OUTRAGEOUS EPISODE NINE: CURSUM PERFICIO
“Here ends my journey”
How will Anna survive the loss of her one true love? Especially when he keeps calling for her in her dreams…
Years into her dependency on prescription drugs, pregnant Anna prays to die before she miscarries. She’s not hoping for either, obviously, but she’s not stupid. She knows what she’s doing. She just can’t stop.
Larry empathizes with Anna, but he really doesn’t understand. If this pregnancy is her dream come true, how could she be willing to jeopardize it one pill at a time?
He prays for her, then he pleads with her. That’s when he becomes a problem. A liability. He knows too much and now has the gull to think he could can change her. That he can change this whole family with his love.
Anna runs away to the Bahamas. With Howard by her side, of course. They’re done with Larry. In the Bahamas, they’ll be able to avoid the paternity testing he will undoubtably want. The daughter he undoubtably wants.
Anna loves Larry, but not enough to change for him.
In this way, Anna’s new life in the Bahamas is a lot like her old one in LA. It’s isolated and lonely, even with a baby in her uterus.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s go back to Studio City. Before the Bahamas.
A duvet cocooned around her, Anna watches a couple of Fox News anchors discuss her life. Again. On screen, the lower third says: “PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH & ANNA NICOLE SMITH: UNUSUAL BEDFELLOWS.”
They cut to a special correspondent who discusses the Bush administration’s take on the Marshall vs Marshall case.
“The Bush administration not only filed arguments on Smith’s behalf but also asked to participate in the actual supreme court case,” the anchor says. “They want to help argue against the precedent that says state courts control probate issues and increase the authority of federal jurisdiction. In Smith’s case, this could mean finally accessing her inheritance after more than a decade of court battles.”
Anna slides completely under her silky sheets, but not before we see the big smile on her face.
OUTRAGEOUS
FEBRUARY 28, 2006
Outside the Supreme Court, Anna descends the grand staircase along with Howard, Daniel and members of her security team. Cameramen from every news station imaginable film her every move. Journalists and photographers hurl their cameras and mics her way. A police escort clears a path through the clamorous crowd for Anna.
Anna keeps her head down and avoids eye contact with everyone. She’s shielded by her huge black sunglasses. This is a far cry from the days when she treated court dates like movie premieres. At the Supreme Court, she’s silent. We’ve never seen her ignore fans or cameras like this before. She’s worn down. And she’s been warned.
Suddenly, a photographer jumps in front of her to take a photo straight on. She raises her hand toward her face, erecting an imaginary barrier between her and him, her and the public. He snaps the photo anyway.
Daniel trails behind, lost in the chaos. A massive throng of onlookers. Tons of Capitol Hill workers in business attire on their lunch breaks. For them, this moment is a Hollywood tabloid come to life. Daniel watches people as they watch his mom. Most of them gawk, snicker and cackle as she passes. Finally, he locks eyes with a middle-aged gay man. “You have the most beautiful mom in the world,” he shouts with a Southern twang. Daniel nods and hurries to catch up with her.
A van awaits and they all pile in. Once inside, Anna’s chest heaves with anxious breath. She finds a small palmful of pills tucked away in her purse and chugs them back with a warm Diet Coke.
“Are you allowed to drink Diet Coke when you’re pregnant?” Daniel asks her.
Anna nods “yes.”
Howard bounces with adrenaline and glows with pride.
“Well can we talk about it?,” Howard asks.
“Howard, c’mon,” Anna whines, tired.
“Six weeks until the opinion,” Howard teases. “Six weeks and we’re back in business.”
Anna exhales deeply.
“Always dreaming of tomorrow, aren’t we guys?” Anna asks. She’s sick of wasting her life in court. She nuzzles her head on Daniel’s shoulder.