Episode 14 – Star Crossed
FADE IN: DAY – DC TRAINING
CENTER FOR CRD MARCH
JOE PALENTI is finishing
up final training and prep meetings with CRD March colleagues after touring the
country’s tent cities. He is wrapping up a discussion with SENATOR JONES. On
his way out a distressed AMELIA WHITE approaches him.
JONES
Again, you have done an
amazing job in organizing and preparing this march and our campaign staff
greatly appreciates all your support.
JOE
It’s been a group effort
from the beginning. It takes teamwork to make the dream work, as they say. I
feel pretty good about it, especially since our people got word that any
sabotage that was planned by the special interests would no longer be an issue
since the death of Kevin Ralphs.
JONES
Yes, yes, may he rest in
peace. I hope they get to the bottom of what really happened but I am afraid
that we may never know the truth of the situation.
JOE
Yeah, unfortunately there are
still two tiers of justice – for those few with deep pockets who can afford to
drag things out in court and the rest of us regular folks who usually get the
full brunt of the law.
JONES
Regrettably that is still
true in the late 21st century even after decades of progress. But we
must have hope and take real actions to get our country back on track for all its
citizens.
JOE
True, true, Senator, and
soon to be President Jones. All the best - until we see each other at the march.
JONES
Yes Joe, from your mouth
to God’s ear. Blessings be upon you and this important march. See you in a few
weeks.
JOE departs the DC training
center building, and as he walks outside toward his car, he is approached by a
distraught AMELIA.
AMELIA
Mr. Palenti – Mr. Palenti!
JOE
Oh, Amelia, Amelia White –
correct?
AMELIA
Yes and I am sure I am the
last person you want to talk to but I am at wits end and really have no one else
to speak with and…
JOE
It seems your Dad was up
to something sinister. He was going to sabotage our march and possibly even
hurt me, but his goons got carried away and killed Kevin Ralphs as a warning
not to tell me his plans, which he already had anyways. Your powerful father’s
plan backfired and then he threw his assistant Trevor Williams under the bus to
protect himself. It was all sad and yet typical behavior of the greedy and
insane.
AMELIA
Yes, Well, that’s not the
official story right now and may never be but I know you’re right and speak the
truth. I was supposed to have a date with poor Kevin the day after. You see
Trevor called me from jail very upset and told me everything and swore he would
get revenge on my father for screwing him. I too was questioned by the FBI
after being publicly shamed by my own father after his lawyers released a
home security surveillance video of me having sex with Trevor in my kitchen and
he supplied old love letters from Kevin I never even received from years ago,
all for the love triangle angle, which has held in the courts so far. My Dad is
an expert in covering his own ass. Although Trevor said he will spend his
family’s inheritance appealing until the truth comes out and he can get out of
jail and exact his revenge. And now my roommate wants me to move out because of
all the stress I have brought into her life.
JOE
That’s a sad story but I
really must be going.
AMELIA steps closer to JOE
in a desperate and flirty way.
AMELIA
Mr. Palenti, believe it or
not I am innocent as far as my father’s evil machinations go. I knew nothing of
any of it and even broke away from him before any of this went down. After I
passed my bar exam, he planned to groom me to take over the White family Corporation
but after hearing all his BS, I recoiled, bailed and was cut off by him – as in
no more trust fund or anything. I quickly found out that I had no real friends
because I reached out and they all rejected me like I had the plague of being
poor and it was contagious or something. My one good Asian friend on the West
coast offered me a place to stay but her husband was not too keen on the idea.
So then I got a low level lawyer position at a firm here in DC and found my
roommate Janet on the internet and it was going well until this scandal broke
and…
JOE
Look Amelia, I feel for
you but why exactly did you come to see me – I mean I don’t even know you and
your Dad was going to ruin everything I have been working hard to make happen
to help 25 million people find homes and regain rights taken away after the
floods by this crazy administration. What is your deal anyway? What do you want
from me?
AMELIA
I admire you and I thought
we had some chemistry the first time we met and…
AMELIA plants a wet kiss
on his lips and JOE goes along for about 15 seconds and then tears himself
away.
AMELIA
What is it – do you not
find me attractive? I know I am good kisser – Why?…
JOE
Look – Amelia – it’s
nothing personal. You are a very attractive woman and you seem pretty smart but
my heart is elsewhere.
AMELIA
You were single just a few
weeks ago – I thought we could get to know one another and go from there?
JOE
I am still single but when
you kissed me I just realized I actually like someone who has been very close
to me in these last few months. I have been so wrapped up in organizing and
training for this march to acknowledge it. It’s been years since I was with a
partner and that did not end so well, so you get the idea – right?
AMELIA
Yes I get it. I am on a
big losing streak. I thought my life would get better when I decided to clean
up my karma and broke away from my Dad and it did for a minute but now I have
to find another place to stay and my savings is down to nothing. I’ve never had
to deal with so much crap at once. My Mom died a few years ago and I have no
one to lean on – so my life sucks right now. (starts to cry)
JOE
There, there – things will
better. (pats her back) Life is an endless roller coaster ride – up and down,
but things do always come back up again. Just hang in there and stay true to
yourself and your new clean path. Welcome to our world Amelia White. What
doesn’t kill you…
AMELIA
Will make you stronger –
yeah yeah, the Whites have been using that maxim for generations. But now it
has taken on a real literal meaning for me. Thanks, I feel a little better.
Thank you for listening and your kindness in spite of the fact that my own Dad
meant you and your movement so much harm.
JOE
No worries. We all need to
forgive each other and learn about each other if our country is reach its full
potential. Maybe you could become an ambassador between the 1% and the 99%? You
could do a lot of good with your father’s resources if you did take over the
family business.
AMELIA
That will be a long time
from now if I ever forgive him. But again, good luck to you and the CRD march.
Our country has lost its way after the floods and patriots like you will get us going in the
right direction again. Take care Joe Palenti – you’re one of the good guys –
this woman you like will be lucky to have you.
JOE
Same to you Amelia, stay
strong and good luck with all your endeavors. Be part of the solution and not
the pollution.
AMELIA
Solution versus the
pollution – wow – I like that – is that yours?
JOE
No – some holistic
philosopher named Sto from the early 2000’s coined that maxim. It sums it up
pretty well. Take care now Amelia.
JOE gets in his car and
drives off – Amelia waves and wipes her tears away and looks more relaxed and
less stressed out – ready to face her new life.
FADE OUT:
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