FADE UP:
EXT. MIDNIGHT. OLD STONE BRIDGE.
CHARLIE (mid -twenties, grungy) stands on top of the bridge, sobbing and peering into the water below. In the background, we hear the usual sounds of a city at night. Out of the shadows, DAVID (mid thirties, smart, sensibly dressed, suit) walks slowly into view and towards CHARLIE. Upon reaching him, he leans on the wall of the bridge. CHARLIE doesn't notice, DAVID hesitates.
DAVID
Uh, excuse me?
CHARLIE (CRYING)
Leave me alone, leave me alone. Just stay away, please!
DAVID
Wait, look, why are you doing this?
CHARLIE
Just leave me alone!
DAVID
I just want to talk, ok, I just want to talk.
CHARLIE
I don't!
DAVID
You're not the first to think this is the answer, it's not!
CHARLIE
I don't care!
DAVID
I do!
CHARLIE
I'm not listening to you! I'm not listening.
DAVID
What's your name?
CHARLIE covers his ears and yells loudly.
DAVID
I'm David, I tried this once you know, I've been there, felt like the world had just chewed me up and spat me out, I was alone and nobody cared, no-one gave a shit. Just had this continual pain in my guts all the time, just kept getting worse and worse and no matter what I did I couldn't make myself feel better. In the end I just thought what's the point, so I tried...
DAVID pauses and stares at the water. CHARLIE stops yelling, looks down and listens. DAVID looks up at CHARLIE.
DAVID (SINCERE)
It does get better, may not seem like it now but it does.
CHARLIE (Calmly)
David, why don't you save your breath, there's not a single thing that you can say that will change my mind. Now please, please, please walk away.
CHARLIE closes his eyes and edges closer to the edge of the bridge, his breathing becomes more rapid. DAVID starts to panic and looks around frantically.
DAVID (DESPERATE)
There's no turning back after this! Think about those you'll leave behind.
CHARLIE doesn't respond.
DAVID (DESPERATE)
Once it's done it's done, that's it! You can't undo it!
CHARLIE
Good!
DAVID (DESPERATE)
It's not high enough!
CHARLIE
What!?
DAVID
It's not high enough, won't kill you, at best you'll be paralysed, spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.
CHARLIE
How could you possibly....
CHARLIE turns towards DAVID. A stone comes loose under his foot, he slips and plummets over the side. DAVID lunges to grab him but is too late and he watches CHARLIE'S body as it hits the water below. DAVID watches as the water calms and stills. There is no sign of CHARLIE'S body.
DAVID (IRRITATED)
For God's sake!
DAVID jumps up on the bridge and leaps off the edge.
CUT TO:
INT. SUSPENSION EXPRESS. AFTERNOON.
The sounds of a train whistle and wheels clattering on tracks, echo in the background. The light flickers and strobes, rapidly revealing haunting faces in the darkness. CHARLIE'S whimpering reaches a fever pitch, he screams hysterically just as the train comes out of the tunnel and into daylight. The now normal faces stare and smile at CHARLIE, whose scream peters out with embarrassment. The two passengers sitting opposite him laugh.
PASSENGER 1
Better get used to screaming like that mate.
PASSENGER 2
Not going to have much else to do where you're going.
CHARLIE
What!?
PASSENGER 1
Just scream and scream and scream, all day long
Other passengers on the train snigger as they watch and listen. CHARLIE becomes unnerved.
CHARLIE
What are you on about?
PASSENGER 2
Oh nothing mate nothing, no, just your future of eternal damnation and a never ending cycle of agonising pain so hideously unbearable you'll wish you'd never been born.
PASSENGER 2
Or topped yourself.
PASSENGER 1
Oh yeah, you'll wish you'd never done that.
CHARLIE
You mean I'm going....
PASSENGER 2
Down town mate, suicide, one way ticket.
CHARLIE starts to panic, his breathing rate increases, the other passengers of the train all wait expectantly. The passengers opposite him nod and smile as he shakes his head in disbelief.
CHARLIE
No, no, that's not right, it can't be, I'm not a murderer or a horrible person, I don't deserve that, I've never hurt anyone in my life...
PASSENGER 1
You took what was not yours to take though didn't you?
CHARLIE
I don't know what you mean?
PASSENGER 2
God gave you a life and you threw it back in his face.
CHARLIE
No, no it wasn't like that!
PASSENGER 1
It's too late now mate.
PASSENGER 2
What's done is done.
CHARLIE is terrified and on the verge of breaking down. The other passengers watch with increased anticipation. Suddenly a drink is thrust into CHARLIE's face. He looks up and sees DAVID.
DAVID
Here.
CHARLIE
You?
DAVID
(To the passengers) Stop winding him up, he hasn't been dead long.
CHARLIE (Relieved)
Thank God!
DAVID
I'd drink that sharpish if I were you.
CHARLIE
Why?
DAVID
It'll evaporate as soon as you get to hell.
CHARLIE (SCREAMING HYSTERICALLY)
NOOOO!
The other passengers all laugh at CHARLIE.
DAVID
Never gets tired that one.
CHARLIE (Standing)
You bastard! You utter bastards!
PASSENGER 1
Come on mate, we're only having a laugh, sit yourself down.
PASSENGER 2
Won't be long and you'll be doing the same you mark my words.
CHARLIE sits crestfallen.
CHARLIE (To himself)
Am I really dead?
He looks out of the window.
CUT TO:
EXT. WILDERNESS. AFTERNOON.
The train, an old fashioned steam locomotive, rapidly snakes its way through the vast dunes of an infinite desert and into the horizon. In the distant haze, the faint outline of a city can be seen.
CUT TO:
INT. SUSPENSION CENTRAL STATION. AFTERNOON.
A biblical ruin, littered with the evidence of man's technological progress. Timetables range from simple symbols on parchment to giant flat screen displays. Announcers announce the next arrival using all manner of communications, ranging from bongo's and smoke signals to town criers and microphones. Commuters, clothed in garments from different nationalities and periods of time, some as far back as the Stone Age, rush up and down the platform. An array of buskers, ranging from biblical snake charmers to living sculptures, line the exit tunnels.
CUT TO:
INT. SUSPENSION CENTRAL. PLATFORM 1. AFTERNOON.
The Suspension Express makes its way into the station and slows to a stop at the platform. CHARLIE peers out of the glass. He looks concerned. Behind him, DAVID gets up and makes his way off the train. CHARLIE watches the action of the station for a moment before he realises that DAVID has left, he immediately rises and rushes off the train.
CUT TO:
DAVID walking along the platform, behind him CHARLIE struggles through the many commuters leaving the train.
CHARLIE (Yelling)
David!!
DAVID stops in his tracks and turns. CHARLIE rushes up to him.
DAVID
Look, I'm sorry about the hell thing ok, no hard feelings. Bye.
CHARLIE (Panicked)
Wait!! Where are you going? Where the hell am I?
DAVID
What am I? Your Dad?
CHARLIE
What am I supposed to do? Sorry, I've never been dead before!
DAVID
Go over there, where the sign says new arrivals.
CHARLIE
Where am I!?
DAVID
Suspension.
CHARLIE
Where?
DAVID ( Walking away)
Sorry, newly deads liken it to Limbo. Bye then.
CHARLIE
Limbo? No wait, what do I do now!?
DAVID stops.
DAVID
Ne-ew ar-ri-va-al-s!!
CHARILE
You really don't care do you?
DAVID
Nope.
CHARLIE looks distraught, DAVID walks away. We hear the announcer.
ANNOUNCER
Attention, attention, would David Hurst and Charlie Underwood please make their way to Room 24 on the first floor please. Thank you.
DAVID stops, looks up at the speaker, glares and walks off. Relieved, CHARLIE follows.
CUT TO:
INT. ROSE'S OFFICE. AFTERNOON.
ROSE (attractive late 1950's/early 60's attire, beehive, Audrey Hepburn) is on the phone. Her office is reminiscent of a 50's office with terrible wall paper and old fashioned furnishings. There is a large screen on the wall and a huge window , through which we can see the hustle and bustle of the station. DAVID walks in and slumps down in a chair. CHARLIE enters, ROSE smiles. As CHARLIE sits, he notices ROSE'S legs underneath the desk, she is wearing a very short mini skirt. CHARLIE looks over and catches DAVID ogling. As ROSE continues on the phone, DAVID becomes more agitated.
ROSE (To the phone)
..Well I'm sorry Sir, but your request to appear at your Brother's wedding has been declined....because you're not the son of God...you're not.....take it from me Sir you are not...Sir!?
DAVID grabs the phone from ROSE.
DAVID (To the phone)
Listen pal, I don't care if you think you are The Father, The Son or Tom Cruise you're not going to get a second coming. (Hangs up)
ROSE
Do you mind!?
DAVID
Not at all.
ROSE rolls her eyes. She places a cigarette holder in her mouth and lights the cigarette.
ROSE
Charlie, how are we feeling, bit peculiar, little bit woozy?
CHARLIE
This can't be happening, it's not real, this isn't real!
ROSE
Charlie, this is real, you are dead, it's not like the time in Glastonbury where you thought you were an owl.
CHARLIE
How'd you know that!?
ROSE (Imitates an Owl)
Who, who me?
ROSE and DAVID laugh CHARLIE stands.
CHARLIE (Anxious)
It's not funny ok!
ROSE
Charlie, calm down, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. I've been doing this job for over sixty years, I have a tendency to over step my professional boundaries.
CHARLIE
Shut up! You're an hallucination, you both are, this whole thing is. I'm losing my mind!
DAVID
Losing?
CHARLIE
I said shut up! You don't exist! I need to wake up!
CHARLIE repeatedly slaps himself in the face. ROSE gets up and approaches him.
ROSE
Charlie? Charlie stop it, Charlie!
She sighs, catches his hand, he opens his eyes. She pulls him closer and kisses him passionately, CHARLIE, statue like in his rigidness doesn't resist. DAVID squirms uncomfortably in his chair. ROSE pulls away.
ROSE ( Softly)
Now, come and sit down. I need to show you something, it will explain everything to you.
ROSE returns to her desk and reapplies her lipstick. She lights another cigarette, oblivious to DAVID's stares. CHARLIE, now perfectly calm, sits. DAVID stares at CHARLIE and ROSE in disbelief. ROSE activates the projector and the lights go down.
MIX TO:
ON SCREEN TEXT: S.L.F.
FADE UP:
EXT. SUSPENSION LAKE. DAY.
We see an old style fishing boat on a lake. Behind the lake we see the city of Suspension. In the fishing boat sit two fishermen, between them sits an angel, his wings loom behind the other occupants of the boat. He has an impeccable tan and long, flowing hair. He's wearing only small shorts and has a fantastic physique, he is also fishing. He looks up to address the camera.
GABRIEL
Hi there, I'm Gabriel, the Arc Angel. I'll be with you in just a moment.
His rod bends as he catches a bite. He stands and reels in an enormous shark. With ease he pulls it out of the water and poses as his companions take his picture. He tosses them the shark and steps out of the boat. His companions struggle with the weight of the fish whilst GABRIEL walks across the water towards the camera.
GABRIEL
Welcome to Suspension, the holding place for those who've deviated from God's Plan. You see, all humans play an equally important role in God's plan and by prematurely ending your life, you have failed to fulfil the purpose God gave you.
GABRIEL clicks his fingers and fly's out of shot. The water around the fishing boat bubbles and splashes furiously, suddenly hundreds of fish erupt from the water and into the fishing boat much to the delight of the fishermen.
CUT TO:
GABRIEL flying above the city.
ON SCREEN TEXT: 3,243,345.
GABRIEL
On your screen you should see a number. This is your number. That's right, you. It represents your place in the queue to get into heaven and is based on the amount of lives your death has disrupted. See, and you thought you were insignificant.
GABRIEL winks and flies out of shot.
CUT TO:
INT. S.L.F.H.Q. OFFICE. DAY.
Typical open plan office. People busily walk around, sit at desks and answer phones. A women stands at the coffee machine, the window is open. The woman jumps in shock, spilling her coffee as GABRIEL flies in. He lands in the middle of the office.
GABRIEL
Now I know that number is pretty intimidating, but don't worry help is on your side. Here at the S.L.F. the Special List Force, the operatives work around the clock to compile lists of tasks for you to complete, to repair the damage you have done. Thus reducing your number and speeding up your entry to heaven.
An office worker hands him a coffee. He smiles at her in acknowledgement. He returns to the camera, unaware that the woman has fainted.
GABRIEL
You should spend the rest of your day orientating yourself with the city of Suspension. Make sure you get plenty of rest as tomorrow, you begin your first job.
He drinks his coffee and gives his empty cup to a passing male worker and flies out of shot, the worker also faints.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE PEARLY GATES. DAY.
GABRIEL stands in front of the gates of Heaven. Behind him are stunningly beautiful female angels who all stare lustfully at the camera.
GABRIEL
Just a final word, whilst in Suspension you are governed by the Ten Commandments, failure to comply with these rules will result in your entry to hell. Ouch. Also, as a living human you had the right to copulate, unfortunately you forfeited this right when you took your own life. Hey, what more motivation do you need to get to heaven?
He walks backwards into the throng of lustful angels who proceed to fawn all over him.
GABRIEL
You may have taken your last breath, but you can always count on the S.L.F. See ya soon.
