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EXT. DINER - NIGHT
Dark outside, but bright inside. The diner is mostly empty,
save for the WAITER behind the counter, wiping down the day's
deeds.
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Also inside, a woman, 40s, quirky academic looking. She sits at the
bar, pours more CREAM into her COFFEE, watching the milk
swirl.
A beat before he enters, beelining over to her.
HIM
Thought I'd find you here.
She looks him over.
NORA
You're not the one I was expecting.
She returns her attention to the coffee.
HIM
This isn't really an on demand
situation.
NORA
I know.
She sighs.
NORA (CONT'D)
Fine. Tell me your unfinished
business.
HIM
Maybe you should tell me who you
were expecting first.
She leans a little closer.
NORA
Honestly, I thought it would be the
new guy. He's the reason I'm here
this late.
HIM
Just because he kicked the bucket
tonight doesn't mean he's ready to
talk yet.
NORA
Fair. But usually they're eager to
find someone who can see and hear
them.
HIM
I met him.
Finally, some interest.
NORA
You did?
HIM
Sure, we uh - called it quits in
the same vicinity.
NORA
Oh. I didn't realize there was a
zip code club. Do you also have a
book of the month? Or...
HIM
I heard you had some kind of sense
of humor.
NORA
Are you flirting?
HIM
So, my unfinished business.
NORA
Yep, let's have it.
HIM
A girl.
NORA
It often is. For straight guys
anyway.
She looks him over again.
NORA (CONT'D)
You appear to fit that bill. Do you
wanna cut to the chase or should I
give you 20 Questions?
HIM
I mean, I have all the time in the
world. But you're still living.
NORA
You look too young to have died of
natural causes, unless you ate a
lot of fast food.
HIM
I'm more of a salad guy.
NORA
So I'm going to guess it was
something abrupt. Car accident.
HIM
Ding.
NORA
Really? First out of the gate? I
mean, there's not a lot of traffic
by that library where he died.
HIM
All it takes is one text to
distract you.
NORA
Hmmm. And the text was probably
from her.
HIM
I was hoping. But it wasn't.
NORA
So whatever you were trying to tie
up with her didn't happen.
HIM
(bittersweet)
She waited for me all night.
NORA
Ah, so someone might have preferred
you stay around. Sounds like the
accident wasn't with her so -
HIM
I was on the way to make a sizable
donation to a really good cause.
NORA
I can't really write a check on
your behalf at this ...late date.
How long ago?
HIM
30 years.
NORA
Really? I thought you were just
into the vintage look, a lot of
metro guys are these days.
HIM
I've noticed.
NORA
Wait, why have you waited so long
to come see me?
HIM
More pressing matters. For you and
for me.
NORA
So you've known -
HIM
Sure - I follow what's happening in
town. I even read the news. What's
above the fold through the
newspaper box anyway.
NORA
So you met him? The guy from
tonight I mean.
HIM
Well, yeah. It was his first time
there. At least, while I've been
there, which has been...
NORA
30 years. That's a lot of time to
leave something unfinished. But
also, was texting really in full
swing that long ago?
HIM
I say text in contemporary lingo,
but at the time it was a pager. (a
beat) There aren't so many gals
around who can hear me, you know?
NORA
Right. I wasn't here back then.
HIM
Exactly.
NORA
Still. You've waited. Were you
uncertain if it was worth it? Or if
you could really wrap things up?
HIM
Well - yes. She moved away. And I'm
stuck here.
NORA
I don't have a lot of frequent
flyer miles presently.
HIM
You won't need them. Her daughter
is here now.
NORA
Hers? Not yours.
HIM
Unsure. I can't really swab the
inside of my cheek to check.
NORA
I'm relatively certain you don't
want me to exhume you.
HIM
I don't think you'll need to. Can
you talk to her for me? Sus her
out?
NORA
I can try. Are you wanting me to
start the convo with who's your
daddy? Or are you going to give me
some ice breakers to work with
here?
HIM
She's in town speaking at some
event. Looks so much like her
mother it's eerie.
NORA
Don't suppose you had a picture on
you at the time you...
He pulls out a WALLET that both looks 'new' and dusty at the
same time somehow, as if the wallet has aged but he hasn't.
He holds up the PHOTO for her. A redhead.
NORA (CONT'D)
Huh, I may have seen her in town. I
mean, not her, but ...her daughter.
He looks at the picture.
HIM
She is also...
NORA
Oh. OH! Not on the same night
though...
HIM
No, thankfully. But I saw it
mentioned in the local paper. You
know, the way they do for people
back home who knew them.
NORA
Yeah. How did she - ?
HIM
Cancer. We wouldn't have had very
long anyway I guess.
NORA
My condolences?
HIM
Thanks, I guess. So where do we
start?
NORA
We?
HIM
Yeah - I mean, don't you need me
there, whispering in your ear?
NORA
There's a lot less whispering than
you might think for a 'ghost
whisperer'.
HIM
Yeah, I've noticed you haven't kept
your voice down much for the guy at
the other end of the counter.
She pulls back her hair, shows him she's wearing an EARBUD.
NORA
He assumes I'm on the phone.
She holds up her nearby PHONE.
HIM
Right. Bluetooth these days. Sure
would have helped 30 years ago.
NORA
There will always be new
distractions.
The Waiter hums along to his own set of HEADPHONES as he
cleans, oblivious to their wacky conversational topics.
HIM
So you don't want my help? You're
just going to go out there on your
own, looking for her based off a
picture?
NORA
I'm guessing you have a name at
least.
HIM
Gwen. I'm...not sure about her real
last name. But from the moment I
saw her I knew who her kin was.
NORA
Kin? Are you sure it was only 30
years ago? You kind of talk - and
look - like someone a bit ...older.
HIM
You're no spring chicken yourself.
NORA
Do you want my help or not?
HIM
You have a bit of a monopoly at
present.
She sighs again.
NORA
You were really reluctant about
coming to me huh?
HIM
I wasn't sure it was possible to
make much of a difference now. But
now that she's in town...
NORA
(resolute)
You have to try.
HIM
So...is there some price or
something for this? I suppose what
little cash is in my wallet may
still be good if there's a ghost
ATM somewhere around here.
NORA
Last I checked there wasn't really
an app for ghost payments. I
wouldn't take it anyway.
HIM
You just do this for the sheer joy?
NORA
I do it because one day I hope
someone will do it for me. If I've
still left anything undone, pass
before I'm ready.
HIM
As many people as you've done this
for, you don't ...feel ready?
NORA
Does anyone really? It's rarely the
right time.
HIM
Fair enough. So you prefer to work
alone.
NORA
I usually do.
HIM
No Costello to your Abbott?
NORA
Are you trying to say I'm tall to
makeup for that earlier remark?
HIM
I'd just like to come along for the
ride, if you don't mind.
NORA
Your last ride wasn't so
successful.
HIM
Metaphorically speaking. I can meet
you on location and stay out of
your car...if that makes you more
comfortable. Besides, your back
seat is a bit full.
NORA
You've been looking around my car?
HIM
I had to check your credentials.
NORA
What 'credentials' could you
possibly find in my car?
HIM
Well, you haven't wrecked it, so
you're already ahead of me.
NORA
Yeah, I'd like to keep it that way.
She lays some BILLS on the counter, nods to the waiter from a
distance, takes one last swig of her coffee. She heads toward
the door, lets it slam in front of him which would be rude to
anyone else but -
- he walks right through it.
EXT. DINER PARKING LOT - NIGHT
She opens the driver's side door to her sensible sedan,
hesitates.
NORA
You can ride in the back. But no
sudden distractions. No commentary
on the 'essentials' I keep in my
backseat and -
HIM
No smoking.
NORA
How did you know?
HIM
I heard from the others. Though I
still don't understand how you can
smell it.
NORA
I can hear you, can't I?
He thinks, nods.
She hops in the car. He momentarily disappears, reappears in
her backseat as she adjusts the REARVIEW MIRROR. She doesn't
jump at his sudden re-materialization.
She looks him in the eye.
NORA (CONT'D)
So just what else did you hear from
'the others'?
He smiles.
HIM
Oh. This and that. They don't like
that guy you're seeing.
She scoffs.
NORA
Why would they waste their
afterlife discussing my love life?
HIM
Projection I guess. They can't
improve theirs, so they theorize
about yours.
She pulls out of the lot, hitting the road.
EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
NORA
Theorize. What is there to theorize
about?
HIM
How long it will last.
NORA
In human years or ghost years?
HIM
Days I think. They have bets going.
NORA
What would they pay them with?
Ghost credit? Afterpay?
He considers.
HIM
I've thought of a way I could pay
you, though.
NORA
I already told you, I don't take
cash. Currency. Whatever.
HIM
I could take you out.
She stops abruptly at a stoplight.
NORA
Out?
HIM
Sorry, I know you said no
distractions. We can discuss this
later.
NORA
This I've gotta hear. How could you
possibly take me out?
HIM
We're out now, aren't we?
NORA
Well, yes, but I'm doing the
driving.
HIM
Yes, I'd advise that. The light is
green.
NORA
Thanks. Not that as the guy you'd
have to be the one driving, of
course. I'm sure you've noticed
gender roles have loosened a lot in
most ways since your day.
HIM
I'm not from the 1950s. Mp3s were a
thing while I was alive.
NORA
Yeah but not the cloud. Not
streaming.
HIM
And you can't date now without a
cloud and streaming music?
NORA
Playlists are nice.
HIM
Now who's flirting?
NORA
I'm just trying to understand what
you're proposing.
HIM
I mean, I'm assuming you'd even be
open to it. I don't know how
serious you are with that guy.
NORA
Or if he'd be jealous of a ghost?
HIM
Does he even know?
NORA
Know?
(off his look)
Oh. No.
(beat)
Not...really. He thinks I help my
aunt with some investigative
reporting or something.
(another beat)
To be honest we haven't talked
about it much.
HIM
I can see why the others think he
won't last.
NORA
What?! Why?
HIM
Because he doesn't even seem to
notice or care how you spend your
time and focus.
NORA
We're not that serious.
HIM
Great. Then we can go out.
NORA
(sarcastically)
Can we?
HIM
Aren't you poly and open anyway?
Because of your day job work
schedule?
NORA
(avoidant)
I didn't realize you'd done so much
homework on me.
HIM
I wanted to know how best to
communicate with you, since it
seems you're the only living person
I can.
NORA
If this works, you may eventually
be able to talk to her too.
HIM
I'd like that. I have no idea what
I'd say really. 'Sorry about your
mom, she was really lovely. I know
it was brief but it mattered, and
if it meant you got to be here, all
the better.'
NORA
(smirks)
You're ok for a ghost dad.
He shifts, resettles.
HIM
How many ghosts have you had before
me in this backseat?
She glares at him a bit based on his phrasing.
HIM (CONT'D)
Not like that, obviously - I mean I
don't know if you can. Can you?
Don't answer that. Or do, but
later.
She rolls her eyes.
HIM (CONT'D)
I just wonder if some of
these...things back here are
castoffs and remnants of people
you've helped before.
NORA
No. It's my stuff. My remnants.
He looks at some BOOKS on the floorboard.
HIM
You've read -
NORA
Hush. Like you haven't.
HIM
Not while I was alive.
A beat.
HIM (CONT'D)
It's not true you know. That you
can't take it with you. But you
can't take ALL of it with you.
NORA
I've noticed. It seems to be only
one thing you get to take.
HIM
Yeah, try not to let it be your
wallet.
NORA
Unless it has the picture of
someone important in it?
She smiled.
He concedes with a grin.
INT. NORA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NEXT MORNING
She's running a BRUSH through her hair, smoothing her
clothes, quick inspection in the mirror. she slows down then,
notices an ENGAGEMENT RING in a RING TRAY by her vanity. She
pulls open a drawer tugging out a NECKLACE CHAIN. She laces
it through the ring, puts it on but tucks it underneath her
blouse out of sight, resting a hand over it when -
- he appears.
She jumps just a little but quickly recovers.
NORA
30 years and you haven't learned
not to sneak up on people?
HIM
They can't usually see or hear me
and you - don't really seem like
'people'.
NORA
I get it, but for however long
we're working together I still
expect you to respect some basics.
Like no peeping tom stuff.
HIM
My name's not Tom, but I pinky
swear, no peeping.
NORA
You haven't mentioned your name.
HIM
Dean. James Dean.
NORA
Very funny, especially given your
mode of exit.
HIM
Figured you'd get that inside joke.
NORA
Really though.
HIM
Just Dean. No James. Wouldn't it be
kind of clever if that was my last
name though? Then every time they
listed my surname first, it would
still be James comma Dean.
NORA
You've really spent some time
thinking about this.
DEAN/HIM
Like I say, I've got plenty of
time.
She glances at her WATCH.
NORA
Well, I don't. I've got places to
be.
She straightens up, heads out the bedroom door into the hall.
INT. NORA'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
She walks briskly down the hall, grabs KEYS and her MESSENGER
BAG.
DEAN
So are you going to tell me?
NORA
Tell you what.
DEAN
What that was.
NORA
What what was?
DEAN
That ring.
NORA
What ring?
DEAN
Is there an echo in here? You
remind me of the babe.
NORA
What babe?
DEAN
You know Labyrinth?
NORA
I do own DVDs. I'm not 20.
DEAN
I like that about you. You still
haven't told me about the ring.
NORA
I thought we were solving your
case, not mine.
DEAN
Aha, so you have a case to solve.
Is yours love lost too?
She opens the front door and very intentionally slams it
behind her.
He walks through the closed door.
DEAN (CONT'D)
Oh my god it is isn't it? You lost
someone. Is that the undone thing
you're hoping someone may
eventually help you with?
NORA
I'm really not the focal point
here.
She opens the car door and slides in, trying again to shut
him out with a door slam.
No bueno, he slides through the back passenger door like
butter.
INT. NORA'S CAR - NEXT MORNING - CONTINUOUS
DEAN
But what if you are? Maybe each
leap might be your last leap home.
NORA
I don't think I'm the equivalent of
Quantum Leap.
DEAN
YOU KNOW QUANTUM LEAP?!
NORA
Ever heard of a rerun? Nick at
Nite?
DEAN
My god you know how to make a man
feel old. How old are you anyway?
You sort of seem younger than me.
(corrects himself)
Than I was.
NORA
Does it matter?
DEAN
It matters to me. I don't really
like to rob the cradle.
She glares at him in the rear view mirror.
DEAN (CONT'D)
Sorry, would you prefer I sit in
the front? Would that be less
distracting?
He beams himself there in an instant.
DEAN (CONT'D)
I mean it's kind of rude to treat
you like a chauffeur.
She looks out the window.
NORA
Yes.
DEAN
Yes what? Yes to sitting in front?
Yes to belatedly going out? Very
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman of You.
She pretends she doesn't understand that reference.
NORA
Yes I lost someone. Not suddenly.
It was...a long exit.
He downshifts his tone.
DEAN
I'm sorry. That sucks.
NORA
Honestly I don't even know which is
better - a long exit or a quick
one. Neither one is fun to
experience.
DEAN
Ah, there are those credentials.
NORA
Yeah. It's not really something you
carry in your wallet or your back
seat.
She fastens her seatbelt, starts to drive.
A beat as he lets her concentrate.
DEAN
(softly)
So you haven't seen him? After, I
mean.
NORA
Nada.
DEAN
Oh. I guess that might feel like a
double loss.
NORA
It's been a while.
DEAN
Still.
NORA
So where was the last place you saw
her?
DEAN
Gwen? At a bookstore downtown. Are
we going there now?
NORA
Later. I have work right now.
DEAN
Right. The radio station.
NORA
You know I can't keep talking to
you like this once the mic is open,
right? We should make that another
clear rule.
DEAN
Noted.
NORA
Is Gwen in town speaking at the
book festival?
DEAN
Yes! She's an author. I can't turn
the pages of the book so I only
really know what's on the cover.
NORA
What kind of book?
DEAN
YA. Some fantasy thing.
NORA
Any ghosts?
DEAN
Mostly dragons I think.
NORA
What can you tell me about her mom?
DEAN
Mary. She was quiet. Sweet.
NORA
Doesn't really seem like your type
if I'm honest.
DEAN
She wasn't at first. I don't know
what she saw in me. It was friends
at first and then it sort of
mutated.
NORA
Like the X-men?
DEAN
I really really love all your 90s
references. Makes me feel at home.
NORA
I'll tell you up front in most
cases I only saw the movie and
didn't read the book or comic books
though.
DEAN
It's ok. We can watch them later.
NORA
You're really making a lot of
future plans with me.
DEAN
I have a feeling I'm going to be
here for a while.
NORA
Maybe. Maybe not. It's a little bit
different every time. Obviously
you've met some of the folks I've
interacted with previously, but -
as you probably know not everyone
stays.
DEAN
I know. I think I'd prefer to stay.
NORA
You would?
DEAN
Well, yeah - I mean if she is my
daughter, I'd like to have some
chance to see her life. Even if
it's only when she's passing
through town. And if I can
influence it in any kind of
positive way -
NORA
There's no guarantee. About any of
it.
DEAN
I know.
He instinctively lays a hand on hers on the gear shift. It
doesn't pass through, and she flinches like it's felt. She
looks confused, but shifts gears - literally and
figuratively.
NORA
Hey, while we are at the station,
if you really wanna lend a hand,
you'll listen in to the board
meeting today. I'd love to get some
intel on their forthcoming
budgeting and hiring decisions.
They've had some closed door
meetings lately. In radio that's
never a good sign.
DEAN
Well, no door is closed to me.
NORA
I'm counting on it.
They zoom off toward the city center.