Setting: Louis is staring out of a window, and at first, that's all we can see. But the camera backs up and we see that the window is on the third story of a large brick building. All the other windows are lighted, but his is dark. He glares down at the ground through the glass, and then leaves our sight. We follow the sound of his footsteps down the three flights of stairs until we hear him shut the front door on his way out. Then we follow him as he walks out into the clear winter day. The snow lies in a blanket over everything and the daylight is just starting to dwindle. He looks over his shoulder once at the orphanage and then breaks into a dead sprint toward the forest. As he reaches the tree line, people back at the orphanage are shouting his name, but he doesn't care. He disappears into the ocean of leaves and snow until he hits the clearing. Nobody is there, and the air is empty and crisp.
Louis: (Frantic) Ramona? Ramona? Ramona, are you here?
Setting: He pauses, but there is no response.
Louis: (Frantic) At least tell me if you're here, Ramona!
Setting: Still no answer. Louis takes a deep breath.
Louis: Ramona, love, please come out.
Setting: He waits for a little while, and then Ramona appears before him. He is startled for a moment, but then smiles at her.
Louis: Good news, Ramona.
Ramona: (Suddenly angry) Do you think I'm not mad at you?
Louis: (Confused) Why would you be mad at me?
Ramona: (Furious) You're shunning your sister! She's six years old, Louis, she doesn't know how to NOT be selfish! You were so, SO harsh, and unnecessarily so! You love her and she loves you, isn't that right? (She doesn't wait for him to answer) Yes! It is right! So why are you forcing her away from you? She needs protection, Louis. All of her family is DEAD, and you are her only living relative, from what you've told me. You've broken the family ties, Louis, and that is one thing I cannot accept.
Louis: (Wary) But, Ramona, I get to go to college now-
Ramona: (Shouting) So you're choosing college over your family? You are utterly pathetic, Louis Smith! PATHETIC!
Setting: Louis does not respond with anger or even shock. He takes her shouted accusations calmly, without emotion. And when she is done ranting, he puts his hand on her shoulder, forcing the veil into action. She shakes it off and he drops it to his side.
Louis: Ramona, I did not turn my back on Camille. I'm paying for her school education and she's with me in the orphanage. But I'm going to go to college soon, and she'll be alone anyways. College is my dream, and I'm going to chase it. She can have all the dreams she wants. I just won't be there to see 'em, too. I still love her and help her, but YOU are the person I cannot live without.
Setting: Louis waits for a while for her face to calm down, and when it does, she looks down, ashamed.
Ramona: (Whispers) I have something to tell you.
Louis: What is it?
Ramona: You know how your dad died?
Louis: Yes.
Ramona: Um, well... in the Here, those who fought for our country have a shorter wait because they spent their lives bettering the lives of others. And, um... I've been assigned to reincarnate your father.
Setting: Louis stares at Ramona as if she is from outer soace (not really that bad a comparison). His face slowly turns red and then purple, and Ramona waits for him to breathe. When he doesn't Ramona taps his nose.
Ramona: Breathe.
Setting: Louis takes a deep breath and his face returns to normal. He stares at her again.
Louis: (Disbelieving) You're going to reincarnate my father? Into someone else?
Ramona: (Sheepishly) Well... yeah.
Louis: But... he's MY Dad. Not anyone else's kid or dad or grandpa or anything.
Ramona: I'm pretty certain that he is somebody's kid, he will eventually be a grandpa and he most certainly is SOMEthing. Relax, Louis. you yourself were almost undoubtedly reincarnated.
Louis: No! No. Um... you said souls had to start somewhere. Why couldn't I have been one of the ones that started in this life?
Ramona: Alright, if you really feel that way. Ldet's say you ARE a new soul. And maybe your father was, too. But that doesn't mean he won't choose to be reincarnated again. Maybe being on the same plane as you is so important to him that he decides to become reincarnated. maybe he'll grow up and you'll die and be reborn as his son. We don't really know, now do we? Of course, you have a bit more information than others on the effects of each choice but you know nothing about the T.L. rule.
Louis: (Momentarily distracted) T.L. rule?
Ramona: It's where-
Setting: Ramona is suddenly frozen in place, her mouth still open, about to explain. She looks as if she is frozen in time. Louis tries to move and realizes that he, too, is frozen. In panic, he tries to scream, but nothing escapes his throat. A great booming voice overheard is heard.
GREAT BOOMING VOICE: RAMONA SPENCER, YOU HAVE THREE MORE NIGHTS BEFORE YOUR TIME AS AN ESCORT IS UP. YOU HAVE A FIFTEEN-YEAR WAITING PERIOD AHEAD OF YOU. YOUR SOUL TOMORROW NIGHT IS TO BE GEORGE SMITH. YOU HAVE FORTY-EIGHT HOURS TO RID YOURSELF OF THE HUMAN PERSON WHO HAS BEEN FORCING THE T.L. RULE TO OCCUR. DO YOU DENY THIS?
Setting: There is a pause, in which Ramona is apparently thinking something.
GREAT BOOMING VOICE: GOOD. DISMISSED.
Setting: The voice disappears and Louis and Ramona can move freely again. They look at each other in fear.
Louis: Quick, tell me what T.L. rule means.
Ramona: T.L. rule means 'true love rule'. That silver screen that happens whenever we touch is a necessary defense that any Escort is equipped with. But when said Escort falls in love (She blushes) the screen tries to turn the other human person into a soul, too, so they may stay together. It happens rarely. But.. It's occurred between us, Louis. It means we really do love each other, but we can't touch. It'll kill you.
Louis: (Pained) Is there any other way?
Ramona: Ramona shakes her head once before the soul floats down from the starry heavens and lands above her automatically outstretched palm. She looks to Louis and closes her eyes. The scene abruptly changes so that Louis is on the front steps of the orphanage, looking at the front door. He sighs and opens it. He enters and shuts it behind him, and from behind the door, Camille's muffled voice shouts his name in relief.
YOU ARE READING
The Escort (the Screenplay)
Fantasy"Hello, little one. What is your name?" It is with those seven words the story begins. Ramona Spencer is an escort, a person who has died and chosen to help the reincarnation process. Louis is a normal teenager, living with his mother and sister whi...
