MICHAEL (late 70’s) grey hair, his body is giving out, his
voice is soft and weak, he lays in bed propped up with some
pillows. A nasal cannula in his nose.
The HOSPICE NURSE walks into the room followed by CAROLINE
(40's) ANGELA (14), RYAN (11) and KATIE (7).
HOSPICE NURSE
Michael, you have some visitors.
Caroline pulls a chair up along side the bed, reaches for his
hand and holds it. He smiles at her.
CAROLINE
Hey dad. How are you feeling?
MICHAEL
Oh, I'm alright. Tired.
CAROLINE
Yeah?
(pause)
I've brought the kids with me.
KIDS
Hey grandpa.
MICHAEL
You're all getting big.
Caroline looks around, and notices a box on a shelf.
CAROLINE
Dad.
Pointing to the box on a shelf, she stands and walks to it.
CAROLINE (CONT’D)
What's that? I remember seeing this
growing up, but you were always so
protective of it.
Michael looks over where she is and his voice comes to life.
MICHAEL
Oh that? Bring that here.
She takes the box over to Michael as he rests his hand on it.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Let me tell you about this box.
(beat)
Your mother had just passed...
FADE TO:
MICHAEL now younger (mid 30's), dressed in a black suit,
stands next his daughter CAROLINE (5) and the casket of his
wife ALISON (30's).
People approach them and pay their condolences, they hug them
or shake their hands. They touch Caroline's shoulders or pat
her head. Michael is emotionless, the weight of everything
still hasn't hit him.
Michael sits in his car at a redlight, lost in thought as the
light shifts from red to green. Headlights of the car behind
him reflect off the mirror onto his face, he is unphased.
HONK!
Michael snaps out of it, looks in the back seat, Caroline is
still asleep. He drives away.
Michael pulls into the driveway, Caroline is still asleep in
the back seat. He picks her up in his arms, holds her tight
and makes his way towards the house.
Michael pulls the covers up over Caroline, and she slowly
wakes up.
CAROLINE
Daddy?
MICHAEL
Go to sleep, sweatheart, it's ok.
CAROLINE
I want mommy.
MICHAEL
I know sweetheart, I do too. Mommy
will always be with us, right?
Caroline nodds.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Yeah, cause remember mommy's an
angel watching over us now.
CAROLINE
Daddy?
MICHAEL
Yeah sweeheart?
CAROLINE
I don't want mommy to be angel, I
want her to come home.
Michael tries to fight back tears and not lose it. He musters
a smile and nods his head.
MICHAEL
Get some sleep baby girl.
He kisses her on the forehead and quickly walks out of the
room and shuts the door behind him. He folds over, losing it.
Michael lays in bed awake. The door to his room creaks open
and he looks over, Caroline stands in the doorway.
CAROLINE
Mommy?
MICHAEL
Come here sweetheart.
She climbs up on the bed and cuddles up next to him.
CAROLINE
I miss mommy.
MICHAEL
I know baby.
He turns his head away from her, covers his face and holds
his breath doing his best not to sob and her hear him.
Michael stares at a family portrait as tears stream down.
MICHAEL
You said forever, you promised me.
(beat)
Now what am I supposed to do?
(beat)
What am I supposed to say?
DOORBELL RINGS, he wipes away the tears and walks to
Michael opens the door, as FRANK (30's) skirts away to his
black sedan. As he reaches his car he looks back at Michael
and with a half smile he gives a nod to Michael. Michael
looks at him confused, he looks familiar but he doesn't know
why.
Michael's attention redirects to the package sitting on the
front step at his feet.
Michael sits on the couch, places the package on the coffee
table and opens it.
Inside the package is a wooden box with an envelope on
top. He picks up the envelope, opens it, and reads the card.
ALISON (V.O.)
Michael, my love. I wish I could
walk through that door, kiss you,
and tell you everything will be
fine. My heart aches for what you
must be feeling. But know that I
love you deeply and cherish every
moment we had together. I know you
are probably thinking: Can I go
back and change something? The
answer is no. But if you could go
back for a moment would you?
(beat)
So this my love is my final,
parting gift to you. Forever in my
heart, your loving wife.
Michael lays the card on the table and pulls the old wooden
box out. He pushes the cardboard box onto the floor and sits
the wooden box on the table as he looks it over curiously.
Michael opens the lid of the wooden box and looks inside.
There is an old key, a key hole, and a white display with the
black number "10". He leans back, thinks for a moment, picks
up the key, puts it into the hole, and turns it.
FLASHBACK TO:
Michael (20's), changes a tire on the side of the road. He
pauses for a moment, confused.
Alison stands behind him on the side of the road unbeknown to
Michael.
ALISON (O.S.)
Michael, we're going to be late to
the dance.
Michael immediately spins around.
MICHAEL
Alison?
Alison stands there hands on her hips. As Michael slowly
stands in shock.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
How?
Michael grabs her and pulls her close to him, then lets go,
steps back, and holds her face.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Tell me this is real.
ALISON
(nervous chuckle)
Are you ok? You look like you've
seen a ghost.
MICHAEL
Oh my God, you’re here.
Michael pauses and looks around, not daring to let go of her.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Where's Caroline?
ALISON
Who?
MICHAEL
Caroline, our daughter.
ALISON
(worried)
Michael, you're scaring me.
Michael turns and looks around.
MICHAEL
Did I die too?
ALISON
(appauled)
Excuse me? This isn't funny.
MICHAEL
You died, but you're here , so did
I?
Michael turns around and everything is black, Alison is gone,
the car is gone, just blackness.
ALISON (V.O.)
I know you are probably
thinking: Can I go back and change
something? The answer is no.
BACK TO PRESENT
— ①
INT. BEDROOM - DAY -
MICHAEL (late 70’s) grey hair, his body is giving out, his
voice is soft and weak, he lays in bed propped up with some
pillows. A nasal cannula in his nose.
The HOSPICE NURSE walks into the room followed by CAROLINE
(40's) ANGELA (14), RYAN (11) and KATIE (7).
HOSPICE NURSE
Michael, you have some visitors.
Caroline pulls a chair up along side the bed, reaches for his
hand and holds it. He smiles at her.
CAROLINE
Hey dad. How are you feeling?
MICHAEL
Oh, I'm alright. Tired.
CAROLINE
Yeah?
(pause)
I've brought the kids with me.
KIDS
Hey grandpa.
MICHAEL
You're all getting big.
Caroline looks around, and notices a box on a shelf.
CAROLINE
Dad.
Pointing to the box on a shelf, she stands and walks to it.
CAROLINE (CONT’D)
What's that? I remember seeing this
growing up, but you were always so
protective of it.
Michael looks over where she is and his voice comes to life.
MICHAEL
Oh that? Bring that here.
She takes the box over to Michael as he rests his hand on it.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Let me tell you about this box.
(beat)
Your mother had just passed...
FADE TO:
INT. FUNERAL HOME - AFTERNOON -
MICHAEL now younger (mid 30's), dressed in a black suit,
stands next his daughter CAROLINE (5) and the casket of his
wife ALISON (30's).
People approach them and pay their condolences, they hug them
or shake their hands. They touch Caroline's shoulders or pat
her head. Michael is emotionless, the weight of everything
still hasn't hit him.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT -
Michael sits in his car at a redlight, lost in thought as the
light shifts from red to green. Headlights of the car behind
him reflect off the mirror onto his face, he is unphased.
HONK!
Michael snaps out of it, looks in the back seat, Caroline is
still asleep. He drives away.
EXT. DRIVEWAY - NIGHT -
Michael pulls into the driveway, Caroline is still asleep in
the back seat. He picks her up in his arms, holds her tight
and makes his way towards the house.
INT. CAROLINE'S BEDROOM -
Michael pulls the covers up over Caroline, and she slowly
wakes up.
CAROLINE
Daddy?
MICHAEL
Go to sleep, sweatheart, it's ok.
CAROLINE
I want mommy.
MICHAEL
I know sweetheart, I do too. Mommy
will always be with us, right?
Caroline nodds.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Yeah, cause remember mommy's an
angel watching over us now.
CAROLINE
Daddy?
MICHAEL
Yeah sweeheart?
CAROLINE
I don't want mommy to be angel, I
want her to come home.
Michael tries to fight back tears and not lose it. He musters
a smile and nods his head.
MICHAEL
Get some sleep baby girl.
He kisses her on the forehead and quickly walks out of the
room and shuts the door behind him. He folds over, losing it.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT -
Michael lays in bed awake. The door to his room creaks open
and he looks over, Caroline stands in the doorway.
CAROLINE
Mommy?
MICHAEL
Come here sweetheart.
She climbs up on the bed and cuddles up next to him.
CAROLINE
I miss mommy.
MICHAEL
I know baby.
He turns his head away from her, covers his face and holds
his breath doing his best not to sob and her hear him.
INT. HALLWAY - MORNING -
Michael stares at a family portrait as tears stream down.
MICHAEL
You said forever, you promised me.
(beat)
Now what am I supposed to do?
(beat)
What am I supposed to say?
DOORBELL RINGS, he wipes away the tears and walks to
INT. FRONT DOOR -
Michael opens the door, as FRANK (30's) skirts away to his
black sedan. As he reaches his car he looks back at Michael
and with a half smile he gives a nod to Michael. Michael
looks at him confused, he looks familiar but he doesn't know
why.
Michael's attention redirects to the package sitting on the
front step at his feet.
INT. LIVING ROOM -
Michael sits on the couch, places the package on the coffee
table and opens it.
Inside the package is a wooden box with an envelope on
top. He picks up the envelope, opens it, and reads the card.
ALISON (V.O.)
Michael, my love. I wish I could
walk through that door, kiss you,
and tell you everything will be
fine. My heart aches for what you
must be feeling. But know that I
love you deeply and cherish every
moment we had together. I know you
are probably thinking: Can I go
back and change something? The
answer is no. But if you could go
back for a moment would you?
(beat)
So this my love is my final,
parting gift to you. Forever in my
heart, your loving wife.
Michael lays the card on the table and pulls the old wooden
box out. He pushes the cardboard box onto the floor and sits
the wooden box on the table as he looks it over curiously.
Michael opens the lid of the wooden box and looks inside.
There is an old key, a key hole, and a white display with the
black number "10". He leans back, thinks for a moment, picks
up the key, puts it into the hole, and turns it.
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. SIDE OF THE ROAD - NIGHT -
Michael (20's), changes a tire on the side of the road. He
pauses for a moment, confused.
Alison stands behind him on the side of the road unbeknown to
Michael.
ALISON (O.S.)
Michael, we're going to be late to
the dance.
Michael immediately spins around.
MICHAEL
Alison?
Alison stands there hands on her hips. As Michael slowly
stands in shock.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
How?
Michael grabs her and pulls her close to him, then lets go,
steps back, and holds her face.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Tell me this is real.
ALISON
(nervous chuckle)
Are you ok? You look like you've
seen a ghost.
MICHAEL
Oh my God, you’re here.
Michael pauses and looks around, not daring to let go of her.
MICHAEL (CONT’D)
Where's Caroline?
ALISON
Who?
MICHAEL
Caroline, our daughter.
ALISON
(worried)
Michael, you're scaring me.
Michael turns and looks around.
MICHAEL
Did I die too?
ALISON
(appauled)
Excuse me? This isn't funny.
MICHAEL
You died, but you're here , so did
I?
Michael turns around and everything is black, Alison is gone,
the car is gone, just blackness.
ALISON (V.O.)
I know you are probably
thinking: Can I go back and change
something? The answer is no.
BACK TO PRESENT