SCENE ONE:
The man is sitting in the diner, scribbling his ideas and obviously getting mad at what he's written. The man is now able to be seen. The man is MITCH ALBOM, a middle aged man who is a struggling author. He is sitting at the counter, not paying attention to the fact he is the only customer in the restaurant. An African-American middle age WAITRESS walks over to him and stands behind the counter, facing him. The WAITRESS is from the South and has a moderately heavy southern accent.
WAITRESS
Anything else, honey?
MITCH
No thanks, although a good idea would be nice.
WAITRESS
What'cha doing anyways?
MITCH
Writing a book, or at least attempting to.
WAITRESS
Oh, so you're a published author? You write books and stuff?
MITCH
Well, soon-to-be published author, hopefully. If I can get this piece of shit to develop.
WAITRESS
What'cha writing about?
MITCH
Nothing right now. No good story line. I've traveled across the entire country, hoping to just get one God damn good idea. Nothing.
MITCH goes back to scribbling and erasing, as the WAITRESS stares at him, bewildered by the fact that this man is so angry at his progress and how determined he is to develop a story.
MITCH (voice over)
I'm Mitch Albom, struggling writer. Determined to publish my first novel, yet as of now, no such luck. The problem isn't the fact that I'm not talented, but that there is absolutely no interesting story that people would want to read that has not been written yet. A people-eating shark in the deep, mysterious ocean? Done. My story needs to be interesting, since having your first novel top the best-sellers list is extremely rare.
WAITRESS
If you're looking for a story, try going across the street to that old baseball field.
(She points straight ahead towards the window, the camera follows her finger and zooms into a baseball field with a brief view of a man (CHICK BENETTO) sitting on the bleachers by himself)
Now there's a story.
MITCH
(NOT LOOKING UP AT THE WAITRESS)
Sorry to say it, but I hear that a lot
WAITRESS
No really honey! There's a story. That man, his name's Chick Benetto. Played pro ball once, I think a World Series.
MITCH
Is that so..
WAITRESS
Yep! Tried to kill himself too.
MITCH immediately drops his pencil and looks up at the WAITRESS
MITCH immediately gets up and begins to walk towards the baseball field. The camera follows him out.
MITCH (voice over)
What you are about to see is a story about a family and, as there is a ghost involved, you might call it a ghost story. But every family is a ghost story. The dead sit at our tables long after they have gone. You may not believe the story. Yet, ask yourself this: Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back. (pause)
What if you got it back?