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Car Radio
Alert for Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County is currently under a tropical storm watch.
Car Radio
You may be interested to know the last tropical storm hit California in 1997.
Lissa
You’ve gotta be kidding me!
Car Radio
Ring,Ring
You press the call button on the steering wheel to answer the incoming call.
Lissa
What?
Sandy
Hi to you, too.
Lissa
Listen, Sandy, this is not a good time.
Sandy
What's up, roomie?
Lissa
What's up?!! The radio guy just announced a freaking tropical storm!
Sandy
Relax, Lissa. It's only a watch… LA never gets hit.
Lissa
It's just the worst timing. I'm stuck on the 101 with dead AC in a heat wave. I don't need a tropical storm!
Sandy
You're stuck in traffic?
Lissa
Yes! And I’m going to be late!
Lissa
(If I miss this interview, my agent—er, my roommate's current boyfriend—is going to kill me!)
Sandy
Keep your cool. You can get off at the next exit.
Cars line the parking lot formerly known as Highway 101.
Lissa
Ha! What next exit?
Sandy
Look, Lissa, Joe is a total up-and-comer in the industry. He pulled some major strings to get you this appointment.
Sandy
You better not screw it up for me.
Lissa
My screenplay is good. Sandy, you know it is. You've read it. Joe liked it, too. That has to count for something. And historical romance is the thing right now.
Lissa
I might have gotten this interview on my own.
Sandy
Whatever. You still need to show up! You're about to graduate from film school. If you don't nail this interview, you'll be in deep s**t financially.
Lissa
(That's true. Who knows if Sandy will have the same boyfriend next week… let alone long enough to reschedule?!)
Lissa
(This could be my big break… )
Lissa
It's not exactly a Hollywood movie production company.
Sandy
You ungrateful b***h!
Lissa
Don't be such a drama queen!
Lissa
I'll make the appointment. Bye!
You inch your car onto the shoulder and slam on the gas pedal.
Car horns blast at you as you zoom towards the next exit.
Lissa
(Come on, car. Don’t give up on me now.)
Lissa
(If I take York Boulevard toward West Hollywood… )
Lissa
(I have time to make it.)
Your car hits a pothole hard and suddenly stops dead in the middle of the road.
Lissa
Damn it! I don't have time for this!
You pound your fist against the steering wheel.
Lissa
I need to call AAA! Where's my cell phone?
Lissa
No signal?
Lissa
That's strange.
Lissa
Guess I'll have to find help the old-fashioned way.
You grab your purse and a bottle of water from the passenger's seat before exiting your car.
With a flick of your golden hair, you start walking down the road in your pencil skirt and 4-inch heels.
Lissa
(These shoes were not made for walking. It's too bad they make my legs look so good.)
The sky darkens. The earth shakes under your feet, and you feel a sharp pain in your head. You pause to compose yourself.
In the hazy distance, a lone figure appears walking toward you.
Lissa
Can you help me? My car broke down.
The man takes off his wide-brimmed straw hat and holds it close to his chest.
Aaron
…
Lissa
Do you speak English?
Aaron
Yes.
Lissa
(Eek! Can't this guy see I'm in a rush?)
Lissa
Do you live around here?
Aaron
…
Lissa
Oh my god! It's not that hard a question!
Lissa
And what are you wearing?
Lissa
Oh, I get it! You're dressed in period costume. I've stumbled onto a movie set!
Aaron
…
Lissa
That explains the worn, dusty clothes. And that haircut? Yikes!
Lissa
(He's cute though.)
Lissa
(Mmmm… Forget cute. With his features and those defined biceps, he is definitely model material.)
Lissa
I just need to use your phone for a minute. Then I'll be out of your hair.
Aaron
Phone?
Lissa
Telephone? Cell, if you have one?
Lissa
I need to call a tow truck.
You put your hand up to the side of your face to mimic a phone.
Aaron
Well… There's a telegraph machine at the General Store.
Lissa
You don't need to stay in character. Seriously.
Aaron
Excuse me, ma’am. I’m forgettin’ my manners.
Aaron
My name is Aaron O'Connor. My mama would have my hide for not offering you hospitality. Our place is around the corner.
Lissa
I'm Lissa.
Aaron
Pleased to meet ya, Lissa. I'm headin' home now. You can come along with me.
Aaron
My sister is about your size, too.
Lissa
Okay?
Lissa
Thanks.
Lissa
(This is crazy, but it’s not like I have a lot of options right now.)
You follow him down the dusty road, over a hill to a small white house nestled in a valley.
Lissa
Yes! Civilization! Finally!
Lissa
(Does a lone house qualify as civilization?)
Lissa
(This is a small movie set. Where is everything else?)
Lissa
(Why is it so damn quiet here?)
A woman clad in a plain, brown dress with puffy short sleeves comes out of the house carrying a toddler.
Aaron
Hi, Toby!
Mama
Aaron O’Connor, where have you been?
Aaron
Sorry, Mama, I got sidetracked on the way.
Mama
Whom do we have here?
Lissa
Lissa Edward. My car broke down. Can I use your phone?
Aaron
She seems awful confused, Mama. Must be the heat.
Lissa
Hello! Confused?
Lissa
I'm not the one who's still pretending he's living in the cowboy days.
Lissa
This is a pretty impressive movie set, by the way.
Aaron
See, Mama? She's off her rocker.
Mama
That's enough, Aaron.
Mama
You can call me "Mama," child. Everyone does, although my given name is Mary.
Mama
Toby, shoo into the house now.
Mama
Come along, Lissa. We’ll get you a tall drink of water and some proper clothes.
Lissa
Proper clothes?
Lissa
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
You put your hands on your hips and glare at the woman.
Lissa
There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing.
Lissa
(You're the last people I'd look to for fashion advice!)
Lissa
I just need to use your phone.
Mama
It's awful hot out today.
Mama
A nice cold drink might do you some good.
You glance down at your purse and the half-empty warm bottle of water.
Lissa
Maybe a little drink. Then I really need to use the phone and get going.
Mama smiles and ushers you through the door.
Mama
Come in, child.
Lissa
It's dark in here.
Lissa
(Where's the light switch?)
Lissa
(Where's the phone?)
Lissa
(What's going on?)
Lissa
Either this is the best movie set I've ever seen or…
Lissa
(No… it can't be… Time travel isn't possible…)
Lissa
No… no… no…
You drop to the floor as your surroundings fade into darkness.
Aaron
Lissa!
Strong arms lift you into the air.
You don’t need to open your eyes to know Aaron is holding you.
He lays you down on the daybed, and your body responds pleasantly.
Lissa
(Oh, my.)
You hear voices, but your eyes feel too heavy to open.
Mama
Do you think she hit her head? Spoutin' nonsense the way she has?
Mama
She doesn't feel overly warm, but this wet cloth will help cool her down.
Mama
What kind of name is "Lissa" anyway? And look what she’s wearin'? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Mama
Fetch me one of Sarah’s day dresses. They look about the same size.
Mama
Now shoo, so I can dress this girl.
You feel your leaden limbs rise as firm hands maneuver you out of your clothes.
You want to protest, but your lips won't move.
Mama
Well, I'm done. You can come back now.
Mama
Pretty little thing, ain’t she?
Aaron
Don’t matter none.
Mama
Ah, Aaron. Just because your Pa is gone, don’t mean your life—
Aaron
I’ll take care of the family. Don’t fuss over me, Mama.
Mama
I’m your mama. I get to fuss.
Mama
Did you speak with Jacob?
Aaron
Never made it over there. Saw her walking down the road and...
Mama
Ah. I’ll watch her now. You go on over and talk to Jacob.
Aaron
Sarah’s not going to be happy about this.
Mama
Sarah knows.
Aaron
God, I wish we had another choice in this.
Aaron sits down by the daybed.
Aaron
Pa is gone. Nothing changing that for sure, but marrying Sarah off so sudden-like?
Aaron
I feel like we're selling her, like cattle, to the highest bidder. I know we're not actually sellin' her, but it sure feels that way.
Aaron
Will she blame me?
Aaron
Jacob seems a nice enough man. He has a prime piece of land, solid house, and good livestock.
Aaron
None of that will matter to my sister. Sarah deserves to find love.
Lissa
Ohhhhh...
Aaron
Are you okay?
Lissa
I-I think so.
Mama
You best be going now, Aaron.
Aaron
Yup.
Mama
I’ll tend to this one.
Aaron
Looks like you got the better deal.
You open your eyes and touch your head gingerly.
Lissa
Agh. My head hurts.
A motherly looking woman peers down at you, concern clearly etched on her face.
Lissa
Mmmm… Ahhh… I just had the strangest dream…
You look down at yourself.
Lissa
What the hell am I wearing?
Lissa
Where are my clothes?
Lissa
My purse… Where is my purse?
You look around the room, wide-eyed.
The door swings open, and Aaron walks in.
Aaron
I can't find Sarah!
