ACT II: With | Part 1

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

Sumi is kneeling on the floor cleaning up spilled stew.

Franklin joins her and Bach stands by the counter.

FRANKLIN

What happened last night?

Sumi shakes her head.

BACH

It's okay you can talk girl. Goh is

out holding back the SS battalion.

He's too busy to notice our little

conversation.

Franklin looks up at Bach.

FRANKLIN

He's fighting them? That old man

couldn't even walk until...

shouldn't I be out there helping

him?

SUMI

Not fighting... he's poisoning the

well that they stopped by to drink

out of.

Close up shocked expression on Franklin.

FRANKLIN

He's going to ruthlessly murder

those people?

SUMI

They're not just anyone. They're

monsters. They deserve it.

FRANKLIN

I was-... am one of them.

SUMI

They killed my mother.

Franklin shakes his head (an insert of a flashback of him

flying over the burning city, cries of mothers and dying

children filling the air).

FRANKLIN

I can't let this happen. I've got

to stop him.

Franklin storms out of the kitchen but is abruptly met with

Goh entering in the doorway.

He stands back, startled by the old mans presence. He is

taller than Franklin and much larger when out of his

wheelchair. Sumi puts a hand over her mouth.

GOH

It's already done. Let's eat.

Franklin shakes his head and shoves Goh back.

FRANKLIN

You saved my life last night. Why

would you then proceeded to kill

all those men?

Goh grunts but shrugs off Franklin's tension, remaining

stoic.

GOH

We'll talk over dinner.

Franklin stops him again, shoving him harder this time.

FRANKLIN

I didn't forget about you drugging

me. I want answers, NOW.

Goh's stoicism cracks a little, as he step back from

Franklin's shove. Close up of his brows furrowing and his

broad shoulders tensing.

GOH

I said we'll talk over dinner!

Franklin notices Goh's muscles tightening and studies their

size difference. He gulps, rolls his eyes, and scoffs as he

steps aside.

GOH (CONT'D)

I need my tea before we can talk.

Franklin grows furious at the mention of tea.

FRANKLIN

Did you poison your wife's tea too?

Goh snaps and strikes Franklin across his face. It sends

Franklin off his feet and crumpled on the ground.

GOH

Don't speak of her.

Franklin feels his bruised cheek and looks up at Goh with

disdain. From his crouched position he sends a whirling sweep

kick to Goh's knees, causing him to fall hard with a loud

thud.

FRANKLIN

You dare strike me? I am an elite

soldier of the SS battalion. Don't

forget, not long ago you were

begging for my help!

Goh rolls on the ground to get nearer to Franklin and grabs

his collar, throwing him up against the wall.

Sumi keeps a hand over her mouth as she hides her gasp when

watching the fight unfold. Bach has a blank stare, trying to

guess what the commotion is.

BACH

Hey you want to tell me what's

going on?

Sumi looks up at the blind priest and shakes her head, her

hand still over her mouth.

Bach can't see her shaking her head, he frowns at her

silence.

Goh squeezes Franklin's collar, causing him to choke. He

leans in close to mock him.

GOH

A lie that you fell for. I never

needed your help. I only needed you

to bait more monsters to kill.

Franklin stops struggling against Goh's grip and stares at

him, tears brimming his eyes.

FRANKLIN

You... just wanted them to chase

me? What, so you could get revenge?

Who do you think you-

Goh punches Franklin in the gut, knocking the wind out of

him.

GOH

I thought you were different, but

for you to have any sense of

feeling for those monsters...

you're just like the rest of them.

Franklin pulls Goh's hair and head butts his nose. The old

man lets go of Franklin and clutches his bleeding nose.

FRANKLIN

I've changed. I'm not like the

others.

Goh laughs and shakes his head.

GOH

And yet you still think you're

better than us.

Franklin tries to kick him in the stomach but Goh catches his

leg, picks Franklin up, and slams him on the table.

GOH (CONT'D)

You know I never cared about the

killing. It's war. Murder was no

longer a crime that we held a

grudge against.

GOH (CONT'D)

But each time I saw the massacre's,

you monsters had smiles on your

vile faces; there was a sense of

pride in your evil deeds. It was as

if they enjoyed killing my precious

wife.

Franklin throws a plate on Goh's head and it shatters,

causing Goh's forehead to bleed.

BACH

My china! That was a very generous

offertory donation that was

imported from-

Sumi grabs the blind priests hand and looks up at him,

shaking her head.

Again, Bach cannot see her shaking her head so he ignores her

and walks over to pick up the broken pieces of the plate.

FRANKLIN

You're wrong! I only did what I had

to.

Franklin clutches the photo of his wife in his breast pocket,

(another flashback insert of the burning city).

Goh picks up Franklin and slams him into the table, causing

the table to snap in half. A wood splinter has ripped the

bottom part of Franklin's breast pocket, the one with his

wife's photo in it. Franklin groans and reaches for another

plate to throw at Goh.

He grabs one and it makes a ceramic noise, prompting Bach to

react.

BACH

Oh no you don't.

He feels around to get closer to Franklin, but as he gets

near the sound he puts himself right in the way of Goh's next

strike.

As Franklin reels back to throw the plate, Goh stomps down on

what he aimed to be Franklin's stomach, but instead his foot

connects with the blind priests throat.

Bach kneels over from the devastating blow and coughs

violently.

Both Franklin and Goh immediately stop their quandary;

watching intently with worried expressions. Sumi rushes over

to help the priest up.

BACH (CONT'D) (through coarse voice)

Are you finished destroying my holy

dining area?

Franklin and Goh exchange a glare. Sumi shakes her head. Bach

is unaware of anything and awkwardly waits for a response.

Goh gets up to walk over to the counter and puts his tea

kettle on the stove.

GOH

I just wanted to relax and drink

some tea.

FRANKLIN

How could you say that when there

are hundreds of men drinking your

poison just a couple kilometers

away?

Goh uses a towel to wipe off the blood from his nose and

forehead. He remains silent as he brews his tea.

Franklin paces the room in frustration and steps on another

plate, causing Bach to gasp.

FRANKLIN (CONT'D)

Wow. Unbelievable. How can you care

about broken plates in the midst of

a murderer? Aren't you supposed to

tell this guy he's going to hell

for the sin he just committed?

BACH

I am not called to condemn. I am

only here to listen to your

transgressions, if you wish to

confess.

GOH

That's right Franklin. Do you wish

to confess your sins? Am I the only

murderer here?

Franklin stands still, speechless. Sumi and Bach are busy

cleaning up the mess. Goh is concentrating on brewing his

tea, the kettle whistles a single high note loudly. Only

Franklin is left motionless while everyone moves.

Goh pours the tea out into three cups, handing one to

everyone but Franklin.

FRANKLIN

Do you know why I think of myself

better than you?

Goh raises a brow.

FRANKLIN (CONT'D)

We may both be murderers, but I

don't hurt the ones I love; I've

only done everything I could to

protect them.

Goh shakes his head and sips his tea. He still doesn't get

it.

FRANKLIN (CONT'D)

You abuse your daughter. You force

her to be mute and you hit her.

Sumi reflects the glare of betrayal that Franklin gave her at

the camp fire; only hers looks broken, while Franklin's

looked vengeful that night.

GOH (furious)

I. Do. Not.

SUMI

That's not true... Father does not

hurt me.

Goh winces at hearing her voice. An expression of pain and

sorrow washes over his face, but no strike follows this

reaction.

FRANKLIN

But I saw your bruises...

Sumi shakes her head and rolls back her sleeves revealing the

bruises.

SUMI

I got hurt in the city during the

bombing. We are victims of war,

these injures are common.

Goh backs away from Sumi, visibly disturbed from hearing her

voice.

FRANKLIN

Okay, then... Why did you lie about

Sumi being mute?

GOH

I did not lie. She was mute. A

couple years after my wife past,

she stopped speaking. It's been

years since I've heard her voice...

Goh looks broken, with a thousand yard stare, reminiscing his

wife through the sound of his daughters voice. Franklin turns

to Sumi.

FRANKLIN

Why are you scared to speak? You

told me back at the forest...

SUMI

Yes. I did. I said he doesn't like

it when I speak.

GOH

That's not true sweetheart...

His face betrays him. The expression reads clear.

SUMI

I know... You never told me to..

You didn't have to. Hearing my

voice hurts you, and I don't want

to...

Goh shakes his head in disbelief, trying to convince himself

he did not cause this.

GOH

That's not true sweetie, I don't

want that. That's not true. You

don't have to

SUMI

I know...

Goh breaks down in tears, sobbing on Sumi's shoulder as she

embraces him.

FRANKLIN

No... wait... that can't be right.

You're an evil person. Y-you deal

drugs... You murder people... You

hurt your family. I'm better than

that.

Sumi shakes her head and Goh glares at Franklin.

GOH

Leave us alone. We don't need you

anymore. I got what I needed.

FRANKLIN

Wow, so you lied about the witch

doctor too? This wasn't how it was

supposed to be. You were supposed

to be crippled, your daughter was

supposed to be mute, I needed you

guys and you had the missing piece

to the puzzle! It was all coming

together...

GOH

I did not lie about the miracle

worker. She is real, and I will

bring my wife to her. She can bring

her back. She can fix this. When my

wife returns, all will be made

right.

Goh looks to the backpack that sits on the counter. A large

tea pot with the engravings of his wife's name peaks out from

the top of it.

FRANKLIN

I was carrying your wife's ashes

this whole time?

Goh remains silent.

FRANKLIN (CONT'D)

You laid you wife in a bed of

poison. Are you trying to reap more

souls to keep her company in her

coffin?

Goh glares at Franklin.

FRANKLIN (CONT'D)

All this time I've been carrying

your poison and your wife, but

they're one in the same. The poison

you deal out to others is just as

potent and lethal as your wife is

to you.

She's rotting your soul and

deteriorating your brain. You're

delusional to think that doctor

will bring her back.

Goh gets up, ready to fight Franklin again, but Sumi holds

him back. He looks at his daughter and stops himself.

GOH

I'm delusional? Last I checked, you

were the manic soldier who talks to

himself. Fight your own demons

before you pick on mine.

Franklin's guardian angel appears beside him, startling him.

He lets out an embarrassing gasp and Goh mocks him for it.

GUARDIAN ANGEL (laughing)

How ironic. He called me your

demon.

FRANKLIN

Shut up! You always appear at the

worst times!

GOH (laughing)

See there he goes again... talking

to himself like a crazy person.

The angel joins in on the laughter, Sumi and Bach point

fingers at Franklin, laughing even louder.

Franklin freezes, we can see him shaking with fear. Sweat

beads his forehead. His eyes dart from one person to the

next.

He covers his ears to muffle the mocking laughter. We see a

pov shot of all the characters pointing and laughing at him.

When we cut back to a full shot we see that the room is

silent, nobody is laughing, and Bach is asking if Franklin is

okay.

Franklin runs out of the room, leaving behind his wife's

photo that slips out of the tear in his breast pocket.

Sumi goes over to pick it up. She studies the picture.

Something is written on the back.

CUT TO:

INT. CHURCH - NIGHT

Franklin is laying down on a pew, mumbling to himself. We see

Bach approaching, studying Franklin's odd behavior. Franklin

looks to be arguing with someone fervently, but he is alone.

Bach quietly feels his way to the organ chair and sits,

waiting for the conversation to end. When it does, Franklin

is left crying. We hear his sobs echo in the church.

BACH (clears his throat)

Do you mind if I play?

FRANKLIN

Leave me alone.

Bach begins to play a heavenly tune. As the music replaces

Franklin's sobs, the moon shines through the stained glass,

revealing the image of an angel wrestling with Jacob.

Franklin flips it off as he wipes away his tears. He

nervously glances over at the priest but sighs in relief when

he remembers he is blind.

FRANKLIN (CONT'D)

Why did you ask me if you were

going to play regardless of my

answer?

BACH

You asked to be left alone. I

didn't bother you did I?

FRANKLIN

No, but he did.

Franklin points up at the stained glass window, aiming at the

angel. He looks at Bach and awkwardly lowers his hand,

remembering the blind priest can't see where he is pointing

at.

BACH

Did you just point at something?

The music continues, filling the awkward lack of reply that

follows.

BACH (CONT'D)

It's the Jacob one isn't it? Are

you familiar with the story?

FRANKLIN

Christianity isn't exactly popular

where I'm from.

BACH

That's a bummer. Would you like to

hear it?

FRANKLIN

I'm not in the mood right now.

BACH

What are you in the mood for?

FRANKLIN (chuckles)

A drink.

BACH

Goh told me you don't drink

anymore.

FRANKLIN

He's told you a lot about me huh.

You guys seem oddly close. Too

close.

Bach abruptly stops playing and turns to walk towards the

confession booth. He waves Franklin to follow him there.