INT. LOCAL FLOWER SHOP
Amy is picking out a FLOWER arrangement to bring to the
wake. Outside a BLIZZARD is making travel difficult.
NARRATOR
The wake is this evening. It's been
a miserable week. I've been numb
all weekend, that plus 24 inches of
blizzard snow kept me from the
club, but I knew I just had to
start living again and for sure I
needed the money so on the day of
the wake I made it to the club.
INT. AMY'S CLUB
Amy is sitting at the BAR when someone she used to dance for
walks in.
NARRATOR
He was a younger man, certainly
younger than my now pushing past 30
years on this Earth. A pleasant
fellow, I was glad to see him. He
hadn't planned on stopping in so he
didn't bring much money, apologized
for that, but I sat with him
anyway. As it turned out we laughed
about happy things, bitched about
everything else, and it helped me
push the terrible grief I was still
feeling to the back burner for a
while anyway.
INT. T.J. MAXX
Amy is inside at T.J. Maxx trying on several black dresses.
NARRATOR
Black of course but thinking how
gorgeous and always fashionable and
sexy my dear friend was, I knew I
wanted to dress to impress.
Scanning the racks I found one,
layered, down to just about my
knees, with a deep V-neck I knew
would look good with some pearls
and some thigh-high heeled boots I
had.
INT. AMY'S HOME
Now in her bedroom, Amy is DRESSING, putting on her makeup.
When ready, her man escorts her to the car and they drive
off to the funeral home.
NARRATOR
My man drove, I sat quietly--still
numb. Pulling up to the funeral
home my gets out to help me with
the flowers.
INT. FUNERAL HOME
Amy's man, holding the flowers, leads the way as Amy enters
the funeral home.
NARRATOR
Walking in I could see some people
I knew but many were strangers,
and, there were a few I wish hadn't
come. I was a jumble of mixed
emotions, heading the list,
sadness, anger, and bitterness.
Wooden, with a picture of her on
it, I glanced briefly at the casket
framed with flowers. I then moved
from a group of her friends to the
owner of her salon.
SALON OWNER
We spent the week all devastated,
quietly tending to client needs
while crying in corners, tissues in
hand and apologizing for so much
sadness.
NARRATOR
Finally, I was ready and approached
the casket, alone. Unable to look
at her I kept my eyes on the nearby
flowers and cried quietly, wiping
away my tears. Back with my man, I
stood there in shock, just looking
at all the different people who'd
gathered to honor her life,
remembering just how much they
loved her. And, as always, my man
was there for me, giving me space
when I needed to be alone. The wake
over we decided to join some of the
people going to a bar.
INT. AFTER WAKE BAR
Amy and her man arrive early and greet the OWNER who also
happened to be a friend of the deceased. Amy got there first
and slowly other came in to share stories and drink to drown
out their sorrows. Later, Amy DANCES with her friend's
distraught ex.
NARRATOR
As it turned out I knew the owner,
we'd worked together during my shot
girl days, and he was also a friend
of my friend. I ordered an Old
Fashioned, he set it down in front
of me and we reminisced. It was a
public bar but those of us from the
wake gathered together and kept the
drinks coming, round after round
after round. I was on a mission to
get good and drunk, yes, to drown
my sorrows. One of the guys who
came was a touch Marine who'd dated
my friend. Her passing hit him hard
and during a slow dance I grabbed
him, put my left hand on his
shoulder.
AMY
Come on...dance with me...come
on...let's dance...
NARRATOR
That seemed to help, got him at
least to smile. We did one full
turn, swayed back and forth.
AMY
So...gotta go...see you
tomorrow...don't drink too much
more and get home safely.
NARRATOR
Before leaving I went to the
restroom while my man went to pay
our tab. He learned that throughout
the night everyone was buying me
drinks so our bill was mostly
covered. That was something...they
had my back and I didn't even know
it.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BAR
Amy's man is helping her safely get to the car while
trudging through the snow, Amy all wobbly and swishy trying
to make steady progress in her stacked heels. Amy chuckles
at how clumsy she is.
AMY
Okay...are you laughing with me or
at me...
NARRATOR
I was just trying to have one,
brief lighthearted moment free from
the crushing grief that had been
suffocating my soul ever since she
past.
AMY'S MAN
I'm just laughin' darlin'...good to
see a smile on your face.
Amy gets home and decides to soak in a hot sudsy tub before
finally falling asleep for the night.
NARRATOR
With that he hoisted me into the
Silverado and took me home where I
soaked in a hot sudsy tub until I
was reasonably sober before finally
falling asleep. The funeral is
tomorrow...not sure how I'll ever
be able to get through it.
INT. FUNERAL HOME
Amy didn't sleep well, and so got up early to get ready for
the funeral, showering and dressing.
NARRATOR
I showered listlessly, then,
dressed, a black V-neck I bought
yesterday, it fit well, was frilly,
and anything but modest but for
some reason that seemed
appropriate, at least for someone
like me to wear. Did my hair and
makeup--not sure why I spent so
much time getting my eyes just
right when I know I'll be crying.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE SITE OF THE FUNERAL
Amy and her man pull up to the front door.
AMY'S MAN
Well...are you ready?
NARRATOR
I forced myself out of the
Silverado, exhaled slowly, before
walking to the front door. I stood
there, it was cold, I was frozen,
but worse frozen from the panic of
not wanting to make the tragedy of
her passing real by facing the
funeral, and yet I knew I had to
walk through those doors.
INT. CHURCH - SITE OF FUNERAL
Amy gingerly enters the FOYER and recognizes many of the
important people in her friend's life already gathered.
Then, walks into the CHURCH to find a seat.
NARRATOR
Once inside I saw many of the
important people in her life;
coworkers, friends, family, soon
someone came up behind me, putting
her hand on my shoulder.
AMY'S FRIEND'S FRIEND
How are you doing, sweetheart?
AMY
...not so god...how are you?
NARRATOR
That was pretty much my stock,
hones, blunt answer to anyone but
her family. Soon it was time for
the proceedings to begin. Entering
the church I could see a row of
people I knew, but feeling the need
for some privacy we sat by
ourselves. Soon a deathly quiet
came over the sanctuary. I remember
noticing all the flowers on either
side of her casket and had to
remind myself o breathe while
holding back a tide of tears I knew
were coming. I'm not quite sure
about the whole heaven or hell
thing, or even if something of us
survives death, so looking at her
casket my grief is compounded by
not knowing if I would ever see her
again. I did sing along with the
first hymn, one I recognized from
my Jehovah's Witnesses days. During
the hymns people began crying left
and right. Her sister then came to
the podium, began the eulogy, but
was so overcome with emotion she
had to stop to gather herself when
the tears came. While everyone in
the church is praying I start
shaking--bracing my shoulder up
against my man's arm, tissue in one
hand, while the other was balled up
into a right fist. Then, I dug my
nails into my arm intending to draw
blood...I wanted to bleed...I
needed to distract myself with the
pain. I looked down, no blood, only
the marks...and to this day I still
see the marks and I hope they never
go away.
INT. CHURCH FOYER
Amy has survived the funeral service and makes her way to
the church foyer.
NARRATOR
The funeral finally over I found
myself back in the foyer and after
some hugs nervously tried to make
polite conversation...I hate
that...I didn't want to look at
anyone, talk to anyone, and I
certainly didn't want to be
there...I was still angry and just
wanted to leave. Thank goodness for
my man, my rock, there for me every
step of the terribly uncomfortable
way. We had a smoke before heading
back to the church hall for a
luncheon.
INT. CHURCH HALL
Amy and her man enter the church hall for the memorial
LUNCHEON.
NARRATOR
Walking in I could see all the
different people in her life,
settling into seats at the tables.
It was nice...we all have one think
in common--our lover for her. We
got some food at the buffet and sat
down across from someone I knew
pretty well. I guess I was even
more upset than I realized...as I
tried to pick up the sandwich my
hand started to shake. I managed to
relax and soon we were all sharing
stories. Then, I was invited to
stop by another bar.
AMY
Thanks, but you know I'm done. I
just need to get home.
NARRATOR
At first put off some, she could
see I was about to burst into tears
and let it go.
AMY'S FRIEND'S STEPFATHER
Please, everyone, take home some of
the flowers.
NARRATOR
After making a point to say goodbye
to her mother and father, I gave my
man a time-to-go look.
AMY
I loved her so much...still can't
believe she's gone. You all take
care and I'm sure we'll be in touch
some day.
NARRATOR
With that I walked away. My man had
left early to get the Silverado. On
the way up the stairs I ran into
her adorable niece.
AMY
Can I have a hug goodbye for I go,
sweetheart?
NARRATOR
I stooped down and she gave me a
real hug, the kind only a pure and
innocent four-year-old can give.
AMY
I'll see you again, okay honey?
NARRATOR
With that, finally alone, I stepped
outside and pausing to take in the
depth of everything I'd just been
through slowly walked to the
Silverado.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
Amy is making her way to the Silverado. Reacting to the
cold, it felt good.
NARRATOR
The shock of cold air was like
being slapped in the face--it felt
good--it helped center me. I had
some flowers and a church program
to remember her by. It's over...I
know I'll never be the same, I know
I'll never have another friend like
her. We had a bond--we understood
each other. She filled a place in
my heart that will now evermore be
empty. We were going to grow old
together, but still be stylish
ladies,go out for brunch, sip on
Mimosas, and gossip just like we
did when we were young--that's not
going to happen but I have to
remember just how fortunate I was
to have someone like her in my
life...to be loved by someone like
her.
THE END OF SHAVE SLOWLY LIMITED TV SERIES EPISODE #06
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