Hope Falls

by Jamieson Wolf

  Hope Falls

  HOPE FALLS SEASON 1

  By

  Jamieson Wolf

  ISBN: 978-1-926965-66-6

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Books We Love Publishing Partners

  192 Lakeside Greens Drive

  Chestermere, Alberta, T1X 1C2

  Canada

  Copyright 2010 Jamieson Wolf

  Cover Art Copyright 2011 by Michelle Lee

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  DEDICATION

  For Allen with Love

  "It was the experience of mystery - even if mixed with fear - that engendered religion."

  Albert Einstein, German-Swiss-American mathematical physicist, famous for his theories of relativity.

  "I'm totally committed to your happiness!"

  "If you were committed, I'd be happy."

  Marion and Liza Colby, All My Children

  "The actual taping of a soap is not glamorous."

  Matthew Ashford

  PROLOGUE

  "We can't continue this Howard."

  Howard looked at the woman across the expanse of his desk. He narrowed his brown eyes into slits and made a sound of disgust. "Are you actually telling me what to do?" He leaned forward so he could look down his nose at her. "You know how much I hate being told what to do."

  "But don't you get it?" She tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "People are gong to start noticing something is up. Soon, someone's going to have Hope Falls figured out. People are dying, Howard. Do you think people won't notice?" She huffed out a breath.

  “Won’t notice what?” His voice was cold.

  ‘That people are missing, Howard. Do you honestly think we can keep all this up for much longer?”

  Howard sighed. How he hated incompetence. “No one is going to notice anything.” He sat back and laced his fingers together.

  “How can you be so sure of that? How can you know that?”

  "Because this is a soap opera." He sat back and folded his hands together in a gesture of calm. "No one pays any attention to what happens on a soap opera, at least no one of any real importance." Howard sighed and wished for a drink. "Haven't you realized that no one cares? What's one more soap actress? One more soap actor. There are thousands out there. Thousands. What's the death of one compared to the others who would be willing to take her place?"

  Learning forward so that she could see the black of his pupils, Howard reached out and touched a strand of the golden hair that glowed in the dim light of his office. "You might want to remember that, before you start saying things you'll regret." He whispered. His voice was so soft she had to strain to hear him. "Do I make myself clear?"

  She nodded.

  "Good. Now get the fuck out of my office."

  STAR SCOOP WEEKLY

  HOPE FALLS NEWS!

  We've got all the news that's fit to print! What's happening in our favorite little town? Take a read and find out:

  WHO’S IN?

  Our sources say that a handsome new doctor, played by Peter Enman, will come to Hope Falls this week. Strangely silent about his past, no one in Hope Falls knows much about young doctor Kirk Kincade. No one, except Jessica.

  She knows Kirk Kincade from a dark past, one where they were lovers. Will a passionate kiss ignite the fire that had been put out between them? Or does Jessica decide to blackmail Kirk about his horrible secret?

  HOPE FALLS SHOCKER!

  You will all remember the last time we saw Prudence Stevens on the show. She fell to her death and the rest of Hope Falls mourned her; yet we saw no coffin. Is Prudence Stevens really dead? Inquiring minds want to know!

  ONE

  Miriam makes a shocking premonition

  Miriam blinked when another camera went off.

  She hated when they photographed her right when she left the building. She wished they'd let her get a breath in first; maybe have a moment to herself. But it was always like this when she finished a day at Hope Falls Studios.

  God she wanted a drink.

  At first, she had rushed to the building, to the safety that was behind those glass doors. She hated the way the camera flashed and popped at her. She wanted to get to the lines, the stories, the acting. That was what she was there for; not the pictures. She didn't care about the fame.

  Eventually, she learned to accept the cameras, the interviews, and the intrusion into her life. Eventually, she realized that her life was their life. She belonged to the viewers, to the public. She no longer belonged to herself.

  Now she held herself with poise when she left the building, smiled for the camera and signed anything that was thrust at her. After thirty years of acting on a soap, she had learned to turn herself off and work on autopilot. There were a lot of viewers that stood outside in the hot California sun, just waiting for an autograph. Who was she to deny them what they wanted when they were the reason she was famous? If the public hated a character and the show got poor ratings, that character was written out of the show. She had the viewers to thank for a long and fruitful career.

  Putting a hand to her throat, Miriam turned to the next fan. She was a petite woman with long brown hair and a bright smile. She was holding out a large, leather bound book filled with signatures and came towards Miriam slowly, in awe. It took a while for Miriam not to be put off by that look in their eyes; that star struck look. It took even longer for her to accept they looked at her that way; her, a little nothing from Connecticut.

  Now she just accepted it.

  Smiling at the woman, Miriam took the pen and the book from her. "Who shall I make it out to, honey?" Miriam always called the younger women honey and the older ones dear. It seemed to put them at ease, make that star struck look dim a bit.

  "It's so wonderful to finally meet you, Ms. Parker." The woman gushed. "I've watched the show for so long, ever since I was a child."

  Miriam cringed a bit inwardly and resisted the urge to smack the woman. "I'm so glad you like the show honey. What's your name?"

  "Nancy," she said. "My name's Nancy. Oh, my mother will never believe it when I tell her that I've met you."

  "Did you want me to sign something for your mother as well?"

  Nancy's eyes lit up like stars. "Oh, would you? It would make her day! She's been watching the show ever since it started, ever since you came on. She doesn't like your new storyline though, says you’re too beautiful to be a killer."

  Miriam warmed towards Nancy. She always liked having her ego stroked a bit. "I don't like it much either, honey. What's your mother’s name, Nancy?"

  "Lexie. We just hate that they're making it out as if you killed all those people. We want the old Sylvia Stevens back. Do you think they'll stop this storyline anytime soon?"

  "I don't know honey." Miriam replied, signing another page. In fact, Miriam never knew what was happening with her storyline until the next morning. Each morning they would be given the script they would be shooting, had a brief rehearsal and shoot it. The storyline was as much of a surprise to her as it was to the audience.

  "You don't think they'll kill Sylvia off do you, like they did Prudence?" Nancy asked, worry clear in her voice. "The show wouldn't be the same without you."

  Miriam let out a simpering little laugh. "Oh honey," she said, touching the girls cheek. "I've been on Hope Falls for thirty years .They would never kill me off." Miriam felt a touch of fear slide down her spine, cold and wet.

>   "They wouldn't dare." She said, smiling weakly.

  TWO

  Miriam sees an omen of death

  Miriam let herself into her apartment, closing the large wood door behind her. The apartment had been built in the early 1950's and smacked of older times. There were buttresses outside some of the windows, gargoyles decorated the rooftops. It had been Miriam's home ever since she had started on Hope Falls.

  For thirty years, Miriam had played the character of Sylvia Stevens. She had been a desperate actress at the time and had been glad to get any work she could get her hands on. She should have read the fine print, though.

  Again, that small bit of fear in her stomach. She thought of Nancy, that happy fan, asking if she was going to die. Miriam wished she knew the answer to that. She thought of Caroline and wished for a brandy. For anything that would bring numbness.

  She dropped her keys in the blue glass bowl sitting on the hallway table. She loved listening to the tinkling sound they made as the metal hit the glass. It was like music, she thought. It reminded her of happy times. The blue glass caught the light from the lamp on the table and made her think of springtime.

  Miriam draped her coat on a the back of the wingback chair in her living room, took off her high heels and went to the kitchen to mix herself a strong drink.

  She let out a breath that she hadn't been aware that she was holding and felt the tears start sliding down her face.

  She wiped them away angrily and marched into the kitchen. She poured herself a double shot of vodka, watching the light twinkle on the silver in the bottles label. She poured herself another drink and felt the liquid heat her insides. She relished in the warmth, felt it slide through her.

  Miriam stabbed at more tears with a Kleenex, took another shot of vodka and took the bottle out with her to the balcony. She opened her sliding porch door and stepped out into her own private oasis.

  She had planted things she loved here. Daisies, morning glories, daffodils. There were snapdragons and jumping jacks, their purple petals brushed softly by a soft breeze. She fingered the blooms lovingly. Everything was planted in white and terracotta pots that hung from the railings. She came out here when she needed to think. She had been doing that a lot lately.

  She took another swig of vodka out of the bottle, wiped her lip and looked towards the skyline. The sun setting over Burbank California was a startling scarlet, making Miriam think of that old sailors saying. "Blood on the moon…" she whispered.

  "No." She set her glass down and went inside for the phone. DeDe would cheer her up; cure her of the black cloud that had followed her home. But even as the vodka numbed her blood and she dialed DeDe's number, Miriam felt that knot of fear in the pit of her stomach.

  "Yes?" A smoky voice came through the receiver. "DeDe Beauday."

  "De, its Miriam."

  "Darling," DeDe cooed. "I was just thinking about you."

  Miriam smiled, even though DeDe couldn't see her. They had been friends for years; they had been going to the same acting school and had immediately forged a fast, solid friendship. When Miriam landed the part on Hope Falls, DeDe had landed a role on Days of Our Lives.

  "You were?"

  "Yes. I saw the most gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choo's and you simply must buy them."

  Miriam laughed and some of the tension drained. "You just want an excuse to go shopping."

  "Darling, there's never any need for an excuse."

  "I could use some cheering up." Miriam admitted.

  "Fantastic. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

  THREE

  Miriam buys a fantastic pair of shoes and DeDe gives her some good advice

  DeDe was as good as her word. She was there in ten.

  "Darling," she said when Miriam stepped out of her building. "You look a little pale. Is something wrong?"

  Miriam shook her head. "The elevator was out again. I had to take the stairs."

  DeDe chuckled softly and hugged Miriam. "Darling, how many times have I told you to move to another building? I don't know why you live in that hole. You could afford a much more beautiful place."

  "This is home." Miriam said.

  "But home is wherever the heart is, darling." She patted Miriam's hand as she got in the car. "Enough talk of this for now. Let's go buy some shoes."

  Thirty minutes later, Miriam was trying on a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choo’s. DeDe had been right, they were fantastic. They were black leather with red insoles and red sparkles all over them.”I feel a little like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz."

  DeDe huffed. "Please, Darling. There's no need to be tacky. Aren't they gorgeous shoes?"

  Miriam smiled. "They are. I'm getting them, even if they do cost a whole paycheck."

  "That's the first time I've seen you smile all night." DeDe helped Miriam put the Jimmy Choo’s back in their box. "What's been bothering you? You've been a grumpy gus all night; usually the mall cheers you up right away."

  "You mean the mall cheers you up. You just wanted me around for company."

  "You're right of course." DeDe chuckled. "But something is bothering you. Tell me what is."

  Miriam shook her head. "It's nothing. It's nothing I can't handle."

  "Darling, this is why I'm here. You can lean on me, you know. I've known you ever since you were a struggling actress."

  "You've known me ever since we were both struggling actresses."

  "You do have to keep reminding me of that part. I'd just as soon imagine myself rich from the get go. But that's not the point. Something is troubling you, Darling. I can sense these things."

  "I can handle it." Miriam said, giving her friend a small hug. "It's okay."

  They stepped outside the mall. Dusk had fallen while they had been shopping. Miriam and DeDe each took a cigarette out of their respective packs and DeDe lit both of them with the flame of her pearl handled lighter.

  They were silent as they walked towards the car, but finally, DeDe turned to Miriam and blew a puff of smoke out of the corner of her mouth. "I know you're keeping something from me, Darling."

  Miriam started to protest, but DeDe cut her off with a hand. "I know you're hiding something, keeping secrets. And that's your business. You don't have to tell me anything. You may have a gorgeous pair of shoes, but let me give you a good piece of advice. Are you listening?"

  Miriam nodded.

  "It doesn't matter how hard you want to keep a secret. Eventually, it'll eat its way out of you."

  FOUR

  Miriam meets her biggest fan

  Miriam watched the woman approach her from across the street.

  She had big, big hair and Miriam wondered for a moment whether or not the woman was wearing a wig before she was in front of her, taking her hand. "Sylvia, is it really you?" She laughed at her own joke, showing big white teeth.

  Miriam laughed weakly. It was five o'clock in the morning. There was no rest for the wicked or for soap actors. She had to get her script, get her lines down, get into make up and then into rehearsal. From there, it was straight into shooting and Miriam knew she wouldn't see the light of day until seven o'clock that evening. Except when she managed to sneak a cigarette, of course.

  And she was dying for a coffee. It hadn't helped that, after she had gotten home from shopping with DeDe, she had drunk herself into a stupor. Hangovers were the worst thing when you had to act the next morning; the headaches got in the way of make believe. Putting a fake smile on her face, Miriam held out her hand to the big haired woman. The woman looked vaguely familiar. There was something about the woman, but Miriam couldn't place it.

  "You're too cute. Too funny too, especially for this early in the morning." She said.

  The woman smiled. "How could my day start any better?" the woman said. "I've just met my favorite actress. Would you sign something for me, Miriam? It would mean so much to me."

  Miriam smiled again and sighed inwardly. "Of course," She said. "Anything for a fan. Who should I make the autograph out to?"

/>   The woman didn't say her name, but she did grab Miriam's arm and pull her closer. "I'm your biggest fan." The woman said in a deep, husky voice. "I watch you every day."

  Miriam was starting to get a little worried and looked around her to see if there were witnesses. "That's so nice of you to say." Miriam sputtered. Why was it when you needed help, there was never anyone to help you?