INTRODUCTION

DURING VOICE-OVER: "Hello-Imagine:" SAM, dressed in white and sitting calmly on a white
bench, hands in lap, in complete whiteness. "I died-something I know that you don't:" Flashes of
instruments, on tar, with fire in the reflections, sometimes panning back to SAM in a dramatic
fashion.

SAM

(Voice-over)

Hello. My name is Sam, and I know something you don't know. It's mostly because I'm dead, but
also partly because you haven't heard my story yet. The two are more closely related than you
could possibly imagine. I died, funnily enough, because of my flute. I believe that I must have
liked it once, for I did take it up, but after hours of practice, it became a plague to avoid at all
costs. My friend Emma, though, wouldn't have approved; she loved the flute, but it killed her all
the same.How, exactly, did we die? You'll just have to wait and see. It's one of several things I
know that you don't.

TITLE SEQUENCE, Theme Music.

SCENE 1

LOUD CAFETERIA: SAM and EMMA sit facing each other at the end of one table, with MADDY,
SHREYAS, and ALLEN MLK on the extreme other end. SAM eats salad sadly, while EMMA sits
poised, pecking at her food birdlike, tiny container of almonds, small slice of crusty bread or pita,
tiny container of hummus.The HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS are sitting at VARIOUS TABLES.

SAM

Why? Why the hell do the damned Candidates want to hear me play my stupid, broken flute?

EMMA

(Gives SAM evil eye)

Sam, you are not going to be a playing solo part; you have just got to play along with the band
and hope it all goes well. I will be there, remember; and so will Josh…

SAM

(swallows hard and blushes; coughs line)

Stop it, stop it! Don’t say it too loud-

(Looks over at JOSH, who sits at a table with MONICA. Then looks over at EVEY)

I wonder why he's sitting with her- they broke up a year ago! He should be sitting with his
girlfriend... something's wrong.

(hopefully)

Maybe they got in a fight?

EMMA
I seriously doubt it. So-

(is cut off by spurt of giggles from MADDY and ALLEN MLK)

SAM

What? I can't hear you over our dear friends.

(rolls eyes and drags chair to the other side of the table to sit, hip-to-hip with EMMA)

EMMA

I said "So anyway, you had better be on the bus at 2:10, or I shall kill you."

Slowing of time; in the silence, ticking of clock. Back to real time, clock stops and talking is heard
again.

SAM

Fine.

(Sinks low into chair)

I'll be there.

SHREYAS

(Turns from ALLEN MLK)

DEATH THREAT!

(Turns back)

sam

Meh.

(Sinks further down in chair.)

EMMA pats SAM's shoulder elegantly, pecks at her food like a bird.

The bell rings, shot of the bell.

Black.

SCENE 2

Loud bus. EMMA sits in the front seat, hands folded in her lap and midnight hair tied back in a
barrette fold, the barrette sterling silver with blue gemstones. Her dress is floor-length with long
bell sleeves that puffed out before the wrist and drew in with cord at the base of her palm, made
of powder blue linen. ALLEN MLK sits in the middle of the bus, and JOSH sits in back with
PERCUSSIONISTS, chatting happily, smiling, and laughing. BAND DIRECTOR eyes all
suspiciously. Everyone has VARIOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. BUS DRIVER greets students
as they get on. SAM gets on with her FLUTE.
SAM

(mutters)

Should've just gone home... Hi, Emma. Scoot in.

EMMA

(moves in.)

Hello, Sam. How are you?

SAM

I'm good, Emma. What's up?

EMMA

Well, I am rather positive that I shall be unsuccessful in playing my solo correctly.

SAM

Eh, you'll be fine. It's me you should be worried about. My stupid flute's still broken.

EMMA

I am not very surprised at that; did you expect the flute fairies to fix it while you were in Pre-
Calculus?

SAM

Yeah...

(Trails off.)

JOSH comes up to toss out some gum. SAM brushes back her hair nervously. JOSH flicks it into
the yellowing trashcan, and he trotted nonchalantly to the back of the bus again.

EMMA

Sam, did you hear what I just said? Sam? Sam? Josh!

SAM

(snaps out of it)

Huh?

Emma

Never mind. How long do you think it will take to arrive at Merrill Auditorium?

SAM

Eh, ten to fifteen-

Honking horn, and a car whizzes past. In driver's side is THE BUSINESSMAN IN BLACK. BUS
DRIVER swerves to miss it. PERCUSSIONISTS create commotion in back but settle down
eventually. EVERYONE starts talking.

SAM

(falling over.)

Whoa! That was a close one!

EMMA

(sits straighter)

Yes, I believe it was.

SCENE 3

MERRIL AUDITORIUM: The band is set up center stage, playing Rhapsody in Blue. They are all
wearing the same uniform black on bottom, red dress shirt on top, with the boys wearing black
ties. SAM is obviously faking. Camera pans over audience; a WIFE hits her SLEEPING
HUSBAND, several TEENS are shown texting, and the PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES are
shown politely listening. In the concrete food court tunnel, a SHOOTER is shown in a black
hoodie, the hood pulled over his face. SHOOTER breaths heavily and staggers a bit, as though
drunk. As he walks, he often encounters POLICE OFFICERS, who do nothing but stand around,
look important. SHOOTER's hand is in his pocket, as though he has a gun. It pans between
SHOOTER walking and the concert until a high point in the music, when there is a gunshot and
the music ceases. SEVERAL PEOPLE scream.
EVERYONE dives under their seats except for the BAND MEMBERS.

SAM

What-what-what-what-

(ducks under seat and brings EMMA with her)

EMMA

Sam, you are being unreasonable! Surely you see that this is horrible and unacceptable! Look at
all the dirt on the floor-

SAM

Well, I'm just following the trend. What's all this about anyway? We can't have been so bad that
everyone started scream-

(Gunshot again)

Gun gun gun gun gun! Emma, gun!

More gunshots, this time continuous; BAND DIRECTOR collapses to floor in front of them and
bleeds all over the stage. EMMA faints.

Emma! (shakes) Emma, this is not a good time to faint... gotta get them away, get them away...
(looks around, and spots percussion section)

Aha!

SAM carries EMMA back to percussion and leaves her in the care of JOSH. Sprints back to
BAND DIRECTOR and drags him to percussion too. Bullet whizzes just past her face in slow
motion. Whimpers, but drags BAND DIRECTOR back to percussion unharmed. Hyperventilates.

Oh my gosh I almost got shot! Oh my gosh!

(Sees JOSH and freezes)

JOSH

(quietly)

Are you OK?

(The percussionists form a large barrier around them using overturned instruments, like
xylophones and bass drums.)

SAM

(Nervously & stuttering)

Yeah?

JOSH laughs, and turns to the injured people.

JOSH

You don't sound so sure.

Josh checks EMMA's pulse. JOSH makes a tourniquet for the DIRECTOR'S ARM out of a
TIMPANI COVER that he RIPS, and makes a compress from a SOCK. He holds the compress
down, and checks THE Director's heartbeat. His eyes widen, and he pushes everyone away.
JOSH begins to preform CPR.

slow motion: The shot pans in on the DIRECTOR's face; his eyes barely open, then close.

all fades to black.

SCene 4

fade black to a slightly static news section

NEWS REPORTER, standing outside of MERRILL AUDIOTORIUM. There is a CROWD behind

her, as well as several POLICE MEN with POLICE TAPE. The SHOOTER is seen walking away
in handcuffs.

NEWS REPORTER

-the scene where only hours earlier, there was a shooting. One person was shot, we don't have
enough information to be sure, but there is reason to beilieve that it was the band director. There
is a rumour, here, that a student involved saved his life using generic boyscout first aid and CPR.
Here he comes now-

pans away from TV to the recreation room the band members are in.

Sleeping EMMA is in an armchair, JOSH and SAM are standing nearby, watching the TV, and
behind them, students are doing various activities, like playing ping-pong. NURSES are spread
throughout the area, entertaining them and checking on certain students.

SAM

(to JOSH, almost in awe, over the NEWS REPORTER questioning JOSH ON TV.)

You really are a hero.

JOSH

(ON TV, quietly and embaressed)

Well, it was really nothing... The real hero was Sam McKeeney... she dragged the director and a
fallen classmate over to us in percussion, and almost got shot in the process. All I did was patch
them up.

SAM

(brow wrinkling)

You did not give all the credit to me! Josh! I did nothing!

JOSH

-Except risk your life for a classmate and a band teacher.

SAM

(Off in the distance somewhere...)

Is that what I did...?

(Snaps back to reality)

You're too modest for your own good.

NURSE 1

(behind them somewhere)

Ok, kids, time to get on the bus and go home! C'mon, move it, move it!

SAM and JOSH stay by the TV with EMMA, who jolts awake. SAM ON TV walks directly behind
JOSH ON TV; eyes to the ground.

NEWS REPORTER

This must be her now; Excuse me, miss, are you Sam McKeeney?
SAM

(on TV)

Yeah?

NURSE 1 turns off TV. The room is mostly empty. EMMA surveys the situation and slinks off to
leave JOSH and SAM alone.

NURSE 1

C'mon, hero couple, we gotta get a move on! Your parents're all worried!

SAM

(blushing)

Couple?

JOSH

OK, OK, we're moving. C'mon, Sam.

(Walks off)

NURSE 1

(waits for JOSH to walk away.)

Don't give up on him, kiddo. It's not a lost cause yet!

SAM

(Mutters)

It was a lost cause years ago. The only way I'm getting that guy to like me is by travelling to an
alternate unverse.

SAM walks away. The shot pans to NURSE 1, who has a strange look in her eye; it's the
reflection of THE BUISNESSMAN IN BLACK.

SCENE 5

Shot changes to SAM, rushing up to JOSH and other BAND MEMBERS waiting in line to get on
the bus.

SAM

(to JOSH; brushes back hair nervously.)

Hi...

JOSH turns around, but notices that CHRIS turned around too and thinks SAM is addressing
CHRIS.

CHRIS
Hey, sis. Wazzup? I hear that you're a hero. That makes me the brother, of a hero.

SAM

(covers eyes with hand)

Hello, Chris. I thought you were being incognito with my laptop?

CHRIS

(realizing SAM is right.)

Oh, yeah, right. See ya!

(sprints onto bus)

The students file on, and the shot zooms to inside the bus; we watch SAM get on and go into
EMMA's seat.

SAM

(peaceful and calmly, as though this happened every day)

So, that was scary and something I don't ever want to do again!

EMMA

Indeed it was.

The bus begins to move. About 5 seconds later:

SAM

But did you see how cute he was in the face of danger!?

(sighs desprately)

My gosh...

EMMA

(staring at the seat)

I will never know what you see in that boy. However, he seemed to think you were rather heroic;
maybe you two have a future?

SAM

No, we barely have a past, Emma, never mind a future. There's no future for me and Josh except
this bus ride, maybe a class senior year, and colleges on different sides of the country. Then,
after a bunch of boring family stuff on different sides of the earth, assuming I move to Turkey, we
die and go to the same void of darkness that comes with death. That's it; all, toute finite.

EMMA
(wrinkles brow)

That isn't a saying in any language I have heard of.

Sam

(shrugs)

My point is that we have no future. Did I get it across?

EMMA

You did indeed.

Sam

Good-

SAM spots BUISNESSMAN IN BLACK standing in the middle of the road ahead. She taps EMMA
excitedly.

EMMA

(Taps TEACHER, who sits behind them.)

Mrs. Collins, do you see that man in the middle of the road?

TEACHER

(Cranes neck)

No, I do not. Emma, are you OK dear? Hallucinations are not generaly a good sign!

SAM

(looks at teacher)

But he's right-

(Looks back)

There... Where'd he go?

BLACK CAR slides into view and collides with BUS head-on. Fade to black.

SCENE 6

Smashed car smoulders on the side of the road while bus rolls onto side. Smoke fills the bus.
SAM wakes up with her head against a window, bleeding at the temple. The bus is sideways, the
right side on the ground.

SAM

Eh?

(Sits up. Looks around.)

Emma? Emma? Where are you? Emma?

(Notices bus driver unconcious)

Whoa! OK, calm, calm. What to do... Get everyone out! Gotcha!

(touches forehead)

Ow!

(Sees blood)

AHH!

OTHER FIGURES stumble around in the smoke. SAM drags bus driver over the glass to the
emergency exit on the roof of the bus. SAM struggles to open it, but pushes bus driver out onto
the grass outside. She immediately comes back in and grabs the nearest figure, pushing them
outside. It is MADDY.

SAM

(Coughing)

Go, Maddy, get help.

MADDY

(pushing her away)

I know, Sam, I'm not an idiot.

MADDY stumbles off and waves madly at the pasing cars on the freeway. One stops, and a
PERSON gets out to talk to MADDY.

SAM

(Turns back to inside of the bus and coughs harder)

Everyone needs to get out! Just walk towards my voice!

OTHER FIGURES stumble towards SAM and exit the bus. SAM searches for EMMA desprately,
coughing. Her vison blurs slowly. SAM finds EMMA against the bus entrance, which is the
ground, because the bus is sideways.

SAM

(Shakes EMMA)

Emma? Emma! Wake up, Emma! Please, Emma!

SAM slings EMMA over her back and climbs over to emergency exit. SAM pushes EMMA into the
outside. By then, most of her classmates are out. However, she goes to the back of the bus to
make sure JOSH is out.

SAM
Josh?

The back of the bus is destroyed, assumably because another car crashed into it from the back.
SAM rushed to the back. JOSH is found in the back, also bleeding and knocked out. SAM's vision
blurs when she sees him and another, and she falls over. She ends up sprawled across the
glass, coughing, until SAM relaxes, presumably dead.

SCENE 7

SAM wakes in a small room; perhaps five feet wide and 10 feet long. The BED she is in is small;
3 feet by 6 feet. It is pushed against the wall. the bedding is white, and there is one pillow. The
room is painted light blue, and there is a lightly furnished wooden windown above her head. On
the sill, there is a jar with 7 pieces of sea glass in it; the camera zooms on it.

SAM

(sitting up)

Where am I?

JOSH

(appears suddenly, leaning against the wall.)

We're dead.

EMMA

(standing next to him, arms folded)

He is correct. You are a juvenile idiot!

SAM

(blinks)

Whoa, Emma, did you just say idiot?

James

(appears in the doorway)

Juvenile idiot, I believe, and she is correct. You aren't supposed to be dead; you should've hi-
tailed it outta there.

SAM

Who are you? I'm confused. I'm going back to sleep.

JAMES

I'm James. I was in the car that crashed into the bus? You don't know me. My sister crashed the
car because of a stupid text message from her stupid boyfriend.

SAM
Wait, so we're all dead? Emma, how could you die on me? You were going to die and leave me
alone? And Josh too? How could you?

EMMA

It was our time to die! It's life! But you, your time isn't for another 50 years!

SAM

How do you know?

EMMA

The Buisnessman in Black explained it all. When it's your time to die, you leave without suffering
at the begining of the incident, like James, Linda, Josh, Grayson, and me. But when it's not your
time, you sruggle along and die slowly, like you did! You end up here, but also able to return
home. You idiot! You're supposed to carry on and save more people! Tons! You've destroyed the
future!

JOSH

OK, Emma, I think that's enough. Why don't we take her into the kitchen?

EMMA

Fine.

Camera sweeping motion; it appears to go through the wall, and when it comes out, 6 people
gather around the table; JOSH, JAMES, LINDA, EMMA, MILES and SAM.

SAM

So this is the afterlife? It's just going to be us six for all of eternity?

JOSH

Pretty much. I mean, we can visit the other angels sometimes, but this is our little household of
tragic deaths.

Sam

Damn. I'm going to be 16 for all of eternity? Meh! I never even got to go to prom, or be a beautiful
college student in the prime of life!

MileS

You? Any more beautiful? I think not!

LINda

You shut up, Miles, you sl-

EMMA

EEK!
SAM

Emma doesn't do well with insults and swears.

Linda

That's going to get old, fast.

SAM

So what were you saying earlier about me destroying the future?

EMMA

Did you see that jar of sea glass in there?

Shot goes to sea glass.

Emma

That jar represents all of your purposes in detiny; the glass that has filled it already is the
purposes you've already served. When that jar is full, it's your time to die; your purpose is done.
You, however, have left before your time, and now, you've got to somehow fill out all your
purposes while you're dead. Isn't that going to be interesting? One little detail, though...

Josh

You dragged all of us into it.

Emma

Yes, you have kept us from a peaceful existance, and now we have to help you fulfill your
purposes before we can rest in peace.

Zoom in on SAM's face.

Scene 8

SAM walking outside the HOUSE with EMMA.

SAM

I'm sorry about this, Emma.

EMMA

It is ok. Secretly, I was a little relieved that I had a friend here. I was afraid I'd have to live with
that lot for the rest of my death. Isn't it funny? We're dead!

Sam

Not really... I kinda miss my family, and my dog... and my laptop...

EMMA
It's kinda like a second chance for you, though, isn't it? With Josh?

SAM

Yeah, but-

Emma

No buts! It totally is; if Josh falls in love with you, you two will be together forever!

SAM

That's true.

EMMA

So take advantage of it! I don't like that Linda character; I think she wants Josh for herself.

SAM

You're right; he'll never want me over her...

Emma

No, that's not right; if he's as great as you say he is, Josh will judge you guys by the heart, not the
outside. And plus, I know something she doesn't know.

SAM

(stops)

What?

Emma

His ambition. It was just the two of us here for a while, and he was really angry that he died. He'd
never admit it to anyone, but that guy wants more than anything to go back home. Help him with
it, and you'll find a way to his heart.

Sam

That's genius! But-

EMMA

No buts! Just do it!

JOSH

(standing on farmers porch, yelling at them)

Guys, you'd better come in. We're about to get a notice!

SAM

Notice? What notice? Are we being evicted? I liked this house though!
Emma

What? No. A notice of what your first purpose is. Move it, come on!

CREDITS

PREVIEW OF NEXT SHOW.

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