Only Hope: A Modern Fairytale Romance

Only Hope: A Modern Fairytale Romance

Film director, producer, model and actress, Marissa Mitchell had it all—looks, a killer body, and was a quadruple threat in Hollywood with her talent, one afternoon, she was getting ready to attend a Hollywood premiere of a film starring Viola Davis, Jonathan Groff, rapper/singer/actor, T.I. and actor Victor Garber, a film she had directed and produced. She came out of her bedroom, to her lavish spacious living room, in a sparkling, halter top red dress and her assistant in the room, Deborah smiled.

Deborah: Wow, Marissa, you look great.

Marissa: (smiles) Thank you. (laughs) Well lets get going, we're going to be late if we don't.

When Marissa arrived at the premiere, she acted normally, to the paparazzi and fans in the crowd on both sides of her, screaming out her name loudly, to snap pictures of her, to get her autograph, etc. It was something that Marissa was used to, she was as known as Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Martin Scorsese, etc. She heard several news magazine reporters calling her name, so she went over to the one she knew more—E! News and from that, the rest was history….

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Theme Song: "Teenage Dream" ~ Katy Perry

It was a regular day for the group on the television broadcast, Dish Nation. Especially for the radio personalities at 95.5 WPLJ New York, radio personalities, Todd Pettengill, Cooper Lawrence, and Scott Shannon, except they were filming for their show "Dish Nation". This is how it went:

Cooper: So, it seems like Todd here has a Hollywood admirer. (Scott laughs)

Todd: (looks at Cooper and smiles) Whoa—what? What Todd? Who this Todd?(Scott laughs)

Scott: No Tony Todd from the movie Candyman. (Scott and Cooper laugh)

Cooper: Of course you, Todd. Well here's what's going on, at the premiere of the movie "Tragedy in the Bayou", starring actress Viola Davis, actor Victor Garber—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: Yeah, yeah, who cares? Get to the interesting part. (Scott laughs)

Scott: (smiles) Aww come on, that's a pretty interesting part.

Todd: (laughs) No its not, I don't care who's it starring, first of all, what kind of name is Tragedy in the Bayou for a movie? (Scott and Cooper laugh) It sounds like a bad Hulk Hogan television show.

Cooper: Anyway, (laughs) the director and producer of the film, Marissa Logan, was asked how she enjoyed making the movie, and she went into saying how fun it was, yada, yada, yada. HOWEVER, E! News also asked her if anything was going on between her and actor Justin Long, because you know they've been spotted at different places together—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: Ok, is this story going anywhere? (Scott laughs)

Scott: Yeah, Todd wants you to get to whatever eighty year old woman it is, who's crushing on him. (Scott and Cooper laugh)

Todd: (scoffs and smiles) Eighty? Well- yeah so I can call her up to ask her out before the nursing home she's in cuts off calls for the night. (Scott laughs)

Cooper: Ok, ok (sighs and smiled) long story short, Marissa outright denied anything going on between her and Justin Long because apparently from what SHE said, she has MAJOR eyes for you, Todd.

Scott laughs loudly and Todd looks at Cooper with a raised eyebrow and smiles.

Todd: (laughs) Yeah ok, anyway, next up on the morning show—(Cooper cuts in)

Cooper: (laughs) No I'm serious, I did some research and went on her Twitter page and sure enough, she's tweeted something last week that said this, (reads from the paper of the tweet) 'Todd Pettengill is incredibly handsome, I hope one day to be interviewed on his morning show. That would be a real treat, now media and fans, THAT'S who I'm crushing on.'

Scott laughs and Todd looks at him with a brief smile.

Todd: You're laughing awfully hard there, Scott.

Scott: Its just funny, aww Todd has a admirer. (Scott and Cooper laughs)

Todd: (shrugs and smirks) Well, I never even seen what this girl looks like, who is she?

Cooper: You never heard of Marissa Logan? She made a ton of films, used to date actor Will Estes, Ben Foster—was nominated for a Emmy last year?

Todd: (shrugs) Nope, never seen her—I mean I've heard of her and seen her films but never seen her.

Cooper slides over a photo of Marissa, on the cover of Cosmopolitan, where she's in a short, black mini dress, with her long, black, back length hair flowing down on her shoulders. She looked HOT on the cover.

Cooper: (smiles) There she is.

Scott and Todd looked at the photo and Todd looked with raised eyebrows of surprise.

Scott: Whoa mama! She's hot. (Cooper laughs)

Todd: DAMN. (Scott scoffs with a smile)

Scott: She's a black girl.

Cooper: No from what I read about her, she's mixed, half white, American Indian, half French, half black. She used to be a model.

Todd: Well—(stops and shrugs as she pushes the photo away and takes a sip of his coffee in his cup)

Scott: (smiles) We should have her on the show—like—tomorrow. (Cooper gasps and smiles)

Todd: (immediately) NO.

Scott & Cooper in unison: Why?

Todd: (shakes his head and smiles briefly) Because, I am not going to be the subject of you all playing love connection. Oh no—even though Scott could pass for Chuck Woolery with the clothes he wears, but—(stops and shrugs and Cooper laughs)

Cooper: (smiles) Oh come on Todd.

Scott: Yeah, it could be fun.

Todd: NO, NO, NO, I—(Scott cuts in)

Scott: Cooper, book her for the show tomorrow! (Cooper laughs)

Cooper: Will do, I think its going to be fun!

Todd: (leans over and puts his elbows on the table and covers his face and sighs loudly) Is it too late for me to call in sick tomorrow? (Scott and Cooper laughs)

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Theme Song: "Rude Boy" ~ Rihanna

Marissa was just coming home from visiting a production meeting for her next film, when her cell phone rang. She took it out of her purse and answered as she got out of her 2011 Infiniti sports car.

Marissa: Hello Marissa here?

Cooper: Um, hello is this Marissa Logan?

Marissa: This is, who's this?

Cooper: Cooper Lawrence from WPLJ Radio in New York—(Marissa cuts in)

Marissa: With Todd and Scott in the morning?

Cooper: Yes, (laughs) we were wondering if you'd like to come in tomorrow for a radio interview with the morning show.

Marissa: (looks surprised) Hmm, really? This is sort of short notice, but I think tomorrow is one of my free days, so alright.

Cooper: Great.

Marissa: What time?

Cooper: Seven, the interview will be anytime between eight and nine a.m.

Marissa: Great, alright, well thanks, this will give me a chance to talk about my new film that just came out.

Cooper: Uh—yeah, that. Ok well, see you tomorrow Marissa.

Marissa: Yup, bye.

Marissa clicked off her cell phone as she walked in the house and went to her fridge and grabbed a Snapple drink out and opened it and took a few sips.

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Theme Song: "Bad Romance" ~ Glee Cast

It was seven a.m. on a Friday morning, the temperature was about eighty-eight outside, but inside the WPLJ station, it was cool. Marissa walked into the greenroom of the station where guests were to stay until time for them to be on the radio. She looked great in what she had on that day, her red sleeveless mini dress and clear gelled sandals on, her long black hair pulled back off her face with a red bow tied around it, with the ends of her hair flowing down her back. She looked like she had stepped off the cover of a magazine. As she sat in the greenroom, she pulled out her blackberry and started reading the morning news on her phone, she missed it that morning, in the midst of her traveling.

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The Todd and Scott morning show was already underway when:

Cooper: Sooo, we have a guest in the greenroom today. (Scott laughs)

Todd sits back in his chair and briefly closes his eyes and sighs with a fake smile.

Todd: Oh Jeez, I totally forgot about that today. That's it, I'm sick, I'm going home. (Scott laughs)

Cooper: (laughs) Oh come on Todd, you can't say this girl isn't—(Scott cuts in)

Scott: Hot? (Scott laughs)

Todd: No, look she is, but I—(stops and scoffs and briefly smiles) No.

Scott; How bad can it be? (laughs) Its just an interview, not a date with the electric chair. (Cooper laughs)

Todd: (between a sigh) Fine—whatever. But you have to promise Scott not to do the two and two hand motion like Chuck Woolery or—whatever, if we go to break between talking with this woman. (Cooper laughs)

Scott scoffs and smiles.

Scott: Uh-I promise not to tell her, you have the dvd movie Scooby Doo at home. (Scott and Cooper laugh)

Cooper: Alright well, let's bring out, Hollywood director, producer, actress, model, Marissa Logan.

Cooper motions to one of the guys working behind a big window in the station to bring Marissa out. Within minutes, Marissa walks into the room, with a brief smile and Scott looks at her with a amusing smile. It was obvious he was about to just laugh right then and there. Todd looked at her briefly and looked away and scoffed and smiled.

Scott motioned for Marissa to sit right in between him and Todd, right beside Todd in a chair.

Cooper: So, welcome to the Todd and Scott morning show, Marissa.

Marissa: Thank you, I appreciate being here.

Cooper: So, Marissa, first off, you're a film director, actress, producer, model, how awesome is that? How long have you been in the industry?

Marissa: Um, ever since I was about seventeen. I never went to film school, or anything, I just started making short films and went from that to making a low budget horror film and I went from there.

Scott: (nods with a smile) Wow, good job.

Marissa: Yeah, it's a lot of fun, the working with actors, the premieres, its awesome.

Scott: And now you're also a model?

Marissa: Yeah, I've been on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice and I used to do modeling in Paris, for several agencies, before I turned to acting and making films.

Cooper: (smiles) Wow that's exciting. So um, you know Todd here, right?

Todd sighed and immediately took a big gulp of his coffee.

Marissa: (looks at Todd briefly) Yeah, I know of him. (looks at Todd) What's up Todd?

Todd: (nods and briefly smiles) Hi.

Cooper: (smiles) Well, we heard from E! News and from your Twitter account that you have quite the eye for Todd. (Scott laughs)

Marissa: (laughs) Um, I do. I think he's quite handsome.

Todd sighs and looks away with a brief smile.

Cooper: (laughs) Well, Todd, you hear that?

Scott: Todd hasn't said a thing since she's been in here. (Cooper laughs)

Todd: (smiles) What? What is there to say? She was talking. (Cooper laughs) What should I do—talk over her or something?

Marissa: (laughs) Um, anyway, my new film comes out Friday, are we going to talk about that?

Scott: (smiles) You don't like talking about Todd?

Todd: NO, she doesn't. Isn't that right, Marissa?

Marissa glanced at Todd and smiled briefly and shrugged.

Marissa: Its fine, either way. My film is projected to make twenty million at the box office, so—(stops and shrugs)

Cooper and Scott clap loudly.

Cooper: Wow! That's pretty big, that's great.

Todd: (nods) That is, considering the name of the film.

Marissa shot him a raised eyebrow look.

Marissa: And just WHAT is wrong with the title of the film?

Scott: Uh oh. (Scott and Cooper laughs)

Todd: (scoffs and smiles) Its just um—a odd title.

Marissa: The title represents what the film is about—hurricane Katrina and the tragic events that happened because of it.

Marissa stares at him with an eyebrow raised and Cooper laughs.

Cooper: (smiles) Alright, I can tell already you two would be great together, look at how you're debating with each other.

Scott: Yeah like a old married couple. (Scott and Cooper laughs)

Todd: (scoffs and shakes his head and smiles briefly) Whatever. Its doesn't matter.

Marissa: Aww, you look cute when you're annoyed.

Cooper and Scott Laugh and Todd looks at her with a slightly surprised look.

Scott: You know, you and Todd here need to go out.

Todd: (looks at Scott and puts on a surprised smile) WHAT?

Cooper: (laughs) Oh yeah that be a great idea, you are single, right Marissa?

Marissa: (nods) Yeah, but I'm not sure Todd would be so thrilled about that, look at his face. (Scott laughs)

Todd: (looks at her and says coldly) First off, don't presume to tell me what I'd be thrilled about, alright?

Cooper giggled.

Scott: Nah, ah, down boy. That's not nice.

Marissa: Well if I didn't already know of your humorous personality on the radio from before, I'd think you were trying to cop an attitude with me.

Todd: (shrugs and scoffs and briefly smiles) Maybe I was.

Marissa: No I doubt it, because if that was the best rude attitude you could give, I must tell you, it was awful, you can do better at being rude than that. (Cooper laughs loudly)

Todd looked at her with a hint of surprise. He hadn't had a on air guest fire back at him like that, and for her to do so, was almost—interesting, and was attracting to him. He scoffed and shook his head and smiled.

Scott: (smiles) Aww this is SUCH a match-made in heaven. (Scott laughs)

Cooper: So Todd, how about it, I tell you what, we'll sweeten the deal. Dinner will be on us—WPLJ, if you two decide to go out tonight.

Scott: (smiles) Ooh, Todd will take it, watch. (Cooper laughs)

Todd: NO (Scoffs and laughs briefly) No thanks I'll pass.

Marissa: (shrugs and briefly smiles) Yeah, you're probably a lousy date anyway Todd.

Scott and Cooper laugh.

Todd: (looks at her almost with a irritated look) What? (scoffs and shakes his head) You are so—off—WAY off.

Marissa: No, I'm not, because if I was you'd prove me wrong. That's what REAL men do.

Scott: Sounds like a challenge, Todd.

Cooper: (laughs) I like this girl, she has an attitude! (laughs)

Todd: (smiles briefly) No she doesn't have an attitude, she's just down right annoying.

Scott: And annoying is always SO attractive.

Todd: You know, I think I will take the offer, just to prove you wrong Marissa Logan.

Scott and Cooper laughed.

Marissa: I have a better deal, and I guess I can come out with this now. I have this show coming out, for Bravo called Two Months until forever—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: (scoffs and laughs) Two Months until Forever? What is with these bad titles? That sounds like a bad Thornbirds sequel or something. (Scott and Cooper laugh)

Marissa: (fakes a smile at Todd) Wrong, Pettengill—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: What's with calling me by my last—(stops and scoffs and waves his hand at her and briefly smiles) Whatever, you've annoyed me enough today.

Scott: (smiles) Aww don't worry, Marissa, Todd is attracted to your annoyance, or else he would have kicked you off by now. (Marissa and Cooper laugh)

Marissa: Ok I know. (smiles and Todd cuts in)

Todd: (laughs briefly and says coldly) No you DON'T know. (shakes his head and scoffs before taking sips of his coffee)

Theme Song: "Only Hope" ~ Mandy Moore

Marissa: Anyway, it chronicles my final two months with terminal Cancer and—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: Whoa, wait, you have Cancer?

Scott and Cooper look at her with shock. Marissa nods with a smile.

Marissa: Yeah, its terminal, but I stopped taking chemo about a month ago and doctors say I have about two months to—to um—live.

Cooper: (looks shocked) Oh my God. That is totally—wow. How come we—the media are just finding out about this?

Scott: Yeah, I mean you must have done a really great job hiding this from the public.

Marissa: (nods) I did, I did, I didn't want anyone to know until now, I have my reasons for that.

Scott: Wow, so, how are you dealing with all that?

Marissa: (shrugs) I just plan on living out my two months in the most beautiful way possible. I'm not afraid of dying, I'm just afraid of dying without spending my final two month— living.

Todd looks at her with an almost guilty look.

Todd: (takes sips of his coffee) I apologize about earlier, you aren't really annoying—(Marissa cuts in)

Marissa: (laughs) Oh no, don't do that. I hate when people do that, don't feel sorry for me by feeling you have to apologize for being yourself. I don't want to be a pity case.

Besides, sometimes I really am annoying, but only to people I like. (smiles and winks)

Todd laughs and shakes his head.

Marissa: So the premise of the show is for me to spend two months with a gentleman who can make my final months absolutely amazing and in return, I'll change their view of life completely, forever and—they'll get one million dollars for their two months with me. (laughs briefly)

Scott: Oh kinda like that movie with Keanu Reeves, what was it—um, um—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: Sweet November, yeah I remember that film, it was the one that I fell asleep on. (Cooper laughs)

Cooper: So has Bravo picked the show up?

Marissa: Yeah, it starts next month on the 22nd, but I haven't found a gentleman to spend the next two months with, that's why I'm offering the deal to Todd.

Scott and Cooper both laugh.

Cooper: Oh that's so sweet, Todd.

Scott: Todd should do it, he'll be on tv, and for a good reason, not for crappy reasons like Charlie Sheen when he was on Two and A Half Men. (Cooper laughs)

Todd: (shrugs) I—I don't know. (scoffs and smiles briefly)

Cooper: Oh come on, Todd, this sounds like an interesting show, I'D watch it. Besides you get a million dollars.

Todd: (smiles) Yeah, I could use that money and buy myself a bat to beat the hell out of Scott for not letting me call in sick today. (Scott and Todd laughs)

Marissa: A million dollars and a tv deal, sounds sweet to me.

Todd: (glances at Marissa and shrugs) Alright, I'll do it. That means I wouldn't be on air for the next two months though, so who's going to provide the funny stuff while I'm gone?

Cooper (laughs): Oh please, Scott and I are humorous enough.

Todd: (shrugs and smiles) Sometimes. (Cooper and Todd laughs)

Marissa: Great, this should be fun, Todd, we'll start tomorrow—(Todd cuts in)

Todd: Tomorrow, wow, right away, alright. But I'm not hanging out with drag people like Keanu in Sweet November. (Scott and Todd laughs)

Marissa: (laughs) No, none of that, and oh you have to promise that you won't fall in love with me during the two months.

Cooper: (smiles) Aww, like A Walk To Remember. (Scott and Cooper laughs)

Todd: (looks at Cooper with confusion) A Walk to what?

Cooper laughs.

Cooper: never mind, Todd. (scoffs and shakes her head and smiles)

Todd: Well anyway, sure I can promise that, I'm not in love with ya now, so see? It'll be easy. (Marissa laughs briefly)

Scott: Todd, come on, man, that's not nice.

Todd: (shrugs and smiles) What? She said don't feel sorry for her.

Marissa: No, its ok, Scott, Todd's alright, besides, that's what Landon said in A Walk To Remember too. (Cooper laughs)

Cooper: Oh that's right, and Landon and Jamie fell in love.

Cooper/Scott: Awwwww. (they both laugh)

Todd: (scoffs and shakes his head) Well, unlike some MAKE-BELIEVE character, I can honestly say I will not be falling in love with you. Its just so I can collect my million and go to the bank and get my own show called fire the cast of Jersey Shore from a cannon. (Scott and Cooper laughs)

Marissa: (smiles and extends her hand to him) Great so we have a deal?

Todd shakes her hand and shrugs.

Todd: Sure, as long as I get the million, yeah. (Scott laughs)

Cooper: And you know what we'll do, we'll chronicle your show, on the morning show here, so our viewers can follow along with it as well.

Todd: And all our viewers are going to put to sleep to our boring events on this Two Months Until Forever show. (Cooper laughs)

Marissa: Please. You'd be surprised what I have in mind for the next two months.

Todd took sips of his coffee and scoffed

Todd had accepted a deal to spend two months with Marissa Logan, a terminally ill Cancer actress, director, producer and model. To him, the deal was to be simple and minor—spend time with this young woman and collect a million dollars and be done with it. Little did he know, this young woman and this deal would change his life, emotionally, mentally and in every other way possible, like never before. ….


II.

It was early Saturday morning, Todd had walked to the house where Marissa addressed him to go. He was somewhat pretentious about even coming. He thought this entire "spend two months with Marissa while she dies of Cancer" thing was ridiculous, he didn't even know her, but what the hell, it was for a million dollars, so, he'd do it. He rung her doorbell, and she opened the door, looking a bit pale, but she managed to briefly smile.

Marissa: You're early.

Todd: (looks down and shrugs) Yeah, so, where's the cameras for this show?

Marissa: At home, come on, let's go. Where's your clothes and things?

Todd: (looks at her confusingly) Home? This isn't you home, you don't live in New York?

Marissa: No I live in Arizona. We have to get ready to get on the plane.

Marissa closed and locked the door to the house and walked away from the house, and he looked at her with confusion. He walked after her and lightly grabbed her arm.

Todd: Wait, so you and I have to fly—out of New York—to Arizona?

Marissa: (nods and smiles) Yup, won't that be fun. (lightly pats the side of his face and laughs and walks away)

Todd raises an eyebrow at her and scoffs and shakes his head.

Todd: (low voice) Its for the money, Todd, just for the money.

Todd sighs and walks to the car he drove in, a black Jeep Liberty, he unlocked the passenger side door and opened it for her and she got inside, and he got in on the driver's side. He sighed and looked at her, before starting the car.

Todd: So, where are we going? To the airport?

Marissa: (nods) Yeah, you got it.

Todd scoffed and shook his head and started the car and drove off.

Marissa: Did you bring cl—(he cuts in)

Todd: (coldly) Yeah, I did, thank you for asking.

Marissa: (scoffs and smiles briefly) Number thirteen.

Todd briefly glanced at her with an eyebrow raised, as he turned the corner onto the main streets of New York.

Todd: What? Number thirteen? What the hell does that mean? (scoffs and shakes his head)

Marissa: It's a list of things I need to change before I leave in two months, you're number thirteen.

Todd: (looks at her) What do you mean, I'm number thirteen? (laughs)

Marissa: You're attitude is number thirteen on the list of things I have to change.

Todd looks away from her and laughs.

Todd: Good luck with that, Marissa. I doubt if you'll make number-thirteen in two months. Number thirteen has been like this all his life.

Marissa: (looks at him and smiles) Don't be so sure, a lot can change in two months.

Todd didn't feel like hearing her, at all, so he turned on the radio, to the Rolling Stones "If You Start me Up". With the radio on, he could drown her out. For some reason she irked him—a lot.

Marissa immediately turned the station to a station playing "Mother, We Just Can't Enough" by the New Radicals. Todd looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

Todd: Did you just touch my radio?

Marissa: (laughs) Oh I'm sorry, I just am not a big Rolling Stones fan.

Todd stared at her and then looked away and shook his head.

Todd: Why does that not surprise me?

When they arrived in Arizona, they took Marissa's shiny, black Lincoln Navigator. When they arrived in Arizona, it was night time. Marissa was driving to her home with Todd. They were mostly quiet until:

Todd: So, the camera guys are going to be there at –(stops and looks at his watch) eight at night?

Marissa: No, tomorrow morning. Its too late tonight to shoot anything.

Todd: So what's going to happen after the two months are over?

Marissa: (glanced at him with seriousness and shrugged) What do you mean, what's going to happen?

Todd: I mean, do—(looks down and shrugs) did the doctor give you an exact date of death?

Marissa: September nineteenth is the date.

Todd looked at her with an eyebrow raised and nodded and then blinked heavily.

Todd: I'm sorry.

Marissa: No, no need for that. Its no need for sorry's. God has a reason why I have this disease, I'm not afraid.

Todd stared at her as she pulled the car into the driveway of the house, a part of him felt sympathy for her, a lot of sympathy. She noticed him looking at her and she scoffed and smiled as she turned the car off in the garage of her home.

Marissa: Nah, ah, none of those pity looks, I told you, I don't want pity.

Todd: (laughed briefly) I wasn't looking at you with pity. I—(stops and scoffs and briefly smiles) Whatever.

Marissa lead Todd in her home, and her home was exquisite. It looked more like a spacious mansion, than a regular home. The floors were tan shiny marbled and there was a huge living room with a big screen television in the wall. The white, leather sofa, looked comfy and long. Next to the living room was the spacious dining room, with the dining room table and chairs. Next to that was the spacious kitchen with the big island in the middle of the floor with shiny, stainless steel appliances. The inside of the house looked like something out of a magazine. Todd looked all around the house and scoffed and smiled briefly.

Todd: This looks more like a museum than a house.

Marissa: (laughs) Hey, what can I say? I like space. Come on, let me show you your room.

Marissa leads Todd upstairs to a bedroom, that's spacious, with a huge, flat screen television in the room, and a comfy full sized bed, with a big bay window with beautiful sheer lavender curtains. The room looked awesome.

Todd: This is the room I'll be in? With the girly lavender curtains? (laughs)

Marissa: (laughs) Oh please, the curtains are not girly. Its either this room or you can sleep in my room with me. (raises an eyebrow and smiles at Todd)

Todd: I think I'll take this room, thanks. (scoffs and shakes his head and smiles briefly)

Marissa: Yeah, that's what I thought. Alright, drop your bags and stuff in here, because we have to be back out in fifteen minutes.

Todd: Whoa, wait, where are we going? We just got here.

Marissa: (smiles) You'll see, meet me outside in the car.

Marissa walks out the room and Todd sighed with a hint of frustration. He was already tired from the day of flying from New York over to Arizona and now he couldn't even have a moment to rest for the night. Why was he doing this again? Oh yeah, for a million dollars, he couldn't forget that. Todd threw his bags on the bed and left out the room. He left out the house and walked out to her car and got in on the passenger side and looked at her briefly.

Todd: So where are you taking me now? Are we flying to California? Driving to Mexico—what?

Marissa laughed.

Marissa: You're funny, but no, we're driving somewhere local to—well you'll see soon enough.

Marissa started the car and drove off and Todd sighed with irritation. He didn't like to be carried off somewhere he didn't know of.

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Theme Song: "Drunken Piper" ~ Natalie MacMaster

Marissa drove up to what looked to be a huge picnic area, there was a huge brightly lit tent in the middle of the picnic area, there was a stage in the front of the tent, where a band was playing music, and there were about one hundred people dancing to the music from the band inside the tent, while some were sitting at tables inside the tent—drinking, chatting with people. It wad kind of like an outdoor picnic music festival. Marissa parked the car a few feet from the tent and turned the car off. Todd looked at the tent with the people inside with a confused look and an eyebrow raised.

Todd: Where in the hell are we?

Marissa: (smiles) A music festival, and number thirty-nine on my list.

Todd: Number thirty-nine, what's that?

Marissa: Dance, I want to dance with someone.

Todd looked at her with a confused frown.

Todd: WHAT? (scoffed and laughed briefly) What do you mean, you wanna dance with someone?

Marissa: I never danced with anyone—I mean REALLY danced with anyone and had fun before. Now that you're here, I can.

Todd: (looks at her and then back at the tent full of people while blinking heavily) Are there cameras and stuff in there?

Marissa: (nods) Yup, lets go.

Todd: I thought you said they weren't showing up until tomorrow.

Marissa: I know, they weren't, until I called them to come tonight. Now get out, Todd, let's go. (laughs and gets out the car)

Theme Song: "Tracks of My Tears" ~ Smokey Robinson

Todd sighed with frustration and anger. The last thing he felt like doing was dancing, he just wanted to sleep, he was tired, and tired and oh yeah—tired. He started his day at six a.m. and here it was eight at night and MARISSA wanted to dance. This was not going well. He got out the car and curse mentally in anger at himself for even accepting to do this stupid deal, no matter how much money she was offering. He sighed and walked over to her and blinked heavily at her in apparent anger.

Todd: (coldly) I'm tired.

Marissa: (smiles) I know. (gently touches the side of his face) That's why I brought you here. I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't know what I was doing.

Marissa took Todd's hand into hers and led him to the inside of the tent. He looked down at her hand, firmly enclosed in his and blinked heavily. He wanted to yank his hand away but didn't, he may have had an attitude from time to time, but he wasn't insensitive—especially to someone with Terminal Cancer. As they walked in the tent, the band was playing the song "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson. Todd scoffed and laughed briefly.

Todd: (low voice) Good God, I've stepped back into the fifties.

Marissa: (laughs) I heard that, and no you haven't. This is going to be fun.

Within minutes, a young woman with long, waist length dark brown hair and who was skinny in frame and looked like a full fledged American Indian, and who looked to be in her thirties walked over to Marissa. Her name was Rebecca. Rebecca smiled and gasped and hugged Marissa.

Rebecca: Marissa! You made it! (laughs) How are you?

Marissa: I'm great. (smiles) Yeah you knew I couldn't stay away for an event like this.

Todd stood there next to Marissa, who still held on to Todd's hand firmly, he was looking around at everyone on the dance floor and sitting at tables, trying his best to block out the conversation that was going on between Marissa and Rebecca.

Rebecca: So, who's this cute guy next to you?

Marissa: This is Todd Pettengill, he's—(Rebecca cuts in)

Rebecca: (Gasps and smiles) Yeah I know him! You're the host of that show Dish Nation, right?

Todd smiles briefly and nods.

Todd: Yeah I am, nice to meet you.

Todd extends his hand to her and she shakes it.

Marissa: Todd, this is one of my best friends, Rebecca Mitchell and Rebecca, this is my—my um—(stops and looks at Todd, who was staring at her with a curious look as to how she would introduce him) my companion for the next two months.

Todd: (looks shocked with raised eyebrows) Your WHAT? I—(he was quieted by Marissa covering his mouth with her hand and Rebecca laughed)

Rebecca: (laughs) Oh I see, well I'm glad you finally found someone for the two months. Its great to meet you, Todd. Well I have to go. James is over in the corner probably wondering where I went off too. We'll talk later, Marissa.

Marissa nodded as Rebecca walked away, Todd yanked his hand away and looked at her with upset.

Todd: Your companion? I am NOT your boyfriend, or—companion. This—THIS is just a two month—spending time.

Marissa: Relax Todd, that's what I mean. Companion for the next two months. Did you hear me say boyfriend? Do you know what companion even means?

Todd: (frowns) Of course I know what it means, what the hell—(stops and looks down and sighs and briefly closes his eyes) Fine. (shakes his head) whatever.

Just then, the song, "The Way You Do The Things You Do" by The Temptations is played the DJ in the room, and Marissa gasps and smiles.

Marissa: Oh this is my favorite song, come on, you have to dance with me to it, Todd!

Todd: (looks at her with a frown) What? No, no I don't want to. Ask someone else.

Marissa leads him to the middle of the dance floor, where there are already people dancing to the song.

Marissa: Oh come on, Todd. It will be fun.

Todd: No, I don't WANT to.

Marissa: Oh I see, you're probably too old to dance anyway. (scoffs and shakes her head)

Todd sighed and frowned briefly. Why did this woman always have to challenge him? He took her hands into his.

Todd: Fine, once again, your challenge has gotten me to accept your ridiculous request. I—I'm not good with dancing though, I dance about as good as Lindsay Lohan can act.

Marissa: (laughs) Don't worry, just follow my lead.

Marissa puts one of his hands around her waist and take his other hand and encloses it in hers.

Marissa: Just follow my lead.

Marissa and Todd started hand dancing together, and at first, he wasn't getting the steps down right, at all, he was stepping on her toes, and missing steps, it was bad, but then, he started getting the hang of the 50's hand dancing style that everyone was doing on the dance floor, and he became pretty good at it—twirling her around, both of them dancing and twisting and turning through the moves, they were dancing so well, that the other dancers on the floor were staring at them and some were even stopping to look at Todd and Marissa dancing.

Marissa: (smiles while dancing with him) Hey, you're doing pretty good.

Todd: (laughs) Well, yeah I lied, dancing is one of my good talents, dancing, and making fun of the cast of Jersey Shore. (Marissa laughed)

Todd and Marissa continued dancing with him turning and swirling her around and mastering each step perfectly. Marissa was surprised at how Todd seemed to be enjoying dancing with her, but of course, it was all in her plan. She knew exactly what she was doing. After the song was over, Marissa laughed as everyone clapped for them.

Marissa: (smiles) See, wasn't that fun?

Todd: (nods and smiles briefly) It was, I'll admit it, but shh, don't tell anyone I was dancing here, alright? Especially not Cooper or Scott.

Marissa: (looked at Todd with an eyebrow raised) Todd, I won't see them after you leave in two months, I'll be gone.

Todd's smile faded, he looked down and blinked heavily and then looked up at her.

Todd: Oh that's—that's right. I—I forgot, I—I'm sorry. I—(Marissa cut in)

Marissa: Shh, don't. I don't—want to talk about that. Come on, last dance, before we go home.

Marissa took Todd's hand and lead him closer to where the band was, as the song "Learning To Breathe" by Switchfoot started being played by the DJ. Marissa and Todd started slow dancing to the song, as were other couples on the floor.

Marissa: (smiles) So this is what thirty-nine feels like. Its nice. (scoffs and smiles briefly)

Todd: What's thirty-eight?

Marissa: You'll find out later. (scoffs and smiles)

Todd: (nods and shakes his head) Alright, I guess. How come you aren't afraid to die?

Marissa: (sighs) Because my time on Earth is up, I was put here for specific reasons, in which after those reasons are done, my time is up, and I have to go home.

Todd: (nods with an eyebrow raised) Uh huh, so what was your reasons for being here on Earth? For being—here?

Marissa: I was put here to show the world life through my eyes, I've done that through my films and now that you're going to spend the next two months with me—my final two months, my final purpose is to change your view of life and love for the better. (scoffs and smiles)

Todd stares at her, blinking heavily.

Todd: And—(stops and shakes his head and smiles briefly) How do you plan to do that?

Marissa: (smiles and looks up at him) You'll see.

Todd and Marissa forget the song is over, and are standing there, sharing eye contact, then Marissa laughs and looks away and takes his hand and leads him off the dance floor.

Marissa: The song is over Todd, or didn't you notice? (laughs) I'm ready to go home and have a nice cup of coffee.

Todd looks down and scoffs and briefly smiles.

Todd: Yeah, um, coffee sounds great right now. Coffee and sleep.

Theme Song: "Only Hope" ~ Mandy Moore

As Todd and Marissa walked out of the tent, to Marissa's car, Marissa started feeling lightheaded, very light headed. She felt like everything around her was spinning. As they reached the car, she fell to the ground, in weakness, on her knees. Todd stopped and knelt down beside her.

Todd: Hey, you alright, what's wrong?

Marissa: (low voice) I—I feel a little—weak. Can—can you drive, Todd?

Todd blinked at her with a concerned look and nodded and helped her up to her feet, but she almost fell back down in his arms again.

Todd: Can you make it to the car?

Marissa: (shook her head and said in a low voice) No—no I can't.

Todd hesitated at first, but then picked her up in his arms and carried her to the passenger side of the car and opened the car door and put in the passenger seat. Marissa looked at him, with weak eyes.

Marissa: (low voice) I think I may have over did it tonight. (laughs)

Todd: (scoffed and smiled briefly) Yeah, you think? Its alright, I'm driving you back to your house.

Todd got in the driver's seat and drove off. He was constantly glancing at her to make sure she was alright, but looked at her with real concern, when he looked at her and saw she looked unconscious. He pulled the car over and slid over beside her and touched her hand.

Todd: Marissa? Marissa—are you alright?

He felt for her pulse and sighed with relief when he felt a pulse, and heard her sleeping. He blinked heavily and sighed again and got back on his side and pulled the car off and continued driving. When they arrived back at the house, he tried to gently shake her.

Todd: Marissa? We're back—at your house now. (shakes her) Marissa?

Marissa wasn't answering, and Todd sighed and looked away with a concerned look. This was not something he was use to. He got out on the driver's side and went over to the passenger side and got her out the car and carried her in his arms, inside the house. He carried her to her bedroom and laid her on her bed and sighed as he sat beside her on the bed and just stared at her for a few minutes, while she was sleeping peacefully on the bed. He gently touched her forehead and the side of her face. He couldn't deny, she was a beautiful young woman, he could stare at her for hours, was it just him being tired or was he becoming attracted to her? He wasn't sure, but he gently held her hand and felt an instant spark of worry come over him—for her. He immediately dropped her hand and got up off the bed and blinked heavily with a confused look. He couldn't let himself forget that he was there for her, only for the money, even though in that brief moment, he felt a small tinge of feeling for her, he couldn't let himself do that—or could he? He wasn't sure at that moment, but the next couple of days would give him that answer he needed….

TO BE CONTINUED…