"GHOST" Screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin SHOOTING DRAFT INT. TRIBECA LOFT - DAY The CAMERA TRACKS slowly through clouds of moving dust. Shafts of muted light pierce the dense atmosphere. An eerie netherworld envelops us. Strange ghostly forms appear and disappear in the distance. They seem like apparitions. Broken timbers and dangling cables emerge from the smoky light. We see hints of a huge demolished space. An old white plaster wall FILLS THE SCREEN. Momentary blips of light flash across it. SOUNDS of street traffic are heard dimly in the distance. With startling impact, the SOUND of a sledgehammer explodes out of nowhere. The wall shudders. HAMMER BLOWS assault the audience. They are loud and jarring. The wall buckles. Chunks of plaster CRASH to the floor. The air fills with new swirls of white dust. The SLEDGEHAMMER smashes INTO VIEW. Beams of sunlight cut through the cracks, piercing the atmosphere like searchlights in a fog. A huge section of wall falls toward camera as more plaster billows into the air. We hear voices talking. MOLLY (O.S.) What a mess! SAM (O.S.) I told you! Through jagged holes we can make out three dim figures on the other side of the wall, all wielding SLEDGEHAMMERS. SAM I can't breathe. MOLLY Use your mask, dummy. One of the figures adjusts something over his face. Isolated rays of sunlight dance around him casting long shadows in the air. SAM (singing) "Volga boat..., man." Whoomph! His hammer pounds the wall. Molly laughs. ANGLE The CAMERA MOVES IN and for the first time we see them. MOLLY JENSEN, in her late 20's, has a bandanna around her hair and a workman's mask over her nose, but we can tell from her eyes and cheekbones that she is beautiful. SAM WHEAT, in his late 30's, is also hidden behind a mask, but he has a strong forehead and handsome features. Sweat is dripping down his brow, leaving streaks in the dust. CARL BRUNER, early 30's, removes his mask revealing a good looking young man with a fashionable two-day stubble. Both men have their shirts off. CUT TO: ANGLE BLACKNESS AND A LOUD THUD. Suddenly a shaft of light penetrates the darkness. Another thud and more light. We see a hole. The hook of a crowbar enters it, grappling with something around the edges. Then, with a tug and a loud yank, a huge section of tin ceiling crashes to the floor. Huge clouds of dust fly into the air. Molly looks up, astonished. MOLLY Sam, look, there's a whole eight feet up there. SAM And about eighty years of dust. MOLLY We have all this height, Sam. We could add a second floor and put our bedroom upstairs. That would leave all this space. SAM (eyeing her curiously) For what? MOLLY For space. Just space. SAM Be great for bumper cars. Carl laughs as he looks at Sam. Their bodies, covered with white powder, appear as strange, ghostly figures. CARL Sam, this may be none of my business, but I'm concerned you're doing too much coke. Sam glances down at his white body. They all laugh. MOLLY Hey, Sam, turn around. Sam obeys. Molly doodles on his chest, drawing a bow tie and the outline of a tuxedo jacket. Her lines are quick, accomplished, and subtly erotic. CARL (offering his body) How 'bout me? Molly nods. She reaches out and superimposes an armless female torso over his. His stomach jumps sensually as she touches it. Molly pulls back to admire her work. He looks like a Greek statue. CARL I'll never wash again. Molly laughs. ANGLE Sam, Molly, and Carl are holding their sledgehammers. Molly begins to count. MOLLY All together now. One, (they strike the wall with their hammers. The wall shakes) two, (they pound again. The wall begins to give) three. In unison, they hit it once more. A massive section of plaster and metal topples to the ground. New clouds of dust fill the air. Suddenly, Sam spies an old jar lying on the floor. Something rattles inside it, a penny. SAM Hey, look what I found. There's a penny inside. (he hands it to Molly) For luck in our new loft. It's a good omen. MOLLY (shaking her head, disagreeing) You're the good omen. She glances at him lovingly. Carl looks at the two of them and grins. As the dust settles we see, for the first time, the outlines of the space they are working in. It is a huge loft over four thousand square feet. Banks of windows run east and west. Molly steps back and admires the room. MOLLY It's gorgeous. CARL You guys lucked out. Hell, I bet you could sell it tomorrow and double your investment. MOLLY Sell it? Carl, we just bought it. CARL What I wouldn't do for a place like this. SAM It's gonna be great. OMITTED EXT. MARKET SECURITY BANK & TRUST - HEADQUARTERS - DAY It is morning rush hour. Sam and Carl, both wearing suits and ties, exit the Wall Street subway station and approach the Headquarters of Market Security Bank & Trust. CARL Oh, by the way, Sam, I had to move your 3:00 with Bob Kahan to 4:00 so you could squeeze in Gary Alan. He called yesterday and said he has to see you today about the Danway stuff. Three o'clock was the only time he could make it. Also, the board meeting in L.A. has been confirmed for the 12th. I got you on a 9:00 a.m. flight. Sam seems preoccupied. CARL (continuing) Hey, Sam, relax. This isn't brain surgery you're going into. SAM I hate pitching to these Japanese guys. They make me nervous. I mean, what am I supposed to say, "Who do you think'll win that big Sumo championship"? CARL Sam, you'll be fine. You're great with people. Sam's jacket flares open. He is wearing yellow suspenders. Carl notices. CARL (continuing) Hey, nice. I like those. Sam, not completely comfortable wearing them, buttons his jacket. SAM ...Molly. Carl smiles and then turns to admire a car going by. CARL Jesus, look at that, a Testerossa. That's the car I'm gonna drive when I'm making two hundred grand. SAM Better pay off your Mustang first. INT. BANK HEADQUARTERS, ELEVATOR - DAY Sam and Carl are standing on a crowded elevator. It is deadly quiet. Suddenly Carl elbows Sam and winks. There is something he wants him to do. Sam hesitates a moment, annoyed, and then relents. He clears his throat. SAM So Carl, what did the doctor say? CARL He said it was contagious. Very contagious. I shouldn't be going into work today. (he coughs loudly) But what could I do? He sneezes. People on the elevator freeze. SAM And what about the rash? CARL Not good. It's spreading everywhere. SAM On your genitals again? CARL Everywhere. He said be sure not to touch anyone. We see people trying to inch away. Carl coughs again. They hold their breath. The elevator stops at the next floor. All the passengers get off. INT. BANK HEADQUARTERS, EXECUTIVE OFFICES - DAY Sam and Carl, laughing, walk through a large office area bustling with activity. Employees, in various cubicles, are talking on telephones and punching information into computers. Sam heads into his executive office. Carl steps into a cubicle across the aisle. ROSE, Sam's secretary, approaches him. ROSE Morning, Mr. Wheat. SAM Morning Rose. Listen, when the Kobiashi people arrive, have Elenore take them right to the... ROSE They're already here. She points to a windowed conference room. Sam turns around and sees a large group of JAPANESE MEN standing inside. SAM They're early! ROSE I know. And Andy Dillon called. He said they need $900,000 transferred to Albany by noon. SAM Noon? Damn! He hurries over to Carl's cubicle. He is on the phone. Carl cups the mouthpiece. CARL Hold on. SAM Listen, Dillon needs $900,000 in Albany by noon. Can you transfer it to his payroll account? CARL Sure. Just let me have your MAC code. Sam pulls out his wallet and extracts a small address book. He jots the code numbers on a piece of paper and hands it to Carl. SAM Discretion, huh? CARL You bet. I'll do it right away. INT. WELL-APPOINTED EXECUTIVE BOARDROOM - DAY Sam and a group of fifteen somber Japanese businessmen are sitting around a large granite conference table. Sam stands up and speaks a simple greeting to them. SAM (in Japanese) Good morning, Gentlemen. On behalf of Market Security Bank & Trust, I welcome you to our city. The men smile happily and nod their heads in unison. MEN Arigato. They look to Sam, expecting more. Uncomfortable, he clears his throat. SAM I'm afraid that's the only Japanese I know. But I realize it's not our language fluency, or lack of it, that brings you to Market Security. Rather, I'm sure, it is our banking expertise, our ability to represent and anticipate all of your banking needs. As you know, we are not the largest banking establishment in New York. (his throat goes dry and he takes a sip of water) But, with combined assets of over 200 billion dollars, we have a firm commitment to the international marketplace. A SECRETARY enters the room and hands Sam a piece of paper. It reads "MOLLY ON LINE 2. URGENT." She hands him a phone. Sam looks surprised. He nods apologetically to his guests. SAM Excuse me. (he picks up the receiver) Hello? CUT TO: MOLLY dressed in a long, clay covered smock. She is in a potters studio. SEVERAL OTHER POTTERS are in the background working at their wheels. A five-foot high ceramic vase stands beside Molly. It is still wet. She toys with it as she speaks into the phone. MOLLY A man and a woman are lying in bed when the woman's husband suddenly comes home. Frightened, she tells the man he has to leave instantly through the window. He has no time to dress. CUT BACK TO: SAM straight-faced, listening and trying to look as if it is important. SAM Uh hmm. MOLLY (V.O.) It's raining outside. The man, running naked along the street, sees some joggers approaching. The entire contingent of Japanese men is staring at Sam. MOLLY (V.O.) (continuing) One of the joggers calls out. "Hey, do you always go jogging naked?" And the man says, "Yes, always." SAM Okay. MOLLY (V.O.) And then the other jogger says, "And do you always wear a condom?" The man looks down, embarrassed, and replies, "Only when it's raining." Sam squelches a smile. SAM Well, that's just fine. MOLLY (V.O.) Now just relax and have fun, okay? It's not the end of the world if you lose this account. You've always got me. SAM Thank you. I'll remember that. MOLLY (V.O.) See ya. He hangs up and stares at the Japanese men. A short smile crosses his face. CUT TO: A CARVED WOODEN ANGEL eight feet tall, ascending into an afternoon sky. As the CAMERA PULLS BACK we see that we are inside a building and that the angel is dangling outside an open doorway high above the street. A group of workmen grab for the angel, but have difficulty bringing it in. Suddenly Molly steps INTO the FRAME. MOLLY Where you guys from, the New York City Ballet? With a gutsy maneuver, Molly leans out over the sidewalk and tries to grab hold of the ropes. She can't reach them. Suddenly a pair of hands grabs her around the waist. She screams. SAM Saved your life. Sam laughs as he pulls her back into the loft. She does not think it is funny. MOLLY You bastard. Don't do that to me. You scared me half to death. SAM Better than seeing this gorgeous body splattered all over the street. Here, look out. Sam jumps up, grabs hold of the door's top molding, and swings out over the sidewalk. Molly gasps. Sam's feet push at the angel and send it swinging away and then back toward the loft. Quickly he jumps back, grabs hold of it, and brings it in. The workmen applaud. Molly eyes him with admiration. Suddenly we hear a voice call out. CARL (O.S.) Sam? Molly? Anybody home? Molly looks to Sam. MOLLY Carl? Did you invite him? SAM (under his breath) I couldn't keep him away. Carl enters, shakes Molly's hand, and pats Sam on the back. CARL Hi, Moll. Hi, Sam. So, how's it goin? Before they can answer, a WORKMAN turns to Molly. WORKMAN (V.O.) Where do you want this? MOLLY In the bedroom. INT. LOFT - DAY As the angel pulls away from camera, we see the newly decorated loft for the first time. It is painted now in lovely pastels. The floor, a huge gymnasium-like expanse, is lacquered with polyurethane. Furniture and boxes are piling up along the walls. Dominating the space, with a kind of surreal presence, are a large number of Molly's sculptures and ceramics. There is also a vintage jukebox. Carl is impressed. CARL Wow! The place looks great. Really great. MOLLY You like it, huh? CARL "Like" is hardly the word. I never imagined it would be this beautiful. This is incredible. A mover lugs in a heavy old chair. Molly sees it. MOLLY Sam, you kept that chair? SAM What do you mean? It's comfortable. For T.V. I love that chair. MOLLY But it doesn't go with anything. SAM It goes with me. MOLLY It's okay, I'll paint it. Sam pinches her ass. Molly smiles. INT. KITCHEN - DAY - LATER Sam, Molly, and Carl are sprawled out on the floor, eating from Cartons of Chinese food. Frank, a gray cat, eats beside them. Unpacked boxes are scattered everywhere. SAM It was the middle of December. I was sitting in my old office, the one Charlie's in. Suddenly, I heard this woman screaming. I thought someone'd been shot or something. MOLLY They took away my MasterCard. It was Christmas, for godssake. SAM She was four thousand dollars over her limit. MOLLY It wasn't four thousand. And I'd already sent in the payment! You're the ones that lost it. SAM She's still angry. MOLLY No I'm not. The cat begins nibbling Sam's food. SAM Get outta here, Frank! (the cat scampers away) You should have seen her. All pink and flushed. Her skin was gorgeous, like a rose. And she's screaming, demanding to see the president. So Wilton brought her to me. CARL You? You weren't even a VP yet. SAM She didn't know that. Carl smiles. MOLLY Can you believe it? And the next thing I know, he's telling me his life story. I couldn't believe it. Everything. About his divorce, how he'd just arrived in New York, how he didn't know any women. And all with this Montana accent. SAM What's a Montana accent? MOLLY The one you always slip into it when you get nervous. "Yes, Ma'am. Thank you, Ma'am. Can I fondle your breasts, Ma'am?" SAM (laughing) I wasn't nervous. MOLLY Admit it. You liked me. You were interested. SAM (matter of factly) I thought you were cute. MOLLY Cute? (looking at Carl) Do you believe this? I should have been Picasso's mistress. I should have been living in Barcelona or Paris. But no, I'm moving in with a New York banker who thinks I'm cute. She looks at Sam and grins. Carl is staring at Molly, obviously turned on by her. He is embarrassed when she catches his gaze and quickly looks away. OMITTED INT. MOLLY'S STUDIO - NIGHT Molly, dressed only in a T-shirt, is sitting at her potters wheel throwing a series of pots. Sam enters the studio. He is barefoot, shirtless, wearing jeans. SAM What are you doing? MOLLY I felt inspired. SAM At 2:00 am? She nods and presses her hands into a pot that is forming in front of her. Sam watches the sensual movement of her fingers, molding and forming the clay. She is forceful, assured, gifted. The clay responds to her slightest effort. Slowly, almost unconsciously, Sam reaches for her shoulders and begins kissing them. SAM (continuing) You notice Carl's eyes today? They were all over you. MOLLY What? Are you jealous? Sam, let me tell you something. He's not even looking at me. It's you he idolizes. He doesn't see me at all... Anyway, he's not my type. Sam reaches over her and gently adds his fingers to the clay. Molly looks up at him. MOLLY (continuing) What are you doing? SAM I feel inspired. His hands dig into the clay. Molly smiles. Their fingers seem to dance together. After a moment, she reaches up to him, her clay-covered fingers streaking his face and curving down to his chest. Sam grins and reaches down to her. MATCH CUT TO: SAM'S FINGER as it presses two buttons on his jukebox. We watch as the mechanical arm selects a record and slowly, sensuously, lowers it to the turntable. The arm hovers over the record and then descends. It begins to play. The song is "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers. SAM AND MOLLY are dancing in the middle of the dark loft. Moonlight pours through the windows and shines off the floor. Wads of packing paper swirl sensuously around their feet. Molly runs her fingers down Sam's naked back. The moment is sweet and erotic. We watch as Sam slowly draws his fingers down over Molly's face, gently caressing her forehead, her eyes, her lips. Sam slides his hands under Molly's T-shirt, slowly moving them toward her breasts. Her breathing slows. They dance silently, her hair swaying in the soft light. We hear the sounds of their bare feet on the highly polished floor. Sensuously, Molly's shirt lifts above her navel as Sam presses into her. Their stomachs touch and part and touch again. She bites her lip. Sam eyes her moonlit form as she strokes his chest, slowly moving her fingers down his torso, around the curve of his hips, and then digging into the back of his jeans. Sam leans into Molly and nips at her neck. She stops dancing. Her eyes close. She stands absolutely still. Sam's hands move to her backside. He pulls her closer. DISSOLVE: LIVINGROOM - NIGHT SAM AND MOLLY, making love on the livingroom carpet. Paper and packing materials crumble beneath them and scatter across the floor. For all their sensuality, it is their hands and eyes that are most expressive, revealing a tenderness that is deeply moving. Their lovemaking is full of love. JUKEBOX The song ends. The jukebox arm retracts and gently slides the record back into its slot. DISSOLVE: OMITTED BEDROOM - NIGHT Sam and Molly are lying together silently. Molly gazes at him. MOLLY What's the matter? SAM The matter? MOLLY I can tell. SAM Nothing... really. MOLLY You're worried, aren't you? About moving in together? SAM No. Not really. MOLLY Then what? The promotion? SAM I don't know. A lot of things. I just don't want the bubble to burst... Whenever something good happens to me I'm just afraid I'm going to lose it. Molly gently strokes his head. MOLLY You know what? SAM What? MOLLY I love you. I really love you. He smiles and strokes her cheek. SAM Ditto. Suddenly the T.V. blares into the room. Sam jumps up, grabbing the remote control unit from under his buttocks. Molly laughs as he turns the SOUND DOWN. The news is on and they are showing the remains of an airline disaster. Sam stares at the tube. SAM Oh Jesus. Another one. MOLLY Don't watch that stuff. He motions to wait. Dead bodies litter the screen. CORRESPONDENT ...It is estimated that 34 people died in the crash, the second in less than two weeks. The T.V. goes OFF. Sam, confused, spins around. Molly is holding the remote control. She nods for him to lie down. SAM I should cancel my L.A. trip... These things always happen in threes. MOLLY Threes? Sam, get serious. Besides, you lead a charmed life. SAM Yeah. So did they. Sam looks at her and then back at the screen. SAM (continuing) Amazing, huh? (he snaps his fingers) Just like that. Blackout. EXT. WALL STREET ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY OMITTED INT. SAM'S OFFICE - DAY Sam is sitting at his computer. His address book with his access codes is sitting open beside him. He seems perplexed by something happening on the screen. After pushing a series of buttons and getting the same response, he whacks the computer on the side. Carl, walking in the door, sees him. Sam looks up sheepishly. SAM A glitch. What's up? CARL The Mark Greenberg and Larry White accounts. I can't get in. Your MAC code doesn't work. SAM I changed it. CARL Why? What's up? SAM Nothing. I just want to nose around a bit... Can you keep your mouth shut? CARL Yeah, sure. Tell me, what's going on. SAM I think I've stumbled onto something. There's too much money in these accounts. CARL Too much money. That's ridiculous. How could there be too much money? SAM That's what I keep asking myself. CARL It must be the computer. SAM I've been checking. CARL Yeah, Mr. Fixit. (he hits the computer like Sam did and laughs) Come on, move over. Let me see what I can do. SAM Not yet. I'm gonna dig around a bit. CARL Okay, okay. Just call me when you're ready for help. (he heads for the door) So, what are you and Moll doing tonight? SAM We're going to the theatre. She wants to see "Macbeth" at the Spring Street Repertory. Carl winces. Sam smiles. INT. SPRING STREET REPERTORY - NIGHT Sam and Molly are sitting in the fifth row of a crowded auditorium. He is sound asleep. ANGLE STAGE A scene from "Macbeth". Sam begins to snore. Molly grabs his nose. He jerks awake. Molly grins. EXT. SPRING STREET REPERTORY - NIGHT Bright marquee lights sparkle overhead as Sam and Molly exit the theatre. It is a beautiful brisk night. SAM I loved it. MOLLY I could tell. She smiles and squeezes his arm. They walk silently down a dark street, heading toward their loft. The pavement is full of shadows. MOLLY (continuing) Did I tell you what Marcia said? SAM Six times. MOLLY Six? No I didn't. Sam, don't be so blas?. I'll have two major pieces in the show. The New York Times reviews her gallery all the time. This could be huge. SAM Molly, the "New York Times" is some frustrated little critic with pimples on his ass who flunked out of art school. Who cares what The New York Times thinks? MOLLY Eight million readers, that's who. SAM Your work's beautiful. That's a fact, Moll. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. We can tell from the expression on Molly's face that it does. Sam puts his arm around her. She nestles close to him. Then, suddenly, she stops and looks up. There is an unexpected seriousness in her voice. MOLLY (continuing) I want to marry you, Sam. SAM (taken aback) What? MOLLY I've been thinking about it for days. More than thinking. I want to do it. I want to jump in whole hog... (she pauses) What is that look for? SAM (staring at her) It's just been so long since... I mean, you never wanted to talk about it. There is a long pause. MOLLY Do you love me, Sam? SAM What do you think, Moll? MOLLY How come you never say it? SAM What are you talking about? MOLLY You say "ditto". It's not the same. SAM People say "I love you" all the time. It doesn't mean anything. MOLLY Sometimes you need to hear it. Sam stops and stares at Molly. He pauses quietly. He is about to speak when A MAN'S FACE emerges from the shadows behind him. Molly gasps. Sam spins around. AN INTENSE LOOKING MAN is standing in the darkness between two buildings. He stares at the couple for a moment and then steps onto the sidewalk. Sam and Molly stand motionless. The man hesitates and then begins walking the other way. Molly exhales a deep breath. Sam takes Molly's arm and they continue briskly down the street. Suddenly they hear FOOTSTEPS coming after them. MOLLY What should we do? SAM Let me handle this. Sam stops abruptly and turns around. A gun is staring him in the face. Molly screams. WILLIE Your wallet! Sam waits a beat. MOLLY Give it to him! Sam reaches for his jacket. The Mugger grabs his wrist and then carefully pulls the wallet out himself. SAM Take the money. Just leave the wallet and my... He swipes Sam across the head. Molly screams. The Mugger whacks her across the face. Sam explodes, plowing into the mugger with all his might. MOLLY Sam, No! There is a wild, all out brawl. Sam fights like a mad man. Suddenly the GUN goes off. The Mugger panics and takes off running. Sam charges after him. MOLLY Sam!!!!! The two men run down the dark street, but the Mugger is already a full block ahead and disappears into the shadows. Sam gives up. Slowly he turns and begins walking back toward Molly. We can see Molly dimly at the end of the block as Sam approaches. She is screaming for help. Frightened, Sam calls out. SAM Molly! She doesn't answer. Sam tenses and starts running toward her. He is just three feet away when suddenly he stops. An expression of pure terror overwhelms his face. CUT TO: CLOSEUP - MOLLY drenched in blood. Her eyes are glazed, on the verge of shock. Panting, she stoops down to the curb as THE CAMERA TRAVELS WITH HER. She grabs hold of something lying in the shadows and pulls it toward her. It is Sam's dead body she is holding in her arms. Sam's ghostly form, still solid to all appearances, stands beside Molly. His eyes are awash in horror and confusion. He seems unable to move. THE CAMERA HOLDS on his face as the full impact of his situation dawns in his eyes. Suddenly he lets out a blood-curdling scream. SAM No!!!!!! He jumps down toward his body and reaches out to grab hold of his motionless form. His hands make a strange SOUND as they pass right though it. It is terrifying. Sam jumps up, crazed, frenzied, and begins circling Molly. It is as though he is trying to undo what has been done. SAM (continuing) This isn't happening. It's not happening. He reaches out to Molly for help. His hand cuts through her shoulder. He screams. FOOTSTEPS. People are running down the street. The sound of SIRENS can be heard in the distance. Two MEN run toward Sam. He yells out at them. SAM (continuing) Help me! They run right through him. He gasps in stunned terror. Sam watches helplessly as they reach his body. Molly looks up and begins screaming hysterically. One of the Men grabs her as the other goes for Sam's wrist. There is no sign of life. The first Man holds Molly back as his friend stoops down and begins some form of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. There is no response. Sam bends down, trying desperately to help. It is a futile gesture. SAM Do it! Do it! The Man bangs on Sam's chest. Blood gushes from the wound. Molly recoils. He bangs again. CUT ABRUPTLY TO: INT. LOFT - NIGHT Sam shoots up in bed, panting. It is dark. He stares around the loft in sudden confusion. With a lurch he flicks on the night light. Molly is lying beside him, her head buried beneath a pillow. Sam seems stunned. SAM Molly? Molly! Tears stream down his face. Molly stirs. MOLLY Sam? What's the matter? Is something wrong? SAM Molly! Sam is so relieved to hear her voice that he can hardly breathe. MOLLY What is it, honey? Molly, groggy, tries to sit up. Sam reaches out for her. As she turns around, we see A SKELETEL VERSION OF HER HEAD staring at the camera. It speaks. MOLLY (mocking him) What is it, honey? Sam bolts upright, screaming. It is a scream so consumed by terror that one fears it will never stop. CUT UNEXPECTEDLY TO: CLOSE-UP OF SAM asleep in bed. He is thrashing at his pillow and moaning. Suddenly, a hand reaches out and touches his shoulder. Sam jumps straight up in bed and kicks wildly at the sheets. CUT TO: SAM'S P.O.V. Molly is sitting on the bed looking at him, afraid. Sam stares down at her. He is breathing heavily, not trusting his own senses. His hands clutch at the wall. SAM What's happening to me?! ANGLE Suddenly, a brilliant white light shoots into the room as a host of glowing forms, radiating an intense inner light, float before us. A blinding tunnel spirals in an infinite vortex behind them. Sam is awed and confused. We sense that the light is enchanting him. The entire room begins to disappear in the light. Molly screams. MOLLY Don't leave me. I need you, Sam. ANGLE Sam turns and sees Molly, only she is not in the bed. She is back on the street. To his amazement, he is on the street, too, still bathed in the soothing light. Frightened, he calls out to her. SAM Molly! She does not hear him. He calls again. SAM (continuing) Molly. There is no response. Sam, deeply troubled, hesitates for a moment. He is torn between Molly and the light. Then, in a painful, but conscious gesture, he turns from the light and walks toward Molly. At that instant, the light behind him disappears with the sound of a pneumatic door closing. There is a sense of terrible finality as the tunnel evaporates into the void. Sam is left on the dark pavement. He stands there a moment, as if in shock, and then begins running toward Molly. An AMBULANCE is rounding the corner. CUT TO: OMITTED EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - NIGHT Swirls of light speed toward the ambulance as car headlights and streetlamps merge in a wild dizzying rush. The SIREN wails into the night. INT. AMBULANCE - NIGHT Sam's body is lying in the back of the ambulance as a PARAMEDIC applies electric paddles to his chest in an effort to save him. After a moment, he looks up at Molly. We can tell from the expression in his eyes that it is hopeless. Sam yells. SAM Don't stop! I'm not dead! Molly, kneeling over Sam's body, grabs him and begins to cry in long terrible sobs. INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT A DOCTOR, comforting Molly, accompanies her from one of the emergency operating rooms and leads her through a pair of swinging doors into a separate waiting area. We see TWO POLICEMEN and TWO DETECTIVES stand up and approach her. Sam doesn't want Molly to go and begins to follow her, but then seems torn, afraid to leave his body. He turns back just as his corpse, covered in a green sheet, is wheeled into the corridor and parked alongside the wall. Sam seems stunned and inconsolable as he sits down beside it. A wrinkled OLD MAN approaches Sam and joins him on the bench. He begins talking. MAN So, what happened to you? Sam is startled, amazed that the man can see him. SAM What? MAN You're new, huh? I can tell. SAM Are you talking to me? MAN Relax. It ain't like before, you know. It's a whole new ball-a-wax. SAM Who are you? MAN I'm waiting for my wife. She's in 4C. Cardiac wing. She's fighting it. The man sticks his head into the green sheet covering Sam's body. His head disappears. Sam is terrified. MAN (continuing) Shot, huh? That'll do it every time. Poor bastard. Well, get used to it. You could be here a long time. (leaning in close) I'll tell you a secret. Doors ain't as bad as you think. Zip zap. They ain't nothin' at all. You'll see. You'll catch on. Suddenly there is a loud COMMOTION and we see several PHYSICIANS operating furiously on an Old Man lying on the table beside them. It is a life threatening situation and they seem to be failing. MAN (continuing) He ain't gonna make it. I've seen it a million times. He's a goner. See? Here they come. Lucky bastard. Could have been the other ones. You never know. ANGLE Before Sam can understand what is happening the entire room fills with a strange preternatural light. Suddenly he looks up and freezes. The amorphous forms he saw right after he died are floating down through the ceiling and reaching for the body on the operating table. They are emitting a powerful light. DOCTOR Hurry, we're losing him. MAN What'd I tell you? Bingo! The glowing forms take hold of the man's spirit and help extract it from his body. His physical form changes instantly from a solid object into an ethereal substance. Sam stares in amazement as the strange beings carry the spirit upward. They evaporate through the ceiling. DOCTOR He's gone. ANGLE The light in the room grows dull instantly. Nurses cover the dead man with a dark sheet as the doctors step away. Sam turns to the Old Man. SAM Who are you? What's happening...? The Man isn't there. An Orderly approaches the gurney with Sam's body and begins pushing it toward the elevator. Sam jumps in front of him. SAM (continuing) No! CUT TO: SAM'S P.O.V. as the stretcher begins to roll right through him. The penetration of his physical space is horrifying to Sam. He stands, almost paralyzed, as the body of the Orderly intersects with his. It is a stunning moment of extraordinary strangeness as we witness the atoms and molecules of the Orderly's body passing through his. It is like a glimpse of ultimate chaos, the universe within. Then, in a flash, the Orderly has passed through, but Sam is still shaking. He stares up at the ceiling. SAM Oh God, help me. CUT TO: SAM'S P.O.V. as the ceiling lights and acoustical tiles begin to blur. The hallway grows dark. It is as though Sam is blacking out. EXT. CEMETERY - DAY Slowly, images begin to emerge out of the blackness. It takes a moment to realize that they are scenes from Sam's funeral. The CAMERA TRACKS along rows of mourners as seen from SAM'S P.O.V. He seems to be floating among them. We hear snippets of conversations. It all seems strangely odd and disjointed. Time seems unfixed, malleable. We see a MINISTER standing beside the grave. MINISTER As we say farewell to our friend Sam Wheat, we are reminded of his kindness, his generosity, his buoyancy of spirit... The CAMERA KEEPS MOVING. Sam's associates from the bank are among the mourners. MINISTER (continuing) All that we treasure, our friends, our loved ones, our body, our mind, are but on loan to us. We must surrender them all. We are all travelers on the same road which leads to the same end. Sam notices a WOMAN in a fancy print dress comforting one of the mourners. The woman looks up at him, smiles, and waves. Sam is surprised. He looks behind him, but no one is there. As he turns back, the woman is walking away. She appears just like any normal person until she approaches a large gravestone and passes right through it. Sam is shocked. MINISTER As our loved one enters eternal life, let us remember that love, too, is eternal, that although we will miss him, our love will light the void and dispel the darkness. Suddenly, Molly ENTERS THE FRAME. Sam spots her. The CAMERA STOPS. SAM Molly. She does not respond. RUTH, her sister, leans over to her. Tears form in Molly's eyes. A hand reaches out to give her a tissue. Molly looks up. It is Carl. She gives him her hand. He squeezes it with affection. MINISTER ...and into Your hands we commend his spirit. May he rest in peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. The casket is lowered into the ground. Molly approaches the grave. She us a little unsteady. Carl takes her elbow. A shovel is placed in her hands. With great emotional effort she lifts a shovelful of dirt and tosses it onto the casket. It lands with a REVERBERATING finality. Sam shudders. DISSOLVE: LONG SHOT - PEOPLE leaving the cemetery. We hear them talking. VOICES What time you going back to work?... What's the buzz on Digital? It's sad. He was so young... How's your new Honda?... Going away this weekend? CUT BACK TO: CLOSEUP - SAM desperately alone. Down the hill, people are getting back into their cars. Sam can see Molly being let into a limousine. He stands there staring at his own casket, grieving. Then, after a moment, he turns away. Separating from his body, from his own grave site, he runs after her. DISSOLVE: INT. LOFT - DAY Molly is sitting on the couch in the middle of the loft surrounded by FRIENDS and WELL WISHERS. A young GIRL, her niece, cuddles in her lap. People are eating and milling around. Slowly THE CAMERA BEGINS TO PAN. It ends on Sam, standing alone in a corner. In the midst of all the activity he is lost and alone. FADE TO BLACK: ANGLE Raw clay on a potter's wheel spins hypnotically, sensuously. Molly's wet hands press in, shaping it, molding it. A bowl begins to appear. The camera pulls back and reveals Sam. He is sitting on the floor behind her, knees pressed to his chest, rocking aimlessly. Molly looks away from the bowl she is forming. It distorts and bends. Angry, she digs her finger into it. The bowl disintegrates. Tears form in her eyes. Frank jumps up on the bench beside her. Molly stares sadly around the room. Quietly, she begins talking to herself, to the air. MOLLY Oh God, Sam... Sam looks up. MOLLY (continuing) I picked up your shirts this morning. I don't know why. Mr. Reynolds said to tell you hello. I broke into tears. It's so hard... Sam walks over to Molly. Desperate for contact, he reaches out to touch her cheek, but then hesitates and pulls back. MOLLY (continuing) I think about you every minute. It's like you're still here, like I can feel you, Sam. He stares at her, hoping, wondering. SAM I am here, Moll. I am. ANGLE Suddenly, as if hearing Sam's voice, the cat begins to hiss. Molly spins around. The cat scans the room. Unexpectedly, Sam's and the cat's eyes meet... With a wild SCREECH, the cat jumps from the bench and takes off running. Sam recoils. Molly stands up. MOLLY Frank, what's wrong? Frank? The cat is nowhere to be seen. All of a sudden, Molly freezes. Sam is standing right beside her. It is almost as though she senses his presence. MOLLY (continuing; whispering) Sam? She holds very still for a moment. Sam watches breathlessly, loving her, wanting her. Then quietly, hopefully, he reaches out. It is a useless gesture. In a moment of great poignancy, Molly shakes her head and walks right through him. He remains IN THE FRAME, alone. INT. BEDROOM - DAY Sam, stands in the corner of a large, walk-in closet, watching as Molly goes through his effects. Boxes, scattered underfoot, are filling up with his life's possessions. Molly reaches for a shirt. SAM Wait, Moll. Not that one. That's my favorite... She tosses it into a box and then takes down a sweater. It is obviously handmade, about four sizes too big. Sam recognizes it. Molly holds the sweater tenderly and presses it to her cheek. After a moment she puts it back. Then, in a surprising outburst, she cries out and begins flailing at the shelves. Everything comes flying off. Sam reaches out to console her. SAM (continuing) Molly, don't. Unexpectedly, Carl comes rushing into the room. He takes hold of Molly and sits her on the bed. SAM (continuing) Say something. Help her, Carl. CARL It's hard. It's very hard. SAM (sarcastic) Oh good. That's really good. CUT TO: OMITTED INT. KITCHEN - DAY Molly and Carl are standing over the kitchen table folding piles of Sam's clothes and placing them into boxes. As Molly lifts one of Sam's jackets, something falls from a side pocket. It is his small black leather address book. Sam stares at it with recognition. Carl sees the book fall and stoops to pick it up but Molly gets it first. MOLLY Sam's address book. She skims through it a moment, but the memories it evokes are too powerful for her. She places it carefully into a box labeled "Sam's Things -- Valuable" and continues packing. She finds the old jar with the penny in it. It's marked "For Luck". She holds it tenderly for a moment and then places it on the nightstand beside the bed. Carl discovers some old ticket stubs in another of Sam's jackets. He examines them. CARL Dave Brubeck. Newport '86. Should I toss 'em? MOLLY No! SAM Molly, we hated that concert. She takes the stubs and lovingly puts them in the box. Sam groans. Carl finds a half used package of Rolaids. Molly takes them from his hand and puts them in the box, too. CARL Oh, you want to save those? SAM Rolaids? What are you doin' Moll? Molly just stares for a moment. MOLLY I miss him, Carl. Carl comes over and takes her hand. CARL We all do. Molly buries her head on his shoulder. Carl strokes her hair. CUT TO: ANGLE Carl lifting a pile of boxes and carrying them to the door. Suddenly Molly yells out. MOLLY Wait. Wait. Not that one. She hurries over and pulls the "Valuable" box from the stack in his arms. He looks at it with surprise. CARL Oh, shit. I'm sorry. I don't know how that got in there. He turns to the door and then back to Molly. CARL (continuing) Hey, Moll. Why don't you come? It's like summer outside. MOLLY No. CARL Just for a stroll. It'd be good to get out. Molly shakes her head and turns away. MOLLY I can't do it Carl. Carl, annoyed, walks over to her. CARL Molly... you're not the one who died! Molly stops and looks at him. He has struck home. After a moment she nods her head. MOLLY Okay. Just a short walk. He gently squeezes her shoulders. CARL Thata girl. Before Sam even understands what is happening, they are exiting the loft. Sam jumps up and runs after them. SAM Hey, Molly! Wait! ANGLE The door slams shut. Sam is locked inside. Frightened and desperate, he rushes for the door knob. His hand sinks through it. There is a strange sound, like ELECTRICAL STATIC, as it penetrates the metal and wood. Frightened, he yanks it back. Sam circles the space several times and then returns to the door. Clenching his teeth, he reaches out again. As his hand pushes up against it, we sense that he experiences a subtle resistance. The hairs on the back of his hand vibrate as his ghostly form presses into it. We sense Sam's fear as his entire arm DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW. The grating ELECTRICAL SOUND shudders up his spine. The sight of his amputated limb is unsettling but Sam does not pull back. Slowly he edges in and presses his face into the molecules of the wood. CUT TO: SAM'S P.O.V. as atoms and electrons spin past him at frightening speed. There is a sense of a universe in total chaos. Terrifying SOUNDS charge through his body. CUT TO: SAM pulling back from the door. He is trembling. INT. LOFT - AN HOUR LATER THE CAMERA MOVES SLOWLY THROUGH THE LOFT AND GRADUALLY DISCOVERS SAM. He is sitting in a corner singing quietly to himself. SAM "Singing bye bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levy, but the levy was dry. Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, and singing this'll be the day that I..." He stops, realizing the last word of the song. He sits silently, staring at the wall. Suddenly, there is a SOUND at the door. Sam's eyes shoot up. The door begins to open. Sam stands up. His face begins to tighten. We know instantly that something is wrong. His eyes fill with a fury we have not seen before. The Mugger, the man who killed Sam, is entering the loft. He has a key in his hand and puts it in his pocket. Sam is stunned. The Mugger locks the door. ANGLE Sam goes wild. He shoots at the man with all his might, attacking him unceasingly, but with no effect. His hands and feet pass right through him. SAM You motherfucking bastard! What the hell are you doing here? What are you doing? The Mugger, unaware that anything is going on, glances around nervously as he moves through the vast space. ANGLE Entering the bedroom, the Mugger goes to the dresser and quickly examines the drawers. He is very neat, careful to leave no sign that he was there. He seems to be looking for something but cannot find it. ANOTHER ANGLE Suddenly we hear a KEY TURNING in the front door. The Mugger seems startled. He dashes from the bedroom and hides quickly behind one of the large sculptures. We hear the door OPEN. Molly is standing there. Sam goes crazy. SAM Molly, no! Get out! Molly closes the door and locks it shut. Sam freezes as she heads for the bedroom. She walks right past the Mugger. To Sam's horror she stops and turns to look around. There is a curious expression on her face. Seeing nothing she continues through the loft. The Mugger pulls out his gun. Sam looks on in absolute terror. Molly's purple blouse hits the floor as she begins to remove her clothes. She turns on the radio. Sam doesn't know what to do. The Mugger seems excited by Molly's semi-nudity. He begins skirting the edges of the loft, moving toward the bedroom. Sam is crazed. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Frank appears at the Mugger's feet. Sam's eyes light up. He drops to his knees, crawls over to him, glares into his eyes, and screams. ANGLE - THE CAT SCREECHES and jumps straight up. His claws shoot out at the mugger's face, ripping into the flesh near his eye. Blood appears. The mugger sees it dripping through his fingers. The sight of it upsets him. He grabs the cat angrily by the neck. It SQUEALS. Molly in her bra, peers from the bedroom. MOLLY Frank, what's wrong? The Mugger holds the cat's mouth shut. Seeing and hearing nothing, Molly steps back into the bedroom. The Mugger takes the cat and throws it across the floor. Holding his eye, he gets up and rushes for the exit. Sam runs after him, but the door closes before he can get through. He is left inside. ANGLE - SAM stares at the closed door in a wild panic. He doesn't know what to do. Then, summoning all of his courage, he takes a blind, running slow motion leap and charges through it. SAM'S P.O.V. There is a brief sense of passing through a molecular force field, a miniature universe inside the door. ANGLE - SAM as he emerges from the door and lands on the other side. He seems excited to have survived and is very pleased with himself. EXT. NEW YORK STREET - DAY The Mugger steps out onto the sidewalk and hurries toward the subway. A patch of sleeve soaks up the blood from his eye. Sam starts after the man but instantly freezes. Hordes of people crowd the sidewalk. The crush of humanity is frightening. Two lovers, holding hands, are coming right at him. Before Sam is able to move, we hear the sound of their arms cutting through his ghostly form. Sam tries instinctively to dodge the crowds but people approach him from all angles. We hear a BABY CARRIAGE roll through Sam's feet and he nearly falls over trying to avoid it. His instincts will not let go. A barrage of images and SOUNDS assaults Sam. It is more than he can handle. Still, he refuses to give up. He stays close to the Mugger. EXT. NEW YORK SUBWAY STATION - DAY The Mugger heads down a flight of steps into the IRT. INT. SUBWAY TRAIN - DAY The Mugger gets onto a crowded subway car. Sam stands near a corner of the train watching him. Suddenly, Sam notices that something odd is happening. One of the riders at the other end of the car is walking toward him. As he approaches the Mugger, he does not stop, but passes right through him. It takes Sam a moment to realize what is happening, but then it is too late. ANGLE - THE OTHER GHOST With unholy fury the New Ghost charges into Sam. The attack is so unexpected and ferocious that Sam has no sense of how to defend himself. With unexpected power, the Ghost grabs hold of him and slams him into the subway door. Sam's head plows right through it. ANGLE on Sam's head sticking outside of the car as the subway tunnel rushes past him. There is a panicked look on his face. The look intensifies as he turns and sees another train barreling down on him. ANGLE on Sam's body inside the car still struggling with the Ghost as the other train shoots by the window. With a huge gasp, Sam shoots back into the car, and wrests himself free of the Ghost's hold. The Ghost flies after him, screeching. Sam surges through the door at the end of the train and finds himself on the bridge between the subway cars. The subway Ghost stares at him through the window with a wild, insane look. GHOST Stay off! This is mine! ANGLE FAVORING WINDOW With shocking impact, the Ghost's fist goes flying into the window. To Sam's terror and amazement, the window SHATTERS. The Ghost smiles. Passengers scream and Sam dives for cover. Sam stares at the broken glass with fascination and confusion. Suddenly, the train moves from the darkness of the tunnel into broad daylight. EXT. ELEVATED SUBWAY STATION - DAY The train stops at an elevated subway platform in Brooklyn. OMITTED SAM'S P.O.V. Sam sees the Mugger exiting the train and frantically rushes after him. EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - DAY Sam follows the Mugger down a long covered staircase to the street. EXT. 321 PROSPECT PLACE - DAY The Mugger heads toward 321 Prospect Place. The streets are lined with old apartment buildings. Many windows are boarded up. TWO MEN, standing on the corner, are slamming a piece of heavy machinery onto the pavement. Sam hears GOSPEL MUSIC coming from a storefront church and notices a sign, "SISTER ODA MAE BROWN, MEDIUM, SPIRIT READER, ADVISOR." He looks up to a third story window and sees a similar sign with day-glo arrows pointing to the entrance on the street. He seems curious, but then realizes that the Mugger is nearly halfway down the block. He turns and rushes after him. EXT. 321 PROSPECT PLACE - DAY Sam and the mugger approach a tenement building at 321 Prospect Place. INT. TENEMENT HALLWAY - DAY Sam follows the Mugger into the building and watches as he opens the mail box for APT. 4D. The name scribbled across it is WILLIE LOPEZ. There's no mail. INT. WILLIE'S APARTMENT - DAY Sam enters Willie's apartment. It is a squalid affair. Peeled paint chips litter the floor. The bed is unmade. Willie pulls open a drawer in a small nightstand and drops in the keys to Molly's loft. Sam sees his wallet. His driver's license, bank ID, and a photo of Molly are there, too. Furious, Sam lunges for Willie but then holds his punch, knowing it will have no effect. He turns instead to a window and, like the Ghost on the subway, smashes it with his fist. Nothing happens. SAM Damn! Willie dials the phone. Someone comes on the line. WILLIE She came home. I couldn't get it. Give me a couple of days. I'll go back. He hangs up. Sam stares at him in wild confusion. SAM Get what? Who the hell are you? What were you doing at Molly's? What the hell's going on? Willie grabs a bottle of wine from the nightstand and lies down. After a moment he reaches over and takes Molly's photo from the drawer. He studies it slowly. Sam stands by the door in a state of motionless rage. There is nothing he can do. SAM (continuing) Stay away from her! EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - DAY Sam storms down the street. His movements seem undirected, utterly aimless. He is seething inside. Suddenly Sam looks up. An old BAG LADY is walking down the street talking loudly to a SHORT WOMAN tagging along beside her. As they approach a street pole, the Bag Lady swerves to the side. The Short Woman, however, walks right through it. Passersby laugh at the Old Lady talking to herself. Sam, unsettled, rushes away. As Sam rounds a corner, a sudden blast of MUSIC explodes out of nowhere. Sam jumps into the street, gasping. A phonograph needle SCRATCHES across a record and the MUSIC STOPS. A woman's voice booms out: WOMAN'S VOICE Sorry 'bout that. PANNING SHOT to a pair of loudspeakers in a storefront window. The MUSIC blares out once more and SOUNDS of gospel fill the street. Sam looks up. He is back in front of the storefront church with the sign for SISTER ODA MAE BROWN, MEDIUM, SPIRIT READER, ADVISOR, hanging overhead. Below it is another sign. "Contact the dearly departed. $20.00". Sam stares at the sign with curiosity. The MUSIC is compelling. After a moment's hesitation, he goes in the open door. INT. STOREFRONT - DAY A record player is sitting near the storefront window, a makeshift microphone placed in front of it. Several rows of folding chairs face a raised platform with nothing on it. A number of people are sitting there, mostly women. One gets the sense that this is a cross between a waiting room and a meeting hall. A black WOMAN steps up on the platform and calls out: WOMAN Rosa Santiago. MRS. SANTIAGO tucks a Spanish paperback romance into her purse and heads to a door at the rear of the hall. Sam follows after her. INT. SEANCE ROOM - DAY Mrs. Santiago enters a dark room with a window and door leading to a side street. A paisley bedspread is tacked over the window. In the center of the room is a round seance table. Two heavyset sisters, CLARA (39), and LOUISE (36), are standing beside an open closet. It is empty. WOMAN Please be seated. Mrs. Santiago sits at the table. She seems apprehensive. Clara steps into the closet and taps on each of the walls as though demonstrating that they are solid. CLARA My sister will be with us soon. She steps back out and closes the door. Louise inserts a tape into a boom box and then steps forward. LOUISE Sister Oda Mae. Grant us the gift of your all-seeing presence. Appear for us now. ANGLE FAVORING CLOSET She turns back to the closet and opens the door. Like magic, ODA MAE BROWN, 41, appears standing inside. She is a black woman in a white tunic. The whiteness of her garment makes it look as if she is glowing in the dark. Mrs. Santiago is wide-eyed. Sam smiles as Oda Mae steps into the room. ODA MAE Mrs. Santiago. MRS. SANTIAGO Buenos dias. She takes a twenty dollar bill from her purse and hands it to Oda Mae. Clara graciously intercepts the money. ODA MAE I understand you are hoping to contact your husband. MRS. SANTIAGO Si. Si. ODA MAE Well, I believe he's gonna be with us today. MRS. SANTIAGO Oh, tsank you, tsank you. Tears well up in her eyes. She crosses herself several times. ODA MAE But there's no telling about the other world. You gotta cast out all doubt. You gotta believe. Do you believe? MRS. SANTIAGO (nodding her head vigorously) Si. Si. I believe. I believe. ODA MAE And remember, we don't make no promises. I can phone up there till I'm blue in the face, (she points to the ceiling) ...but it don't necessarily mean he's gonna be home. Them folks go shopping, they play bingo. It's just like here. You can't always get 'em. Mrs. Santiago, utterly fascinated, nods understandingly. SAM Sure lady! Oda Mae's eyes glance up curiously for a second, as though she heard something, and then she continues. ODA MAE Okay, let's get ready then. Sam steps back as the sisters get up and position themselves behind Oda Mae. The moment feels rehearsed, theatrical. Oda Mae raises her hands into the air and closes her eyes. There is a hush in the room. Her body begins to tremble. Mrs. Santiago clutches her chair. Suddenly Oda Mae breaks out of her trance. ODA MAE We got a problem here. I don't think he's in. Wait. I feel something. Did he know someone who's passed over, someone named Anna... Mary... Consuela... Maria? MRS. SANTIAGO Si, si! His mama. She's Maria. ODA MAE Ah! I knew it. He's with his mama. SAM (sarcastic) Oh my God... Oda Mae's eyes dart uncomfortably around the room. ODA MAE I'm afraid this is gonna be too hard. Now I got two souls I gotta contact. I don't know about that. It's difficult, you know. The pain. The effort. MRS. SANTIAGO I pay more. How much? How much? ODA MAE Twenty dollars. SAM Way to go. Milk her for every penny. Oda Mae jumps up and stares at her sisters. They look back at her curiously. They can't figure out what's wrong. Neither can Oda Mae. Mrs. Santiago reaches into her purse. A twenty dollar bill changes hands. Sam watches, amazed at it all. Oda Mae sits down and goes back into her trance. Her eyeballs roll up into their sockets. CLARA/LOUISE Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Oda Mae is beginning to shake again. The two women grab her shoulders to keep her from falling out of the chair. Suddenly her whole body stiffens. CLARA/LOUISE (continuing) Have mercy! Have mercy! Mrs. Santiago stares on in amazement. After a moment Oda Mae's body collapses in a heap. Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she pulls herself up in her chair and assumes a normal pose. After several seconds to get her bearings, Oda Mae begins to speak. Only now she has an entirely new voice. It sounds deep and hoarse, like an old man's. For all its put on theatricality, it is strangely convincing. ODA MAE Welcome, Rosa Santiago. You are fortunate today. The channel is clear. Many spirits are gathering. SAM (scanning the room) Yeah? Where? Oda Mae jerks. Her eyes dart nervously around the room. MRS. SANTIAGO My husband? ODA MAE (a bit uneasy) I can feel his vibration. Yes, yes, he is drawing toward us now. I can see him coming. MRS. SANTIAGO Julio! Julio! How is he? How does he look? ODA MAE Oh, he is a very handsome man. MRS. SANTIAGO (surprised) Handsome? ODA MAE In our Father's Kingdom we are all handsome. MRS. SANTIAGO (understanding) Julio! Sam looks on dismayed. ODA MAE He is standing before me. He is wearing a black suit. MRS. SANTIAGO A black suit? Oh yes, yes. He was buried in that. Mrs. Santiago begins to cry. Sam looks around the room with growing disgust. Then he leans over to Oda Mae and yells into her ear. SAM What a crock of shit! Oda Mae nearly falls off her chair. She spins around. ODA MAE Who's there? Sam is stunned. Clara and Louise look at one another in total confusion. This is obviously not part of the act. Mrs. Santiago seems frightened. ODA MAE (continuing) Where are you? SAM (looking around) Who? Oda Mae screams and jumps up thrashing at the air. Her knee kicks the table and sends it toppling. Mrs. Santiago is terrified. MRS. SANTIAGO Julio! Julio! SAM What's going on? ODA MAE Get out of here! Leave me alone! Mrs. Santiago doesn't know what to do. She begins to cry. SAM Who are you talking to? Clara runs up to Oda Mae. ODA MAE Keep him away! Louise looks at the empty room. SAM Are you talking to me? ODA MAE Do something. Help me. Clara just stares at her sister. Sam is excited and amazed. SAM I don't believe this. Hey you. My name is Sam Wheat. Can you hear me? Sam Wheat! ODA MAE Stop it! SAM Say my name! Sam Wheat! Say it! CLARA Talk to me, Oda Mae. Say something. ODA MAE Sam Wheat! Sam nearly falls on his face. Clara's eyes widen. She is more confused than ever. SAM Jesus! CLARA Samweet? Oda Mae runs into the closet. It has a false panel leading to a hidden chamber on the left side and she barricades herself inside it. Clara and Louise stand outside pulling on the handle. They seem frightened. CLARA/LOUISE Oda Mae! Oda Mae! INT. CLOSET - DAY Oda Mae is rocking back and forth on the floor praying. Sam's feet enter the frame beside her. ODA MAE Lord, I swear, no more cheatin'. I promise, Lord. I don't want to go to hell. I'll do anything. Gimme a penance. Just make him go away. SAM Go away. Hell no. I'm stayin' right here! Oda Mae screams, jumps back into the closet, and bolts up against the door. It tears from its hinges and falls into the seance room, nearly crushing Louise. Mrs. Santiago runs out screaming. Oda Mae takes one look around and collapses in a dead faint. OMITTED INT. ODA MAE'S LIVINGROOM - DAY Beads of sweat collect on Oda Mae's brow and cheeks. She seems feverish. Clara and Louise are sitting beside her with damp towels nervously soaking up the perspiration. Oda Mae appears to be talking to herself until we PULL BACK and reveal Sam nearby. ODA MAE My mama, her mama, may they rest in peace, they had de gift. Mama always said I had it, but I never did. She tol' me all about it, how it felt an' all. But now that it's happenin' I don't know what to do. You're scarin' me half to death. Please, you gotta go away, you gotta find someone else. Clara and Louise look at one another with growing concern. SAM Someone else? Are you outta your mind? ODA MAE I'm gettin' there fast. (she pushes Louise's hand) Leave me alone. SAM Not till you help me. ODA MAE Where are you? LOUISE Where? I'm right here. SAM I'm standing right beside you. ODA MAE (mimicking his words) "I'm standing right beside you." (she pauses and looks up) Are you white? SAM What? ODA MAE Oh God, I knew it. He's white. Why me? Louise looks at her sister and shakes her head. SAM Listen, damn it. You can help me. There's a woman, Molly Jensen. She's in terrible danger. The man who killed me broke into our apartment. He's going to go back. You've gotta warn her. ODA MAE Why would she listen to me? SAM She has to! This man's a killer! He's got a key. ODA MAE Forget it, mister. I can't. SAM It's just a phone call. You're all I've got. Lookit. I'm not leavin' till you help me. I don't sleep anymore, so I can sit here day and night. I don't care how long it takes. I can talk forever. Oda Mae gulps, a horrified expression on her face. INT. LOFT - DAY The telephone rings. Molly, preparing dinner, runs to answer it. MOLLY Hello. ODA MAE (V.O.) Molly? Is this Molly speaking? MOLLY Yes. ODA MAE (V.O.) My name is Oda Mae. I'm a spiritual reader and adviser. (she hesitates) I'm calling for a friend of yours. He asked me to call. This is important. You gotta believe me. Don't be afraid. MOLLY Who is this? ODA MAE (V.O.) I got a message from Sam. MOLLY (stunned) What? ODA MAE (V.O.) Sam Wheat. He asked me to call. Molly slams down the receiver, panting. For several seconds she doesn't move. Slowly, she walks to the couch and sits down. She is trembling. INT. ODA MAE'S KITCHEN - DAY Oda Mae hangs up the phone. ODA MAE What'd I tell you. SAM You gotta go there. ODA MAE Look, I don't care what you do to me, I'm not goin' nowhere. INT. ODA MAE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Sam is sitting on the edge of Oda Mae's bed, singing. It sounds like he's been singing for hours. He is very hoarse. SAM "I'm Henery the Eighth I am / Henery the Eighth I am, I am / I'm gettin' married to the widow next door / She's been married seven times before / And every one was an Henery / Wouldn't take a Willie or a Sam / I'm her eighth old man I'm Henery / Henery the Eighth I am, I am / Henery the Eighth I am / Second verse same as the first / I'm Henery the Eighth I am..." Oda Mae bolts upright in her bed, her hands over her ears. ODA MAE Okay! Okay! I'll go. You just shut your mouth. EXT. NEW YORK CITY BUS - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY INT. BUS - DAY Sam and Oda Mae are sitting at the rear of a crowded bus. She appears to be talking to herself. ODA MAE I can't believe I'm doin' this. I gotta be a crazy lady goin' into the city with you. I never go there. What the hell you doin' in my life, huh? Why me? Several people move away. OMITTED EXT. LOFT BUILDING - DAY Oda Mae approaches the loft building and buzzes Molly's apartment. She waits a few moments. ODA MAE There's nobody there. SAM Just wait. ODA MAE No, sir. I did what I promised. I said I'd come and I'm here. I didn't say anything 'bout waitin'. SAM Just one more time. Please. It's a big place. Oda Mae turns to leave. Sam, desperate, starts to sing. SAM (continuing) "Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety nine bottles of beer," Oda Mae stops. She turns back to the buzzer and rings once more. Suddenly Molly answers. MOLLY (V.O.) Hello, who's there? ODA MAE (nervous) Don't go away. It's Oda Mae Brown. I called you last night. Your friend Sam says you gotta talk to me. There is a CLICK as Molly hangs up. INT. LOFT - DAY Molly walks away from the intercom, shaken. Suddenly we hear Oda Mae yelling up from the street. ODA MAE (O.S.) Hey you, Molly! You gotta listen to me! this is for real. Sam is here. He needs to talk to you. Molly walks over to the window and looks down. Oda Mae is standing in the street looking up. She is calling out at the top of her lungs. Molly pulls back. She is afraid. ODA MAE (O.S.) (continuing) He says remember the starfish at Montego Bay? Remember the picture he took a' you in Reno? (pause) Remember his green underwear, the pair you wrote your name on? She wrote her name on 'em? Molly tenses. There is a sign of recognition in her eyes. EXT. TRIBECA STREET - DAY Oda Mae is standing by the curb and shouting up to Molly's fifth floor window. Several people stare at her curiously. She turns to them. ODA MAE Hey, do you mind? This here's a private conversation. The people turn away. She turns back to the window. Sam prompts her. SAM Ask her about the sweater in the closet, the one she knitted that's too big. ODA MAE What about the sweater you knitted that was too big? SAM Four sizes. ODA MAE Four sizes. SAM She couldn't throw it out. I saw. I was there. ODA MAE You couldn't throw it out. He saw. He was there. This is for real. Hey do you hear me up there? A WORKMAN peers out of a second story window. WORKMAN I hear you. ODA MAE I'm not talkin' to you. WORKMAN Haven't you ever heard of phones? ODA MAE Kiss my behind! (yelling again) Listen, I'm not gonna stand here all day. WORKMAN Thank God. ODA MAE Forget it. I've had enough of this. Oda Mae is about to walk away when the entrance door opens. Molly steps outside. Oda Mae sees her and stops. ODA MAE (continuing) Molly? (Molly nods) I'm Oda Mae Brown. (walking over and shaking her hand) You can call me Oda. INT. SOHO LUNCHEONETTE - DAY Molly and Oda Mae are sitting in a booth staring at one another. MOLLY Why should I believe you? Why should I believe any of this? ODA MAE Girl, if you think I'd come down here for the fun of it, you got another think comin'. This Sam of yours... I don't know, lady. I mean, you ever hear a whole night of "Henry the Eighth I am?" MOLLY He did that? That's how he got me to go out with him. ODA MAE And he cain't carry a tune. MOLLY I know. Oh God. This is all so crazy. I can't believe I'm talking to you like this. I don't believe in these things. I don't believe in life after death. SAM Tell her she's wrong. ODA MAE He says you're wrong. MOLLY You're talking to him right now? ODA MAE What? You think I'm makin' it up? MOLLY Where is he? ODA MAE How should I know? It's not like I can see him. I just hear his voice. SAM I'm holding her hand. ODA MAE He says he's holding your hand. MOLLY I'm sorry. I don't believe you. Why are you doing this to me? I don't believe a word you're saying. Sam is dead. He's dead. SAM I'm holding her hand. ODA MAE He says he's holding your hand. Molly's hand jumps. Oda Mae looks at her. There is a long, poignant moment. Sam chokes up. SAM God, I love her. I love her so much. ODA MAE He says he loves you... so much. MOLLY (shaking her head) No. He would never say that. SAM (his eyes brightening) Ditto. Tell her "ditto". ODA MAE Ditto? What's that mean, ditto? Molly starts, an expression of true astonishment shining in her eyes. MOLLY Sam? INT. LOFT - DAY Molly is pressed up against the edge of the couch listening nervously as Oda Mae speaks. Sam wanders around the room, anxiously. ODA MAE To tell the truth, I don't know how I'm doin' it. In fack, confidentially, nothin' like this never happened to me before. Now, all a sudden, I can't turn it off. (she sees a photo of Sam) Is this you? Is this him? They both say "yes" at the same time. ODA MAE (continuing; to Sam) Hazel eyes, huh? You sound like they'd be blue. MOLLY I don't understand. Why did he come back? Why is he still here? ODA MAE Cause he's stuck, that's why. He's between worlds. It happens sometimes, when their spirits get out too quick. He thinks he still has stuff t'do down here. SAM Come on Oda Mae, stop rambling. ODA MAE Oh, oh, now he's got an attitude. Molly stares at Oda Mae. SAM I do not have an attitude. ODA MAE (to Molly) We're having a discussion. (back to Sam) Whataya mean, you're not angry? If you weren't angry you wouldn't be raisin' your voice like that. SAM Goddamn it, Oda Mae! ODA MAE Ah ah, baby. That does it. I don't talk to anybody who takes the Lord's name in vain. She stands up, as if to leave. Molly watches with growing discomfort as Oda Mae seems to be talking to herself. SAM Relax, Oda Mae. ODA MAE You relax. You're the dead one. You want my help, then you apologize. Nobody talks to me like that, understand? SAM Jesus Christ! ODA MAE (to Molly) Excuse me, girl. Time for me to go. Oda Mae heads for the door. Molly is confused. MOLLY I don't believe I'm watching this. SAM Damn it. All right. I apologize. Oda Mae stops, pauses a moment, and walks back to the couch. Sam, relieved, paces back and forth. Oda Mae's eyes follow his voice as Molly watches her curiously. SAM (continuing) Please, Oda Mae, I need you to tell Molly what I'm saying. You gotta tell her word for word. ODA MAE Monsieur has a message for you. SAM Molly, you're in danger. ODA MAE You can't tell her like that. And would you stop movin' all over the place? You're makin' me sick. Molly looks concerned. Sam leans into Oda Mae. SAM Say it! ODA MAE He's sayin' you're in danger. MOLLY Danger?... What do you mean? SAM I know the man who killed me. Willie Lopez. I know where he lives. ODA MAE He says he knows the man who killed him, Willie Lopez. He's Puerto Rican. Molly grows pale as she listens. Her forehead tightens. SAM Write it down. ODA MAE Write it down. SAM You do it! ODA MAE Now I'm a secretary. Oda Mae takes a card from her purse and grabs a pencil. SAM 321 Prospect Place. Apartment 4D. ODA MAE 321? Hey, that's my neighborhood. Oda Mae seems perplexed as she writes it down and gives it to Molly. SAM Molly, he's got my wallet and my key. He was in here. ODA MAE He's got his wallet and key. He was in here. MOLLY In here? SAM (directly to Molly) You have to go to the police. The Mugger wasn't acting alone. It was a setup, Moll. I was murdered. ODA MAE He says he was set up, that he was murdered. He wants you to go to the police. Molly stands up, afraid. Oda Mae stands up, too. ODA MAE (continuing) I'm sorry. I don't want nothin' to do with this. Oda Mae heads for the door as Molly watches in a daze. SAM Where you going? ODA MAE Don't follow me! I've done all I'm gonna do. (opening the door) I'm finished. And I ain't comin' back. So don't you come botherin' me again cause it's over. I mean it. This is it. Have a nice life. Have a nice death. I'm goin'. She lets herself out. Sam just stands there as the door slams shut. OMITTED INT. KITCHEN - THAT NIGHT Carl is pacing nervously. He seems very upset. After a moment he approaches Molly. Sam is behind her. CARL Molly, there's no one on earth who'd like it to be true more than me, but you've got to be rational about this. I understand your desire to hold on to him, but this... this is absurd. MOLLY It was real, Carl. She was real. SAM Listen to her, Carl, goddamn it. She needs some support here. CARL Molly, you're a grown woman. How can you believe some fortune teller from Brooklyn...? MOLLY She was in touch with him. CARL I don't believe it, Molly. Not for a minute. SAM Come on, Carl. Open your mind. Carl sits down beside her. MOLLY Carl, she knew things. CARL What kind of things? MOLLY I told you, the picture in Reno, the starfish,... damn it, Carl. (with great difficulty) She said Sam knew who killed him. That he was set up... murdered. CARL Oh boy. This is getting deranged. We're going off the deep end here. SAM Give him the address, Moll. MOLLY She had a name, an address -- Willie Lopez, 321 Prospect Place. She said he had Sam's wallet. Sam smiles. Carl stands up. His voice begins to rise. CARL This is sick. This is really sick. How can you swallow this crap? Who knows if this guy exists? Maybe she's just setting someone up. MOLLY That's what I have to find out. CARL Find out? What are you talking about? MOLLY Sam wants me to go to the police. CARL Sam wants you to go to the police? Molly! Jesus! Are you outta your mind? What are you gonna tell 'em? Some storefront psychic's been getting messages from the dead? Do you know how that sounds? You're talkin' ghosts here, for God's sake. Molly looks suddenly vulnerable. CARL (continuing) I'm sorry. This stuff just really gets to me. MOLLY You don't believe me. You don't believe any of this, do you? CARL (half heartedly) I'm trying to, but... Look, if it'll make you sleep any better, I'll check it out, okay? Now why don't you go to bed. Try and get some sleep. Molly looks at Carl, annoyed. She doesn't believe him for a second. INT. CARL'S CAR - NIGHT Carl, in his red Ford Mustang, is speeding up town. Sam is beside him in the front seat. INT. WILLIE'S BUILDING - NIGHT Carl steps into the lobby of Willie's building. Sam follows, wide-eyed. He seems both intrigued and astounded by what Carl is doing. When Carl stops to read the apartment number on Willie's mail box, Sam is thrilled. SAM Way to go, Carl! Carl climbs the stairs two at a time and approaches Willie's door. He bangs on it, loudly. ANGLE - THE DOOR opens a crack as Willie peers out. Carl pushes it hard and it opens the rest of the way. Willie steps back. WILLIE Carl, what're you doin' here? Sam freezes as Willie addresses Carl by name. He can barely move. CARL (scared, in over his head) Who've you been talking to? WILLIE Talking to? What the hell do you mean? What's going on? CARL Some woman knows all about you. The murder, everything. Where's she getting it from, huh? WILLIE What the hell are you talking about? I haven't said a word. Sam is staggered. His body is shaking. CARL She knows your name, goddamn it! She knows where you live! WILLIE A lot of women know where I live. Carl is fuming. CARL This isn't a joke, man. You find that bitch, whoever she is, and... get rid of her, you hear me? I've got four million dollars stuck in that fucking computer. If I don't get those codes, if that money's not transferred soon, I'm dead. If I lose Balistrari's money, we're both dead. WILLIE Tell him you only wash dirty money on the first of the month. CARL What is wrong with you? Is everything a joke? You were supposed to steal his wallet. You weren't supposed to kill him. Was that a joke? WILLIE (casually) I did you a favor. Freebee. CARL Jesus! (sickened) These are drug dealers, man. (pause) Don't blow this for me, Willie. I've risked my job here. I could go to jail. A hundred thousand of that money goes to me. Now give me Sam's key. I'll get that address book myself. Willie goes to the desk drawer and takes out Sam's key. Sam, unable to control himself, explodes in a fit of rage. Hauling back, he slugs Carl with all his might. His fist has no impact. SAM You killed me, Carl. You had me killed. Look what you've done to me! Look what you've done! EXT. STREET - NIGHT Carl is on the street heading back to his car. Sam is beside him, yelling right into his face. He is screaming and cursing at the top of his lungs but Carl doesn't hear him. SAM You fucker! You mother fucker! I had a life, Goddamn you. I had a life! From the distance, we see Sam smashing into Carl. It is like hitting the air. For all of his rage and bluster, there is nothing he can do. EXT. LOFT BUILDING - DAY Molly, neatly dressed, exits her building and hails a cab. She hops inside. Seconds later she hops out again, yelling. MOLLY You white fascist bigot. Who do you think you are? Bed Stuy's part of New York, you know. This is America. The driver speeds off. Molly gives him the finger. EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - ELEVATED TRAIN - DAY Molly exits a subway station and walks toward 131st Street. She is the only white woman on the block and heads turn as she passes. WOMAN Hey, Snow, you lost or sumpin'? Molly pays no attention. Children run up to her, stare, and run away. TRACKING SHOT When Molly turns down 131st Street, the crowds disperse and she is all alone. There is a sense of menace in the air. A group of young men sitting on a stoop watches as she walks by. One of them whistles. Molly keeps walking. EXT./INT. WILLIE'S BUILDING Molly sees Willie's building. She walks into the dank lobby. It is dark and full of shadows. Leaning close, she examines the mail boxes. Willie's name is there. She backs away, afraid. INT. LIVINGROOM - DAY A dresser drawer opens and a box labeled "Sam's Things -- Valuable" is slowly pulled out. A hand reaches inside it and extracts Sam's address book. As THE CAMERA PULLS BACK, we see that it is Carl standing in Molly and Sam's livingroom. Carl opens the book and quickly jots down a series of code numbers he finds in the back. His eyes sparkle with excitement. INT. POLICE STATION - DETECTIVE'S OFFICE - DAY Molly is sitting in a room opposite DETECTIVE SERGEANT THOMAS BEIDERMAN, 48, and SERGEANT DOROTHY WALLACE, 29. Both officers are staring at her as she speaks. She seems very uncomfortable. MOLLY Look, you've gotta believe me. I don't even believe this stuff, myself. But this is real. Do you think I'd come here if it wasn't real? You told me to come if I had any new information. Well, here I am. The officers don't respond. MOLLY (continuing) Don't look at me like that. You guys use psychics all the time. There is dead silence. MOLLY (continuing) Damn it. I know how this sounds. I hear myself saying it and I want to cringe. But this woman knew things she couldn't have known, intimate details. WALLACE How intimate? MOLLY Things Sam only said to me. WALLACE (smirking) Okay, let me get this straight. According to this psychic lady, there are ghosts and spirits all over the place, watching us all the time, huh?... (she stands up) I'm sorry. I've got important things to do. She leaves the room. Molly gives her a dirty look and turns to Beiderman. MOLLY I'm telling you. The killer's name is Willie Lopez. I've got his address. You've got to check it out. Sgt. Beiderman gets up and looks over to Molly. SGT. BEIDERMAN Okay. You just wait here. Let me see if this guy's got a record. He heads out of the room. Molly sits back with an air of enormous relief and gratitude. Sergeant Wallace comes into the room again and picks up a folder. Molly waits nervously. After a moment Sergeant Beiderman returns with a police file in his hands. Molly looks up at him, and then smiles at Wallace as she sees it. She feels vindicated. He lays the thick folder on the desk and opens it up. She hurries over to him. CUT TO: MUG SHOTS OF ODA MAE and reams of police paperwork. WIDEN as Molly stares at it all in sudden shock. MOLLY What are you doing? Where's your file on Willie Lopez? SGT. BEIDERMAN There's no file for a Willie Lopez. He was probably some old boyfriend she was trying to get even with. This psychic woman's record goes back a long way. Fraud, numbers rackets, you name it. She's a real pro. CUT BACK AND FORTH between the records and Molly's stunned reaction. We see recent photos of Oda Mae and others going back to her youth. They are fascinating and revealing. We even see photos of her mother and grandmother. In addition, there are pages of arrest records and prison files. SGT. BEIDERMAN (continuing) 1967. Shreveport, Louisiana. Forgery, selling false ID. Served one year. 1971. Baton Rouge. Arrested for fraud, numbers racketeering. Served ten months. 1974. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Fraud, seven months. 1984. Albany, New York. Petty larceny. It goes on and on. Molly is overwhelmed by the evidence. SGT. BEIDERMAN (continuing) This woman's a charlatan. You can't believe anything she said. MOLLY This isn't possible. There were words, private things. How could she have known all that? SGT. BEIDERMAN They have ways. MOLLY Ways? What ways? SGT. BEIDERMAN They've got a million cons. A lot of times they read the obits. All she had to do was see the word "banker". Hell, they even go through your garbage to find things they can use, letters, old papers. They don't need much. Molly turns away. SGT. BEIDERMAN (continuing) I bet you threw stuff out, huh? It could have been anything. What about that underwear she knew all about? Molly's eyes widen. SGT. BEIDERMAN (continuing) Green underwear. I'll bet she zeroed right in on that. MOLLY No! She was real. She said things. She knew about a sweater I knitted, about songs we sang... She knew about this place we went, Montego Bay... Molly begins to cry. SGT. BEIDERMAN I'm sorry. I know this is hard. People want so much to believe. They're grieving, vulnerable. They'd give anything for one last moment... money, insurance policies. Believe me, these people know what they're doing. Look, I know how you must feel. You know, you can press charges. Molly shakes her head no. Sgt. Beiderman closes the file. Molly sits for a long time. She is in terrible pain. MOLLY Oh God, I wanted it to be Sam. Sgt. Beiderman nods his head compassionately and then turns away. INT. BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON (THE SAME DAY) Molly is sitting in her bedroom. The glow of the late afternoon sunlight casts long shadows across the bed. She seems deeply depressed and alone. Gradually her gaze falls on a jar sitting on the nightstand. In it is the penny Sam found when they were first working on the loft. A label on the jar says, "For Luck!" In a moment of sudden rage, she picks it up and throws it against the wall. It SHATTERS on the floor. INT. CARL'S OFFICE - NIGHT The code from Sam's address book, jotted on a piece of paper, is sitting beside Carl. CARL (excitedly) God, let this be it! Anxiously, Carl punches the code into a computer and, suddenly, Sam's old accounts appear on the screen. A look of relief wafts across Carl's face. CARL (continuing) Oh God, yes! Carl is staring at the same accounts Sam was examining the afternoon before he was killed, the accounts with too much money in them. Carl picks up the phone and punches a number. Someone answers. CARL (continuing) Tony, this is Carl. I'm all set. We're fine. Everything's fine. Just tell me what you want me to do. A VOICE on the other end begins to speak. VOICE We want you to transfer the money from the 12 separate accounts into a single account under the name "Rita Miller". Tomorrow, at five minutes before closing, 3:55 p. m., transfer the full account to First Island Bank of Nassau, registry number 486- 9580. Carl writes it all down. VOICE (continuing) Call us when it's done. CARL Tell Mr. Balistrari there won't be any problems. VOICE I'll do that. Carl hangs up. He seems deeply relieved. REVEAL SAM He is standing in front of Carl, watching. Quickly, Carl begins punching commands into the computer. He is setting up the dummy account. Rita Miller, #926-31043. INT. LOFT - THE SAME NIGHT Molly, in a short terrycloth robe, is sitting in a chair. A magazine is on her lap but she is staring vacantly into the loft. She seems lost in the vast space. Sam is pacing back and forth. There is a melancholy look in his eyes. SAM Why can't you hear me, Molly? I need you. Suddenly the BELL rings. Molly jumps. Molly's finger is on the intercom. She seems unsettled. MOLLY Who's there? CARL Molly, it's Carl. Can I come up? Sam freezes. Molly is surprised. She hesitates a moment and then pushes the buzzer to let him in. We hear Carl bounding up the stairs. SAM Don't open it. He's a murderer, Moll! There is a KNOCK. Molly opens the door. Carl seems buoyant, almost celebratory. He has a bag of fruit in his hand. He is still in a suit and tie. CARL Hi. Thanks. I know it's late. I'm sorry to disturb you. I felt bad about last night. This supernatural stuff just makes me so uncomfortable. I don't even read horoscopes. MOLLY Don't worry. It's okay. CARL No it's not. You needed me to hear you and I didn't and that was wrong. I want you to know that I'm your friend, Moll. SAM You were never our friend. CARL (holding out a paper bag) Hey, I brought you some Japanese apple pears. I know you like them. MOLLY (taking the bag) Oh, that's so sweet. CARL Listen, can I come in for a minute? I won't stay long. I've had one of those days. Maybe a cup of coffee? SAM No, Moll. Don't do it. Don't let him in! MOLLY (hesitating) Sure. OMITTED INT. LIVINGROOM - NIGHT Carl, in shirt sleeves and Molly in her robe, are sitting on the couch drinking coffee. We notice that Carl is wearing yellow suspenders. Sam is beside himself, watching them. MOLLY Are you alright? You look nervous, upset. CARL (glancing at her thighs) What can I tell you. It's been tough. Hell, you know. It still hurts so much. (he poses sadly) Then on top of it all... it's the responsibilities. They've given me my own accounts, but I've had no time to adjust. My mind has been reeling. Molly reaches out and pats his arm. There is an awkward pause. CARL (continuing) Where were you this morning? I thought you were coming to the bank to sign those papers. MOLLY I didn't have time. (beat) I went to the police, Carl. Sam looks at her, amazed. Carl, on the other hand, stiffens. He laughs nervously. CARL You're kidding. You really did it? I don't believe... What did you tell them? What did they say? MOLLY You were right, you know. I felt like such a fool. They brought out a file on this psychic woman ten inches thick. It was awful. CARL (relieved) A ripoff artist, huh? SAM (shocked) Molly, no. MOLLY The sad part is that I believed her. I believed her, Carl. (pause) It was all a sham. CARL (relaxing) Sometimes we need to believe. MOLLY Why?... I was a fool. I don't believe anything anymore. Why would people do such things? Sam is devastated. CARL (milking it) It's hard to face reality, Moll, the hard cold facts of it. What you have to remember is the love you felt. That's what's real. You have to remember how good Sam was. How much he loved you. Molly holds back tears. Carl reaches out tenderly and strokes her hair. CARL (continuing) You were everything to him, Molly. You were his life. MOLLY (finally crying) I feel so alone. CARL You're not alone. You're young. You've got so much talent. You're fantastically gorgeous. MOLLY (appreciating his words) Oh God, I don't know what's real anymore. I don't know what to think. CARL Just think about Sam. Think about what he meant to you, the years you had together, how wonderful they were. Carl glides his hand slowly, lovingly across her cheek. CARL (continuing) Let your feelings out. Almost imperceptibly, his hand moves down to the nape of her neck. As she moves, her robe opens slightly. Carl notices, glimpsing her nakedness beneath it. Sam notices, too. He freezes. CARL (continuing) Life turns on a dime, Moll. People think they have forever, that they'll always have tomorrow. But it's not true. Sam taught us that. We have to live for now, for today. Molly can barely contain her tears. Carl moves toward her moist cheeks and kisses them gently. Slowly, he guides his lips to her neck and kisses it, too. It is all hateful and sensual at the same time. Sam turns away. Molly feels Carl's tenderness, needs it. She does not notice his hand reaching for the cord on her robe and slowly pulling it toward him. With a little tug the cord unravels and the robe falls open. Molly is confused, aroused, not sure what to do. She starts to pull it closed. He holds her hand. For a moment they do nothing. Then his fingers reach for her thigh. Her body quivers. Carl feels her openness and pulls closer, his hand rising gently up her naked body. Molly's eyes close. She says nothing. SAM No!!! OMITTED ANGLE Sam charges wildly at the couch and begins flailing uncontrollably at the two of them. Unexpectedly his foot kicks out and hits a framed photograph of him and Molly that's sitting on an end table. The picture CRASHES to the floor, the glass SHATTERING. Molly jumps up, the mood suddenly broken. She sees the photo and recoils. Carl reaches for her. She backs away. Sam is stunned by what has happened. He jumps up and tries kicking over another picture but nothing moves. His foot goes right through it. Molly looks at Carl, drying her tears. MOLLY I can't. I'm sorry. I can't. It's too soon... You've been great Carl, but... I need you to leave. Please. I need you to. CARL Sure. It's okay. I understand. I really do. She reaches out and takes his hand. CARL (continuing) Look, what if we have dinner tomorrow night? Just talk. Can I interest you in that? SAM NO!!! Molly hesitates a moment and then nods her head "yes". Carl smiles. INT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT Sam rushes madly down a flight of stairs into a subway station. A train is just leaving. He jumps on board. CUT TO: INT. SUBWAY TRAIN - NIGHT Sam begins quickly casing the aisles, looking for something. It is not there. Another train can be seen speeding past the window. Sam takes a running leap and jumps onto it, passing through the walls. CUT TO: OMITTED ANGLE - SAM disappointed. Suddenly, an express train passes alongside his local. Sam sticks his face inside it. Suddenly, he smiles and rushes onto it. ANGLE Sam does not have to stand there long. Within seconds, the terrifying Ghost he had seen before comes charging at him. We notice him more clearly now. He is wearing a dark blue pea coat. There is a grizzled look about him. He has stained teeth and seems perpetually unshaven. GHOST Get off my train! This time Sam does not back away. He holds his ground. The Ghost lets fire every trick in his arsenal. Posters come flying off the walls. A bag of groceries topples from a woman's arms, an old man's cane flies across the aisle, a boy's Mets cap flips off his head. People on the train move quickly to other cars. Unable to frighten him, the Ghost kicks Sam in the stomach. Sam recoils, feeling it, but gets back up again. He is angry now. He begins raging at the other Ghost. The Ghost is shocked. SAM Teach me how you do that! I want to learn! I'm not leaving til you teach me! The Ghost, exhausted, looks up at him and smiles with appreciation. GHOST You stubborn asshole. Sam nods in agreement. CUT TO: SAM AND THE GHOST sitting in the corner of a deserted subway station. Sam is trying desperately to push a bottle cap with his finger. GHOST (continuing) What are you doing? What are you doing? You can't push it with your finger. You're dead. The Ghost demonstrates, kicking a garbage pail onto its side. Sam can't quite tell how he did it. SAM I don't get it. GHOST It's your mind, you idiot. It's all in the mind. The problem is you think you're still real, that you're standin' on the floor, that you're wearin' those clothes. Bullshit! You don't even have a body anymore. It's all up here. You wanna move things, you gotta use your mind. You gotta focus! You hear what I'm saying? SAM How do you focus? GHOST I don't know how you focus! You just focus! With surprising energy, the Ghost flicks a bottle cap and sends it shooting across the subway platform. GHOST (continuing) It's all in the anger. You gotta direct it. You gotta channel it. SAM I'm angry all the time. It doesn't do a thing. GHOST Cause you're angry all over. You gotta be angry here, in the pit of your stomach. Bring it down here. Let it explode. (he makes an explosive gesture) It's like a reactor, you know. Pow! He kicks a Coke can toward Sam. Sam tries to kick it back and misses. The Ghost laughs. Sam gets angry. He tries again and falls on his head. The Ghost laughs louder. Now Sam is really angry. We see him forcing the anger down into his stomach. He holds still for a moment and then kicks at the can with all his might. To his shock and amazement, it sails right through the Ghost's head. The Ghost smiles. SAM I did it! GHOST Way to go. CUT TO: SAM practicing. He smashes at an abandoned tennis shoe with his fist. Nothing happens. GHOST From your gut. What do I keep tellin' you? Sam's stomach bulges. He tries again. Nothing. GHOST (continuing) Give it time! What else have you got? Undaunted, Sam tries once more. This time the tennis shoe moves. The Ghost nods his head approvingly. Sam is thrilled. SAM How long have you been here? GHOST Since they pushed me. SAM Someone pushed you? GHOST Yeah, someone pushed me! SAM Who? GHOST What? You don't believe me? You think I fell? You think I jumped? Well, fuck you! (an unexpected rage starts to build) It wasn't my time! I wasn't supposed to go! I'm not supposed to be here! Venom spews from the Ghost's mouth. Suddenly he rams a cigarette machine full force with his head. The glass SHATTERS and packs of cigarettes scatter everywhere. He throws himself on top of them with terrible longing. GHOST (continuing) I'd give everything for a drag. Just one drag. He rolls and wallows in terrible frustration, tossing the cigarettes in all directions. Suddenly he looks up and sees Sam. He is unable to control his fury. GHOST (continuing) Who the hell are you? Why are you hounding me like this? Leave me alone. AN EXPRESS TRAIN is shooting through the station. The Ghost throws himself into it and in an instant he is gone. OMITTED INT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT Sam, all alone, walks through the station. Suddenly, he reaches out and pushes a garbage can lid. It swings back and forth. He is delighted. A beer can is sitting on a bench. He pushes it off, watching it roll across the platform with childlike glee. Looking up, Sam sees an advertisement for Market Security Bank and Trust. He stares at it with great interest. "Special Banking for Special People. We make it easy for you." Something registers in Sam's eyes. He yells and jumps straight up, hitting a subway sign with his finger. With great excitement, he runs for the stairs and rushes from the station. OMITTED INT. SEANCE ROOM - NIGHT ORTISHA JONES, a black woman with brassy red hair, is sitting at Oda Mae's seance table surrounded by several of her relatives. Clara and Louise stand behind Oda Mae helping with the ritual. Oda Mae goes into her trance. ANGLE A GROUP OF GHOSTS is milling behind Oda Mae. Sam comes barging into the room and looks at them in amazement. SAM What the hell? Oda Mae, startled, jumps up in her chair. Everyone else jumps, too. Clara and Louise look worried. ODA MAE Sam? SAM What is all this? What's goin' on? ODA MAE What'd you do, tell every spook in town about me? I got spooks from out of town here. There's stuff goin' on you wouldn't believe. I can't hardly believe it myself. Ortisha and her relatives look up, confused. SAM Oda Mae. You're doing it. This is for real. How do you like that? ODA MAE I don't. SAM Come on. Look at this. You're doing great. One of the GHOSTS standing in the background butts in. GHOST Can you hurry this up? My husband's in the waiting room. SAM I need your help, Oda Mae. There's something we need to do. ODA MAE Forget it. I'm not doin' anything. You're holdin' on to a life that don't want you no more. Give it up. SAM Give it up? I'm already dead. ODA MAE Dead, yeah, but you ain't finished dyin'. Give up the ghost. SAM And how am I supposed to do that? ODA MAE You're asking me? Ortisha looks at Oda Mae. She has no idea what's going on. ORTISHA Are you speaking to me? ODA MAE Does it look like I'm speakin' to you? (continuing; to Sam) So, are you gonna leave or not? I've got work to do. Ortisha is totally confused. Oda Mae turns back to her. ODA MAE (continuing) What's a matter? You're supposed to be concentrating. How do you expect me to do this if you're not concentrating? Okay then. You ready? Let's do it. ANGLE Oda Mae and everyone in the room gets very quiet. One of the ghosts draws close. Oda Mae's eyes roll up into her head. Then, suddenly, an extraordinary thing occurs. We see the spirit pull back and dive right into Oda Mae. Oda Mae gulps. Her nostrils flare. Her eyes bulge. ODA MAE Oh, Lord! Stop! Whatcha doin' to me? Oda Mae's body goes into bizarre convulsions as the Ghost tries to move inside her. She looks strangely stuffed and enormously uncomfortable. Sam and the others watch in astonishment as she tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Then suddenly the GHOST speaks through Oda Mae. ORLANDO (screaming) Ortisha?! Ortisha and her relatives jump up in amazement. ORTISHA (excitedly) Orlando! Is that you? ORLANDO (disoriented) Ortisha, where are you? I can't see too good. RELATIVES Here! She's here! ORTISHA In front of you! I'm right here! Orlando suddenly zeros in on Ortisha. His eyes widen. ORLANDO Mother of God, what've you done to your hair!? Ortisha smiles excitedly. ORTISHA Orlando, do you like it? It's Autumn Sunrise. Suddenly Oda Mae's body begins to shake wildly and her voice booms out, screaming with all her might. ODA MAE Get out of here, you little shit! With frightening speed, she sends the spirit catapulting out of her body. Clara and Louise jump up. Oda Mae is shaking. ODA MAE (continuing) Lord oh Lord, don't you ever do that to me! ORTISHA (confused) Orlando!? ANGLE ORLANDO He is lying on the floor, exhausted. ORLANDO What happened to me? I can barely move. GHOST You should know better than to try that. It's not worth it. It'll wipe you out for days. SAM That was incredible, Oda Mae. ODA MAE Never again. Never. ORTISHA Where's Orlando? SAM He spoke through you. It was amazing. ODA MAE No more, uh uh, no more. ORTISHA What happened to Orlando? Where'd he leave the insurance policy? SAM You're great, Oda Mae! You're a real medium. It's what you were born for. ODA MAE I want everybody out. ORTISHA Orlando? Ortisha looks around the room, befuddled. Clara and Louise aren't sure what to do. ODA MAE Now! Ortisha and her relatives scurry out fast. The ghosts, too, begin passing through the wall. Oda Mae lays her head on the table. Suddenly her whole body begins heaving. She is starting to cry. Sam is surprised. SAM Oda Mae, what's wrong? ODA MAE Out! I said out! That means you, too! Sam hesitates a moment and then respectfully follows the others through the wall. OMITTED INT. SEANCE ROOM - NIGHT Clara knocks on the seance room door and peeks in. CLARA Oda Mae, there's a man here who says he has to see you right away. ODA MAE I ain't seein' nobody. Willie pushes his way into the room. Clara isn't sure what to do. Oda Mae looks up. She does not know him. WILLIE Are you the one that can talk to the dead? ODA MAE I beg your pardon! I'm not seeing customers right now. WILLIE I said I need to know if you're the one. ODA MAE I'm the one. But not now. WILLIE This is important. I have a friend. He died recently. Some say he was mugged. I think he was murdered. Oda Mae stares at him curiously. WILLIE (continuing) I'm told you can contact people like that. Is that true? ODA MAE It's been known to happen. But it's not gonna happen now, so come back later. WILLIE I can't wait til later. He sits down across from Oda Mae and shows no signs of leaving. Oda Mae observes him quietly for a moment. ODA MAE What's your friend's name? WILLIE Good question. Why don't you tell me? Oda Mae glares at him. WILLIE (continuing) You're the psychic, right? ODA MAE This ain't no guessin' game. WILLIE Then what is it, lady? ODA MAE Lookit, I don't know what your trouble is... (getting nervous) Who are you? WILLIE You're the mindreader. I hear you've been tellin' people about me for days. What's my name? ANGLE - ODA MAE confused and uncomfortable. Sam comes wandering back into the room. His eyes bulge. SAM Willie! ODA MAE Willie!? Willie sits straight up in his chair, amazed. WILLIE How'd you know that? ODA MAE Because I'm psychic. With a sudden thrust, Oda Mae sends her foot shooting into Willie's balls. As he recoils she knocks the table into his lap and rushes for the closet. We see her barricade herself in the hidden chamber. Willie, shaking, scrambles to his feet and, before Sam can stop him, BLASTS his gun at the closet door. It is riddled with bullets. Sam screams out. Willie runs to the side door and escapes to the street. Clara and Louise come rushing in. Sam charges into the closet and sees that Oda Mae is safe behind the false door. Then he hurries to the street. OMITTED EXT. STREET - NIGHT Sam rushes to the sidewalk and looks in all directions. Willie is nowhere to be seen. He hurries back to Oda Mae. OMITTED INT. SEANCE ROOM - NIGHT The room is a disaster area, full of hysterical women. Oda Mae is being dragged from the closet, unhurt but in a state of shock. ODA MAE He tried to kill me! Why? Why? No one answers. ODA MAE (continuing) Talk to me! Her sisters start talking but she shoos them away. SAM Oda Mae, we're in trouble... ODA MAE We're in trouble? Who's we? You're already dead. SAM I can stop them. But I can't do it alone. You've gotta help me. ODA MAE Help you? It's me they're tryin' to kill. SAM You're right. And they'll be back. I'm your only chance. ODA MAE Why don't you go find a haunted house and rattle some chains. SAM I need you Oda Mae. I need you to get some fake ID's. ODA MAE Fake ID's? What for? SAM Help me now, they'll never bother you again. I promise. ODA MAE (stopping, thinking) Help you? Whataya talking about exactly? What else do I have to do? EXT. NEW YORK STREET - DAY Oda Mae, dressed to the hilt, is walking with Sam toward the main branch of Market Security Bank & Trust. She seems nervous and upset. ODA MAE This is crazy. This ain't gonna work. I don't know nothin' 'bout bankin'. SAM I'll teach you. You'll learn fast. As they reach the entrance of the bank, they pass a pair of NUNS collecting money to build a shelter for the homeless. One of them holds out a collection box. Oda Mae passes her by, carefully avoiding eye contact. INT. MARKET SECURITY BANK & TRUST - DAY Oda Mae enters Sam's bank. She seems completely out of place. Sam, walking beside her, directs her every move. SAM See where it says "New Accounts"? That's where you're going. ODA MAE (paranoid) I'm not givin' 'em any money. SAM Just do what I say. Oda Mae approaches the New Accounts desk. She seems very uptight. A woman OFFICER behind the desk looks up at her. OFFICER Can I help you? SAM Tell her you're here to fill out a signature card for a new account. ODA MAE I'm here to fill out a signature card for a new account. OFFICER And do you know your account number? SAM Yes. 926-31043. ODA MAE Yes. 926-31043. SAM Rita Miller. ODA MAE Who? OFFICER What? SAM Tell her Rita Miller. ODA MAE Rita Miller. OFFICER (eyeing her oddly) Didn't they have you sign a card when you opened the account? SAM Tell her Carl Bruner opened it for you by phone and asked you to come in today. ODA MAE Carl Bruner opened it for me. He asked me to come in today. OFFICER Ah. The Officer checks out the name and account number on her computer screen. It all seems to jive. She pulls out a card from her desk and hands it to Oda Mae. Oda Mae stares at it. SAM Just sign you name at the bottom on the first blank line. Oda Mae nods and starts to sign "Oda Mae". Sam stops her. SAM (continuing) No, no, no. Rita Miller. ODA MAE (to the officer) Can I have another one please? I signed the wrong name. Sam hits his forehead with his hand. The Officer gives her another card. Oda Mae signs it. SAM Tell her to see that it goes right up to the third floor file since you have a transaction to make. ODA MAE I need you to put that in the third floor file cause I got a transfusion to make. OFFICER A what? ODA MAE You know what I mean. (innocently) Umm, can I keep the pen? OFFICER (surprised, not sure what to say) ...uh, sure. Oda Mae, delighted, walks away smiling and gives the officer a wave. She is loving this. ODA MAE Thanks. INT. CARL'S OFFICE The clock on Carl's wall says 3:40. He seems anxious. The phone RINGS. Carl jumps. He pushes down the speaker button. CARL Hello. Carl Bruner speaking. VOICE Carl? CARL Mr. Balsitrari VOICE Balistrari? Carl, it's me, John. I've got the info on the Bradley portfolio. CARL Oh yeah, yeah. That's great. I'll pick it up later. He hangs up. His hand is shaking. INT. MARKET SECURITY BANK & TRUST - DAY Sam and Oda Mae approach a fancy part of the bank housing administrative personnel. They approach a GUARD who is standing there. SAM Tell the guard you're here to see Lyle Furgeson. ODA MAE Lyle Furgeson, please. GUARD Do you have an appointment? ODA MAE No. I'm here for the fun of it. SAM Don't say that! Tell him Rita Miller's here. ODA MAE Tell him Rita Miller's here. GUARD Just one moment, please. SAM Don't embellish. ODA MAE Yes, Sir. GUARD (turning around) Excuse me? She waves him on. SAM (whispering) Now listen, this guy Furgeson's a real jerk. ODA MAE Why are you whispering? SAM (he doesn't know) Just be quiet and listen. I've known him five years and he still thinks my name's Paul. We see the Guard leaning over Mr. Furgeson's desk. FURGESON looks up and sees Oda Mae. He shrugs his shoulders. SAM (continuing) He's a social moron. You don't have to worry about anything. Tell the guard Furgeson knows you. You spent time with him and his wife Shirley at the Brewster's Christmas party last year. The Guard comes back. GUARD What is this regarding? ODA MAE What? He doesn't remember me? We were together at the Brewster's Christmas party. With his wife Shirley. They had that lovely tree... all those presents. Why, I'll never forget all those beautiful... Sam pokes her. She yelps, surprised, and glances around. The Guard gives her an odd look. ODA MAE (continuing) Oops. Gas. She forces a smile. He smiles back and then goes over to Mr. Furgeson. SAM This'll be easy. Furgeson was so drunk at that party, he could have had a conversation with Tina Turner and he wouldn't remember. The Guard whispers in Furgeson's ear. Furgeson appears totally flummoxed. He looks up at Oda Mae, embarrassed, and waves. The Guard motions her to come back. She walks proudly over to his desk. He sticks out his hand. FURGESON Hello, hello. Of course, of course. It's been so long. ODA MAE A long time. SAM Ask how Bobby and Snooky are. ODA MAE How are Bobby and Snooky doin'? FURGESON (perplexed) Why, they're just fine, thank you. Nice of you to ask. And how is your... family? ODA MAE Couldn't be better. FURGESON Well, isn't that wonderful. SAM Tell him you've been wondering how they did on the Gibraltar securities. ODA MAE So tell me, Fergie, how did you do on the Gibraltar securities? FURGESON (surprised) The Gibraltar securities! Well, it looks like we topped out, huh? SAM "We sure did!" ODA MAE We sure did. FURGESON (impressed) That was a wonderful tip. SAM "Good old Randy". ODA MAE Good old Randy. Got a real head on his shoulders. SAM "Her" shoulders. ODA MAE "Her" shoulders. FURGESON Sure does. Well... well. So what brings you here today? SAM You're closing an account. ODA MAE I'm closing an account. FURGESON Well... wonderful. Do you have your account number? SAM 926-31043. ODA MAE 926-3143. SAM 31-0-43. She looks up into the air. Furgeson eyes her strangely. ODA MAE Make that 31-0-43... Numbers. I'm dyslexic. He punches Rita Miller's number into the computer. A figure appears on the screen. He stares at it for a few seconds and then punches it in again. FURGESON (trying to be calm) Well, Rita, you'll be withdrawing four million dollars from us today, is that correct? ODA MAE Four million dollars?! SAM Say "yes"! ODA MAE (gasping) Yes! Four million. That's right. That's right. FURGESON And how will you want that? ODA MAE Tens and twenties? FURGESON Pardon? SAM A cashier's check! Tell him a cashier's check. ODA MAE A cashier's check. FURGESON Fine. Of course, you realize we're required to get some identification from everyone. It's just procedural. You understand. ODA MAE Of course. Oda Mae reaches into her purse and pulls out a DRIVER'S LICENSE and a SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. Furgeson gets up and walks away from his desk. He seems unsteady on his feet. An OFFICER at the next desk is using a Brillo pad to clean a stain on her desk. Oda Mae smiles. ODA MAE You know, if you put that Brillo pad in the freezer, it'll last twice as long. The Officer nods appreciatively. INT. CARD FILE ROOM - DAY Furgeson lays Oda Mae's ID next to her signature card. The signatures match up. He nods his head in approval. INT. CARL'S OFFICE - DAY Carl looks up at the clock. It is 3:50. He pushes down a button on the phone. A SECRETARY answers. SECRETARY (V.O.) Yes, Mr. Bruner. CARL Get me the First Island Bank of Nassau. It's on the rolodex. INT. MARKET SECURITY BANK & TRUST - DAY Mr. Furgeson returns with Rita Miller's signature card and a cashier's check for $4,000,000. Oda Mae's hand shakes as she examines it. FURGESON I'll just need your signature right here. ODA MAE Sure. SAM Sign Rita Miller. Sam looks up and gulps. Molly has just entered the bank and is heading toward them. He jumps up nervously. SAM (continuing) I'll be back in a minute. You're on your own. Don't say anything foolish. Oda Mae signs a form closing the account. Of course the signatures match. Mr. Furgeson examines them both and smiles. He shakes Oda Mae's hand. FURGESON Now you be careful with this. It's like carrying cash, you know. ODA MAE (positively glowing) I sure do. Sam rushes over to Molly. He is not sure what to do. He notices a stack of deposit forms on the counter she is about to pass. He hurries to it and flicks the entire stack, a hundred sheets, flying up into the air. Molly, confused, thinks she is responsible and stoops to pick them up. Sam, delighted, flicks another stack. Oda Mae is talking a blue streak when Sam returns to her. ODA MAE (continuing) Then my mother took all the money from the oil wells and put it in gasoline pumps. Every gas station has 'em you know, sometimes six or more. It adds up. SAM Oda Mae, come on. We gotta get out of here. Say goodbye. ODA MAE (abruptly getting up) Well, I've got to leave. It's been a pleasure doin' business with you. Say "hi" to Shirley and Snooky for me. FURGESON Thank you, Rita. I'll be glad to. Oda Mae smiles and leaves. There is a new lilt in her walk. Suddenly Sam looks and sees Molly about to stand up. SAM Hurry up, Oda Mae. At that second, Oda Mae spots a quarter lying on the ground. She stoops down and picks it up. ODA MAE (excitedly) What a day! Molly sees her, does a double take, and starts to go after her. Unfortunately, Oda Mae steps onto an elevator before Molly can catch up. The doors close. Molly stops for a moment and then looks back across to the executive area. She sees Lionel Furgeson and hurries over to him. MOLLY Lionel? He is surprised to see her and grows instantly solicitous. FURGESON Molly. How are you? MOLLY Lionel, a woman who just left, a black lady, about my height, did you see her? FURGESON Well, yes. I just took care of her. MOLLY What did she want? Did it have anything to do with me? Did she ask about Sam? FURGESON (not understanding) Sam? No. Why? MOLLY Was her name Oda Mae Brown? FURGESON No, Rita Miller. She just closed an account. Molly stares at Furgeson. She is not sure what to think. FURGESON (continuing) Is there a problem? MOLLY (hesitating, not sure what to say) No. I guess not. Thanks. She walks away, confused. INT. CARL'S OFFICE - DAY Carl, in front of his computer, is going crazy. He keeps punching buttons on the keyboard but the same response appears over and over on the screen. "RITA MILLER, #926-31043. ACCOUNT CLOSED. BALANCE $00.00." Panicked, Carl jumps up. He moves quickly, erratically around the office and then back to the computer. He punches the keys over and over. The same answer appears on the screen. The account is closed. HALL OUTSIDE CARL'S OFFICE Carl runs through the office. He seems crazed. People look at him. LEEDEN Carl, is something wrong? CARL Is someone playing with the computers? LEEDEN What? CARL Is this a joke? One of my accounts is closed. LEEDEN Which account? What's wrong? Carl freezes. He doesn't answer. LEEDEN (continuing) You want me to call someone? CARL (changing his demeanor) No, no. Never mind. It's okay. It's all right. I can do it. EXT. MARKET SECURITY BANK & TRUST - DAY Sam and Oda Mae are walking down the street in front of the bank. Oda Mae is talking to herself. ODA MAE $4,000,000. $4,000,000. Lord Almighty. SAM Oda Mae. Take the check out of your purse. She stops. There is a nervous look on her face. ODA MAE Take it out? Why? SAM Just do it. Oda Mae, worried, removes the check but holds onto it tightly. SAM (continuing) Now endorse it. Sign Rita Miller. ODA MAE (in shock) Endorse it? Why? SAM Do what I say. ODA MAE No! SAM That's blood money, Oda. I was killed for that money. Endorse it now. ODA MAE What are you going to do with it? SAM We're giving it away. ODA MAE Away? What do you mean? To who? SAM Look to your left. Oda Mae looks at the nuns collecting money for the homeless. She recoils. ODA MAE Are you outta your mind? SAM Do what I tell you. ODA MAE No! (clutching the check) I can't. SAM Yes, you can. If you don't do it, they'll track you down. Your only protection is to get rid of it, now. ODA MAE Sweet Jesus, you're killing me, Sam. SAM I'm saving you, Oda Mae. You'll go to heaven for this. Oda Mae growls at him. With great difficulty, she approaches the nuns. The nuns look at her with curiosity and compassion. SAM Write "St. Joseph's Shelter". With great hesitation, Oda Mae begins to write. We sense that every word is a torment for her. The nuns politely avert their eyes from the check. NUN Bless you, child. Oda Mae gives her a dirty look and hands the check over. SAM I'm proud of you. ODA MAE Don't you talk to me. I don't want you comin' round no more. I mean it. Understand? SAM Come on, we're friends. ODA MAE Friends? Friends? She turns on her high heels and wobbles away. Sam calls after her. SAM I think you're wonderful, Oda Mae. She growls again. In the background we see the nuns secretly peeking at the check. One of them, wide-eyed, faints dead away. The other nun stoops down and fans her face in an attempt to revive her. INT. CARL'S OFFICE - NIGHT It is after hours. Almost everyone on the floor has gone. Carl, hunched over his computer, is typing furious commands on the keyboard. He looks haggard and worn. Sequence after sequence of coded numbers flash past on the monitor screen. Sam, sitting in a desk chair, watches, smiling. SAM Search, you bastard! You'll never find it. It's gone. (he smiles) They'll kill you for this, Carl. You and Willie. They'll wipe you off the face of the earth. In a moment of childish delight, he pushes his feet against the wall and the chair shoots across the room. Carl looks up and sees an empty chair moving. He stares at it in confusion, and then goes back to the screen. He seems desperate. Nothing is working. Panicked and frightened, Carl flicks off the machine and storms furiously around the room. Sam approaches the computer, hesitates a moment, and then pushes the power switch. The computer CLICKS back on. Carl spins around. He stares at the computer curiously for a moment and then turns it back off. Sam, enjoying this, reaches for the switch and FLICKS it back on again. Carl stares at it. CARL What the...? Carl watches as the keys seem to depress themselves and letters begin appearing on the screen. He sits down, mesmerized by what is happening. Then his face grows tense. The word "M-U-R-D-E-R-E-R" is emerging before him. Carl flies out of his chair, frantically running around to see who else is on the floor. He yells out like a madman. CARL (continuing) Who's doing that? There is no one there. He hears the computer beginning to type again and hurries back to look at the screen. One word appears. "S-A-M". Carl gasps and smashes the computer with his fist. It crashes to the floor. Electrical sparks go flying as Carl gasps for breath. Sam cannot hold himself back any longer. With a horrifying scream, he charges at Carl, jamming his fist hard into his ribs. SAM You bastard! You goddamn bastard! Carl grabs his side. CARL Ah! He hits Carl again. Carl gasps in inexplicable pain. SAM It's dinner time, Carl. Don't you have a date with Molly, you creepy son-of-a bitch? Sam keeps hitting deeper into Carl's mid-section. Carl doubles over as though he's going to throw up. CARL Jesus! Oh God! Sam is flushed with excitement. Carl kneels beside his desk. He cannot understand what is happening to him. His face goes stark white as the attack continues. Then, unexpectedly, the assault stops. Sam, exhausted, stares hatefully at his old friend cowering on the floor. Slowly and dizzily, Carl gets up. He looks fearfully around the office and then, holding his stomach, hurries from the room. INT. LOFT - THE SAME NIGHT Molly, all dressed to go out, is sitting in Sam's easy chair, asleep. Suddenly Carl arrives knocking at her door. He does not look well. Sam is with him. MOLLY Carl? Where were you? I thought we were having...? CARL I'm sorry. Things just got so crazy. I completely forgot. SAM Old Carl had a little trouble at the office. MOLLY Forgot? I was worried. Is everything okay? Are you all right? CARL I'm okay. I'm alright. Look, can I talk to you for minute? Can I come in? Molly eyes Carl with concern as he enters the loft. CARL (continuing) I need to ask you a question. SAM He needs to borrow four million dollars. CARL Molly, I know what the police said, but when you thought Sam was here, when you thought he spoke to you, what did you feel? What did he say? MOLLY Why? What happened? CARL (very tense) Molly, that psychic woman, I want to know what she told you. I want to know what she said. MOLLY Carl, stop this. It was all a hoax. I told you. It wasn't real. She's a charlatan. (she hesitates and stares at Carl) Does this have anything to do with her being at the bank today? SAM Oh shit! CARL (gulping) At the bank? Sam tenses. He holds up his hand as if wanting her to stop. MOLLY I was sure I saw her. Furgeson says she was taking out money. It turns out her name isn't even Oda Mae Brown. It's Rita Miller or something. Carl turns white. His eyes bulge. He feels sick. MOLLY (continuing) What's wrong? CARL Stomach. My stomach. Do you have anything? Pepto Bismol. MOLLY (worried) Sure. Just a second. What's going on? Concerned, she hurries from the room. Sam digs his hands into Carl's back. Carl jerks forward in intense pain and begins flailing at the air. CARL What are you doing to me. Get away! Get away! INT. KITCHEN Sam does not go away. Freaked, Carl runs into the kitchen and rushes to the stove. Quickly he turns on the gas. He looks crazed. Turning to the air, he begins whispering loudly. CARL You touch me again and I'll set her on fire. I mean it. I'll kill her. I'll blow up the whole building if I have to. Stay away! Sam jabs at the knob on the stove and begins to turn it off. Carl sees it move. Shocked and frightened, he grabs it and pulls it off, leaving only the tiny stem in place. CARL (continuing) Go on, try it again. Let me see you turn it off now. Sam, frightened, tries with all his might but he cannot twist it. Carl pulls out a cigarette lighter and gloats. CARL (continuing) Try and hurt me. I'll kill her if you hurt me. Sam rushes at Carl about to jam his full fist into his chest, but then he stops, afraid. He pulls back, shaken. Carl stands there waiting for a blow that doesn't come. He begins to gloat. CARL What's a matter? You believe me, huh? You better believe me! I want my money. I need that money and I want it tonight -- at 11:00. If that psychic lady doesn't bring it here, Molly's dead. Sam freezes. Molly enters the kitchen. She grabs her nose. MOLLY Oh my God. Is that the gas? Carl acts as if that's the reason he came into the kitchen. CARL You must have left the stove on. He fiddles with the dials and turns it off. CARL (continuing) Just glad I smelled it. MOLLY (confused) Me, too. She opens a window. CARL Molly, I'm sorry. I've got to go. Look, there's something going on. I can't talk now. Some trouble at the bank. MOLLY Trouble? What kind of trouble? Is it that woman, the psychic? CARL I don't have time to talk now. What if I come back? Around 11:00? MOLLY Carl, what's going on? Let me help you. CARL I can't. I'm sorry to do this, but it's important. I'll be back. Molly is speechless. CARL (continuing) Eleven! OMITTED INT. ODA MAE'S LIVINGROOM - NIGHT Oda Mae is watching T.V. with Clara and Louise. Suddenly she jumps, aware of Sam's presence in the room. ODA MAE Sam! Clara and Louise jump, too. CLARA Not again! ODA MAE What're you doin' here? SAM Oda Mae! We're in trouble. They want the check. They're comin' to kill you. We gotta get outta here. ODA MAE The check? What do you mean, "the check". You said they'd never find out. CLARA (afraid) What's happenin' Oda Mae? EXT. STREET A red Mustang SCREECHES to a stop on the street below. Sam and Oda Mae run to the window. Carl and Willie are looking up. INT. LIVINGROOM SAM It's them. ODA MAE They're comin' to kill me. (to Sam, crazed) What have you done? EXT. ODA MAE'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Willie and Carl jump out of the car. They head for Oda Mae's building. INT. ODA MAE'S LIVINGROOM - NIGHT Sam steps back from the window. SAM They're heading for the door. ODA MAE (terrified) Jesus have mercy. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Willie forces open a back door. They head into the building. INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - NIGHT Oda Mae and the others hurry into the hall. They rush down the corridor and knock loudly on a neighbor's door. A WOMAN opens it a crack. ODA MAE Emergency! Let us in! WOMAN Who you kiddin'? The Woman slams the door and locks it shut. Oda Mae looks frightened. INT. APARTMENT STAIRWAY - NIGHT Carl and Willie climb the stairs two at a time. INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - NIGHT Oda Mae and her sisters bang on another apartment door. No one is home. Across the corridor an ELDERLY WOMAN sticks her head out to see what is going on. Before she can say anything they push their way inside. ELDERLY WOMAN What're you doin'? You can't come in here. The cat don't like visitors. She'll pee all over the couch. You wanna pay for... Oda Mae grabs the woman's mouth. CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - FISHEYE LENS VIEW just as Willie and Carl emerge from the stairwell. They head down the hall toward Oda Mae's door. Willie pulls out a gun, and fires. The lock shoots open. They rush inside. CUT BACK TO: ODA MAE in the elderly woman's vestibule, peering through the peephole. The old woman is struggling and still trying to talk. Oda Mae's knees are wobbling. ODA MAE They're gonna find us. SAM No they won't. I'm gonna get 'em. ODA MAE Oh yeah? And how you gonna do that? SAM Whataya mean? I'm a ghost, aren't I? INT. ODA MAE'S LIVINGROOM - NIGHT Willie moves quickly through Oda Mae's apartment, his gun pointed, ready to fire. He seems furious when he realizes no one is there. WILLIE Looks like someone just left. CARL I'll check the building. ANGLE He rushes back out and down the stairs. Willie stays in the apartment. Suddenly, the doorbell RINGS. Willie rushes over and opens the door a crack. There is no one there. Confused, he backs away. The doorbell rings again. Completely mystified, he aims his gun and opens the door all the way. The hallway is empty. As Willie stands there, wondering what is happening, Sam steps inside and pushes the door closed. It slams shut. Willie nearly jumps out of his skin. WILLIE Damn! He stares at the door in total bewilderment. At that instant, a collection of picture frames flies off the breakfront and crashes into his legs. He backs away, spooked. Suddenly, the T.V. flicks ON at full volume and then the STEREO and the RADIO. Lights begin flashing on and off. Willie spins around in total dismay. Summoning all of his force, Sam slams into Willie. Willie recoils in unexplainable pain. He seems very disoriented. His gun falls to the floor. He reaches for it and Sam pushes it away. Willie jumps up, afraid. His eyes dart around the room. Sam laughs. WILLIE (continuing) Who's there? Who's doing that? ANGLE A pair of candle holders shoot off the mantle piece and nearly hit Willie in the head. He freaks. Grabbing his gun, Willie runs into the bathroom and locks the door. Suddenly the hot water faucet turns on by itself. Willie is terrified. Steam rises from the sink. Willie tries to get out, but Sam approaches him from behind and appears to dig his hands into his neck. Willie crumples to his knees. WILLIE Oh God! There is a SQUEAKING SOUND and Willie looks up. Letters are appearing in the fogged mirror. He stares in disbelief as the word "B-O-O!" emerges before him. He cries out. WILLIE (continuing) Let me outta here! Shaking uncontrollably, Willie FIRES his gun at the mirror. Glass and tiles EXPLODE. Willie is cut and bleeding. He grabs hold of the door and yanks it open. INT. HALLWAY Willie rushes to the hallway, charges for the back stairs and stumbles down the three flights to the street. Carl, running down the corridor, rushes after him. Willie drops his gun. Carl picks it up. EXT. BROOKLYN STREET -- NIGHT Willie runs from the building and careens down the sidewalk. People clear a path as he hurls past them like a madman. Carl, confused, runs after him. Sam, too, races after Willie, unwilling to let him get away. Suddenly, a man obstructs his way. Willie goes flying over him and lands face down on the cement. Before he can get up, Sam is all over him and does not let up. People stand back to watch as Willie does battle with himself. Panicked, he calls out to a bystander. WILLIE Help me! People back away. Carl watches in terror. He understands exactly what is happening. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Willie, blinded by his own hysteria, runs wildly into the street. Cars are bearing down on him from all directions. He does not get out of their way. One driver sees Willie coming and swerves to avoid him. His car skids. Another car brakes to avoid a collision and suddenly both cars crash right into him. CARL Look out! Willie's body is crushed instantly between the two vehicles as his spirit is catapulted into the air still screaming and writhing. His ghostly form reaches out to people for help as they rush past. No one stops. Willie spins around and sees a mangled body crumpled on the street. Suddenly, he recognizes that it is his own dead body lying there. He begins to scream. A bizarre and frightening CLICKING SOUND fills the air. Sam looks up. A group of strange dark figures has emerged from the shadows. With a loud, terrifying shriek, the dark forms swoop down and grab hold of Willie. Sam freezes. In an instant they are dragging Willie, kicking and screaming, down through the sewer grates into the bowels of the earth. ANGLE Sam backs against a wall in absolute horror. Carl, standing in the crowd, turns and runs. INT. OLD LADY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Oda Mae and her sisters are huddling with the old woman in the entryway to her apartment. They all appear frightened. The door is opened a crack and they can see people gathering in the hall outside. Sam walks up to Oda Mae. She feels his presence. ODA MAE Sam? What happened? SAM He's dead, Oda Mae. ODA MAE Dead! (she utters a sigh of relief) Oh, thank God. It's over. SAM No. It's not over, Oda Mae. There's still Carl. Oda Mae freezes. She turns to Sam. ODA MAE Who's Carl? INT. TAXI CAB - NIGHT Sam and Oda Mae are in a taxi speeding downtown. SAM Tell him to hurry! ODA MAE Can't you hurry up? DRIVER Listen, lady, I'm going as fast as I can. Sam leans forward and pushes at the gas pedal. The cab shoots forward. The driver seems shocked. ODA MAE Problems? He gives her a dirty look. INT. LOFT - NIGHT There is a KNOCK at the door. Molly goes to it. Fastening the latch, she opens it a crack. MOLLY Carl, is that you? Oda Mae wedges her foot inside. ODA MAE Molly, it's Oda Mae. I know what you think of me, but your life is in danger. You have to listen to me. Sam's here, too. You gotta let us in. Molly tries to slam the door but hits Oda Mae's foot. MOLLY Get the hell out of here. I'm calling the police. ODA MAE Go ahead. We want you to call 'em. You're in trouble. Let us in. MOLLY No! ODA MAE Sam's death was no accident. He was murdered, Molly. Carl was laundering money at the bank. Sam found out. He's dangerous. He tried to kill me. He'll kill you, too. MOLLY (screaming) Why are you doing this to me? Get away from me! I know all about you. You're a fake. You're just a fake. Leave me alone! We see Sam's inside the room with Molly. He gazes at her lovingly for a moment and then calls back to Oda Mae. SAM Tell her she's wearing the blouse I spilled the Margarita on and the earrings I gave her for Christmas. ODA MAE Sam says you're wearin' the blouse he spilled the Margarita on and the earrings he gave you at Christmas. CUT BACK TO: MOLLY grabbing hold of her beads. Her hand is shaking. ODA MAE (O.S.) (continuing) See, I'm no fake. MOLLY Go away! SAM Gimme a penny quick. ODA MAE What? SAM Empty your purse. On the floor. Now. Oda Mae obeys. A pile of coins falls on the floor. SAM (continuing) Push a penny under the door. Oda Mae obeys and a penny slides into the loft. Molly sees it. Sam tips it carefully so it lands upright against the bottom of the door. Pushing gently, he moves the penny up the door until it's eye level with Molly. She watches it, amazed. Then, to her astonishment, the penny floats away from the door and hovers in the air. There is a look of wonder in Molly's eyes as it floats toward her. SAM (continuing; calling to Oda Mae) Tell her it's for luck. ODA MAE (O.S.) Sam says it's for luck. Molly stands there dumbfounded. Her face is completely white. After a moment she reaches for the penny. It falls into her hand. There are tears in her eyes. CUT TO: HALLWAY Oda Mae standing in the hallway as the door to the loft begins to open. Slowly Molly steps out onto the landing and stares at her, nervously, uncomprehendingly. She hesitates for a long moment and then invites Oda Mae in. INT. LOFT - NIGHT Molly is on the phone. Oda Mae is beside her. MOLLY Right. Yes, it's right on the corner. We're a red brick building with the entrance on the left side. Please hurry. Thank you Sergeant. We'll be waiting right here. (she hangs up) Police are on their way. Oda Mae takes her and leads her to the couch. MOLLY What do we do now? ODA MAE Just wait. There is a period of awkward silence. MOLLY Is Sam here? SAM I'm sitting beside you. ODA MAE (pointing) Right here. Molly reaches out tentatively. Sam meets her hand. She flinches for a second but does not pull back. MOLLY (fingering the air) Can you feel me, Sam? SAM With all my heart. ODA MAE With all his heart, he says. SAM I'd give anything to be alive again, just to feel you once more. ODA MAE He wishes he could touch you, just one more time. MOLLY Oh, Sam. Oda Mae looks away uncomfortably. The CAMERA HOLDS on her face. After a moment she turns around and addresses the air. ODA MAE Okay, damn it, you can use me if you want. Sam looks oddly at Oda Mae. ODA MAE (continuing) Come on. Before I change my mind. Suddenly he understands what she means. CUT TO: JUKEBOX Sam's finger presses down two keys. We see a record slide out of its slot and move toward the turntable. We know what it is going to play. ANGLE Oda Mae closes her eyes. "Unchained Melody" begins to play. Sam hesitates for a moment and then cautiously, awkwardly slides his ghostly body into her solid form. We sense Oda Mae's discomfort gradually give way as Sam emerges inside her. After a second her body turns slowly toward Molly. Oda Mae's hand reaches out and with slow, deliberate gestures, touches Molly's hand. Molly swallows hard. She closes her eyes. CUT TO: ANGLE Sam. It is as though he alone is there with Molly. His eyes are full of tears. He can barely move. His hand glides slowly down Molly's cheek. He seems to be in a state of ecstasy and pain. The experience is more than he can bear. He pulls back. MOLLY Sam! Molly reaches out, takes Sam's hand, and guides it to her soft lips. Sam can barely breathe. He seems totally absorbed in the experience, the sensation of human flesh. His eyes are absolutely still and full of light. He seems to be glowing. Gently, Molly takes Sam's arm and guides him to his feet. Effortlessly, she draws him to the center of the huge loft. With great tenderness, she puts her arms around him and before he knows what is happening, they are dancing. It is a strange, touching image, reminiscent of their first night in their new home. Sam reaches out and slowly draws his fingers down over her face, caressing her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. She stands motionless. Her face shines. She knows beyond all doubt that it is him. MOLLY I love you so much. CUT TO: ANGLE A LOUD JARRING SOUND. It takes a moment to realize that it is someone KNOCKING at the door. The light slams back into its shadowy substance and Sam comes shooting back into his ghostly form. Oda Mae is standing with Molly in the center of the room. Sam is beside them. He appears shaken and dizzy. There is a another loud POUNDING at the door. MOLLY The police! Molly heads for the door. Sam calls out. He can barely speak. SAM No! ODA MAE (to Molly) Wait! Sam tries to go instead. To his amazement and ours he is extremely weak, barely able to move. SAM What's happening to me? His ghostly functions are diminishing. There is another KNOCK and a voice rings out. CARL (O.S.) Molly, open up. It's me. MOLLY It's Carl! SAM Get out of here! The fire escape. Oda Mae grabs Molly. ODA MAE Come with me. Oda Mae and Molly run for the fire escape window. We hear Carl yelling in the hallway. CARL (O.S.) Molly. Open up. Are you there? INT. STAIRWELL - NIGHT Carl is standing on the landing. He is holding a gun. He aims it at the lock and FIRES. The door to the loft flies open. INT. LOFT - NIGHT Carl moves rapidly through the huge space. CARL Molly! It is obvious that no one's home. ANGLE Sam, with great effort, rushes at Carl and attacks him with his fists. To his great shock, he has no impact. Carl walks right through him. EXT. FIRE ESCAPE - NIGHT Molly and Oda Mae are climbing the fire escape. INT. LOFT - NIGHT Carl runs to the fire escape window. He looks out just in time to see Oda Mae go into the 7th story window. INT. NEW LOFT - NIGHT Molly and Oda Mae run through a new loft that is under construction. It is a maze of tangled wires and broken walls. The fire escape window slams shut and nearly scares them half to death. They rush blindly toward the front door. It won't open. ODA MAE Back to the fire escape. Head for the roof. Oda Mae reaches the fire escape window just as Carl appears on the other side. She screams. Carl tries shoving the window open. It won't budge. Molly sees some scaffolding leading to the skylight. There is an opening at the top. MOLLY This way! Molly quickly climbs the scaffolding and makes it to the roof. With a huge shove, Carl opens the window and rushes inside. The window slams behind him. Oda Mae rushes back toward Molly, but her foot catches on a loose cable and she falls to the ground. ODA MAE Help us, Sam! OMITTED ODA MAE A hand falls on Oda Mae's shoulder. She spins around. Carl is standing behind her. She screams as he knocks her to the floor. CARL I want the check. Just give me the check. Molly looks down from the scaffolding and begins to scream. MOLLY (screaming) God almighty, Carl! What are you doing? What have you done!? She descends quickly and runs toward Carl. CARL Don't interfere! She's a thief. It's not her money. Carl kicks Oda Mae. Molly rushes at him, attacking him violently. Carl aims his gun at her. CARL (continuing) Keep out of this, Molly! He grabs Oda Mae by the hair. CARL (continuing) Where is it? Oda Mae cries out. ODA MAE In my purse. CARL Where? ODA MAE Over there. She points across the room. Carl sees the purse and yanks Oda Mae toward it. Yanking it off the floor, he tears through it like a wild man. There is no check. He grabs Oda Mae. CARL Where is it, goddamn it? Where is it? ODA MAE I gave it away. CARL You're lying! Don't lie to me! He aims his gun at her eye and is about to FIRE when, suddenly, something shoves him to the floor. Carl screams and jumps back, tripping over Oda Mae. Sam is standing there. In total panic, Carl scrambles to get up. Horrified, he SHOOTS his gun blindly into the air. Molly and Oda Mae dive for cover. The bullets have no impact. Sam musters all his strength and shoves Carl again. White with fear, Carl grabs Molly and aims his gun at her head. CARL (continuing) I'll kill her. You touch me and I'll kill her. I mean it, Sam. Just give me the check. The gun is cocked at her temple. No one moves. Slowly the camera dollies toward Carl. CARL (continuing) Sam, please. I didn't mean for him to kill you. It's not my fault. Come on, Sam, give me the check. Give it to me and I'll leave her alone. Nothing happens. Carl looks nervous. ANGLE CARL Sam? Sam? In a wild explosive fury, Sam charges at Carl and smashes at his gun. The weapon flies out of Carl's hand. Empowered by an anger we have not seen before, Sam smashes into Carl with a violent force. Carl's body careens into walls and floorboards. Wiring snaps. Two-by-fours crack. Carl, crawling desperately to escape, sees his gun on the floor. With a wild rush, he grabs for it and shoots at the door. The lock explodes and the door flies open. Carl tries to run for it, but Sam cuts in front of him. With growing power, Sam sends Carl flying back into the apartment, colliding into a tall scaffold. Bags of plaster topple to the ground as mounds of plaster dust hurl into the air. The apartment looks like a scene from another world. Carl, in a state of total unrelieved panic, breaks away from Sam. The dust obscures his escape. Like a trapped insect, he scrambles furiously to the fire escape window. Sam cannot see him. Carl shoves at the window. It is stuck. With a supreme effort, he grabs a ripped bag of plaster and swings it at the glass. Half of its plaster spews across the room before smashing the window. Shards of glass fly in all directions. Sam turns and sees Carl. He surges after him, but knows he cannot get to him in time. Carl is halfway out the window when Sam's fist slams into an electrical box attached to a dangling BX cable. It goes flying toward the window. To his amazement, it hits the frame. A huge pane of glass dislodges and comes crashing down. Carl looks up just in time to see the pointed edge aiming for his chest. Before he can move, it pierces him between the ribs and slices into his heart. His body quivers. Carl's eyes bulge from their sockets. His body begins to spasm. He can't get up. A look of abject terror flashes through his eyes. He tries to scream. There is no sound. He tries to breathe. There is no breath. ANGLE With one last effort, Carl lurches forward. To his amazement, his body stands up and pulls away from the window. He looks down at his chest and is amazed to see that the glass is gone. There is no blood. Excited and confused, he turns around and sees Sam. For a moment, he cannot comprehend what is happening. CARL Sam? There is a strange, silent moment between them. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a terrible CLICKING sound is heard. Frightening black forms are emerging from the darkness. Carl looks behind him and gasps. Past the figures coming toward him, he sees his own dead body. It is pinned to the window sill. Before Carl can cry out, the dark figures swoop down and envelope him. In a flash, his spirit is caught and surges with the dark forces back into the shadows. Far in some invisible distance, we can barely hear him scream. And then it is silent. It is over. ANGLE Molly is crouched in the corner, her back pressed tightly against the wall. She is staring into space. The room is filled with plaster dust. Slowly, emerging from the dust, we see Sam approaching Molly. He gazes at her with terrible longing. Suddenly, a brilliant light glows from behind the ceiling and the skylight floods the room with a golden haze. Sam turns to look at it. His eyes are full of surprise and wonder. The spirits beyond the ceiling are beckoning to him. As he looks down, he notices that his hands are growing transparent. His body is beginning to fade. A faint smile forms on his face. He leans down toward Molly, staring at her for a long, silent moment. SAM Goodbye, Moll. Molly's head lifts up. She looks around. MOLLY Sam? Is that you? SAM (stunned) Molly?! MOLLY I hear you, Sam. She starts to cry. Gradually, we notice that the dust in the air near Molly is beginning to shimmer with a subtle glow. To her astonishment, Sam's spirit is reflected in the floating particles. MOLLY (continuing) Oh God! Sam's luminous form appears before her. Molly is overwhelmed by the sight of him. The two of them gaze at one another without moving. They know it is for the last time. It is a silent exchange, charged with emotion. Slowly, the two bodies reach forward. As their lips touch, the plaster dust swirls sensuously through Sam's vaporous image and he begins to disappear. Molly pulls back from him as though from a cloud. His voice rises from the mist. SAM I can't stay anymore. Tears roll down her cheek. The brilliant light intensifies. It is beautiful, like a sunrise, saturating the room with a warm, comforting glow. Molly looks up and sees it all. Oda Mae sees it, too. ODA MAE They're waiting for you, Sam. SAM (smiling) I know. Goodbye, Oda Mae. (with deep felt gratitude) Thank you. Your mama would be proud. Oda Mae smiles warmly. Sam turns to Molly. She is gazing at the last remaining moments of him. Her eyes brim over with tears and love. SAM I love you, Molly. I've always loved you. Molly swallows hard and wipes her eyes. MOLLY Ditto. The light inside Sam intensifies. A sweet smile emerges on his lips. SAM It's so amazing, Moll... His face fills with joy. SAM (continuing) The love inside. He whispers, almost crying. SAM (continuing) You take it with you. They are his last words. His spirit dissolves within its ghostly moorings and begins to evaporate. Molly looks up silently for a moment, her face filled with love. MOLLY See ya. We see Sam's spirit rise from the room. It passes effortlessly through the ceiling and, in seconds, he is gone. The room grows dark. Molly sits quietly on the floor. There is a look of awe and wonder in her eyes. After a moment, Oda Mae reaches down to help her up. Molly looks at her lovingly and then gently takes her hand. Arm in arm, supporting one another, they walk quietly from the room. THE END