My Ultimate Dream

There’s been some talk of dreams lately on the Internets which got me to thinking about mine. Y’all know my main dream is to become a full time writer but what would my ultimate dream be? What would just make me beyond happy and be fulfilling? I’m taking a chance sharing this dream with you because I’m sure there’s going to be one person who roles their eyes at me and goes “That’s stupid!” or “That’ll never happen!.” Well, we all need to have dreams and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with have THE dream. One that is rather out there and maybe attainable but chances are it’s a longshot. So here it is. This is my ultimate dream –

I would be beyond ecstatic if Chris Daughtry played the role of Ben in a movie (TV or theater) adaptation of my published book Sunset Park.

There, I’ve said it. Make your judgements. Snicker. Role your eyes but that’s my ultimate dream. I’ll be honest but when I started writing Sunset Park six years ago, I immediately thought of Chris playing one of the main characters. From the first word I typed, I saw Chris as Ben. It’s a dramatic role that would show quite the range that I believe Chris could handle. Here’s how I describe the character of Ben –

   “Beneath his attire of jean jacket, black t-shirt, worn jeans, and black work boots, he was compact and muscular. A high school wrestler, he had landed a job in construction in Panama City Beach and the physical side of that vocation had done him good. Ben hadn’t shaved in a day or two and it just added to his rugged handsomeness. He looked very much like he did on that April night five years ago, even keeping the shaved head to distinguish himself from his abusive father whom Ben looked eerily, and sadly, like. The only true difference she saw in her cousin was in his deep brown eyes. They used to sparkle and hint at his good nature and heart but now, they were dull and pained, just like Laurie’s blue eyes.”  

Sunset Park is the story of Ben and Laurie who were a couple for many years – since high school – until Ben made the terrible choice to leave Laurie, and Sunset Park, one night in April. Five years later he returns to Sunset Park to try and make amends. (And you’ll just have to read the rest of the book to figure out what happens. It’s available on Amazon.) It’s a story of pride, a little stupidity, and the hope of love once again. (It’s not a brassiere busting romance novel.) It was my first novel I ever finished and my first book to be published. I’m proud of the book and I could see it make an excellent movie. Can you see Chris in the following?

“He slipped off his long sleeve t-shirt and caught site of the crooks of his arms. It was just over a year since the last time he shot up but the scars were still there. Maybe not as visible as Ben believed; he often covered them at his most pathetic moments. The yearning for a hit was bad enough but seeing the scars often weakened him to the point of wondering where he could score just enough to make the pain go away.

Shame exploded within Ben. To differentiate himself from his drunken father, Ben added heroin to his arsenal. The crash from the brief euphoria deepened the guilt he tried to eradicate and he would begin the vicious cycle all over again. Ben wished he never took the needle when presented to him; the cravings for heroin were ten times worse than the craving for Jack Daniels.”

Or how about this when things take a turn for the worse?

“‘Where is he?” Marcus asked Teddy who looked definitely unpriest-like in his torn jeans and faded Sunset Park High sweatshirt.

‘In one of the basement wells,’ he explained and led Marcus towards one of the brick wells found around the basement windows. Most, but not all, were covered with barred gates. ‘I was taking the garbage out and heard the sound of breaking glass. I figured it was probably one of our homeless regulars. The last person I expected to find was Ben. He’s pretty wasted and well, come see for yourself. He looks like hell.’

The recess that was below a stained glass window in the basement wall went approximately three feet below ground and was about five feet wide. Ben was hunkered down in the corner, curled in upon himself like a cornered animal. His belt was wrapped around his upper arm and he was trying to use a hypodermic needle but his hands were shaking so bad, he couldn’t do it. Blood dripped from Ben’s dirty arm attesting to several missed jabs. Marcus hopped down into the well and knelt next to his best friend.

‘Ben,’ he said gently, putting his hand on the shaking arm. ‘No more.’ It was actually easier than he expected to take the needle from Ben’s hand. Teddy’s description of Ben’s condition was spot-on. To say that Ben was very wasted was an understatement. Not only did Marcus’s best friend smell, both of booze and filth, Marcus thought his friend was on a quick path towards death.

‘Let’s get him inside,’ Teddy told Marcus. ‘I’ve already called Doc.’ Between the two of them, they managed to get Ben out of the well and into Teddy’s quarters. Ben was in no condition to put up a fight.

In the light of Teddy’s bathroom, Marcus got a better look at his friend. Ben still wore the same t-shirt and jeans that he had been wearing the night that they brought Laurie to the hospital two weeks earlier. They were filthy. He had scratches that were barely visible now that there was a matted beard covering his face and neck. Ben’s head was no longer bald and his hair was longer than Marcus had seen in several years. He recognized Ben, but at the same time he didn’t appear to be the same man he had known his entire life.

‘Marcus…’ Ben slurred heavily. ‘My fault… everything.’

‘For falling off the wagon, yes,’ Marcus replied. ‘For Laurie’s break, no,’ he said kindly.”

Ben, just as with the other main character of Laurie, is a damaged soul and I think it would be a challenge to play such a character. It’s something I think Chris could do. If it were to ever happen, I would be beyond words.

Dana