Vapors: The Essential G. Wayne Miller Fiction Vol. 2

by G. Wayne Miller

  STEVE (CONT’D)

  I’m afraid we can’t take you, Steffie.

  (to the commander)

  She’s pregnant.

  COMMANDER

  Sorry, ma’am. Regulations won’t allow it.

  STEPHANIE

  Fuck your regulations.

  Stephanie boards. The door closes behind her and the chopper lifts off.

  EXT. OCEAN - THE MOTORBOAT - MIDNIGHT

  The boat slips under the surface, leaving Ben in the water next to Serena. The clouds momentarily part, revealing a full moon. Ben, treading water, looks up.

  SERENA

  (weakly)

  It’s a sign. It’s not too late, Ben. Come with me.

  The life keeps bleeding out of Serena. It is only a matter of seconds before she will slip away.

  SERENA (CONT’D)

  (more weakly)

  Kiss me?

  Ben reaches for Serena — and for an instant, it seems he may oblige her. He caresses Serena’s face. Then, with sudden savage fury, he shoves her head underwater. Serena is gone. The clouds close in and all is black again.

  EXT. OCEAN - MIDNIGHT

  A wide shot of the helicopter, moving along at low altitude, its searchlights sweeping the ocean.

  INT. HELICOPTER - COCKPIT - MIDNIGHT

  The commander is intent on his mission; this is no easy flight. STEVE, the COPILOT, and Stephanie are using high- powered binoculars to scan the ocean.

  SUDDENLY, the copilot spots something.

  COPILOT

  Debris at three o’clock.

  COMMANDER

  Roger. Bringing her around.

  COPILOT

  Looks like life vests and fishing gear.

  COMMANDER

  Any survivors?

  COPILOT

  Negative.

  Stephanie buries her head in her hands and begins to sob. STEVE comforts her.

  COPILOT (CONT’D)

  I see someone! Two hundred yards! Twelve o’clock!

  EXT. OCEAN - MIDNIGHT

  A wide shot of Ben bobbing on the ocean, the chopper approaching. When the helicopter door opens and a crew member with a rescue basket is lowered down.

  Ben is loaded onto the basket and hauled up. When he is safely aboard, Stephanie kisses him.

  STEPHANIE

  Ben!

  BEN

  Steffie.

  STEPHANIE

  Thank God you’re alive.

  EXT. OCEAN - MIDNIGHT

  A wide shot of the ocean. The helicopter door closes and the chopper heads toward land.

  INT. HOSPITAL - BEN’S ROOM - MORNING - THE NEXT DAY

  Ben is asleep in his bed. He stirs and opens his eyes. Stephanie is slumped near him in a chair, a book in her lap.

  BEN

  Have you been there all night?

  STEPHANIE

  I haven’t budged an inch.

  BEN

  You should sleep.

  STEPHANIE

  Actually, I should eat. I’m starved.

  BEN

  Then go get something.

  STEPHANIE

  You sure you mind?

  BEN

  I’m sure. You’re eating for two now.

  STEPHANIE

  I won’t be long. I love you.

  BEN

  I love you, too.

  Stephanie kisses Ben and leaves. Ben closes his eyes again.

  INT. HOSPITAL - NURSES’ STATION ON BEN’S FLOOR - MORNING

  The elevator doors open and a CANDY STRIPER steps off. She is carrying a bouquet of flowers. After inquiring at the desk, she heads toward Ben’s room.

  INT. HOSPITAL - BEN’S ROOM - MORNING

  The candy striper stands at the door, unsure if she should bother Ben. He opens his eyes before she has to decide.

  CANDY STRIPER

  Ben Houghton?

  BEN

  That’s me.

  CANDY STRIPER

  A woman left these for you.

  The candy striper hands the flowers to Ben.

  BEN

  Thank you. But there’s no card.

  CANDY STRIPER

  That’s how she left them.

  BEN

  Did she give her name?

  CANDY STRIPER

  No, sir.

  BEN

  Did you see her?

  CANDY STRIPER

  Yes. She was pretty and tall.

  BEN

  How old?

  CANDY STRIPER

  A few years older than me.

  BEN

  With long brown hair?

  CANDY STRIPER

  Nope. Short red hair. I never saw her before. Probably just a new delivery girl.

  Ben is relieved.

  BEN

  Well, thanks again.

  CANDY STRIPER

  Hope you get better soon.

  EXT. SUMMER HOUSE - EVENING - SEVERAL DAYS LATER

  A shot of the remnants. Ben’s Cherokee and Serena’s Mustang remain where they were in the drive.

  Stephanie’s BMW comes slowly up the drive. Stephanie is behind the wheel, Ben beside her.

  The BMW stops next to the other vehicles. Stephanie, then Ben, get out. Neither speaks. We see, for the first time, that Stephanie is noticeably pregnant.

  As Stephanie moves toward the carriage house, untouched by the fire, Ben lingers at the Mustang. The odometer catches his eye — and then something more disturbing.

  CLOSE ON THE DASHBOARD

  The scrimshaw ring is there. Ben quickly pockets it. His face reflects a flash of fear.

  Composed again, Ben joins Stephanie in walking to the carriage house, where they will stay while the main house is being rebuilt. We see an air compressor, backhoe, and other evidence of the impending construction.

  BEN

  Knock on wood, the contractor starts this week.

  STEPHANIE

  How long will it take?

  WIDE SHOT

  BEN

  About a year. We should be able to move in by next Fourth of July.

  I was thinking maybe we could have the christening here.

  STEPHANIE

  That’s a great idea. What about the boat? Will you be getting another?

  BEN

  I think I’m done with boats for a while. Maybe forever.

  Of the estate and, beyond, the beach, deserted today — but for one person. A woman, her back to the camera, is walking. We can’t identify her from this distance, but she is young, has long brown hair, and wears a red summery dress.

  INT. CARRIAGE HOUSE - THAT EVENING

  Ben and Stephanie sit cozily by a fire in the living room. Ben has a gift-wrapped present for Stephanie.

  STEPHANIE

  For me?

  BEN

  Do you see anybody else? Go ahead. Open it.

  Stephanie does, revealing a Tiffany silver rattle. It sparkles in the firelight.

  STEPHANIE

  It’s beautiful! I love you, Ben.

  BEN

  I love you, too, Steffie.

  EXT. SUMMER HOUSE - THAT EVENING

  CUT TO:

  Her back to the camera — her face still unseen — the woman in the red dress walks onto the pier where Houghtie’s Glory used to be docked. After pausing a moment, she strips naked and dives in. She does not surface.

  ROLL CREDITS

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