Episode 316 - "When the Heart Stops..."

[Ty Junior]

As this busy and exciting year comes to a close, I am thrilled to present to you my final episode for the year.  In this extended episode, the citizens of Hallandale bid farewell to Samantha Keller Lombard.  Significant Note: This is also the last of the episodes written partially during WeSeWriMo month back in August of this year.



Promo Caption (clockwise from right):  Samantha Keller Lombard (Alison Sweeney); Brock Lombard (Cameron Mathison);
Crystal Perez (Charisma Carpenter); Matthew Pryce (Daniel Cosgrove); and Dana Lombard (Gina Tognoni).

Additional Highlights:

• Crystal, Robin, Romain, Earl and Royce each reflect on their relationships with Samantha;
• Crystal has a vision, and goes on the prowl for Dana;
• Malina realizes not all is what it seems;
• Brock and Royce both receive visits from Samantha's spirit;
• The reception culminates at the Hallandale Pier, where several guests await the search and recovery efforts of one of their loved ones!

To read all the action for yourself, check out the episode now.

[bexeth]

you did this in such a human, lifelike and relatable way, ty. I especially sympathized with Royce, though Brock's experiences were more dramatic. It was just that Royce was quieter about it, with more of an undercurrent.

I also liked that you brought so many together for the service. This is truly some excellent, gripping and exciting writing - well worth the wait. Good job.

[kellyzollo]

You made me tear up and drop a few years into a tissue Ty, something that I love when it happens. It means that I connected with something in a series and this didn't disappoint, I think the added addition of having it a mix of narrative and script really helped me get inside people's head. I loved how you included so many people in the service and how well you pulled it off.

Brock and Royce, continue to just rock for me as brothers and siblings and this was no exception. Crystal and Robin had great moments in this episode as well overall so well done Ty! This was a great way to wrap up the new year for TMOOL.

Kelly

[Ty Junior]

you did this in such a human, lifelike and relatable way, ty. I especially sympathized with Royce, though Brock's experiences were more dramatic. It was just that Royce was quieter about it, with more of an undercurrent.

I also liked that you brought so many together for the service. This is truly some excellent, gripping and exciting writing - well worth the wait. Good job.

Thank you for sharing your observations, Bex.   I felt Royce, prior to this episode, had done the yelling, the blaming, the denial, and the bitter acknowledgment. Therefore, it was easier to write him with that quiet undercurrent.  Each scene, he slowly begins to make peace with his sister's death, even though he will never understand it.  By the end, I think his guilt for not being there when his sister died was somehow expunged.

Brock, on the other hand, was there when his wife died and although he cried, he never truly grieved or acknowledged his wife's death because he closed himself off to that reality soon afterward.  It took me some time to find the right set of dialogue for this character.  However, I do think my objective in the culmination of his story here was achieved:  To get him to that acceptance stage in an exciting way that was only possible with this set of characters.  Now the sun can finally began to shine again... for me and the characters.  

You made me tear up and drop a few years into a tissue Ty, something that I love when it happens. It means that I connected with something in a series and this didn't disappoint, I think the added addition of having it a mix of narrative and script really helped me get inside people's head. I loved how you included so many people in the service and how well you pulled it off.

Brock and Royce, continue to just rock for me as brothers and siblings and this was no exception. Crystal and Robin had great moments in this episode as well overall so well done Ty! This was a great way to wrap up the new year for TMOOL.

Kelly

That's awesome Kelly... that you were affected on an emotional level.    

The style choice was challenging to incorporate at times, but I'm happy to hear it worked for you.  And thanks, this wasn't intended to be the last episode of 2009, but considering how prominent this story has been for the year, I think it sort of rounded things off in a way.


Thanks Bex and Kelly for your comments.

[Rob Hill]

Hey Ty, I was so excited to see a new episode I missed being in Hallandale, So it was great to return.
I read th episode last night but I fell asleep right after so I'l sorry so the tardiness.

I agree with everyone this episode was pretty emotional, I think you did a really good job on making us feel it.
I've grown to like Brock so I felt extremely bad for him and the rest of Samantha's friends and family.
I loved the scene when Samantha returned to Brock, it was so depressing. You did a hell of a job with that.
I can usually tell where these storylines are beginning to go but from here I have no idea what's to come next.
I'll be here waiting for the next one.

[Dallas]

Wow Ty. I don't even know really where to begin. The episode had *so* much emotion driven in to it. You captured the moments very, very well. Like Bex, I was really feeling for Royce through out the episode. Layers of putting on a happy face and beneth the layers was pure torture. Brock, of course, was dramatic and it added a real sense of "Will they make it in time" or not to the end of the episode. You should be so happy with this episode, it is amazing. Very, very well done.

[Ty Junior]

Hey Ty, I was so excited to see a new episode I missed being in Hallandale, So it was great to return.
I read th episode last night but I fell asleep right after so I'l sorry so the tardiness.

I agree with everyone this episode was pretty emotional, I think you did a really good job on making us feel it.
I've grown to like Brock so I felt extremely bad for him and the rest of Samantha's friends and family.
I loved the scene when Samantha returned to Brock, it was so depressing. You did a hell of a job with that.
I can usually tell where these storylines are beginning to go but from here I have no idea what's to come next.
I'll be here waiting for the next one.

I really wasn't expecting people to respond so quickly, so you're not tardy at all.  Hopefully the episode didn't put any disturbing images in your mind once you dozed off-- completely unrelated to the episode, right?!  

It's great to see that different readers are emoting with different characters.  Considering the inroads Brock made to win back Samantha after nearly losing her the first time, it was important to emphasize that he's really felt that he's lost the love of his life...  he can't run to so and so, and sweep her off her feet this time.  It's over forever, and that's not an easy thing to accept.  Where does the story go from here?  Well, it has been no secret, but the character of Brock is slated to exit the series.  Now that suicide has been technically ruled out, I'm sure one could probably wager what will come next.  I can say that it won't be as dramatic as a rescue and recovery effort.  

Oh, and for a shameless plug, the next episode will be written by Dallas.  So we will catch up with Royce again following the funeral, and then return to the antics and dramatics of modeling trio (Vanessa, Lucien and Danielle); as well as witness the unraveling of Shalia's many lies.

Wow Ty. I don't even know really where to begin. The episode had *so* much emotion driven in to it. You captured the moments very, very well. Like Bex, I was really feeling for Royce through out the episode. Layers of putting on a happy face and beneath the layers was pure torture. Brock, of course, was dramatic and it added a real sense of "Will they make it in time" or not to the end of the episode. You should be so happy with this episode, it is amazing. Very, very well done.

A speechless Dallas.  My work is done.   I appreciate your kind words, and I'm fairly content with the way this episode turned out.  It would suck if I wasn't considering how much time I spent on it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!