EXT. HEAVEN - GATES
A BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT brings GOD and NICOLE to the gates, which are stereotypically white and pearlized -- but simple in design.
GOD
Rest assured, Nicole. You have nothing to
fear.
NICOLE
This is the gateway to Heaven? Color me
impressed, it's so minimalist Martha Stewart.
GOD
I have Michaelangelo keeping up with
the latest architectural trends...which is good,
because after 400 years of looking at gaudy
renaissance leaf you're due for a change.
NICOLE
Wait...where's St. Peter?
GOD
This is Heaven...people still get days off.
She turns to Nicole as she approaches the gates with her and fishes for her keys.
GOD (cont'd)
Now before we go in, I've got to
warn you...inside, you will gain what
you thought you lost...and lose what
you thought you gained.
NICOLE
Um, yeah...I'm not a big Lennon fan.
Could you please decipher that for me?
God just smiles at her as she turns the key where they enter
A ROOM IN HEAVEN
where it is empty -- it looks like an empty room in a house where no one lives. The walls are painted a pretty light slate blue, and you can even see the outside through the shadeless windows. It looks like a typical spring day somewhere in suburbia. God's heels click over the hardwood floor as she enters and Nicole follows.
NICOLE
This is Heaven?
GOD
Yes...it's your Heaven.
NICOLE
Wh...what do you mean, 'my' Heaven?
GOD
This will be your final resting space for
all eternity here.
She walks over to the kitchen counter and picks up a document and hands it to Nicole. CLOSE-UP of DOCUMENT shows that Nicole's name is on the lease.
GOD (cont'd)
The mortgage is paid for. It's all yours,
Nicole.
NICOLE
I don't understand...how...how is this
possible?
She looks around and goes to the window. She sees cars driving by, like any normal day.
NICOLE (cont'd)
Where in Heaven are we?
GOD
I told you...it's your Heaven, Nicole. It
has no name.
NICOLE
But it looks like --
GOD
Earth? Yes, I guess it does. But that's the
way you want it...well, almost.
She snaps her fingers and the place is completely decorated and furnished with a state-of-the-art home entertainment center and IKEA-esque furnishings.
NICOLE
But it looks so...not me.
GOD
It is you, trust me. You will outgrow your
current love of animal print and opt for
something more...conservative.
NICOLE
Oh, like that's gonna happen --
GOD
It will. It's the way it's written.
NICOLE
What...what do you mean? Are you
telling me that my life is really written down
somewhere in stone? That we're all predestined
to live a certain way and make the choices that
we make, even if they're mistakes?
GOD
Why don't we go outside --
NICOLE
Hey, I want answers --
GOD
You'll get them. Please, just..."chill".
The furnishings and the document suddenly disappear as God makes her way to the door. She opens it to expose
EXT. NICOLE'S PRIVATE HEAVEN - HEAVEN ITSELF
Nicole's mouth drops as she takes in the sight: EVERYTHING is in a light golden tone, and looks nothing like it did through her window. There is a thick white mist hovering just above ground -- clouds -- as the ground itself is lush with soft grass and moss. They look like they're in some sort of garden or something. People are here and there, fully clothed, enjoying the outside.
GOD
Come...you won't fall. I've got my eye out on
you.
She watches Nicole step into the outside of the house and follows. They walk at a slow pace, taking in the scenery. MAY TUNA sits in a sandbox, eating sand to her heart's content, the faint sound of Duran Duran's "Rio" emanating from somewhere.
NICOLE
Wait, all of these people are --
GOD
Some of them have been with us for a long,
long time.
Nicole spots POPITA FRESH by a circle of flower bushes with her headphones around her neck, bopping to "MmmBop" for the umpteenth time in front of a group of children. POPPY catches her shocked stare and smiles.
POPPY
(waves)
Hey, Nic!
A shocked Nicole turns to God.
NICOLE
No, not Popita!
GOD
(shakes head)
She's lingering near death in a Cuban gulag. She
must've slipped away from her tourguide...again.
Nice girl.
(pauses, shakes head)
If only she'd stop playing that awful music.
She continues on as Nicole's mouth stands agape as she watches Poppy -- the kids have now joined her in her MmmBopping. Nicole then turns to move but slams into someone -- it's FREDDY GONG.
FREDDY
Nicole ?
NICOLE
What're you doing here?
FREDDY
I could ask you the same thing.
NICOLE
Well, apparently I belong here.
FREDDY
Well...if she says so. She never makes
mistakes.
(pauses)
You'll love it here...the food, the music, the
people --
NICOLE
Food? Music? How long have you been
here?
FREDDY
(drops his eyes)
A few days.
NICOLE
A few days? How long is this tour anyway?
FREDDY
Tour? I'm not on a tour.
It hits Nicole as her expression drops.
FREDDY (cont'd)
But I guess you are.
(pauses)
It was nice seeing you again, Nicole -- you look
good --
NICOLE
Wait, what's going on? How did you get
here?
FREDDY
You...you don't know?
NICOLE
No, I --
She gasps as something strikes her -- FLASH TO
A SERIES OF SE7EN -LIKE SHOTS that flash through Nicole's memory -- particularly of HARRISON and the dance...and the shooting. She sees kids falling to the floor...she sees Harrison's panicked face...she sees the ceiling of the auditorium and students looming over her...FLASH BACK TO
Nicole standing there, shocked and wide-eyed.
FREDDY
Nicole -- are you o.k.?
GOD
It's o.k. Freddy...go on...Mr. Roddenberry's
waiting for you.
Freddy places his hand on Nicole's shoulder as he continues on.
NICOLE
What just happened?
GOD
You're remembering what happened
to you, that's all.
NICOLE
I don't understand...how did I forget
in the first place?
GOD
It's just one of Lucifer's many tricks. It is...
extremely beneficial to him for you not
to remember something that you're
signing off on, especially if it's good.
Nicole ponders that for a moment.
NICOLE
Good? How can you say that my life was
any good? I was being shot at by some
psycho at my junior prom and I --
She closes her eyes as another "vision" hits her, but we don't see it -- she places her hand on her abdomen as the memory flood makes her visibly shaken.
NICOLE (cont'd)
I...I remember...everything, including --
She looks extremely concerned.
NICOLE (cont'd)
Did...did I --
GOD
Shh...she's fine.
NICOLE
She?
GOD
Yes, she's fine.
NICOLE
I wanna go back...I wanna go back and see
it through, I mean, since you said everything
was already written --
God looks at her, concerned.
GOD
Yes...it is written.
(pauses)
Come.
NICOLE
But I wanna go back!
GOD
You can't...just yet. Just walk with me.
Nicole hesitantly follows God around the corner and towards a small, cottage-like house with several flower bushes -- God stops and holds her hand out, signalling Nicole to open the small white gate. The gate creaks open and just as Nicole looks around, the screen door opens and NANA JULIAN steps out, a small, beautiful baby girl in her arms. Nana notices Nicole immediately.
NANA
Oh, my -- Nicole?
NICOLE
Nana...you...you can see me?
NANA
Well of course I can, sweetheart. And
you're more beautiful than any young
woman I've ever seen.
Nicole's face scrunches in tearful happiness as she runs to her and reaches up to hugs her. They hug as Nicole sobs.
NANA (cont'd)
There, there, Nicole...no need to cry.
NICOLE
B...but...you left and...and I never saw you
again and...you never said --
NANA
Goodbye? I'm sorry honey...it's...just the way
things are sometimes.
NICOLE
I don't like the way things are.
NANA
Sometimes it's the way things have to be.
Nicole sniffles and looks at the beautiful baby in Nana's arms. She smiles and gurgles -- Nicole smiles back and retreats from her Grandmother's embrace.
NICOLE
And who's this?
NANA
Can't you tell? She's my great granddaughter...
Donatella.
(pauses)
Donatella John.
The revelation washes over Nicole's face. The baby takes a shine to her.
NICOLE
C...can I hold her?
NANA
Well of course, my dear.
She carefully hands the beautiful bonnetted baby over to a gleaming, tear-streaked Nicole. Nicole holds her close, rocking her.
NICOLE
Donatella...you're very beautiful, Donatella.
She looks at the smiling Donatella and hands her back to Nana.
NICOLE (cont'd)
I've...I've got to go.
NANA
But you just got here.
NICOLE
I'm not staying.
(pauses)
Definitely not now.
She painfully turns away and starts towards the gate. God walks with her as Nana watches Nicole take off in a hurry.
NICOLE (cont'd)
I want out.
GOD
No you don't --
NICOLE
Yes, I do. I belong in Hell. I belong in
Hell, just like I thought before.
GOD
No, you don't. You belong here, with
your family --
NICOLE
Why? So I can see exactly how I screwed
up every single day for the rest of eternity?
Not on your...not on my life. I'm evil...I'm
rotten...and I caused nothing but pain and
suffering during the short blip of a life on
your radar screen. People hate me -- I never
made anyone happy --
GOD
That's not true at all, Nicole.
All of a sudden, they're
OUTSIDE THE GATES OF HEAVEN
again.
GOD (cont'd)
Do you remember Lucifer's Big Ass?
Nicole cocks her head for a moment.
NICOLE
Uh...yeah.
GOD
Well, we have a similar thing up here...
only it's called the Divine Virtues Decree.
(pauses)
Do you know what it is?
She sees Nicole shake her head.
GOD (cont'd)
Even if you don't, I can assure you that
you have fulfilled it.
(pauses)
More appropriately, you are on the road
to overfulfillment.
NICOLE
But...how can that be? I'm such a --
GOD
Bitch? No...you and I know that that's
just a facade, much like that of Lucifer's.
(pauses)
You see, in the past year, you've shown
more than your share of the seven heavenly
virtues.
(pauses)
You had hope in the belief that you'd find
your birthmother...which you did. Your sense
of generosity and justice brought Carmen her
lifelong dream of becoming a cheerleader...
partially because you saw through to the gift
I gave her long ago.
(pauses)
But the most unique thing about your decree is
that you fulfilled all seven at once...when
you donated your bone marrow. You showed
courage and wisdom when you made the decision,
you had faith that the procudure would bring
forth positive results...and it did, as it was meant
to. And now...now you need to summon that
fortitude again, for there are many, many people
down there missing you.
NICOLE
Somehow I doubt people are missing my
toxic presence.
GOD
If you only knew, Nicole.
(pauses)
You need to stop being so hard on yourself.
Whatever you reflect, you reflect it from fear.
NICOLE
I know people fear me --
GOD
I meant your own.
(pauses)
Look inside yourself, Nicole. You weren't
written to be what you think everyone expects.
(pauses)
I had a special design in mind for you, and I
know that there are those who see it.
Nicole stares at her as we are taken back down to
INT. L.A. GENERAL - NICOLE'S ROOM - EVENING
where BOBBI GLASS creaks the door open -- there's no one there. She slips in and sits uncomfortably down next to Nicole. She tries to keep her composure.
BOBBI GLASS
Hey there...kiddo.
(sniffles)
I...I've been prayin' for ya.
She looks at Nicole.
BOBBI GLASS (cont'd)
Well, maybe not prayin', but at
least lighting some candles...a tough
thing to do with all the cats running
around, knocking things over.
(pauses)
I...I know you probably can't hear me,
but...I just wanted to tell you that I ...
don't...hate you.
(pauses)
I know it's not enough of an incentive to
just snap you out of this coma, but...but
it makes me feel good to say it.
The door quietly opens -- it's HARRISON, and he listens to Miss Glass.
BOBBI GLASS (cont'd)
I really do give two cahoots about you,
kiddo...I mean...I...I especially remember
you being quite the daughter to me when
Uncle Tippy blew into town and gave me
that lecture about how much of a failure
that I was...am. I am a failure. I'm
a
failure and I'm sorry.
HARRISON
You're not a failure...Miss Glass.
Miss Glass startles at Harrison's presence.
BOBBI GLASS
I'm uh...I was just --
HARRISON
It's o.k...I...I just went to get something to drink --
BOBBI GLASS
(getting up)
I'll just leave you --
HARRISON
No, hey -- stay. Please.
He walks to her side as she sits down again.
HARRISON (cont'd)
I...I saw how you were that night.
BOBBI GLASS
I was just reacting the way any teacher would --
HARRISON
You went above and beyond what any other
teacher would do...dodging bullets with Matrix-like
skill to get to Nicole.
(pauses, looks at Nicole)
She's just as special to you as she is to me.
They both look at Nicole in silence as the life monitor beeps.
BOBBI GLASS
Family is important during times like these...
you know, Harrison -- I'm sorry that this had to
happen so soon after you found out that she was
your sister --
HARRISON
She's...she's not my sister.
Miss Glass looks at him in question.
HARRISON (cont'd)
Long story.
(pauses)
I still have a bunch of feelings I haven't sorted out
over that, but right now...right now all that matters
is that she...that she...
His lip curls as he feels the tears coming. Miss Glass reaches out to him when all of a sudden the creaks door opens and
SHAGGY LOUISE GROUT peeks in.
SHAGGY
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought --
HARRISON
No, no...come on in...you...you're
the lunchlady...you're Nicole's m...
birth mother, right?
SHAGGY
Yes, I am...hello, Miss Glass.
Miss Glass nods.
SHAGGY (cont'd)
I'm sorry it took so long for me to
come by, I've been away and no
one even bothered to tell me until
her friend Brooke left the message
with --
TERRI GLASS
'Old that door open, kiddo --
TERRI GLASS enters with her(?) cane and Miss Glass's eyes widen -- they startle at the sight of eachother. Harrison's eyes widen.
TERRI GLASS
R...Roberta?
BOBBI GLASS
Aunt...Aunt Terri?
HARRISON
M...Miss Glass...what's going on here?
TERRI GLASS
Ah could ask yuh t'same thang, Skinnehboy.
Ah'm jest here t'see my niece. Yew?
BOBBI GLASS
Me? Well...how did you find me here --
TERRI GLASS
Naw, not yew -- her.
She edges towards Nicole.
TERRI GLASS (cont'd)
Mah Gawd. Looks like sumwun dun run 'er
down good.
Harrison and Miss Glass step aside to let Terri sit, their faces still
awash in shock.
INT. L.A. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - SAME
SAM nods off in her chair. BROOKE plops down next to her, awakening her.
BROOKE
Is he still in there?
SAM
He's been in there ever since Judy
Julian left in a huff.
(pauses)
Why am I not surprised that she
hasn't been back.
Mike comes by and stands by them.
MIKE
Sam...it's getting pretty late.
SAM
I know, I'm sorry -- I was gonna call
you --
MIKE
I think it's time to go.
SAM
I can't go just yet --
BROOKE
Dad...just give us couple of minutes, please?
Mike looks at them and then heads away.
BROOKE (cont'd)
Sam...come on. You can't stay here all night.
SAM
Why not? Harrison has been here overnight
before.
BROOKE
Yes, but --
SAM
But nothing, Brooke. He needs support as
much as Nicole does, right?
BROOKE
Yes...he does...but I also think he needs
some time alone.
(pauses)
To sort things out.
(pauses)
I...I know you think you may have made...a
mistake. But you have to give it time...Harrison...
he's...he's got alot of things to think about,
including his...feelings for Nicole.
Sam huffs.
BROOKE (cont'd)
I think if you give it some time...he'll come
around.
SAM
I dunno...I dunno exactly what I'm waiting for,
Brooke. What if, God forbid, Nicole doesn't
make it? What then? Do you even know how
guilty I'll feel?
BROOKE
Guilty over what? You didn't do anything, Sam --
SAM
Yes, I did. I...I pushed him to her.
As much as
I hate to think about it, I was the reason that he
was so quick to jump into bed with Nicole and
now --
She sighs.
SAM (cont'd)
And now I kinda feel like I'd be swooping in for
the kill if she did kick.
BROOKE
Don't say that. Don't even think that, it's not
the
way it is --
SAM
It isn't?
She sighs again.
SAM (cont'd)
Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Brooke looks at Sam, then looks away. They sit in silence as the
hospital goes about its nightly business...
END OF ACT 3