When Maddie slips onto the Greyhound, she doesn't have a ticket, let alone a plan. All she knows is that the moments that have led her to this are ones she wants to leave behind.
As she contemplates her life, her bubble is unceremoniously burst by the man that drops himself into the seat in front of her. Cracking gum and talking a mile a minute, he either doesn't realise the state she's in or has singlehandedly decided that it's his business to cheer her up.
He buys her ticket ("she's going to the last stop, LA") and then resumes his nattering. In the midst of the deluge, he mentions that's he's going to get married. He's on his way to propose to his girlfriend Tatiana.
The air in the cabin becomes stifling and she gets off the bus at the next stop, hoping to catch her breath and make sense of where she's headed. The man, Chim ("short for Chimney, which isn't my real name, but it's what everyone calls me and if you ask I'll even tell you why they call me that. You know what, I'll tell you now. Actually it's probably not appropriate to share with someone I met only an hour ago!") calls out for her but she just needs another second.
Standing a little ways from the bus, one second turns into one minute turns into half an hour and she's left with the sound of the bus' horn, honking over the trundling wheels, and Chim's exasperated shouts for someone to stop the coach.
After confirming that she IS also heading to LA, they commandeer a cab but still just about miss the bus at the next stop.
With Chimney insisting that he accompany her back to LA, what follows is a madcap journey - there's only one bed in the motel and their drive to LA is sprinkled with countless moments of Chim's infectious sense of adventure.
As they approach their penultimate destination of firehouse 118, Chim reveals that none of his colleagues like Tatiana. It shouldn't be a complete surprise then that when she meets Bobby, he immediately asks if they're dating now. They both emphatically deny it, but Hen and Eddie welcome her like she's family anyway. Chim offers to set her up with Eddie, and then they'll both be set!
Instead, she ends up accompanying him on the final leg of the journey to Tatiana, though she can't quite take the final few steps, so leaves as Chimney makes his way up to her apartment.
She makes her own way to her brother Buck, who's ecstatic to see her and proclaims that she's almost like how she was before. "Maybe even happier: what happened?" As with everything else, she's not dragging her younger brother into the tangled affairs of her heart. But she's finally ready to start her life anew.
When Buck takes her over to the firehouse he's just been stationed at, she's utterly derailed by Bobby asking her where Chimney is. Buck's giving her odd looks, so she takes Bobby to the side and asks what happened.
Turns out that Chim's been AWOL for the last few days and he was supposed to be back on shift today but no-one can find him.
The universe has finally given her a chance to repay Chimney for what he did for her, so she promises Bobby that she'll bring Chim back. Buck doesn't get any less confused when she asks for his jeep for a week.
Her first stop is Tatiana's. She leaves her place with a burning fury, but also, with a possible address. Chim's gone to Seattle and she drives over to insist that he come back. The Chim she finds is defeated - a shell of the wise-cracking man she met just a little while back; anxious and despondent and resigned to a life without romance.
It takes the entire drive back to finally feel like Howie's back, and she has to use every tool in her box, as well as his own tactics from before : burning Tatiana's photo, going out onto the balcony of their motel and screaming every insult they can think of until they get yelled at by their neighbours, and getting royally drunk and doing karaoke. After a particularly over-the-top rendition of Islands in the Stream, her heart breaks a little but that's not on him and she tells him that as well. As they pull up to his apartment building, they're both as surprised as each other to find Tatiana waiting outside. Tatiana thanks her for reminding her that she does want Chim in her life, and that they can work through all their differences and go back to dating, and maybe that could be enough for now.
So she leaves, walks away as Chim and Tatiana talk. She's done her job. So why does she feel awful?
She heads back to the station, where Buck is back on shift, and when the crew return from their call, she reassures Bobby that he'll get his paramedic back on the next shift. She turns away before she can overthink the look he's giving her, and makes her way down the steps.
She's just walking between the engines, when Chim appears in front of her. He seems a little out of breath, like he'd run here but that can't...
"I was always trying to be something else. Someone else, you know? Someone who's strong, a hero, someone who could be enough, for someone like her."
"You shouldn't have to change for anyone." She takes a step forward, a silent plea for him to understand that who he is, in all his neurotic, hilarious, endlessly kind ways, is enough.
"What about for you?" He's got his breath back, or maybe he's just stolen hers.
"Chimney, you're more than enough as you are."
Somehow he's right in front of her, and she should be the one holding his hands, trying to convince or console him, but instead he's looking into her very soul.
"I broke up with Tatiana this time, for good. So... are you ready?"
Even the affectionately teasing cheers and applause from the balcony don't stop her from clinging tight, kissing him like he's her oxygen. She's let him go before - she's never doing that again.
I need to mention my peanuts @madamewriterofwrongs and @zeethebooknerd, for being AU and Bollywood queens respectively (though there's some crossover too!) I think I channelled some of your talents here!
First time trying this, so hope this makes some sense!
The format of each bullet is the Hindi lyric [English translation/ show audio] - image description. The square brackets are blank for instrumental (i.e no lyrics)
Intro [N/A] - walking side by side, laughing, as they round the corner and head into the cinema. They have a little light-hearted jog and nudge at the door, before Chimney opens it for her, letting her through first.
N/A [Maybe the greatest love stories start with a second chance] - They walk towards the counter and Maddie talks and gesticulates
raaton ke jaage [those awake for nights] - Maddie crawls on the floor beside a knocked over Christmas tree, before stopping and reaching towards something on the floor
subah mile hain [have met in the morning] - Chimney talks to Maddie, nodding before reaching for her hand.
resham ke dhaage [these stories are like silk threads (soft and lovely),] - Camera shows him rubbing a thumb over her fingers and then pans up to Maddie looking at him, damp eyed but smiling slightly as she stares into his eyes
ye silsile hain [these stories are like silk threads (soft and lovely)] - Shot shows the back of Chimney’s head as Maddie’s head rests on his shoulder. They have their arms wrapped around each other and her eyes are closed as she smiles. Cuts to the decked out Christmas tree.
laazmi si [now they have begun to seem necessary] - Maddie standing next to an engine in the bay, wearing a black blazer and jeans. She holds her hands in front of her as she talks.
lagne lagi hain [now they have begun to seem necessary] - Chim is in his full sleeved uniform, hands in his pockets as he bursts into a smile, looking down then around.
Instrumental [] - He points at the ground, and it cuts to show them both standing a few metres apart as he talks
do dilon ki ab [these closenesses of the two hearts.] - Chimney walks towards Maddie as he talks.
nazdeekiyaan [ these closenesses of the two hearts. ] - He finally closes the gap between them
Instrumental [] - Maddie grins as she brushes her fingers over his ear lobe before she tilts her head to the side, kissing him again, pulling back for just a second before their lips make contact again and her hand moves to his back
dikhti nahi hain [One can’t see] - Buck sits in a chair opposite the two, in front of a food laden coffee table. He looks between them with a confused and mildly annoyed expression.
par ho rahi hain mehsoos nazdeekiyan [but can feel the closeness] - Chim has a piece of food in one hand, Maddie has a takeaway bag in her lap. They both look over at each other, Chim smiling when he sees Maddie smiling, before looking back at Buck and gesturing.
instrumental [] - Maddie leans to her right, and Chim leans as well, as they both look over curiously at something behind the camera
do dil hi jaanein lagti hain [only these two hearts know how safe this closeness feels.] - Maddie, wearing an orange flowery blouse and loose hair in front of her shoulders, walks forwards to take Chim's hands, deep relief on her face. She's saying "I'm really glad you got my message"
kitni mehfooz [only these two hearts know how safe this closeness feels.] - Chim is sitting on the bed, and he looks up and smiles, saying "I love you too"
nazdeekiyan [only these two hearts know how safe this closeness feels] - Maddie replies, a grin on her face as she moves forward, on top of Chimney (off screen).
Instrumental (bar one) [] - Maddie and Chimney press their glasses to each others, looking at each other before they turn to Buck, both of them shrugging a shoulder, smiles on their faces as they lean their glasses towards Buck at the same time. The camera flashes to him, eyes moving between the two.
Instrumental (bar two to four) [] - Maddie and Chimney singing karaoke, she stands behind him as she throws an arm around his shoulder. He looks down in confusion. Chim glances down at her hand as she places it over his chest, he smiles as she continues to sing. Both grin at each other; her hand remains on his chest and he looks behind at her as she tilts her head to the side to look at him, laughing.
Instrumental (bar five and six) [] - Chimney leans down and pulls up a tub, placing it in front of her. He pulls the lid off the pot and Maddie puts her hand over her chest. Maddie talking to Chim, hand still on her chest before she reaches for the pot.
Instrumental (bar seven) [] - Chimney and Maddie, his hand in hers before he twirls her around, in front of an engine and behind people sitting at tables
Instrumental (bar eight) [] - Maddie and Chimney in the station, he has a plate of cake in one hand and a forkful of it in the other as Maddie leans forward a little to take the cake from the fork. Her hand lifts beneath her face as she eats, laughing and Chimney throws his head back as he laughs.
zariyaa [A medium,] - Chim and Maddie sit an opposite ends of a dining table, Maddie looks up, and says "I'm okay" and Chim nods a little
hai ye aankhein zariya [ these eyes are a medium,] - Chim looks teary. His eyes are downcast until he looks up and says "no".
chhalakta hai jinse ek armaanon ka dariya [through which an river of wishes spills out,] - Maddie tries not to cry as she forces a smile. She steps towards him, a hand on either side of his face before she kisses him. Before she pulls back, she gently shakes her head and her hands gently tap either side of his face as she pulls back. One hand gently taps against his chest when she completely pulls back as she holds back tears.
aadatein hain in ki puraani [it’s their old habit] - Chimney gesticulates at the screen in his hand, before looking up. He walks away as Maddie watches him, a small smirk on her face. She points over to him, eyebrows raised as she says "He is so cute"
ankahi si keh de kahaani [to say unsaid stories..] - Maddie talks, DVD in her hand and a nervous look on her face. It flashes to Chimney who grins, nodding his head.
parchhaaiyaan do [two shadows] - Chimney as he takes a deep breath, shoulders slumping before he interlocks his fingers and says "I love you." Maddie has a look of shock.
juDne lagi hain [have begun to merge] - Chimney blinks a few times, shaking his head a little as he smilse and says "I didn't mean to lead with that" Maddie still looks surprised, although a little less so as she smiles briefly.
dekho hawa mein [see, in the air,] - Maddie smiles, tilting her head to the side and smiling wider as she says "happy." Chimney looks lovestruck and smiles wider, shoulders dropping a little.
uDne lagi hain [ they have begun to fly ] - Maddie smiles whilst looking up, hands coming up , looking down a little embarassedly as she says "A million other things". Chim smiles widely, hands coming down before he leans forwards a little.
pankh jaisi lagne lagi hain [seems to be like wings..] - A side view of Maddie and Chimney standing across from each other, Maddie is smiling as Chimney smiles back, talking, his hands in his pockets. Chimney talks, moving his head to the side as he looks at Maddie, a small smirk on his face. Maddie's head is tilted to the side a little as she keeps her eyes on Howie, a smirk on her lips. Chimney’s eyebrows shoot up, in the time with the triangle.
do dilon ki ab [the closeness of the two hearts,] - Maddie grins, biting down on her lip as she talks. She looks away for just a second, before her smile widens, and she looks back at Chimney.
nazdeekiyan [the closeness of the two hearts,] - Chimney steps forward and the smile drops from Maddie’s face as she tilts her head to the side to match Chimney’s
Outro (bar one) [N/A] - Chimney (bare chested) moves his hands out for Maddie, talking to her as he steps closer.
Outro (bar two) [N/A] - Maddie nods, smiling at him. Her hands reach out for the back of his neck as he moves his to her back.
Outro (bar three) [N/A] - Maddie rests her hand on the back of his neck as they kiss
Outro (bar four) [N/A] - They both deepen the kiss, their arms wrapping tighter around each other as his hands move higher up her back and her arms wrap around his shoulders
Outro (bar five) [N/A] - Chimney moves forwards, tears in his eyes and a massive smile as he says "we're having a baby?!"
Outro (bar six) [N/A] - Maddies face as she wraps both arms around Chimney, a huge smile on her face and both pregnancy tests still in her hands.
Outro (bar seven) [N/A] - Chimney’s face as he wraps both arms around Maddiie, grinning as he closes his eyes
Outro (bar eight) [N/A] - Zoomed out shot of the two of them hugging, lifting their legs a little as they sway to one side.
N/A [Thank you for watching card] - Maddie and Chimney are kneeling on the ground over the woman with the dislocated pelvis. Chim grins up at Maddie, who grins back.
