Road to Loneliness
Written by: Juana
Story summary: Ben is single again…but still not happy. After Bliss breaks up with him Ben is caught by his own indecision and then by his guilt. After Felicity is subjected to a private moment between Ben and Bliss, Ben faces losing her forever if he can’t make her understand that things aren’t always what they seem.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
INT: FELICITY’S BEDROOM: DAY
THE PHONE NEXT TO FELICITY’S BED RINGS. IT WAKES HER UP OUT OF A SOUND SLEEP. GROGGY SHE REACHES FOR THE PHONE.
FELICITY: (answering phone) Hello? (yawns)
INTERCUT: FELICITY/CHRISTY
CHRISTY: Were you still sleeping?
FELICITY: (stifling a yawn) Yeah…I’m pretty sure I was.
CHRISTY: I’m so sorry. I just thought you might want to hear some news.
FELICITY: (a little more aware) News?
CHRISTY: Ben and Bliss broke up.
FELICITY: (fully awake now) What? Did you just say….
CHRISTY: (breaks in) That’s right…they are finito.
FELICITY: How? I mean…what happened?
CHRISTY: I don’t know the whole story…but I do know she is leaving town today.
FELICITY: Today…but she’ll miss the wedding.
CHRISTY: Yeah, looks like it…oh well life goes on. (laughs)
FELICITY: (concerned) Is Ben okay?
CHRISTY: Sure. Why wouldn’t he be?
FELICITY: Possibly because…(sarcastic) oh I don’t know…he broke up with his girlfriend?
CHRISTY: Major boo-hoo. Come on Felicity, you and I both know being with her wasn’t what he really wanted anyway.
FELICITY: I’m not so sure.
FELICITY: (VO) Dear Sally…everyone was so sure that Ben losing Bliss was the best thing. But I couldn’t help wondering if…well it’s cynical I know but…maybe Bliss knew exactly what she was doing, And that breaking up with Ben was part of her plan to…pull him closer.
INT: BEN’S ROOM-DAY
BEN IS LYING IN BED LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING. THOUGHTS SWIRLING IN HIS HEAD. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT…WHAT HE “WANTS” TO HAPPEN NEXT. THERE IS A KNOCK ON HIS DOOR. HIS MOM OPENS IT AND PEEKS IN.
MRS. COVINGTON: Are you up yet?
BEN: Yeah. Come on in.
MRS. COVINGTON COMES IN AND SITS ON THE EDGE OF THE BED.
MRS. COVINGTON: You look tired?
BEN: I got in kind of late.
MRS. COVINGTON: Is everything okay?
BEN: Fine.
MRS. COVINGTON: Really? Because I noticed that Bliss didn’t come home last night.
BEN SITS HALFWAY UP IN BED. PROPPING HIS PILLOWS UP AND LEANING AGAINST THE HEADBOARD.
BEN: (pauses) Um…she’s not coming back. She’s going home.
MRS. COVINGTON: Did you two have another fight?
BEN: Not exactly. (a beat) She broke up with me.
MRS. COVINGTON: (sympathetic) Ben…honey. I’m sorry.
BEN: Yeah…me too.
BEN’S MOM AND HIM SIT IN SILENCE FOR A FEW SECONDS.
BEN: (cont.) I’m so confused mom.
MRS. COVINGTON: About what dear?
BEN: Is it possible to be in love with two people at the same time?
MRS. COVINGTON: Do you want a mother’s advice or a professional?
BEN: Tough call. I guess I want any answer at this point.
MRS. COVINGTON: In my opinion…
THE PHONE RINGS BESIDE BEN’S BED. HE REACHES OVER AND PICKS IT UP.
BEN: Hello?
INTERCUT: BEN/FELICITY
FELICITY: Good morning.
BEN: (smiles) Felicity…hi.
FELICITY: You know…I had the oddest dream last night. I dreamt that you were standing in my room and that…this is embarrassing…
BEN: Go on.
FELICITY: Well it’s just…that…you leaned down and kissed me.
BEN: Really?
FELICITY: I know…it was just a dream. But it seemed so real.
BEN: That’s because…it was.
FELICITY: (shocked) What?
BEN: Could you hold on for just a second?
FELICITY: Sure.
BEN: (to his mom) I um…I don’t mean to be rude mom…but could I have some…privacy?
MRS. COVINGTON: Oh…yes. Sorry. I actually just came up to see if you wanted any breakfast?
BEN: No…I’m fine. I’ll be down in a few minutes.
MRS. COVINGTON: Okay. Tell Felicity I said hello. (smiles)
BEN: Okay.
BEN’S MOM WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR. BEN SMILES AND GOES BACK TO THE PHONE.
BEN: Hey…sorry to keep you waiting.
FELICITY: That’s okay.
BEN: I need to tell you something.
FELICITY: What?
BEN: I kind of want to tell you in person. Are you up for going out to breakfast?
FELICITY: Sure.
BEN: Great. I just need to get up and put some clothes on and I’ll be over to get you.
FELICITY: Okay. Bye.
BEN: Bye.
BEN HANGS UP THE PHONE SMILING. HE JUMPS OUT OF BED AND HEADS TO HIS CLOSET WHERE HE PICKS A PAIR OF JEANS OFF A HANGER. HE PUTS THEM ON AND HEADS OVER TO HIS DRESSER TO GET A SHIRT. AS HE IS RUMMAGING TRYING TO FIND A SHIRT HE HEARS THE DOOR OPENING. HE TURNS EXPECTING TO SEE HIS MOM AND INSTEAD SEES BLISS.
BEN: (shocked) Bliss?
BLISS: I know I’m the last person you expected to see today. Especially after that scene I pulled last night….
BEN: (kind of angry) What are you doing here?
BLISS: Ben…please don’t be angry.
BEN: I don’t know what you want from me Bliss. One minute you’re all sweet and loving and the next you’re telling me you’re leaving because you’re fed up. Which is it?
BLISS: I over-reacted. I want to try and work this out.
BEN: Yeah…well maybe…it’s too late.
BLISS: Is it?
BEN STANDS LOOKING AT BLISS…TORN. BLISS SUMMONING ALL HER FEMININE CHARMS WALKS SLOWLY OVER TO BEN AND WRAPS HIM IN HER ARMS AND KISSES HIM FULLY ON THE LIPS…NO MISTAKING HER INTENTIONS. BEN IS MERELY LETTING HER KISS HIM AT FIRST BUT AS SHE PERSISTS AND HER KISSES GROW MORE INSISTENT HE BEGINS KISSING HER BACK.
INT. PORTER LIVING ROOM-DAY
FELICITY IS SITTING ON THE COUCH, FLIPPING THROUGH A MAGAZINE, WAITING FOR BEN.
INT. BEN’S BEDROOM-DAY
BEN AND BLISS ARE STILL KISSING. THE PHONE RINGS. BEN IMMEDIATELY STOPS KISSING BLISS AND STEPS AWAY FROM HER.
BLISS STANDS LOOKING AT BEN. HER LIPS ARE STILL MOIST AND SWOLLEN LOOKING FROM THE PASSIONATE KISSES SHE JUST SHARED WITH BEN.
BLISS: (breathless) You’ve never kissed me back like that before.
THE PHONE CONTINUES TO RING.
BEN: (bewildered) I know. (frowning)
PHONE IS STILL RINGING.
BLISS: Did you want me to get that?
BEN DOESN’T ANSWER SO BLISS STARTS TOWARD THE PHONE. JUST AS SHE IS ABOUT TO ANSWER IT BEN STOPS HER. HE TAKES HER HAND AND TURNS HER TOWARDS HIM AND STARTS KISSING HER AGAIN…VERY PASSIONATELY. THE PHONE FINALLY STOPS RINGING.
INT: PORTER LIVINGROOM-DAY
FELICITY HANGS UP THE PHONE. SHE SITS BACK DOWN ON THE COUCH AND OPENS UP THE MAGAZINE AND STARTS FLIPPING AGAIN, BUT FRUSTRATED SHE LOOKS AT HER WATCH AND SLAMS THE MAGAZINE SHUT. SHE GETS UP AND WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN AND GRABS A SET OF KEYS OFF THE HOOK BY THE DOOR. FELICITY WALKS BACK OUT INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND YELLS UP THE STAIRS AS SHE IS LEAVING.
FELICITY: Mom…Dad…I’m taking the car! I’ll be back in a little while.
MRS. PORTER WALKS DOWN STAIRS TALKING TO FELICITY.
MRS. PORTER: Where are you going hon?
MRS. PORTER LOOKS AROUND AND SEES NO ONE.
MRS. PORTER: Felicity?
EXT: COVINGTON HOUSEHOLD-DAY
FELICITY KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. MRS. COVINGTON ANSWERS.
MRS. COVINGTON: (surprised) Felicity? (hugs her) It’s so nice to see you.
FELICITY: Thanks. (a beat) Is Ben here?
MRS. COVINGTON: Yes…I think so. I haven’t seen him leave yet.
FELICITY: Oh…um…can I go up and see him?
MRS. COVINGTON: Sure. Go ahead. I’m sure he’d love to see you.
FELICITY: Thank you.
FELICITY WALKS UP THE STAIRS AND HEADS TOWARD BEN’S ROOM.
INT: BEN’S ROOM-DAY
BEN AND BLISS ARE NAKED UNDER THE COVERS. THEY ARE IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT WHEN FELICITY WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON BEN’S DOOR LET HERSELF INSIDE. IT TAKES HER A FEW MINUTES TO ABSORB EVERYTHING IN.
FELICITY: (completely devastated) Oh my god…
AT THE SOUND OF FELICITY’S VOICE BEN STOPS WHAT HE IS DOING AND SITS UP. THE SHEET FALLING DOWN TO REVEAL HIS NAKED CHEST. BLISS SITS UP BESIDE HIM WITH THE SHEET PULLED UP OVER HER CHEST.
BEN: (full of guilt) Felicity…
FELICITY: (trying very hard not to cry) Just…don’t Ben. Don’t say…anything.
FELICITY TURNS AND RUNS DOWN THE STAIRS AND OUT THE DOOR. BEN JUMPS OUT OF BED WEARING ONLY HIS BOXERS AND GRABS FOR HIS JEANS. HE HURRIDLY PULLS THEM ON AND GOES CHARGING OUT AFTER HER. AS HE GETS OUT THE DOOR SHE IS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HE RUNS OVER AND GRABS THE HANDLE OF HER DOOR. FELICITY STOPS THE CAR.
FELICITY: (Very angry) Let go of my door!
BEN: (grabbing at straws) Not until you talk to me.
FELICITY: Let go of my car…or you lose an arm!
FELICITY GUNS THE CAR AND STARTS TO BACK OUT AGAIN. BEN IS FORCED TO LET GO OF THE HANDLE OR RISK BODILY HARM. FELICITY BACKS INTO THE STREET AND DRIVES AWAY.
INT: BEN’S ROOM-DAY
BLISS IS SITTING IN BED STILL.
BLISS: How did it go?
BEN: (forceful) Get up!
BLISS: What?
BEN: You heard me. Get up, get dressed and leave.
BLISS: I don’t understand.
BEN: This was wrong and we both know that.
BLISS: How can you say that? For the first time…it felt right. You wanted to be with me. I know it.
BEN: Yes I…thought I did.
BLISS: (getting upset) You thought you did? What kind of a bullshit statement is that?
BEN: It’s the truth…something you have begged to have from me since the beginning.
BLISS: This is ridiculous Ben…five minutes ago we were seconds from ending this no sex charade…and now you’re telling me you want me to leave?
BEN: Yes.
BLISS: No…not until you explain to me why I should leave.
BEN: (matter of fact) Because…I don’t love you.
BLISS: Well that’s blunt. If that’s the case why were you going to sleep with me?
BEN: It’s complicated Bliss…and the longer I stay here trying to explain this to you…the worse things are going to be with me and Felicity.
BLISS: Good lord…you honestly think Felicity is ever going to forget what she saw here today?
BEN: I don’t know. All I know is I need to talk to her.
BEN GRABS HIS SHIRT OFF THE FLOOR AND HIS TENNIS SHOES AND HEADS OUT THE DOOR LEAVING BLISS STANDING THERE.
FELICITY IS SITTING IN HER CAR IN A DESERTED DRIVE IN…CRYING. SHE REACHES OVER AND GETS A TAPE RECORDER OUT OF THE GLOVE BOX AND STARTS RECORDING A TAPE TO SALLY.
FELICITY: This has to be the single worse day of my life. I can honestly say at this moment that I hate Ben. I can’t believe I’ve been such a fool over him. I have given up so much to be with him…hurt so many people to convince him that he was the one for me and for what. To end up with mascara running down my face, my heart broken into a million pieces and a mental picture of him and Bliss that will never go away. It’s just not fair Sally. Talk back soon…Love Felicity.
INT: CHURCH GROOM’S ROOM-NIGHT
BEN COMES RUNNING INTO THE DRESSING ROOM. HE LOOKS COMPLETELY FRAZZLED.
STEVE: (upset) Where the hell have you been? You’re 30 minutes late and you look like crap.
BEN: (humble) I’m sorry. I’ll explain later…Just give me 10 minutes and I’ll be ready.
STEVE: You have exactly seven…God Covington…I could kill you.
BEN: I know…I know.
BEN DISAPPEARS INTO THE DRESSING ROOM.
INT: BRIDE’S ROOM-NIGHT
CHRISTY IS DRESSED IN HER WEDDING GOWN. FELICITY AND THE OTHER ATTENDANTS ARE JUST CHECKING FOR LAST MINUTE TOUCHES.
FELICITY: (to Christy) Are you ready?
CHRISTY: (nervous) I…think so…yeah.
FELICITY: You look beautiful…Steve is going to die of pride.
CHRISTY: (hugs Felicity) Thanks. Are you sure everything is okay?
MUSIC STARTS PLAYING TO SIGNAL IT IS TIME FOR THE ATTENDANTS TO LINE UP.
FELICITY: (tight-lipped) Fine…okay well that sounds like our song they’re playing.
ALL THE ATTENDANTS LINE UP. FELICITY IS JUST RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTY. ONE BY ONE THE ATTENDANT’S MEET UP WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE GROOMSMAN TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE WITH THEM. FELICITY STEELS HERSELF FOR HER INEVITABLE CONTACT WITH BEN. BEN WHO HAS CLEANED UP RATHER NICELY WALKS UP BESIDE HER AND AWKWARDLY TAKES HER ARM.
BEN: (whispers) we need to talk.
FELICITY: No.
BEN JUST LOOKS AT HER AND IT’S THEIR TURN TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE. HE TAKES HER TO THE FRONT AND RELUCTANTLY LETS GO OF HER ARM.
FELICITY: (VO) The wedding was beautiful Sally…and the obvious love between Christy and Steve…was inspiring.
INT: RECEPTION HALL-NIGHT
ALL THE WEDDING PARTY IS SEATED AT THE HEAD TABLE. EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM TO SHOW AND BE ANNOUNCED. CHRISTY HAS HAD THE HEAD TABLE SET UP SO THAT THE COUPLED ATTENDANTS ARE SITTING TOGETHER, WHICH PUTS BEN RIGHT NEXT TO FELICITY.
BEN: Are you ever going to talk to me again?
FELICITY REMAINS SILENT.
BEN: (cont.) I’ll take that as a no.
THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARRIVE AND ARE ANNOUNCED AND HEAD OUT TO THE FLOOR FOR THEIR FIRST DANCE. AS THE DANCE NEARS THE END ALL THE ATTENDANTS ARE CALLED OUT ON THE FLOOR TO DANCE WITH THE GROOMSMAN. FELICITY RELUCTANTLY TAKES BEN’S ARM AND HEADS OUT TO THE DANCE FLOOR WITH HIM.
BEN: (into her ear) It wasn’t what you think.
FELICITY: (hurt look) This is hard enough…could we please just get through the dance…no talking.
BEN AND FELICITY FINISH THE DANCE IN SILENCE. BEN PULLS HER CLOSER TO HIM AS THEY DANCE…IF HE CAN’T HAVE CONVERSATION…AT LEAST HE’LL HAVE HER CLOSE TO HIM. FELICITY TRIES TO REMAIN RIDGID…BUT THE CLOSENESS OF HIS BODY TO HERS BREAKS HER WILL AND SHE MOLDS INTO HIS ARMS AND PUTS HER HEAD ON HIS CHEST AND LISTENS TO HIS HEARTBEAT. AS THE DANCE ENDS SHE RELUCTANTLY MOVES AWAY…AS DOES HE.
AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON FELICITY IS STARTING TO FEEL STRAINED. JUST WHEN SHE FEELS LIKE SHE IS GOING TO LOSE IT THE SPEECHES ARE ANNOUNCED. HER IS FIRST.
FELICITY STANDS UP AT THE TABLE.
FELICITY: Well first of all…I want to say thank you to Christy for allowing me to be a part of this day. I can’t tell you how the obvious love and connection between the two of you…inspires me. When I thought about what to say in this speech a lot of things came to mind…I’ve known Christy since grade school and she has always been this stable force in my life. I count myself lucky to have met her. When we were younger we always talked about what we wanted for our futures…who we wanted to fill that space beside us. And ironically enough from tenth grade on all Christy wanted was Steve. So I guess this day reminds me that dreams do come true. I love you Christy and I entrust her to you Steve. Congratulations you guys!
EVERYONE PICKS UP THEIR CHAMPAGNE CLASS AND TOASTS THE COUPLE.
BEN STANDS UP FOR HIS TURN.
BEN: I knew I should have gone first.
CROWD LAUGHS.
BEN: (cont.) I must warn you folks that I am not half as eloquent as the maid of honor.
MORE LAUGHS
BEN: But I’m going to give it my best shot. Where to start….Steve is the kind of guy you wish you were. He is honest and he loves to a fault. As long as I’ve known him he has been the guy everyone likes…and some things never change. I would be happy to have half the compassion that he has. Christy I know you already know this…apparently since the tenth grade (crowds laughs) But Steve is that man to fill the space beside you. He will be there for you every step of the way, he will love you like no one else ever could and he will cherish you like the treasure you are to him. He has never faltered in his love for you. He has pretty much known from the beginning that you were the one and I admire that. It’s a gift to be able to commit yourself to someone so completely and believe in that commitment with every fiber of your being.
Congratulations…(picks up champagne glass for a toast) To Steve and Christy.
CROWD: To Steve and Christy.
SALLY: (VO) Dear Felicity…I am shocked to say the least. But being the optimist I have to believe that there are two sides to every story…even if you saw it with your own eyes. And to be truthful…you can’t expect him not to sleep with his girlfriend. It’s sort of a right he inherits when he gives her that title. I know this hurts. It was hard enough knowing it was happening without having to see it first hand. But try not to let this harden your heart. It’s too easy to wall up and not let any one inside and then think you’ve found the perfect solution…when all you’ve really found is the road to loneliness. Ben deserves the chance to tell his side of the story. Give him that…and then if you choose to go it alone…at least you’ll go knowing the truth and not existing on a what if. Love Sally.