A Million Happy Nows
After a fight, her publicist Eva Morales (Jessica Leccia) enters their rented home on the ocean shore and discovers Lainey Allen (Crystal Chappell) nowhere to be seen. Eva is immediately worried for L…
A Million Happy Nows
After a fight, her publicist Eva Morales (Jessica Leccia) enters their rented home on the ocean shore and discovers Lainey Allen (Crystal Chappell) nowhere to be seen. Eva is immediately worried for Lainey's well-being. Months earlier, Lainey Allen wins a daytime Emmy for outstanding leads actress in a drama series for her role as Vivian in the soap opera Spring Valley. Lainey is struggling, however. She meets Aden (Michael Corbett), a reporter at a reception and Lainey cannot remember him a half hour later. Lainey struggles to memorize and deliver her lines at the shooting of a new soap opera episode. Lainey's contract is up for renewal, but Lainey is likely ending her association with the show despite the pleas of her publicist. Eva and Lainey are lovers. They rent and move into a new place with an ocean view, a fireplace, and a trampoline and intend to make the most of all three. They settle into their new home. With no demands of a soap opera taping schedule, they discover lots of downtime. At a cafe in town, the pair meet the owner Julie (Dendrie Taylor) who is an adoring fan. Julie promises to help them with whatever they need and introduce them to the right people in town. As they unpack, Eva is surprised when Lainey remembers the point in time they first met, when her memory is jogged by an old magazine cover. But mostly Lainey continues to struggle with such simple tasks as playing dominoes and finding items in the kitchen. Lainey offers Eve the excuse that it is stressful from going from the busyness of five shows a week to finding her purpose. Lainey even gets frustrated making a sandwich. Together, Lainey and Eva go to a neurology center. Dr. Hansen (Robert Gant) gives Laney a mini-cognitive test of repeating three items back to him a minute later as well as drawing the numbers on a clock face. Lainey does not do either task well. Eva breaks down when she is finally alone in the elevator. Later she calls the doctor. Lainey's brain scan is clear however a blood test revealed a gene for early onset Alzheimer's disease. Eva tells this to Lainey who already knew she had a 50% chance of this happening. She explains that she did not share this information with Eva because she would have waited in dread the last ten years for this day to arrive. Eva and Lainey go to Julie's restaurant again. Julie has an old publicity photo for Laney to sign. When Laney excuses herself, Julie asks Eva if Laney is upset that she did not marry her co-star on the soap opera. Eva tells her that Lainey is very happy now and reveals that she is in a relationship with Lainey. Julie is stunned. Away from the table. Julie looks at the photo and it is signed in a very confused manner. Jason (Dan Gauthier), an actor on Spring Valley and his wife Val (Hillary B. Smith) visit Lainey and Eva at their new home. Jason discusses a storyline on the show that Lainey struggles to follow. Lainey offers to get coffee but leaves the room and forgets what she was going to do. Lainey learns that Eva told Val about her condition. That night, Eva and Lainey argue about the right response to the situation. Eva needs to talk about her feelings which just depresses Lainey. When Eva stops for coffee at Julie's diner, Julie has correctly diagnosed Lainey as having Alzheimer's. Lainey's writing on the photograph was similar to her husband Hal who previously suffered from the disease. When Eva returns to the house that morning, the couple smooth things over. Lainey now understands that even though she prefers to keep her condition quiet, that maybe Eva needs people to know. They resolve to have "a million happy nows" together, even if they cannot be remembered. The first of these are the joys of eating a Carmel apple, breaking open a piñata and smoking weed and staring up at the stars. Lainey thinks it is admitting defeat but signs the power of attorney affidavit over to Eva. At the diner, Julie protects Lainey from a photographer. Eva shows Julie a tabloid article claiming Lainey was caught drunk on the set. Julie says her husband Hall would not allow her to tell anyone about his condition for the first six months. One morning, Eva shows Lainey a press release she prepared indicating that Lainey has Alzheimer's. Lainey references a magazine cover that looks like a memorial and says she is not dead yet. Upset, she leaves for yet another jog, believing it can slow the progression of the disease. On her run, Lainey overlooks a cliff from which she could end her life. When Lainey returns home, her attitude is improved. Eva and Lainey decide to make a video diary to preserve some memories. The first entry Lainey makes is a heartfelt declaration of love for her partner. Eva and Lainey visit a dive bar. Eva is hit on by Mike, (Cuyle Carvin) a bar patron. Lainey responds with a loud fit of jealousy sending Mike away. Eva thinks Lainey's personality may be changing. Back at home, Lainey finds a positive in losing her memory. Each time she sees Eva it will be like the first time she sees her and will think she is pretty. Their make-up kisses are interrupted by Val who has stopped for a visit. After Lainey excuses herself to go to bed, Val brings out brochures of care options for Lainey. Eva says it is way too soon for such considerations but Val counters that even a healthy Lainey was a handful. Eva responds that she is grateful it was her hands that are providing the care. Lainey's motor and recognition skills deteriorate and she gets decidedly more aggressive. Lainey decides they should find a care facility and set a date for her departure so that Eva does not have to determine when the situation becomes too much for her to handle alone. At the first such facility they visit, the attendant nurse tells them about the night wanderers and how they are sedated for their own well-being. Lainey fights back with her fiery wit which makes Eva laugh. At Cedarcrest, they are overwhelmed by Mindy (Roberta Valderrama), a fan of the show who speaks to Lainey like her real life is the soap opera she appeared on. At Meadowlark however, they find a nice facility and a very matter of fact reception from Kate (Marisa Calin) who deals with Lainey's sarcasm and negativity well. One morning, Eva is frustrated at being unable to find the keys to the deck door and with Lainey who keeps misplacing them. When Eva leaves to go to the store, Spring Valley comes on television. Lainey dons a tierra on her head and finds her way to the dive bar. Mike sees her and asks are to apologize for the incident last time at the bar when she belittled him in front of his friends. Lainey has no recollection. Julie gets word from the bartender and escorts Lainey home. Julie tells Eva she is at a point where she can no longer be left alone or she could get hurt. Lainey's long-term memory is less affected by the disease. She is most at home watching old videos of her show. As they get ready to depart from their rented home, Eva applies Lainey's make up one last time. When Eva comes to Meadowlark to visit, Lainey is engaged in water color painting. She is proud to show off her work and her Emmy trophy though she does not remember winning it. She tells Eva she is beautiful, like they were meeting for the first time.
A Million Happy Nows
Drama,Romance
Film Details
After a fight, her publicist Eva Morales (Jessica Leccia) enters their rented home on the ocean shore and discovers Lainey Allen (Crystal Chappell) nowhere to be seen. Eva is immediately worried for Lainey's well-being. Months earlier, Lainey Allen wins a daytime Emmy for outstanding leads actress in a drama series for her role as Vivian in the soap opera Spring Valley.
Lainey is struggling, however. She meets Aden (Michael Corbett), a reporter at a reception and Lainey cannot remember him a half hour later. Lainey struggles to memorize and deliver her lines at the shooting of a new soap opera episode.
Lainey's contract is up for renewal, but Lainey is likely ending her association with the show despite the pleas of her publicist. Eva and Lainey are lovers. They rent and move into a new place with an ocean view, a fireplace, and a trampoline and intend to make the most of all three.
They settle into their new home. With no demands of a soap opera taping schedule, they discover lots of downtime. At a cafe in town, the pair meet the owner Julie (Dendrie Taylor) who is an adoring fan.
Julie promises to help them with whatever they need and introduce them to the right people in town. As they unpack, Eva is surprised when Lainey remembers the point in time they first met, when her memory is jogged by an old magazine cover. But mostly Lainey continues to struggle with such simple tasks as playing dominoes and finding items in the kitchen.
Lainey offers Eve the excuse that it is stressful from going from the busyness of five shows a week to finding her purpose. Lainey even gets frustrated making a sandwich. Together, Lainey and Eva go to a neurology center.
Dr. Hansen (Robert Gant) gives Laney a mini-cognitive test of repeating three items back to him a minute later as well as drawing the numbers on a clock face. Lainey does not do either task well.
Eva breaks down when she is finally alone in the elevator. Later she calls the doctor. Lainey's brain scan is clear however a blood test revealed a gene for early onset Alzheimer's disease.
Eva tells this to Lainey who already knew she had a 50% chance of this happening. She explains that she did not share this information with Eva because she would have waited in dread the last ten years for this day to arrive. Eva and Lainey go to Julie's restaurant again.
Julie has an old publicity photo for Laney to sign. When Laney excuses herself, Julie asks Eva if Laney is upset that she did not marry her co-star on the soap opera. Eva tells her that Lainey is very happy now and reveals that she is in a relationship with Lainey.
Julie is stunned. Away from the table. Julie looks at the photo and it is signed in a very confused manner.
Jason (Dan Gauthier), an actor on Spring Valley and his wife Val (Hillary B. Smith) visit Lainey and Eva at their new home. Jason discusses a storyline on the show that Lainey struggles to follow.
Lainey offers to get coffee but leaves the room and forgets what she was going to do. Lainey learns that Eva told Val about her condition. That night, Eva and Lainey argue about the right response to the situation.
Eva needs to talk about her feelings which just depresses Lainey. When Eva stops for coffee at Julie's diner, Julie has correctly diagnosed Lainey as having Alzheimer's. Lainey's writing on the photograph was similar to her husband Hal who previously suffered from the disease.
When Eva returns to the house that morning, the couple smooth things over. Lainey now understands that even though she prefers to keep her condition quiet, that maybe Eva needs people to know. They resolve to have "a million happy nows" together, even if they cannot be remembered.
The first of these are the joys of eating a Carmel apple, breaking open a piñata and smoking weed and staring up at the stars. Lainey thinks it is admitting defeat but signs the power of attorney affidavit over to Eva. At the diner, Julie protects Lainey from a photographer.
Eva shows Julie a tabloid article claiming Lainey was caught drunk on the set. Julie says her husband Hall would not allow her to tell anyone about his condition for the first six months. One morning, Eva shows Lainey a press release she prepared indicating that Lainey has Alzheimer's.
Lainey references a magazine cover that looks like a memorial and says she is not dead yet. Upset, she leaves for yet another jog, believing it can slow the progression of the disease. On her run, Lainey overlooks a cliff from which she could end her life.
When Lainey returns home, her attitude is improved. Eva and Lainey decide to make a video diary to preserve some memories. The first entry Lainey makes is a heartfelt declaration of love for her partner.
Eva and Lainey visit a dive bar. Eva is hit on by Mike, (Cuyle Carvin) a bar patron. Lainey responds with a loud fit of jealousy sending Mike away.
Eva thinks Lainey's personality may be changing. Back at home, Lainey finds a positive in losing her memory. Each time she sees Eva it will be like the first time she sees her and will think she is pretty.
Their make-up kisses are interrupted by Val who has stopped for a visit. After Lainey excuses herself to go to bed, Val brings out brochures of care options for Lainey. Eva says it is way too soon for such considerations but Val counters that even a healthy Lainey was a handful.
Eva responds that she is grateful it was her hands that are providing the care. Lainey's motor and recognition skills deteriorate and she gets decidedly more aggressive. Lainey decides they should find a care facility and set a date for her departure so that Eva does not have to determine when the situation becomes too much for her to handle alone.
At the first such facility they visit, the attendant nurse tells them about the night wanderers and how they are sedated for their own well-being. Lainey fights back with her fiery wit which makes Eva laugh. At Cedarcrest, they are overwhelmed by Mindy (Roberta Valderrama), a fan of the show who speaks to Lainey like her real life is the soap opera she appeared on.
At Meadowlark however, they find a nice facility and a very matter of fact reception from Kate (Marisa Calin) who deals with Lainey's sarcasm and negativity well. One morning, Eva is frustrated at being unable to find the keys to the deck door and with Lainey who keeps misplacing them. When Eva leaves to go to the store, Spring Valley comes on television.
Lainey dons a tierra on her head and finds her way to the dive bar. Mike sees her and asks are to apologize for the incident last time at the bar when she belittled him in front of his friends. Lainey has no recollection.
Julie gets word from the bartender and escorts Lainey home. Julie tells Eva she is at a point where she can no longer be left alone or she could get hurt. Lainey's long-term memory is less affected by the disease.
She is most at home watching old videos of her show. As they get ready to depart from their rented home, Eva applies Lainey's make up one last time. When Eva comes to Meadowlark to visit, Lainey is engaged in water color painting.
She is proud to show off her work and her Emmy trophy though she does not remember winning it. She tells Eva she is beautiful, like they were meeting for the first time..