Samantha King: Just Beginning

*VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED *
"Just Beginning"

Season 2: Episode 2

Starring
Queen-of-mean. as Samantha King

with...
Tylerisbold as Nathan Woodward
Welsh_Witch as Ellen Fray
.SAMtheMAN. as James Fray

The following morning, Samantha woke up to find several different people standing around her bed. Her parents and Dr. Patel were talking about her plans for the day while a male nurse withdrew her IV and bandaged her elbow. She looked around and saw that not only had her parents visited her, Nathan was also standing in the doorway. Samantha noticed her parents were oblivious of his appearance. She tried to shoo him away but Dr. Patel glanced in her direction while she did this. Involuntarily, he turned his head to the door and her parents did as well. Nathan froze and smiled uncertainly.

Ellen: Can we help you?
Nathan: (Opened his mouth to speak)
Samantha: (Interrupted Nathan) Mom, this is a friend of mine. He came to see me.

Ellen looked at Jay and then to Dr. Patel. Samantha knew that the doctor could assume he was the father of her child yet she was unsure of whether or not her parents were informed.

Dr. Patel: Why don’t we take this discussion outside while she has a visitor? (Led Ellen & James out the door)
Nathan: (Walks towards Samantha) Wow, I didn’t even think about seeing them.
Samantha: I know. Sorry.
Nathan: (Hugs her) Here, I brought you this. (Hands her the ring)
Samantha: Thanks. (Slipped it on her hand and turned the diamond side down so that only the gold band showed) Well....I think I’m going home today.
Nathan: Good Sam. That’s really good to hear. (Glanced around the room, uneasy and jittery)
Samantha: Are you scared?
Nathan: Yes.
Samantha: Why? What’s to be scared of?
Nathan: Everything! Having a baby is a big deal. Aren’t you scared?
Samantha: Does it really matter? I can’t avoid it.
Nathan: You haven’t considered abortion?
Samantha: Yes. But who can deny the joy of a newborn baby when the sun is shining so serenely? When the ocean carries waves to the shore so naturally? I won’t deny anyone the chance to experience such simple love and happiness. I’m not going to have an abortion Nathan.
Nathan: The day that child is born is the day your life practically ends. Don’t you want time to grow and live before having to take on the responsibility of another?
Samantha: I don’t expect you to understand how I feel about being a mother just as I don’t ever expect you to understand why I nearly died trying to perfect my body. It just seems right at the moment, even if it might be the wrong answer. Maybe having a baby is going to...

She glimpsed something out of the corner of her eye and glanced at the door to see her mother standing there, listening to what she said. Samantha knew she was caught. It was like a jolt of electricity surged through her body. Nathan looked over his shoulder and saw Ellen, glaring furiously at the pair of them.

Ellen: What did you say? (She walked over to the couple slowly, her blood boiling)
Samantha: (Sat up straighter in her bed and shook her head, as if denying she said anything)
James: (Put his hand on Ellen’s shoulder, accompanying her expression of fury with his own look of malice and disgrace)
Samantha: It’s nothing.
Ellen: The hell it isn’t! You’re pregnant!!
Nathan: (Stood up firmly and looked Ellen in the eyes) Mrs. King…
Ellen: It’s Fray, not King! And you better not tell me this is your fault!
Nathan: Look, I take full responsibility for Sam and.....
James: (Cursed under his breath before swinging a blow to Nathan’s cheek)
Nathan: (Stumbled backwards, leaning against the hospital bed for support)
Samantha: (Held on to Nathan’s arm and tried to ease him up) Please!! Don’t hit him!
Ellen: Look what you’ve done! You’ve messed with my daughter’s head, making her believe stupid ideas! Did she tell you she tried to kill herself?
Samantha: Mother!
Ellen: What kind of asshole does something like this to a child, you stupid son of a bitch!

Dr. Patel tried to silence her by having his nurses usher her outside but James protested by yelling for them to get their hands off his wife. The disturbance in the hospital room was so great that security had to come and escort the adults out of the room. Samantha got out of her bed, pulled on her robe, and followed hurriedly.

Outside the hospital, in the smoking area, they continued to yell and scream at one another. Samantha tried to reason with them, all the while defending Nathan. It surprised her greatly that Nathan did nothing to degrade or embarrass her parents other than explaining what the situation was in a raised voice. James shouted in his face, shoving him in the chest from time to time, but Nathan never retaliated. The fiasco ended with Ellen sobbing in her husband’s arm while he continued to swear at the Samantha & Nathan.

James: You’re a goddamn liar Samantha! That’s all we ever hear from you, isn’t it? Fucking lies!
Samantha: (Shook her head, trying to conceal her hurt and embarrassment. She grabbed Nathan’s arm and held him close to her) I’m not lying anymore! What don’t you understand? I love him!
Ellen: You love him? He’s a pedophile, a child molester, and a rapist! He doesn’t love you! Someone like that doesn’t love, Samantha. They’re selfish and they steal. He’s stolen your innocence and life and common sense!
Samantha: I’m not delusional! I can think and live for myself. It’s…
James: That’s absolutely right! You can pack up your shit and leave tonight. We don’t need any of your recklessness hanging around our house anymore!
Samantha: (Speechless) You can’t do this. Mom…
Ellen: You turned your back on us. What did you expect?
Samantha: (Gulped air, as though suffocating) Not this. I need you, Mom. You can’t leave me now!
Ellen: We didn’t choose this for you! Don’t try to make us feel guilty. You are a shame and a disgrace to this family. We didn’t raise you to turn into some kind of child prostitute!
Nathan: (Wrapped his arms around Samantha) We can work this out, Mrs. Fray.
Ellen: Don’t speak to me, either of you. I don’t care what happens now. Don’t call, don’t write, don’t visit. I don’t care if your bastard child is born. You are finished with us!
(Rearranged her purse on her shoulder vicariously and walked towards the car)
James: (Followed Ellen and didn’t look at Samantha even when touched his arm)
Samantha: Wait! Don’t leave me! Please! (Ran alongside their car as they sped out of the parking lot)

Nathan caught her by the arms to stop her from running out into the busy traffic outside of the hospital. She tried to fight him off, crying and cursing frantically but Nathan dragged her back to the entrance. Samantha threw herself to the ground and sobbed into her bathrobe. Nathan, looking both remorseful and distraught, tried to comfort her but was rejected.

Samantha: No, don’t even bother! Just leave me alone. I’m not even going to stop you this time!
Nathan: C’mon Sam. Let’s go home.
Samantha: I don’t have a home anymore! And I sure as hell don’t want yours! (Stood up and scuttled quickly through the hospital entrance and caught the elevator back up to her room. She tore off her hospital gown and changed into the clothes her parents brought)
Dr. Patel: Samantha, we can’t just let you leave. You haven’t been withdrawn yet.
Samantha: Well doctor, you can just send me the bill or sue me. Your choice.

Samantha stormed out of the room and Nathan chase right behind her. Inside the elevator, he tried to speak civilly to her but Samantha had nothing but swears and curses to retort. It was when she reached the parking lot that she remembered she had neither a car nor money for a bus. Nathan unlocked the doors to his car and Samantha angrily got in and they drove straight to her parents’ house.

Samantha entered the garage and took two large duffel bags with her into the house. Ellen and James watched her stampede to her room and begin shoving all of her possessions into bags. It did not take longer than half an hour for Samantha to collect her clothing and bathroom necessities. She zipped up her bags and ran them out to the car. When she returned, she looked around the old bedroom and sighed. Many of her things, including a television set and a dressing table, would be left behind because she found them to be both unwieldy and unconventional for her survival. It only crossed her mind at the last minute that it would be very useful to keep the bed. Mustering courage, she approached Ellen.

Samantha: Can I take the bed?
Ellen: No, it stays.
Samantha: I need somewhere to sleep. A mother-to-be can’t just sleep on the couch her whole pregnancy.
Ellen: Well, you should have thought of that before getting into this mess.
Samantha: You never gave me the chance to explain.
Ellen: I’m not interested in hearing anymore. If you’re finished, please leave.
Samantha: I’m moving my bank account. May I have my college fund at least?
Ellen: If that’s what it will take to be rid of you, then fine!
Samantha: Stop being so cruel. I made a mistake, Mom. One mistake! Just hold me! I need you now! (Stepping forward and hugging her mother)
Ellen: (Stood still and patted Samantha’s head softly) Not today, Sam. I can’t forgive you today or tomorrow. Probably not next week or next month. You’ve broken my heart. I worked to give you a wonderful life and this is how you repay me? (Holding Samantha’s face in her hands)
Samantha: (Lapsed back into tears)
Ellen: (Dropped her hands) Go.
Samantha: (Nodded and walked away and got into Nathan’s car)
Nathan: (Drove slowly away)
Samantha: (Touched his arm quickly) I have to go to the bank. I’m withdrawing my life savings and college fund.

Nathan turned headed towards town. Once they approached the bank, Samantha pulled her bankcard and identification out of her wallet. Within fifteen minutes, she returned to the car looking frustrated.

Nathan: What happened?
Samantha: I can’t touch my money for three days. It’s too big of a withdrawal.
Nathan: So, what are you going to do?
Samantha: I’ll just have to have it transferred electronically to another bank.
Nathan: It’ll be alright. Money’s safe at my bank.
Samantha: I’m not transferring to your bank, Nathan. I’m leaving. Tonight.
Nathan: (Raised his eyebrows) Oh yeah? And where are you going to go?
Samantha: I don’t know yet, but I’ve got enough to leave this damn town.
Nathan: This is stupid. I’m taking you back home with me.
Samantha: I can take care of myself. It has to be me this time. I’ve realized that all of this trouble I’ve gotten us into is because I rely on you to save me.
Nathan: This is not the time for you to start thinking about becoming independent! What about getting over your eating disorder? Changing the scenery isn’t going to change the problem. Right now you need to be taken care of by someone else.
Samantha: I’ve already made up my mind, Nate.
Nathan: Aren’t we starting a life together? I thought that’s what you wanted.
Samantha: No, it’s not. Maybe before I got knocked up or maybe before I started starving myself; that was what I wanted but it’s not anymore.

Nathan continued to argue with her but drove to the bus station anyway. He stood waiting outside of his car as Samantha went inside to buy a bus ticket. When she returned for her bags, he handed her a check.

Samantha: Nate...
Nathan: Please. Take it. (Put's check in her hand)
Samantha: (Looked into his eyes and sighed) My bus leaves in fifteenth minutes.

As the minutes ticked, Samantha stroked Nathan's face. Nathan closed his eyes as he pulled her close to his warm body. When he kissed her mouth, Samantha noticed his cheeks were damp. Nathan was crying soundlessly. Sam wiped his tears away.

Samantha: I’ll call and I’ll write. When things settle down, maybe I’ll come home. This isn’t permanent.
Nathan: Let me know when you find somewhere to stay. (Kissed the top of her head)
Samantha: I’ll keep in touch, I promise.

She kissed him one last time, slipping the ring he had given her in his hand. Using all her strength, she hoisted up her two bags and got into the boarding line. Nathan watched her only briefly before leaving the station. It wasn’t until a few minutes later, when Samantha was having her luggage weighed and boarded, that she realized her journey to self-discovery was just beginning.