Heaven Part I

Home Up Next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXT. AIRPORT LOS ANGELES (LAX) 11:45 NIGHT.

 

Total darkness. One can hear a plane far away... the noise becomes stronger... strong thunder like noise of airplane engines... Airplane Boeing 757 on line Los Angeles - New York takes off from the runway. Unlimited lights of Los Angeles...

 

INT. AIRPLANE BOEING 757 NIGHT

 

The airplane is almost empty. Al travels alone. He is a middle-aged man. Wears an expensive suit, white shirt and tie. Looks elegant.

 

Stewardess is a young, attractive looking woman. She serves refreshing drinks. Approaches Al.

 

        STEWARDESS

Would you like coffee or

tea?

 

        AL

Coffee please.

 

        STEWARDESS

Sugar, milk?

 

        AL

Yes please.

 

The stewardess pours coffee in a cup on the tray which she holds with another hand. She hands it to Al with a smile.

 

        STEWARDESS

Here you go.

 

        AL

Thank you.

 

Brandon sits two rows behind Al. Young, athletically built man. Dressed sportily. Frances, a beautiful brunette naps on his shoulder. Dressed casually.

 

Kevin sits on the opposite side of the aisle of Brandon. He is a man in his best years. Wears a cheap grey suit. Travels alone. Talks to Brandon.

 

        KEVIN

        (proudly emphasizes)

        ...I have never charged a

parking ticket without

adding the comment “Have a

nice day”. Good manners in

first place... 

 

Brandon half interested approves such behaviour by nodding his head. In this moment Al passes beside them. Kevin opens his eyes widely from surprise.

 

        KEVIN

(says to Brandon

confidently covering his

mouth)

That is Al...

(emphasizes)

He is a mafia boss...

 

Brandon nods his head still not very interested.

 

John sits two rows behind Kevin. Late fifties. Extremely modern cloth. Armani. Rolex. He speaks to Diane, an attractive dressed up blond woman, half his age.

 

JOHN

...everything will look

completely different.

We will reduce CO2 emission

by 80% and that will end

global warming... we will

be able to breathe again,

not to speak of ozone

holes...

 

Behind him sits Jack. By his looks one would guess he is a retiree. Wears wrinkled grey clothing.

 

Jack heard what John said. It revolted him. Jack interrupts him with a lot of malice.

 

JACK

You politicians are the

biggest liars. This world

would be much better

without you...

 

Spouse Kathy sits beside him and gives him a sign to be silent.

 

John has a short fuse. He tries to respond calmly and well mannered but his vanity is hurt.

 

                JOHN

I contributed a lot to

society...

 

        JACK

(cannot resist to say)

Yah, yah. I can only think

it...

 

John slowly loses his temper and reacts with more tension.

 

JOHN

I am the one who reduced

crime in Washington DC!

(gives more passion)

I am the one who brought

help to New Orleans after

Katrina!!

(continues almost in the

manner of Adolf Hitler.)

I am the one who told Bush

not to leave Iraq before

        winning!!! I am the one...

 

DIANE

(calmly interrupts him)

John stop, what’s wrong

with you?

 

        JOHN

Huh?

 

John brings himself together. Disapproved by shaking his head.

 

        JACK

(interrupts)

What the heck...

 

Kathy grabs Jack’s sleeve and stops him by putting her finger on her lips.

 

        JACK

(says to Kathy)

Why are you telling me to

shut up? Is this what we 

fought for? This is a free

country!

 

        KATHY

(calms him)

You don’t know the man.

 

JACK

They’re all the same!

Before elections they are

angels then after they only

watch their own asses...

 

Jack mumbles disapprovingly to himself.

 

Behind them sits a well-dressed couple in their mature years. Danny is short and chubby. He talks to his wife Bette who reads a journal.

 

                  DANNY

...it should be bought for

the bedroom.

 

BETTE

Danny, slow down... first

we need to consult S&F, to

see what they think...

(continues reading journal)

 

        DANNY

I can’t wait to get home...

 

Camera moves into the cockpit. The pilot and co-pilot sit there. Both look young. They routinely take on their duties.

 

        PILOT

Delta 704 calling flight

control New York, do you

copy.

Delta 704 calling flight

control New York, do you

copy.

 

        FLIGHT CONTROL

Delta 704, here is flight

control New York.

 

PILOT

Delta 704 asks permission

to land at Kennedy airport.

         

FLIGHT CONTROL

Roger that. OK Delta 704.

You are in queue now.

Continue flight through

the same corridor.

 

PILOT

Delta 704 Roger that.

 

        CO-PILOT

(says to pilot)

We have excellent weather

for landing...

 

In the plane one hears murmur, and noise of the engine. One can hear through speakers that the weather in New York is clear. The temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. SUDDENLY ABSOLUTE SILENCE AND DARKNESS. It lasts for about 10 seconds so that the movie viewers become a little bit upset. After about 10 seconds everything appears back the same way it was before. However, it is not night any more, it is day. The passengers are confused. Most of them feel something happened but do not know what. Comments are heard...

 

        KATHY

(looks at Jack)

What happened? 

 

JACK

Even airline companies

aren’t what they used to

be...

 

FRANCES

(says worriedly to Brandon)

        Something very strange

happened...

 

        BRANDON

(looks around)

Everything looks fine...

 

The pilot, doesn’t understand what happened either. He inspects the commands. Everything looks normal, but the sun shines brightly. The pilot looks at the co-pilot with a questioning look. The co-pilot shrugs his shoulders.

 

        PILOT

Wasn’t it just night?

 

        CO-PILOT

It was...

 

        PILOT

And now it’s not?

 

CO-PILOT

It’s not...

 

PILOT

That’s what I thought...

 

Tries again to communicate with flight control. 

 

        PILOT 

Delta 704 calling flight

control New York.

Delta 704 calling flight

control New York.

 

Radio whizzes, static, but there is no response. Pilot tries again...

 

        PILOT 

Delta 704 calling flight

control New York. Do you

copy? Roger.

 

FLIGHT CONTROL

(strong foreign accent

responds)

Here is Condor. Here is

Condor. No Roger here...

 

PILOT

(surprised but continues)

Roger that. Delta 704 calling.

I’ve lost connection with

New York. Can you help me?

 

FLIGHT CONTROL

No Roger here. Here Condor.

Thirty miles ahead of you

is the airport Heaven.

I recommend landing because

after it is Hell.  

 

The pilot looks at the co-pilot surprised. The co-pilot responds by shrugging his shoulders.

 

PILOT

Roger that. Flight control,

where is the airport John

Kennedy?

 

FLIGHT CONTROL

Hey, here is Condor. No

John here. I recommend

landing because after us

is Hell...

 

PILOT

Roger that. I'm coming

down.

 

The airplane flies over rocky mountains. One can see beautiful lakes, woods and meadows in the mountains. It decreases in altitude reaching the beautiful blue sea. Frances looks through the window.

 

        FRANCES

(tells Brandon)

        Look how beautiful it is

here…

 

BRANDON

(peeks over her)

It is indeed... ...but it

doesn’t look like New York

...not even like the US...

 

Pilot informs the passengers through the P. A. System: “It seems we have small technical problems. We will land in the emergency airport. We are planning to continue the flight to New York soon.” The stewardess continues: “Please fasten your seatbelts and put your seat back in an upright position...”

 

Passengers look at each other questioningly...

 

EXT. AIRPORT DAY

 

The airplane Boeing 757 lands on a small airport. The main building is small. There is a board there and on it is the name “Heaven”. It is not a busy airport. Light, clearness, and beauty everywhere.

 

At the airport a brass band plays “Imagine” by John Lennon. The passengers get out of the plane...

 

        BETTE

(frowns her face)

What kind of music is that?

 

JACK

The moment I got on the

plane I knew there would

be problems...

 

        FRANCES

Where are we?

 

At the airport domestic officials, a middle aged married couple Miki and Mirjana greet them. They are very friendly and hospitable....

 

Miki is a former high official of the communist party, seducer, cheater. Now almost an exemplary man. He wears a light linen sport suit. It fits him well.

 

Mirjana is somewhat younger than Miki. One would say she is a pretty beautiful woman. Her turquoise dress is waving, emphasizing her elegant look.

 

MIKI

Welcome, I am Miki and this

is my wife Mirjana. We wish

you a nice stay...

 

The passengers protest loudly.

 

        JACK

What stay? What are you

talking about...

 

        JOHN

It's out of question...

 

        BRANDON

Brandon has a final soccer

cup in Milan...

 

DANNY

I am not staying here...

 

BETTE

I have a concert in Paris! 

 

Al is very surprised and watches what happens there.

 

Commotion rises.

 

Miki tries to calm down the situation but he is not very skilful in it...

 

MIKI

I think you will have to

forget about your

obligations and wishes...

 

JACK

What is this?

 

BETTE

Who are you?

 

KEVIN

You cannot threaten me!

(shakes his finger as a

warning)

 

JACK

I will report it to the

police as soon I get home!

 

        KEVIN

I am the police!

What is this?

 

Miki finally gets a chance to respond to them in peace.

 

        MIKI

This is Heaven.

 

        JACK

What heaven?

 

        MIKI

Exactly the one you can

see... There is no

return...

 

Now protests culminate into revolt. Mirjana raises her arms in order to calm down the situation.

 

        MIRJANA

Please people...

 

Newcomers calm down. They are curious what she has to say...

 

MIRJANA

No one forces you to stay

here. Simply, there is no

exit... I wanted to go back

home too when I got here.

We all looked for an exit

but didn’t find any...

 

DANNY

I will find it...

 

MIRJANA

You are free to search for

an exit as much as you want

and I wish you with my

whole heart to find it....

 

        DANNY

(relaxingly says)

Uh, I thought I was in

prison...

 

MIRJANA

     (smiles and continues)

But this place is very

nice. We are very happy

here and do not want out

any more. This is Paradise.

 

        JACK

What paradise?

 

        MIRJANA

Now we will take you to the

Welcome houses where you

will be explained where you

are and what you might

expect here.

 

They look oddly at each other but get on the two buses and go to the welcome houses.

 

EXT. WELCOME HOUSE DAY

 

One welcome house is located in a small town on a beautiful small island. It is connected with a coast by a pebbled path. The little town has about thirty houses. A very nicely arranged island.

 

One bus comes to the Welcome center. Newcomers take off the bus and walk to the island.

 

 

Bette looks along the pedestrian path towards an unusual island. Talks to her husband Danny.

 

        BETTE

Isn’t it wonderful here!

...like in fairy tale...

 

        DANNY

Nothing is clear to me...

 

INT. WELCOME HOUSE DAY

 

The Welcome center is a contemporarily adapted old rock house. An unusual combination of old and new. New comers enter a big room which looks like a modern classroom. Each table has a computer. Instead of a blackboard there is a huge monitor. The chairs are upholstered. The room is bright and comfortable for staying in.

 

New comers all sit like students in classroom. Miki and Mirjana speak....

 

        MIRJANA

You have come to another

world, in Paradise.

 

Their faces reflect surprise and confusion. Absolute silence in the room. Frances breaks the silence with a silent and fearful question...

 

        FRANCES

Are we alive?

 

MIRJANA

The life you’ve had so far

is finished. Now you are

starting a new one...

 

Massive refusal steps in...

 

JACK

I haven't planned it yet...

 

        DANNY

I refuse cooperation...

 

        JOHN

Me too...

 

        DIANE

I haven't even gotten a

face lift yet...

 

MIRJANA

(interrupts them)

You should be happy to be

here. Most of you do not

deserve it. Most of you are

here just because there is

not enough space in Hell. 

 

MIKI

(continues)

There they get stacked up

four people one above another.

(shows it with his hands)

Newcomers go to the bottom.

 

The newcomers are disgusted and horrified. Murmur is heard. Mirjana looks at the newcomers. Waits a little bit in order to get attention and continues.

 

MIRJANA

We have your records and

know exactly what you

deserve.

 

        DANNY

(furiously interrupts

Mirjana)

I have not authorized you

to collect information

about me!

 

MIRJANA

I haven't collected

information about you.

I've received it from

above. I am just doing my

job...

 

DANNY

(responds with mocking

sarcastic voice)

Who has given it to you

from above? 

 

Mirjana looks above and says nothing... 

Danny takes a probing glance at her but asks nothing...

 

MIRJANA

(continues)

Because of the crowd at

Hell and humanitarian

reasons one has come to the

conclusion to give one more

chance to bad people...

 

MIKI

(interrupts)

You are very lucky. Many

people do not have access

here.

 

MIRJANA

Those who do not deserve

to be in Heaven will get

a red hat from us.

 

She shows a hat. This is a simple knitted hat with a knitted ball on the top

 

        MIRJANA

        (continues)

Those who get a blue hat...

(shows a blue hat)

...deserve to stay here.

 

Silent and very tense atmosphere in the room.

 

MIRJANA

(continues)

Red hat will tell everybody

that you are sinners in

trouble and that you are

supposed to go to Hell...

But, there is an escape!

(she stresses and

continues)

We have a principle of

mutual evaluations among

the people here. If you do

good things to other people

they would give you good

marks. Each favourable

evaluation you receive

takes off one knot from

your red hat. If the red

hat fully disappears you

will not go to Hell.

 

        DANNY

        (curiously)

How does the evaluation

works?

 

MIRJANA

The evaluation is anonymous

over computers or phones.

Everyone has an equal

evaluation right.

 

DANNY

(jumps from a chair)

I do not want everybody to

evaluate me. Only owners

of corporations may

evaluate me!

 

MIRJANA

If you want to stay here

you do not have a choice...

 

JACK 

It's too hot. I will not

wear a wool hat!

 

        DIANE

It will mess up my

hairstyle.

(touches the hair

indulgently)

 

MIRJANA

(continues calmly)

A red hat is a punishment.

You have to wear it. But

wearing the red hat is also

very useful. The people

will see that you are in

trouble and would help you

if you deserve it.

 

DANNY

(sarcastically)

Thank them very much...

 

MIRJANA

(continues)

That is the reason everyone

here tries hard to please

other people and to

diminish making possible

inconveniences...

 

FRANCES

Interesting...

 

 MIRJANA

(continues)

A blue hat you wear only

if you wish. Good marks

enlarge it. It actually

presents your merits...

Possessing a bigger blue

hat tells you are a better

person. 

 

BRANDON

I am not sure I understand.

Could you please repeat

it for me?

 

Mirjana now talks slowly in order to be taken seriously and understood better.

 

MIRJANA

Please listen to me very

carefully. It is very

important! If you behave

properly you will get

positive evaluations from

the people here and that

would decrease the size of

your red hat or increase

the size of your blue hat.

(she shows the hats in

order to be more

understood)

On the other hand, if you

produce evil you would get

negative evaluations from

the people here and that

would increase the size of

your red hat or decrease

the size of your blue hat.

A blue hat means you stay

here... 

 

MIKI

Red hat means that within

a year you will be on the

bottom, below three people.

 

        MIRJANA

Are you ready for the hat

distribution?

 

JACK

I am ready. I know that a

big blue hat belongs to me. 

 

Al shrinks himself and does not say anything. 

 

        BRANDON

Brandon is ready. Everyone

likes Brandon!

 

        MIRJANA

Let's go then...

 

Ghostly silence in room, fear of distribution...

 

MIRJANA

(continues)

John! ... Here is your hat.

 

She takes a red hat out of the desk. John does not care much about it and takes the hat.

 

MIRJANA

Diane! For you...

 

Gives her a small red hat.

 

        DIANE

(watches the hat)

It's cute...

(but she is not confident)

 

 

MIRJANA

Al!

 

He crosses himself and fearfully approaches her. Mirjana takes out a blue hat for him. Relaxing smile immediately illuminates his face, but...

 

                MIRJANA

Oops, my mistake...

 

Mirjana returns a blue hat and pulls out a red hat five feet long for him. Al closes his eyes in pain because of the sudden inconvenience and sighs deeply.

 

        AL

They could knit a sweater

with this wool...

(takes the hat)

 

KEVIN

(heckles)

Don Corleone, justice is

slow but attained!

 

MIRJANA

Kevin!

 

He approaches confidently thinking he is supposed to receive a blue hat.

 

        MIRJANA

        (continues)

Your hat...

 

Mirjana takes out a smaller red hat for him.  

 

KEVIN

(shake head protesting)

All my life I was in the

service of law enforcement.

This is injustice!

 

MIRJANA

(replies calmly)

Your laws do not apply

here. 

 

MIRJANA

Jack!

 

Now he approaches less confident. He receives a smaller red hat as well. He is very angry and verbally attacks his wife Kathy...

 

          JACK

You are guilty for this!

You! Why did God create

you? To hurt me?

 

(Kathy is silent)

 

MIRJANA

Kathy!

 

Approaches sadly and frightened. She got a red hat. Returns to her seat with a tear in her eye.

 

MIRJANA

Brandon!

 

Approaches very confidently and receives a blue hat. He returns back happily the same way he approached Mirjana.

 

        BRANDON

        (smiles)

        Everyone likes Brandon!

 

        MIRJANA

Frances!

 

She approaches a little bit afraid. Takes a blue hat and happily returns back to her place.

 

        MIRJANA

Danny!

 

He got a red hat. Protests....

 

DANNY

I have been a president and

CEO in many corporations.

Humankind has received

unlimited benefits from my

work... You are criminals,

thieves, cheaters...

 

MIRJANA

Bette!

 

She receives a big blue hat. Returns to her place dancing with her hips. 

 

                MIRJANA

        Now you know how things

are...

 

KEVIN

(sadly complains)

I go to church every

Sunday. Pray to God to

forgive my sins. This is

injustice...

 

MIKI

Have you prayed to Him to

forgive your wastefulness

while people are hungry

around the world? 

 

KEVIN

If they worked they would

have enough food. What do

I have with that?

 

MIKI

A lot! Here everything is

evaluated... Have you

prayed to God to forgive

you for the aggressions on

Yugoslavia, Iraq,

Afghanistan? 

 

        KEVIN

I have not done it!

 

MIKI

You have not, but you are

guilty anyway! Have I voted

for the Presidents who

occupied these countries or

you? Have you paid taxes to

them that they used to buy

bombs? Yes you have done it.

You are responsible for it!  

 

KEVIN

Sometimes the power must be

used in order to prevent

greater evil...

 

MIKI

That was done against your

own laws, not to mention

how much it was against our

laws....

 

KEVIN

(looks for an escape)

We haven’t done this. Our

presidents did.

 

MIKI

We know how big your quilt

is and how big the quilt of

your presidents is. Your

presidents do not have

access here. They go straight

to Hell! (he thinks a little

bit and continues)

Haven't you established

competitions practically

everywhere?  

 

KEVIN

You could say that. What

is wrong with that?

 

MIKI

Wrong is the fact that

winner takes all. That is

the reason you try to win

at any price. That is

evil...

 

JACK

(sarcastically)

Can we be enlightened with

the information how you

have become such good

people?

 

MIKI

We compete as well but a

winner does not profit much

more then a loser. We base

our relationships mainly on

mutual agreements...

 

JACK

(continues sarcastically)

You agreed to be good and

you are good? 

 

        MIKI

Something like that...

 

MIRJANA

(continues)

You who received red hats

with your own effort may

escape Hell. Miki had a big

red hat at the beginning

here. Hadn't you Miki?

 

MIKI

        (mumbles)

Yes...

 

MIRJANA

If he escaped from Hell I

guarantee you that you can

do it as well, for sure.

 

Miki does not like this comment but stays silent.  

 

MIRJANA

We have organized our life

here on the top of the

level, far above the one

you came from. Heaven is

an ideal place for living.

I believe that you are

interested in how it looks

like... From now on, it

will be your life as well.

 

 

 

Go to Heaven Part II  

 

 

          

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