THE ROUND RED CANDY,Script by Michael Kokkinaris and George Mehalchick

THE ROUND RED CANDY

A Script for a Feature Film

Written by Michael Kokkinaris

and George Mehalchick

ACT 1

Three lives intertwine in a tale of love, loss and determination that spans decades.ALAINE O'SALIVAN. on the surface, appears to have led a charmed life, rising from a beggar child dancing on the streets of New York City to the pinnacle of fame as a prima ballerina. NEEL WALKER appears to be a successful lawyer and military hero. However, each of their lives are not so simple; and LIAM O'TOOL, although he dies at age 15, is the reason!

Alaine recounts her life story for an author who wants to tell the story of this prima ballerina. Alaine graced stages and audiences all over the world. She tells of her life in dance since she first emigrated to the United States from Ireland with her father when she was eleven. But the interviewer gets more of a story than she ever thought existed. Alaine describes how she came with her father, who had no education or skills; but he could play the violin and did play on the streets of New York City, hoping for charity from passersby. He forced his young daughter to dance to the music.

She meets Liam while dancing on the streets. Liam, also an Irish immigrant, came to America with his mother and like Alaine, tries to survive on the streets while raised by a single parent. Liam meeting Alaine seems destined. They left Ireland on the same ship but never spoke to each other; they arrived in New York City not knowing each other; but fate soon will bring them together forever!

Liam also comes to America as a teen. Like Alaine and Liam, Neel is raised by a single person. Neel meets Liam on the streets when he rescues Liam from a beating by three young street boys. They immediately form a strong bond that grows into a friendship that will affect Neel his entire life.

ACT 2

Demon alcohol is a drug of destruction and devastation for individuals and families. Alcohol nearly destroys Alaine’ life; alcohol does destroy Liam’s life.

Alaine dances on the streets while her alcoholic father plays the violin. Evenings usually end with Alaine finding her father too drunk to stand, passed out on the floor. She finds her solace in dance, the very dance that her father forced her to perform on the streets for strangers. But that dance leads her to fame. She meets famous choreographers from around the world. After she is discovered, her whole world is the dance world. Her life is filled with many lovers, fame and good fortune. Except….

When she danced as a teen, Alaine always had a tray to collect alms from the passing crowds. One day a boy begins to dance with her; Liam introduces himself and they dance to the enjoyment, not only of the crowd, but also for each other. Liam leaves and Alaine gathers the coins from her tray; but something is different today. Today she finds a round red candy left by Liam! For many days he returns, they dance and he leaves a round red candy. He brazenly tells her he will marry her one day; she believes him. You see, Liam is the love of her life.

Demon alcohol changes all the hopes and dreams Alaine and Liam have. One day, Liam, who delivers groceries, is on the job. A drunk carriage driver loses control of his horses and violently crashes into Liam; trapped underneath the carriage, Liam dies! The carriage driver throws the young boy’s body into the carriage and buries the young boy in a shallow grave in Central Park. No one knows what became of Liam. His mother searches in vain; Neel does not know why his friend would disappear; And young Alaine is heart broken when Liam never again comes to dance with her. But Liam never leaves her.

Liam is at every performance her entire life. She feels his presence as she ascends to the top of her profession; and one more sign- there is always a round red candy- on stage, in her dressing room or in her hotel room. The round red candy that, despite her many successes and loves, is the constant reminder of her one true love and protector, Liam!

Then Neel appears in her life; and Neel's aunt. Neel's aunt destroyed his mother, leading his mother to kill herself!

Neel remembers Alaine as the young girl who danced the streets with Liam. He sets out to find Alaine; he finds her; he falls in love with her. But like she did with his mother, Neel's aunt takes Alaine away from him. She manufactures a reason for Neel to be involved in a dangerous military operation. Neel is killed, another victim of his aunt’s treachery.

Alaine is alone, the three most important men in her life, her father, Liam and Neel, taken from her!

ACT 3

Alaine is a survivor. Her savior is her dance. She may have many teachers, many choreographers and many lovers but she had only one true love; who never left her.

Telling her story to the young journalist allows Alaine to become more than the beautiful woman in a black and white photograph hanging on the wall of The Metropolitan Opera House that first intrigued the journalist. Alaine becomes alive as she tells her story of her childhood with her father and Liam, both victims of alcohol. She knows that Liam never left her. She knows that Liam always danced with her wherever she performed. She knows that Liam guided Neel to make sure that she was happy. Telling her story not only opened her life to the world but also allowed her to understand that Liam never really left her.

When the time came for her to leave this earthly existence, Liam was there to partner her on her last dance. She learned the steps from many others and made them her own. But she never danced alone. Even with her dying dance, she had Liam. She died holding a round red candy!