Best Laid Plans (Read 1,725 times)

[Kpatch]

REBECCA’S HOSPITAL ROOM

Dr. Hellman: I have good news for you, Mr. and Mrs. Kiriakis.
Chloe: Um, we’re not married.
Philip: What’s the news?
Dr. Hellman: Your daughter has turned a corner. She’s responding to treatment and she should be on the road to recovery soon.
Chloe: Oh my God. That’s amazing.
Philip: Thank God.
Philip and Chloe hug.
Dr. Hellman: This last transfusion seems to have done the trick.
Philip: Thank you doctor.


NURSE’S STATION

Melanie: What’s the matter, Maxine?
Maxine: I’m tired of all this paperwork. Since Chloe has been out on maternity leave, there’s no one to get us the volunteers we need, and we’ve got a backlog of data to input.
Melanie: Can I help?
Maxine: Can you ever!


LATER

Melanie is taking information from patient file folders and inputting it into the computer system. She comes to Rebecca’s chart.
Melanie: Wow, Rebecca’s condition started to improve right after she got a tranfusion with blood from someone outside her family. Hmmm, it’s weird that Philip’s blood didn’t cure her. I wonder why.

Melanie scrolls backwards in Rebecca’s online record to her date of birth. She sees nothing unusual and so she starts scrolling forward and sees the DNA test that was ordered by Dr. Manning. Melanie notices the date -- a day she’ll never forget. It just happened to be the date she returned from Africa, and lived through that harrowing flight. She notices something odd about the results.

Melanie: Something is definitely fishy here. The DNA test shows that my dad is not the baby’s father, but it doesn’t say who is. I wonder... Is it possible that neither my dad or Philip is Rebecca’s father?

Then she looks at the ID number for the employee who originally entered the information from the paternity test. Her eyes grow wide.


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

BRADY PUB

Melanie: Thanks for meeting me, Nathan. I really need to talk to someone.
Nathan: Of course. I’m glad you called me. You sounded a little frantic.
Melanie: I am. I found something out, and I don’t know what to do about. I mean, I need to tell someone, but I’m afraid of what it will do to people if they find out.
Nathan: People? What people?
Melanie: Philip.
Nathan: Oh.
Melanie: He’s gonna be so hurt, and I don’t want to be the one to tell him.
Nathan: Tell him what?
Melanie: Oh gosh. I don’t think I should say.
Nathan: Melanie! You’re driving me crazy.
Melanie: I know. I’m sorry. Oh gosh.
Nathan: Spit it out. What’s the big secret?
Melanie: Okay. Here goes. Philip isn’t Rebecca’s father.
Nathan: What? Where did you hear that?
Melanie: I saw the hospital records.
Nathan: Are you sure? I mean, what did they say?
Melanie: They said my dad wasn’t her father, but they never said Philip was the father. Funny, we all just assumed. Even Philip.
Nathan: Wow.
Melanie: Here’s the kicker. My dad really is the baby’s father. I reran the data and he’s a match. The paternity test results were falsified.
Nathan: Unbelievable. Who would do a thing like that?
Melanie: Someone we both know, and I still can’t believe it. Check this out. It’s the employee ID of the person who changed the test results.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

BRADY PUB

Melanie: My dad really is the baby’s father. I reran the data and he’s a match. The paternity test results were falsified.
Nathan: Unbelievable. Who would do a thing like that?
Melanie: Someone we both know, and I still can’t believe it. She shows him a piece of paper. Check this out. It’s the employee ID of the person who changed the test results. Recognize it, Nathan?
Nathan: Um.
Melanie: This is your ID number.
She throws the piece of paper at him.
Melanie: Why Nathan? Why in hell would you do something like that?
Nathan: Um.
Melanie: Out of all the people in the world, you were the one who I thought I could trust the most. What an idiot I am.
Nathan: Melanie, you don’t understand. I did it because I love you.
Melanie: Seriously, Nathan? Most people just let Hallmark say I love you. How is changing the paternity of an innocent little baby saying you love me?
Nathan: I ... I wanted to make sure that you weren’t ever going back to Philip. I figured if everyone thought Daniel wasn’t Rebecca’s father, then people would assume Philip was. I mean, I knew Philip cheated on you and I knew Chloe cheated on Daniel.
Melanie: You knew Chloe cheated on my dad???
Nathan: I’ve known for a really long time. Then, after I found out that Philip cheated on you, it wasn’t hard to figure out that they cheated together. I was counting on everyone assuming that Philip was Rebecca’s father.
Melanie: Oh ... My ... God. That is the most convoluted logic I’ve ever heard.
Nathan: Oh really? But it worked, didn’t it? I mean, you and Philip were getting closer after it came out that I was the father of Stephanie’s baby, and this was my chance to make sure you’d stay with me, and not go back to him.
Melanie: Speaking of Stephanie, why did she really go back to Africa?
Nathan: What do you mean?
Melanie: I hate it when people answer a question with a question. Oh nevermind. I figured I’d never get a straight answer out of you, so after I found out you were the one who changed the DNA test, I called Stephanie. She told me that she didn’t just up and leave you.
Nathan: You know she’s a liar.
Melanie: She told me that you said you wanted nothing to do with her and the baby, so she went back to Africa to live with her parents.
Nathan: Um.
Melanie: You know, Nathan, I always thought the world of you. I really did. But you treated Stephanie like a piece of trash, acted like your son was a booby prize, and you lied to me and manipulated me.
Nathan: Mel ...
Melaine: You have everyone fooled into thinking you’re this great guy.
Nathan: I never meant to hurt you, Mel. I swear.
Melanie: Aaahhh. If I hear a man say they never meant to hurt me one more time, I’m gonna scream. Damn it, Nathan. You’re a doctor. You know that Rebecca could have died because of you! How can you live with yourself?
Nathan: Mel, please ... if you tell anyone, I could lose my license.
Melanie: I should tell everyone. In fact I should take this to the hospital board. Your grandmother will be devastated!
Nathan: Please don’t rat me out.
Melanie: You should consider going back to the clinic in Africa, Nathan. After your license is revoked in the states, that may be your best option if you still want to practice medicine.
Nathan: Mel, no.
Melanie: I gotta get out of here.
Nathan: Don’t go.
Melanie: I have to. I need to talk to Rebecca’s father.


To be continued

[Kpatch]

SALEM UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Melanie is leaving the lab as Carly is walking down the corridor.
Carly: Melanie, I’m glad I ran into you. Did you hear about Nathan?
Melanie: Um. That depends.
Carly: He gave his resignation. He’s going to Africa. ... I presume you knew.
Melanie: I knew.
Carly: And I presume this means the two of you aren’t a couple anymore.
Melanie: You could say that.
Carly: Oh no!
Melanie: What?
Carly: Does this mean that you’re going back to Philip? Because that would be the worst mistake of your life.
Melanie: Philip is with Chloe.
Carly: For now. Sweetie, take the advice of someone who loves you. Philip is a cheater. He hurt you once and he’ll do it again.
Melanie: Um. Carly. Didn’t you cheat on Lawrence?
Carly: What has that got to do with anything?
Melanie: And didn’t you have a one night stand that resulted in ... me?
Carly: That was different.
Melanie: And didn’t you murder your husband?
Carly: I was protecting you!
Melanie: And aren’t you having an affair with a married man?
Carly: What is this? The grand inquisition?
Melanie: I was just thinking about when you told me to do as you say and not as you do. You know, I may not know what I’m going to do in my personal life, but I do know one thing. I’m not taking any more advice from anyone. Motherly or otherly. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my dad.


LATER

Melanie: Dad, could you do me a favor? I have to go assist in a surgery but I’m expecting some important test results on a patient. Could you go to the lab and get them for me?
Daniel: Sure, I’ll cover for you. Who’s the patient?
Melanie: Just tell the technician that you’re there to pick up the test results that Melanie was waiting for. See you later.


THE HOSPITAL LAB

Daniel: I’m here to pick up some test results for Melanie. Do you know anything about them?
Technician: They’re right here.
Daniel: Thanks.

Daniel leaves the lab and as he walks down the corridor he sees the name on the file is Rebecca’s. He opens the folder.
Daniel: What???


KIRIAKIS MANSION, THAT NIGHT

Victor: Daniel, do you realize what time it is? What are you doing here so late?
Daniel: I need to see Chloe. It’s urgent.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

KIRIAKIS MANSION

Victor: Daniel, do you realize what time it is? What are you doing here so late?
Daniel: I need to see Chloe. It’s urgent.
Chloe is holding the baby as she and Philip enter the living room.
Chloe: Daniel, did you find out something about the baby? I’ve been so worried ever since you called and said you needed to talk to us.
Daniel: No. No, she’s absolutely perfect. But I did find something out.
Philip: What is it?
Daniel: You should both sit down. We reran the original paternity test. The results weren’t entered properly. It turns out she’s mine. I’m Rebecca’s father.
Chloe can’t conceal her joy as she smiles from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Philip turns pale.
Chloe: Really? Is that true?
Daniel: There’s no doubt. Yes, it’s true.
Daniel puts his arms around Chloe and the baby.
Chloe: Does this mean you’re willing to give us another chance?
Daniel: Yes. It does.
As Chloe and Daniel kiss, Victor looks over at his son who looks like he’s going to be ill. Philip gets up and heads for the door.


BRADY PUB

Melanie is sitting at a table in the pub nursing a glass of iced tea.
Caroline: Melanie dear, are you alright? You look sad.
Melanie: I’m okay. I did something really good today, but I feel so bad.
Caroline: Would you like some company?
Melanie: Oh I’d love some! Caroline takes a seat across from Melanie. Can I ask you something, Mrs. Brady?
Caroline: Of course dear.
Melanie: What are you supposed to do when you have feelings for someone but you don’t know whether you can trust them or not?
Caroline: Well, that’s a tough one. But I can definitely relate.
Melanie: You can? Oh. You mean you and Mr. Kiriakis. I almost forgot about that. Do you ever regret not being with him?
There is a long pause.
Caroline: You know what? We were talking about you, not me. What are you going to do?


OUTSIDE THE BRADY PUB

Philip walks toward the door and stops in his tracks when he sees Melanie through the window. He really needs a drink, but she’s the last person he wants to see tonight.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

OUTSIDE THE BRADY PUB

Philip walks toward the door and stops in his tracks when he sees Melanie through the window. She’s sitting with her back toward the door, talking with Caroline.
Philip: Damn it. Seeing her is the last thing I need. What I really need is a drink. I hope the Cheatin’ Heart is still open.

He’s about to leave when he looks through the window again and remembers the day his life ended, that awful day in Maggie’s kitchen when he broke Melanie’s heart and she threw him out. He then remembers the first time he ever saw Melanie, the cruel way he treated her in the beginning, and all the time he wasted keeping her at arm’s length before he finally opened up, took the chance, and let her into his heart.

Readers, please click the link to see what Philip is thinking about. Then return to read the rest of the chapter.



INSIDE THE BRADY PUB

A customer has just walked in. Caroline nods at him, and leaves Melanie’s table, as the customer walks over to the bar.
Customer: Scotch on the rocks.
Caroline: Here you go.
Melanie looks up and she sees that the customer at the bar is Philip.


To be continued. Tune in for the finale ...


Video created expressly to accompany Best Laid Plans. Produced by slyn11, directed by kpatch.

[Kpatch]

BRADY PUB

A customer has just walked in. Caroline nods at him and leaves Melanie’s table as the customer walks over to the bar.
Customer: Scotch on the rocks.
Caroline: Here you go.

Melanie looks up and she sees that the customer at the bar is Philip. Without hesitating, she walks over and takes the stool beside his.

Melanie: I guess you’re finally getting that drink you were talking about after we got back from Africa.
Philip: I don’t feel like talking, Melanie.
Melanie: I know. I mean I know about Rebecca.
Philip: You know???
Melanie: Yes.
Philip: And you’re here to gloat.
Melanie: Of course not. I would never do that to you. I can imagine what you’re going through.
Philip: You know, this is the second time this has happened to me. First with Claire, now with Rebecca. And don’t even get me started on Tyler. I mean seriously. What’s the point?
Melanie: Of what?
Philip: Of loving anybody. All I do is lose, and I’m tired of losing all the time. Losing children. Losing you. ... Hell. What does it matter anyway. I don’t care about anything anymore. Now if you’ll excuse me, I just want to concentrate on drowning my sorrows.
Melanie: Well, if you have sorrows to drown, that means you do care.
Philip: Yeah, well, I’m gonna work on getting numb.

Philip starts to raise his glass to lips when Melanie holds his hand down.
Melanie: Don’t be a butt, Philip. Please don’t get drunk. Bad things happen when you get drunk.
Philip: Did you know that Daniel has forgiven Chloe? Right now he and Chloe and Rebecca are all cuddled up in a nice little family portrait. Call Norman Rockwell. I’m sure he’ll want to paint them.
Melanie: You wanna hear something funny?
Philip: No, but can I stop you?
Melanie: I used to think that the perfect family portrait included this young doctor I know. I thought he was just ... ooh, everything a man should be.
Philip: Great, now it’s time to pour salt in my wounds, huh? ... Caroline, I’m gonna need another scotch.
Melanie: I thought he was the ideal man, what every girl should aspire to marry. Handsome, good profession, good name, just oozing with integrity.
Philip: I think I’ll order a bottle to go.
Melanie: Boy, was I wrong. He was a lying, selfish, shallow, womanizing, paternity-test switching, deadbeat pig.
Philip: I thought you were talking about Nathan.
Melanie: I am. But okay. Here’s the funny part.
Philip: Oh good. There’s a funny part. Here’s one. A man walks into a bar ...
Melanie: The man I thought was selfish and shallow and heartless turns out to be deep, and caring, and respectful, and someone who believes in living up to his obligations.
Philip: Rebecca wasn’t an obligation.
Melanie: I know that. Hey, maybe someday you’ll have a child of your own.
Philip: Fat chance.
Melanie: There could be ... I mean a chance.
Philip: I’ll probably be sorry I asked, but okay. How?
Melanie: You always said you wanted to start a family someday. You and me.
Philip: You and me? ... Look, Mel, you don’t need to feel sorry for me. I’m not going to jump off Salem pier ... although that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Melanie: I don’t feel sorry for you, Philip. In fact, I know that I’m at least a little responsible for everything that happened. But, okay, that’s beside the point. The point is ... I love you, and I’ve been completely miserable without you.

Philip studies her face looking for the pity, but he sees none.
Philip: Why didn’t you tell me this before?
Melanie: Because you and Chloe and Rebecca had that Norman Rockwell thing going on. Or at least that’s what I imagined.
Philip [smiles]: It was hardly Norman Rockwell. More like Salvador Dali.
Melanie: It’s good to see you smile again.
Philip: You’re the only person who could make me smile at a time like this.
She touches his face.
Melanie: Do you know that dimples and cleft chins are dominant traits?
He takes her hands in his.
Philip: Do you have any idea how much I love you? Do you?
Melanie: Okay. Um. Philip. If we get back together, there are no do-overs this time. No more secrets. No more lies. You understand what I’m saying?
Philip: I do, and I won’t need any do-overs. I never want to be with anyone but you, Mrs. Kiriakis.
He puts his hand on her face and kisses her lips once, then pulls her into a long kiss as she runs her fingers through his hair.
Philip: Suddenly I don’t feel like jumping off the pier anymore.
Melanie: What do you want to do instead?
Philip: Spend the rest of my life making you happy.
Melanie: Imagine that! That’s exactly what I was going to say!


The End

[fluffysmom]

Good sequel. There were alot of twists in this story. Perfect day to read a happy Philip story.