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.