The Price Of Being a King...(Part 2)

[demigod]

(Charity sits down in the seat opposite Tom, she adjusts baby Noah and makes herself comfortable. She smiles.)

Charity: Oh, well that’s good, I been looking forward to meeting this mystery King. You know its just dawned on me, none of you talk about him much do you.

(Tom fidgets with his Rolex watch nervously, Sadie picks up the slack)

Sadie: You see Charity we are all a little worried because Max can be a problem if the circumstances change. He doesn’t react favorably to much.

Charity: And what the heck does that mean exactly?

Matt: It means that when he does get here we are all going to have to watch over him and make sure he doesn’t upset anybody, we have a damaged reputation as it is.

Charity: Right yeah, no problem. How difficult can it be to look out for a 20 year old student?

(Sadie smirked to herself at Charity’s self confidence.)

Charity: Well, if that’s it then I’m gonna go an put Noah to bed he’s completely wore out.

(Charity got up and left the room.)

Sadie: She has no idea!

****

(Dawn was heading home up the main road, and then Terry jogged across from the woolpack over to her as she pushed TJ home.)

Terry: Dawn! Dawn; wait a minute…phew…<br>
(Terry leaned down and peeped into the pram and he gently rubbed TJ’s chin with his index finger.)

Dawn: Yes Terry what can I do for you?

Terry: Well, I were hoping that you might let me take TJ to the park later. After he’s been seen to and all that of course.

(Dawn thought about it for a moment, she looked at Terry’s hopeful face.)

Dawn: Ok, but have him back before tea time, and clean this time if possible.

(Dawn smiled. Terry smiled, he gave her arm a little pat, and then bent down to peep in at TJ again.)

Terry: I’ll see you later my little man!

(Terry then went on his way.)

****

(Tom pulled up his Volvo outside of Carl’s house, he walked up to the door, before he could even knock it was opened and there on the other side in nothing but a pair of boxers was Carl. Chastity was, as Tom had expected, all over Carl like a rash.)

Tom: Can I have a word?

(Tom asked flatly.)

Carl: Yeah, sure just let me get dressed first…<br>
Tom: I’ll meet you in the woolpack, the rest of us are going to be there having a drink at dinnertime.

Carl: Its about Max isn’t it?

Tom: Like I said, we’ll discuss it in the woolie.

(Tom turned and headed off in the direction of the woolpack the hub of the community. Carl just sighed.)

Chastity: Whas the matter with you? You look like he just wrote you out of his will.

Carl: I better get dressed.

(Carl pushed his way back into the house and headed upstairs.)

Chastity: Carl talk to me, what is it? You cant keep pushing me away like this its not fair!

****

(Steph was marching up the stairs as Alan was banging furiously on something to get his attention. Steph stopped at the door and rolled her eyes. She composed herself back to the image of sweetness and light, the image that she wanted her father to see as oppose to the image that she really gave off.)

Steph: Yes dad?

Alan: Stephanie what have you been doing? I have thumping away here furiously, for the last 10 minutes.

(Alan used the most indignant tone he could muster.)

Steph: I’m sorry dad, I ad the telly up too ‘igh. By the way, Im gonna need some money, we need some supplies.

Alan: I thought we already had stocked up? Oh…how much do you need?

Steph: Better call it a ton, just to be safe.

Alan: One hundred pounds!?

(Alan was shocked.)

Steph: I am going to need it today.

(Alan, almost reluctantly, went into the unit next to his bed and pulled out a tin which contained what appeared to four figures worth of cash. He handed Steph a hundred pounds and then replaced the tin)

Steph: Thanks dad, I wont be long.

(Steph happily scurried out of the room.)

Alan: But Steph, I need a drink, I am practically dying of thirst here!

(His calls went unanswered. Downstairs the grin on Steph’s face soon vanished as the phone began to ring on the other end came an all to familiar voice.)

Steph: You got some nerve phoning here again, fat Shelly Williams. I thought I made myself perfectly clear the last time when I told you that my dad doesn’t want nothing to do with you!

(There was a pause just for a moment. Shelly was doubtless pleading with Steph but to no avail. Steph’s evil determination remained.)

Steph: Forget it! There is absolutely no way, I am gonna give you the chance to hurt my dad again, do you get me?!

(Steph slammed the phone down, then as if nothing had happened collected her bag and walked out of the b and b.)

****

(Jimmy was staring a photo of a young teenage boy in the living room of Holdgate Farm. Sadie walked up behind him)

Sadie: What are you staring at?

Jimmy: You know, it were cruel what happened to him.

Sadie: I suppose it was.

(Sadie replied flatly, with little feeling, she stared round Jimmy’s arm and looked at the boy in the photograph. Then she turned away.)

Jimmy: You know, this very photograph were the last one ever taken of Max.

Sadie: I know, look, we better get going or Tom and the others will be wondering where we are.

(Jimmy replaced the photo of the smiling young man, he was the spitting image of Tom, except the eyes and nose, they obviously belonged to his mother. Jimmy sighed and went after his wife. Outside the house…)

Jimmy: I know that you and Max don’t exactly get on, I can’t say that I get on famously with him either. But, for dads sake, we have to try. Y’know how important family is to him.

Sadie: Is that meant to be another dig at me over children? Y’know Jimmy this quest for children is becoming very tiresome.

(Jimmy stared at Sadie mouth agape and slowly shook his head.)

Sadie: Jimmy! I didn’t mean it like that!

Jimmy: Its alright, I think I’ll walk to the woolie. Fresh air’ll do me good!

(Jimmy walked off leaving Sadie stood next to the TVR she just raised her eyebrows and then she got in and drove off. Jimmy stopped and stared, his face remorseful he walked on staring at the ground as he went.)

****

(Andy pulled up his tractor in the farmyard and climbed out he was greeted by his half-brother Daz carrying a can of lager for him.)

Andy: Wos this?

Daz: I wanted to say sorry, I were a little short with you the other day, I’m sorry for being such a pain.

(Andy accepted the can, and patted Daz on the shoulder affectionately.)

Andy: Don’t worry about it, after all, we’re family, and we’re all we’ve got.

Daz: I know, and I’m really glad for everything, but, I still think you’re a dirty get.

(Andy chuckled, Daz smiled too, then the younger Hopwood turned deadly serious.)

Daz: You do realize that if Cain finds out, its not only you he’ll take his wrath out on. If you get caught, we’re both dead meat.

Andy: Just leave Cain to me ok, I can handle him, just don’t say anything about me and Debbie Daz.

Daz: I won’t, it aint just your neck on the block this time is it?.

(Daz turned and headed back into the farm, leaving Andy to ponder everything that he had just said.)

****

[demigod]

(Meanwhile over in the woolpack the King family had assembled, Tom, Jimmy, Sadie, Charity, Matt and Carl sat like thieves huddled up together.)

Tom: Right, first things first we need to decide where he is going to stay. Now, there is one thing that concerns me about having him come to Holdgate, the Dingle’s are next door, I want him kept as far away from them as possible.

Charity: Why? What possible harm could my family do him?

Tom: It’s your family I am thinking of here Charity. We know what your family are like, no offense, to add Max to the equation would be like tipping petrol on a fire.

(Jimmy leaned forward towards his father.)

Jimmy: He could stay with me an Sadie up at Home Farm, there’s plenty of room and there’s always someone about there to keep’ eye on him.

Sadie: Jimmy?

Jimmy: What?!

Sadie: It’d be nice to be consulted first!

(Charity found a source of amusement in Sadie’s shock. She had to fight to keep her smirk suppressed)

Jimmy: He’s family, and besides he told us straight he were going to behave himself.

Sadie: I suppose you’ll be taking him to the golf course with you.

Jimmy: No…but…<br>
Sadie: Precisely! What about Matt can’t he put Max up?

Matt: ME! You must be joking. Last time we were in a room together we said some unspeakable things to each other.

(Tom shock his head and threw his arms up in the air obviously annoyed at the pass the parcel game that the family were beginning to play.)

Tom: Enough! I know you all have good reason to be concerned, though, for the moment I think I am going to go with Jimmy’s suggestion. Max will stay with you and Sadie.

(Sadie obviously didn’t look happy at that.)

Tom: Now, someone needs to collect him tomorrow, I can’t do it I have a meeting with the planning office.

Matt: I can do it, I’m free tomorrow.

Tom: Carl? Anything you want to add?

Carl: Not especially, but I tell you one thing dad, for once I agree with Sadie, the minute he gets here, the locals are going to be running us out of town. He’s bad news!

Tom: Takes one to know one I expect, doesn’t it Carl?

(Carl shook his head, he knew exactly what his father meant, especially as Tom gave knowing glances to Matt and Jimmy as well.)

****

(In the back of the pub Diane had just finished drinking some black coffee. Louise entered the living room.)

Louise: How are you feeling?

Diane: Ok now, you know, it’s the not knowing that is getting me.

Louise: You’re strong enough to beat this Diane.

Diane: I know love, its just sometimes you don’t feel very strong, if you know what I’m getting at…ha…look at me being stupid. You go back through, I’ll be in with you in a moment, just get myself together.

(Louise turned and walked out. Diane took a deep breath and then smiled again, she too made her way to the door.)

****

(The King’s began their mass exit and all headed off in their relevant directions, Tom looked at the darkening sky and wondered how on Earth he was going to explain Max to everyone, most importantly Charity.)

Jimmy: Sadie, where you goin?

Sadie: Into Hotten, I need to collect…<br>
Jimmy: No! You and me have been putting our chat off long enough, we need to discuss it and we have to do it before Max gets here.

(Sadie looked around her general area and then back at Jimmy.)

Sadie: Alright. Lets get it over with before ‘Mad Max’ gets here.

(Jimmy and Sadie climbed into her TVR and sped off back in the direction of Home Farm.)

****

(Meanwhile in Café Hope, Len and Pearl were sat at a table at the back by themselves just having a brief chat.)

Pearl: So what else did Ger-Vase say to you?

Len: I already told you…He aint pleased that your rapist son is coming to stay in our midst.

(Pearl threw her hands up off the table a few inches and let them fall to demonstrate the fact she was upset at the way this was turning out.)

Pearl: Its useless… isn’t it? Say what you will but Ger-Vase is right, if I were anyone else I’d feel unhappy about the situation too.

Len: Don’t worry love, for better or for worse, the decision has been made and confirmed we are stuck with it now, so we just have to carry on and be prepared for the worst and hope for the best eh?

(Pearl smiled at Len.)

Pearl: I still can’t believe what a rock you have been to me Leonard. I don’t deserve you.

Len: I don’t know about that, but I do know one thing, your Frank Bernard sure as heck doesn’t deserve you.

****

(The door to the front room of Home Farm burst open with Sadie leading the charge, and Jimmy close behind tempers were already beginning to fray.)

Sadie: Alright then Jimmy, come on let’s get this over with.

(Jimmy took his jacket off and flung it on the recliner.)

Jimmy: You would say that, anything I want and you just slap me down. But if its what you want then it’s a different story.

Sadie: Right, well, what do you want then Jimmy?

Jimmy: A family Sadie! I want a family of my own!

(Sadie went round and poured herself a glass of whiskey.)

Sadie: Well, I don’t want that.

Jimmy: Don’t I know it! You cant even begin to realize the pain and suffering you are causing me Sadie! For the past 12 years I have longed for and yearned for the day that I become a father. Well, I’m sick of dreaming about it! I’m wasting me life waiting for you, and I just cant do it anymore!

Sadie: Think of the life you already have! You have more money than some people do sense, a great family, me, and all the fine things in life that some people strive for yet never get. If you call that a waste, well, if you ask me you need to seek medical treatment.

(Jimmy moved in closer he became more assertive, for the first time ever he had his domineering wife on the back foot and he was not going to stop now.)

Jimmy: Well let me tell you, all this what we have. It means nothing to me, nothing! It will never mean anything either, until I get a child of my own. What is the point of it all Sadie, none of us are immortal! And when we do kick the bucket, what then? We can’t take all our finery’s with us can we? When that happens we may as well of had nothing.

(Jimmy turned and sat down on the sofa, Sadie moved round and sat next to him. Jimmy hung his head.)

Sadie: I know you are upset, but I can’t do something I don’t think is right. I don’t feel like I need children Jimmy. Not now, and not for the foreseeable future.

Jimmy: I know, and what about the unforeseeable future, that’s what’s botherin me! You know, Id happily trade all of this if it meant my own family!

(Sadie drew back in horror at the staunchness of her husbands resolve. He was not going to let his bone go with the dog.)

Sadie: You don’t mean that?!

Jimmy: You should know me well enough by now Sadie, to realize that I don’t say things that I don’t mean. I am deadly serious.

(Sadie turned away from Jimmy, he grabbed her arm, gently to stop her rising and leaving)

Jimmy: At least, think about it. I know that even the dog takes more priority in your life than the question of our future family. But please, think about it.

(Sadie nodded, her face was none too enthusiastic about the whole affair. Jimmy looked slightly better as a result.)

****

(Over in the woolpack, Chas and Carl were sat down just generally chatting away, the topic of conversation now seemed to rest on Chloe)

Carl: You know this sicko that’s been sending Chloe poison pen letters?

Chastity: Can’t say I do, never met him, or her.

(Carl puffed a sort of sigh)

Carl: You know what I mean…I think your being over protective, I mean, the only way we will get our privacy together is if she moves out.

Chastity: Look Carl, some weirdo is going too far, I know what it’s like to have to deal with weirdo’s! She doesn’t need that. I don’t like her much, but this time I genuinely feel for her.

(Carl took Chastity’s hand)

Carl: I know you do, I can see that. It’s just if you ever want to have peace and, more importantly, the place all to ourselves she has to go.

Chastity: And risk something happening to her just cause we want the place all to ourselves?

Carl: Chas, she wont even call the police, nothing. She is just burying her ‘ead, in the sand hopin its going to go away but it won’t…we…<br>
(Carl was cut off, an eerie silence filled the pub an unusual hush considering it was getting on into the evening, Carl noticed everybody was staring toward the door. He turned his head and then slowly rose to his feet.)

Chastity: Who the heck is that?

(Chastity shattered the silence like a knife, for a second everybody looked at her then back to the figure by the entrance of the pub)

Carl: My brother…Max.

To be continued…

[irishgal]

Oh me nerves! my imagination is flying!

cant wait for more

irishgal

[demigod]

Am I doing this right? Is it ok?

[irishgal]

DG

i think you doing a great job to have so many characters on the go, i have run into a wall with my latest piece, have added a small bit today but just can't get into it when i did The Curse of Home Farm i couldn't stop the ideas were just flowing.

Anyway keep up the great work!

irishgal

[nicholacraven]

I think the style that you have written it in is really good - just like an episode on TV going from one story to another then back again.

I am reading this in work while I have nothing to do - all your stories will keep me entertained for hours to come.

I can't wait for Max to arrive now - I had almost forgotten about him until you put him in your story. The more I read brings in my own mind, a different conclusion as to why we havent already seen him or heared more about him. One minute I think he could have a disability and the family have been too ashamed to let anyone know about it, the next he is in prison (although no one seems to have visited him). What ever it is he has done, it seems like the Kings don'e want anyone to know about it.

It is that convincing I have got carried away and am beleiving it as if it has already aired!

Keep them coming!

[eithne]

Hi DG! I just scanned through your part 2 quickly (I'll read it all later offline, sorry if I make any mistakes here) but you are doing really well so far. I, like others, am liking the stories all going from one to the other and then back again, like a real episode.

I'm wondering if it'll be a bit like Secrets in that the Pearl/F.B., Kings and others will all intertwine.

(Just on another thing. You may or may not want to post all the parts in the same thread. It'd make it easier for new readers to read earlier parts. It's just a suggestion, but if you don't want to then it's fine.)

[demigod]

No prob eithne. Next part coming tonight or by tomorrow morning.