Act 2: Part 4

FRANKLIN

Perhaps it was for the best that I

never learned her language...

Tears trickle down his face but his body remains motionless.

SUMI

You don't have to hold back. I've

seen father mourn for mother. He

says it's healthy to weep for the

dead.

Franklin looks down at Sumi and starts to uncontrollably sob.

Sumi scoots closer to him on the bench and embraces him as he

cries himself to sleep.

Goh watches from a distance. He watches Franklin weep over

his wife and unborn child; allowing Sumi to provide comfort

to the man he had traded blows with just earlier.

He looks at the box beside them, seeping with weed smoke. He

chuckles and sips his tea, turning to leave.

CUT TO:

INT FRANKLIN'S HOME - NIGHT

Franklin is sitting alone at his dining room, drinking. There

is a dim light coming from the hallway behind him and a

silhouette of his wife casts a shadow within the same shot as

she enters the scene.

Franklin glances up at the shadow on the wall and turns

around to look at her. There is a look of longing and

disbelief on his face. He gets up and stumbles from his

drunken state but makes his way towards her.

FRANKLIN

It's really you...

COLETTE

Do you really have to be drunk

right now?

Franklin moves in for an embrace but Colette gets a whiff of

the alcohol in his breath and pushes him back.

FRANKLIN

I don't understand... Haven't you

missed me?

47.

COLETTE

Honey you should really sober up

before tomorrow. You might not make

it to the enlisting in this

state... well I guess that would

probably for the best anyway. The

longer I can keep you away the

better.

Franklin tries for a hug again but Colette backs away,

causing Franklin to stumble and fall to a knee.

FRANKLIN

Oh I get it now... this is another

nightmare isn't it? I've missed

you. I miss my friends. Why did I

end alone? Why couldn't I be the

one missing?

COLETTE

The nightmare hasn't started yet.

This is the night before you

leaving me. Do you remember what

you last told me?

Franklin remains kneeling on one knee and shakes his head.

FRANKLIN

Do you remember the night I

proposed to you?

Colette chuckles.

COLETTE

How could I forget? Armin played

that awful tune on his guitar...

FRANKLIN

...and Finn got too excited,

blowing the confetti into your face

before you even said yes.

COLETTE

Yeah that stuff got into my eye, I

thought I was going to go blind.

They both laugh.

FRANKLIN

But do you remember what I said?

48.

COLETTE

That everything, every moment,

everyone around you was a result of

the choices that led you to them;

and that you wanted to choose to be

with me. You wanted me to make that

same choice.

FRANKLIN

Wow. That's practically word for

word.

COLETTE

So why did you choose to leave?

Franklin stands up and catches his balance with Colette's

shoulder.

FRANKLIN

I didn't. It wasn't a choice. For

the first time in my life... I

didn't have any other options.

COLETTE

Do you remember what you last told

me?

FRANKLIN

Don't remind me...

COLETTE

You wanted to protect your friends.

You wanted to be with them. You

told me that you were leaving for

my sake, but we both know that was

a lie.

FRANKLIN

Stop. I can't-

COLETTE

So why did you choose to leave

Franklin? Did you think you were

better than them? That you could be

their hero, my hero?

FRANKLIN

Please... I've already seen enough,

I've heard this a thousand times.

COLETTE

Well you got what you wanted didn't

you? You were better. You survived.

Now all of us are gone.

49.

FRANKLIN

Listen... I just need you right

now. I can't bare these nightmares

much longer.

Franklin moves his hand up to touch her abdomen where the

unborn child is, Colette swats it away.

COLETTE

I told you I don't ever want to see

you drunk again. I told you not to

leave me. I was thinking of our

daughter. I was thinking of us. I

was thinking of you. What were you

thinking of?

Franklin rubs his swatted hand and slowly begins to cry.

FRANKLIN

I didn't want to be alone... I

thought I could... make a

difference.

GUARDIAN ANGEL

Well... it's all your fault

Franklin. Now you're alone,

everyone you care about is dead,

and even in your dreams they remind

you how lonely you are.

The angle appears beside Colette but she doesn't seem to

notice. Franklin flinches back.

FRANKLIN

I'm sorry, do you want me to kill

myself?

COLETTE

What? No sweetie, I loved you. I

would never want you to do that.

Colette moves closer.

GUARDIAN ANGEL

You're pathetic. Take

responsibility for what you did and

maybe you'll stop having these

nightmares. This is all your fault.

FRANKLIN

I know...

GUARDIAN ANGEL

Say it then.

50.

Franklin give a questioning look to the angel.

GUARDIAN ANGEL (CONT'D)

Tell me that it's your fault. Say

those words out loud.

FRANKLIN

It's... all my fault.

Colette embraces Franklin.

COLETTE

No... not entirely.

GUARDIAN ANGEL

Say it louder.

FRANKLIN

(louder)

It's all my fault.

COLETTE

It's okay... I forgive you.

The angel gets close to Franklin's face and shouts into his

ear.

GUARDIAN ANGEL

Say it louder!

FRANKLIN

(louder)

It's all my fault!

SUMI

No it isn't.

Sumi appears in the room and approaches them.

COLETTE

And who is this little one?

Colette leaves Franklin's side and turns to lean in front of

Sumi to get down to her eye level, putting a hand on Sumi's

cheek.

COLETTE (CONT'D)

Is she ours?

SUMI

No silly. Do I look like yours?

They laugh.