THE WHOLE GANG PICKS UP SLOANE AT THE FRONT STEPS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE SHE IS STANDING WITH EDWARD ROONEY.

ROONEY: "Between grief and nothing. I'll take grief."

SLOANE THANKS ROONEY FOR HIS SYMPATHY AND THEN SEES A RED 1958 FERRARI 250 GTS CALIFORNIA. BEN IS STANDING WITH A LONG TRENCH COAT, HAT, AND BLACK SHADES COVERING HIS FACE. SLOANE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HIM, OF COURSE, BUT DOESN'T SHOW HER IGNORANCE. FELICITY IS AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH A SCARF AROUND HER HAIR AND OVAL SHADES LIKE AUDREY HEPHURN.

BEN: "Come on Sloane, honey mommy's waiting for us."

SLOANE: "I guess that's my dad."

ROONEY: (sensing something is wrong) "Wait a minute. Let me talk to your dad for a little while."

ROONEY WALKS UP TO BEN LEAVING A STUNNED SLOANE ON THE TOP STEPS. ROONEY SHAKES BEN'S HAND FIRMLY

ROONEY: "Sorry about the news."

BEN: "It's been hard on all of us, especially my wife."

ROONEY: "Is that her in the car?"

BEN: "Yes, I'm afraid she doesn't really want to talk right now with so much on her mind."

ROONEY: "Of course."

SLOANE WALKS UP TO THEM AND GIVES A PECK ON BEN'S CHEEK.

SLOANE: "Hey, daddy."

BEN: "Hey it's my little girl. Kids you never see how grown up they are."

FERRIS SEEING HOW IT'S DRAGGING A LITTLE TELLS FELICITY TO HURRY THEM UP. FELICITY HONKS THE HORN STARTLING BEN'S CONVERSATION TO A STOP.

FELICITY: (sniffling and has a whimper in her voice) "Honey, we have to set up for the wake."

ROONEY: (seeing her grief) "I'm terribly sorry to keep you preoccupied. It's just been a hectic morning for me."

BEN: "So it is. I hope we'll meet again under better circumstances."

ROONEY: "With a student like Sloane I don't think it'll be a problem Mr. Peterson."

SLOANE: "Thank you, again for all your compassion."

ROONEY NODS GRATIFIED BY HER THANKS.

BEN AND SLOANE WALK TO THE CAR AND SLOANE TRIES TO POSITION HERSELF IN THE BACK WITH FERRIS AND CAMERON HIDING. SHE ACCIDENTALLY SITS ON FERRIS AND LETS OUT A YELP WHICH CATCHES ROONEY'S ATTENTION. BEN FLOORS THE GAS PEDAL AND THEY DRIVE OFF IN A WAVE OF DELIGHT.

ROONEY: "Bueller!"

"I do the things we did before,
I walk Haight to the store,
And they say where's that crazy girl,
You don't get drunk on red wine,
And fight no more,"

Adia bolts up from her sleep. Beads of sweat dot her face which she quickly rubs away with her hands. Her body feels worn out. The sheets burn her now sensitive skin. Adia quickly gets up feeling cold. She starts to walk around her room hugging herself. She stops herself at her window sill and notices her's and Story's names engraved in the wooden ledge.

"SUCCESS" BY IGGY POP PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

"Here comes success Here comes success
Over my hill Over my hill
Here comes success Here comes success
Here comes my car Here comes my car
Here comes my Chinese rug
Here comes my Chinese rug
Here comes success Here comes success
In the last ditch In the last ditch
I'll think of you I'll think of you
In the last ditch In the last ditch
I will be true I will be true
Sweetheart I'm telling you
Sweetheart I'm telling you

FLASHBACK:

Story is behind Adia carrying a big cardboard box in his hands that prevents us from seeing his head. Adia is also carrying big nylon duffel bags in each hand. She sets them down on the bare floor and Story follows suit carefully putting the box labeled important items down. They bring the rest of Adia's stuff in. Later on they are on the floor surrounded by takeout food.

STORY: (raises a coke can in the air) "To moving up in the world."

ADIA: (raises her own and they clink cans) "To moving up."

STORY: "So how does it feel to get something published?"

ADIA: "Pretty damn good. I guess it's kinda like getting that record deal."

STORY SMILES AND SO DOES ADIA. THEY SURVEY THE CLUTTERED APARTMENT WITH ITS BOXES, BAGS, AND BARE MATTRESS ON THE FLOOR.

STORY: "Yeah, we still have a few things to go over though."

JEFF BUCKLEY'S "NIGHTMARES BY THE SEA" PLAYS

All your lovers know why
Nightmares blind their mind's eye.
Your rube is young and handsome,
So new to your bedroom floor,
You know damn well where you'll go.

I've loved so many times and I've drowned them all.
From their coral graves, they rise up when darkness falls.
With their bones they'll scratch the window, I hear them call,
"Don't know what you asked for"
"Don't know what you asked for"

They talk on about what's going on. As the night progresses we later see a window open. A few candles are laying around providing some light and a silent boombox beside Adia and Story who are sitting on the floor with their backs leaning against the wall. Both of them are sharing a cigarette.

ADIA: "Do you believe in monogamous destiny?"

STORY (takes the cigarette and inhales deeply) "You mean one person for meant only for another person?"

STORY PASSES THE CIGARETTE TO ADIA WHO TAKES IT.

ADIA: (inhales) "Yeah. Do you?"

STORY: "I don't think you can go through life loving only one person. Because I feel like I've loved more than one person. But that takes on varying degrees of love like parent-child love, first love like I guess you can call that . . ."

ADIA: "Puppy love."

STORY: (smoke escapes his mouth) "Yeah, that first time you ever really feel like you would do literally anything for the other one. And it seems like you've found someone. It makes you always think you'll have each other."

ADIA: "It's innocent and new. Once you loose it you can never let yourself go in quite the same way again. Cause you're gone through heartache and that makes you more guarded and suspicious about everyone afterwards."

ADIA ACCEPTS THE CIGARETTE STORY GIVES HER.

STORY: "Mmhmm, but I do believe there's one person that you're meant for. People believe in it all the time."

ADIA LAYS HER HEAD ON STORY'S SHOULDER.

ADIA: "I wonder if I'll ever find that person."

STORY KISSES THE TOP OF HER HEAD AND LAYS HIS OWN HEAD UPON IT.

STORY: "Don't worry you will . . . We both will."

AT THE SEARS TOWER OBSERVATION DECK THE WHOLE GANG IS LEANING WITH THEIR FOREHEADS AGAINST THE WINDOW.

SLOANE: "It's so peaceful up here."

FELICITY: "You couldn't do something like this at the Empire State Building. They have roofs blocking the way down from the observation deck."

FERRIS: "Have any of you ever tried to drop a pin or a nickel from that height?"

FELICITY AND BEN: (in unison) "No."

CAMERON: "I think I'm going to be sick."

BEN: "The view does put a tingle to your tummy."

SLOANE: "What if the glass gives?"

FERRIS: "Death."

SLOANE: "Cool."

BEN AND FELICITY LAUGH.

CAMERON: "I think I see my dad down there."

SHOT OF THE SIDEWALK FROM THEIR DIZZYING HEIGHT

JULIE LOOKS AT NOEL WITH SURPRISE IN HER CHOCOLATE EYES.

JULIE: "Wow, that was amazing."

NOEL: "I've never done anything like that in my life."

JULIE: "I never thought you'd do that."

NOEL: "There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

JULIE: "Yeah, that's true. But you know what? I'm glad were together here. If it wasn't for you I'd probably be in my room moping around right now."

NOEL: "No, I don't think you would. You're much stronger than that."

JULIE: "How do you know?"

NOEL: (simply) "Because I do. Anyone who's met you knows that."

JULIE: "Why do people sometimes know you more than yourself?"

NOEL: "Because they'd rather analyze others than themselves. It's less scarier that way."

JULIE: "Hmm, we should order right now."

JULIE LOOKS DOWN AT THE MENU AND N IDEA SUDDENLY COMES TO HER.

JULIE: "Let's play a little game."

NOEL: "Ok."

JULIE WAVES TO THE WAITER NEARBY.

JULIE: "Close your eyes and point."

NOEL: "Why?"

JULIE: "Because that's what you'll be eating."

NOEL: "What if I order something like brains or snails."

JULIE: "Don't be such a baby. I had snails at this Chinese restaurant and they were good."

NOEL: "You're joking."

JULIE SHAKES HER HEAD SOLEMNLY AS THE WAITER COMES TO THEIR TABLE.

WAITER: "Are we ready?"

JULIE: "Yes."

JULIE CLOSES HER EYES AND POINTS. THE WAITER LOOKS AT HER CHOICE.

WAITER: "The pato silvestre agridulce."

THE WAITER LOOKS OVER AT NOEL WHO IN TURN CLOSES HIS EYES AND POINTS. THE WAITER NODS SATISFIED AT HIS CHOICE.

WAITER: "Very good sir, the mariscos Botafumeiro."

THE WAITER LEAVES TO WITH THEIR ORDERS AS THE SCENE FADES WITH NOEL AND JULIE IN AN ANIMATED CONVERSATION.

"Cause I don't see you anymore,
Since the hospital,"

Adia's fingers the engraved names thoughtfully. She looks up at the stars shining brightly.

The moonlight casts a beam upon Adia making her glow.

FLASHBACK:

Outside there's a party well underway with things being broken and the noise level so high you could still clearly hear it through the locked door. Adia and Story are both on the bed sleeping. The moon filters through the windows bathing them half in the moonlight and half obscured in the shadows. Story's eyes open slowly. He sits up and looks around trying to recognize from his surroundings where he is. He sees Adia lying beside him and smiles. He rocks her softly waking her up. Adia's head looks up a little with a small frown on her face.

ADIA: "Wha . . . where am I?"

ADIA RUBS HER EYES AND SITS UP.

STORY: "I think we both fell asleep here . . ."

STORY LOOKS DOWN AT HIS FULLY CLOTHED BODY AND ADIA'S AS WELL.

ADIA: "Yeah, my head hurts a little."

STORY HANDS ADIA SOME TYLENOL HE HAS IN HIS POCKET AND SHE TAKES IT.

STORY: "Better?"

ADIA: "Yeah, I will be."

Adia leans back on Story who puts his arms around her. He lays his chin on her head and they enjoy a few moments of comfortable silence, except for the music which becomes a dull roar as it turns into a slow song.

STORY: "Do you want to dance?"

ADIA: "Okay."

Story leads Adia off the bed. He pulls her into his arms as they slow dance in a couple inches worth of uncluttered space. Story holds onto Adia's hand and wraps his free one around her waist. Adia rests her head on his shirt clad chest."

"SPEED OF LOVE" CONTINUES TO PLAY IN THE BACKGROUND.

Girl did you ever make sense of your own
The way that we sighed
When that moon came in view
Oh I knew it was trouble
Knew it was sad
But oh I guess that moon was trouble too. "

STORY: "You're an excellent dancer madam."

ADIA: "I have an equally excellent lead."

STORY: "Or just a handsome partner."

ADIA: "Ah touche."

Story dips Adia and brings her up. His mouth hangs open a little as his arms come around Adia and start to tightened her against him. Both of their eyes close as they naturally get closer. Their lips are about to brush when the door bursts open and a couple stumbles into the room in an intimate embrace breaking the spell. They quickly break apart and head out of the clearly embarrassed. Adia and Story can't look at one another. They look at the floor, other people, the ceiling, anywhere but each other.

STORY: (looking at his shoes) "I guess I'll be going backto the party . . . (looks up briefly) Later."

ADIA: (to his retreating back) "Later."

"It used to be
I didn't give a damn about you
now I'm falling at the speed of love"

THE HALLWAY SCENE FADES TO THE PRESENT.

Adia wonders what would happen if they weren't interrupted. What if they did kiss? What if it lead to more? What if they were able to go out for a good, long time unlike now. But then what would happen if they broke up? Adia looked at the star and finally made her wish.

AT NOON WE SEE FERRIS, CAMERON, SLOANE AND FELICITY STANDING INSIDE CHEZ LUIS A FRENCH RESTAURANT ON THE GOLD COAST. FERRIS IS LOOKING AT THE MAITRE'D'S RESERVATIONS BOOK. HIS FINGER RUNS DOWN TO A PARTY OF FIVE. A SNOTTY MAITRE 'D RETURNS SHORTLY AFTER.

MAITRE'D: (to Ferris) "May I help you?"

FERRIS: "Yes. I'm Abe Frohman. Party of five for 12:00."

THE MAITRE'D LOOKS AT FERRIS CURIOUSLY.

FERRIS: "Is there a problem?"

MAITRE'D: "You're Abe Frohman?"

FERRIS: "I'm Abe Frohman."

MAITRE'D: "The Sausage King of Chicago."

FELICITY STIFLES A LAUGH AS SLOANE TUGS FERRIS' SLEEVE. HE IGNORES HER.

FERRIS: "Are you suggesting that I'm not who I say I am?"

MAITRE'D: "Shall I call the police?"

CAMERON: "Let's go...Abe."

FERRIS: "I'm not going anywhere. (to the Maitre'd) Call the police. Go ahead. Better yet . . . (grabs the phone) . . . I'll call myself."

CAMERON CHOKES. FELICITY AND SLOANE GRIT THEIR TEETH. THE MAITRE'D SMILES SMUGLY. FERRIS PUNCHES OUT A NUMBER. A BEAT AND THE RESTAURANT'S SECOND LINE LIGHTS UP THE PHONE RINGS.

THE MAITRE'D MOTIONS FOR THE PHONE SO THAT HE CAN ANSWER THE CALL. FERRIS WAVES HIM OFF ANGRILY.

FERRIS: "You touch me and I yell "rat! There's another phone around here. Find it."

THE MAITRE'D BACKS OFF

CAMERON: "Ferris, let's split, please?"

SLOANE: "Cameron's right. We're gonna get busted."

FELICITY: "This is going too far."

FERRIS: (to the camera) "One you can never go too far. Second, if I'm gonna get busted it's not gonna be by a guy like that."

HE HANDS THE PHONE TO SLOANE.

FERRIS: "Ask for Abe Frohman."

THE MAITRE'D ANSWERS THE PHONE AND LISTENS AS SLOANE DESCRIBES WHAT FERRIS IS WEARING. HE SEES THE BLINKING LIGHT OF THE OTHER LINE ON CALL WAITING AND PICKS IT UP.

BEN: (gruffly) "This is Sergeant Speedman Chicago Police!"

JULIE AND NOEL ARE SLOWLY WALKING BACK TO THE HOTEL AFTER A CAB DROPPED THEM OFF A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY.

JULIE: "I'll never forget your face everytime they bought another dish of seafood."

NOEL: (clutches his stomach) "I've never eaten so much at once including holidays. It's a good thing I'm not allergic to shellfish."

JULIE: "Then you'd really be in trouble."

NOEL: "I could always change the order."

NOEL LOOKS OVER AT JULIE.

NOEL: "You're just lucky they gave you sweet and sour wild duck."

JULIE: (smiles) "Hey, there's an annexe across the street from us."

BOTH OF THEM LOOK WHERE JULIE IS POINTING AT.

NOEL: "It's a small, maybe we can go there tomorrow night before dinner."

JULIE: "They eat so late here."

NOEL: "Oh yeah nine to eleven is the traditional time."

JULIE: "But they still come later than that."

NOEL: "True."

JULIE: "We should go to Madrid next."

NOEL: "I already got us a hotel there."

JULIE: "You thought of everything already haven't you?"

NOEL: "It's good to know what's gonna happen."

JULIE: "Sometimes."

THE FIVE OF THEM ARE SEATED AT A ROUND TABLE. THE MAITRE'D IS HOVERING OVER FERRIS.

MAITRE'D: "I appreciate your understanding."

FERRIS: "Don't grovel, Charles. It's people like me who can tolerate people like yourselves. Just leave us to our repast and all will be forgotten."

MAITRE'D: "Enjoy your luncheon."

FERRIS: "Thank you."

THE MAITRE'D BACKS AWAY. FERRIS SMILES. SLOANE IS IMPRESSED. FELICITY IS CONTENT IN BEN'S ARMS. CAMERON IS FLUSHED WITH NERVES.

FERRIS: "Darling, you were wonderful."

SLOANE: "Oh, but I had a wonderful teacher."

FERRIS: "I should be the one saying that to Ben."

BEN: "Preparation is key."

FELICITY: "Except when it comes to class."

BEN: "Ouch!"

FERRIS: "Cameron, dear friend?"

CAMERON LOOKS TO FERRIS.

FERRIS: "And you thought we wouldn't have any fun. Shame on you."

FERRIS DISAPPEARS BEHIND HIS MENU.

JULIE AND NOEL ARRIVE AT THEIR HOTEL ROOM. BECAUSE THE HOTEL WAS ALREADY FULL THEY ENDED UP WITH A SINGLE ROOM. NOEL BEING THE GENTLEMEN OFFERS TO SLEEP ON THE COUCH.

JULIE: "Noel are you ok there?"

NOEL: "Yeah, I'm fine here, you?"

JULIE: "Yeah."

SILENCE FOLLOWS AS THEY BOTH LAY THERE IN THE DARK.

JULIE: "Noel?"

NOEL TURNS TO JULIE ON THE BED.

NOEL: "Yes?"

JULIE: "I meant it when I said I wouldn't want to be with anyone else right now."

NOEL: "Really?"

JULIE: "Yes, really."

SILENCE CREEPS IN AGAIN BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

NOEL: "Julie?"

JULIE: "Yeah?"

NOEL: "We'll find your necklace. I promise."

THE SCENE FADES AS WE SEE JULIE AND NOEL SLEEPING IN THEIR SEPARATE PLACES. THE LAST FEW LYRICS OF "PUDDLES OF GRACE" PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

I had almost found my faith
I was almost me
But my pride couldn’t swallow what hates
Boy, I hope your happy

Tell me
Tell me
Where do you go?
When all the diamonds have run dry
Tell me
Tell me
How do you feel
After bittersweet goodbyes.

TOM AND HIS TWO GUESTS ARE STANDING AT THE CURB, TALKING. A CAB IS WAITING. THE DOORS OPEN AND THE WHOLE GROUP NOTICES THE SITE OF TOM AND HIS GUESTS BEFORE THEM. THEIR BACKS ARE TURNED TO THE HORRIFIED FIVE.

FERRIS: "40,000 restaurants in the downtown area and I pick the one my father goes to."

CAMERON: "We're gonna get nabbed, for sure."

FERRIS: "No way, Cameron. Only the meek get nabbed. The bold survive. Let's go."

to be continued . . .

Like the show, you can find the music featured in this story in these places:

Third Eye Blind "The Background" Third Eye Blind
Shudder to Think f/ John Doe "Speed Of Love" First Love, Last Rites Sndtrk
Shudder to Think f/ Billy Corgan "When I Was Born, I Was Bored" First Love, Last Rites Sndtrk
Amy Jo Johnson "Puddles of Grace" Felicity Sndtrk
Iggy Pop "Success" Great Expectations Sndtrk
Jeff Buckley "Nightmares By the Sea" Sketches for my Sweetheart the Drunk

Send comments to : Kat

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