For Better And For Worse
Chapter 29

Prison.

Giscard approaches the table of Aristide and his friends.

Giscard: say Aristide, where is your new friend?

Aristide: he is not eating today.

Giscard: oh yes, and why?

Leo: what does it matter to you?

Giscard: nothing, I’ll leave you.

Olivier: yes, it’s better.

Giscard joins his friends.

Giscard: tell me, what did you do to Krist?

Val: We did what you asked us to do.

Giscard: that is to say?

Marcus: Well, we beat him up.

Giscard: did you kill him?

Caleb: Of course not.

Giscard: so why didn’t he come to eat?

Val: Well, we left it in a very bad state.

Giscard: oh shit! You just need to teach him a lesson, not kill or disfigure him. I have to find a way to see him.

Caleb: It’s just, you just have to hurt yourself a little bit.

Giscard: you’re right, give me your knife discreetly.

He gives him the knife and uses it to hurt himself. He shouts and eyes are glued to him. He’s bleeding badly. A guard approaches and takes him to the infirmary.

Giscard: hello the most beautiful nurse.

Claire: What happened to your hand?

Giscard: I injured myself, just to find the opportunity to see you. You look so lovely in this outfit.

Claire: If you continue, I’ll stop bandaging your hand.

Giscard: ok darling, I’ll be quiet… actually, who is that one, covered in bands like a dead person?

Claire: He’s an inmate like you.

Giscard: what is his name?

Claire: Krist, he is more beautiful and more human than all of you and he is the one I prefer even if I can’t find the strength to tell him.

Giscard (laughing): the beautiful Claire fell in love with a prisoner, let me laugh yes.

Claire: That’s it, make fun! I’m done.

Giscard: thank you darling. Can I talk to him for a moment?

Claire: no, he’s resting.

Giscard: ok, whatever you want my darling.

He comes out and the guard takes him back to the cell with the others. He severely scolds his fellow inmate who participated in Krist’s massacre.

On the other side at Krist’s, Isabelle and Stella are getting dressed and going to church. After worship, they go home. Stella decides to open the hairdressing salon for a bit and Isabelle stays alone at home. In the afternoon, she hears the doorbell ring. She goes to open and who does she see? His father with another man. His surprise was so great because it was the first time his father visited him after almost 10 years of separation.

Isabelle: dad…dad!

Him: hi darling.

She stands still there looking at them. And besides, you too will be even more surprised to see who his father is. It is none other than Mr. Bruno, a great business leader and also known under the identity of Gauthier.

Bruno: aren’t you letting us in?

Isabelle: sorry, please come in!

They enter and she closes the door. She hesitates to follow them but she follows them in the end. She installs them in the living room and brings them a drink, then she sits in front of them in complete silence.

Bruno: what’s wrong sweetie, you look extremely surprised?

Isabelle: nothing is going well sir, can I call you that, since you disowned me? You disowned me, Dad, me your own b***d, you didn’t even try to check on me and today you show up at my house, without warning and you don’t want me to be surprised?

Bruno: I understand that you are surprised, my darling.

Isabelle: don’t call me that.

Bruno: sorry! I understand how you feel, you have every reason to be angry with me. But give me a chance to tell you why I’m here.

Isabelle: Dad, I don’t even want to hear you, or see you for that matter. You can’t show up like this after 10 years, with what I’m going through, to ask me for an opportunity to tell me why you’re here? What father can do this to his daughter, dad, you disowned me, you abandoned me, you kicked me out of your home like a maid, a stranger, a criminal… She starts to cry thinking about

her past .

Isabelle: quite simply because I loved dad, because I loved a man you didn’t want. All that matters to you is your stuff so what are you looking for in me? Your presence hurts me even more, Dad. Such.

The guy who accompanied her father gets up and touches her shoulder to comfort her but she rejects his hand out of hand.

Isabelle: don’t touch me! I do not know you.

He returns to his seat. Mr. Bruno starts to cry too. Finally, pretending to cry. He gets up and goes to take his daughter in his arms.

Bruno: I’m so, so sorry sweetie, if you only knew how much I’m sorry. I don’t know what possessed me to do that. To deny my own daughter, my own b***d. Oh Lord! What had I done? If only I could go back, I wouldn’t hesitate for a single second but it’s impossible and I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness but I want to let you know that I regret from the bottom of my soul what I did to you. I had done. I beg you, my heart, forgive me!

Isabelle: Dad, I… I’m so sorry, it’s… it’s stronger than me, I… I can’t, I’m in so much pain.

Bruno: I understand what you feel my darling, I understand perfectly and I don’t blame you. I know you are going through a very difficult situation right now. I heard what happened to your husband, it made me so sad and I am deeply sorry. But know that if you need a shoulder to cry on or to lean on, I’m here, you can take mine. Here we go, my son.

He leaves with the guy but once in the courtyard, Isabelle comes out and calls her father.

Isabelle: Dad!

They stop and she runs into her father’s arms who hugs her tightly. All the emotion invades her and she cries bitterly.

Isabelle: Dad, if you only knew how much I needed you.

Bruno: I’m so sorry sweetie. I wish I could go back in time and fix this big mistake but I can’t. However, I promise you that I will do everything possible to try to make up for lost time. I love you so much that I can’t even imagine how I could have done this to you.

Isabelle: it’s in the past now dad, just promise me that from now on you will be there for me. Your absence in my life had affected me so much.

Bruno: I promise you, my daughter.

Isabelle: Please come back and sit down for a moment.

Bruno: with pleasure, my dear.

So they go back inside and sit down. Isabelle goes inside and calls Stella.

Stella: hello Isabelle!

Isabelle: Stella! How’s it going ?

Stella: well, today is a blessed day.

Isabelle: you are absolutely right.

Stella: Hey, I feel like you’re completely relaxed, what’s going on?

Isabelle: well, is it because my father is here?

Stella: your father! You mean the same guy who disowned you, chased you away and abandoned you for almost 10 years?

Isabelle: yes, I’m talking to you about him. I’m so happy to know he’s there.

Stella: I am so happy to see you so happy Isabelle. Can I help you ?

Isabelle: yes, buy me chicken, apples, etc. I’m going to make him his favorite dish.

Stella: okay, I’ll go right away.

Stella goes to buy everything Isabelle told her to buy and she goes home. While waiting for his arrival, Isabelle talks with her father.

Isabelle: so dad, how is mom?

Bruno: she is fine my darling, thank God.

Isabelle: is she thinking of me?

Bruno: of course yes, my darling, not a day goes by without her thinking about you. Can a mother forget the fruit of her womb?

Isabelle: yet it didn’t bother him to do it.

Bruno: no, she has nothing to do with it. Everything is my fault. I…I’m so sorry my darling, I really don’t deserve your forgiveness, no, I have to leave.

Isabelle: Dad, I forgave you so you need to forgive yourself too.

Bruno: I don’t know if I could my daughter. When I chased you away, I hurt your mother. And when she tried to contact you, I strictly forbade her. I know that she did it once and following this disobedience, I told her to consider you dead otherwise I would file for divorce if she ever came into contact with you again. I’m just a piece of trash.

Isabelle: it’s in the past now, dad, just give mom my address and everything will be forgotten.

Bruno: okay that will be done, thank you sweetie.

Isabelle: otherwise, how are your business going?

Bruno: They work wonderfully.

Isabelle: ok, I’m happy for you. If not, who is this gentleman?

Bruno: he’s… let’s say, my driver, his name is Séverin. Séverin, my daughter Isabelle.

Séverin: delighted ma’am, you are truly a very beautiful woman.

Isabelle: thank you, delighted!

They shake hands.