Authors note: This is the same story but in the original script format that I had written
FADE IN:
EXT. BURNING CITY - NIGHT
FRANKLIN, a middle aged man, is standing atop a burning
building near the edge. Behind him is a pair of military
boots set beside a neatly folded uniform.
The patch where a Nazi symbol should be, is torn off. We can
hear his breath shaking as he peers over the ledge and
shuffles his barefoot closer.
The city is chaotic beneath him, sounds of explosions and
screams fill the air. The night sky is filled with smoke but
as Franklin looks up, a window of space opens to unveil the
stars. With his eyes brimming with tears he leaps into the
empty air.
CLOSE UP on Franklin's face as the wind pushes the tears off
his cheeks. He picks up speed and he closes his eyes just as
he is about to reach his end; but he comes to an abrupt halt.
Still close on his closed eyes as the background reverts,
retracing its path back up to the top of the ledge.
A FULL SHOT reveals a majestic angel, carefully placing
Franklin back on his feet on the ledge. Franklin opens his
eyes and takes a moment to register that he is still alive.
He looks to the angel beside him with a frustrated
expression; less interested in the majestic wings, and more
upset about having been interrupted.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
It's a bit chilly out to be wearing
just that.
The angel places the uniform jacket around Franklin's
shoulders. Franklin looks down at the shoulder patch,
realizing the Nazi symbol has been miraculously placed back
on. He repulsively throws the jacket off and shoves the
angel; but misses his step and starts to fall again.
GUARDIAN ANGEL (CONT'D)
Whoa there, let's not make me save
you again.
The angel helps steady Franklin and pats him on his shoulder,
where the jacket has miraculously reappeared. They lock eyes
and Franklin begins to study the angel's features.
FRANKLIN
What are you?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I'm just here to help. Are your
toes getting cold too?
The boots miraculously reappear on Franklins feet, startling
him and causing him to almost fall off again. As he regains
his balance, he shakes his head, realizing he shouldn't be
avoiding the fall; that's what he wants. He peers over the
ledge again, preparing to jump.
GUARDIAN ANGEL (CONT'D)
You don't want to do that.
FRANKLIN
And how do you know what I want?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
You want to feel warm. You want to
feel needed. Isn't that why you
bundled up in that uniform and
joined the war?
FRANKLIN
That was a mistake. You saving me
was a mistake. Go do your angel
work on someone else...
Franklin dives off the ledge, only this time he lands face
first immediately on the roof. He curls up in a fetal
position and rubs the new bump on his head.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
See that's the thing Franklin, I'm
not just any angel that can go help
someone else. I'm here to help YOU.
I'm your personal guardian angel.
FRANKLIN
That fall hurt. Couldn't you have
lifted me up gently like last time?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I tried to warn you.
FRANKLIN
Warn me about what exactly? About
the fall? About my bad decisions?
Where were you when I needed
someone to warn me about the war?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
About what... that people are evil,
and evil things happen in this
world?
FRANKLIN
Not just people, ME. I'm evil. You
should know that better than anyone
if you really are who you claim to
be.
Beat.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
You don't have to be evil
anymore...
FRANKLIN
You know... I was really hoping you
would tell me I'm not evil and
convince me otherwise. You're
right, and I'm trying to get rid of
this evil.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I can't let you jump Franklin.
FRANKLIN
Let me? This is my choice. You
can't take that away from me.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
Have a seat.
CUT TO:
Without Franklin having to do so, the scenery changes and
they are both sitting at a park bench. The city is still
erupting with chaos.
People are frantically running past them, trying to escape
the bombs going off. Flames alight all the buildings
surrounding them. Franklin looks to the angel with a
questioning expression.
GUARDIAN ANGEL (CONT'D)
Have a look at the mess you've
made.
FRANKLIN
You can't be an angel. Only a demon
would torture me before I try to
end my life.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
Is it guilt that you feel? Or is it
shame? If you truly felt remorseful
for your transgressions, you would
take responsibility.
FRANKLIN
The wages of sin is death. I am
willing to pay it.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
The Franklin that I know, would
atone for his sins, not submit to
death.
FRANKLIN
Who have you been guarding? Who is
this Franklin that I don't know?
A beat passes as the angel takes a moment to survey the war
torn city. A small hand emerges from a pile of rubble nearby.
It desperately grasps the air, attempting to find a savior to
pull the rest of them free from it.
An elderly Asian man rolls his wheel chair towards the hand,
hops off his wheel chair to get proper leverage, and pulls
the hand with all his might.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I've been guarding a scared
crippled young man for some time
now. For over thirty years he's
been avoiding my help. I know that
he desperately wants it, NEEDS it.
I can see his hand reaching out,
but he's buried under a pile of
baggage he isn't willing to let go.
He can't see me, he can't see the
potential I see in him.
The old man has pulled free a little girl. They embrace as
the girl coughs up debris dust and cries on his shoulder. The
angel smiles and turns to Franklin who has also been
observing the scene.
FRANKLIN
I'm buried too deep. No one can
pull me free. There's too much to
atone for, so many things I can't
change or fix. The only relief I'll
receive is death. That's the
decision I've made. I think our
conversation is done here. Take me
back to the ledge.
Franklin gets up to leave but bumps into GOH, the elderly man
in a wheel chair. He is being pushed down the street by SUMI
(12), the girl he had rescued.
The girl is battered and bruised, and the old man has a large
cut above his brow that has caused blood to drip down half of
his face.
Franklin winces, half startled by running into the old man he
had been observing and half out of guilt from the damage the
war has caused. Goh notices the uniform.
GOH
Excuse me sir, would you happen to
know a medic that could spare a
look at my daughter? She's badly
hurt and scared.
Franklin looks over at Sumi and notices her concern for Goh.
Out of the two of them, the old man has more severe wounds.
Franklin pulls out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and
kneels in front of Goh, addressing his bleeding wound.
FRANKLIN
I can't get a hold of a medic right
now, but I can do my best to help.
Civilians are still rushing past them, but now they give
questioning glances when they notice a soldier tending to a
cripple person's wound in the midst of battle.
Franklin looks over his shoulder and sees the angel, watching
him with a proud grin.
Nobody else seems to notice the majestic wings. Franklin
rolls his eyes and finishes addressing the wound by tying the
handkerchief around Goh's head.
GOH
Thank you sir, would you know of
anywhere that my daughter and I
could find refuge?
FRANKLIN
I'm sorry, this is the most I am
willing to help. I have things to
get back to.
Both Goh and Sumi gives a quick shallow bow of gratitude
before joining the other frantic civilians in the street.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
See? That was nice. Why can't we
continue to have that Franklin?
FRANKLIN
How many patches are going to cover
up my actions? It's just an endless hole that I
can never close. Why are you still
here? Why am I? Get me back up
there.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
Whoa whoa whoa, hold on. I've been
thinking...
Franklin shakes his head and turns to leave but the second he
takes a step, he is back in front of the angel.
GUARDIAN ANGEL (CONT'D)
What if we make a bargain? You can
get what you want, and I'll feel
more at peace with this decision.
FRANKLIN
Why should I care about you being
at peace?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I'll let you choose to end your
life. It's your choice to make, you
were right, I shouldn't take that
away from you...
FRANKLIN
Thank you. Now get me back up
there.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
But if you have to do it, you need
to find people to donate your body
to after you're gone.
FRANKLIN
Excuse me?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
You are a perfectly healthy young
man. Did you not just see that
crippled old man? All these
civilians could make use of those
limbs and organs of yours.
FRANKLIN
Listen, I admire your charitable
outlook on the situation, but do
you know what you're asking? It is
going to be extremely difficult to
find a doctor willing to do that,
especially here.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
That's unfortunate isn't it? I
guess you'll just have to leave the
country and find someone elsewhere.
FRANKLIN
I will be hunted down as a
deserter. I don't know anybody that
would be capable of helping with
this and even if I did, I'd have to
convince them of the morality of my
decision.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
Those are the conditions you'll
have to overcome. Unless you want
to keep making futile attempts at
your life. I'll always be there to
prevent you.
Franklin rolls his eyes and looks away in frustration. He
sees a pair of eyes peeking around the corner of a building
nearby.
The little girl realizes her gaze has been noticed and steps
out into the light. Sumi gives Franklin a smile and waves her
hand. The old man appears behind her and wheels over to
Franklin enthusiastically.
GOH
Forgive me for listening in on your
conversation but we know of a
doctor in the far north. She is
said to be a Jewish witch doctor
that can miraculously heal any
ailments. My daughter and I were
planning to go there before this
city went under attack. Seeing that
you need a doctor as well, would
you mind accompanying us there?
Franklin steps back, taken by surprise, baffled at this old
mans boldness. His face contorts into sour expression,
repulsed by the man for being this desperate.
FRANKLIN
How much did you hear?
GOH
Just that you are a deserter and in
need of a doctor sir. I apologize
if it was not meant to be heard. We
mean no harm, we just desperately
need help.
Franklin looks to the angel and back at Goh, questioning
whether he is the only one that can see and hear the angel.
FRANKLIN
How far away is this doctor?
GOH
Three days journey on foot. Perhaps
more by my condition.
Sumi nervously twirls her hair, waiting for Franklin's
decision. Franklin lets out a sigh and looks at the angel for
a reaction.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
What? I didn't orchestrate this,
it's completely up to you.
FRANKLIN
Alright, I'll accompany you there.
A warm smile creases Goh's face and Sumi hugs her father in
relief.
FRANKLIN (CONT'D)
Are you going to let me take my
uniform off?
Franklin look at the angel, hesitant to take his coat off in
concern that it will reappear again.
GOH
Oh no sir, we don't mind at all.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
So do we have a deal?
The angel reaches his hand out for a shake. Franklin takes
his coat off and places it on the angels hand.
FRANKLIN
We'll see how long this goes. Don't
interfere anymore.
GOH
Sir?
FRANKLIN
Oh, don't mind me. I'm just talking
to myself.
I know this format is a huge no no on WN, but I wanted to post this for anyone interested in the original format and content that I had written for this story