And making old connections...
PHILIP: Whoa!

Find out what happens in CHRISTMAS WRAPPING
Starting Wednesday, December 16.

[Kpatch]

Love this! Can't wait.

[heroicmuse]

YAY!!! This is gonna be so awesome André DiMera. I love your Christmas stories! Can't wait.

[fluffysmom]

I'm already excited about the story André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 1

The year is 2015, and there have been big changes to Days of Our Lives. Many infamous events have happened over the last year. The terrorist group ISIS is at large, having attacked France and many other countries. Marvel Comics has recent done a complete reboot of their entire catalog. One theory is that they're trying to outdo DC Comics for the title of Most Frequently Rebooted Comic Universe. 34 years ago, songwriter Chris Butler wrote a song for new wave band The Waitresses, about a potential couple who just can't seem to meet each other at the right time. Only five years earlier, Kenny Loggins had collaborated with Bob James on a song about a man who comes home for the holidays. It is a combination of these two songs in story form that I offer to you this night. Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present my adaptation of “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses, and “Celebrate Me Home” by Kenny Loggins.

Molly Burnett

Jason Cook

Jay Kenneth Johnson

Christmas Wrapping

Featuring
Kirsten Storms

Our story begins on Christmas Eve in Salem, where, as they are wont to do, people stand in the middle of the streets proclaiming their darkest secrets in loud voices, only inches away from the one person who should never hear said secrets. This, of course, is not a problem, as the one person who should never hear said secrets seems to have temporarily gone deaf. Despite all of this, people are happy, as they are getting ready for their holidays. Including one Shawn-Douglas Brady, who is sitting at a table at the Java Cafe.

JAVA CAFE
Shawn-D is on the phone.
SHAWN-D: Yeah, I know.
Pause.
SHAWN-D: Of course I'll pick up Claire from school. Why, what's up?
Pause.
SHAWN-D: Oh, okay.
Pause.
SHAWN-D: Well, that's good, at least.
Pause.
SHAWN-D: So, I guess Claire and I will pick up the presents and meet you at my parent's house?
Pause.
SHAWN-D: Okay. Sounds good.
Pause.
SHAWN-D: Love you, too. Bye.
Shawn-D hung up the phone. He looked up and saw a familiar face walking in.
SHAWN-D: Philip!
PHILIP: Hey, Shawn.

[heroicmuse]

This is a great beginning! Your narration is very Rod Serling

I'm excited to see Shawn and Philip's reunion. Can't wait for more André DiMera

[gapeach]

I love the song Celebrate Me Home.

[Kpatch]

How ironic, I was just telling you that one of my favorite Christmas songs is Kenny Loggins' Celebrate Me Home. gapeach, I thought I was one of only a few people who even knew the song! It's sooo good. I love the musical lead-in too. Can't wait until André DiMera plays the song.

Thank you for letting us know in advance that Philip is played by the correct actor. I would be showing up at your house otherwise. LOL. And Belle is being played by the original, not Martha. I love Martha also, but this is sooo great.

This is hilarious:
"...in Salem, where, as they are wont to do, people stand in the middle of the streets proclaiming their darkest secrets in loud voices, only inches away from the one person who should never hear said secrets. This, of course, is not a problem, as the one person who should never hear said secrets seems to have temporarily gone deaf."

I love this whole premise. I have goosebumps already at the possibilities. Such a clever and poignant idea.

[gapeach]

Kpatch, I had that song in my head ALL day long yesterday! Made the day SO much better!!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 2

JAVA CAFE
Philip got himself a drink, and then sat down at the table with Shawn-D.
PHILP: How's it going, man?
SHAWN-D: Pretty good, you?
PHILIP: Excellent.
SHAWN-D: You know, I thought I'd heard you were back in town, but I wasn't sure.
PHILIP: I am. Just for a little while, though.
SHAWN-D: Yeah?
PHILIP: Yeah. My father asked me to come home for Christmas. And, I missed this place, so I decided to come home for a little while.
SHAWN-D: That's good to hear.
PHILIP: So, when did you move back to town?
SHAWN-D: A few months ago. Belle got a job out here with this guy named Aiden Jennings, who my mom's now married to.
PHILIP: Oh, yeah. Sorry about your father, man.
SHAWN-D: Thanks. So, anyway, Jennings takes her on as a partner. So, she, Claire and I moved back out here. And, it's good to be back. I'm still looking for a job, but in the meantime, I'm helping Grandma Caroline out at the Pub.
PHILIP: Very good.
SHAWN-D: Yeah. So, this is gonna sound kinda weird...
PHILIP: You mean moreso than half the stuff you say?
Shawn-D and Philip laughed.
SHAWN-D: Good one, smart guy. But, anyway, before I saw you today, I had this weird recurring dream. You were in it, but you had a different face.
PHILIP: Really?
SHAWN-D: Yeah. I mean, you looked similar, but not quite the same.
Shawn-D took a picture out of his shirt pocket. (the picture is of John Paul Lavoisier as Philip).
PHILIP: That's a very detailed picture, and I don't remember you being that good at drawing.
SHAWN-D: No, I didn't draw it. I found it online.
PHILIP: Ah. Looks good, though.
SHAWN-D: Yeah. So, like I said, it looks kinda like you, but not quite.
PHILIP: Well, it must be a version of me.
SHAWN-D: What, now?
PHILIP: Shawn, have you ever heard of the theory of multiple universes?
SHAWN-D: Not to my knowledge.
PHILIP: It's a theory that for every decision that is made, the alternate decision is played out in another universes. Also, all dreams are little windows into other universes. So, when you were dreaming, and saw this dude, you were actually seeing a version of me from another universe. So, in essence, this dude is me. He's Philip Kiriakis. He just looks a little different.
SHAWN-D: Ah, I see. Interesting.
Shawn-D put away the picture.
PHILIP: I gotta say, man, it's been a crazy year.
SHAWN-D: I can imagine so. For us, too.
PHILIP: You and Belle doing okay?
SHAWN-D: Yeah, we're fine. So is Claire.
PHILIP: That's good. I hope I get to see her.
SHAWN-D: Well, you'll be around for Christmas, won't you?
PHILIP: That's the plan.
SHAWN-D: Well, then you'll definitely get to see her.
PHILIP: Awesome.
SHAWN-D: So, about your crazy year...what happened?
PHILIP: Well, among other things, I met up with Melanie again.
SHAWN-D: How'd that go?
PHILIP: To be honest, I'm not really sure.

[heroicmuse]

Ooh yes. I'm glad Aiden stayed a good guy and Belle is working with him. Makes so much more sense than this random Belle as lawyer thing they have on the show nowadays. I love your explanation of why a different actor is playing Philip on the show. Can't wait to hear about Philip and Melanie!

[Kpatch]

I too am glad that Aiden is alive and well and married to Hope. And working with Belle. Excellent.

Run Philip run. LOL.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 3

JAVA CAFE
SHAWN-D: What do you mean?
PHILIP: I mean what I said.
SHAWN-D: So, what exactly happened between you two?
PHILIP: Well, it was just after Christmas. Victor had paid for the whole of Titan's Chicago staff to go for a ski resort for the weekend. I was just coming in from the slopes...

FOUR LAKES VILLAGE – LISLE, ILLINOIS – FLASHBACK
Philip had just come in from skiing. He had taken off his gear and changed back into his normal clothes. He walked into the ski rental shop. He handed the gear to the desk attendant, and was just turning around when...
MELANIE: Hey, soldier.
PHILIP: Melanie?
MELANIE: I thought I saw you out there on the slopes.
Philip and Melanie hugged.
PHILIP: Hey! It's so good to see you!
MELANIE: It's good to see you, too!
PHILIP: What are you doing out here?
MELANIE: I was visiting my dad and Grandma Maggie for Christmas, and I decided to stop here on the way home. What are you doing here?
PHILIP: My father paid for a whole bunch of us from Titan's Chicago branch to come out here for the weekend.
MELANIE: That's nice. How's your dad?
PHILIP: Same as ever. How's Daniel?
MELANIE: He's good. It was good to see them again.
PHILIP: I can imagine.
MELANIE: It's...uh, it's been a while.
PHILIP: Yeah...yeah, it has. Mel, I meant to call you.
MELANIE: I know. You just got busy.
PHILIP: That, and the number I used to have for you is no longer in service.
MELANIE: Oh! I thought I'd sent that text to you! I lost my old phone nearly a year ago, and had to switch to a different number.
PHILIP: Oh, okay.
Melanie got out her phone.
MELANIE: Do you still have the same number?
PHILIP: Yeah.
MELANIE: Great. I'll text you.
PHILIP: Cool.
Philip looked at the clock.
PHILIP: I wish I could stay longer, but Victor wants me back in the office tomorrow morning, so I should be going.
MELANIE: Oh, okay. Well, it was good to see you.
PHILIP: Yeah, you too.
Philip and Melanie hugged.
MELANIE: I'll text you soon!
PHILIP: That sounds good. Maybe after that I'll call you up and we can get together for something.
MELANIE: Sounds good.
Philip walked out of the ski lodge.

JAVA CAFE
SHAWN-D: So, let me guess: she texted you, you called her, got together, but then things didn't work out?
PHILIP: No, actually. Not at all. I meant to call her back, but I never seemed to have the time. Actually, most of this past year was like that.
SHAWN-D: How so?

[heroicmuse]

Aww cute scene between Philip and Melanie. So like Melanie to forget to text Philip her new number. It must have been awkward for Philip to ask how Daniel was.

I'm very very curious about what happened to Philip that was so crazy during the rest of his year.

[Kpatch]

heroicmuse, I too was thinking that it must have been awkward for Philip to ask about Daniel. I was surprised Melanie called Philip "soldier" since that's Chloe's nickname for him and he was long out of the military when Melanie met him.

I'm relieved Philip hasn't followed up with her yet. LOL.