Introduction:

I think I shall tell you a certain story of sadness
No, I first knew about that sadness much after this.
Anyway, today is the funeral.
Greg's Brother: They say it was a traffic accident, Ian? Well, things will pick up. But poor Greg, and Sandra...and I can't bear to look at him! *talking about Jeremy*
Ian: Jeremy...Jeremy...JEREMY. You ok?
*murmers: Over there, that's Jeremy...Sandra's son...a new wife, probably pretty young still...yeah, very beautiful...and what about Greg? According to the doctor it's a matter of time...*
Ian: *Dad...Greg's still living but...Damn! I hate hearing all those voices*
Jeremy: But...he was suppose to...he should have died...ah...why in the car...why was Sandra...in his car...Sandra...why...car...he should have...died...
Ian: ...
Only strange things continued happening since Jeremy came to this house. Since father married Sandra and her and her son, Jeremy, came to live with us in the mansion, something was strange...if I think about it. A car accident? They say my father made a mistake while driving? Wrong! That's all wrong...it wasn't an accident...Ah, that's it. Jeremy killed them!

A Cruel God Rules Over All (1)

Boston, Massachusetts, at the end of June

Vivi: Jeremy, you're Late!
J: Sorry! I had to put air in my tires.
V: Here's the delivery list.
J: Everyone's gone already? Are we together today?
V: No, I'm up in the North Hospital, and you're at the South End nursing home. I'm sure volunteering'll be fun today too.
J: Vivi...? *kiss*
V: You don't show your feelings much when we're busy
J: When July comes around you wanna go to Cape Cod with me?
V: With Thomas and Denis and Maggi and Sue, all together?
J: Just the two of us. We'll stop at a bungalow on the beach...
V: Heh...if you'd come earlier we'd coulda talked about it more.
J: But I've gotta go work at camp starting August and stuff.
V: Actually...I'm a virgin.
J: Actually, I am too.
V: Call me, k?
J: K!

*at Jeremy's mom's store*

Sandra: *ah, a customer...he looks serious...looks like something's caught his attention. I wonder if he'll come in? Maybe I should say something...no, I'll wait...please, come in...you have good taste...handsome...I wonder if your shirt isn't Brooks Brothers...Yes! He came in!*
Good afternoon. Welcome.
Greg: I'd like to take a look at the katana tsuba in the display window.
S: Please do. They're antiques, rare among tsuba.
G: Not those; the one with the sakura design...
S: Oh, that? But I can't sell that, it's only for the display...
G: How much? However much is okay.
S: No, I'm sorry, really I am. But I simply can't sell it.
G: I can't believe you! Call the store manager!
S: It's just that that one is very...special to me... How about a different design, like Mt. Fuji...?
J: Hey Sandra...
G: I WANT THE SAKURA ONE!!
S: Jeremy...
G: Ah! I'm sorry...
S: It's okay. Here's the mail and...sir, wait!
J: Sorry. Looks like I drove the customer away.
S: No, you saved me. He was really angry and I was in trouble.
J: Still outside.
S: What'do we do?
J: I'll talk to him.
...Um, sir? That tsuba's very important to us. Maybe you could chose another one?
G: You're...her acquaintance?
J: Well, her son.
G: If you collect both of those tsuba and combine them, they become one design. I have one.
J: Sandra might buy it off you.
G: I won't sell it to anybody.
J: Sandra's the same way. That's a memento from my father.
G: I'm Greg Roland. I'll be staying here in the Ritz for a few days. I'll stop by again; I'm not going home until I get a hold of the tsuba.

*back in the store*

S: The Ritz?? God...come to think of it, his watch did look pretty expensive...
J: That tsuba...it expensive?
S: Nah, it's a, well, really cheap antique from the end of the Edo period. If two complete the design, then I want the other one too.
J: And it's the only one in Papa's collection too. Um..I'm planning on going to Cape Cod with my friends in July. I'll chose a cheap hotel with a lot of business...
S: When?! July, August, the Cape's always full. And then there's the 4th of July. Think you can get something after that?
Clerk: We're all full for July. We've got a single free on the 16th though.
J: Can you see the ocean from it?
Clerk: I think we can reserve a single bed room for you.

*the next day. Greg walks into the store*

Manager: Good day sir. May I help you look for something?
Greg: Do you have any ukiyoe hanga?
Manager: Yes sir, we do! Originals even the Fine Arts Museum wants! Boston was the Oriental Museum's storage place...

*Sandra and Greg walking together*

G: I'm sorry about that time...I got angry and...it was rude of me.
S: You have the other tsuba don't you? My son told me.
G: That's actually part of my dead wife's collection. Mine's a memento too.
S: Wow, that's quite a coincidence.
G: Yes, maybe it's our fate...
S: Where are you from?
G: London.
S: So your shirt is Burburry?
G: It's Zegna.
S: Ermenegildo Zegna? *He's rich!*

*over dinner that night*

G: My family made a new Antique Depot in London, and so they left it up to me to come to the New York auctions and get some things for the display.
S: *A foreign trade company businessman?*
G: When I came to America I started feeling nostalgic for Boston...so I left it up to the vice president and came here.
S: Nostalgic? So you've been to Boston before then?
G: I lived here 2 years a long time ago with my wife and son, when I was still young...must have been 15 years ago. I studied management at Harvard.
S: *He's the top elite!*
G: My wife was introverted, and maybe because she didn't have any friends she got sick...and died when we went back to London.
S: Mr. Roland?
G: Excuse me. That tsuba was in with her possessions. She loved Oriental Art but...I was busy and didn't go the the Museum with her even once. I have so many regrets, and didn't think I'd come to Boston ever again. But when I came back, for some reason it was nostalgic instead...and then I met you.
S: Mr. Roland...!
G: Please, Sandra, call me Greg.
S: ...Greg...

*near the school*
Jeremy: %^#$ It's HOT.
Dennis: That's Cass. He's repeating a year.
Thomas: He don't volunteer or do sports or nothin.
D: I heard he sells himself on the porno street in the Combat Zone.
T: Damn. He's prolly in the mafia too then.
J: Huh? Why?
D: Cuz prostitution an mafia go hand in hand. You see what "BENT" did a while ago? Ran a story on gay prisoners.
T: Homos and okama're just born that way. But seems some try it out an like the taste too though.
D: Just lookin some of em seem normal. Got beautiful wives and kinds and stuff, but then the go buy guys sometimes as salarymen and hide it.
J: Let's just do our job!
D: You got long lashes, so you'd be rather alluring Jeremy.
J: Idiot. I'm going to the Cape with Vivi.
D: You know, there was an old lady who wanted help painting her villa down there...
J: Huh? Dennis!!
D: Got 6 bedrooms...
J: I'll paint! Anything!
T: If there're 6 then everyone can go.
J: Hey! Stop it! You'll get in the way! Do it some other day!

*later, with vivi on the stoop*

V: I'm fine going with everyone else. The rooms'll be separate, hm?
J: But I don't wanna go with everyone.
V: I don't know if Maggi'll come or not. She said she likes you more than Dennis.
J: oh?
V: What'do you mean "oh"?!? Just an "oh"? So if we invite Maggi...
J: Mm...I like how your hair smells...
V: Looks like it's gonna rain!
J: Yeah. Catch you later then...

*Sandra is sitting in a hotel room with Greg and a phone*

S: Ah, Jeremy. It's me.
J: Sandra?
S: Um, well, I was showing Greg around and we took a ferry to Nantucket...but the wind was really strong and there might be a storm. It looks like I won't be able to come home tonight.
J: Got it. I'm fine here by myself. I'll make sure to close the windows.

*at Jeremy and Sandra's house*

S: Ah, Greg!
J: Hi Mr. Roland!
S: I promised I'd show him Papa's collection.
G: This clam chowder's wonderful. Did you make it yourself? The vice president in New York doesn't know what to do. I'll be here for one more week, but after that I'll have to go back or...
S: At least come see the 4th of July parade tomorrow!
G: That's right...

*In Sandra's Room*

J: You're very pretty Sandra.
S: Thank you.
J: I thought you might get married, you two.
S: A Zegna class Englishman and a salesgirl from Boston? I could never dream something like that. It's okay; I'm an adult after all.

*At the Parade*

S: This is the last night.
G: Sandra?
S: Here, this is from me, for a commemoration. *hands tsuba*
G: Sandra!?!
S: If you want it, please take it. I have a lot of others from my husband after all...
G: I see...and I have something for you too...
*pulls out a wedding ring*
G: Please marry me, Sandra.
S: How did you know my ring size?
G: When we stayed in Nantucket that night I saw your ring size.
S: Oh Greg!

*Back at Home*

J: You're getting married? Oh wow! Congratulations!
G: eh heh...thank you Jeremy. But still, I have to go back to New York and take care of getting the antiques back to London. I'll talk to the Vice President, John...
G: I'll be back in 3 or 4 days. Then let's take a day to decide everything.
S: I'll be waiting for you!
S: It's just like a dream...
J: Sandra, this is great!
S: I'm getting married...it's like a dream...
J: Congratulations!
S: Oh Jeremy! ^______^

*at school*

J: *London, huh. Sandra'll be going to London, huh...I'm a Boston Child, and I don't know anything about other places. I don't want to get in the way of Sandra's marriage or leave Vivi behind. I'll be okay living alone; I'm already 16 after all.
G: *from car* Jeremy!
J: Mr. Roland!
G: Ah, looks like good timing.
J: You're back from New York already? Mom's over at the store...cool car.
G: It's a rental. Wanna go for a drive?
J: *probably wants to talk about the wedding*
G: You have a job yet?
J: I volunteer for extracurriculars. Like, I pick up the mail for the elderly in the hospital, letters and stuff, and bring them to them.
G: I see.
J: Where are we going Mr. Roland?
G: Don't be standoffish. Greg's alright. Let's go to Salem. There were once witches in Salem. Long ago the witch trials were held there, but now it's just a tourist spot...do you believe in witches, Jeremy?
J: Huh?
G: Witches.
J: They're just superstition. Could it be you...? Oh, but when I came here with Sandra before she was scared. She hates things like witches and ghosts.
G: Why do you call your mom "Sandra"?
J: hm? Ah, when I was little there was this game...both me and my father were named Jeremy, and our voices were pretty similar. If we hid behind the door and called "Sandra!" she would call out, "Which Jeremy?" and everyone would burst out laughing. It was just for fun.
G: And now your father is...?
J: He died when I was 8. And from then on whenever I said "Sandra"...she would say, "Which Jeremy?" and start crying...Ah! Greg, what's wrong?
G: It's a beautiful story *sniff* my chest is a little tight...
J: Mom wants me to call her Sandra. She doesn't cry anymore. Mom's a very sensitive person.
G: You're fantastic. I'm happy she has a son as good as you are.
J: I...I'm happy too Greg. I'm glad Sandra's loved and getting married to a man as wonderful as you are.
G: You have hair like your father's huh.
J: Yeah. But if you asked me where I want to be, Boston...
G: You've got a slender neck...
J: Greg, you'll be taking care of Sandra so it'll be okay if I'm not there, right? And...
*Greg kisses him*
J: DON'T FOOL AROUND WITH ME LIKE THAT!!!
G: I love you...Jeremy.
*Jeremy opens car door and jumps out*
G: JEREMY! DO YOU HATE ME?
J: YOU SAID YOU'RE MARRYING MOM, DIDN'T YOU?!?
G: I LOVE SANDRA! BUT I LOVE YOU TOO! JEREMY!!
J: YOU'RE INSANE! *runs away*

*back at the apartment*

J: I'm home...
S: I just got a call...from Greg...he said it's over...the wedding's off...
J: Sandra!
S: Why...he didn't even say why...he just...
J: Then you don't need to get married to him!
S: Jeremy...?
J: I met with him a while ago and he, he's weird! He's not honest!!
S: Met with him? He was in Boston? And you saw him? You met and..what happened? A fight?
J: Well, I guess...
S: Why? With such a gentle person...?!?
J: It's just a cover!!
S: Apologize Jeremy!!
J: No way! He's completely outa it!!
S: I thought I could finally be happy and you went and made such a nice person angry!?!
J: He's no good. There're better men out there, much better than that...
S: BUT I LOVE HIM...I loved you with all my heart...Greg...this...is the end...
J: Sandra! Wait!
*ring ring*
J: Vivi? I'm sorry. Right now's a little busy...this is about the trip, right? I'll phone you tomorrow. Yeah, sorry, bye...

*later that night, in his room*

J: *I can hear Sandra in the kitchen. Cans being opened...she's drinking. Maybe that was just a joke...Greg was just pulling a bad prank. He had a wife and children...(Dennis: they go out and buy boys in secret)...No, %$#^, if Greg's like that I absolutely can't let him marry Sandra...
Why's it so quiet? It's 3...she's probably gotten drunk and fallen asleep in the kitchen...
WAIT, THIS SMELLS LIKE GAS!! SANDRA!!*

*at the hospital*

J: *I wasn't objecting to her marriage or anything...I knew Sandra was living a daydream, so I couldn't say that kind of thing to her. But if she dies...I'm the one who killed her! I'm....!
Doctor: Ah, her? She's okay.
J: She's okay?
D: You're her son...Greg?
J: No, my name's Jeremy.
D: Then is Greg her husband?
J: He's her...fiance...
D: Ah, really...*sigh* she's not allowed any visitors for the day.
J: I can't see her? And what about the gas she inhaled?
D: More than that it's alcohol poisoning, rather acute. She's in a stupor right now and has no knowlege of anything. It's dangerous. J: ...she...
D: That's why I suspect she'll wake up tomorrow if we wash out her stomach. Oh, that Greg. He nearby?
J: In New York.
D: Can you call him in to Boston?
J: y...yeah..
D: She was calling his name you know. I think her recovery will be quicker if she opens her eyes and finds him standing there tomorrow. J: ...

*outside hospital*

Cass: Jeremy! You going home? I got a bike. Give you a lift.
J: *...ah! The Cass rumored to be into the mafia and prostitution. What's he doing here? And he never talks to me in class...*
I'll, I'll go by taxi.
C: I do odd jobs here. Is one of your family in critical condition here? How terrible. Take care now...

*at Jeremy's home*

J: *There was one time Sandra did something to herself in the bathroom...*
-flashback-
S: Jeremy...Jeremy, the blood, from my wrists, it won't stop.
J: *I was 10. I was scared...I called Aunt Primas (Dad's sister). It caused a big commotion and Auntie said she was going to adopt me...*
Aunt P: You're not fit to be a parent!
J: *Sandra cried*
S: No, No! Don't take everyone away from me!
J: *I didn't say anything to anyone, but at that time Sandra had been going to kill herself. After father's death she got intimate with a male friend and he took her away. He wanted to get me out of the way and marry Sandra...but Sandra didn't want to part with me. Losing her husband and being used by her lovers, no one could bear that so many times...and Sandra's expecially weak. Why do I, why does my existance...always drive her into the corner like this?*

*at Greg's hotel*

G: Yes, Greg Roland speaking. Jeremy...!
J: Yeah. It's Sandra. She's in the hospital.
G: WHAT?!?
J: Last evening she tried to commit suiside by inhaling gas...
G: Suiside?!?
J: If her life has been in a different situation the say...
G: S-Suiside? You're lying, right?
J: It's true. Greg, I want you to come in to Boston and meet Sandra.
G: Why? Why would Sandra do that?!?
J: What do you mean? You, it's because of you, you! Because you broke your wedding promise Greg!
G: She loved me that much....
J: Sorry, it's not your fault...well, it's half your fault, but...anyway, I want you to come back Greg.
G: But you, you're probably angry at me.
J: I'm not! I've forgotten it all.
G: Really? So that means you like me again?
J: Yeah, right. So come here and patch things up with Sandra, okay?
G: It's okay if I marry her then?
J: Of course! She was calling your name at the hospital. She loves you!
G: Ah, I love her too! I'll meet with her and propose once more. Can she have visitors tomorrow? I'll certainly come! What was I thinking saying goodbye to her? I can't bear to leave her.
J: You're coming for sure then, right Greg? I'll be waiting at the hospital tomorrow. Bye...
G: Jeremy!
J: huh?
G: Jeremy! And you? What about you?? How about it??
J: What about...what?
G: You'll come with me to Salem again, right? Once more?
J: Salem? What do you mean?
G: I already told you, didn't I? I love you.
J: ...but...but you're getting married to Sandra!
G: Jeremy...only once is okay. I want to make you mine.
J: That...that's impossible...
G: Reconsider! Are those your true feelings? It's only once. In Salem.
J: I said I can't do that!!
G: ...I understand...to bad. If you refuse me I won't come to Boston. Say farewell to Sandra for me. Goodbye.
J: WAIT A MINUTE!
G: Yes?
J: If we go to Salem, what are you going to do?
G: I want to hold you...
J: What's that mean? You mean you wanna do it with me?
G: Right. But you don't want to do that, right?
J: WAIT!!

*cut to Vivi's house. Vivi picks up the phone*
V: Jeremy? Is that you?
J: Vivi? How've you been?...I wish I could see you.