This Charming Man (Read 5,508 times)

[André DiMera]

This story was written in mid-2010, around the time that Chloe first cheated with Philip. It was written as a "what if" storyline, detailing what would or could happen after Melanie found out. This was also written as a collaboration story. My fellow author and good friend, kpatch, helped me in writing a number of these chapters. For the bits of this story written by her, I am extremely grateful.

Previews

Melanie and Philip - it was a beautiful love.
PHILIP: I love you more than anyone else in the world, Melanie.

Until Melanie found out about Philip's dirty little secret...
MELANIE: How could you do this to me?!

And, when a new man comes to town...
ADAM: I'm Adam Cartwright.

...he certainly has his eye on Melanie.
ADAM: What'a a guy have to do to get on this list, and how are my chances?
MELANIE: You have definate potential, Mr. Cartwright...

Find out what happens, next week on "This Charming Man".
Starting this coming Monday.

[ghoulgirl]

Can't wait for the start of the story Andre. I do remember this one and it is a great story!! Thanks for the previews.

[Kpatch]

Ah, Adam Cartwright. One of my favorite characters.

Looking forward to reading this story anew. Thanks Andre!

[sportsgirl]

I remember Adam Cartwright, but I don't remember how the whole story went. I will have to re-read this.

[addictedtodool]

Nice suprise for a Saturday. Looking forward to Monday.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 1

AMERICINN LOBBY
It is mid-morning at the AmericInn in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Melanie is in the lobby having a cup of coffee. She's just about to leave and take a walk over to Wal-Mart. As she walks towards the door, she has a flashback of previous events...

MAGGIE'S HOUSE - FLASHBACK
MELANIE: How could you do this to me?!
PHILIP: I'm sorry! I didn't know what I was doing!
MELANIE: Oh, yeah right! You didn't know what you were doing! That's total B.S. And you know it!
PHILIP: Melanie, I'm sorry! If I could take it back, I would...
MELANIE: But you can't! There is no taking this back! You cheated on me, Philip! I might have been able to get over it, but you cheated on me with my step-mother! And, that I can't ever get over!
PHILIP: Melanie, just give me a chance to explain...
MELANIE: I don't want your explanations! In fact, I don't ever want to see you again! Get out of my way!
Melanie runs to the door, walks out, and slams it shut.

AMERICINN LOBBY
Back in the present day, Melanie continues walking towards the hotel door. She isn't watching where she's going and runs right into a man entering the hotel, spilling the coffee all over herself.
MELANIE: You idiot! Why don't you watch where you're going?

BO & HOPE'S HOUSE
A similar scene to the one we saw on Monday, August 2, 2010. Nighttime Hope has a knife in her hand.
BO: Hope, you're scaring me. Please...put the knife down. I don't want you to hurt yourself.
NIGHTTIME HOPE: I won't hurt myself.
Nighttime Hope brings up the knife.
NIGHTTIME HOPE: But on behalf of women everywhere, goodbye Bo Brady!
Nighttime Hope runs to Bo and plunges the knife into his chest.

[Kpatch]

Wow, what a dramatic start. I remembered the scene with Melanie, but forgot about Nighttime Hope. Can't wait to read more. Thanks Andre!

[sportsgirl]

Apr 4, 2011 7:58:10 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

Wow, what a dramatic start. I remembered the scene with Melanie, but forgot about Nighttime Hope. Can't wait to read more. Thanks Andre!

Same as me... I wish I could remember the rest.

[ghoulgirl]

I am with these ladies! I totally forget anything about Nighttime Hope but remember Melanie and Adam Cartwright very well.

Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for tomorrow's installment!

[addictedtodool]

Leave it to me to be the weird one. Totally do not remember Melanie, but do remember NightTime Hope. I loved her freaky, crazy man hating self! Buh bye, Bo. Guess he won't be porking his former girlfriends anymore.

[Tom Horton]

Ahh not Bo! I have lots of better targets to suggest to Nightime Hope.

Sounds like an interesting story already!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 2

BO & HOPE'S HOUSE
Bo stares at Nighttime Hope with a pained expression on his face. Then, he drops to the ground, dead. Nighttime Hope smirks, pulls the knife out of Bo's chest, and stabs him again in a different spot on his chest. She repeats this action two or three more times. After stabbing Bo five times, Nighttime Hope takes the knife out of his chest for the last time and gets a big grin on her face.
NIGHTTIME HOPE: Good riddance.
She drops the knife, calmly steps over the body, and walks out of the house.


AMERICINN
Melanie runs right into a man entering the hotel, spilling her coffee all over herself.
MELANIE: You idiot! Why don't you watch where you're going?
MAN: I'm very sorry, miss.
MELANIE: Oh perfect! Now my hand is scalded and my clothes are stained!
MAN: I'll get you some ice for that. Please sit down.
Melanie sits down at one of the tables in the hotel lobby. The man returns a couple of minutes later with ice wrapped inside a towel.
MAN: Let me see that hand.
MELANIE: Why, are you a doctor?
MAN: No, but I know some doctors.
The man chuckles a little. Melanie gives him her burnt hand. He touches it a few different places.
MAN: Does that hurt?
MELANIE: No.
MAN: Good.
The man lets go of Melanie's hand and gives her the ice pack, which she sets on top of her hand.
MAN: Let me buy you another cup of coffee.
MELANIE: That would be good. Plus a new blouse and sweater.
The man takes five $20 bills out of his wallet.
MAN: Will this be enough?
Melanie scoops up the cash with her free hand.
MELANIE: It's a start. Hey, who are you anyway? I'm visiting town for a few days and I like meeting new people.
MAN:: I'm sorry. How thoughtless of me not to introduce myself. My name is Adam. Adam Cartright.
Melanie lets out a laugh.
MELANIE: Giddyup.
ADAM: Pardon?
MELANIE: You said your name is Adam Cartright. Like on that TV show.
ADAM: Oh, yeah. I get that a lot. I've never seen Bonanza personally. I'm surprised you have.
Melanie starts laughing harder.
MELANIE: I watch a lot of Nick at Night.
ADAM: What's your name?
Melanie is now laughing uncontrollably.
MELANIE: I figured my red hair would be a dead giveaway. My name is Lucy Ricardo.
Melanie falls onto the floor from laughing so hard.
ADAM: I guess your hand is better.
Adam helps Melanie up off the floor.
MELANIE: Sorry Adam. That just tickled my funny bone. So tell me, what brings you out to the middle of farming country?
ADAM: I've been in Michigan for the last few years, but I've got family down in Illinois. This seemed like a nice little town, so I thought I'd stop for a few nights.
Melanie starts laughing again.
MELANIE: Family? You mean Little Joe and Hoss?
ADAM: I think that this is my cue to leave.
Adam stands up and takes Melanie's good hand.
MELANIE: Where are you going? The Ponderosa?
Adam kisses Melanie's hand.
ADAM: Good day, Lucille.
He lets go of Melanie's hand and walks out of the hotel lobby.

[Kpatch]

Love that chapter! It's one of my all time favorites. Lucy and Adam. Thanks Andre! That was fun!

[sportsgirl]

So I am guessing that you too Andre watch Nick at nite? How else would someone as young as you know Adam Cartwright? My memory tells me that Adam wasn't a character on that show all the years Bonanza was on.
Now I love Lucy has been on TV along with all the other shows for years & years!

[ghoulgirl]

Never watched either of those shows. LOL
I have no idea who they are or what Nick at Night is.

But, thanks for another great chapter Andre. Still can't remember the Nighttime Hope portion of this storyline. Can't wait to read more. Thanks for sharing.