Bound by Love, Free at Last

Chapter.3

Down town, it is inside Richard's art studio in the afternoon.

Light is filtering into the room through the dusty windows. Richard is sitting on a leather stool gazing steadily on a hanged portrait of Ella which he proudly displayed.

Richard

(He is murmuring to himself as he gazed at the portrait)

How will it be possible for me to stop loving you when you keep looking at me from the wall?

He keeps staring at the portrait with feelings until the silence in the studio is interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The door opens immediately, Marcus a friend of Richard walked into the studio with a newspaper.

Marcus

So you are still staring at that woman.

Richard

That was why I painted her, to always remember her face. I can not forget her.

Marcus

(he spoke quietly)

I think you need to do that now.

Richard

(He laughs dryly)

It is not that easy? She walked out of my life as if we had a business transaction. She Said that “It is all over,” just like she was cancelling a meeting.

MARCUS

(He gives Richard the newspaper)

look, she has made her next move.

RICHARD

What is in there?

MARCUS

It is better You see for yourself.

Richard takes the paper slowly from him. He saw the headline: “ADAM ORWELL TO WED ELLA BROWN ENGAGEMENT PARTY THIS SATURDAY.” He saw a picture of Ella and Adam standing together, he stares at it in silence. His hands tighten so hard around the page.

RICHARD

(His words were barely above a whisper)

So she is really doing this, I can not believe it.

MARCUS

I saw it this morning. I thought you should know about it.

RICHARD

(He is still disbelieving)

When she told me a week ago, i thought she did not mean it, I wished she would realise that our love would win over all pressure.

(he keeps on scoffing)

MARCUS

Come on my man. You knew about her situation. Her family’s company was going bankrupt.

RICHARD

But I was the saviour she never recognised.

(He drops the paper onto the floor, he just paced around)

RICHARD

Do you know what the worst part is? She did not even let me fight for us. She just made the choice on her own.

MARCUS

She May think that she was protecting you.

RICHARD

From what? Is it From loving her or from believing in something that is real?

Marcus did not say anything, Richard slowly turns to the portrait again, his voice is much quiet now.

RICHARD

I painted that portrait of her the night before she left. She was sitting there just humming to herself, she said she could feel her future was pressing down on her I did not know that her future did not include me.

MARCUS

(He spoke gently)

Look, Richard you have to let her go.

RICHARD

No.

MARCUS

What?

RICHARD

I am not done with us, I do not care about what she said. I need to see her, face to face. I am going to the engagement party.

MARCUS

( Richard, that is a billionaire’s party, they wear black tie, there is a guest list and tight security.

RICHARD

I do not care if they have guard dogs or tie a rope around their neck, i need answers from her.

MARCUS

I thought she explained everything she is doing now to you a week ago, what other answers do you require.

RICHARD

I feel i can still convince her to cancel th whole plan of marrying Adam, to lean on me instead.

MARCUS

Then If you are going, do it right. Wear a good Suit, do not look like a man who has lost. Look like a man that has everything under control.

(Richard nods slowly, his jaw is clenched. He looks at Ella’s painted eyes once more, then he folds the paper and puts it under his arm.

(They looked at each other, it is a look of friendship, grief, and there is fire in their eyes.)

FADE OUT.

Scene 2 The Brown family residence, venue of the engagement party between Ella and Adam Orwell. The grand ballroom, night.

The grand ballroom is expensively decorated. Guests that are elegantly dressed are all drinking champagne, mingling together, laughter and clinking of glasses filled the air. A string quartet is playing a soft tune in the background.

Guest 1

(sips her champagne with merry)

Look at the grandeur of this engagement party? Adam knows how to impress people

Guest 2

( Nods his head, his mouth is full of one of the meal recipe)

Indeed, I heard that he brought in Chef Pierre from Paris to organise tonight's menu. The canapés are so beautiful.

Guest 3

( Her mouth is busy with another recipe while her half filled champagne is beside her)

The string quartet that is playing in the background is from Vienna. It is only the best of everything for a billionaire's engagement.

Guest 4

(He raises his glass of champagne)

We toast to Adam Orwell and Ella Brown, it is a union of elegance and of affluence.

They all clink their glasses

Guest 5

(She reply's animatedly)

Cheers! But i notice that Ella seems...a bit subdued tonight. She does not look like the radiant bride-to-be, whom one would expect.

Guest 6

( Drinks her champagne before replying)

It may be due to the overt tasking of this kind of grand event. It may have affected her, because it takes a lot to plan and execute.

Adam Orwell

(He raises his glass)

Ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank you all for coming here today to celebrate this special occasion. Ella and I are thrilled to see you come and share this moment with us. Let us enjoy the evening and we will look forward to seeing you all at our wedding next month!

Applause fills the room as the guests cheer the couple.

Guest 4

(Spoke to guest)

Ella is a fortunate young woman, Adam is not only successful, but he is a charming person.

Guest 2

That is true because their union is the talk of the town. It is a perfect match of beauty and wealth.

In another part of the ballroom, Charles and Grace Brown stand together observing the celebration.

Charles

(He spoke proudly)

She finally agreed to marry Adam, is it not an achievement to marry a man ad wealthy and influential as Adam Orwell?

Grace

(smiles in triumph)

We gave her no choice but to marry Adam. Ella can be stubborn at times, she would have gone ahead with that no do well artist.

They were looking at Ella as she stood beside Adam, her smile looked composed yet a close observer will know that she is distant.

Meanwhile, inside the kitchen are many caterers who are preparing various dishes, Richard is among them. He is disguised in a caterer's uniform, he has been observing to know when Ella may come into the kitchen, the moment he noticed her come into the kitchen to check on the food

Richard

(Calls softly Ella))

Ella

(She was shocked for she recognized his voice)

Richard? What are you doing here.

Richard

Be quiet, I had to see you.

Ella

But you are not supposed to be here.

Richard

I could not stay away from you any longer, i have missed you.

Ella

(Full of emotion, softly told him)

But this is my engagement party.

Richard

I know. But I had to tell you that I love you deeply.

Ella

(Held like a magnet)

Richard please don't do this to me.

Richard

Please i ask for a moment of you time.

He steps closer to her, their faces were inches apart.

Ella

(She whispers to him)

But this is madness.

Richard

It can only be our madness.

Richard leans on her and they started kissing a forbidden kiss.

Grace Brown came to see how things were progressing in the kitchen, she stumbled on them.

(from the doorway)

Ella?

They break apart immediately, Grace eyes was widened in shock

Grace

What is really happening here?

Black out.