HEALING HEARTS

( 23 years old Grace Hamilton is standing at the front of a large ceiling to floor mirror staring at herself in her wedding dress from finding it hard to believe that she was finally getting married . She is wearing a strapless white mermaid dress with silver crystal designs and extra layers of ruffle at the bottom , the dress is an opened back with only her floor lengthed veil covering her back) ANNA : ( Her younger sister and maid of honour walks up behind her she is wearing a simple but elegant oxblood mermaid dress adorned with silver accessories ) you look stunning and that's an understatement, there's no need to be worried ( she says holding her shoulders giving her a reassuring smile) GRACE : ( smiles faintly ) Do you think anybody will notice ? ( She asks rubbing her flat belly ) ANNA: ( amused) that what ? You're pregnant for your husband? I've never known my Grace Hamilton to be one who cared about what people thought. GRACE : It's not that I care , it's just that I feel a bit ( pauses to find the right word) swollen ANNA : you look amazing ,Adam won't be able to take his eyes off you, no one will so don't think about anything else okay ? today is all about you , come on let's go get you married. MEANWHILE (Adam is sitting on a couch in the groom's dressing room, he is wearing a black tuxedo , on the table in front of him there is an opened gift box ,beside the box is a little stuffed bear with an opened envelop beside it ) JAMES : ( Adam's father walks in, he is in his late forties and is wearing an oxblood tuxedo ) Why are you still here the ceremony is about to begin, hurry up let's get going ADAM : ( doesn't notice his father as he is lost in thoughts ) JAMES : Adam, Adam ( he taps him ) ADAM : ( jolts back to reality ) hmm? JAMES : The ceremony is about to start let's go ADAM : oh umm i-i cant , i don't think I can go on with the plan JAMES : And what is that supposed to mean ADAM : ( hands the letter on the table to James ) she's carrying my child JAMES : and how does it affect the plan ? ADAM : It affects everything JAMES : that doesn't answer my question , how does that affect the plan ( he says in a cold and stern voice but Adam remains silent ) answer me when I talk to you ( he says in a loud and angry tone ) ADAM : The child is innocent, it deserves a good life JAMES : ( scoffs ) so that's your reason for all this drama ( Adam stares at him confused ) look here ( he begins to speak in a low and calm tone) the child is innocent and doesn't deserve to suffer right? It's simple we get rid of it and spare it from future misery ADAM : ( stares at him in shock ) you want me to kill my child , are you crazy ? JAMES : Oh come on don't act like it's such a big deal , it's merely a foetus besides it's your mistake so fix it ADAM : And what about Grace ? How do you think she'll react to ( pauses finding it hard to say the next words) getting an abortion ( he says clearly annoyed ) JAMES : who says she has to know , going to a doctor isn't the only way ADAM : Do you realise that you'll be putting her life in danger ( he raises his voice ) JAMES : Don't you dare raise your voice on me ( he says angrily ) you knew all that the plan entailed and yet you decided to get all lovey-dovey , you're to blame for the current situation so I don't want to hear anything else from you but a solution ADAM : I'm sorry dad I can't , i-i love her too much to do this to her JAMES : ( laughs out ) love , love? You think we've come this far just to abandon everything all because of love ( slaps Adam hard across the face ) that is to remind you of what that family put us through , and your sister and mother don't you want to get justice for her ( a tear drops from Adam's eyes ) I thought as much , you better pull yourself together , honesty your mother would have been ashamed to see her only son become a weakling easily swayed by emotions ( he checks his watch and turns to leave but stops without turning around ) the ceremony starts in 10 minutes get your act together before then ( he leaves closing the door behind him ) CLOSE