A Day in the Life of Death

By

Michael Donovan Horn

BLACK SCREEN.

SUPER:

			“DEATH IS STRICT IN HIS 
ARREST - O, I COULD TELL 
YOU – BUT LET IT BE.
							HAMLET
							ACT V, SCENE II”

FADE IN:

EXT.  CEMETERY - DAY

Placid, green grass.  Scattered leaves.  Feet whisper over the grass.  The feet belong to DEATH, an ageless figure with melancholy eyes.  It’s Fall, the trees dead.  

Death winds through the gravestones.  Crying is heard.  Death approaches a tall headstone.  In front of the grave, a WOMAN (40’s) kneels, clutching the stone.  Death watches.  

The Woman feels Death’s presence.  She turns, her face wet.  Odd comfort crawls over her.  She walks to Death.

WOMAN
				(crying)
...I don’t understand.  It doesn’t 
make sense.  Sons are supposed to 
bury their mothers, not the other way 
around.  I miss him every single day.  
I’m so powerless.  I can’t bring him 
back.  Everything changed the day my baby...He was hit by a car.  No...he 
was destroyed by a car.  I ran into 
the street screaming like an idiot.  
My son was in pieces.  His blood 
glittered in the sunlight.  My son 
was taken from me and all I could do 
was wail like some scolded child!  
People say I should understand.  But 
the truth is, they don’t understand.  
They don’t understand that the car 
that destroyed my son...destroyed me, 
too.  Why did this happen to us?

The Woman collapses into Death’s arms, sobbing.  Death’s eyes are sympathetic, yet unchanging.  The leaves fall around them.

EXT.  COUNTRY ROAD – DAY - LATER

Death walks along the tree line.  They billow in the wind.  Music rises, guitar and voice.  Death follows the music.

EXT.  ROADSIDE – DAY

A BLUES MAN (80’s) sits in a chair, singing a tune.  A YOUNG MAN (30’s) plays guitar on the road beside him.  
Death watches them finish the song.  The Blues Man and the Young Man nod at each other.  The Blues Man notices Death. 

BLUES MAN
			Gonna stand there all day?

Death half-smiles.  The Blues Man motions for Death to sit.  Death does.  The Young Man picks at the guitar.

BLUES MAN
Bet you’re wonderin’ what we’re 
doin’ out here, huh?  Out in the 
middle of nowhere.  We’re playin’ 
for the trees.  Because they always 
listen.  Not like people, who talk 
and moan and complain.  Trees don’t 
talk.  Trees don’t complain.  They’re 
just there.  They go through rough 
times just like us.  Nothin’ breaks 
‘em.  Tree falls over, it grows back.  
(He sings a bit)
World was a great place ‘till we 
got here.  Nobody listens.  Nobody 
plays for the trees anymore.

The Young Man lies on the road, asleep.  The Blues Man gives Death a grin.

BLUES MAN
			Gonna sit there all day?

Death walks to his side.  The Blues Man closes his eyes.  

Death touches his face.  The Blues Man dies gracefully.  The trees bend in homage. 

EXT.  TRAIN TRACKS – DAY – LATER

A GIRL (10) plays on the tracks, throwing rocks.  Death watches her.  A train clanks down the tracks.  The wheels scream, metal on metal.

EXT.  OPEN FIELD – DAY – LATER

The sun peaks over the tall grass.  Death carries the Girl across the field in his arms, her body a rag doll.  Death takes her straight into the sun.

INT.  KITCHEN - DAY

A MOTHER (30’s) holds her BABY, setting dishes aside for lunch.  The Mother laughs, the Baby coos.  The Mother carries her Baby out of the kitchen.

INT.  LIVING ROOM – DAY – CONTINUOUS

The Mother sets the Baby in a crib and leaves.  Death walks to the crib.  The Baby coos as Death caresses the Baby’s face.  Death picks up the Baby.

INT.  KITCHEN – DAY – CONTINUOUS

Death carries the Baby past the Mother.  The Mother turns from the dishes and enters the living room.  

MOTHER (O.S.)
				(to God)
			Noooo!

INT.  ENTRY WAY – DAY – CONTINUOUS

Death holds the Baby.  The Baby looks at Death.

BABY
				(adult voice)
			That’s all I get?

Death nods.

INT.  LIVING ROOM – DAY - CONTINUOUS

The Mother collapses.

MOTHER
				(crying)
			My baby...my baby...

INT.  ENTRY WAY – DAY

Death stares at the Mother, then the Baby.    

BABY
			Put me back.  Please?

Death watches the Mother.  Death shakes her head and exits with the Baby.

EXT.  TREE – DAY – LATER

Death sits under a willow tree, contemplating.

QUICK FLASHES – DEATH’S MEMORY

The crying Mother.  The Woman at the grave.

BACK TO SCENE

Death sighs.  Voices rise.  

EXT.  LAKE – DAY

The water is calm and peaceful.  A PREACHER (50’s), A FATHER (40’s), and his DAUGHTER (16) stand in the lake.  The Preacher’s sleeves are rolled up.  The Daughter is dressed in white.
  
The Preacher submerges The Daughter in the water.  Death watches from the shore.

PREACHER
			I baptize you in the name of 
The Father, The Son, and the 
Holy Spirit.  May all your sins 
be washed away.

The Preacher pulls the Daughter to the surface.  She hugs her Father, soaked.  The Father shakes the Preacher’s hand.  The Father and Daughter trudge to the lakeshore, smiling.

The Preacher notices Death.  Death stares at him with longing eyes.  Death wades into the lake.  They gaze at each other.  The Preacher opens his arms.  An invitation.

Death folds into The Preacher’s embrace.  The Preacher leans Death backwards.  

PREACHER
I baptize you in the name of The 
Father, The Son, and The Holy 
Spirit.  May all your sins be 
washed away.

Death shudders.

PREACHER
			Don’t be afraid...

The Preacher submerges Death.

EXT.  UNDERWATER – DAY - CONTINUOUS

The water swirls around Death.  Leaves float by.  Something broods in the dark water.  White light surrounds Death.  It turns nova...

EXT.  PARK – DAY

The sun shines.  The park is peaceful, decorated with dying trees.  ANNA (20’s) sits on a bench, crying into a wad of tissues. 

Death walks to the bench.  Anna notices Death through her tears.  They stare at each other.  Anna moves her purse, inviting Death to sit.  Death does.

ANNA
				(crying)
I must be a sight, huh?  I’ll bet 
the last thing you expected to see 
today was some crazy chic bawling 
up a storm.

Death half-smiles.

ANNA
His name’s Paul.  Was Paul.  Suddenly 
I’m not good enough for him anymore.  
He never cared about me.  He never 
wanted to see a movie I wanted to see.  Always hated my music.  A redhead.  
Can you believe that?  A redhead named Cordelia.  Doesn’t even sound like a 
real name. 

Anna digs in her purse for more tissues.

ANNA
Damn it.  I’m out of tissues.  You 
don’t have a tissue, do you?  It’s 
okay.  Forget it.  I hate this.  
You’ve never been through this, have 
you?  I can tell.  You don’t want to, 
trust me.  I hate being a person.  
Nothing works.  
	(beat)
I wish I were dead.

Death perks up.

ANNA
I loved him, you know.  That’ll never 
happen again.  I don’t like it here 
anymore.  I just want to die.

Death wipes Anna’s tears.  

IN SLOW MOTION, Anna places her head on Death’s shoulder.  Death takes her hand.  The life drains from Anna, her eyes going lifeless.  Death cradles Anna’s head.  

The wind kicks up.  Death lovingly strokes Anna’s hair.  Leaves circle them in a whirlwind.  Death kisses Anna on the cheek.  She lays Anna’s body on the bench and walks away.  

INT.  BATHROOM STALL - DAY

A rolled up dollar bill.  A small mirror, with a mound of Cocaine, on the toilet.  BOBBY (18), sits on the floor, his head against the wall.  Blood pours out of his nose.  He gazes up to see Death calmly looking at him.

BOBBY
I think I did too much...my brain 
is on fire...

Death bends down and touches Bobby’s forehead.

BOBBY
				(slipping away)
			That’s better...feels better...

Bobby dies.  Pity crawls over Death’s face, then curiosity.

QUICK FLASH – DEATH’S MEMORY

Anna crying.

BACK TO SCENE

Death kisses Bobby, blood smearing.  Death feels nothing.  

INT.  BATHROOM – DAY

Death steps out of the stall, blood on her face.  VINCE (18) adds graffiti to the defaced bathroom wall with a marker.  He wears a backpack.  He sees Death, stunned.  

VINCE
Wow.

Death stares at the wall.  Vince follows her gaze.

VINCE
			Won’t tell, will you?

Vince notices Death’s awe.  Vince offer’s Death the marker.

VINCE
Gotta write something everyone 
will notice.  That’s the whole 
key.

Death holds the marker.  Vince checks his watch.

VINCE
I’m gonna be late.  See you later.

Vince leaves.  Death removes the marker’s cap.  Death presses the marker to the wall.

EXT.  STREET – NIGHT

Death walks along neon lights and shops.  A taxi pulls up.  The driver’s window rolls down, revealing MARCUS (30’s).

MARCUS
			Need a lift?

Marcus notices the blood on Death’s face.

MARCUS
Hey...are you okay?  Hop in, I’ll 
take you anywhere you want to go.  
Free of charge, I swear.

Marcus exits the car.  He opens the back door.  Death climbs inside.  

INT.  TAXI (MOVING) – NIGHT – LATER

Marcus digs out a handkerchief.  He hands it to Death.  Death takes the rag and wipes the blood away.

MARCUS
			Sure you’re okay?

Death gives Marcus back his handkerchief.  Marcus pockets it.  He stares at Death in the rearview mirror.

MARCUS
Look...I know I said I’d drive 
you anywhere you wanted to go, 
but...well, to be honest...

Death curiously eyes Marcus.  Marcus builds his courage.

MARCUS
I pulled over because I thought 
you looked interesting.  I was 
wondering if you’d like to go for 
coffee with me.  It wouldn’t be 
a date or anything.  Just 
conversation and company.  I mean, 
we only live once, right?

Death smiles.

INT.  COFFEE SHOP – NIGHT – LATER

Marcus and Death sit at a table.  The coffee shop is small and deserted.  A lonely place.  Marcus’ hands are wrapped around a coffee.  A coffee sits in front of Death.  

MARCUS
You know...I’ve been driving a 
cab for ten years.  I’ve seen all 
sorts, but I’ve never seen anything 
like you.  Do you know how different 
you are?

Death’s eyes glaze over.

MARCUS
Most people are stuck.  Trapped in 
some safe routine.  They don’t know 
what life is anymore.  That’s why I 
do what I do.  Only driving a cab can 
show you how different people are.  
Everyone with a different story, 
different clothes.  But after a while 
of seeing the differences, you spot 
how similar people are.  Everybody 
lives, everybody dies.  That’s life.  
Might as well get a look at everything 
you can.  Hell, I just didn’t want 
to be stuck.  I just wanted a chance 
to meet someone like you.  

Death smiles.

MARCUS
I was gonna drive past you.  Go 
right on by.  But I always do that.  
Thought I’d stop for once.  Glad I 
did.  Are you?

Death leans across the table and kisses Marcus.  Marcus succumbs.  Death pulls away.  Marcus lies back in his chair, eyes closed.  Death touches his face.  Death leaves the coffee shop.

Marcus eyes pop open.  He leans forward, touches his chest. A good pain.

MARCUS
			Guess that’s a yes.

Marcus smiles.  He happily downs the rest of his coffee.

EXT.  ROAD – DAY – NEXT DAY

An open road lined with dying trees.  The sun makes the leaves glow.  Death gazes up at the sun.  

She looks into the camera and smiles.  

She walks out of sight.

INT.  BATHROOM – DAY

Students enter, one by one.  They flock together, staring at Death’s words on the wall...  

FADE TO BLACK.