Art by Lauren Luchs
Hallie Vermeend traverses the notion of a world ‘in-between’ the living and the dead in this introspective short screenplay, analysing the intermingling of grief and guilt and compelling us to turn inwards once in a while, and grant ourselves forgiveness.
INT. HOSPITAL ER - NIGHT
Black. The beeping of a heart rate monitor. The muffled voices of doctors fighting to save a life. Sound builds.
FLASHBACK – INT. BACK SEAT OF CAR – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
An indie rock song plays softly. The tiniest sliver of light illuminates the faces of MICHAEL (22) and SAMANTHA (21), her head rests on his shoulder, eyes closed. Next to several discarded candy wrappers, they bounce up and down with the uneven road as BEAU (21) struggles with the steering wheel.
BEAU
(muttering)
Fucking council bastards...
Michael chuckles softly. He leans towards the drivers seat, giving Beau a friendly pat on the shoulder.
MICHAEL
You want to get us home any time soon bud?
The car passes by another on the road, its headlights illuminating the inside of the car just long enough to see that the three friends are wearing Halloween costumes. Samantha has cat ears, Michael wears a cowboy vest and Beau dons a pair of FLUFFY ANGEL WINGS.
INT. HOSPITAL ER - NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT)
Harsh lights. Fast, mechanical beeping. A surgical lamp is rolled away. Michael's lifeless body is shocked with a defibrillator.
FLASHBACK – INT. BEAU’S CAR – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
Beau turns in his seat. A large truck appears ahead.
BEAU
It's not even midnight! What ever happened to our good old fashioned Halloween shenanigans?
INT. HOSPITAL ER - NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT)
A DOCTOR performs CPR on Samantha. Beau sobs as he looks on from the last bed, scratched and bruised but still breathing.
FLASHBACK – INT. BEAU’S CAR – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
MICHAEL
Hey, HEY!
Beau swerves the wrong way, into the oncoming truck. He locks eyes with the driver, TOM (51). They collide brutally.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NEXT MORNING (BACK TO PRESENT)
Silence. Beau's angel wings sit on a chair across the room. His eyes flutter open. He scratches at his face, brushing a patched up gash on his cheek. Wincing, he sits up in bed. The delicate voice of LINSEY (221, looks 16) startles him.
LINSEY (O.S.)
Believe it or not, that kind of stuff still hurts here.
She appears kneeling next to the angel wings, touching the feathers softly. Her skin has a surreal glow, and she wears a white, regency era dress.
Beau eyes her warily, then takes a shaky breath and slips out of bed, not noticing that his pale form has left his physical body still comatose under the sheets.
BEAU
They didn't...my friends--Oh, GOD!
He sees his body. Beau scrambles away from the bed, nearly knocking over a vase of wildflowers on the bedside table.
Linsey steps towards him.
BEAU
I don't believe in ghosts. Am I a ghost? Did Michael and Samantha--
LINSEY
No. I'm sorry, your friends didn't make it. But you still have the chance. I’m here to guide you back.
Beau seethes at this.
BEAU
You want to take me back? To life? After what I just did?
LINSEY
(cautiously)
Beau, take my hand?
BEAU
I'm not going back! I...I did this. Let me die, and bring them back. Please.
LINSEY
I wish I could, I really--
BEAU
PLEASE!
Shocked, Linsey steps backwards. Beau holds up his hands.
BEAU
I'm sorry.
LINSEY
...No, it's alright.
She approaches a window that looks into another patient's room. Beau takes a moment, then moves to peer over her shoulder.
BEAU
That's the truck driver I hit.
LINSEY
The people I work for now...Well, it's complicated. They choose who goes where after you die.
BEAU
Where am I going?
LINSEY
You're not going anywhere except back to life.
Beau begins to protest. Linsey touches his shoulder gently.
LINSEY
Alright, alright. The Bureau wants to send this man downstairs. If you can help me prove that he is good--
BEAU
You'll let me trade places with my friends?
Linsey bites her lip. She nods.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - LATER
Tom lies motionless in a hospital bed. Beau approaches. He prods Tom's shoulder recklessly. His hand passes through.
BEAU
Oh, Jesus--
A couple of INTERNS bustle into the room, arms overflowing with files and coffee. They look right through Beau.
DR. MORGAN
It's so sad no one's visited him here.
Beau frowns. He stands in between the two interns. Waves a hand in front of their faces. No response.
DR. QUINN
It's only been one day, Morgan. People could be on their way.
DR. MORGAN
I overheard Dr. Brown saying the family refused to fly out here.
Bedsheets rustle. Tom grunts harshly.
DR. MORGAN CONT'D
Mr. Carlson! I just--
He waves it off. They rush forward to check his vitals.
TOM
Hey now, I don't want no stupid kids fixing me up, get me a real doctor for Christ’s sake!
Beau glances across the room, eyes wide, at Linsey. She shrugs in response.
INT. BUSY HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - NOON
BEAU
It's impossible, Linsey, how am I supposed to figure out anything about him if I’m invisible?
He reaches for a doughnut, but finds that it disappears from his hand before he can bring it to his mouth.
LINSEY
You are not invisible, you're just not on the same spiritual plane.
BEAU
It's like, what am I even looking for y'know? His Nobel peace prize?
He tries for another doughnut, to no avail.
LINSEY
Just use your ears, Beau.
Beau scoffs and gives the doughnut pile the finger.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - LATER
Beau, slumped in a chair in the corner of the room, tapping his foot restlessly. Linsey looks into Beau's room.
LINSEY
You don't have any family visiting?
BEAU
(apathetic)
No. I just killed them.
A PHONE buzzes on Tom's nightstand. He snatches it up.
TOM
What?...Yeah, it's me. Who the hell else would it be?
Beau sits up in his chair. He looks at Linsey in realisation.
BEAU
Use my ears!
He scrambles over to the bed and leans in as close to the phone as he can.
DIANA (V.O.)
The doctor called me in the middle of the night, Tom. Am I still your emergency contact? After you walked out on us? That's rich.
TOM
I'll change it when I get the time, woman.
DIANA (V.O.)
Don't you call me that--
Tom hangs up before she can finish. Beau leans back and squeezes his eyes shut in frustration.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TOM'S ROOM - SAME TIME
NURSE
(to a clerk)
Alright, I'll mention it.
She pushes a meal cart into Tom's room.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME TIME
Beau looks up as she enters. He moves back to his chair.
NURSE
Now, I know you love the red ones, but green's all we've got left I'm afraid.
She rolls the tray over his bed, fixing a jello cup so the green label faces Tom.
TOM
Liar.
NURSE
(ignoring him)
I'm sorry I have to ask this Mr. Carlson, but...would you happen to have a couple of the nearby patients wallets? They've started to go missing while people have been using the restrooms--
TOM
Are you accusing me of theft?!
Beau glances inside a nearby drawer. Inside are several wallets. He groans, pressing his palms to his face.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - THAT NIGHT
Beau, curled up in a chair, asleep. Linsey approaches, kneels down and presses two fingers in between his eyebrows.
DREAM SEQUENCE – EXT. YARD DECORATED FOR HALLOWEEN - DUSK
Beau approaches a house, Michael and Samantha in tow. They all wear childish costumes. They knock at the door.
MICHAEL
Trick or treat!
His voice comes out like that of an eight year old boy's.
The door creaks open, revealing Tom and a gun. He aims it between Beau's eyes and pulls the trigger. Michael and Samantha's bodies are flung backwards. They hit the ground, lifeless. Beau cries out helplessly, running to them.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT (END DREAM SEQUENCE)
Beau jerks awake. Linsey retracts her hand. Beau exhales.
LINSEY
It's alright.
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - THE NEXT MORNING
Linsey appears in the doorway. Beau sits by his comatose self, staring, detached, at the fake angel wings in the chair beside him.
BEAU
These ended up being an ironic choice.
He reaches out to swipe his hand through them. He ends up knocking them to the ground.
BEAU CONT'D
Oh my god. Hey, did you see that? Linsey, did you see that?
He jumps out of his chair and picks up the wings.
BEAU CONT'D
Man, I've got to get back to those doughnuts.
Linsey tries for a smile. It falters. Beau frowns, concerned.
BEAU CONT'D
What is it?
LINSEY
Beau, I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but...time is running out. The Bureau has informed me that I have to bring you back soon. That I need to move on.
MEMORY FLASH – EXT. FIELD OF WILDFLOWERS – YEAR 1815
Linsey, very much alive, dances slowly with a boy who has Beau's face. They sway back and forth, smiling at each other.
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING (BACK TO PRESENT)
Beau is in the middle of an exasperated rant. His arm is slung in the direction of Tom's room. He's dropped the wings.
BEAU
Just take a look at this guy! How was I ever supposed to prove he was good? He's a thief, he's rude, he had a perfectly good family and he just left! Why him, Linsey? I mean, you...
Realisation dawns.
BEAU CONT'D
You set me up to fail, didn't you?
Linsey doesn't respond. She stares into his eyes sadly.
BEAU CONT'D
And that dream? You were trying to convince me I couldn't do it!
This breaks her out of her trance.
LINSEY
No! I would never. It was more of a—
BEAU
How much time do I have?
Linsey takes a deep breath.
LINSEY
Twelve hours.
Beau leaves the room. Linsey's eyes trail after him.
MEMORY FLASH - EXT. FIELD OF WILDFLOWERS – YEAR 1815
The boy picks a flower and tucks it behind Linsey's ear.
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING (BACK TO PRESENT)
Linsey sinks to the floor. She starts to cry.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Beau careens towards the bed.
BEAU
Alright, listen here you motherfu--
Tom's loud snore interrupts the sentence. Beau halts at the end of the bed. The two interns from earlier enter the room.
DR. QUINN
You know that scar he's got?
DR. MORGAN
Yeah?
DR. QUINN
Organ donation. Two years ago.
Beau's face lights up. He looks between the two.
BEAU
You're joking? You guys are the best!
He makes to leave the room, but pauses when he sees Linsey through the window. She's crying. Tom's gruff voice pulls him back to the situation. He's awake. Beau looks back.
TOM
Only good thing I ever done...She doesn't even know it was me.
The interns share a confused glance. The heart rate monitor starts to beep frantically. Tom's eyes roll back into his head. The interns panic, calling for a crash cart. Tom's phone begins to ring. Beau finds he can pick it up. He answers the call.
DIANA (V.O.)
Look, Tom, I still don't want anything to do with you. But--
Faint sobs come from the phone.
BEAU
Ma'am? Are you--
DIANA (V.O.)
(oblivious to him)
I just got a call from your old doctor. Waters? Dr. Waters? He said...
She bursts into more tears. Beau takes the opportunity to dash into his own room.
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Linsey looks up from her seat beside the comatose Beau as the spirit Beau scampers to her side. He presses speakerphone.
DIANA (V.O.)
It was you who gave Lily the kidney.
FLASHBACK – INT. DIFFERENT HOSPITAL – TWO YEARS AGO
DIANA (47) sits beside a mini version of herself, LILY (9) in a hospital bed. She strokes Lily's hair. Tom, leaning on his IV stand just out of their eyesight, watches on.
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING (BACK TO PRESENT)
Linsey looks at Beau, astonished.
BEAU
This is it, isn't it?
Linsey throws her arms around him. The phone lies forgotten.
DIANA (V.O.)
You could be a good man if you wanted to be, Tom...Tom? Are you even there?
(beat)
God, I wish I'd never called.
She hangs up. Beau and Linsey move to look into Tom's room.
INT. TOM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME TIME
The heart monitor flatlines. Doctors step away, defeated.
DR. QUINN
(shakily)
Time of death, 11:17 AM.
DR. MORGAN
So...You said this guy was an organ donor?
Morgan makes for the door, Quinn following close behind.
DR. QUINN
Morgan--
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Morgan and Quinn enter the room. Linsey glances their way, panicked, and quickly presses two fingers to Beau's head. He falls limply to the floor as all goes black.
INT. WAITING ROOM - FOUR HOURS LATER
Beau comes too in a plastic chair. He stares, fixated at the television playing silent day-time tv on the opposite wall.
Linsey's voice next to him startles him into the real world.
LINSEY
I'm sorry I had to do that.
BEAU
How long was I out?
LINSEY
Four hours. They should be just finishing up the surgery now I hope.
Beau takes a moment to understand. He looks at her, disbelieving.
LINSEY
Oh gosh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied. I haven't been doing this very long, and you...You look exactly like him. Exactly…I’m sorry.
(beat)
It's time.
She quickly wipes away a tear. Beau looks murderous.
BEAU
But I did it. I helped you prove he was good. Didn't I?
LINSEY
Yes, you did. But that doesn't mean--
BEAU
Doesn't. Mean. WHAT?
DREAM SEQUENCE – INT. EXPANSE OF WHITE – NON-SPECIFIC
Michael and Samantha stand facing away, arms around each other. The anger drains from Beau's face.
BEAU
I'm sorry, oh God I'm sorry.
They turn to face him.
SAMANTHA
(smiling)
Beau, don't even start.
INT. WAITING ROOM - AFTERNOON (BACK TO PRESENT)
Beau is gone. Tears run down Linsey's cheeks.
DREAM SEQUENCE - INT. EXPANSE OF WHITE – NON-SPECIFIC
BEAU
I'm here to trade places with you.
Michael bursts out laughing.
BEAU
What? Hey--
SAMANTHA
Beau, it's time you went home, okay?
INT. BEAU'S HOSPITAL ROOM - AFTERNOON (BACK TO PRESENT)
Beau wakes up in his hospital bed once again. He sits up immediately, looking towards where he first saw Linsey. The angel wings sit there, alone. He rips off the sheets and jumps out of bed. This time, he doesn't leave his body behind. He gasps, reaching for his abdomen. Doctors rush into the room. Time slows down.
EXT. CEMETERY - ONE WEEK LATER
Sun rays filter through thick pine trees. Beau stands in front of two freshly covered graves, a crutch under one arm.
BEAU
Next Halloween's going to be a drag. I can’t be Mario, Luigi and Peach.
He laughs half-heartedly at his own joke, and produces two familiar looking wildflowers from a shoulder bag, placing one on each grave. After a moment, he walks away, but doesn't leave the cemetery. Instead he makes his way to the older graves. He stops in front of a small headstone.
It reads: "LINSEY ANNE WHITE, BELOVED DAUGHTER, 1799-1815"
Beau places a flower on her grave as well. Then he pulls his angel wings from the bag and places them on the grave, looping a strap around the headstone.
BEAU
I never said thank you, so...Thank you.
He stays there for a moment. Then he leaves the cemetery.
He doesn't look back.
THE END.