DTBL episode 16: In a Broken Dream

[Raymond-Raymond]

IN A BROKEN DREAM

Part 1

The show opens on a long shot of the house. The camera zooms in on a shot of Clara and Ling-Ling standing by the driveway.

Clara: He should be here any minute, Ling-Ling.

Ling-Ling: Carla sure she not need Ling-Ling to come with her?

Clara: I don’t think so, Ling-Ling. But don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.

At the end of the driveway, we see a car pull into view.

Clara: Oh, here he is!

She begins waving at the car. Suddenly the happy look on her face changes to one of worry when she sees the car is not stopping. Her eyes grow wide. She sees that the car is heading right for her. She draws her breath sharply and tries to jump out of the way, but it is too late. The car strikes her. Suddenly the scene changes to Clara in bed waking up with a start. She is almost white as a ghost.

Ling-Ling: Carla… what wrong?

Clara: It happened again, Ling-Ling. The dream.

Ling-Ling: Oh, no. Carla hit by car again?

Clara: (frazzled) Yes. That’s the third straight night this has happened to me. And it’s getting worse! The visions are so strong… I think I actually felt physical pain this time.

Ling-Ling: (extremely concerned) Is there anything Ling-Ling can do?

Clara: (looking at him almost pleadingly) Can you make them stop? (Ling-Ling hugs her.)

Ling-Ling: Ling-Ling try, Carla. Ling-Ling try.

As they continue hugging, the scene fades.

CUE OPENING TITLES

Ling-Ling: (in confessional) Ling-Ling offer to stay up with Carla, but Carla say that not necessary. She reassure Ling-Ling she be okay, so now we can both go back to sleep. But when Ling-Ling wake up next morning, Carla not there.

Cut to Ling-Ling waking up the next morning to find Clara gone. He stands for a moment with a puzzled look on his face, then walks downstairs. He sees Clara on the couch watching TV.

Ling-Ling: Carla?

Clara: (Slightly disoriented, very low on energy, she turns.) Oh, hello, Ling-Ling. (She turns back.)

Ling-Ling: Carla… what going on here?

Clara: I’m watching television, Ling-Ling, what’s it look like?

Ling-Ling: (looking at TV) Really? You like this show?

Clara: It’s one of my favorites. I never miss an episode. (Ling-Ling turns back to Clara with a look of concern. Foxxy and Toot walk in.)

Foxxy: Good morning, everybody. Looks like someone got down here early! (She sees Clara and Ling-Ling on the couch.) Clara? You already up?

Toot: You two haven’t beaten the rest of the house up since you guys got married!

Clara: I don’t believe in violence, Toot.

Toot: No, I meant that- never mind.

Foxxy: So what’s going on here? You two lovebirds feel like having a little afternoon delight?

Toot: What are you talking about Foxxy, it’s early morning!

Foxxy: It is? Foxxy must be so used to being up all hours she forgets what time of day is which.

Toot: So what are you guys doing up so early? (Toot and Foxxy look at the TV in a puzzled fashion.) And why are you watching a test pattern?

Clara: I keep telling you guys, it’s my favorite show!

Ling-Ling: Ling-Ling think there something wrong with Carla.

Toot: I’ve felt that way for a long time.

Foxxy: This isn’t the time for jokes, Toot. I think Ling-Ling’s right. There’s something wrong with Clara.

Toot: (She looks at Clara’s eyes. They are bloodshot and completely glazed over.) Oh my God, Clara- you are absolutely wired! Have you been up all night?

Clara: So what if I have? Foxxy stays up all night all the time.

Foxxy: Yeah, but Foxxy’s body ain’t on a rigid time schedule like yours is, Clara. Are you having trouble sleeping?

Clara: No. Yes. Maybe, I don’t know!

Toot: I think she’s delirious.

Foxxy: Ling-Ling, what’s going on with Clara?

Ling-Ling: Carla keep having bad dream. Keep waking her up in middle of night.

Toot: Oh, well, that makes sense.

Foxxy: It’s okay, Clara, we’ll find something to help you sleep. (She turns. We see Toot is standing over Clara holding a giant hammer, preparing to swing it.) Not that way, Toot! (Mildly annoyed, she puts down the hammer.) Oh, I know what we can do! We’ll just have Clara tell one of her boring stories!

Toot: Foxxy, Clara is the person we’re trying to put to sleep!

Foxxy: Good point. That might not work, then.

Toot: How about we get her so drunk she passes out?

Foxxy: Good thinking, Toot. Unfortunately, the judge told us we’re not allowed to spike her orange juice anymore unless it’s for comic effect.

Toot: How about pills? I got tons of those! Some of them I don’t even know what they are!

Ling-Ling: No! Ling-Ling not let you dope up Carla like some cheap sorority slut! We do this honestly or not at all!

Foxxy: We could slip her a roofie. You might like that, Ling-Ling. (She winks at him.)

Ling-Ling: (looks at her skeptically) You suggesting Ling-Ling rape own wife? Last time Ling-Ling check, his name not Ike Turner!

Foxxy: Maybe we should just take Clara to see a doctor.

Ling-Ling: Okay, that sound sensible.

Foxxy puts her hands behind Clara’s shoulders while Toot grabs her feet. Together, with Ling-Ling hovering underneath for support, they pick Clara up and carry her out of the room. A moment later they are seen approaching Wooldoor’s doctor’s office. Ling-Ling opens the door while Foxxy and Toot carry Clara inside. Wooldoor, who is eating a donut, does not look up from the newspaper he is reading.

Wooldoor: Morning, guys, what’s up?

Foxxy: Got a delivery for you, Wooldoor. (Foxxy and Toot put Clara down in Wooldoor’s doctor’s chair. He turns and sees Clara.)

Wooldoor: (disappointed) Awww! I was hoping it was the morning paper.

Toot: Isn’t that what you’re reading?

Wooldoor: Yeah, but I thought you guys might be bringing me another copy so I can read it twice!

Foxxy: Wooldoor, can you help Clara? She’s having trouble sleeping.

Wooldoor: (surveying Clara) Hmm… glassy eyes… blank stare. I’ve got good news, everyone, Clara isn’t sleep-deprived! She’s just been watching America’s Next Top Model!

Toot: That’s not funny, Wooldoor!

Wooldoor: Who’s joking? (He resumes looking over Clara.) I must admit, this is a very tricky problem. I think I’m going to need to call in an expert on the matter!

The camera cuts to Hero, dressed in doctor’s garb like Wooldoor, looking over Clara.

Hero: Hmm… very interesting. So Clara can’t sleep. Have you tried roofies?

Ling-Ling: No, Ling-Ling not try roofie! Stop telling Ling-Ling that, that joke not funny!

Hero: Who’s joking? Oh, well, can’t let a good roofie go to waste! (He immediately tosses said roofie in his mouth and falls to the ground unconscious. The rest of the group stare at each other.)

Foxxy: Captain Hero, how many times have I got to tell you… the Foxxy got no way to take advantage of you while you unconscious! So quit taking them damn roofies!

Wooldoor: And if you have to take them, quit stealing them from my medicine chest! I’m almost out!

Toot: Wooldoor, I think you’d better call in another expert.

Cut to Spanky in doctor’s garb surveying Clara.

Spanky: Hmm… this is very serious, I have to say. I think Clara’s going to require an operation!

Toot: An operation? Just to get to sleep?

Spanky: Yes. You see, sleep is controlled by a hormone called lipoxin. When the lipoxin nodes are blocked, the patient has trouble sleeping. So what we need to do is operate on Clara and open up her lipoxin nodes.

Foxxy: Sounds great. Where are they?

Spanky: Right about… here. (He reaches up to Clara’s breast.) I’ll take her top off so we can get started. (As he is about to do so, we suddenly hear snarling.) What the heck is that sound?

The camera pans over to reveal Ling-Ling glaring at Spanky, his teeth bared like an attack dog. Spanky takes his hand off Clara’s breast.

Spanky: Well, this problem is obviously beyond my grasp.

Toot: Let me guess. Another expert?

Spanky: Right you are.

Ling-Ling: And one who not feel up patient, hopefully!

Cut to Xandir in doctor’s garb surveying Clara.

Xandir: Well… we definitely have a problem, all right!

Foxxy: What’s the problem?

Xandir: Me. I’m completely useless! See you guys later. (He walks out. The rest of the group turn to each other. Wooldoor sighs.)

Wooldoor: Well, I guess we can try to coax her to sleep.

Cut to Clara’s bedroom. She is in her bed. Ling-Ling sits next to her while Wooldoor, Foxxy, and Toot stand around her.

Foxxy: I know what we’ll do. The Foxxy gonna sing Clara a lullaby to put her to sleep.

Clara: That sounds great, Foxxy. Just make it a song that doesn’t mention vaginas in the lyrics.

Foxxy: (thinks a moment) Never mind, then.

Toot: Oh, I know! How about a nice, warm glass of milk?

Clara: That sounds great, Toot. Just don’t spike it with any booze.

Toot: Never mind, then.

Ling-Ling: (sighs) Well… look like it time for Ling-Ling to call upon own unique skills. Before he become battle monster/samurai warrior/dry cleaner, Ling-Ling work in cousin’s massage parlor. Give Carla relaxing full-body massage, put her right to sleep.

Toot: I didn’t know you could do that, Ling-Ling! After we put Clara to sleep, will you do me next? (Ling-Ling stares at her.)

Ling-Ling: Land whale sure she feel safe being unconscious and vulnerable while Ling-Ling in room? (She scowls.) Just stand back, everyone. Ling-Ling start.

Ling-Ling begins massaging Clara’s shoulders. A brief time-lapse sequence follows, ending with him massaging her feet. Finally, we see Clara about to nod off.

Toot: It’s working! I think she’s falling asleep.

Clara’s eyes flutter for a moment, then finally close. Her head drops back on the pillow. Ling-Ling looks up.

Wooldoor: We did it, you guys! Clara’s finally asleep! Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

However, as soon as he says this, Clara immediately bolts back up.

Clara: No! No, I can’t do it! I can’t go to sleep! (The others are all thoroughly confused.)

Foxxy: But child, you were just asleep!

Clara: I know! But I just… I can’t do it. I can’t go to sleep.

Foxxy: You can’t- or you don’t want to? (She looks at Clara. Clara does not answer. Foxxy looks at Wooldoor.) I don’t think insomnia is Clara’s problem.

Ling-Ling: Carla… is it dreams?

Clara: (almost tearfully) Yes.

Wooldoor: What kind of dreams are you having, Clara?

Clara: Every time I’ve been going to sleep lately, I keep having this dream. I’m expecting some important visitor, and I’m standing there in the driveway waiting for him to show up.

Toot: And he doesn’t?

Clara: No, he does! But he always hits me with his car and I d- I mean, I di- (She struggles, but can’t quite get out the word.)

Wooldoor: You die?

Clara: Yes. Well, almost. So far I’ve always woken up just in time. But I’m afraid that- (she breaks off)

Wooldoor: You’re afraid that if you go back to sleep again, you’ll have the same dream and you might not wake up in time.

Clara: I’m sorry. I know it’s silly.

Foxxy: No, Clara. It’s not silly at all.

Wooldoor: Ling-Ling, you stay here a minute and comfort Clara. I want to discuss this with my nurses.

Toot: You don’t have any nurses. (Wooldoor quickly puts surgical caps on Foxxy and Toot’s heads.)

Wooldoor: I do now! Now follow me. (As Ling-Ling stays with Clara, Foxxy and Toot follow Wooldoor out the door into the hallway.)

Foxxy: Now that is something else. Having a dream where she keeps getting hit by a car.

Toot: All my dreams involve combing my hair.

Foxxy: What do you think is going on, Wooldoor?

Wooldoor: Something is troubling Clara. Something that her mind won’t let go of… maybe something Clara feels guilty about.

Toot: And it’s something to do with a car crash? Oh, I bet I know what it is. Remember that time we found out she had a fetish for car crashes, so she had Captain Hero cause a bunch of them, and he ended up killing her friends? I bet she feels guilty about that.

Foxxy: That don’t make sense, Toot. She already had her breakdown over that one.

Wooldoor: Yeah, that’s the reason she’s on medication right now. And besides, if it was guilt over her fetish, it doesn’t make sense that it would manifest itself in this particular fashion. After all, there’s a difference between a crash and getting HIT by a car.

Foxxy: Getting hit by a car… wait a minute. Didn’t Clara’s mother get killed when her father hit her with a carriage? (Suddenly they all realize.)

Wooldoor: Her mother… of course! Clara was really close to her mother, wasn’t she?

Foxxy: Like you wouldn’t believe. She still talks about her all the time.

Wooldoor: I bet that’s it. Clara never got over her mother’s death. And given the repressed environment she grew up in, she probably never had an outlet to express her grief.

Toot: So she bottled everything up inside her, and now it’s trying to come out?

Wooldoor: I think so.

Toot: So what do we do?

Wooldoor: We’re going to have to help her come to terms with it in some way.

Foxxy: What if we try counseling her about it, maybe get her to open up to us?

Wooldoor: I don’t know if she’s ready to handle that. She’s been living in denial all these years… she’ll have to confront it in her own mind first. But we’ll have to be really careful about it. She had that nervous breakdown after the car crash fiasco. This might push her over the edge.

Foxxy: It would be so much simpler if we could just send her back in time and stop her mother from getting killed! (Wooldoor is thoughtful.)

Wooldoor: You know, Foxxy, you may have something there. We’ll send Clara back in time to stop her mother’s accident.

Toot: (skeptically) You got a time machine or something, Wooldoor?

Wooldoor: No… but Clara does!

Foxxy: Wait a minute. Is it her car? Does she have one of those time traveling Deloramawhatchits?

Wooldoor: No…

Cut to the bedroom. Clara and Ling-Ling are still there as before, but Wooldoor, Foxxy, and Toot have returned. Wooldoor stands over Clara.

Wooldoor: Now, Clara, what I’m going to do is hypnotize you, and send you back in your own mind to the time of your mother’s accident.

Clara: No! I don’t want to relive that! I want to forget it ever happened!

Wooldoor: You don’t understand, Clara. You’re going to get a chance to stop the accident from ever happening.

Clara: Oh, I see! If I can stop the accident in my mind… it’ll help me symbolically to get over my mother’s death.

Wooldoor: Precisely!

Clara: And I’ll stop having these awful dreams?

Wooldoor: Exactly, Clara. And maybe, just maybe your dream world will serve as a portal into a parallel universe where your actions will actually affect reality!

Clara: You mean, if I save her in my dream, I can save her for real too?

Wooldoor: Yes, possibly, but that only happens 1.6 % of the time. And I think you need to be high on crack too. Or maybe it’s bennies. Actually, an overdose of your medication might work too. (points at bottle) Can I have some of that?

Hero: (poking his head through the door) She could also try a roofie!

Toot: Someone sure isn’t letting go of that idea, are they?

Ling-Ling: Ling-Ling tell you once, he tell you again! Stop trying to get Carla unconscious so you can take advantage of her!

Hero: Ling-Ling, did it ever occur to you maybe I don’t want to take advantage of Clara? Maybe I just want her to get some sleep.

Foxxy: Captain Hero… do you have a fetish for watching people sleep? (He has a guilty look on his face.) This explains why when I woke up this morning, you’d just gotten finished pleasuring yourself.

Hero: No, I had actually pleasured myself over you sleeping several minutes earlier. When you woke up, I had just finished pleasuring myself over thinking about what I wanted to do to you while I was pleasuring myself over you sleeping.

Wooldoor: Captain Hero, didn’t I ask you to get into your nurse’s scrubs and be my assistant?

Hero: Um… I just remembered I have to go save the world again! I’ll see you guys later! Ta ta! (He quickly leaves.)

Toot: (calling after him) Is there any chance that crisis could be a fart shortage? Cause then you could take Spanky along to help you!

Foxxy: Hero’s gone, Toot.

Toot: Doesn’t matter, Foxxy. Like Rhiannon, my voice rings like a bell in the night.

Foxxy: Or like a howling banshee. (Toot scowls.)

Wooldoor: You ready, Clara? (Clara looks at Ling-Ling.)

Ling-Ling: Carla, Ling-Ling just want you to know he be there for you whatever happens.

Clara: Thank you, Ling-Ling.

Ling-Ling: You get in trouble in dream, you just call Ling-Ling name. He find way to come help you.

Clara: That’s so sweet of you, Ling-Ling. But I think I need to face this on my own.

Ling-Ling: Please be okay, Carla.

Clara: I’ll try, Ling-Ling. I’ll try. (She looks at Wooldoor.) All right, Wooldoor, I’m ready.

Wooldoor: Then we’ll begin. (Wooldoor puts on a pair of spinning X-ray glasses.) Clara… look into my eyes… your eyes are getting heavy…

Clara’s eyes spin around for a moment. Finally, they close, and her head drops. The scene goes black.

(to be continued…)

[Raymond-Raymond]

Part 2

After a moment, the black gradually dissolves to a close-up of Clara’s face asleep. When the image becomes clear, we see Clara’s eyes open, and she wakes up.

Clara: (despairing) Oh, no! It didn’t work! I’m still in bed! I was supposed to- (Then she suddenly notices something. The room around her is different.) This isn’t the Drawn Together house. This is my bedroom at the castle! (She gets out of bed and runs over to the window.) And there’s my kingdom! (She suddenly sees something on the wall and runs over to it.) Oh my God… my mom’s portrait. Daddy had that taken down when she died. (She thinks for a moment.) That must mean she’s… (She becomes excited.) I *did* go back in time! (Just at the moment, there is a knock at the door. From the other side we hear a female voice.)

Voice: Clara?

Clara: Come in!

The figure enters. It is a beautiful woman in her late 30’s- early 40’s. She has hair exactly like Clara’s, only red in color, and eyes just like Clara’s, except green. Immediately, Clara’s face lights up brighter than we have ever seen it before.

Mother: Clara?

Clara: Mother!

Clara runs up to her mother and throws her arms around her.

Clara: Oh, Mother, it’s so wonderful to see you!

Mother: It’s wonderful to see you too, Clara. (Clara lets go.) I just came in to see if you were coming down to breakfast.

Clara: Oh, of course I am, Mother. You can tell Daddy I’ll be down in a few minutes.

Mother: Don’t be silly, Clara. You know your father’s away on business right now.

Clara: Oh, right. His little business trips.

Mother: Yes, your father just loves visiting other towns and seeing their local ballet. Your father LOVES the ballet.

Clara: Of course. The ballet.

Mother: Anyway, Clara, I just wanted to let you know that breakfast is almost ready. You can come down whenever you’re ready.

Clara: Yes, definitely, Mother. I’ll be along in a few minutes.

Clara’s mother smiles at her, then walks out. Clara stands behind pondering.

Clara: (in confessional) I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing my mother again. It was like her death never happened. I knew it was only a dream, and I knew Wooldoor said there was only a tiny chance that what happened here could actually affect things in the real world. But seeing my mother in the flesh again… I just knew that I could do it. All I had to do was have faith, and I could save her somehow. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that if I could stop the accident, I would go back to my regular life and she would somehow be there.

Clara: (anxious) All right, Clara, you’ve got her back, now all you have to do is stop her from being hit by the carriage. (thinks a moment) But how do I do that? I don’t know when the accident happens. Or how. I guess I’ll just have to spend my every waking moment with her and be ready to jump in and save her when the time comes. (She pauses for a moment and catches her breath.) In that case, I’d better hurry up and get down to breakfast. (She starts to run out the door and stops.) Oops, I almost forgot I’m not at the Drawn Together house anymore. Here they’d probably like it if I got dressed and put on shoes.

Clara goes back into her bedroom. The scene changes to the dining room moments later. Clara’s mother is seated at the table. Clara, now fully dressed, enters.

Mother: Hello, Clara. It’s nice to see you this morning.

Clara: Good morning, Mother. (She stops and looks around somewhat confused.) Um… where are the others?

Mother: What others? Your father is away, remember? And last time I checked, you don’t have any brothers or sisters.

Clara: Oh, right, it’s just us. I’m sorry, I’m used to eating with more people. (Clara’s mother looks puzzled, but does not say anything. Clara sits down at the table and begins eating the meal in front of her.) So, Mother, what are your plans for the day?

Mother: Plans? I don’t understand.

Clara: Well… your plans. Surely you had things you wanted to do today. I mean, you weren’t just planning to sit around the castle all day and do nothing?

Mother: What else am I supposed to do? I’m a queen, Clara, not a housewife in the suburbs. We have servants to do everything.

Clara: If you don’t have any responsibilities, then, why not take advantage of that and go do something fun?

Mother: That’s preposterous, Clara. Your father would never approve of me gallivanting across the countryside joyriding.

Clara: And I thought *I* was repressed! Mother, it doesn’t matter what Daddy tells you you can and can’t do. You’re your own person- you can live your life however you want!

Mother: You always did have an independent streak about you, Clara. And as much as that frustrated your father, he always admired you for it. But you’re young, and you haven’t yet been schooled in the ways of the world.

Clara: Believe me, Mother, in the last few years I’ve gotten quite an education in the ways of the world. If you would get out from inside this castle every once in a while, you’d realize that there’s a whole fascinating world out there just waiting for us to explore. You need to quit living your life by Daddy’s rules and start living them by your own.

Mother: (sighs) I know, Clara, I know.

Clara: I’ll tell you what. Why don’t the two of us go out somewhere and spend the day together? No schedules, no agendas, we’ll just go wherever the urge strikes us.

Mother: I don’t think so, Clara. I don’t think that would be a good idea.

Clara: Okay, then… I’ll go do all that stuff by myself. Why, I’m just going to go have a day on the town all by myself, and do lots of things a princess shouldn’t be caught dead doing! Why, who knows… I might even take part in illegal activities… what do you think Daddy would say if his precious daughter were to get arrested again?

Mother: Again?

Clara: (hastily tries to cover up her slip-up) Never mind. That’s right, Mother, I plan to go out and shame the family name. Now if you’re really concerned about keeping me out of trouble, you could always… I don’t know… come along with me and keep an eye on me. (Clara looks at her mother with a fiendish look in her eyes.)

Mother: I don’t know, Clara, I don’t think that would be such a good idea.

Clara: Hmm, now how do I want to disgrace myself? Should I be a whore (A look of shock crosses her mother’s face)… or (gasps) dare I say it? A street performer? (Clara’s mother grows even more shocked.) Why, who knows- I might even become a MIME!

Mother: Good heavens, Clara, no, don’t do any of that! All right, Clara, I’ll come with you. Just… promise me we won’t let things get out of hand.

Clara: It’s a deal. And don’t worry, Mother, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.

Mother: Thank you, Clara. (They start to resume their meal. After a moment, Clara’s mother addresses Clara again.) Oh, Clara?

Clara: Yes, Mother?

Mother: You wouldn’t really become a whore, would you?

Clara: (smiles) No, Mother. Just because I’m a spoiled rich girl, it doesn’t mean I’m Paris Hilton. (Both women laugh, then resume their meals.)

Clara: (in confessional) Mother and I ended up spending the whole day together. It was the most fun I can remember having in a long time. (As Clara continues speaking, the image changes to a montage of Clara and her mother enjoying a series of activities, including trying on goofy costumes in a secondhand clothing store, running through a field, standing next to a window filling up water balloons and dropping them on passersby, and purchasing eggs from a street vendor, then promptly chucking said eggs at the person.) I honestly couldn’t remember Mother ever smiling so much. If life at the castle had always been like this, I don’t know if I ever would have left.

Cut to Clara and her mother standing outside the castle walls with cans of paint.

Clara: You ready, Mother?

Mother: I can’t believe I’m doing this, Clara. I mean, painting graffiti on the castle wall like a common hooligan? What sort of queen does that?

Clara: The coolest queen ever, that’s who!

Mother: You’re right, Clara. Give me that brush!

Clara hands her mother a brush. As her mother begins painting something, Clara paints a giant heart with an arrow through it, then writes inside the heart, “Clara + Ling-Ling 4EVER”, then quickly at the bottom adds in, “And I love Jesus too, only in a slightly different way”. Clara then turns to her mother.

Clara: So what have you decided to paint, Mother? (She becomes alarmed.) Mother?

Mother: What do you think, Clara? (Clara’s jaw drops.)

Clara: Wow, Mother! I didn’t know you had it in you! That is possibly the dirtiest thing I have ever seen! (The camera pulls out. On the wall is written, “Presbyterians suck”.) You’re a foul-mouthed old lady, you know that, Mother?

Mother: I am, aren’t I? (puts her brush down in her bucket) I think that’s enough graffiti for today. You want to do something else now?

Clara: Why don’t we go down to the circus and make fun of the freaks?

Mother: Now, Clara, that’s not nice. We shouldn’t make fun of people’s deformities. After all, it’s not their fault they’re freaks.

Clara: Actually it is, Mother. They fake being disfigured so people will pay money to see them.

Mother: Well, in that case, Clara, let’s go! (Clara excitedly claps in anticipation.) In fact, let’s stop at the market on our way there and pick up some eggs to throw at them.

Clara: That won’t be necessary, Mother! We still have some eggs left over from this morning. They’re in the kitchen, I’ll go get them!

Mother: Oh, no need, Clara, you just wait here. I’ll get them. (She enters the castle and emerges moments later holding several dozen eggs.) You think this is enough?

Clara: If we run out, we can always just start hitting them with the crates.

Mother: Sounds perfect! (She sees someone approaching the castle. A carriage comes into view.) Oh, look, dear, it’s your father coming home from his business trip. (She hands the eggs to Clara.) Here, Clara, hold these. I’m going to go talk to him for a moment.

Clara: Sure thing, Mother. (She takes the eggs and waits while her mother walks toward the carriage. Then all of a sudden, she realizes what is about to happen. She immediately becomes horror-stricken.) No!!!

Clara quickly drops the eggs and runs toward the carriage, but it is too late. The carriage strikes her, and Clara’s mother collapses to the ground. Clara kneels in front of her mother tearfully. She stares for a moment, her look a mixture of disbelief and horror. Finally, she collapses on top of her mother’s body and begins weeping.

Clara: (in confessional) I had failed. I had a chance to save her and I didn’t. I got so caught up in just getting to see her again, I forgot to save her life. She was still going to die. And I was going to have to live the entire awful ordeal again.

Cut to the exterior of Clara’s mother’s bedroom. Clara is sitting outside the door completely expressionless, almost in a state of shock. A doctor comes out. Clara jumps up.

Clara: How is she, doctor?

Doctor: Pretty bad. Nothing’s broken, but she’s suffered some pretty bad internal injuries. We’re doing everything we can to save her, but to be honest, I don’t think she’s going to make it through the night.

Clara: Is she conscious?

Doctor: For the moment. I doubt she’ll be for much longer, though.

Clara: I have to go speak to her.

Clara rushes into the room. She looks at her mother lying on the bed. She is obviously in bad shape, but is still barely conscious.

Mother: Hello, Clara. (Clara rushes to her side and kneels beside her.)

Clara: Oh my God, Mother, I’m so sorry! I really didn’t mean to let this happen.

Mother: It wasn’t your fault, Clara.

Clara: Yes, it was, Mother. My whole purpose in being here was to protect you, and I failed!

Mother: No, Clara. That wasn’t your purpose in being here.

Clara: But it was, Mother! Where I come from, you’ve already been dead for a long time. I was sent back here so I could save you.

Mother: Clara, you shouldn’t worry about saving people. You should focus on bringing them happiness, and making their lives better. (Clara suddenly stops crying. She stands up. She stands and looks at her mother for a moment.)

Clara: This isn’t just about the accident, is it?

Mother: It’s okay, Clara, you don’t need to feel guilty. Bad things happen in the world. It’s not your fault. The important thing is that you be a good person and focus on spreading love rather than crusading against evil. You’re not letting Jesus down if you let one little sin go unpunished.

Clara: (sadly) I know, Mother. I’ve really been an awful person. I’ve tried to do good, but all I’ve done is make people miserable.

Mother: Clara, I’m really proud that you’ve remembered everything I taught you about Jesus, and you’ve remained strong in your faith. You’ve been a good Christian, and most of all, you’ve been as wonderful a daughter as a mother could hope for. Clara, the day I spent with you today brought me more happiness than any I can ever remember. If it took it being my last day on earth to have that… then I would call that a fair trade.

Clara: Maybe you forgive me. Maybe even God forgives me. It’s just hard to forgive myself.

Mother: I know, Clara. And that’s okay. But don’t worry about the past. We can’t change that. Just try to make the present as good as possible.

Clara: (slowly taking it in) Right. We can’t change the past.

Mother: I don’t think I have much longer here, Clara. But that’s okay. I’ve gotten everything from you I could have asked for. But what about you? Before I go, have you gotten everything you needed from me?

Clara: Almost, Mother. There’s just one more thing I can think of.

Mother: What’s that, Clara?

Clara kneels at her mother’s side again and takes her hand.

Clara: I just wanted to say that it was really wonderful getting to see you again. And you’re right, that’s what’s important.

Mother: Thank you, Clara.

Clara: And Mom… (Tears begin filling her eyes again. Clara hugs her mother.) I love you.

Mother: I love you too, Clara.

They continue hugging for a moment. Finally, Clara stops. She lets go of her mother and stands back up.

Clara: Well, that’s it. She’s gone.

Clara looks up.

Clara: Thank you. Thank you so much for this.

Clara composes herself, and wipes the tears from her eyes.

Clara: All right. I’m ready to go back now. (She stands there for a moment.) Now then, how do I do this?

Clara looks over and sees a chair against the wall. She walks over to the chair and sits down in it. She pulls her feet up, lays her head down on her shoulder, and closes her eyes. The scene fades to black. After a moment, the scene begins to fade back in. We see Clara back in her bed at the Drawn Together house. Ling-Ling stands next to her in the bed looking at her anxiously. Finally, Clara opens her eyes. After taking a moment to adjust, she looks over and sees Ling-Ling.

Clara: Hello, Ling-Ling.

Ling-Ling: Welcome back, Carla. You okay?

Clara: Yes. Yes, Ling-Ling, I am.

Ling-Ling: What happen? Was Carla able to save mother?

Clara: (sadly) No. (pauses) She still died. (Ling-Ling looks at Clara sadly, almost in tears.) But that’s okay, Ling-Ling. I didn’t have to save her. I guess all I needed to do was talk to her one last time and tell her how I feel about her. (She pauses for a moment.) I still miss her, Ling-Ling. I’ll always miss her. But at least now I know we’ll still love each other, regardless of whether she’s here or not. And I think that’s all I need to be able to deal with it.

Ling-Ling: That great, Carla.

Clara: Ling-Ling, I just wanted to say thank you for doing all you’ve done for me. These last few months we’ve been married have brought me more happiness than I could have ever hoped for. Ling-Ling… I don’t know how much longer we’ll be here together on this earth. But I just want you to know that I intend to make every remaining day we have here together as happy as possible.

Ling-Ling: Ling-Ling promise same thing. (They smile at each other for a moment.) So no more dreams about crash?

Clara: No, Ling-Ling, I feel like I can safely say there will be no more dreams for me about car crashes. (They hug.) I love you, Ling-Ling.

Ling-Ling: I love you too, Carla. (After a moment, they let go.) So what you feel like doing now, Carla?

Clara: Believe it or not, Ling-Ling… right now I’d like nothing more than to get some sleep.

Ling-Ling: That sound like good idea to Ling-Ling too right now. Tell Carla what. Carla rest now and get some sleep. While she doing that, Ling-Ling go downstairs and make breakfast, have it waiting for Carla when she wake up.

Clara: That sounds wonderful, Ling-Ling. I’ll see you in a little while.

As Ling-Ling hops down off the bed, Clara finally closes her eyes and goes to sleep. As Ling-Ling walks to the door, the camera lingers on a shot of Clara sleeping peacefully. As Ling-Ling exits, we see Foxxy and Toot standing at the doorway peering inside.

Foxxy: Oh, would you look at that? I guess Clara finally got over all that stuff that was troubling her.

Toot: She’s sleeping like a baby!

As Foxxy and Toot continue looking at Clara contentedly, we see the door to Captain Hero’s room open. As soon as he sticks his foot out the door, Foxxy chides him.

Foxxy: Don’t even think about it, Captain Hero!

Hero: (ashamed, withdrawing back into his room) Sorry.

The scene fades.



THE END