Your Time Starts NOW!

PART 1

(Kraig and Loretta in her apartment around one evening. There is excitement in the air. Kraig can hardly contain himself. He has a plan for his future.)

Oh! Lori Lori Lori. I am so happy. At last, I am going to be rich. By midnight tonight, I will have $ 50 million. And another $ 50 million I will get once I am married to Tora tomorrow. Talk about pot luck.

Kraig, my darling. I am so happy for us. We will have a bright future.

That’s right. The only hitch is I have to get married to her. I can’t understand why her father Mr Jake Kramer made it as a condition. He was very adamant. Now that he is dead, his will has to be fulfilled.

Who cares about the marriage till the time you lay your hands on the promised $ 100 million. After that you part ways with her. And we are together.

We are still together. But there is going to be a gap since I will be married to her from tomorrow. I have to think of something to speed up the matters gradually. Let me have the $ 100 million. I will file a divorce case for incompatibility.

That’s later on darling. What were you, a small time thief? And I was a pole dancer. With this marriage, we will be in a league of our own.

Yeah. I remember, I had been to that Mexico beach where Mr Kramer’s cottage was. I had gone there to steal but I saw him drowning and I recognised him from his pics in the newspapers. I saved him. It was tough since he is so bulky and that steel right hand of his. It was terrible. Since then, he was grateful to me and employed me in his company. Later, he offered me $ 100 million to get married to his daughter. Since that time last year, my luck has taken an upswing. He died three months back leaving a will.

Darling, I am sure now that he is no more and you are getting married to her tomorrow, you will start controlling the entire billion dollar business. Since last year you are actively assisting Mr Kramer. You know all the ropes.

You are right Lori about me assisting Mr Kramer. But the business is controlled by Tora. I used to get the impression although he owned it but she was running it. I had taken an instant dislike to her. I have only met her twice and guess what I am getting married to her tomorrow. Mr Kramer had said that I had to be careful of her. I still don’t understand that.

If he had said that then you better beware. There must be something based on which he warned you.

I know. I know. But it doesn’t bother me. My plan is clear. Tomorrow I get married to her and come into $ 100 million as my wedding gift from Mr Kramer. Later I would like a share of the billions he had. Tora can’t have it all. Not only will I divorce her on grounds of incompatibility and get married to you but I will keep her hanging. I will demand money. I will push her to the very end. She will have no choice.

That’s pretty good.

I won’t let her rest in peace. Once I get married to her, I will be the man of the house. I will have a say in all the matters. You know, I am a very lucky man. I got you. I didn’t have a job but survived on burglary. Then I found Mr Kramer by luck. Now I am going to be wedded to the billions.

I can’t believe all this. The gods are smiling on us.

Me too. Some ten years back, when I did time in Nevada jail, there was a guy named Jim. He was in for murder. He had given me his contact number since he had taken a liking to me. If there is a need to bump someone, he will be the guy for me. If Tora becomes difficult, I will take the help of Jim. But that’s later.

Darling, don’t you think something has escaped your notice. Won’t Mr Kramer do a background check on you? He is a billionaire. He is giving his daughter in wedding to you. Won’t he want to know about you?

That did puzzle me initially. I am from the US and he is from Canada. But I did tell him I was unemployed looking for a suitable job. Didn’t have anyone, no relatives, no money. He believed me totally. Rest was all easy. It was he, who was paving the way for me. It was like he was waiting for me.

And why will Tora agree to marry you. She is a rich, independent girl. You say, she has met you a few times.

Beats me. When I was in the office last time, she barely offered me a seat. I sat down myself. She hardly looked at me. That really boiled my blood. But what could I do. But from tomorrow onwards, I will show her, who is the boss.

But darling, do be careful. I don’t want to lose you.

Forget about losing me. Let’s have a good time. From tomorrow our freedom will be curtailed. I won’t be able to meet you so frequently. I don’t know how I will spend time with her. But who cares. Let’s live in today, the immediate. By the way, Tora wanted to meet me tonight by 10 pm. By midnight I will inherit $ 50 milllion. I wonder what she has to say.

Let’s celebrate darling. These are our golden moments.

Sure, love. Let’s do. I love you.

Love you too.

***

PART 2

(Tora’s palatial home. She is with Josh McKenzie, who is in a wheel chair. )

Congrats Tora. You are getting married tomorrow.

What rubbish. You too have joined the bandwagon.

Don’t joke with me Tora. You are getting married tomorrow.

OK. So, what. What’s so special about that? Let me tell you, there is no wedding, no marriage. If I will get married, it will be only to you. So, there you go.

That’s very great of you. I feel honoured when you say it. But look at me. I am handicapped. Forever consigned to wheelchair. I will never be able to stand.

Josh, will you stop it. You will stand. You will walk. There is nothing wrong with you. You need complete rest. I have arranged for the best team of neuro surgeons for you. They will bring heavens together to make you alright. I know it in my heart. You will walk to the altar with me. It is just a matter of time.

Tora. I don’t know whether it is right for me to ask you but tomorrow you are getting married. I…

Did I say, I was getting married! No! That should be all. That tomorrow will never come. But sometime next month we will be married. I can’t wait for that. I have loved you God knows since when. I can’t imagine my life without you. Be that in wheelchair or without. But have no doubt, I am there for life with you.

Tora, think about it. I can’t offer you anything. I have no money, nothing. Now, I am handicapped too.

That doesn’t matter. You always loved me. I always loved you. On that outing when we were in Prince Island, that truck was loaded with logs. And those logs fell. Had you not come in my way, one of the logs would have gone across my heart. But you took the beating on your back thus damaging your spinal cord. My life is all because of you. It is my duty to get you cured, come rain or sunshine. Whatever be the result, I am there with you for life. I can’t imagine my life without you.

Me too, Tora. But I can’t do much. I…

Now, now. Don’t think like this. Just rest. Even Mr Trevor is here. I had always considered him my father. I wish mom was married to him. I would want him with me on my wedding day. My family is complete.

Tora. I…

Josh. Don’t say anything more. Just rest. If you need anything, press the bell. And I will be also here anytime.

(Dillon the butler enters.)

Madam. Mr Kraig is here. He says, you have a meeting with him.

Oh, yes, yes. Thanks for reminding me. Give me two minutes. Will you take Josh to his room please. Then send in Kraig. Later, you know what has to be done.

Yes, Madam. Everything has been arranged. It will be done on time. Now, if you will excuse me. I will take Mr Josh to his room and send in My Kraig.

That will be all, Dillon.

PART 3

(Kraig enters.)

How are you tonight, Tora. It is my pleasure to be here at your call. Is there something of interest that you wish to discuss with me? May I have the pleasure of sitting with you.

Don’t sit next to me. Go there and sit. So, how did your meeting with Lauretta go? Did you enjoy it very much? You look very happy.

Yes, I enjoyed it very much. Err…how do you know that. No, no. There is no Lauretta, no meeting.

Liar, liar. There is nothing about your life that I don’t know. This is the dossier on you. Since your birth, every major and minor detail is entered here. Your burglaries, time in jail, Lauretta, everything buster. It is all in-camera with me.

What is this? I don’t understand. What are you accusing me of. I don’t like it.

Even I don’t like what I read about you. So you are getting married tomorrow?

I suppose we are getting married as per the wish of your father. He…

And you will be inheriting $ 100 million too. Is that right?

That was what Mr Kramer wished for. He…

But that is not what I wish for you. There is something I have arranged for you. But before that let me tell you something else.

I don’t understand. I…

You don’t need to understand anything. By the time I am finished with you, you will be beyond this world. And you will be much happier too. Away from the cares of this world.

Now this is getting soggy. I don’t like the tone of what you say.

Do you think your stupid story was bought by my father, buster. You SOB! He was another SOB. As much as you curried your way into his heart by saving his life, my father did the same by being a clerk and then a manager into my granddad’s business. My father had eyes on my granddad’s money only. When my granddad offered him my mom in marriage, he readily agreed. She was a slow person, away from the business world and in love with Mike. My granddad got her married to my dad much against her wishes.

My father usurped all the property. He is the caretaker of it all till I turn 25. And that is tomorrow. Do you like the story till now.

I…I…

Never mind. One day, Mike had come to visit my mom on her birthday. Dad was angry and hit my mom. When I came to know of it, I got my dad tied to a chair and the right hand that he had used to hit my mom, put it over a slow flame. It took about one and a half days for it to get melted – both the flesh and the bone.

Why are you telling this to me? I don’t want to hear it at all. I…

Don’t interrupt me any further, buster. I don’t like that. My dad had fainted. It took him about three months to recover. The right hand was gone. I got him a steel one made. It was not of much use. He never again became violent but his hatred for me grew. He couldn’t take any decision without me for he knew what I was capable of. Despite knowing about your background, he agreed for this alliance. What do you think – if I could do that to him, what can I do to you. What do I have in store for you?

I am understanding something. I…

It is too late now, buster. There is no marriage. There is no $ 100 million.

What do you mean? Tomorrow…

There is no tomorrow for you. Do you understand that? I have something planned for you. When you were having that little chit chat with Lauretta, I have placed a bounty of $ 100 million on your head. A slug doesn’t cost much. And I am offering $ 100 million. That’s peanuts for me.

You bitch! You are scaring me. But I won’t be scared and leave my share of $ 100 million. I can look into your scheme of things. I…

Be careful as to how you address me. I will get that rubbery tongue ripped apart in no time. Till now, I have told you all about you. Do you think I was lying about you? From now onwards, you are safe no where. You do not know, who will claim you. Peaople kill for $ 1000 but I am offering $ 100 million.

You rascal… you… If what you say is true. Please leave me alone. I want to leave this place. I will go away with Lauretta. I don’t want anything, I don’t want any money.

Who ever talked of any money. You are kidding yourself. I wouldn’t advise you going to Lauretta. She is more ambitious than you. She is waiting with a gun for you. You are really unlucky. Unlucky in love, unlucky in money but lucky in death.

No. no. I don’t want to die. Please, tell me. It is not true. I will do anything you ask of me. But please don’t do this. I…

OK. I will make a deal now. If you escape being killed till tomorrow morning, do come back. I will give you $ 100 million for you will deserve it for escaping death. But I very much doubt it.

You bitch. I will go to the cops. I will tell them about you and what you told me just now.

Don’t do this mistake. You never know. A cop may kill you in an ‘encounter’. No cop will need a job once they get $ 100 million. You do have a record, right? I can see you turning yellow. As you will go out, everything will be filmed till your death. Whoever claims you will get the reward. So, I will be watching the proceedings with much interest. Don’t deny me the pleasure, buster.

Let me go, please. Let me go. I don’t want anything. I will never come back.

Of course, once you die, you will never come back. And I am not stopping you. If you live beyond tonight, you will ever regret it. Death will ever pursue you. Fear will never leave you. I wish you all the best. That woman Lauretta was not lucky for you.

Please forgive me. I beg of you. I will do anything you ask of me. Please spare me my life. Please…Madam…

Now, if you will excuse me. You are running out of time. Don’t trust anyone from now on. Not even the dogs. Decide for yourself. I wish you all the best. Your time starts now!

***