WRITTEN
BY
Roger Newcomb
STARRING
(in order of appearance)
Jeffrey Richardson as Dr. Brian Morgan
Angela Mazziotta
as
Anne Sayre as Barbara Whitman
Stephen Seidel as Dante Ramos
Nick Sullivan as Paul Ramos
Brian D. Puckett as the Minister
Na’Vell
Lee as Damien Givens
BARBARA
is talking with
BRIAN
Aunt
Barbara, you look fantastic. I’ve never
seen you look more beautiful.
I
agree.
BARBARA
Thanks,
Bri. And you,
Arden, look pretty fantastic yourself.
Why
thank you.
BRIAN
So,
are you nervous? The wedding will begin
any minute now.
BARBARA
Nervous? No way. Nothing can go wrong today. I’ve waited for this day my entire life.
PAUL
is in deep thought when DANTE walks into the room.
DANTE
It’s
time, Dad.
PAUL
Alright.
DANTE
Dad,
are you okay? You look like you’re a
million miles away deep in thought.
PAUL
It’s
just pre-wedding jitters I suppose.
DANTE
Is
that all? You’re not having second
thoughts are you?
PAUL
No. No second thoughts.
The
church is full of family, friends and business acquaintances as BARBARA, BRIAN
and ARDEN make their way to the doors leading into the sanctuary. PAUL and DANTE are standing at the front of
the church with the minister. The
bridesmaid music begins playing.
(whispering)
I
guess that’s my cue.
BRIAN
Break
a leg.
Real funny.
BARBARA
Okay,
now I’m starting to feel the nerves a bit.
BRIAN
Don’t. You look beautiful and everyone is here to support
you. This is your day.
BARBARA
Paul
looks so handsome in that suit.
BRIAN
I
wonder if my wedding to Angela will be next.
BARBARA
Brian,
you’re not…
BRIAN
No,
not yet.
The
bridal march starts and the guests stand.
BRIAN
Looks like they’re playing our song.
BARBARA
Thanks
for giving me away, Bri.
BRIAN
It’s
my pleasure.
Barbara
and Brian walk down the aisle arm in arm until they reach the front of the
church.
MINISTER
You
may be seated.
The
guests sit.
MINISTER
Dearly Beloved,
we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these
witnesses, to join this man, Paul Ramos, and this woman, Barbara Whitman, in
holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of
man's innocence, signifying to us the mystical union which is between Christ
and His Church. Which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with His
presence at the first miracle which He wrought in Cana
of Galilee; and is commended of the Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men,
and is therefore not to be entered into lightly or inadvisably, but reverently,
discreetly, and in the fear of God.
Into which holy estate Paul and Barbara
come now to be joined and to unite two hearts and lives, blending all interest,
sympathies, and hopes. I charge and entreat you, therefore, in entering upon
and sustaining this hallowed union, to seek the favor and blessing of Him whose
favor is life, whose blessing maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. Let us now seek His blessing.
Our Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee
to come by Thy grace to this marriage. Give to these who marry a due sense of
the obligations they are now to assume, so that with true intent, and with
utter unreserve of love, they may plight their troth,
and be henceforth helps, meet for each other while they journey through life.
This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Now, who is giving Barbara in Holy
Matrimony to Paul?
BRIAN
I
am.
MINISTER
Thank
you.
Brian
goes to sit in the front row with Eve and Angela.
MINISTER
I
charge you both as you stand in the presence of God, to remember that true love
and loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a happy home. If the solemn
vows you are about to make be kept inviolate, and if you steadfastly endeavor
to do the will of your heavenly Father, your lives will be full of joy, and the
home you are about to establish will abide in peace.
No other human ties are more tender,
no other vows are more sacred than those you are about to assume. You are
entering into the holy estate which is the deepest mystery of experience, and
which is the very sacrament of divine love.
Paul, will you have Barbara to be
your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of
matrimony; will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and
in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as
you both shall live?
PAUL
I..... I can’t.
BARBARA
What?
PAUL
(somewhat quietly at first)
I
can’t marry you, Barbara. Not now. Not ever.
The
crowd buzzes lightly at Paul’s answer.
BARBARA
What
are you talking about? We’ve been
planning this wedding for months?
PAUL
I
was planning a wedding to a woman who doesn’t exist.
BARBARA
Huh? You’re not making any sense.
PAUL
Oh,
I bet if you thought about it for a few minutes, it would all start to become
clear for you, Barbara. You are not the
woman I thought you were, and as of this minute, you are no longer part of my
life.
BARBARA
Paul,
we’re standing here in front a church full of people.
PAUL
(gets louder)
You’re
right, Barbara. Our family and friends
are here, so I think we should let them all know what’s going on here.
DANTE
Dad,
what are you doing?
PAUL
Son,
I want everyone to know what a lying, deceitful woman I almost just made the
mistake of marrying.
BARBARA
Paul,
I love you.
PAUL
Oh,
do you now? Is that what you told Damien
when you were sleeping with him behind my back?
BARBARA
(gasps)
Damien!!
DAMIEN
(to himself)
Oh
no.
DANTE
Damien? Givens?
BARBARA
Oh
God.
PAUL
Well,
isn’t it true, Barbara? You’ve been
sleeping with Damien and paying a blackmailer to keep quiet.
BARBARA
Paul,
how did you…
PAUL
It
doesn’t matter how I found out. All that
matters is that it’s the truth. You’re
nothing but a two bit slut and I want nothing more to do with you.
BARBARA
Paul,
you can’t mean that.
PAUL
Oh,
I mean it, Barbara. But I’m feeling
generous today, so I’ll give exactly one hour to go back to my estate, pack
your bags, and get the hell out!
BARBARA
This
can’t be happening. It’s worse than my
worst nightmares.
PAUL
You
had to know this was coming, Barbara. If not today, then at some point. I can’t believe I fell for all your lies over
and over again.
BARBARA
Paul,
I can explain everything. I’ve been
finished with Damien for months now. It
was just a terrible mistake.
PAUL
Save
it. You made your bed, now you can lie
in it. All I know is that you’ll never
been in mine again. Look, I’m sorry folks, you all had to waste your time together. But please, head across the street to the
reception and enjoy the food and drinks.
Paul
starts walking away.
DANTE
Dad,
wait for me.
Dante
chases after him.
BARBARA
(screams out and starts to cry)
Paul,
don’t go! Please don’t leave me like
this. Please!