“BETWEEN THE LINES” ©
Inspired
by a True Story:
Synopsis
/ Treatment
Created and Written by:
Bob Houseman
Bridgette is born with some very serious health issues. Rather than dealing
with these issues, her mother abandons her daughter and husband, leaving the
raising of their child to her husband Bob.
Although
devastated that his wife has made the decision she has, Bob knows that this
will be an incredible opportunity to be a full-time parent to his young
daughter, after losing his two older daughters many years ago.
Bob
is now at the hospital visiting his newborn daughter whom he names Bridgette.
After visiting his daughter, he decides to drive down to the seashore to clear
his head and begin to come to grips with the awesome responsibility he will
soon face.
While
he is walking along the seashore, he says hello to a woman he occasionally sees
walking her dog on the beach. Her name is Jeni. He tells Jeni that he is a new
father and the woman is thrilled for Bob.
After
further conversation with Jeni, Bob learns that Jeni recently lost her husband
and is currently unemployed. He tells Jeni that he and his partner Craig, are
making some changes in the office, and asks Jeni if she might be interested in
talking with them about a position in the office.
Bob
tells Jeni that his first responsibility will be the raising of his daughter as
a single father. Jeni is immediately impressed with Bob’s commitment to his
infant daughter.
Bob and Jeni begin to form
a warm friendship and Jeni becomes a great source of strength for Bob. Bob
frequently brings his daughter to his office with him, and more often than not,
Bridgette will walk over to Jeni’s desk and just hang out with her.
Bridgette
has a very difficult childhood. She deals with not only the issue of
abandonment by her birth mother, but in school, because of her health issues,
she is intellectually slower than other kids her own age.
Bridgette
develops a huge inferiority complex which the kids pick up on and take
advantage of.
Not
knowing any better, kids begin to bully and harass Bridgette. The issue of
abandonment by her mother, and the verbal abuse by some of her classmates,
leave a permanent scar on Bridgette’s heart.
Recognizing
that Bridgette is struggling both in school and with the issue of abandonment
by her mother, Jeni suggests to Bob that perhaps he find a sport or activity
which Bridgette can wrap her arms around.
Jeni
believes that by doing this, it will help neutralize the challenges that
Bridgette deals with as she is growing up. Jeni tells Bob that in school she
participated in the Olympic sport of Girls-Fast Pitch Softball. And currently
in Jeni’s spare time, Jeni is a pitching instructor in the sport.
Jeni
asks Bob if she might take Bridgette over to local ball field and throw the
ball around a bit. Bob appreciates Jeni’s thoughtful gesture and agrees. Right
away, Jeni sees that Bridgette is a natural athlete.
Jeni
comments to Bob that if one didn’t know any better, one would think Bridgette
has been playing sports all her life.
Jeni
and Bridgette quickly begin to develop a warm and loving bond between them. In
many ways, Bridgette begins to look at Jeni as the mother figure that she never
had while growing up.
Bridgette,
Jeni, and Bob are now in Bob’s office talking. Bridgette decides that now is as
good a time as any to start a conversation about her dad’s relationship with
Jeni. Bridgette feels that the status quo between her father and Jeni has been
going on long enough. That it’s time to move the relationship forward.
Bridgette
begins the conversation by reminding her dad that Jeni has always been there
for her and her dad. That through Jeni’s actions, Jeni has always expressed her
love for both of them. And that whenever challenges Bridgette goes through, it
is Jeni who is always there for her. Jeni enjoys watching the interaction
between Bob and his daughter.
As
Bob listens to his daughter, he realizes it’s time to get off the dime and show
Jeni how grateful he is for everything that she has done for both he and his daughter.
Jeni
tells Bob that she has loved him from the moment they first met. That what
sealed the deal for Jeni was when Bob stepped up to the plate and assumed his
parental responsibility with his daughter when Bridgette and her dad were
abandoned by Bob’s wife.
Bob
apologizes to Jeni for not recognizing sooner, everything that she has done for
both Bridgette and Bob. He tells Jeni that he too, has loved Jeni for a long
time. Bob asks Jeni to marry him.
Before
accepting Bob’s offer of marriage, Jeni decides to give Bob the needle for a
while. Observing what is going on, Bridgette cracks up. Jeni eventually accepts
Bob’s proposal, and they are married shortly thereafter.
Jeni
has been watching Bob’s mannerisms throughout the conversation. She sees that
Bob is getting a little overwhelmed. Being the gentle soul she is, Jeni
suggests to Bridgette, that perhaps her dad might need a time out for some
fresh air.
She
suggests to Bridgette, that perhaps they go to the park and work out for a
while.
Almost
overnight Bridgette grabs ahold of the Olympic sport of Girl’s Fast-Pitch
Softball. It’s clear that Bridgette is an incredible talent. Not only does
Bridgette quickly become a standout pitcher, but thanks to Jeni, she is
beginning to shed the insecurities that have haunted Bridgette throughout her
life.
One
afternoon, Bridgette is practicing with her teammates at the ball field, when a
ball gets loose and runs out into the street. Without thinking, Bridgette
chases after the ball. She is hit by an on-coming car and taken to the
hospital.
The initial concern is for
Bridgette’s life. However, after further examination, it is determined that has
suffered severe injuries to her legs, and the prognosis for a full recovery for
Bridgette is not favorable.
There is concern that
Bridgette might not ever walk again. Bridgette’s parents don’t accept the
doctor’s initial prognosis and neither does Bridgette.
Bridgette handles this
challenge as she has handled all of her challenges in life. Defeat is not an option.
With her dad’s and Jeni’s love and support, Bridgette begins to embark on her
long road to recovery.
She wills herself to get
better and eventually returns to her team. By overcoming this challenge,
Bridgette solidifies her role as the team leader.
The championship game of the
season is about to begin, and although Bridgette is being heavily recruited by
several college athletic programs, she and her family have yet to make a
decision as to where she will be going to college.
As Bob and Jeni sit down
before for the start of the game, Bob spots someone on the other side of the
ball filed. He excuses himself from Jeni and walks to where the individual is
sitting.
During the game, and as she
occasionally does, Bridgette looks in the direction of Jeni and her dad. She
notices that her dad is not there.
As Bridgette is walking off
the mound at the end of the inning she still doesn’t see her father. She now
begins to be concerned. After a few minutes she spots her father talking with
someone. The conversation appears to be rather animated. Bridgette, however, is
greatly relieved.
The game runs to its conclusion. As Bridgette heads
towards her to teammates to celebrate her team’s victory, her dad approaches
his daughter. Bridgette senses something is wrong. For the moment, Bob can only
look at his daughter. “What is it dad, what’s wrong”? Asks Bridgette.
After a long pause, Bob tells his daughter that her
mother is here at the ballpark. Bridgette replies by telling her father, that
she knows, she saw her mother watching the game with her dad. There is another
long pause before Bob tells his daughter, that her birth mother, June came to
the game.
Bridgette now has a blank expression on her face. Bob
asks Bridgette if she is interested in meeting her birth mother. Bridgette now
exhibits a solemn expression. She slowly turns and begins to walk away, but
thinks better of it.
Bridgette stares at her father for what seems like an
eternity. She is deep in thought. She realizes that the answer she gives her
father might change her life forever. Tears are now running down Bridgette’s
cheeks.
Bridgette’s
glances over to where June is standing. She looks back at her dad. There is a
long pause. Finally. “No dad, I’m not. You are married to my mother and she’s
standing next to you”.
Bob
stares at his daughter for a moment perhaps waiting for a different response
from his daughter. After a minute or two, Bridgette puts her arms around Jeni
and looks at her, and says, “Jeni is my mother, dad.”
With
that, Bridgette excuses herself and begins to walk towards an adjoining field,
once again deep in thought. She stops for a moment glancing in the direction of
where June is standing watching the festivities.
Jeni
and Bridgette’s dad now approach Bridgette. They begin to head toward the car.
However, as they are walking, Bridgette begins to lag behind.
Bridgette
looks in the direction of the first base line. She looks at the ground for a
moment. Bridgette is momentarily torn.
THE
END
"© 2016 By Bob Houseman. All Rights Reserved or similar”.
