“The Course of True Love...” Part Six “The course of true love never did run smooth.” William Shakespeare Katherine is in the living room of the guesthouse. She is talking with a man wearing a jumper that has “U Call, We Haul, U All - Moving & Storage” printed on the back. K: This is the address. And you’ll get my other things from storage and move them in today, too? Man: Yes, Mam. The building super knows we’re comin’? K: Yes, they’re expecting you. Man: O.K. The man leaves, and Katherine quickly goes to the bedroom. Her over night bag is on the bed. There are various items; makeup, toothbrush, and such on the bed. She begins to stuff them in the bag quickly, when she finishes she zips the bag, and heads for the door. As she surveys the living room, Stefan enters. S: Katherine, thank God you’re all right. I’ve been worried sick. We need to talk. K: I don’t want to hear it. I just want to leave. S: Katherine, *please*. K: No, Stefan. I know what I saw. I can’t imagine any explanation making it better… (Shaking her head at him in disbelief) How could you kiss her? I knew you had feelings for her at one time, but they never stopped did they? S: (weakly) I thought they had. Katherine suddenly gets a pained and sickened expression on her face, as a flash of memory hits her hard. K: Oh, God… the night… I wore the white dress, like the one in the painting… Who… Who were you making love to? Stefan’s eyes widen and a guilty look comes over his face. Katherine is almost holding her breath, afraid of the answer. S: Katherine, I thought… K: (choking on the words) Oh, don’t… don’t say any more. Another flash of memory hits her. It is a conversation she had with Edward Q. last Halloween, near the nurses’ station. K: (still speaking haltedly) OH! I remember what he said… Edward said… You were going to move back to Greece… He said, “When the… object that our affections desire… is out of reason… *substitution* is usually the better strategy.” Is that what I’ve been? A *SUBSTITUTE*? Stefan moves towards Katherine, and reaches out to put his hands on her arms. S: NO! Katherine. It’s not like that. Let me explain… K: No! No, don’t touch me. (She moves away and begins to cry) You said you *loved* me. How am I supposed to know? S: Katherine, I do love you. More than any other woman… K: (angrily) Except *her*, of course. A powerful resolve sweeps over her like a wave. K: (still crying, but strong and angry) I am through. I am through with this family. I am through with your cousin/sister and your mother - their head games, their manipulative tactics and being used like a pawn in a chess game. I am through with *you* and your sick, sixteen year obsession with a woman, who will NEVER, EVER love you back. I am through with your not feeling “obliged” to tell me when important things happen with Nikolas - knowing full well if I with held similar information from you, you would have been VERY angry. And you… you made me feel guilty for even questioning you about it. I am through with your putting me at arms length (sickened again) in your guesthouse… Were you waiting for *her* to come back, dump Luke and marry you? S: (hurt and on the verge of tears) Katherine I wanted to give you time. I didn’t want you to feel pressured. I would have proposed New Year’s Eve, but I was afraid you would have said, “No”, because it was too soon after the all the hurt I caused you. I *do* love *you*. K: I can’t believe that after what I saw… If I had arrived fifteen - twenty minutes later… (Shuddering) What would I have seen? Huh? S: You’re making it bigger than it really was. At this point Nikolas is at the door. They do not see him. K: YOU were kissing HER! That’s BIG enough for me! N: (upset) Who were you kissing, uncle? Katherine and Stefan both look over at Nikolas. Then at each other. S: (abruptly) This is not your concern Nikolas. Go back to the house. I will explain it later. N: Katherine is my friend. If you’ve hurt her - again, I want to know. Who were you kissing? When did it happen? Stefan and Katherine have a “conversation” of facial expressions, and body language. (S: Don’t say anything - he’s not to be involved.) (K: He is involved. I can’t believe you. You know he hates being treated like a child.) (S: I will explain it later. DO NOT oppose me on this.) (K: EXCUSE ME? You no longer get to tell me what to do.) K: (sighing, but still angry) Last night. And the “who” doesn’t matter Nikolas. It could have been Mrs. Landsbury, or Ralston for that matter. The fact is I caught him kissing another woman, and I am leaving. N: (mad) I can’t believe you would hurt her like this! (Turning to Katherine) I’m sorry he did this. K: (shooting an angry glance at Stefan) You don’t need to apologize for him. N: I don’t want this to hurt our friendship, not like the last time. K: (starting to cry) I don’t either… But if you feel… like you might turn your back on one of us… turn you back on me… He’s… your… uncle. (The same idea that took hold of her earlier, takes hold again. It’s not as easily shaken off this time) Family… is very… important… I don’t think… (She finally breaks free of the idea) I would ever have been truly allowed in this family. I have to go now. I can’t do this any longer. Nikolas hugs Katherine as she’s leaving. N: (whispering and in tears) Please let me know where you’re staying… I love you and I’m going to miss your being here. K: (also whispering and crying) I love you, too. I’ll miss annoying you on a daily basis. I’ll call you. Katherine leaves without looking back at Stefan. N: You said you’d protect her, “From Helena, from all else.” I guess you didn’t include yourself in that list. (Leaves, shaking his head) S: Nikolas! As Stefan is standing in the living room the music starts. Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac (singing lead - Stevie Nicks) You could be my silver spring, Blue-green colors flashing I would be your only dream. You’re shining-autumn ocean crashing. Katherine reenters the guesthouse. Stefan gets a hopeful look on his face. She crosses the room, takes his right hand palm up, and places the pearl ring in it. She closes his fingers around it, looks at him, and says, “I think maybe… you meant… to give this to someone else.” And did you say she was pretty? And did you say that she loves you? Baby, I don’t wanna know. I’ll begin not to love you. Turn around, see me runnin’. I said I loved you years ago, Tell myself you never loved me. No. She turns and walks out again. He watches her go, wanting to chase after her. And did you say she was pretty? And did you say that she loves you? Baby, I don’t wanna know. Oh, no. And can you tell me, Was it worth it? Really, I don’t wanna know. Katherine is sitting on the launch, sobbing. She takes out her phone and a card. She dials. “Jerry?…(softly) I could use Superman right now… O.K.”) Time cast its spell on you, But you won’t forget me. I know I could have loved you, But you would not let me. Instrumental Stefan is sitting on a chair in the guesthouse. His head is in his hands, and he too is sobbing. (Whispering) “What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” Time cast its spell on you, But you won’t forget me I know I could have loved you But you would not let me. I’ll follow you down ‘Til the sound of my voice will haunt you. You’ll never get away From the sound of the woman that loves you. I’ll follow you down ‘Til the sound of my voice will haunt you. (Was I just a fool?) You’ll never get away From the sound of the woman that loves you. (Was I just a fool?) I’ll follow you down ‘Til the sound of my voice will haunt you. (Give me just a chance) You’ll never get away (Never get away, never get away, never get away) From the sound of the woman that loves you. You could be my - silver spring, My blue-green co-lors fla-shing.