Create a visual juxtaposition with a series of shots of the
war torn city, the image of his wife, and the guilt he feels
for taking many civilians lives that could be affected just
like his own.
We see a missile flying behind one of the planes. A loud
explosion erupts as it collides. An alarm sounds in the comms
and we hear cries of Armin. His plane starts to plummet at
rapid speed.
FRANKLIN
Noooo! Armin!
FINN
Franklin focus! We have to find out
where that shot came from. Tell me
what you see...
The sounds fade as Franklin watches the flaming plane descend
below the clouds.
FADE TO:
INT. CHURCH - NIGHT
Close up shot of the corner of Franklin's wife's photo
peaking out of his breast pocket.
Franklin wakes up laying in a pew. Heavenly organ music is
playing. POV shot as he survey's the colored glass windows
around him and the beautiful architecture.
Franklin smiles, drinking in the beauty, blissful in this
serene moment, as the lights reflect off of Jesus on the
glass stains.
His vision lands on the guardian angle, sitting on top of the
pulpit. His smile fades and a frown grows.
GUARDIAN ANGEL
Wakey wakey sleepy head.
FRANKLIN
What happened to being on vacation?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
I am on vacation. You don't see me
working do you?
The angel floats over to Franklin, sits beside him and pats
him on his shoulder.
27.
GUARDIAN ANGEL (CONT'D)
I have faith that you won't leave
these people and kill yourself; and
if you're not going to kill
yourself I'm really just here to
enjoy the show.
FRANKLIN
The show?
GUARDIAN ANGEL
Yeah, last night really was
something. You should've seen what
happened after you went
unconscious.
A realization occurs to Franklin as he studies the area.
FRANKLIN
Where are they?
BACH
Don't you mean who are they?
A middle aged priest with a scruffy beard and long greasy
hair is sitting at the organ, still playing the heavenly
music. When Franklin meets his eyes he notices they are a
faded grey. The man is blind.
BACH (CONT'D)
Typically you try to get to know
someone before you readily trust
them. I think you made the wrong
call on trying to help these people
Franklin.
Franklin gets up from the pew and slowly approaches the blind
priest.
FRANKLIN
How are you doing that?
BACH
Doing what?
FRANKLIN
Playing the organ.
BACH
I can blindly play music because
I've practiced. I'm familiar with
the keys. How can you blindly trust
your new friends when you aren't
familiar with them?
28.
Franklin looks away and back at the pew he came from. The
angel is gone. He shakes his head.
FRANKLIN
They're not my friends. You're
right, I don't know them at all;
but I don't have to. I only need
them to lead me somewhere.
BACH
Ahhh yes... the witch doctor. They
might have betrayed your trust but
they did save you last night.
FRANKLIN
Yeah... They're a peculiar pair.
What do you know about them?
BACH
Only that they are not who they
were. The old man and his wife used
to attend here regularly. When Sumi
came along they were the most
beaming little family.
The heavenly music changes to a minor key, sounding sinister
and bleak.
BACH (CONT'D)
Then the confessions came.
The blind priest manically rocks back and forth as he
ferociously plays a climactic portion of the song.
BACH (CONT'D)
Goh started selling more than tea
at his struggling shop. Japanese
tea was foreign to the area, he was
foreign, and to feed his family he
fed the streets the eastern poison
they craved.
The music settles down and the priest looks up at franklin.
BACH (CONT'D)
When he saw the addicts pile up in
the streets he felt guilty. I was
his therapist.
Franklin nods awkwardly.
FRANKLIN
Well, you don't ever have to worry
about being my therapist father.
Bach shakes his head. Franklin gives a questioning look. The
sound of a pot falling on the ground is heard in the
distance.
Franklin looks in that direction and a dim light is shown in
one of the side rooms.
He rushes towards that direction and Bach follows behind with
his walking stick.
CUT TO:
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.