Scene 6: [Arthur's father's mansion, Shelby is outside the door ringing the doorbell]

Shelby

Arthur?

[the door opens to reveal a butler]

Butler

Hello Miss Shelby, how may I be of service?

Shelby

Is Arthur home? I need to speak with him right away.

Butler

I'm sorry Miss Shelby but Master Arthur left about ten minutes ago with Miss Clementine, they were heading out to the golf course.

Shelby

Clementine? Arthur told me that he would come see me after work?

Butler

Before you jump to conclusions Miss Shelby, may I just say that Miss Clementine is Master Arthur's cousin?

Shelby

I wasn't worried about that, I know who she is. Would you excuse me I have to make a phone call.

Butler

Of course, I shall leave the door ajar if you wish to come in.

[Shelby walks out to a small pond on the side of the mansion, calls Arthur's cell when there's no answer she tries to call Clementine]

Clementine

Shelby, how are you?

Shelby

Do you know where Arthur is? He promised to come and see me this afternoon.

Clementine

I'm sorry Shelby, I stole him away from you then. I'm leaving in the morning and I asked Arthur to take me out tonight. I shall be going to France in the morning to study abroad for my masters degree.

Shelby

You haven't even gotten out of high school yet.

Clementine

My uncle paid his way for me to graduate early, my first term of college doesn't start until the fall but my mom is up there and promised that we would finally spend some time together.

I'm sorry I took Arthur away. He told Me what happened to your sister, I should've been more considerate when I made him come with me.

Shelby

That's fine Clementine, would you allow me to speak with him?

[brief noise as the phone is being transferred hands]

Arthur

Hello?

Shelby

Should I ask why you didn't answer your phone?

Arthur

Clementine hit it out of my hand and it landed in a pond, don't stand behind her she has a very strong swing.

Shelby

I'm sorry for interrupting, I'll see you another time.

Arthur

I called your mother to see if it was okay to go with Clementine.

Shelby

Why didn't you call me?

Arthur

I knew you were going to visit your father's grave, I know you leave your phone in the car when you enter a cemetery.

Shelby

I guess you have me figured out, I'll let you go. Tonight is my mom's usual family get together day and usually Fae attends and I miss. I guess it should be my turn to attend, with the circumstances.

Arthur

Okay, I'll call you tomorrow. I love you Shelby.

Shelby

I love you too.

[Shelby hangs up the phone]

[shelby walks around back to her car, it gives trouble and the engine starts smoking]

Shelby

Of course. I swear Fae is trying to mess with me.

[Shelby gets out of the car and pulls out her phone. Tries to dial her mom]

Mom

Hello?

Shelby

Mom it's me. Could you come pick me up from Arthur's house?

Mom

You mean the mansion?

Shelby

Yes. My car is smoking.

Mom

I'll send Myles down with his tow truck.

Shelby

No not Myles [phone hangs up] Mom! Grrrrr.

[she waits twenty minutes and a tow truck shows up]

Myles

Hey Shelby, your mom told me you needed a lift.

Shelby

[sassy] Yep.

Myles

Look I know you don't like me, what kid likes their step father?

Shelby

I just need a ride, my mom married you I had nothing to do with it. I don't need to hear the step-dad lecture.

Myles

Hop in, I'll attach your car. [he hops it of his truck and walks over to Shelby's. Shelby gets in the passenger seat of his truck]

I'm sorry about your sister, Fae was an amazing girl.

Shelby

I don't want to talk about her right now.

Myles

Hate me all you like, but don't push away your feelings towards Fae. And all I ask is one thing from you, to make it look like we get along in front of your mother.

Shelby

Deal.

[Myles attaches the car and they head out on the road back towards the moms house]

Myles

Could you tell me about your dad? What kind of person was he?

Shelby

Why do you care? He's out of your way now.

Myles

He never was, I was just ... ah ... interested.

Shelby

He was my dad. We'd joke around, he'd tell us stories, tuck us into bed at night. He was always there, I sprained my ankle before prom and we didn't have the money to get crutches or a wheelchair, so when everyone walked down the red carpet, he carried me while he was dressed up in his tuxedo. He bribed most of the kids in my class to dance with me for the slow dances so I could still dance, he tried but only one person turned the bribe down and still danced with me. He danced with me all night long, never let go.

Myles

Who danced with you?

Shelby

Arthur. That was the night we meet.

Myles

Your mother said you turned him down when he proposed, but still want him. You know, you could always ask your uncle to walk you down the aisle.

Shelby

I thought you would've put yourself up for candidacy.

Myles

You probably would say no.

Shelby

You're probably right.

Myles

If there's one thing we could do, as maybe try to bond or at least try to get along without pretending what would that be?

Shelby

I don't know.

Myles

I could take you fishing.

Shelby

My dad tried that before, got the fishing hook stuck in my thigh.

Myles

I could teach you about cars.

Shelby

No thanks.

Myles

I could teach you how to ice skate?

Shelby

That may be fun, I've never gone before.

Myles

How about when you come back from your honeymoon?

Shelby

I haven't even told him yes yet, I know I need to. And honeymoon? That's way off still.

Myles

Your mother and I talked about that, as your wedding gift your mother and I would like to send you and Arthur out, all expenses paid, backpacking across Europe.

[Shelby covers her mouth in excitement]

Myles

I noticed your room was decorated almost similarly to Venice, that will be your ending point and you two will stay five nights. When you return we have set up tickets to any broadway show that you'd like.

Shelby

Thank you [jumps over and hugs him, the wheel jerks and the car swerves but it's an empty road]

Myles

Careful, we don't need an accident.