LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, PENNSYLVANIA
MONDAY, MAY 13TH, THE PRESENT
7:45 A.M.
MORGAN BUNSEN COMES BACK to resume his teaching. A monotonous day; an early monday morning environment... The Campus, the students. A security patrol jeep driving around. He notices something different: A female. Probably in her middle thirties, who is also parking across the street from him. Her atributes are striking: Sunglasses, a nice shape and a decent mini skirt. But there is more beyond attraction or that apppeal. He quickly rushes to her. She is about to shut her car's door, when...they make an "unusal" and finally that "eye contact".
"Hello, How are you?"
he manages to break the ice.
"I'm fine, thanks. Do I know you?" She asks. "No, I don't think so," He replies as he checks her whole body out."But, huh... I have the feeling that we met before," He says as she frowns and worry.
She smiles and as she shuts her convertible's door, she looks around, fixes her hair up. "Probably we did, let me see, hmm". He feels like he is getting too pushy and...
...stops looking at her and whistles a tune and... "You are new in here, aren't you?" he asks to make her feel confident.
"Yes, yes, I was about to ask you... if you could help me how to get to the faculty of History, maybe I won't feel so lost"
"Well, you are lucky today," He affirms smiling as his flirting skills show up.
"I really appreciate your help, but huh, Oh, I got it!". Her eyes get wide open. "We bumped into each other at BARNES & NOBLES, Remember?". He clasps his fingers and smiles.
"Yes. You are right!" He nods. "Small world isn't it?"
She stares at him more attentively. "And you work in here?" she inquires. "yes, I do" Morgan galantly answers. "then you are a teacher?"
"Yes, how do you know? Are you a Psychic?. I teach Calculus and math for Engineering in here, but if you don't mind, I can walk you to the MAGUINESS HALL, where the department of humanities and History are"
"I'm really thankful for your help. I don't know my way around in here, and who better than you to help me"
She lets him know he is in charge, her face turns from white pale to light pink... a chemistry is taking over; all her glands are reacting in an unusual way... even if she denies it. "We at LEHIGH have the spirit of helping one another, a team work kinda environment. There is no other way, just the same as the Boy Scouts. You keep up with me and you'll be fine," he makes her feel secure. They walk almost two blocks without realizing it. She knows, he is feeling something for her, her beauty and her charm are really working all the way down to his most inner " self ". "Well, here we are, unfortunately I have to go to see my students," Morgan says, but he can't find the right words, he sees her happy face too, looking for unknown answers.
"I know where to find you, so is not a good bye," She lets him know.
He waves good bye, as he checks his watch. "Damn it!, I didn't know it was this late". She smiles and she feels her heart beat going up and down, anything he does starts to brighten up her face unconciously. Suddenly...
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BETHLEHEM APARTMENTS, PENNSYLVANIA
SATURDAY, JUNE 22TH, THE PRESENT
8:45 P.M.
MORGAN FINDS HER APARTMENT, BUT HE NOTICES A STRANGE GUY RUNNING ACROSS HER FRONT YARD. "Hey, you! stop!". The unknown shadow gets lost into the darkness of the streets.
An old lady from a next door apartment is watching through her window. Morgan calms down, but his face shows concern and uneasiness.
He is still in a daze like state as he gets to MARY ANN's door.
"Come on in!, I know is you". He smiles but with frustration. "How did you know it was me?" He replies surprised.
She immediately stamps a kiss on his cheek.
"Weren't you outside spying on me for a while?"
He doesn't want her to get scared as he figures, she might've thought it was him all along making those noises outside. "I
Guess, I don't know, is my first time in here, you know. I was looking for your apartment number, and by the way smells good in here. Did you cook?"
"Sure Morgan, I've got Lasagna in the oven and you better get in, before you lose a square root of your logical senses, Mister hmm hyperbollic equation"
"Ha, ha, ha, hold it there... you're getting too personal now".
She inmediately walks to the kitchen; he notices a pair of tight blue jeans prfectly matching her curvy body.
"You want some coffee meanwhile, Morgan?" her words and her perfume are so inviting. "Sure, Good idea. I had a rough day yesterday with my students
But is worth it, when they need me, I'm there for them, and I really love my job" She returns from the kitchen with a cup of coffee. Excitedly manages to lean to him.
"Here it is, just fresh, hundred percent COLOMBIAN beans, that's what the label says"
"Is really nice in here, Mary Ann, thanks, I got it"
"You are always a gentleman Morgan, but sit down, you are my guest"
"I got it, Mary Ann"he stands up as she gets closer.
"Hope you like it"
Suddenly the worst thing happens. She drops the coffee near his shoes and..."Oh my God! I'm so stupid, Oh my God". They both kneel down to help each other. She gets so nervous as she cleans around him with some napkins.
"I knew it, I hope you don't get upset, Morgan... So clumsy of me," she akwardly says. "Relax, I'm fine, just a little of cleaning and less of worriness"
They both are so close that MORGAN dives his "concerns" into her eyes and even her own perfume... in a slow motion view, both catch even the lip languages and they slowly come closer to each other. "We almost...done". She breaths hardly those words
"Yes, I think... " he manages to reply in the same state of bliss
Naturally they kiss for the first time; or second, or third... softly and then with a passion they never expected.
"Morgan?", she backs off. "What are we doing?"
They
Just stand up and turn their back to each other.
"So sorry, Mary Ann. You might think I'm the worst thing on earth, another womanizer. I'm so sorry, I just want to leave, was enough for us". She hold his hands and..."Wait, the Lasagna is ready... Would you stay?"...
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
HAVANA, CUBA
MONDAY, MAY 21TH, 1542
7:45 P.M.
ISABELLA DE BOBADILLA(Mary Ann) is confronted with a deep pain in her chest... she hurriedly goes up over the Fortress watch tower
. As she looks on the horizon, she cries incesantly. Her look is of despair. The immense dark Atlantic Ocean makes things worst. A sudden light on the starry sky; a "shooting star" enters the atmosphere and melts away. "Three years with out him and not knowing word of his whereabouts... the wait is at times unbereable, but tonight I feel the need of him more than ever, DIOS MIO!". As though she would fear the worst, she prays like never did before..."SANTA MARIA, LLENA ERES DE GRACIA, EL SENOR ES CONTIGO...BENDITA TU ERES...". As her praying fades away.
******** FLASHBACK*********
CARDENAS' HARBOR, TODAY'S HAVANA
MONDAY, MAY 18, 1539
11:45 A.M.
HERNANDO DE SOTO(Morgan)is giving directions to his sailors. The harbour is full of life and the departure is imminent.
ISABELLA DE BOBADILLA comes to him and holds him dearly. A new land is waiting for him. The riches and glory that avoided him completely like in Panama and PERU, finally seem to harvest hope in his heart. In the years to come, this new land will prosper...and will be known as FLORIDA. The Cuban harbor is small but
full of activity. We manage to see eight or nine Galleons. They are being loaded as husband and wife watch... a close up on her lips; "
Should my fears be in vain, I would
let you go; but you know my heart is
suffering as every minute goes by," says ISABELLA with deep pain. She is dressed with a very suitable gown. Iron hinged armour like corset, that helps to shape up her body, just to give her a smooth outline beneath it. Don HERNANDO by the way wears a sixteen century Tudor fashionable wear; French cloth
of gold and Genovese velvets, and his invaluable dagger
on his waist. "
You know my dear, since we departed
Spain, we had to fulfill this deed,
thousands over thousands of REALES
were invested from our own," He replies with remorse. "If money is what matters, what's the
price of my love. Was so blinded until
now," says herself, giving her back to him. He holds her from behind and kiss her neck. "Invaluable my dear... I have no
words...". A Portuguese sailor from the fleet comes over and interrupts them. "Excuse me, my Governor, the winds are in our favor, NORTH EAST and stable". "Then our turn is nearing, after Cortes and Pizarro. Drop the sails, and load the rest of the provisions," replies the governor DE SOTO, proudly. "As you command, Don Hernando". An impressive panoramic view of people saying farewell. A fleet of nine galleons; all
noticeable with the SAINT JAMES CROSS sails. Coming on board, we see Cows and swines, Horses follow. She doesn't know how to stop him, she turns to him and hugS him so hard, both tremble and won't let go. "I will wait for you, Governor of my life". "I promise to come back," He reasures her as tears roll down from both lovers. "If not, I will die myself. You don't know how much sorrow would cause in me," She says as she cleans her tears; but her words sum up all her love for him. "Oh My lady; may GOD blesses us and I commend my fate to our "VIRGEN MARIA". "May your words call upon his complete blessings, my husband," She makes the sign of the cross on his forehead. "Amen," replies Don Hernando as he clear his red eyes.
"I shall go now, please, you shall depart,". Suddenly she gets cold and walks away, looking down. DE SOTO takes a deep breath and starts getting toward the main entrance of his own GALLEON. Fellows sailors follow him. ISABELLA herself keeps walking away. "My Captain, the thirty day provisions are on board, even the water and the forage for the animals," remarks one of the captains under him. "Seņores, We are gonna be part of history,". Empty but strong he sees her leaving toward her carriage, and decides to go onboard. A far away scream, very familiar to him, " WAIT!..WAIT!," says Isabella coming running to him again. De SOTO runs down to her too, and they embrace. She gives him a Rosario. "So sorry for not saying good bye to you" "Never thought this was gonna be so
hard. Thanks my sweet wife, now is time, now is my turn". A gigantic whirlwind embrace them as they kiss...
****END FLASHBACK*****
MISSISSIPPI BANK, ARKANSAS
MONDAY, MAY 21TH, 1542
SAME TIME
HERNANDO DE SOTO is put on a made
up table. His dead body is wrapped up with peninsular worn out sheets, he wears breast plates, a mangled helmet and armour.
then is put into a through made of live oak. He is in
his early forties.
A Cavalier comes to him with a deep silent sorrow. Is
his successor:LUIS MOSCOSO DE
ALVARADO, late thirties. Cavaliers huddle close and
gather around the dead body in silent grief. A breaking shredding sound is heard. Indians shouting deep from within the forest. Some
soldiers desperately cover their Commander with leaves
and some moisted soil inside the log. A strange person comes
from the back and puts a steel sword inside the made up
coffin and breaks into tears. Don Hernando receives the
holly Ministrations from the Priest. A TORN BIBLE with a ROSARIO is
put next to him. The indians increase their dangerous
SHOUT. "
Don HERNANDO, My Governor, it's been
our honor to serve you. It was an.. we
never intended to give you a farewell
like this. It really breaks my heart
to know that this enterprise overcame
our expectations ... As a soldier from
BADAJOZ, I regretfully have to say:
ADIOS my captain, may GOD be with you," says the succesor. All of them shout: "VIVA EL REY Y LA REYNA DE ESPANA!, long live the King and Queen of Spain". The body inside the log gets the last push into the
river stream. Most bow to his Comander, some put their helmets on their chest. A
soldier is about to fire an ARQUEBUS into the air but
is stop by a fellow soldier, knowing that it would
make it easier for the enemy to surround them at once.
Everybody is touched. "THE LORD BE WITH YOU..AND WITH YOUR
SPIRIT". A priest approaches:"...Restare in pacem eternis, Amen".
A sad view indeed. The end is nearing for these
Conquistadors. This is more than reality as Indians appear on scene. The battle starts, as the Spaniards back off, some quickly
depose of the log as though it were an unsuspected
action. Arrows impact the soldiers. The retreat is
almost unthinkable.
Arquebuses are being shot, but the cumbersome reload
gets them easy target of the wrath of the enemy. Some
Indians with torches burn their faces and
clothing; some get strangled and beyond believe heads roll down. This is
the ultimate carnage; swords also take a toll on the
natives and some are crushed to death. Others are ran
over with the horses. Minutes later the rapids sink the log and we see something peculiar...A hand is held up an grabs the edge of the log. A miracle indeed. A jerky move of his Limbs... reacting out of desperation... but eventually is sunk slowly. A murky scene underwater, almost like from the
grave. A strong stream of water covers our already
uneasy view..."So Morgan, at the count of three, I want you to stop and Hold MARY ANN's hand, who is next to you," says Doctor NAGUIB, who was giving both a past life regression session. "My husband, you are really coming back to me...?," says Mary Ann still in trance. She cries and holds Morgan's hand. Both are lying next to each other in this "redemptioning therapy". Morgan reacts..."I'm so sorry, my beloved wife for leaving you..". The Parasychologist transpires as he sees a positive outcome. "Hernando... My husband, my prayers were heard...!"...
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT(click)
THE BAHAMAS
TEN YEARS LATER
3:45 P.M.
A beach, the bluest sky, and a resort area...Morgan is drinking a
Margarita, lays on a nice hammock under a tree. Takes his
sunglasses off. From behind comes a boy about nine years old. He is
HERNANDO Junior. "Dad?, are you busy?" he says with a sweet voice. A little girl comes pretty close to him, she is ISABELLA, seven years old, his sister. " Where is your Mom?" asks Morgan. "She is coming Daddy...," replies Isabella. Hernando Jr. points to his mom: " there she is". Mary Ann, more beautiful than ever, comes over. "Dear, our kids were asking me so many things, when they were eating at the Hotel, like their names and other stuff," affirms Mary Ann. "Honey, I saw it coming...guess is my turn, to tell them, right kids?" says proud daddy. "yeah dad. My friends at school wonder why my name is Hernando," says his son, taking the lead after dad. "Yes, dad. Are we Italians?" following her brother, says Isabella. Mary Ann just staying away from the conversation, but smiling at the situation. "Yes, don't look at me like that, they are your kids," says Mommy with sarcasm. "Well, is my turn then...listen kids, why don't we take a walk on the beach?, so mom can rest, huh?. Be back later hun," says to his wife. "Thanks, you always very sweet...Okay kids hold Daddy's hand. "Why?" says Morgan as he stands up. "You know why!!, all the bitches down there and checking out my man?. They better think twice!!" says the wife as she fixes her daughter's bikini. "mom, you funny," says Isabella LAUGHING HARD. "You'll never change. You make me laugh always," agrees Morgan. "Because I love you," she makes it clear. "I do love you too dear. Okay kids let's go and face those pirates!!". "Yeah!!" exclaim both kids at once
THE BEACH
Morgan is holding his kid's hands; they get close to the breezy waves, and kick the sand as they stroll. A Sunset is on the horizon, their silhouette are shown against the sunset. "Well, how much Daddy loves you guys?"
"A lot!". "You the best Dad I ever had in my whole entire life," says Isabella with the sweetest voice. "Dad, We love you... and you always will be in our hearts," agreeing Hernando. "Thanks so much kids, guess you are working hard to get a 'Playstation' for each one. All three smile so hard... "Now time to tell the tale of your life kids. Here is the story. Four hundred years ago Spain was a power.."
"Like those power rangers from TV?" says Hernando. "No, Hernando. Dad means electricity," she replies candidly. "Oh, God. Kids, let me finish or start
this tale. As I said, Spain was a Power as our Country is
today....and... when Christopher Columbus opened a new world... so The spanish Armada was the strongest naval force..."
Morgan's voice fades away...WE SCOOP AWAY into the sky. We see them as three dots
walking across the beach. Turning into the immensity of the firmament we picture quick shots and sequences of his whole past and present
life. A song signals the end. "EVERY BODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD".....welcome to your life, there is not turning back
