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Sam being a very robust, healthy-looking cancer patient, still sexy with his shaved head, breaking the hearts of both the ambitious young doctor and the long-suffering ex-girlfriend nurse who loved him. He eventually died in the nurse’s arms, scoring a ratings high for the show.
“It’s right in here.” Penelope heard a woman’s voice from behind her in the hallway. A nurse was showing Detective Baglioni into Arlena’s tiny room. He squeezed through the doorway, brushing Penelope as he went.
“Excuse me, Miss Sutherland.”
Penelope’s cheeks flushed and it took her a minute to refocus on the adult conversation in the room. Now there were three men in Arlena’s room surrounding her narrow hospital bed, a modern day Snow White and three Prince Charmings, each hoping to plant a kiss and win her heart forever.
“Hello, Arlena, Doctor. And…” He looked at Sam, waiting for an introduction.
“Sam Cavanaugh.”
“Oh yeah, Jack Sloan.”
One of Sam’s best known movie roles was action hero Jack Sloan. He saved the world every two to three years up on the big screen chasing terrorists, disabling bombs, landing burning airplanes and diverting rogue missiles, most of the time in a shredded shirt or a tight bathing suit. He usually started out in Armani but would end up in the buff with a constantly revolving list of leading ladies, the world safe once again. Penelope figured Arlena would do anything to be in a Jack Sloan movie.
“I must go and check on another patient,” Dr. Singh said. “Call me if you have any concerns, Arlena.” He turned and made his way through the crowded room. He brushed past Penelope, still standing in the doorway, on his way out. The room had become overheated and Penelope unzipped her puffy jacket.
“Thanks, Doctor,” Arlena called after him. Sam took the seat beside Arlena’s bed and placed her hand gently in his. Penelope briefly wondered if he remembered he was her husband in the movie, not in real life. Maybe he was staying in character on and off the set like Daniel Day-Lewis or Viggo Mortensen.
“Someone gave you a bump on the head, huh?” Detective Baglioni asked. He glanced at the monitors on the wall over Arlena’s head.
“How did you know?”
“I was downstairs questioning a stabbing victim and heard the nurses buzzing about you being up here,” he said.
“Wow, a stabbing?” Penelope asked.
Joey nodded tightly at her and turned back to Arlena.
“I was in an accident on the set. Someone from the crew wasn’t watching where they were going and ran me over with a golf cart. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I don’t really remember.”
“So you were, what? Running down the street? Or you were behind something and he didn’t see you?”
“No, we were rehearsing a sidewalk dialogue scene. Sam and me.” She squeezed Sam’s hand and he nodded at her. “In the scene we’re window shopping, looking for presents for our adopted son…the one I pushed Sam to adopt but he had reservations about because the boy is a war refugee from Sudan. It’s a very powerful scene, a real turning point in the movie. We wanted to run it together a few times before Sal came for the day’s shoot.”
“I see, so definitely not a car chase,” Joey said.
“No, there aren’t any car chases in Remember the Fall . It’s an art film about a marriage coming apart at the seams,” Arlena explained patiently.
“Ah, a date night flick.” He chuckled, glancing at Penelope. “I thought you stuck to the action flicks, Mr. Cavanaugh.”
“You have to stretch as an artist, so…” Sam trailed off, gazing at Arlena. Penelope remembered hearing Sam say that in an interview on Access Hollywood , back when he made the transition from TV to film.
“That’s true, Sam. So true,” Arlena said, returning his gaze. “They’re releasing me now. Pen is here to take me home.”
“Oh, I can take you,” Sam said. He was still gazing into her eyes, then did the hair tuck