Nicole's heart sank as she heard Shannon's blood curdling scream coming through the hallway. She leapt up on off the couch she was sitting on and nearly tripped over an unpacked box that was sitting on the floor. When she reached the hallway she saw a light was on in Shannon's bedroom. Shannon was sitting on the floor, crying and obviously frightened.
"Shannon? What is it?" Nicole looked around the room for any sign of an intruder, and when she found none, she sat on the floor next to Shannon and hugged her. "Was there someone in the house?"
Shannon took a shaky breath and then started to speak in almost a whisper. "The hallway light wouldn't turn on either, so I thought the electricity might be out. I came in here just to double check and I thought I saw something. I turned on the light and saw…I mean, I think…Nicole," she looked to face her sister, "I'm not sure what I saw."
"What do you think it was?" Nicole asked.
"It looked like…like Uncle Sal." Shannon started to sob again.
"I think maybe you've just had a long day, perhaps…" Nicole started.
"No! He was sitting in that corner over there! " Shannon stood up and ran to the place where she had seen the apparition. "He was clutching his chest and trying to write something. He looked at me with such agony that I just screamed." Shannon sank to the floor in tears once again. "I know it sounds crazy, but that's what I saw."
Nicole went over to where Shannon now was and tried to comfort her. "Shannon, it's okay, it's okay. I don't think you're crazy, but I do think you let your imagination get the best of you." Nicole said. Then she took a deep breath. "You know what I think? I think it is the stress of moving into this place. I know you and Uncle Sal had a close relationship, especially since you shared the same birthday. When we were kids and came to visit them, I was always jealous of you because he took you to the park or the circus while Aunt Edith made me stay and help in the kitchen. When he died it tore you up, and I don't think you ever admitted to yourself how much it hurt. Now that we are here, in his house, your mind is making you deal with it."
Shannon's sobs subsided and she began to wipe the tears from her face. "Maybe you're right. And this was Uncle Sal's favorite room. I choose it because it made me feel closer to his spirit, you know? I just feel so guilty that I wasn't here the night he died. Damnit! I was supposed to be here. But I decided to go to that dance competition instead. If I had been here, maybe I could have done something." Her voice cracked.
"It's not your fault Shannon. It's no one's fault. It was his time to go and there was nothing you could have done. Uncle Sal knew how much you loved him, how much we all loved him. There is no need to feel guilty." Nicole stood up and offered Shannon her hand. "Maybe it would be best if you didn't sleep in here tonight. We can set out sleeping bags in the living room and have a good old fashioned slumber party, just like we used to do when we were kids. What do you say?"
"Can we make popcorn? And drink hot chocolate?" Shannon gave an uneasy smile.
"It wouldn't be a slumber party without it." Nicole smiled back at her.
"Yeah," Shannon took Nicole's hand and pulled herself off the floor, "I'd like that."
Nicole smiled and left the room. Shannon started to follow her, but before she shut the door, she turned and looked inside one more time trying to find any trace of what she had seen earlier. What she found was a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.
Scene 2:
It was a beautiful sunny day at the home of the O'Neills. Renee was in the bathroom get ready, as she had a doctor's appointment that day. Ted was downstairs singing, holding up the mobile he had purchased the day before.
"Joxer the Mighty
He's very tidy
Everyone admires him
He's so handsome it's a sin
He's Joxer, Joxer the mighty!"
"I'm ready!" Renee descended from the stairs looking radiant as always. "What were you singing honey?"
" Oh that? It's just a little song I made up." Ted had hidden the mobile behind the couch when he heard Renee coming and he hoped she wouldn't realize something was going on. But somehow she always knew.
"Do you want anything to eat before we go?" Renee started to head to the kitchen, but there was a knock at the door. "Oh I'll get that!" She said and answered.
She opened the door to reveal the tall, dark figure of Kevin Dimira, disguised with a moustache and glasses.
"Hello!" Renee greeted. Ted came up behind her.
"I'm new in town and thought I'd come over and introduce myself. My name is Hans Gulogaust. Nice to meet you." Kevin said.
"Welcome to Corinth! I'm Renee O'Neill and this is my husband Ted." Renee shook his hand a smiled. Ted shook it also, but didn't share Renee's bright grin.
"The Widow Twanky usually shows new people around." Ted eyed the man suspiciously.
"Ted she's probably busy showing Shannon and Nicole around." Renee burst in.
"Shannon and Nicole?" Kevin replied curiously.
"Yes, they're new in town also. We met them at Sorbo's cafe last night! Seemed like such nice girls! Chris and Ryan seemed to think so also, didn't they?" Renee looked at Ted.
Ted interrupted. "Honey, we better be going or we're going to be late."
"I'm sorry for keeping you both. Have a good day, and thank you for the... information." Kevin gave a sly smile and got into his car.
"He seems like a nice man!" Renee said as she smiled at Ted.
Ted had a doubtful look on his face. "Yeah...nice man."
Scene 3:
"Hey Nicole!" Shannon walked from the kitchen into the living room. "Do you know where the screwdriver is? One of the kitchen cabinet doors has fallen loose."
"Yeah. There one over here on the couch." Nicole walked over to pick it up. "I was using it to put the legs back on the coffee table."
Nicole held the screwdriver out for Shannon to take, but Shannon shook her head. "Actually, I was thinking that you should do it. Don't you remember what happened when I tried to fix that toaster?"
"Good point." Nicole smiled and started towards the kitchen. "While I'm doing that, do you think you could finish unpacking that box for me?"
"Sure, no problem." Shannon said as Nicole disappeared into the kitchen. She started to make her way across the room to the box Nicole had been working on when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!"
Shannon opened the door and saw Chris and Ryan standing there.
"Hi Shannon." Ryan said with a smile.
Shannon smiled back. "Hey guys. Come on in."
"Where's Nicole?" Chris asked as he looked around the room.
"Oh, she's in the kitchen. One of the cabinet doors came off and she is trying to fix it."
"Well, maybe I should…" Chris started.
"Ryan, maybe you should go and see how she is doing." Shannon interrupted him. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind a little help."
"Uh…but…" Ryan was about to suggest that Chris go instead when Shannon interrupted again.
"Thanks Ryan. You're a doll." Shannon smiled and pointed. "The kitchen is right through that door."
Ryan looked over at Chris and shrugged his shoulders. Then he turned and walked into the kitchen.
"Ohhhh Chris?" Shannon said in a very seductive tone.
"Yes?" Chris responded.
"Our light switch doesn't seem to be working, would you be so kind as to take a look at it?" She said this very innocently.
"Sure, I'll do that right now!" Chris answered.
"Aw thank you, every woman needs a man like you around." Shannon said back in the seductive tone she used before, "It's the light switch here in the hallway."
"Is it hot in here or is it just me?" Chris asked as he followed Shannon into the hall.
Shannon smiled. "Oh it's hot in here!"
Chris took off his shirt and began to work on the light switch.
Shannon leaned over on a table next to it, and began flirting with him. "Ooh, you work out a lot don't you?" She said as she stared at his bulging muscles.
"Yeah I do." Chris seemed uninterested but then he perked up. "Hey can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything!" Shannon responded with a huge grin.
"What does Nicole like to do?" He asked curiously.
The smile Shannon had on her face quickly disappeared. "I dunno. I really don't pay that much attention. She's um into martial arts--"
"That's great, so am I!" Chris said with enthusiasm. "What kinda music does she like?"
"Why?" Shannon said, getting annoyed.
"Well I have tickets to a concert Saturday night, and I thought I'd ask her to go with me." Chris replied.
"Ooh I love concerts, which one?" Shannon said, once more trying her best to get Chris' attention.
"Garth Brooks. Does Nicole like his music?" Chris asked, hoping that she did.
"Yes." Shannon sighed unhappily.
"Great! I'll ask her to go then." Chris responded with a pleased tone.
Shannon looked down and put on her best sad face with a tone that matched. "Yeah. You do that. I'll just sit here...all alone...with nothing to do..."
"Aw come on, no you won't!" Chris answered.
Shannon's eyes lit up. "I won't?"
"Of course not! Ryan will ask you to do something!" Chris exclaimed.
Shannon sighed. "Oh. Well he's nice-"
Chris interrupted. " I'll tell him you said that!"
"No that's ok--" Shannon started to say.
Chris climbed down from the ladder. "Well I really didn't find anything wrong with it, but it should work now." He looked around. "I think I'll go find Nicole."
"She's probably still in the kitchen with Ryan." Shannon had given up trying to flirt with him at this point.
"I think I'll go see if she needs my help. Thanks for the chat Sharon." Chris said and started to leave.
"It's SHANNON." Shannon said loudly.
"Oh Shannon right, sorry about that!" Chris left the room and headed for the kitchen.
Scene 4:
Twanky's students were leaving the studio. She waved goodbye to them. "Remember girls, next week same time! And a prompt dancer is a successful one!" She started to pack up her things to leave also, but then saw Willard standing there gazing at her.
"For you...." Willard held out the flowers and flashed that smile only Willard can.
Twanky's face scrunched up in disgust. "Well shame on you! Don't you know that stealing flowers from someone else's garden is wrong, not to mention very RUDE! I can tell you didn't go to a private school."
Willard looked sad and hung his head. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to give you flowers as beautiful as you."
"Humph." Twanky said, not impressed. "I want you to go right now and apologize to the poor people you took those from. Now shoo!"
Willard started to leave but then remembered why he had come there. He wanted to ask his beloved Twanky on a date. He stopped and started to speak.
"Go go!" Twanky said as she waved her arms to the door.
"But I wondered--" Willard started to say before Twanky interrupted.
"Unless you want dancing lessons, I cannot help you!"
Willard started to stutter. "I...I...I'll ttt....ttt...ttakkke dance lessons."
"Humph. Well you will need much work! I suggest 3 times a week." Twanky said.
Willard got a big grin and flashed his toothless smile. "3 times a week.... with you."
"For your DANCE lessons!" Twanky said sternly. "We shall begin tomorrow morning, bright and early, when the first rooster crows!" And with that she spun off into the back.
Willard just stood there dazed. "I think she likes me..."
