Aftertaste Page #25

Season #1 Episode #1

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MELODY RAE and DEREK reunite with a monumental hug.

MELODY RAE:

How’s your wife. . .Gretchen, right?

DEREK:

Oh, awesome! She’s out of town in Maryland

visiting relatives.

(beat)

You know how I knew you lived here?

MELODY RAE:

How?

DEREK:

Well, sorry, Melody Rae, it’s not a

psychic phenomenon. I have to give credit

to Gretchen. She knew you moved to

McCloud because of the address on the return

label of your Christmas card.

MELODY RAE:

Ah, of course, Derek, always with a

logical explanation.

DEREK:

But it’s true! When she noticed I had a

new building contract on Cabernet Way,

she suggested I find out where you live

and pop in and say hi. But, you know, your

house wasn’t all that tough to spot. Your

red jeep sort of gave you away. I kept

thinking how I need to pop by sometime,

but you know how that goes. Then I heard

the both of you howling when we were

playing just now, and thought this would

be the perfect time to visit.

MELODY RAE:

It is the perfect time. And I’ve

seriously missed you.

A bronze complexioned, dark-haired kid, who looks about twenty-one, jumps from the bed of the truck and approaches Mimi. He introduced himself as Giacomo, and then kisses her hand and then both cheeks. As MELODY RAE hugs Mimi to cover up her embarrassment, out steps the gentleman from the passenger side of the truck—Mister S. As MELODY RAE turns around, Giacomo leans toward him, pats him on the back and introduces him.

GIACOMO:

This is my dad.

ZEEK:

Well, well, well, look who it is.

DEREK:

You two know each other?

ZEEK:

Somethin’ like that. Well, we haven’t

formally met. I’m Zeek. Zeek Marcello.

ZEEK leans forward to take MELODY RAE’S hand to kiss it. But before he can MELODY RAE immediately grabs his hand in a firm grip and begins shaking it sternly to control her own nervous shaking.

ZEEK:

A strong woman. . .I like that.

MELODY RAE:

Well, why don’t you all join us. Cocktail

anyone?

ZEEK:

Sounds good.

DEREK:

I’m in.

As MELODY RAE leads the way, ZEEK gently puts his palm

on the small of her back.

ZEEK:

You don’t remember me?

MELODY RAE speeds up her pace ignoring ZEEK.

ZEEK:

Oh, that’s right, Derek told me. You only

speak dog language.

(he speeds up his pace)

My dog’s name is Faith, by the way. Ring

a bell?

MELODY RAE:

Yes, of course. You’re Luca Marcello’s

brother. I ran into you at the grocery

store yesterday. I remember smelling you.

I mean. . .when I saw you, um...I...uh,

well...

ZEEK:

Y-e-e-es?

MELODY RAE:

You have a distinct smell is all, a good

smell. I just can’t place, um, the type of

cologne it is, er, uh. . .or scent. . .is

all.

MELODY RAE abruptly turns and briskly walks away from ZEEK

toward the outdoor patio near the Jacuzzi to retrieve her

champagne flute. And then with nervous energy attempts to busy herself by cleaning the champagne flutes at the outside bar

MIMI assists GIACOMO with removing the bongos from the truck and carrying them onto the patio. DEREK wanders into the living room and begins unpretentiously snooping around,

examining the makeshift operating system of MELODY RAE’S music equipment, with its stereo speakers askew and wires tangled about, looking for a way to improve the sound quality. MELODY RAE pours everyone a glass of Champagne. ZEEK walks toward her to transfer the glasses to the high standing table near the Jacuzzi. Precisely as he garners a few glasses, he leans in and whispers his secret scent.

ZEEK:

It’s Kirk’s Castile bar soap. . .if you

must know.

MELODY RAE:

Serious?

GIACOMO interrupts by grabbing ZEEK to join him and DEREK at the bongoes. The three of them play a formidable set of impressive rhythm, which sounds like Afro-Cuban percussion enchantment. After a set they join MELODY RAE and MIMI in the hot tub.

ZEEK:

Oh, we are currently forming a bongo band

and hoping to perform at the Labyrinthine

Lodge. You know, it’s that new hoity-toity

restaurant that overlooks Lake Shasta. So

we need as much practice as we can get.

REVEAL:
Several servings of champagne are poured to everyone. They are all becoming intoxicated.

MELODY RAE:

Wait a minute. Isn’t your brother, Luca,

a chef at that new local restaurant?

ZEEK:

Yes, in fact, he is.

MELODY RAE:

He’d always bring in flyers to my salon,

advertising upcoming events they offer. I

love their logo!

ZEEK:

Yeah, isn’t that the coolest design? Well,

they all know me pretty well there, too. I

happen to deliver them the best wine in

northern California, so I have a feeling

I’ll have no problem setting up a gig. It

just so happens, they want us to perform

right now. I just want to be sure we’re

ready, first.

DEREK:

Uh, yeah. . .me, too.

MELODY RAE:

I’ve always wanted to go there and check

out their menu. . .s-o-o-o, let me know

when you officially set a date to perform,

and I’ll show up.

(beat)

Mimi. You want to go with me?

MIMI is not listening, preoccupied kissing Giacomo.

ZEEK:

I’m going to grab us another bottle if

you don’t mind, Derek. I promise I’ll

get you another case.

DEREK:

Not necessary. Seize the moment, I say.

Wine is best shared in the company of

others, anyway.

ZEEK runs to fetch the case of red wine from the truck. Once the box of Bravante wine is reclaimed and sitting at his feet on the patio, he retrieves a bottle and gives a speech.

ZEEK:

This is an exceptionally elegant and

noteworthy wine with intense aromas, one

of my favorite varietals. It’s fresh and

full-bodied with a feminine feel of silky

tannins and floral aromatics.

MELODY RAE lifts herself out of the hot tub and flings on a long, red, white, and blue, long-sleeve, semi-sheer cardigan, and heads to the kitchen to acquire wine glasses for them all. When she returns DEREK is away from the hot tub and sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs facing the Jacuzzi and MIMI is sitting up on the ledge of the hot tub with her feet in the water. Giacomo is sitting as close as he possibly can next to her, with his hand on her leg, which he quickly removes when he sees MELODY RAE. ZEEK locates the corkscrew from behind the outdoor bar and uncorks a

couple bottles of wine. MELODY RAE elects to assist him by pouring everyone a glass and then takes her glass of wine and retreats to the Jacuzzi.

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