Sonya and Graham part 3- An Infinite Bet (Guess what? It's even bigger than the other ones =P)

Sonya and Graham are getting married. They decide to do the ceremony in his mother’s home, that is where he lived the best moments of his life, before he met Sonya. The living room is beautifully decorated, with a podium in the centre of the room. Chairs are lined up facing the podium. A white carpet is extended towards the podium. It looks like a fairytale scenario.



(The guests are walking around the room, waiting for the wedding to start. A few colleagues of the couple are huddled together)

Henry- C’mon man! You’ve been staling. What’s your bet?

Bob- 6 months, because she cheats on him with a younger man.

(John stands a few feet from the men, talking to his wife, Rachel. He shakes his head, and lets out a disgusted sigh as he overhears the conversation)

Henry- Good, good. What about you, David?

David- 3 years, because he’s seeing someone younger.

Henry- If Graham goes any younger, he’ll be looking at high school girls.

(Rachel gently rubs John's arm after he sighs again. He whispers something in her ear, and she nods in agreement)

David- Yeah, well, what’s your bet?

Henry- Three months because she finally finds out about his long standing affair with that zoologist.

David- You think he’s sleeping with her?

Henry- Who wouldn’t? Have you seen her?

David- Well, yeah. But his thing with her was so long ago and it didn’t even last two weeks!

Henry- As far as we know. Look, what matters is this marriage is a joke and someone will collect big bucks when they get divorced. (He notices John and his wife walking away) Speaking of jokes… JOHN! Want to join us?

John- (He stares at Henry for a moment, as if debating his options. His wife whispers something in his ear) I know, honey. (She turns towards their table while he walks towards the men) What do you want?

Henry- Oh, nothing. Just wondering if you were feeling a bit jealous of Graham and his dear, sweet Sonya.

John- Why would I be jealous?

Henry- (Mockingly) Because he got himself a young chick, which you never managed to do.

(John opens his mouth to respond, but quickly closes it. He starts to turn around and leave, when Henry grabs his arm)

Henry- Now, now Johnny. No need to get huffy. I don’t think the bride and groom would appreciate your resentment. I do have a serious question for you though.

John- What?

Henry- I thought you might want to make some money in a bet.

John- What kind of bet?

Henry- How long do you think Graham and Sonya’s fairytale love story will last?

John-(Pulls his wallet out of his pocket, and extracts a twenty-dollar bill) Forever! (He slaps the money in Henry’s palm, and leaves)


(John reaches his table, where his wife is talking to a childhood friend of Sonya’s, Joanna)

Rachel- So, you’re going to write a book on Graham and Sonya’s relationship?

Joanna- Well, it’s more about relationships between people with some age differences.

Rachel- Do you have a title?

Joanna- Not yet. Any ideas?

(Rachel just laughs)

Rachel- What kind of things is your book going to deal with?

Joanna- How to deal with the age difference; how to deal with the comments and the looks… things like that. Honestly, I used to judge couples with obvious age differences. I’d see the men as dirty old men and the women as money suckers. I never believed there could be true love between two people with big age differences.

John- Oh? Have you never been in love with a much older guy?

Joanna- Nope. I usually stick to the ones that are my own age. Although… right now I am in love with a younger guy. But he’s just three years younger than me. It’s not that much.

Rachel- And how is that going?

Joanna- Undetermined.

(They laugh at Joanna’s response)

Rachel- What changed your mind about couples with big age differences?

Joanna- Sonya and Graham. Just looking at them together, it’s obvious that they love each other very much. They fought to be together, and they make each other happy. Plus, Graham is hot! (They laugh at that)

Rachel- Hey, since you’ve known Sonya a long time, you must know her parents. I didn’t see anyone that resembled her at the rehearsal dinner or here tonight, for that matter.

Joanna- (Her smile disappears) Sonya… she doesn’t get along with her parents.

Rachel- Oh… (She turns to her husband) So that’s why she asked you to walk her up the aisle.

John- Yeah.




Later

(Sonya is preparing herself for the ceremony, with the help of her two bridesmaids, her college friends, Rita and Kathryn. Someone knocks on the door)

John- (From the other side of the door) Sonya? Can I come in?
Sonya- Yeah, come in.
(John opens the door and just… stares)

John- Wow! You… You’re gorgeous!

Sonya- (Blushes at the compliment) Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.

John- Well, honey, I just came here to warn you that you have five minutes to finish getting ready.

Sonya- Ok, thanks.

(John opens the door to leave, but just as he opens it, Graham’s mother, Olivia, walks in like a lightning bolt)

Olivia- You know, it’s amazing! That man knows the name of every single bone in a dinosaur’s body, knows how to use tools I’ve never heard about, let alone touched, but he can’t figure out a bow tie! I had to help him out! That job, my dear, I happily hand over to you.

Sonya- Why, thank you, that’s very sweet of you.

Olivia- (Notices John at the door) What are you doing standing there? This is for women only. You’re only allowed in here to escort Sonya. Shoo, shoo! (She’s smiling playfully while she shoos him out)

John- I’m going, I’m going! (Mumbling while closing the door) No one would say she’s almost eighty.

Olivia- I heard that!

(John laughs on the other side of the door)

5 minutes later

(John and Sonya are outside the doorway, waiting for the signal)

Sonya- God, I’m so nervous!

John- Why should you be nervous? He’s the one who should be nervous. After all, he’s marrying the most beautiful woman in England.

Sonya- (Kisses his cheek) Thank you.

(The nuptial march begins. The doors open. Sonya and John start walking down the aisle. Sonya never takes her eyes off the man at the end of the aisle. The man she’s going to spend the rest of her life with. When she reaches him, he takes her hand and kisses it. They turn to the justice of the peace)

Justice of the peace- Friends and family, we have been invited here tonight to share with Graham and Sonya a very important moment in their lives. In the time they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured. Now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. If any person can show just cause why they may not be married—let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

(Nobody says anything. The justice of the peace continues the ceremony. Then comes the time for the bride and groom to recite their words)

Graham- Sonya, I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. I choose you to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as we both shall live.

Sonya- (With tears in her eyes) Graham, I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. I choose you to be my husband: to have and to hold, from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer for poorer; in sickness and in health; to have and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. (After Sonya puts the ring on his finger, Graham reaches out and wipes away her tears)

Justice of the peace- By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.

(Graham and Sonya turn to each other. He holds her face in his hands, pulls her to him and kisses her. They break apart, laughing)

Justice of the peace- Ladies and gentleman, I give you Mr. and Mrs.Williams.

(The room erupts in applause as Graham and Sonya walk away)


Later,in the patio

(Sonya and Graham stand with their foreheads pressed together, simply revelling in their bond)

Graham- I bought something for you.

Sonya- (Pulls her head back to look at him) You didn’t have to get me anything.

Graham- I know, but I wanted to.

(Sonya smiles as she takes the gift. She opens it to find a beautiful platinum necklace, with a small medallion that she had been ogling for a very long time)

Sonya- Oh, honey! How did you know?

Graham- That’s for me to know and for you… (He kisses her) to never find out.

Sonya- (Sarcastically) Ha ha ha.

Graham- There’s an engraving on the back.

(Sonya flips the medallion)

Sonya- “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom.”

Graham- It’s Shakespeare. Sonnet 116. (Sonya puts her arms around him and kisses him lovingly)

Sonya- Thank you.

Graham- You’re welcome.

Inside the house

(The bridesmaids, Rita and Kathryn are sitting together. Kathryn keeps taking pictures with her digital camera)

Rita- Don’t you think you’ve taken enough pictures?

Kathryn- No way! There’s a ton of memory still on here, and I need another good one of Sonya and Graham. (She spots Sonya) Speaking of them… Sonya! Come here!

(Sonya approaches the table. Just as she reaches them, Kathryn takes her picture, temporarily blinding her)

Sonya- Thanks, Kata. I didn’t need to see anyway.

Kathryn- (Giggling) Sorry. I just want to save as many pictures as I can of you wearing a dress. I’m sure after this I’ll only see you wearing one again when… well, probably never again.

Sonya- Very funny. Actually, you’re right. I didn’t even want to wear a dress today. I wanted to wear some nice, white pants. But Graham didn’t let me do it.

Graham- (Showing up behind Sonya and putting his arms around her) What didn’t I let you do?

Sonya- (Leaning into him) Nothing. (She smiles when he kisses her cheek)

Kathryn- Great! Now I can get a nice picture of you. (Graham raises an eyebrow at her) Please?

Sonya- What’s the matter? Don’t you want to take a picture with your wife?

Graham- She might be upset if I was in a picture with you instead.

Sonya- Ha ha. You’re on a roll today.

(Graham pulls Sonya close and places his cheek next to hers)

Graham- Go ahead.

Kathryn- (Poised with the camera) Say “you complete me”. (She laughs when the couple looks at her like she’s completely insane) Kidding. All right. 1, 2, 3 (She takes the picture)

Later

(Graham stands with a glass of champagne in his hand, talking with John and a colleague from work, Joshua. Someone touches his shoulder. He turns to find Henry)

Henry- I was just leaving and I wanted to congratulate you. It was a nice wedding, and I’m sure you and Sonya will be very happy.

Graham- I’d certainly bet on it.

Henry- (Looking very uncomfortable) Yeah, well… have a nice honeymoon. Bye (He leaves as fast as he can)

Joshua- What was that all about?

Graham- A fool and his money are soon parted.


Later, outside the house

(Sonya is saying goodbye to her guests. John and Rachel go to her to say goodbye)

John- Thank you for inviting us. We had a great time.

Sonya- Even when you had to walk me up the aisle?

John- Especially when I walked you up the aisle.

Sonya- Thank you. So… aren’t you going to wish me luck, like everyone did?

John- Why? You and Graham don’t need luck. You’ll be fine.

Sonya- Aww… That’s so sweet of you.

John- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop being mushy. Have a great time at the honeymoon.

Sonya- (Suggestively) Oh, you know I will.

(John grunts and turns to leave. Rachel and Sonya laugh)

Rachel- Well, John already said everything, so… call me when you come back, so we can have some lunch.

Sonya- I will. Bye.

Rachel- Bye.


In John’s car

Rachel- Those two are so cute together!

John- You say that because you never caught them making out against a wall.

Rachel- Oh, hush!

John- That Henry… he pissed me off! Who the hell does he think he is, making bets like that?

Rachel- Oh, you know him. He’s an idiot.

John- Well, at least I’ll win some bucks.

Rachel- You bet on it?

John- Yeah, I bet they’d stay together forever. And I am going to win. Earlier, I stepped out to the patio to get some air, when I heard a noise. I followed the noise and I found Sonya and Graham dancing outside. I thought it was odd, because no music could be heard. But then I noticed that Graham had his lips pressed to her ear. He was singing to her. Believe me, those two are in it forever. I am definitely going to win that bet.


Back at the house

(After saying goodbye to all the guests, Graham seeks out Sonya. He finds her outside in the patio. When he reaches her, he holds her close from behind)

Graham- So, are you ready to spend the rest of the night with your husband in bed?

Sonya- Yeah, but what are you going to be doing?

(Graham chuckles. He nuzzles her neck and turns her around in order to kiss her. They break apart after a while)

Sonya- So, now that we’re officially married, do you feel any different?

Graham- My left hand feels a little heavier. (Sonya laughs and buries her face in his neck)

Sonya- Let’s go home?

Graham- Yeah, let’s go home.


Outside their house

(Graham and Sonya reach their house, where they’re spending their first night as a married couple).

Graham- Welcome home! (He leaves the car and goes to her side to open her door)

Sonya- You know, I can’t wait for tomorrow. Just the thought of the beach house…

Graham- I can’t wait to get inside with you. (He moves to place one arm around her back to pick her up, but she quickly backs away from him)

Sonya- The carrying bride over the threshold thing is one tradition we can forget about.

Graham- Why?

Sonya- Do you know the origin of that tradition? In days of ‘marriage by capture’ the bride wasn’t going to go peacefully in the new home with her husband so the man had to drag or carry her across the threshold. A little too caveman for me. I’m perfectly capable of getting in there on my own.

Graham- There are other reasons behind carrying the bride. (In one swift motion he sweeps her up in his arms. Sonya playfully struggles, but Graham keeps a tight hold. She gives up and puts her arms around his neck)

Sonya- They better be good reasons.

Graham- One tradition says the new wife must enter her home by the main door, and to avoid bad luck, she must never trip or fall. So her husband must carry her. (He starts walking towards the front door)

Sonya- What happens if you trip?

Graham- (He stops walking and looks at her smiling face) I’m watching where I’m going. (He continues walking and speaking) Another reason for carrying the bride comes from the same belief that gave the idea of strewing the aisle with flower petals. It was believed the bride was susceptible to evil spirits. The husband provides a protective layer between the floor and the bride. (He opens the door)

Sonya- (Whispering) So basically you’re protecting me from ground monsters.

Graham- (Softly) Always, Sonya.

(Graham crosses over the threshold with his wife and closes the door behind them)


The End (And this time it really is "The End". No more stories. Zilch, Nada, Finito, kiss kiss, bye bye =P)