Hart to Hart: To Love Again

Chapter 12

Within a few minutes of the ambulance pulling away from the venue the driver did a u-turn and started heading back. Sophia removed the oxygen mask from her face, and sat up. "Well officers, did it work? Did you get her?" "We got her, Ms. Bowers. She apparently is very happy thinking the hit was successful, and we've got it all on the tape we hid in her dressing room. She is being placed under arrest as we speak" the officer told her. RJ climbed into the back of the ambulance and hugged Sophia. "You're alright, oh Baby, thank God" he said. "Will somebody tell me what's going on here?" One of the EMT's explained it all to him. "Mr. Hart, I'm Officer Mike Stevens, and this is my partner, Officer Dan Martin. Ms. Bowers came to us a while ago and told us about her problems...the threatening note with the photos, the threatening phone calls, and being assaulted by Ms. Lillian St. James in the hotel." He listened as the officer explained it all to him. "We did some checking into Ms. St. James. Apparently the woman has been fixated on you for a long time, Mr. Hart. She has photos of you going back at least 10 years. The only woman she saw as a threat...the only one you had any serious feelings for was Ms. Bowers here. RJ looked at Sophia. "Why didn't you tell me about this? When I thought you'd been shot...I lost it...you saw me...I..." Sophia cut him off. Hugging him tightly to her, she said, "I know Baby, and I'm so sorry. The Police told me the only way she'd believe she'd gotten away with it was if your reaction was genuine...I couldn't tell you. It broke my heart listening to you begging me to hang on...telling me you loved me, and that you were right there with me. And when you leaned down and kissed me..." She started crying into his chest, sobbing. "Baby, I'm so sorry." RJ held her tight, stroking her hair. "Shhh...It's alright, I understand. I'm just glad you're alright. I love you so much." When they got back to the venue Sophia and RJ were escorted to the dressing room where Lil was being detained. "We came up with this plan and approached Ms. Bowers with it. It seemed, to the LAPD, a sure way to flush her out. The shooter is an undercover officer. Ms. St. James hired 'our' hit man. We knew she was going to make an attempt on Ms. Bowers life, and we figured it would be here. So many factors pointed to it...Ms. Bowers was nominated for an award; she wasn't. And Ms. St. James knows you 2 are dating...100% jealousy, Mr. Hart. Ms. St James wanted her dead, and she'd be there to console you. 100% jealousy...That's what it comes down to. It seems Ms. St. James wanted Ms. Bowers 'taken care of', as she said on the tape." A female officer took Lil by the arm, "Ms. St. James...you're under arrest for Conspiracy to commit murder. You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law; you have the right to an attorney, and to have your attorney present during questioning if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you by the court. Do you understand your rights as told to you?" Lil nodded her head, and as she was being led out she yelled back to RJ, "I love you RJ...It was supposed to be you and me, happily ever after...You're mine...You were meant for me, don't you see that? She was in our way...I had to get rid of her...I had to...she'd never let us be happy, don't you see?"

Once the police had arranged for Sophia to come to the station in the morning to give her statement they left the venue. The M.C. approached Sophia and asked her to present the next award...It was only then that they realized the awards had continued in their absence. "An announcement was made that a technician had taken ill, and knocked over a lighting tower. The crowd doesn't realize what went on here." The whole incident took about 20 minutes. RJ went back and took his seat, and Sophia went to change into the spare dress she had in the dressing room. She changed, fixed her hair, and touched up her make-up. Taking a final look at herself in the mirror, she said to herself "OK Sophia, the show must go on." Two awards were presented while Sophia was backstage. Then she heard the M.C's announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen, Lillian St. James was to present our next award, but due to unforeseen circumstances she is unable to do so. So here to present the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is a newcomer among us. She won her first Academy Award earlier this evening for her wonderful work on the Screenplay for the Movie "To Love Again"...the beautiful and talented...Ms. Sophia Bowers." Applause erupted as Sophia took the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my unexpected pleasure to present the next Award." She heard the crowd buzzing as she began to speak, and being in a different dress than the one she was wearing to accept her award, she addressed them. "I suppose you're curious about my dress. When I'll tell you...I never thought I'd ever be here in this glorious venue, among so many of Hollywood's elite talents. When I left the stage earlier, after being honored by all of you, I could literally ring the dress out...I was that nervous." Everyone laughed. "Now...the nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role are...Alex Mundy for "The Thief", Peter Ryan for "Switch", RJ Hart for "To Love Again" and Dan Bigelow for "The Tallest Tower." She waited for applause to die down as she opened the envelope. "...And the winner is...RJ Hart for "To Love Again." The crowd erupted with applause as RJ shook his manager's hand and made his way to the stage. As he took centre-stage Sophia handed him his award, and as she kissed him on the cheek she whispered, "I love you, RJ."

RJ stood in front of the mike, "Ladies and gentlemen, friends and colleagues. I consider myself very fortunate to have been given this opportunity. The movie was cast, and everyone was in London ready to begin filming...Then I got a call from Jack, my agent, telling me that due to a sudden illness the leading man was being re-cast. The original lead was Mr. Sean Kahn" he said, acknowledging Mr. Kahn by pointing him. "Sean, I'm really glad to see that you've made such a marvelous recovery." He applauded his friend, and the audience joined him. "I want to thank a wonderful cast and crew; working with all of you has been a wonderful experience...and I am truly honored by this award. But working on this movie his brought me my biggest Award." He walked back to Sophia, took her hand and brought her to stand beside him. "This beautiful woman...is the...most precious prize of all" he was choking up. He turned to her, and holding her upper arms, he looked into her eyes. "Sophia, my life was missing something, but I didn't know what it was...until I met you. Sophia, you were the missing piece, and from the first time I saw you, sitting on the set wearing your big floppy hat, I love you." He bent down on one knee, held her hands, and through misty eyes he said. "Sophia Bowers, I love you more than anything or anyone in this world...Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?...will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?" The applause was deafening... Through teary eyes, and a heart so full of love for him she thought it would burst, she nodded, "YES! OH, YES...he pulled a velvet ring-box out of his pocket, and slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger. They shared a passionate kiss...then to Sophia's surprise he swept her up in his arms and they exited the stage...He put her down and they shared another loving kiss, this one a lot more sweet and tender. All RJ could think about was, "she said 'Yes'..."