Chereads / Death's Bargain / Chapter 7 - Act 2: Part 1

Chapter 7 - Act 2: Part 1

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.

31.

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.

33.

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?

34.

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.

35.

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.