Post by Astrid Samson on Jul 14, 2019 22:51:11 GMT -8
The scene opens up on the terrace of the Hotel Metropole in Venice, Italy, overlooking the Venetian Lagoon and its gorgeous turquoise waters. Off in the distance, St. Mark's Campanile can be seen towering over much other buildings around it. With the sun shining down bright, and barely a cloud in the sky, it was the perfect situation for a meal outside… a late breakfast actually. A tray sat in the center of a table with juicy looking oranges, various bakery items and a pot of coffee. IPW Lady Icon, the woman known as the Iconic Queen, Astrid Samson sits at the table as her freshly turned 14 year old sister sits on the couch, pulling apart a flaky croissant as she gingerly balances a glass of orange juice next to her manicured bare foot.
Hanna: Asti, when are we heading to get my birthday present? You said we’d have to wait til Venice and well… we’re here.
Astrid pours some of the coffee into her white porcelain cup as she rolls her eyes.
Astrid: The older you get… the more I realize how much like me you really are considering what’s all happened in the past two years. But after we do the glass blowing thing and have lunch… we will be going to Gucci. I called them and using my broken and horrible Italian, told them we’d be in then.
Hanna: Good, good… I was browsing the site last night.
Astrid: Keep in mind that you’re only 14 and this bag is going to stay in Los Angeles. I don’t need it going to your head and you parade it around your school.
Hanna: A lot of parents at my school drive Mercedes and things like that and some even carry designer backpacks.
Astrid: But you’re not them… you’re humble and kind. And I would like it if you stayed that way.
Hanna rolls her eyes as she takes a sip of her juice.
Hanna: So… that Scottish lady… is she like Joshua’s girlfriend? I tried asking Jazzy...
Astrid’s head whips around so fast, it was a surprise she did not get whiplash.
Astrid: What in the hell!? Why?!
Hanna: You sure weren’t going to tell me so I asked the only other person I thought knew who she was.
Astrid: JOSHUA!!
“WHAT IS IT?!”
The matching scream of Joshua Samson, Esquire can be heard coming from inside the hotel room.
Astrid: It’s time to talk about… Scotti.
Dressed in a white A-shirt, khaki cargo pants, and flip flops, Joshua steps out onto the terrace.
Samson: What did you say?
Astrid: Hanna is asking… about Cat. I think it’s time to tell her.
Hanna: So do I. Who is she?
Astrid: She’s going to ask someone else or keep asking until we do.
He nervously chuckles.
Samson: Let me go grab a drink first.
Without waiting for a response, Joshua walks back into the suite. After a few short minutes, he returns glass of cognac in hand and lit cigar hanging from his mouth. He takes a seat in a chair next to his wife.
Samson: Well we knew this day was coming. Might as well not put off the inevitable.
Astrid: It’s 10 o’clock in the morning… eat something first.
She passes him a croissant as she sips at her coffee. He peers at the flaky bread before placing it back on the table and taking a sip of his drink.
Astrid: And yeah… we can’t put it off any longer.
Samson: You know my method...straightforward and to the point.
Astrid: Then… tell her.
Astrid keeps her eyes locked upon her husband as she smothers her croissant in some delicious Nutella spread.
Samson: Well, Hanna, Catriona, the woman you’ve seen around the house a lot lately is my girlfriend.
Astrid: Um… excuse me. You’re forgetting a little something. She’s not… just yours.
Samson: Can I finish?
He puffs at his cigar.
Samson: Catriona is also Asti’s girlfriend.
Hanna looks slightly confused, her gaze darting between her sister and Joshua.
Hanna: So… you’re like Svetlana, V and Kev on Shameless… well they were a throuple… not so much now.
Astrid: What in the hell are you doing watching Shameless.
Hanna: You let me watch your Netflix. I uh… I never logged out of it.
Astrid: Jesus…
Hanna: Don’t be mad… I just… I actually stopped watching it cause it started to get very what the fuck.
Astrid: LANGUAGE!
Samson: LANGUAGE!
Hanna: I’m 14… I hear worse at school. So does that mean you’re bi Asti?
Astrid’s eyes grew wide as she turns her head away from her sister, slipping into a silence.
Samson: First off you, may hear worse at school but as long as you’re with your sister and me, you won’t be using that type of language.
Hanna rolls her eyes.
Hanna: FINE! But I’m still waiting on an answer from Asti…
Astrid: Yes… yes… I am.
Hanna: Cool! I mean, it’s 2019 and all so like, you shouldn’t be ashamed or none of that.
Joshua silently nods in agreement as he sips from his drink.
Samson: The young lady has a valid point, Asti. I knew that she’d be mature enough to understand what was going on. We were worried for nothing.
Astrid: Well you can never tell, Hanna. I’ve heard stories… of people being cast aside by the ones they love when they get told things of that caliber.
Hanna: Yeah well I’m not mom and dad. Those two are a bunch of lunatics. Leo had to cut off all contact because they were harassing him for taking your side. Only stopped when he pressed harassment charges.
Astrid: They’ve done some bad shit and I’m glad you aren’t with them anymore.
Hanna: What I’m saying is… they don’t like anything that’s not on the straight and narrow. Though from what I’ve overheard between Clair and Leo… they’re lucky they’re not in prison.
Astrid: And that’s the golden truth.
Samson: Uh...Hanna, so what made you ask about Scotti...I mean, Catriona?
Hanna: She’s been around a lot and I noticed you had matching bracelets. I tried asking Jazzy but she was locked up as tight as Fort Knox, said that I had to ask you two.
Astrid hands her sister another croissant and the Nutella.
Samson: Very astute observation, Hanna.
Hanna: Neither of you were telling me anything… so I had to resort to the only other person I know who would know.
Joshua puffs at his cigar again.
Samson: So you’re totally cool with this information, Hanna? I mean, I’m not sure what we would do if you’re not because we really love Catriona and hope that you come to love her like family too?
Hanna: Like I said… it’s 2019 and you shouldn’t have to hide none of that feelings or whatever. Be you and if you hurt my sister… then we’ll have problems. You know, I almost stole Leo’s credit card and flew to LA to kick your ass.
A playful smile made its way onto Hanna’s face.
Samson: Language, young lady.
Astrid: Ass it an acceptable word honestly… but anything else most certainly is not! And no cussing at all in Swedish either!
Hanna: Understood.
Samson: Yeah...no. If I even said “butt” around the Colonel when I was fourteen I’d have had an ass whooping out of this world.
Hanna: I will be careful around her that’s for sure. She’s a tad bit on the scary side.
Hanna smothers her croissant in the chocolate hazelnut spread before taking a bite.
Hanna: So… when do I get to move to California permanently. I enjoy coming for the summer and for my school breaks… but I’d rather avoid snow if at all possible. Until college… I want to go to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
Sitting back in his chair, Joshua takes a sip of his drink before taking a puff of the cigar again.
Samson: Help me...I’m poor.
Astrid: Her school is taken care of… her inheritance has been set up with a special fund for her post-high school education.
Hanna: Soooooo…
Samson: Well a lot of it is still up to your Uncle and Aunt. Asti and I are more than ready for you to move in permanently.
Astrid: Just have to look at schools and such really. But yeah… it’s all up to Leo and Clair… well mostly Leo since he’s the primary guardian. Your room is all set up and all that so it’s an easy switch in that aspect.
Samson: Are we thinking public or private school?
Astrid: Probably private… her trust will provide the funds for that. It was set up when she was born by my grandparents. I had one too.
Samson: (muttering under his breath) Spoiled asses…
Hanna: I heard that… I have excellent hearing.
Astrid: My grandparents just wanted to make sure we were provided for. If you met my parents… you would understand. Hell they tried suing me… their own daughter… over a house.
Samson: I remember, baby. You forget that I we had started dating when you were dealing with that.
Astrid: That was the end result… you have the luxury of not seeing me waste away because I couldn’t eat from stress and depression. If I didn’t have Leo at that point… I don’t know what I would have done. He saved it all for me.
He reaches over to grab her hand into his own.
Samson: I know, baby. You don’t have to relive that. Your life is waayyyyy better now.
Astrid: So is hers. Because if it wasn’t for that forensic accountant I hired… they’d have wiped Hanna out.
Hanna: I’ve not seen mom and dad for almost two years. There’s a restraining order or something.
Astrid: But now that everything's out in the air and you know the truth… why don’t we concentrate on finishing breakfast and then head to the glass blowing thing.
Samson: I take it you’re referring to all three of us and not just the two of you?
Astrid: Of course you’re coming along. I have heard it’s a pretty cool thing to learn about and see. Then we could possibly buy some pieces… especially for Cat’s place.
Samson: Damn it! I guess if I have to go I might as well try to enjoy it. Speaking of getting Cat stuff, don’t let me forget to get her a bottle of wine before we leave.
Astrid: I’ve already made a note of it. When we go to Florence I’ll get her some. She told me before we left.
Samson: Good deal. I really need to stop drinking.
Of course as the words leave his mouth, the glass is raised to his lips to allow the brown liquor to flow into his mouth.
Astrid: Babe… please eat something.
Astrid grabs one of the oranges and hands it to him.
Astrid: You need to eat something.
Peering at the orange, Joshua shakes his head and places it back on the table.
Samson: I’ll eat something when we go out. I’ll be fine until then. I won’t drink drink until lunch, how about that?
Hanna: If I were you… I’d eat the orange. You should know her by now and that she won’t relent until you do.
Astrid smiles a little bit, picking the citrus fruit back up from the table.
Samson: Pass, Gizzy. Besides that orange will taste horrible with my cognac and cigar.
Astrid: Then have a croissant… We still have a bit of time before lunch.
Samson: Okay but after my drink.
Astrid: Then hurry up and finish it… we’ve got to leave soon.
Hannah pops the last bit of her second croissant in her mouth and chewed before washing it down with the rest of her orange juice. The scene slowly fades out as the three continue to enjoy the sun and finish their breakfast.
