[Scene: Late Night - Norma wakes up in Caelia’s body again. Laying down at the local hospital in Kingsley. Cassian is by her side, startled when Caelia has woken up again. He immediately grabs her hand.]

CASSIAN (panicking):

“CAELIA! Are you okay???”

CAELIA (tries to sit up):

“Cassian… I’m fine. How long have I been knocked out?”

[Caelia feels another sharp pain in her head and immediately lies back down, groaning in pain.]

CASSIAN (worried):

“Caelia! Don’t push yourself. You just woke up!”

CAELIA:

“I’m fine… How long was I asleep for?”

[Cassian pauses, hesitating to answer.]

CASSIAN (softly):

“Two days.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Two days??? 

Just because of figs I was out for two whole days?

CAELIA (masking):

“I’m just really allergic to them, no need to be worried about anything.”

[Caelia grips Cassian’s hand, reassuring him everything is okay.]

“How are the kids?”

CASSIAN:

“The kids are all fine. Please focus on relaxing, don’t worry about anything else right now. We can get back to fixing the playground when you are recovered.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Something about figs triggered me to meet the original Caelia… 

Could it be that those memories that I saw before I passed out were the original Caelia’s memories?

Why were those weird people so obsessed with figs?

[Caelia clenches her teeth.]

I’m back in this body that isn’t my own. 

I guess it’s true I made a name and a purpose for myself while in this body.

Something I couldn’t do in my own timeline. 

But… to hear that my existence is meaningless… in both timelines I’ve been in…

Is very disheartening.

CAELIA:

“Hey Cassian, what do you think your purpose in life is?”

[Cassian looks at Caelia, concerned.]

CASSIAN:

“Is your head doing okay Caelia?”

CAELIA (annoyed):

“I’m being serious!”

[Caelia grips Cassian’s hand tighter.]

CAELIA (continues):

“Really… what do you think your purpose is in life?”

[Cassian notices her seriousness and looks at Caelia with soft eyes.]

CASSIAN:

“I’m… not quite sure how to answer that.

That’s a very loaded question that a lot of people don’t find the answer to even in their entire lifetime.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

He’s right. I couldn’t find it as Norma Lee.

My mundane life limited me in finding the true passion and joy in life.

Now I’m finding it in my second life… just to be shut down by sexism and by the original soul of this body.

Very paradoxical, my situation.

CASSIAN (continue):

“But.. recently I think since I’ve been working with you, I’m getting closer to an answer.”

CAELIA:

“What do you mean by that?”

[Cassian stares into Caelia’s eager eyes. A gray color that resembles stormy clouds. He smiles at her.]

CASSIAN (teasing):

“Don’t play dumb Caelia, you know what I mean.”

[Caelia, observing Cassian’s smile, feels mixed emotions.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Do I know what you mean? 

You don’t know that this isn’t by body.

You don’t know that I’m having a crisis right now-

Trying to figure out what purpose my soul has to exist.

CAELIA (truthful):

“No, I don’t know what you mean. Please specify.”

[Cassian starts fidgeting with Caelia’s fingers.]

CASSIAN:

“You know, you have really delicate fingers. So delicate that someone wouldn’t realize that you’re into building.

But these fingers are amazing. They write on blueprints, they have built beautiful structures.”

[Caelia starts to blush.]

CASSIAN (continues):

“Like I’ve mentioned to you before, I never really wanted to go into engineering and I just did it for the money.

It’s always been rewarding helping people and I thought that’s all I needed but..

Meeting you was different.

You are an excellent engineer, Caelia.

You have given so many people kindness while staying true to yourself.

And me being next to you, that in of itself has given me purpose.”

[Caelia is in shock and doesn’t know what to say.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

True to myself…?

Am I really being true to myself?

What if Caelia is right…

That my life is meaningless and only has a purpose to serve her.

Maybe this is just how my life will play out.

CAELIA:

“Thank you, Cassian. But for some reason, a part of me doesn’t want to believe that I matter because of all the wrongdoings I did in my past.”

CASSIAN (smiling):

“You’re kidding, right? You know, Caelia, you’ve helped out so many people. They love you for you. Your kindness, your determination, your intelligence. So many people thank you for the work you do.

Miss Caelia Ardent may have been a villain in the past, but to me and to many other people, the current her is absolutely amazing. You make the world brighter, Caelia.”

[Caelia stares into Cassian’s unwavering eyes. She lets go of Cassian’s hand and flips over to her side, facing away from Cassian, hiding her reddened face.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE: 

I really hope he doesn’t see my face. 

CAELIA (sheepishly):

“If you keep saying things like that, I’m gonna actually believe you.”

CASSIAN:

“You should.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Maybe if I pretend to sleep, he’ll leave. I don’t want him to see my face right now.

CAELIA:

“You can leave, Cassian. Go back to the guest house and sleep.”

CASSIAN:

“No, I’m gonna stay here until you recover.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Ugh! I won’t be able to sleep if you continue to stay!!!”

CAELIA:

“Have you… stayed here the entire time I was here?”

CASSIAN:

“Yes, I’ve been sleeping here if that’s what you were asking.”

[Caelia flips over to look at Cassian who was smiling at her. She then reverts back to her original position.]

CAELIA:

[heartbeat]

“Thank you. You know, when I first met you, I thought you were strange.”

CASSIAN:

“Wow, way to compliment me back.”

CAELIA:

“Hold on! I’m still going. I thought you were strange but the more I got to know you, you see people, you saw me.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

He saw Norma Lee. 

From the moment we met, he saw me for me and never once discriminated against me. 

And he always gave me credit.

And he always let me lead a team.

And he always protected me when I needed it. 

CASSIAN:

“Like I've said many times, Caelia, from the moment we met, I knew you were absolutely brilliant.”

CAELIA:

“You really like to use the word brilliant, huh?”

CASSIAN:

“What can I say? It’s one of my favorite words.”

[Caelia smiles.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Mine too.

————-

[Scene: At the castle, King Oscar and Queen Valeria are seen discussing about a letter that had just arrived detailing the successful rebuilt home for Mrs. Poppy.]

QUEEN VALERIA:

“Hun… it seems like the home was another success.”

KING OSCAR:

“We still haven’t been able to figure out who the culprit is for the first home! But I’m glad that a new home was rebuilt at such a short notice!”

[Queen Valeria looks at the letter and is feeling mixed emotions about Caelia doing good deeds.]

QUEEN VALERIA:

“I’m gonna be honest, it still looks weird that she’s doing all of these good deeds in Kingsley right before the ball! What if this is all an act?!”

KING OSCAR:

“Hun… we can’t continue to have this discussion. Caelia isn’t even in the palace right now, she’s doing what she can outside of the palace. I was planning on calling her back two months before the ball. We can see then if this is all an act.”

[Queen Valeria quietly surrenders to King Oscar’s request.]

QUEEN VALERIA (sigh):

“Well, at least we have Annalise who has always helped around the castle.” 

——-

[Scene: Annalise is seen peeking into the King’s quarters again.]

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:

The second home was a success.. But if I burn it again, it would look way too suspicious. 

And last time, every piece fit perfectly together but I cannot assume the same if  it were to happen again.

I’ve been laying low for a month. Asking around the palace for any information about Caelia’s past but to no avail. That girl’s family is shrouded in mystery, not even Queen Valeria knows. 

If I’m gonna get the information I need, I would have to get close with King Oscar.

But… It's clear he favors Caelia over me. So that could be hard. 

I’ve got to find a way.

----------------

[End of Chapter 10 - Part 2]