The Girl Who Stood by the Sea (Read 3,106 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 1

BEACH
Jan is standing on a beach, looking out towards the sea. It begins to rain hard. Jan doesn't move.
JAN (VO, narrating): I know what you're thinking. Why am I standing here by the sea in the pouring rain? Well, I don't really know. I don't know anything that I thought I knew. Everything seemed to clear once. But, that was a long time ago. I guess, the sea is the only thing that makes sense anymore. I know that sounds weird, but it's the truth. So, how did it all happen? How did I end up on a deserted beach, looking out to the sea in the pouring rain? I suppose it would be best to start from the beginning.

O'HAIRE AIRPORT
A screen caption says “Three Weeks Earlier”. Jan is sitting in one of the terminals, waiting for an airplane.
JAN (VO, narrating): I suppose it all really began three weeks ago. It seems like it was longer than that, but it wasn't. It was the day after I had checked out of rehab. The day after my high school reunion. I was moving on. I was ready to make a new start, a new life. It's funny how things can change in just three weeks.
ANNOUNCER (over PA system): United Airlines Flight 382 to New York will now begin boarding.
Jan got up and walked to the gate.

AIRPLANE
Jan was now sitting in her seat. The plane was in the air. One of the hostesses pulling a trolley came by.
HOSTESS: Anything to eat or drink, miss?
Jan looked at the woman.
JAN: Just some water. Or, if you have any, I'll have some ginger ale.
The woman got a cup, poured ginger ale into it, and gave the cup to Jan.
JAN: Thanks.
The hostess walked away.
JAN (vo, narrating): I had boarded a flight to JFK Airport in New York. I wasn't sure what I would find when I got there, but I was hoping that it would be better than what I was leaving in Salem.

[sportsgirl]

Jan flying into NYC... Now this can be very interesting..It's such a huge city... I am totally looking forward to more!!!

[MrsM]

Great start Andre!!!

[fluffysmom]

I can't wait to see where this story takes Jan and us.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 2

HOTEL
Jan is unpacking her bag, putting clothes in the drawer of a hotel room dresser.
JAN (VO, narrating): It's weird, being awake after seven years. Then again, when I was in a coma, I didn't know that I was asleep. But, looking back, I must have known on some subconcious level. Seven years. Had it really been that long? So much has changed in the last seven years.
Jan gets undressed and puts on a swimming suit. She then walks out of the room.

HALLWAY
Jan walks down the hallway.
JAN (VO, narrating): I sometimes think it might have been a mistake leaving the rehab center. Especially since it means I would have to be leaving Tobias. Of course, Tobias isn't his real name. His real name is J.T. Reiber, formerly J.T. Brady. I miss him. I love him. The last time I ever remember feeling truly good was when I was around J.T. When I danced with him at my high school reunion.

POOL
Jan walks in and jumps into the pool. She swims for a few minutes. After a while, she gets out and gets into the hot tub. Sitting in the hot tub was a man.
JAN (VO, narrating): There was a man in the hot tub. A man I vaguely remembered, but couldn't recall his name.
MAN: How you doin'?
JAN: Okay. You?
MAN: Good, good. You're looking good tonight.
Jan moved uncomfortably.
JAN: Thank you.
The man stared at Jan for a while. Jan tried not to notice.
JAN (VO, narrating): Why was this man staring at me? How did he know me? And, why did he make me uncomfortable? I knew him. I knew that I knew him. But, for some strange reason, I didn't remember him. Not entirely. It's like my mind was blocking him out. My mind was trying to tell me, “You don't need to remember him. It's not worth it”.
MAN: So, what are you doing in New York?
JAN: I don't know yet. I'm just looking around, I guess. Trying to find something to do.
MAN: Gotcha. So, after we get outta the pool, would you like to join me for a drink?
JAN (VO, narrating): Again, my mind was saying to me, “Don't do it! Don't trust this guy!”
Jan thought about it for a minute.
JAN: Sure.
MAN: Great.
JAN (VO, narrating): I only wish that my mind had been more convincing.

[MrsM]

Sounds like Jan is in for trouble already.

[sportsgirl]

Uh oh! Who is this man? Does she know him or does he know her?

[fluffysmom]

Very interesting... I can't wait to find out about this man.

[Trey]

Cue: suspense music.

Hooked on another Andre story already!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 3

HOSPITAL
Jan is lying on a hospital bed. There are tears in her eyes.
JAN (VO, narrating): We went to a bar that night. I didn't have much. One or two drinks, at the most. But, for some reason, when I woke up in my hotel room the next morning, I didn't remember anything. Later, I found out what had happened, and I wished I had listened to what my mind had been trying to tell me when I was in the hot tub with him. My brain was doing me a kindness by blocking him out of my mind. Turns out, the guy in the hot tub was Paul Mendez. Yeah, I'm as surprised as you are. Apparently, even though Nicole saw him die in Puerto Rico over ten years ago, he hadn't really died at all. I won't go into details about what happened that night, mostly because I don't know what actually did happen that night. All I know is that Paul Mendez was alive, and that he had drugged me at the bar we went to.
A nurse walked in. She put a tray down on the table next to Jan's bed. She uncovered the tray.
NURSE: I've brought your lunch.
JAN (whispering): I'm not hungry.
NURSE: Well, it's here if you change your mind.
The nurse put her hand on Jan's shoulder. Jan shrugged it off.
JAN: Don't touch me.
The nurse walked out.
JAN (VO, narrating): I didn't go back to the hotel. I didn't think I'd be able to. One of the nurses brought my things. I spent the rest of the week in the hospital. At the end of the week, the doctors told me that, since there was nothing physically wrong with me, I had to be discharged. So, I left the hospital.

PLANE
Jan is sitting in an airplane. It is late at night.
JAN (VO, narrating): I boarded an international flight. A flight bound for Wales. When I had left the rehab center, I felt all right. I wasn't great, but I was at least all right. I didn't feel all right anymore. I didn't feel anything anymore. I was numb. There was nothing to feel. The only thing I did feel...was empty.

[sportsgirl]

Poor Jan... this gal needs help...Maybe Tobias can find her & help her. Someone really needs to take out Paul... Now here is where EJ really can be put to good use.

[MrsM]

Wow. Poor Jan.

[fluffysmom]

Poor Jan. She can't seem to catch a break.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 4

WORKSHOP
Jan is in a workshop, polishing a small red steam engine. Click the links to see pics of the engine.
With face: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Sir_Handel_-_Tivedshambo_2008-06-05.jpg
Without face: www.lightline16mm.com/Manufacturers/modelpics/SirHaydnRdGma2%20ps1.jpg
JAN (VO, narrating): When I arrived in Wales, I went searching for work. Since I didn't know anybody there, I thought I might want to find a job. At least then I had something to do during the day. So, I got a job at a small railway in Tywyn. The Talyllyn Railway. It was a nice railway. I liked polishing the steam engines. Especially a red one named Sir Haydn, a green one named Edward Thomas, and another red one named Douglas. Why? Because, they had faces. Now, I know what you're thinking, “trains don't have faces!”. Well, these did. True, they were made out of plastic and cardboard, and fitted on to the engines' smokebox door, but I thought that they were cute.
Jan continues polishing the red engine.
JAN: Is there any reason they call you Sir Haydn? I mean, is it like a title, or something? Were you named after someone?
There was silence for a moment.
JAN (VO, narrating): The engine I'm polishing is named Sir Haydn. He was a cute little engine. I was told by one of the other workers that they rotated between which engine got to wear a face every few weeks. This was one of Sir Haydn's weeks to have a face. While wearing a face, his regular nameplate was taken off and he was given a different nameplate that said Sir Handel.
Jan stands up and walks into the cab of the engine.
JAN: So, the name Sir Handel, where did that come from? Is he a brother of yours?
Jan tugged on the whistle cord. A loud whistle came from the engine. Jan chuckled and got out.
JAN: I know it sounds crazy, talking to an inanimate object.
MAN: That's because it is crazy.
JAN (VO): I thought the voice sounded familiar. Then, I turned around to see who it was. I was happily surprised with who it was.
SHAWN-D: Then again, I'm not really surprised.
JAN: Shawn?

[sportsgirl]

Shawn? In Wales? What da hell?? (said like Roman)