Change of Heart
Written by: Juana
Story Summary: As Ben and Felicity’s friendship grows, feelings are re-examined. Noel has given up Hannah for many reasons, one of which is his feelings for Felicity. And someone is leaving stalker type notes for Felicity and Julie. One of which becomes a victim of his attempted act of violence. Felicity is boggled by the affections of both Ben and Noel and knows she must soon decide or risk losing them both.
Disclaimer: All characters aside from Max and Pete belong to the writers, creators and producer’s of Felicity.
FELICITY: (recording a tape to Sally) Well…Sally, it’s finally happened. Ben and I we're….friends. I mean really truly….friends.
BEN IS MAKING HAMBURGERS IN HIS KITCHEN. FELICITY IS SITTING ON THE COUCH LOOKING AT A PHOTO ALBUM.
BEN: (to Felicity) So what do you want on your burger?
FELICITY: Um…mayonnaise, ketchup, cheese, tomatoes and pickles.
BEN: No lettuce?
FELICITY: Definitely…no.
BEN: You don’t like lettuce?
FELICITY: No…not on any hot foods.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) Were starting to learn each others likes and dislikes.
BEN WALKS OVER AND SITS NEXT TO FELICITY ON THE COUCH.
BEN: (picks up a piece of lettuce) Come on…just put it on the burger and take one bite…for me.
FELICITY: Uh….no.
BEN: So this isn’t just a dislike…this is a strong dislike.
FELICITY: Yes.
BEN: So help me out here…Tacos are a hot food….will you eat lettuce on tacos?
FELICITY: No.
BEN: So then you just have…(Felicity interrupts)
FELICITY: Meat, cheese and a shell….let it go.
BEN: Fine. (smiling) No more mention of your lettuce paranoia.
FELICITY: I am not paranoid of lettuce. I can eat it….I just choose not to. Isn’t there some food you choose not to eat?
BEN: No…I’m pretty much the human garbage disposal.
FELICITY: Okay…there’s an attractive picture.
FELICITY PICKS UP BURGER AND BITES INTO IT. BEN IS WATCHING HER.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) Of course the tension is still there…I still find him extremely attractive….I still go weak when he touches me.
BEN: (reaches over with napkin) You’ve got a little bit of ketchup on your chin. (wipes off Felicity’s chin)
FELICITY: Thanks.
BEN REACHES UNDER AND CUPS FELICITY’S CHIN. BEN AND FELICITY STARE INTO EACH OTHERS EYES. THEY START TO LEAN IN FOR A KISS. AS THEIR LIPS LIGHTLY MEET BOTH BEN AND FELICITY PULL BACK.
BEN: Okay…sorry. I know we promised ourselves we wouldn’t do that.
FELICITY: It’s okay…really. It’s my fault too.
BEN: So clarify for me again…were not doing that because why?
FELICITY: Because were friends…good friends. Every time we try for more…that gets screwed up.
BEN: Oh yeah…that’s why….um I’ll be right back.
FELICITY CONTINUES LOOKING THROUGH THE PHOTO ALBUM. DOORBELL RINGS.
BEN: (yells from room) Could you get that?
FELICITY: Sure. (gets up and answers door)
WHEN FELICITY OPENS DOOR SHE SEES A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN STANDING THERE.
FELICITY: Hi…Can I help you?
LYSSA: Yes…I was looking for Ben…Ben Covington? Are you one of his room mates?
FELICITY: I’m Felicity…friend actually….come on in and I’ll go get Ben for you…I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.
LYSSA: Oh I’m sorry, I’m Lyssa.
FELICITY WALKS INTO BEN’S ROOM. BEN IS LOOKING THROUGH HIS CLOSET. FELICITY TAPS HIM ON THE SHOULDER.
BEN: (turns around) Hey…sorry. Was I taking a long time? I was just looking for a video for us to watch… I thought I saw it in here last week.
FELICITY: Ben…whose Lyssa?
BEN: Lisa?
FELICITY: Tall, blond…looks like a supermodel.
BEN: Oh…Lyssa. She’s in my Econ class.
FELICITY: What is she doing here?
BEN: Here?…She’s here?
FELICITY: Yes…in the living room.
CUT TO JULIE IN SCHOOL LUNCH ROOM. JULIE IS READING A LETTER. ZACK WALKS UP AND SITS DOWN.
ZACK: Hey Julie, mind if I sit with you?
JULIE: (distracted by letter) Sure…OK.
ZACK: ( notices Julie is distracted ) So is it true that your really a man?
JULIE: (still distracted) Um…sure…whatever you say.
ZACK: Earth to Julie….come in Julie.
JULIE: What?
ZACK: Where were you?
JULIE: I’m sorry…it’s just this letter.
ZACK: Can I read it?
JULIE: Yeah….please do and tell me what you think.
ZACK READS LETTER. GETS UPSET.
ZACK: Where did you get this?
JULIE: It was put under my door this morning…do you think it’s a joke?
ZACK: If it is….frankly I’d like to beat the living crap out of whoever wrote it.
ELENA AND NOEL WALK UP TO TABLE.
ZACK: I think you should show Noel.
NOEL: Show Noel what?
ZACK: This creepy letter she got.
JULIE: Maybe this letter wasn’t meant for me.
ZACK HANDS LETTER TO NOEL.
NOEL: It does say Julie….where did you get it?
JULIE: It was under my door this morning.
NOEL: Well regardless of whether it was meant to be a joke or not….the threats alone make it serious…I mean this could be some crazed lunatic.
ELENA: (reading over Noel’s shoulder) My god he says he almost had you the other night….what is that suppose to mean?
ZACK: Where did you go the other night?
JULIE: Just out with Felicity…to that club.
NOEL: That was the night she was drugged…maybe your drink was drugged too.
JULIE: I don’t know…I never drank it….Felicity took it from me before I could….Oh my god.
NOEL: What…what is it?
JULIE: It was my drink that had the drugs…Felicity barely touched hers…it was mine she took a huge drink from.
NOEL: Are you sure?
JULIE: Almost positive….this letter has to be from one of those two guys Felicity and I danced with.
ZACK: So then…they weren’t after Felicity?….They were after you?
JULIE: I don’t know….I have to talk to Felicity….Where is she?
ELENA: She’s over at Ben’s apartment.
CUT TO BEN’S APARTMENT. LYSSA, BEN AND FELICITY ARE IN HIS LIVINGROOM.
FELICITY: So you're here because you and Ben are paired together on an Econ project?
LYSSA: If this is a bad time…I could come back later.
BEN: No…it’s fine. It’s probably a good idea to get started.
FELICITY: Ben…I thought we were going to watch a movie.
BEN: We can do it another time.
LYSSA: I’m sorry you obviously already have plans.
BEN: Really…it’s okay…Felicity understands.
FELICITY: Sure…yeah….I didn’t really have time to watch a movie anyway…homework you know….so I’ll see you later Ben?
BEN: Sure….(to Lyssa) Why don’t we go to my room to study, I have all the assignment homework on my computer.
LYSSA: (smiles) Sure.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) I just don’t get him Sally…one minute it’s all about me….the next it’s all about getting rid of me to study with the Sharon Stone clone. She’s just a study partner right? Who am I kidding….she wants him….and that just makes me want him more….I am so not….normal.
NEXT SCENE: FELICITY IS WRITING ON HER COMPUTER, THERE IS A KNOCK AT HER DOOR. IT IS NOEL, JULIE, ELENA AND ZACK.
FELICITY: Hello….everybody….what’s up?
NOEL, ZACK, JULIE AND ELENA ENTER FELICITY’S ROOM.
NOEL: We need to talk to you about something…something important.
FELICITY: What is it?
JULIE: I got a letter under my door this morning. (hands letter to Felicity to read)
FELICITY READS LETTER.
FELICITY: Oh my god…why would someone write…much less send this garbage?
JULIE: I think someone is stalking me.
FELICITY: Have you reported it to the Dean?
NOEL: Yeah…we went there before we came here….Felicity we think it’s one of the guys from the bar.
FELICITY: You're probably right…I mean look at this line right here….”When I watched you dancing…I imagine what the rest of our night together would be like….sheet dancing. Sheet dancing? Is that what I think it is?
ELENA: Do you remember the guys names….what they looked like?
FELICITY: No…I’m sorry I don’t…It’s all still really fuzzy….Julie I’m sorry.
JULIE: No…it’s okay….You know what guys I really think I’m making a bigger deal of this then it really is.
NOEL: Julie this isn’t something you should take lightly.
JULIE: I’m not…I just think maybe I freaked out a little. Let’s just let it go…for now anyway.
NOEL: Are you sure?
JULIE: Yeah…I think that would be best.
NOEL: You need to promise us that if anything else happens you will let us know.
JULIE: I promise…I think I’m just going to go to my room…Are you coming Zack?
ZACK: Sure. (puts arms around Julie’s shoulder and walks out with her.)
ELENA: Yeah…I’ve got to go too I have a huge chemistry test tomorrow.
ELENA WALKS OUT. NOEL IS STILL IN FELICITY’S ROOM.
FELICITY: So what do you really think about all this?
NOEL: I think….maybe Julie’s right…we should just wait and see.
FELICITY: It’s kind of creepy though.
NOEL: Yeah…(nonchalant) So how are things with you and Ben?
FELICITY: (amused) Fine…we’re becoming really good friends.
NOEL: Definition of good friends being….
FELICITY: Like you and me…good friends.
NOEL: So then no more….sucking face?
FELICITY: Noel!
NOEL: It’s just a curious question….so if you and Ben are good friends….is say… dating a possibility again?
FELICITY: Dating?….You mean with you?
NOEL: It’s perfectly acceptable not to have the tone of utter shock in your voice when you say that.
FELICITY: I’m sorry Noel. I guess it just been Ben on the brain for so long…I would love to go on a….date with you.
NOEL: (shocked) Really?…wow that’s….well perfect….I promise you Felicity we’ll have a really…really good time.
FELICITY: I’m counting on it.
NOEL GOES OUT DOOR WITH A HUGE GRIN ON HIS FACE. FELICITY WALKS BACK TO HER COMPUTER AND SITS DOWN. PHONE RINGS.
FELICITY: Hello….Hello….is anybody there? I’m going to hang up if you don’t answer…Hello. (Felicity hangs up phone)
MEGAN WALKS IN THE OTHER DOOR.
MEGAN: What are you looking at?
FELICITY: Um…nothing. (pauses) Did you know your dress was on backwards?
MEGAN LOOKS DOWN AT HER DRESS.
MEGAN: What?…oh yeah…so it is.
MEGAN GOES INTO CLOSET GETS A COAT AND LEAVES.
NEXT SCENE: ENGLISH CLASS. BEN IS SITTING NEXT TO JULIE. FELICITY WALKS IN.
BEN: Over here…we saved you a seat.
BEN MOVES ONE SEAT OVER SO THERE IS A SEAT IN BETWEEN HIM AND JULIE. FELICITY SITS DOWN.
FELICITY: (hands note to Julie) Look what was under my door this morning.
JULIE OPENS NOTE AND READS IT.
JULIE: Felicity…this is the same person…we have to tell Noel.
BEN: Tell Noel what?
FELICITY: It’s nothing really…it’s just that Julie and I both got notes from someone.
BEN: A secret admirer?
FELICITY: Not exactly…(hands note to Ben to read)
BEN: Do you have any idea who this is?
JULIE: We think it’s the guys from the bar.
BEN: This is ridiculous…someone should tell the Dean.
JULIE: We already did….yesterday.
FELICITY: I’ll let Noel know tonight.
BEN: What’s tonight?
FELICITY: It’s…um…tonight is…well it’s…I told Noel I would…go out with him.
BEN: On a date?
FELICITY: Not exactly…well sort of…are you okay with this?
BEN: Sure…I’m fine…I actually have a date tonight too.
FELICITY: You do?…with who?
BEN: Lyssa…you met her at my apartment.
FELICITY: Oh.
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally) So there I sat the entire class period with the Oh….fresh on my lips. And then he asked me as we were leaving….
BEN: Felicity…are you okay with my dating Lyssa?
FELICITY: (Voice over to Sally ) There it was my opportunity to tell him…NO I AM NOT….but maybe in a more subtle way? Instead I dug the hole deeper….and I said.
FELICITY: Sure…it’s perfectly fine…were just good friends….right?
BEN: Yeah…good friends.
NEXT SCENE: BEN IS TALKING TO JULIE IN CAFETERIA.
BEN: So…I told her I was fine with it…I’m not fine with it.
JULIE: Then tell her…you guys have been dancing around the issue for so long….just take a deep breath and dive.
BEN: Easier to say then actually do…Felicity just wants to be friends…She doesn’t even mind that I’m going out with Lyssa Parker.
JULIE: Lyssa Parker? The girl that all the guys drool over when she walks…well anywhere?
BEN: The same.
JULIE: And Felicity doesn’t mind?…Has she seen her?
BEN: She’s even met her.
MEGAN WALKS INTO CAFETERIA. GETS IN LUNCH LINE.
JULIE: (talking to herself) Megan…
BEN: What?
JULIE: I just remembered Megan knew the guys at the bar.
BEN: Really? Megan over here.
MEGAN LOOKS UP AT THE MENTION OF HER NAME…THEN SLOWLY WALKS OVER TO BEN AND JULIE.
MEGAN: Yeah…what do you want?
JULIE: The names of the guys from the “Boombox” that night….you said you knew them.
MEGAN: Yeah…I told the bartender their names…why do you want to know?
BEN: Because…we think they're still harassing Felicity and Julie.
MEGAN: They're not the type…Max and Pete are money players.
BEN: What is a money player?
MEGAN: Hired hands…guys paid to do a job.
BEN: And Max and Pete are money players?
MEGAN: That’s what I said.
BEN: So who would they be hired by?
MEGAN: Probably some college guy with a jones for the Pollyanna twins…some guys really get off on that wholesome image….not anyone I know…but some guys.
BEN: Do you know where we can find Max and Pete?
MEGAN: Max works part time at Rewind Video….2 blocks from the dorm.
JULIE: Yeah…I know where it’s at.
BEN: Thanks.
MEGAN WALKS AWAY.
NEXT SCENE: BEN IS AT NOEL’S DOOR TALKING TO HIM.
BEN: So anyway…I’m going down to talk to Max…see if he’ll tell us who paid him to drug the drink… I thought maybe you would want to come.
NOEL: Yeah…I just need to get my coat.
BEN: I called the video store…Max is off in about 25 minutes so we need to hurry.
BEN AND NOEL ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF VIDEO STORE WAITING. MAX EXITS. THEY STOP HIM.
BEN: We need to talk to you.
MAX: Do I know you?
NOEL: We are friends of Felicity and Julie.
MAX: So…are those names suppose to mean something to me?
BEN: You're about 2 seconds from getting a punch to refresh your memory…now do those names mean anything to you.?
NOEL: What my partner here is trying to say is we need some information and we think you can help us.
MAX: Is this good cop…bad cop routine suppose to scare me?
BEN: You have no idea how much I want to drop kick you…do you?
MAX: Look this isn’t necessary…I’m not going to drag this out any longer…Pete went to tell you guys the truth…but you broke his nose…I’m not interested in an Emergency room trip. The guy your looking for is named Cole….something….I really don’t know his last name.
NOEL: Who was he after?
MAX: Julie…apparently she turned him down for a date…he’s a rich spoiled preppy….doesn’t like to be told no.
BEN: I don’t know if this is a coincidence or not…but the guy Felicity brought to my party was named Cole.
NOEL: We need to get back and talk to Julie and Felicity.
BEN AND NOEL START RUNNING BACK TO THE DORM. THEY RUN INTO ELENA IN THE MAIN ROOM.
ELENA: What’s the rush?
BEN: Have you seen Felicity or Julie?
ELENA: Yeah…why is something wrong?
BEN: Where are they?
ELENA: I saw Julie with Zack…I think they went to her room.
NOEL: What about Felicity?
ELENA: She left about 30 minutes ago with some guy…they mentioned getting a bite to eat.
BEN: What guy?
ELENA: I’m sorry she introduced him…I just don’t remember the name.
BEN: Was it Cole?
ELENA: Yeah that was it…she said they had Inorganic Chemistry together.
NOEL: Try and think Elena…did they say where they were going to eat?
ELENA: What’s going on?…Is Felicity okay?
NOEL: I hope so…we’re not sure….can you remember the name of the restaurant?
JULIE AND ZACK WALK OUT OF HER ROOM.
BEN: (shouts) Julie!
JULIE LOOKS UP.
JULIE AND ZACK WALK OVER TO BEN.
JULIE: What’s up?
BEN: Do you know someone named Cole?
ZACK: Cole Edgington?
BEN: I don’t know…would Felicity know him?
ZACK: She went out with him Halloween night….why?
NOEL WALKS UP.
NOEL: He’s the one who paid Max and Pete to drug the drink at the club….we think.
ZACK: I guess if anyone could afford to do something like that it’s him…his father is loaded.
BEN: We have to find him…Felicity’s with him….Do you know where he lives?
ZACK: Yeah…I’ve been there a couple of times…come on I’ll show you.
NEXT SCENE: FELICITY AND COLE ARE IN HIS APARTMENT.
FELICITY: When you said you were taking me somewhere nice to eat…I didn’t think that meant your apartment.
COLE: It’s the nicest place I know.
COLE COMES OVER AND SITS NEXT TO FELICITY….REALLY CLOSE.
FELICITY: (Uncomfortable) You know I think it’s probably better if I went back to the dorm.
COLE: Why you just got here.
COLE MOVES EVEN CLOSER TO FELICITY. FELICITY MOVES OVER ON COUCH UNTIL SHE IS UP AGAINST THE EDGE. COLE MOVES RIGHT NEXT TO HER AND PINS HER INTO THE CORNER.
FELICITY: Cole….what do you think your doing?
COLE: Relax Felicity…you’ll have so much more fun that way…or fight it…I’d like that too.
FELICITY: I don’t know where you got the idea I was interested in you this way Cole…I’m sorry but I’m not.
COLE STARTS KISSING FELICITY’S NECK AND FONDLING HER.
FELICITY: (starting to panic) Cole…please stop this….(tries to push Cole away but is unsuccessful) Cole stop! (continues pushing on him) NO!
COLE RIPS FELICITY’S BUTTONS OFF OF HER SHIRT AND EXPOSES HER BRA. STARTS TO UNBUTTON HER PANTS. DOORBELL RINGS.
COLE: Go away!
FELICITY: (Screams) NO…PLEASE….HELP!
COLE: (Slaps Felicity across the face) Shut up!
POUNDING ON DOOR GETS LOUDER. FELICITY IS HYSTERICAL. IT IS OBVIOUS THE PEOPLE ON OTHER SIDE OF DOOR ARE TRYING TO BREAK IT DOWN. COLE GETS UP OFF OF COUCH AND GOES TO ANSWER THE DOOR.
COLE: (opens door) Look…this is private property….so leave.
BEN SHOVES COLE ASIDE AND BARGES INTO THE APARTMENT. SEES FELICITY ON COUCH AND RUNS OVER TO HER. AS BEN STARTS TO PUT HIS ARMS AROUND HER FELICITY JERKS AWAY.
BEN: Felicity…it’s me Ben.
FELICITY LOOKS UP AND SEES BEN AND FALLS BACK INTO HIS ARMS.
FELICITY: (relieved) Ben…I want to go home.
BEN: Are you okay…did he hurt you?
FELICITY: (sobbing) He slapped me.
NOEL: Julie…call the police.
JULIE STARTS TOWARD PHONE. COLE GRABS HER WRIST.
COLE: I don’t think you’ll be doing that.
NOEL: I advise you to let go of her…right now.
COLE: What do you say you mind your own business?
NOEL: Do you even realize…you're in big trouble here?
COLE: There is no trouble I can’t buy my way out of. I’ve been doing it for years.
JULIE: Until now…you are scum and it’s over for you. (Julie knees him in groin)
AS COLE LAYS GASPING FOR BREATH. JULIE PHONES THE POLICE.
NEXT SCENE: FELICITY IS SITTING IN HER ROOM WITH BEN AND NOEL.
BEN IS SITTING ON FELICITY’S BED HOLDING HER IN HIS ARMS.
NOEL: Well, I guess I will be going…if you need anything Felicity…you know where I am.
FELICITY: Noel…wait…(to Ben) I’ll be right back.
FELICITY WALKS WITH NOEL TO HIS ROOM. THEY ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS DOOR.
NOEL: I know what this is about Felicity….I’m fine. I can see how much you need to be with Ben right now.
FELICITY: I’m sorry about our date…I really was looking forward to it.
NOEL: Yeah…me too. Another time.
FELICITY: Promise?
NOEL REACHES OVER AND KISSES FELICITY…SHE KISSES HIM BACK.
NOEL: Thanks for walking me home….your a good friend.
FELICITY: A good friend?
NOEL: Night Felicity.
FELICITY: Noel?…are you sure this is what you want?
NOEL: I want what’s best for you….right now that’s Ben….Goodnight (kisses her forehead)
FELICITY WALKS BACK INTO HER ROOM. BEN IS SITTING ON THE BED WAITING FOR HER.
BEN: Is everything okay?
FELICITY: Everything is…..weird..
BEN: Do you want me to stay…or would you rather be alone?
FELICITY: You would stay?
BEN: Yes…I want you to feel safe.
FELICITY: So we’ve agreed we can pretty much tell each other anything…right?
BEN: Right.
FELICITY: I’m really not okay with you dating Lyssa….I want so much to be okay with it…because I kind of think it would be better for all involved…but I’m not.
BEN: Okay…since we’re being so honest…I’m not okay with you dating Noel either….where does that leave us?
FELICITY: Do you want to date Lyssa?
BEN: I don’t know…I admit I was…am infatuated with her….how about you?
FELICITY: I have no desire to date Lyssa.
BEN: (laughs) I mean Noel…do you want to date Noel?
FELICITY: I think….yes I think I do.
BEN: Oh.
FELICITY: (Voice-over to Sally) There was that Oh again…only this time it came from Ben’s lips. Sally what am I doing. Ben has really been there for me and I let him down.
BEN: I didn’t realize you felt that way about him.
FELICITY: I’m sorry…I’m not trying to hurt you Ben.
BEN: Funny…then why does it hurt so much?
FELICITY: I won’t go out with him…if you don’t want me to.
BEN: Let’s not get in to this tonight Felicity…you’ve had a very exhausting day….I don’t want to cause you any more stress.
FELICITY: I’m serious Ben…just tell me not to and I won’t.
BEN: I can’t do that Felicity…it’s your decision.
FELICITY: Ben having feelings for Noel…that doesn’t change how I feel about you.
BEN: I understand…Felicity tonight when I saw you lying there crying I wanted to comfort you.
FELICITY: And you did.
BEN: I don’t know Felicity…all these feelings are getting so hard. I want you to do what you need to do….but I don’t want to lose you….I’m so afraid Noel has so much more to offer you then I ever could. I don’t want you to be as important to me as you are. I want things back the way they were…with you crushing on me and me being awkward and flattered at the same time.
FELICITY: Really…that’s what you want?
BEN: (pauses for a moment) No.
FELICITY LAYS DOWN ON BED IN BEN’S ARMS. SHE LOOKS AT HIM AND THEN LEANS IN AND KISSES HIM. BEN KISSES HER BACK.
SALLY: (Voice over) Felicity….deciding between two men is never easy….and possibly not fair to either one. But you have to decide…because a future isn’t built in a group…it’s built with a couple. And nobody knows how long together as a couple they will have. You hope for a lifetime…but you settle for what you get. Noel and Ben both sound like they have couple potential….but life isn’t stopping for you while you ponder your decision…it’s passing by and taking with it missed experiences. Be honest with yourself and follow your heart. It’s known all along what it want’s you to do. Take care and talk to you soon. Sally.