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Post by André DiMera on Dec 9, 2014 23:53:39 GMT -5
Previews It's nearly Christmastime again... JENNIFER: I am just so happy you're home! Which means that it's time for another Christmas story... PARKER: Please, tell me the story. Only this time, it's set five years into the future... PAIGE: J.J.? J.J.: Paige? Be sure not to miss DAYS' SAME OLD LANG SYNE Starting December 16th. |
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Post by fluffysmom on Dec 10, 2014 8:20:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the preview André DiMera. Your Christmas tales are always so good. |
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Post by sevenna92 on Dec 10, 2014 9:32:14 GMT -5
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Post by André DiMera on Dec 10, 2014 10:12:38 GMT -5
fluffysmom - Thanks! sevenna92 - It's actually the title of a song, "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg. Every year, I write a Christmas story based on one of my favorite Christmas movies. I've so far done A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, and A Charlie Brown Christmas; and Kpatch did an amazing version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas one year. This year, I decided yo switch things up a bit and write a story based on two of my favorite Christmas songs. One is "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg. The other will be revealed at a later date. The actual meaning is similar to the meaning of the song, which will be revealed in the story.
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Post by André DiMera on Dec 16, 2014 8:53:51 GMT -5
NOTE: As with my previous Christmas stories, there are several differences to how the actual show is. The biggest difference is that this story is set on Christmas Eve 2019, five years into the future. Enjoy! Chapter 1 And so, 2014 has nearly come and gone, and one of my favorite characters (Melanie) has finally returned to Days. Several events have happened this year. The Philae probe has successfully landed on Comet 67P, and is the first spacecraft to land on such an object. The Ebola virus spreads through West Africa, with a few cases having been found in America. In 1980, musician Dan Fogelberg wrote a song for the Christmas season. Six years later, Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt wrote a poem about Christmas. It is a combination of these two songs, but written in the form of a story, that I offer to you tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present my adaptation of “Same Old Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg, and “A Soldier's Silent Night” by James M. Schmidt. Casey Moss
True O'Brien
Jay Kenneth Johnson
Days' Same Old Lang Syne
Featuring
James Cosmo
We begin our story in the late evening hours on Christmas Eve. J.J. Deveraux, who in the interim five years has moved to New York, has returned home for Christmas... DEVERAUX HOME Jennifer hugs J.J. JENNIFER: I am just so glad you're home! J.J.: Thanks, mom. It's good to be here. Abby walks out of the kitchen. ABBY: Mom, have you seen the milk anywhere? J.J.? Abby ran over to J.J. and hugged him. J.J.: Hey, Abby. ABBY: How are you!? It's so good to see you! J.J.: Good to see you, too. I'm good. How are you? ABBY: I'm great! You look good. Love the new song! J.J.: Yeah, thanks. You look good, too. Jennifer hugged her children. JENNIFER: This is so nice, having both of my children together again for Christmas. J.J.: Yeah. I'm happy to be home, too. So, Abby, you said you needed milk? ABBY: Yeah. I'm making a pie, and I need some milk to go with the pumpkin. But, you just got here, I'll go. J.J.: No, I want to. I haven't been back in a few years. It'll give me a chance to drive around and see if the town's changed at all. KIRIAKIS MANSION Also, in the interim five years, Philip had returned to Salem, and had reclaimed Parker as his son. He was now tucking Parker in. PHILIP: Okay. Time for bed now. Good night, buddy. Philip kissed Parker on the cheek. PARKER: Wait, Dad. PHILIP: Yes? PARKER: Tell me the story, please. Philip chuckled. PHILIP: Parker, I told you a story already. PARKER: No, not that one. The special one. The one you tell me every Christmas Eve. Philip sat down. PHILIP: Oh, that one. How could I forget? Okay. Here it goes. 'Twas the night before Christmas... |
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Post by heroicmuse on Dec 16, 2014 9:51:42 GMT -5
I'm glad that by the age of 10, Parker will be able to talk!  Seriously though great job so far. I love the idea of JJ being a successful musician. Interested to see where you go with this! |
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Post by Kpatch on Dec 16, 2014 13:40:14 GMT -5
I love this story already! Same Old Lang Syne is one of my favorite songs and Dan Fogelberg is one of my very favorite artists and JJ and Philip are two of my all-time favorite Days characters. I hope they'll sing together. I already have chills thinking about the possibilities, especially with Philip being a military vet.
By the way, Sins of the Fathers is my Christmas tale this year too.
Thanks Andre. Great start, can't wait for more!!!
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Post by fluffysmom on Dec 16, 2014 23:26:02 GMT -5
Great beginning to the story André DiMera. I'm glad to see both Philip and JJ in Salem. So glad Philip has Parker back. |
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Post by André DiMera on Dec 17, 2014 9:18:42 GMT -5
Chapter 2 KIRIAKIS MANSION Philip sat on the bed, looking his son in the eye. He didn't need a book to tell this story. PHILIP: 'Twas the night before Christmas....he lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone... OUTSIDE A SMALL HOUSE – IRAQ – FLASHBACK
A large sleigh carrying a rather large man in a red suit, Santa Claus, pulled by eight reindeer landed on top of a small house.
SANTA: Whoa, boys. Whoa.
Santa went into a large bag which sat next to him and picked up a small package. He got out of the sleigh and motioned for his reindeer to keep quiet.
SANTA: Ssh!
Santa dropped down the chimney.
INSIDE THE HOUSE – FLASHBACK
As quietly as he could, Santa dropped down the chimney. He dusted himself off and stood in the middle of a small house. Unlike most of the houses that he saw that night, there was no tree or tinsel, or even any lights. Santa looked all around the house, finding only a pair of boots which had been filled with sand. He walked over to one wall and saw two pictures. One was of a young man with a fresh face and dimples standing in an older, bigger man who looked to be Greek and an older woman with brunette hair. The second picture was also of the young dimpled man next to a young slim blonde girl. Santa looked further along the wall and saw a row of medals.
CAR As J.J. drove to the nearby grocery store, the snow began to fall. J.J.: This is awesome! Snow on Christmas Eve. Eventually, J.J. pulled up to the store. S-MART J.J. walked into the S-Mart grocery store. Though some of the items were in different isles than they had been when he'd last been there, it was pretty much the same as it had always been. J.J. found the milk and was just about to head out, when he saw someone he did not expect to see. J.J. (to himself): Paige? Sure enough, Paige was getting some last minute items in the frozen foods isle. It had been a few years since they had seen each other, ever since the break up shortly before J.J.'s first tour. J.J. casually walked up to her and cleared his throat. She seemed not to notice. J.J.: Excuse me, miss. Again, she didn't notice. J.J. tapped Paige's shoulder. Paige turned around suddenly. PAIGE: Yes? J.J.: Paige? PAIGE: Yes? J.J.: Don't you recognize me? Paige stared at J.J. for a moment. PAIGE: I think...oh my god! J.J.? J.J.: Yeah, it's me. PAIGE: Oh my gosh! I haven't seen you in years! Paige threw her items into her cart and wrapped her arms around J.J., spilling the contents of her purse in the process. The two soon noticed the spilled purse and began to laugh. Soon, both J.J. and Paige were in fits of laughter as they made a start at picking up the contents of Paige's purse. |
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Post by Kpatch on Dec 17, 2014 10:10:01 GMT -5
Love it Andre. You chose the perfect characters to tell the soldier's Christmas story and the touring musician's Christmas story. This story is already so heartwarming and so heartbreaking all at the same time!
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Post by fluffysmom on Dec 17, 2014 10:51:40 GMT -5
I like the laughter filled reunion at the grocery store. I'm looking forward to seeing these stories unfold.
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Post by André DiMera on Dec 18, 2014 9:00:45 GMT -5
Chapter 3 S-MART Soon enough, Paige and J.J. had gotten all of Paige's things back in her purse. The two were now walking towards the check out stand. J.J.: So, how are you? PAIGE: I'm pretty good. How are you? J.J.: I'm good. You look good. PAIGE: Thanks. You're not too bad yourself. J.J.: Thanks. The two walked to the check out counter and placed the items on the belt. PAIGE: So, you're home for Christmas, then? J.J.: Yeah. PAIGE: For how long? J.J.: Not very. Just a few days. Maybe a new week. I have to leave before New Years to start a tour for my newest album. PAIGE: Oh, you mean “You Don't Know Jack, Jr.”? J.J.: You've heard of it? PAIGE: I've heard a few songs here and there. J.J.: /So, you still live in town, then? PAIGE: Yeah. The woman at the check out counter was about to ring up the milk. J.J.: Miss, wait a moment. That's mine. PAIGE: Don't worry. I'll get it. J.J.: You don't have to do that. PAIGE: I want to. Paige paid for her items, which the bagger had put back in the cart. Then, the two walked towards Paige's car. After helping her put her bags in her car, J.J. and Paige looked awkwardly at each other. Both were slightly embarrassed at not having much to say to each other. PAIGE: So... J.J.: So... PAIGE: Well.. J.J.: Yeah... PAIGE: Um... J.J.: In fact... PAIGE: What time do you need to be home? SMALL HOUSE – IRAQ – FLASHBACK
Santa walked around the small house. It was dark and dreary. The house was tiny, one room in total. Soon enough, he came to the wall with the medals on it.
SANTA (to himself): Medal for Bravery, Special Honors, Medal for Outstanding Service. There are so many here.
Next to the medal were a few badges.
SANTA (to himself): Started at the rank of private. Rose through the ranks. And now, he's a Lieutenant. First Lieutenant, at that. A First Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Santa looked from the medals and badges and saw a lump in the middle of the floor. He walked over to investigate. On the floor, he saw a young man curled up underneath a poncho. Though he looked slightly older now, Santa could tell that it was the same fresh faced young man from the pictures. The soldier was fast asleep. |
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Post by fluffysmom on Dec 18, 2014 9:43:35 GMT -5
I wonder what Paige has in mind. I wonder what Santa will give the soldier.
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Post by Kpatch on Dec 18, 2014 9:56:58 GMT -5
I love how you are following the songs by using the characters to illustrate it. Love the name of JJ's album!
I want to cry thinking about Philip under the poncho in Iraq.
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Post by André DiMera on Dec 19, 2014 9:10:44 GMT -5
Chapter 4 SMALL HOUSE – IRAQ – FLASHBACK
Santa gazed at the young soldier, curled up underneath a poncho on the rough floor in this one room house.
SANTA (to himself): Look at his face. He's so young. Such a gentle face. And those dimples...my word, most women would kill for a man with dimples like those.
Santa looked around the room, which was mainly in disorder. What little there was in the room was just thrown into a corner.
SANTA (to himself): Could this be the hero of whom I'd just read? All my life I'd traveled around the world, and I've always had respect for soldiers. But, I guess I never really thought about what the war was like for them until just now. This young man, here.
OUTSIDE S-MART J.J.: Not really sure. I don't have to be back anytime soon. And, it's cold enough out that the milk'll stay cool. Why? What did you have in mind? PAIGE: Oh, I don't know, really. I just thought we might... Paige wasn't sure what to say. J.J.: Might what? PAIGE: Stop someplace and have a drink, maybe. Catch up. After all, it's been, what, a year and a half? J.J.: Two years. It's been two and a half years. PAIGE: Two and a half. Right. Right. Just an idea. J.J.: That'd be fine. I'd like that, actually. J.J. got out his keys. J.J.: Where do you wanna meet up? PAIGE: I can drive. Besides, hardly anything's open. J.J.: What about my car? PAIGE: After we're done, I'll drop you back off here. J.J.: Okay. PAIGE: Go on. Get in. J.J. and Paige both got in the car. CAR Paige started the car up. The two drove in awkward silence for a while. Finally, they stopped in front of a bar. J.J. looked out the window. J.J.: Looks like it's closed. Paige turned the car back on and drove a little further to Chez Rouge. PAIGE: Looks like your Aunt Maggie closed the place up early. J.J.: Sure does. Paige drove the car to the Cheatin' Heart. J.J.: Wow. Not even the Cheatin' Heart's open. PAIGE: They all must have closed early for Christmas Eve. J.J.: Must have. PAIGE: I know somewhere we could go. It's not great, but, it'll do. Paige drove them to a gas station. Paige was about to undo her seat belt. J.J.: I'll get it. PAIGE: You sure? J.J.: You got my milk, I'll get the drinks. Diet Coke okay with you? I don't drink anymore. PAIGE: Yeah, that's fine. J.J. undid his seat belt and got out. PIT STOP The gas station was fairly quiet. An old Christmas song by The Waitresses pumped from a speaker. J.J. grabbed a six pack of Diet Coke and went up to the check out. CLERK: Hey, aren't you that guy who plays music? J.J.: Yeah, I am. CLERK: I liked that new song...oh, what was it called again? Oh, yeah. “Running Away from Time”. J.J.: Thanks. That was one of my favorites to write. CLERK: Well, I can see why. It's awesome! J.J.: Thank you so much! Have a Merry Christmas! CLERK: You too. J.J. paid for his six-pack and then went back out to the car. |
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