EXT. BRIGHT WHITE PLACE - CONT'D
GOD walks around the desk and peeks over SATAN's shoulder as NICOLE looks on.
GOD
(shakes head)
Tsk, tsk. Still falsifying documents I see.
She reaches for the document, but in the blink of an eye Satan appears behind her and all the paperwork on his desk, including the giant pile of papers that was in the "IN" box has disappeared.
SATAN
Oooooooweee, girl, you still lookin'
FINE. When we gonna get down
again, baby?
God turns to him and sighs.
GOD
Still the charmer.
He smiles a wide smile and chomps on the end of a new cigar that has appeared out of nowhere.
SATAN
And you love it.
GOD
(sarcastic)
Ooooh yeah.
SATAN
Come on, honey...let's get together again.
For old time's sake? 'Member how
much fun we had with Job?
Satan comes close to her and she presses her hand against his jacket, smoothing it over his lapel.
GOD
Oh I remember all right. I remember that
what was fun for you was painful for me.
(pauses)
I also remember...where...you...hide...
your --
She slides her hand inside his jacket and pulls out Nicole's paperwork.
GOD (cont'd)
-- important documents?
SATAN
(balks)
Can't slip nuthin' by you.
GOD
Yes, it really is like the old days...hun.
(pauses)
And unlike the poor unsuspecting souls
whom you kidnap from their peaceful
stases, there's no way on my green earth
that I'll ever fall for your tricks.
She rips Nicole's documents in half.
SATAN
Yo baby, that's cold.
GOD
As cold as your lonely heart, my dear.
SATAN
Aww, now...don't get personal on me. How
lonely can I be with all the lovely young ladies
like this one right here comin' by to visit?
GOD
You keep believing what you will...but I'm
still the only one who can see past the
invisible ink in your datebook.
NICOLE
Wait, you're...you're...
God turns to Nicole.
GOD
Yes, I am.
NICOLE
God's a woman?
GOD
Was there any doubt?
SATAN
She's a beaut, ain't she?
GOD
I'm terribly sorry you have to sit through
this, Nicole.
SATAN
Hey, she should feel privileged. It's not
often that you come down to visit.
GOD
With good reason.
(pauses, to Nicole)
But sometimes Lucifer jumps the gun and I have
to put my foot down, even though I'd like to put
my foot somewhere else.
SATAN
Hey, you coulda sent someone.
GOD
Mm, like the last one I sent?
Satan puts his hands up.
SATAN
All right, all right, ya got me on that one. What
can I say...I like how that white boy plays his
funky music.
He sighs, then puffs on his cigar as he looks over to Nicole. He turns back to God.
SATAN (cont'd)
Tell ya what. I'll give you back your boy...
and you let me keep her.
GOD
No dice.
She weaves around the desk.
GOD (cont'd)
Come on, Nicole, let's go.
SATAN
Hey, it's a fair trade!
GOD
Fair to you only because he was never
yours to begin with.
(pauses)
Besides, I don't make deals with you
anymore. Not after that Bush/Cheney
stunt you pulled.
SATAN
Aww, come on, baby!
GOD
Don't "come on, baby" me. You let Sid
go and maybe somewhere down the
road I might throw you a bone.
She offers her hand to Nicole and Nicole stands up. Satan stares at them as he puffs on his cigar.
SATAN
I'll think about it.
GOD
Take your time -- you're not going
anywhere.
She snaps her fingers and all of a sudden Satan's sitting behind his desk with all the papers plus the long line of people that was there before.
GOD (cont'd)
But we are.
Satan sighs.
SATAN
Gimme a call sometime, huh?
GOD
Don't hold your breath.
Satan folds his hands and watches as God walks away with Nicole.
SATAN
Soooooooo close.
OVER TO God and Nicole, as Nicole marvels at the experience. God walks rather nonchalantly into the bright whiteness, away from the long line of hellbound citizens.
NICOLE
I give -- who's Sid?
GOD
Sid was a troubled kid I sent down
here to retrieve some files when my
computers were down.
(shakes her head)
He was doing so well in rehab, but
Lucifer tempted him back into his
heroin addiction.
(pauses)
It's too bad because I kinda got used
to his music. But that was before your
time.
NICOLE
Oh.
They continue to walk. God looks forward as she addresses Nicole.
GOD
I had to.
NICOLE
What?
God stops, as does Nicole.
GOD
I had to step in, Nicole. I had no choice.
NICOLE
Wh...what do you mean?
GOD
You know what I mean. And since you
know who I am, you should know that
I know everything about you...even moreso
than your buddy back there.
(pauses)
You're confused by my actions, but you
should understand. Lucifer was doing what
he does best...and he suspected that you
would buy into his performance, which you
did.
(pauses)
And that's all that it was, Nicole. It was all
show, no substance.
(pauses)
He's creative, yes. But a creator?
She shakes her head.
GOD (cont'd)
No.
NICOLE
But...but I was there. I saw everything he
could do for me, and that's --
GOD
What you wanted?
She sighs.
GOD (cont'd)
Where do you think he gets his information?
The internet? No. He's got his sources, but
everything he knows originates from yours
truly.
She continues to walk, and Nicole follows.
GOD (cont'd)
Part of his facade is making you think that
he's like me...that he knows you. All of that
stuff you saw back there -- the cosmetics,
the clothes, the hair -- all special effects. Cheap
ones at that.
NICOLE
But...but I could feel it --
GOD
That Clinique? Counterfeit from Korea.
Nicole gasps.
GOD (cont'd)
Yeah, you don't want that stuff on your face.
Nicole touches her cheeks and lips.
GOD (cont'd)
Don't worry, I took care of it.
(pauses)
Everything back there was fake. A false
front to get you to unwittingly sign onto
an eternity of torture and slavery.
NICOLE
Is that what Hell is really like?
GOD
You don't want to know what Hell is
really like.
NICOLE
Well...I still don't understand. I know
that I've got more than enough on my
resumé to be condemned to Hell, so...
why did he feel he needed to lie to me
like that?
God stops in the middle of the vast whiteness and turns to her.
GOD
Because he knows how valuable you
are.
NICOLE
Me?
GOD
Yes, you.
(pauses)
There are people who care about what
happens to you.
NICOLE
I'll believe that when Hell freez -- well,
when Hell warms up.
God nods and continues to walk, and Nicole's curiosity gets the best of her as she catches up.
NICOLE (cont'd)
Okay, who? Who are these people who
supposedly care about me?
God smiles
GOD
Would you like to take the scenic route?
NICOLE
What?
GOD
It'll take us a couple of hours to get there
if we take the scenic route.
(pauses)
It's a long way up.
Nicole stares at God as she smiles at her. A BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT FLASHES and we DISSOLVE BACK TO
INT. L.A. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - SAME
The white light dissolves to a CLOSE UP of Harrison and Nicole's black and white photo strip from the prom. CUT OUT to see HARRISON sitting and holding it, staring at the photos. CUT TO: SAM watching him from afar. She sighs, turns, and leans against the wall, bumping her head back with a soft thud. BROOKE approaches on her crutches with LILY and CARMEN.
BROOKE
How is he...has he been in to see her yet?
SAM
Nope. Her mother -- Judy's in there right now.
(pauses)
You guys, I'm really worried about him.
LILY
I don't like how he didn't say a word on
the way over here, either. But I'm glad
we found him...glad he's safe.
CARMEN
Well...maybe he does need some time
alone, you know...after --
She stops herself, feeling Brooke's stare.
CARMEN (cont'd)
Well, after everything.
SAM
N...no, no way. I am not leaving him
alone like this.
LILY
Well, what're you going to do, Sam? Josh
and Emory are out waiting in the car with
Mary Cherry 'cuz we've got to get to Freddy
Gong's service.
Sam sighs, thinking. She looks away.
SAM
You guys...go on without me. Give his parents
my condolences and I'll stay here with Harrison.
BROOKE
Are you sure?
SAM
Yes, I'm sure. I'll call Mike to pick me up.
Lily shrugs.
LILY
(hesitant)
O.k.
CARMEN
Take care of him for me. For us.
Sam nods silently as Lily and Carmen walk Brooke away. Sam walks her crutches over to Harrison and sits down. He stares forward as he addresses her.
HARRISON
Do...do you realize that this is the
first time that her mother's even
been in to see her?
He turns to Sam.
HARRISON (cont'd)
It's true. I checked with her doctor.
(pauses)
You would think that...with what
happened, she'd show at least an
inkling of concern for her own daughter.
SAM
Well...I think you've made up for that...
plus some.
She looks at him.
SAM (cont'd)
You wanna go in?
Harrison nods and helps Sam back onto her crutches.
INT. L.A. GENERAL - NICOLE'S ROOM
And emotionless JUDY JULIAN sits at a comfortable distance at Nicole's bedside. The door opens and she turns her head as Harrison enters, holding the door open for Sam. Judy rises.
JUDY
What are you doing here?
Harrison holds back.
SAM
He just wants to see Nicole --
JUDY
Well he can't. Not now. Preferably not
ever.
HARRISON
Please, just let me have a moment --
JUDY
No. Please leave.
HARRISON
I just want to visit with --
JUDY
Are you hard of hearing? I said please leave.
SAM
(turning)
C'mon Harrison, we'll come back later --
JUDY
No, you won't. I'll make sure of it.
Harrison shakes his head and turns, but turns back.
HARRISON
Excuse me, but I'm curious --
SAM
Harrison --
HARRISON
-- what exactly is your problem with me?
I never did anything to you --
JUDY
Oh? What do you call videotaping yourself having
sex with my daughter?
HARRISON
I didn't make the tape --
JUDY
But apparently someone you knew did.
(pauses)
You disgust me. I should have never let my
daughter go to this function with you. Any
civilized young man wouldn't have let this happen.
Both Harrison and Sam's mouths drop slightly in shock. Harrison turns to leave but turns back.
HARRISON
No, you know what?
SAM
Harrison --
HARRISON (cont'd)
This may not be the best time to say this, but
you
have got to be the reason why Nicole has turned
out to be such a stone cold bitch.
JUDY
Who are you to barge in here and say such disrespectful
things to me, Mr. John? What right do you have to
cause
such a scene in my daughter's hospital room?
Harrison stands silent, fuming.
SAM
He has every right.
(pauses)
He's her brother.
Judy tilts her chin in defiance. Harrison swallows and glances at Sam nervously.
HARRISON
That's right...I'm her brother. And I believe
right now that if Nicole were to suddenly
need something from someone, I would be the
doctors would be looking for...which gives me
more of a reason to be here than you.
Judy looks them and then starts towards the door.
JUDY
I will allow you thirty minutes. That should be
a sufficient amount of time.
HARRISON
Thank you --
JUDY
Don't thank me.
She glares at Sam before she leaves.
Quietly, Harrison takes a seat next to Nicole's bed. He swallows and turns his head a notch to Sam.
SAM
I'll just wait out --
HARRISON
Thank you.
SAM
It...it was no problem.
(pauses)
I know...how much you care for
her.
Harrison bites his lower lip as he nods and then stares at Nicole's
pale white face, tubes snaking everywhere and just about every orafice.
Sam quietly moves out the door and as she closes it behind her, she see
Harrison reaching for Nicole's hand. The door shuts -- and Sam's
eyes are brimming with tears as she holds back.
END OF ACT 2