FERRIS HAS JUST DROPPED OFF FELICITY AND BEN AT THEIR HOTEL. ALL OF THEM MAKE PLANS TO MEET EACH OTHER AT THE HOUSE LATER ON.

AFTERWARDS:

Sloane's in the passenger seat. Ferris is driving and Cameron is crammed in the back.

SLOANE: "What's next."

CAMERON: "Nothing. We return the car."

SLOANE: "We could go to my house. My parents aren't coming home until late.

Ferris smiles and looks in the mirror and changes lanes. He glances down at the speedometer, then to the road. And back to the speedometer.

FERRIS: "Cameron? How many miles did you say this thing had when we left?"

CAMERON: "One hundred and twenty six and halfway between three and four tenths. Why? How many miles are on it now?"

Cameron glances down at the speedometer. The odometer reads 432.7.

FERRIS: (to CAMERA) "Here's where Cameron goes berserk."

EPILOGUE FOR ADIA:

It has been a few years that Adia has been living on without Story. She is before his grave, holding a handful of wildflowers and daisies.

ADIA: "Hey Story, everything's getting to be better for me. I have a regular job and that our daughter, Felicity is really good, also."

ADIA STOPS AND INDICATES FELICITY NEXT TO HER.

FELICITY: "Mommy, can I give daddy my letter?"

ADIA: "Sure sweetie."

FELICITY PLACES THE ENVELOPE ON TOP OF THE PLAQUE. FELICITY SEES A BUTTERFLY AND GOES TO CATCH IT.

ADIA'S GAZE FOLLOWS HER UNTIL SHE IS UNDER A TREE WITH HER PET KITTEN.

ADIA: "Do you see her? I named her Felicity because when Felicity visited us it was when we officially became 'we.' If it was a boy I would have named him Benjamin. Yeah, I know. I like Felicity better too. When I first saw her I cried, because she was so beautiful and that she wasn't going to have you around. Sometimes, I'll show her the tapes and tell stories of us. It's still a little hard. I miss you so much, that sometimes I even imagine you're off touring somewhere, and when I wake up in the middle of the night I get so mad because you're not with me . . . I'm moving on though, I know you would want me to get off my ass and move on. There's this guy, he's not here. I don't want him to be. You remember the drummer? Yeah, Matt is kewl. Even though I know you'd probably kick his ass right now if you were here."

ADIA STOPS AND WIPES AWAY A TEAR. FELICITY IS BEING CHASED BY HER KITTEN.

ADIA: "I'm having flashbacks of you less and less now. Even though I still dream of you sometimes at night. I wanted you to know that I'll always have you in here. (indicates her heart) You were my first and nothing can change that. I know that this is a lot of romantic bullshit, but . . . I love you, and I always will love you.

ADIA LAYS A KISS ON THE TIPS OF HER FINGERS AND LAYS IT ON HIS PLAQUE. ADIA COLLECTS FELICITY AND HER KITTEN THEY BOTH LOOK BACK ONE LAST TIME.

That night Adia is asleep with Matt next to her. She's having a dream where it is just her, Story, and little Felicity with her kitten back behind the church in a private wedding ceremony. Matt is the only outsider there videotaping the whole thing, playing along, making jokes, and enjoying the day with them. She knows that Matt is waiting for her and the dream ends with Story giving Adia away to Matt. Story lays a kiss on Adia's cheek and hugs Felicity for a long time good-bye.

STORY: "I have to go now. I can't stay."

STORY PUNCHES MATT IN THE ARM.

STORY: (to Matt) "And if you do anything to hurt both of them I will kick your ass."

STORY TURNS TO LEAVE BUT AT THE LAST MOMENT TURNS BACK FACING THEM.

STORY: "I hate good-bye's so I'll just say I love you until later."

THE LAST VERSE OF JEFF BUCKLEY "SATISFIED MIND" PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

"When my life is over and my time has run out.
My friends and my loved ones, I'll leave them no doubt.
But, one thing's for certain, when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind.
One thing's for certain, when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind.
Satisfied mind."

THE LAST FEW LINES ON STORY'S PLAQUE READS:

The Story
Of life is quicker
Than the wink of an eye
The story of Love
Is hello and goodbye Until we meet again
- Jimi Hendrix

THE STORY OF LIFE

"We miss you madly."

SCENE AT CAMERON'S GARAGE

Ferris, Cameron and Sloane are sitting in the garage. The Ferrari is jacked up. The wheels are turning. The engine's racing.

CAMERON: "The whole time I was just thinking things over. I was like, meditating. I was thinking about the future. And I realized it doesn't make a difference if the present goes to shit.

FERRIS: "I have a agree with you there."

SLOANE: "Really."

Cameron peeks at the odometer. Nothing's happening.

CAMERON: "Ferris? It's not working."

Ferris looks up.

CAMERON: "The miles aren't coming off, running it in reverse."

FERRIS: "I thought that might be a problem. Let's crack open the odometer and roll it back by hand."

Cameron shakes his head.

CAMERON: "I got a better idea. It's cool."

He walks back around behind the Ferrari.

CAMERON: "Seventeen years and I've never taken a stand. Now, I'm gonna do it. I'm taking a stand against my father, against my family, against myself, against my past, my present and my future. I will not sit idly by as events that affect me unfold to change the course of my life. I will take a stand and I will defend it. When my father comes home tonight, he's finally going to have to deal with me. Good or bad, I'm taking a stand."

FERRIS: "This is a big U-2 fan."

Sloane smiles proudly at Cameron. She applauds him.

Cameron's serious and determined. He has made up his mind and it appears that it won't be changed by anyone but himself. Cameron's foot rests on the bumper. A beat and it gives a mighty shove. The spinning tires slam down on the cement.

SHOT INSIDE THE GARAGE

Cameron has kicked the Ferrari off the jack. It squeals out of the garage in a cloud of blue tire smoke. A $50,000 unmanned investment heading backwards down a driveway.

SLOANE AND FERRIS ARE IN SHOCK.

The Ferrari shoots down the driveway.

OUTSIDE THE GARAGE

Cameron watches the car go. He's strangely placid about the impending disaster. Ferris and Sloane are bewildered. The Ferrari travels down the driveway, across the street, over the curb into the wooded property opposite the house. The Ferrari's brief journey ends as it smacks a tree trunk.

INSIDE THE GARAGE

Ferris and Sloane exchange baffled looks. They look at Cameron. He's proud and bold.

FERRIS: "What was that about?"

SLOANE: "This has to be a dream."

FERRIS: "Cameron? One quick question. Why'd you do that?"

Cameron holds his proud posture for a beat. Then a look of bewilderment comes over his face. He shoots a look to Ferris. A puzzled look.

FERRIS: "You trashed the car."

Cameron looks across the street.

SLOANE: "Why?"

CAMERON: "I took a stand."

FERRIS: "No, Cameron. You wrecked a car."

Cameron thinks for a moment. Then he regains his confidence.

CAMERON: "It's okay."

Ferris looks across the street at the car.

FERRIS: "I have an idea. If you're interested."

Cameron looks at him. He shakes his head.

CAMERON: "I'm gonna handle it."

FERRIS: "I think this could work."

CAMERON: "No, thanks. I want to deal with it by myself."

Cameron smiles. He raises am impish eyebrow.

CAMERON: "It's cool. I'm loose."

NOEL HAS JUST DROPPED JULIE OFF AT HER HOTEL ROOM. THEY DECIDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN SEPARATE ROOMS.

JULIE: "I had a really good day today."

NOEL: "Me too."

THEY BOTH STAYED THERE NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

JULIE: "Well, good night."

JULIE GIVES NOEL A KISS ON THE CHEEK. NOEL RETURNS HER KISS BY GIVING HER A KISS ON HER CHEEK. WHEN JULIE STARTS TO KISS HIS CHEEK AGAIN NOEL PULLS HER IN FOR A PASSIONATE KISS THAT THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN HIDING. WE SEE THEM DISAPPEAR BEHIND JULIE'S HOTEL DOOR.

NOEL: "Could you hold on a second."

JULIE'S FACE FALLS AS NOEL GOES AWAY. NOEL GOES TO THE DRESSER AND PICKS UP A "DO NOT DISTURB" SIGN AND HANGS IT ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. NOEL GOES BACK TO JULIE AND SCOOPS HER IN HIS ARMS.

JULIE: "Everything okay?"

NOEL: "Everything's perfect."

THE SCENE FADES AS NOEL IS KISSING JULIE ON TOP OF THE BED.

SLOANE'S BACKYARD:

Sloane and Ferris are standing at the back fence.

SLOANE: "I had a great time today."

FERRIS: "Yeah. It was pretty cool."

SLOANE: "You think Cameron's gonna be all right?"

FERRIS: "Sure. He had to do it, I guess. His old man had it coming. He'll be okay. I'd be worried if he'd taken my idea."

Sloane smiles knowingly.

SLOANE: "You didn't have an idea, did you?"

FERRIS: "Not a glimmer."

SLOANE: "You're so smart."

FERRIS: "No. I'm just real loose."

Ferris kisses Sloane.

FERRIS: "I'll call you tonight."

Sloane nods. Ferris jumps the fence and takes off across the backyards. Sloane watches him go. A huge smile spreads across her face.

SLOANE: "I love you!

Sloane backs away from the fence.

SLOANE: "He's gonna marry me. I know it."

Sloane turns and runs into the house.

FERRIS' NEIGHBORHOOD:

FELICITY AND BEN ARE WALKING TOWARD FERRIS' HOUSE. THEY ARE HOLDING HANDS AND SWINGING IT OCCASIONALLY.

FELICITY: "Today was actually a good day, in a made for tv movie kind of way."

BEN: "Yeah, it feels surreal sometimes how good or bad life can get."

FELICITY: "I'm actually excited to meet Ferris' family."

BEN: "Hey! They're my relatives too! Besides they're pretty sweet."

FELICITY GETS BLINDSIDED BY SOMEONE.

FELICITY: "Heyy!! Watch where you're going!!"

FERRIS: (breathless) "Sorry! Can't talk now gotta get home!"

FELICITY AND BEN LAUGH AS THEY WATCH FERRIS RUN TOP SPED TOWARD HIS HOUSE.

FELICITY: "That kid is definently going to get somewhere."

BEN: "Yeah, let's hope he just get there before his parents do."

FERRIS' STREET

Ferris is running down the middle of the street. A car honks. Ferris moves to the side. The car pulls around him.

TOM'S CAR

Tom's at the wheel. He glances in the mirror. He does a double take.

THROUGH TOM'S REARVIEW MIRROR

We see Ferris cut across a front lawn and into a house.

Tom realizes it couldn't be Ferris.

Ferris runs through the kitchen, past a woman, fixing dinner and out her backdoor. The Woman looks up curiously.

FERRIS' HOUSE

Tom pulls in the driveway. He parks and gets out. Joyce and Jeanie pull in from the other direction.

HOUSE BACK PORCH

Ferris tries the door. It's locked. He reaches down and lifts the doormat. The outline of a key in the dirt under the mat. The key's gone. The toe of a chewed-up dress shoe steps into the frame. Ferris stares up in horror. Rooney's looking down at him. He's holding the house key. Ferris stands up. Rooney smiles.

ROONEY: "Looking for this?"

FERRIS: "Yes."

ROONEY: "I got you, Ferris. This time I finally got you."

Ferris is caught. There's no way out. Rooney gloats severely.

ROONEY: "How does another year of high school sit with you?"

Suddenly, the backdoor opens. Jeanie looks out. She feigns joy and relief. She rushes to Ferris and hugs him.

JEANIE: "Thank God, you're all right! We've been worried sick!"

Ferris has a moment of curiosity. Then it dawns on him what's happening. He smiles.

Rooney's eyes dart from Ferris to Jeanie to Ferris. His victory is evaporating.

Jeanie breaks the embrace.

JEANIE: (to Rooney) "Thank you for bringing him home, Mr. Rooney. (to Ferris) You better get up in bed tight now."

Ferris limps into the house.

JEANIE: "Can you imagine someone as sick as Ferris trying to walk home from the hospital? (shakes her head) Kids!"

Rooney's dumbfounded.

Jeanie raises her hands and strikes a karate pose. A huge smile passes over her face. Rooney has a look of terror as he realizes that is was Jeanie who kicked him and that Jeanie knows it was he who she kicked. Jeanie takes out Rooney's wallet and it dangle from her hand.

JEANIE: "Catch."

Jeanie throws Rooney's wallet and we hear it drop into a puddle of mud again. Jeanie steps into the house as the door closes on Rooney's defeated, lost, dejected, bewildered face. Not only has he lost Ferris again, he has Jeanie to deal with next year. The click of the door wakes the vicious dog up. The dog's head pops up off the grass. Rooney senses new danger. He hears a big, growl. Rooney squeezes his eyes shut.

INSIDE THE HOUSE FOYER

The foyer is jammed with floral arrangements, plants and gifts. Ferris and Jeanie step gingerly through the flowers and head upstairs.

JEANIE: "I'm sorry I've been riding your buns for so long."

FERRIS: "It's completely cool."

JOYCE: (from the kitchen) "Ferris!"

Ferris continues up the stairs. He affects a sickly voice.

FERRIS: "Upstairs, Mom!"

CONTINUOUS SECOND FLOOR LANDING

Ferris and Jeanie stop.

JEANIE: "Do you know a guy named Charlie Sheen?

FERRIS: "Vaguely."

JEANIE: "Is he cool?"

FERRIS: "He's cool. But just watch yourself with guys."

Ferris walks into the room, and peels off his shirt. He climbs into bed. No sooner are the covers over him than the bedroom door opens and Joyce and Tom walk in. They walk over to the bed. Joyce sits down.

JOYCE: "Honey?"

CLOSE UP OF FERRIS

The same deathly face he had in the morning. Tongue out, eyes bulging.

TOM: "Ferris? How do you feel?"

Ferris pulls in his tongue to speak.

FERRIS: (deathly gasp) "150% better, thank you."

Tom and Joyce hover over him with deep concern.

FERRIS: "I'm much better, really. Please, don't make me stay home again. I want to go to school. I'm graduating in June and I..."

TOM: "Ferris. You're sick. There's no point pushing yourself and making it worse."

FERRIS: "Maybe you're right, Dad."

TOM: "I know I'm right."

Joyce leans over and kisses Ferris on the forehead.

JOYCE: "How did you get so sweet?"

FERRIS: "Years of practice."

Tom pats Ferris on the rump. Tom and Joyce exit.

Ferris holds his sick face mask a beat until the bedroom door closes. Ferris looks at camera.

FERRIS: (happy sigh) "Life moves pretty fast."

Ferris rolls over on his back and puts his hands behind his head.

FERRIS: "You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Ferris smiles.

MUSIC FADES UP TILL WE HEAR IT'S SMASHING PUMPKIN'S "TODAY."

"I wanted more
than life could ever grant
bored by the chore
of saving face

today is the greatest
day I have ever known
can't wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I'll tear my heart out
before I get out

today is
today is
today is
the greatest day
that I have ever known

I want to turn you on
I want to turn you round
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you today is the greatest
today is the greatest day
today is the greatest day
that I have ever known"

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

Third Eye Blind "The Background" Third Eye Blind
Wayne Newton "Danke Shoen"
The Beatles "Twist and Shout" Please Please Me
Jeff Buckley "Satisfied Mind" Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
Smashing Pumpkins "Today" Siamese Dream

Any comments or suggestions! E-mail Kat I'd really like to know if people are reading my stories.

<<-- Turn Back to "Felicity & Ben's Day Off" The Chicago Chapter

-->> Fast Forward to "A Penny Fortune" The New Orleans Chapter

Back to Felicity and Ben Fanfic

1