Bae lifting a pile of boxes and carrying them to the door.
Suddenly Molly yells out.
DARA
Wait. Wait. Not that one.
She hurries over and pulls the "Valuable" box from the stack
in his arms. He looks at it with surprise.
BAE
Oh, . I'm sorry. I don't know
how that got in there.
He turns to the door and then back to Dara.
BAE
(continuing)
Hey,Dar. Why don't you come? It's
like summer outside.
DARA
No.
BAE
Just for a stroll. It'd be good to
get out.
Dara shakes her head and turns away.
DARA
I can't do it Bae.
Bae, annoyed, walks over to her.
BAE
Dara... you're not the one who died!
Dara stops and looks at him. He has struck home. After a
moment she nods her head.
Dara
Okay. Just a short walk.
He gently squeezes her shoulders.
Bae
Thata girl.
Before Ji even understands what is happening, they are
exiting the loft. Ji jumps up and runs after them.
JI
Hey, Dara! Wait!
The door slams shut. Ji is locked inside. Frightened and
desperate, he rushes for the door knob. His hand sinks through
it. There is a strange sound, like ELECTRICAL STATIC, as it
penetrates the metal and wood. Frightened, he yanks it back.
Ji circles the space several times and then returns to the
door. Clenching his teeth, he reaches out again. As his hand
pushes up against it, we sense that he experiences a subtle
resistance. The hairs on the back of his hand vibrate as his
ghostly form presses into it. We sense Sam's fear as his
entire arm DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW. The grating ELECTRICAL SOUND
shudders up his spine.
The sight of his amputated limb is unsettling but Ji does
not pull back. Slowly he edges in and presses his face into
the molecules of the wood.
JI'S P.O.V.
as atoms and electrons spin past him at frightening speed.
There is a sense of a universe in total chaos. Terrifying
SOUNDS charge through his body.
JI
pulling back from the door. He is trembling.
INT. LOFT - AN HOUR LATER
DISCOVERS JI. He is sitting in a corner singing quietly to
himself.
JI
"Singing bye bye, Miss American Pie.
Drove my Chevy to the levy, but the
levy was dry. Them good ol' boys
were drinkin' whiskey and rye, and
singing this'll be the day that I..."
He stops, realizing the last word of the song. He sits
silently, staring at the wall.
Suddenly, there is a SOUND at the door. Ji's eyes shoot up.
The door begins to open.
Ji stands up. His face begins to tighten. We know instantly
that something is wrong. His eyes fill with a fury we have
not seen before.
The Mugger, the man who killed Ji, is entering the loft. He
has a key in his hand and puts it in his pocket. Ji is
stunned. The Mugger locks the door.
Ji goes wild. He shoots at the man with all his might,
attacking him unceasingly, but with no effect. His hands and
feet pass right through him.
Ji
You motherf*cking b*st*rd! What the
hell are you doing here? What are
you doing?
The Mugger, unaware that anything is going on, glances around
nervously as he moves through the vast space.
Entering the bedroom, the Mugger goes to the dresser and
quickly examines the drawers. He is very neat, careful to
leave no sign that he was there. He seems to be looking for
something but cannot find it.
Suddenly we hear a KEY TURNING in the front door. The Mugger
seems startled. He dashes from the bedroom and hides quickly
behind one of the large sculptures. We hear the door OPEN.
Dara is standing there.
JI goes crazy.
Ji
Dara, no! Get out!
Dara closes the door and locks it shut. Ji freezes as she
heads for the bedroom. She walks right past the Mugger. To
Ji's horror she stops and turns to look around. There is a
curious expression on her face. Seeing nothing she continues
through the loft.
The Mugger pulls out his gun. Ji looks on in absolute terror.
Dara's purple blouse hits the floor as she begins to remove
her clothes. She turns on the radio.
Jiyong doesn't know what to do. The Mugger seems excited by
Dara's semi-. He begins skirting the edges of the
loft, moving toward the bedroom. Ji is crazed.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Dadoong appears at the Mugger's feet.
Ji's eyes light up. He drops to his knees, crawls over to
him, glares into his eyes, and screams.
ANGLE - THE CAT
SCREECHES and jumps straight up. His claws shoot out at the
mugger's face, ripping into the flesh near his eye.
Blood appears. The mugger sees it dripping through his
fingers. The sight of it upsets him. He grabs the cat angrily
by the neck. It SQUEALS. Dara in her bra, peers from the
bedroom.
DARA
Dadoong, what's wrong?
The Mugger holds the cat's mouth shut. Seeing and hearing
nothing, Dara steps back into the bedroom.
The Mugger takes the cat and throws it across the floor.
Holding his eye, he gets up and rushes for the exit. Ji
runs after him, but the door closes before he can get through.
He is left inside.
ANGLE - JIYONG
stares at the closed door in a wild panic. He doesn't know
what to do. Then, summoning all of his courage, he takes a
blind, running slow motion leap and charges through it.
JI'S P.O.V.
There is a brief sense of passing through a molecular force
field, a miniature universe inside the door.
ANGLE - JIYONG
as he emerges from the door and lands on the other side. He
seems excited to have survived and is very pleased with
himself.
EXT. NEW YORK STREET - DAY
The Mugger steps out onto the sidewalk and hurries toward
the subway. A patch of sleeve soaks up the blood from his
eye.
Ji starts after the man but instantly freezes. Hordes of
people crowd the sidewalk. The crush of humanity is
frightening. Two lovers, holding hands, are coming right at
him. Before Sam is able to move, we hear the sound of their
arms cutting through his ghostly form.
Ji tries instinctively to dodge the crowds but people
approach him from all angles.
We hear a BABY CARRIAGE roll through Ji's feet and he nearly
falls over trying to avoid it. His instincts will not let
go.
A barrage of images and SOUNDS assaults Ji. It is more than
he can handle. Still, he refuses to give up. He stays close
to the Mugger.
EXT. NEW YORK SUBWAY STATION - DAY
The Mugger heads down a flight of steps into the IRT.
INT. SUBWAY TRAIN - DAY
The Mugger gets onto a crowded subway car. Ji stands near a
corner of the train watching him.
Suddenly, Ji notices that something odd is happening. One
of the riders at the other end of the car is walking toward
him. As he approaches the Mugger, he does not stop, but passes
right through him. It takes Ji a moment to realize what is
happening, but then it is too late.
ANGLE - THE OTHER GHOST
With unholy fury the New Ghost charges into Ji. The attack
is so unexpected and ferocious that Ji has no sense of how
to defend himself. With unexpected power, the Ghost grabs
hold of him and slams him into the subway door. Ji's head
plows right through it.
on Ji's head sticking outside of the car as the subway tunnel
rushes past him. There is a panicked look on his face. The
look intensifies as he turns and sees another train barreling
down on him.
on Ji's body inside the car still struggling with the Ghost
as the other train shoots by the window. With a huge gasp,
Ji shoots back into the car, and wrests himself free of the
Ghost's hold. The Ghost flies after him, screeching.
Ji surges through the door at the end of the train and finds
himself on the bridge between the subway cars. The subway
Ghost stares at him through the window with a wild, insane
look.
GHOST
Stay off! This is mine!
ANGLE FAVORING WINDOW
With shocking impact, the Ghost's fist goes flying into the
window. To Ji's terror and amazement, the window SHATTERS.
The Ghost smiles. Passengers scream and Ji dives for cover.
Ji stares at the broken glass with fascination and confusion.
Suddenly, the train moves from the darkness of the tunnel
into broad daylight.
EXT. ELEVATED SUBWAY STATION - DAY
The train stops at an elevated subway platform in Brooklyn.
JI'S P.O.V.
Ji sees the Mugger exiting the train and frantically rushes
after him.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - DAY
Ji follows the Mugger down a long covered staircase to the
street.
EXT. 321 PROSPECT PLACE - DAY
The Mugger heads toward 321 Prospect Place. The streets are
lined with old apartment buildings. Many windows are boarded
up. TWO MEN, standing on the corner, are slamming a piece of
heavy machinery onto the pavement.
Ji hears GOSPEL MUSIC coming from a storefront church and
notices a sign, "SISTER PARK BOM, MEDIUM, SPIRIT READER,
ADVISOR." He looks up to a third story window and sees a
similar sign with day-glo arrows pointing to the entrance on
the street. He seems curious, but then realizes that the
Mugger is nearly halfway down the block. He turns and rushes
after him.
EXT. 321 PROSPECT PLACE - DAY
Ji and the mugger approach a tenement building at 321
Prospect Place.
INT. TENEMENT HALLWAY - DAY
Ji follows the Mugger into the building and watches as he
opens the mail box for APT. 4D. The name scribbled across it
is KIM JAEJOONG. There's no mail.
INT. WILLIE'S APARTMENT - DAY
Ji enters Jae's apartment. It is a squalid affair. Peeled
paint chips litter the floor. The bed is unmade.
Jae pulls open a drawer in a small nightstand and drops
in the keys to Dara's loft. Ji sees his wallet. His driver's
license, bank ID, and a photo of Dara are there, too.
Furious, Ji lunges for Jaejoong but then holds his punch,
knowing it will have no effect. He turns instead to a window
and, like the Ghost on the subway, smashes it with his fist.
Nothing happens.
Ji
Damn!
Jae dials the phone. Someone comes on the line.
JAE
She came home. I couldn't get it.
Give me a couple of days. I'll go
back.
He hangs up. Ji stares at him in wild confusion.
JI
Get what? Who the hell are you? What
were you doing at Dara's? What the
hell's going on?
Jae grabs a bottle of wine from the nightstand and lies
down. After a moment he reaches over and takes Dara's photo
from the drawer. He studies it slowly.
Ji stands by the door in a state of motionless rage. There
is nothing he can do.
JI
(continuing)
Stay away from her!
EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - DAY
Ji storms down the street. His movements seem undirected,
utterly aimless. He is seething inside.
Suddenly Ji looks up. An old BAG LADY is walking down the
street talking loudly to a SHORT WOMAN tagging along beside
her. As they approach a street pole, the Bag Lady swerves to
the side. The Short Woman, however, walks right through it.
Passersby laugh at the Old Lady talking to herself. Ji,
unsettled, rushes away.
As Ji rounds a corner, a sudden blast of MUSIC explodes out
of nowhere. Ji jumps into the street, gasping. A phonograph
needle SCRATCHES across a record and the MUSIC STOPS. A
woman's voice booms out:
WOMAN'S VOICE
Sorry 'bout that.
PANNING SHOT
to a pair of loudspeakers in a storefront window. The MUSIC
blares out once more and SOUNDS of gospel fill the street.
Ji looks up. He is back in front of the storefront church
with the sign for SISTER PARK BOM, MEDIUM, SPIRIT READER,
ADVISOR, hanging overhead. Below it is another sign. "Contact
the dearly departed. $20.00".
Ji stares at the sign with curiosity. The MUSIC is
compelling. After a moment's hesitation, he goes in the open
door.
INT. STOREFRONT - DAY
A record player is sitting near the storefront window, a
makeshift microphone placed in front of it.
Several rows of folding chairs face a raised platform with
nothing on it. A number of people are sitting there, mostly
women. One gets the sense that this is a cross between a
waiting room and a meeting hall. A black WOMAN steps up on
the platform and calls out:
WOMAN
Rosa Santiago.
MRS. SANTIAGO tucks a Spanish paperback romance into her
purse and heads to a door at the rear of the hall. Ji follows
after her.
INT. SEANCE ROOM - DAY
Mrs. Santiago enters a dark room with a window and door
leading to a side street. A paisley bedspread is tacked over
the window.
In the center of the room is a round seance table. Two
heavyset sisters, CLARA (29), and LOUISE (26), are standing
beside an open closet. It is empty.
WOMAN
Please be seated.
Mrs. Santiago sits at the table. She seems apprehensive.
Clara steps into the closet and taps on each of the walls as
though demonstrating that they are solid.
CLARA
My sister will be with us soon.
She steps back out and closes the door. Louise inserts a
tape into a boom box and then steps forward.
LOUISE
Sister Bom. Grant us the gift of
your all-seeing presence. Appear for
us now.
FAVORING CLOSET
She turns back to the closet and opens the door. Like magic,
PARK BOM, 21, appears standing inside. She is a black
woman in a white tunic. The whiteness of her garment makes
it look as if she is glowing in the dark. Mrs. Santiago is
wide-eyed. Ji smiles as Bm steps into the room.
BOM
Mrs. Santiago.
MRS. SANTIAGO
Buenos dias.
She takes a twenty dollar bill from her purse and hands it
to Bom. Clara graciously intercepts the money.
BOM
I understand you are hoping to contact
your husband.
MRS. SANTIAGO
Si. Si.
BOM
Well, I believe he's gonna be with
us today.
MRS. SANTIAGO
Oh, thank you, tHank you.
Tears well up in her eyes. She crosses herself several times.
BOM
But there's no telling about the
other world. You gotta cast out all
doubt. You gotta believe. Do you
believe?
MRS. SANTIAGO
(nodding her head
vigorously)
Si. Si. I believe. I believe.
BOM
And remember, we don't make no
promises. I can phone up there till
I'm blue in the face,
(she points to the
ceiling)
...but it don't necessarily mean
he's gonna be home. Them folks go
shopping, they play bingo. It's just
like here. You can't always get 'em.
Mrs. Santiago, utterly fascinated, nods understandingly.
JI
Sure lady!
Bom's eyes glance up curiously for a second, as though
she heard something, and then she continues.
ODA MAE
Okay, let's get ready then.
Ji steps back as the sisters get up and position themselves
behind Park Bom. The moment feels rehearsed, theatrical.Bom
raises her hands into the air and closes her eyes. There
is a hush in the room. Her body begins to tremble. Mrs.
Santiago clutches her chair. Suddenly Park Bom breaks out of
her trance.
BOM
We got a problem here. I don't think
he's in. Wait. I feel something. Did
he know someone who's passed over,
someone named Anna... Mary...
Consuela... Maria?
MRS. SANTIAGO
Si, si! His mama. She's Maria.
BOM
Ah! I knew it. He's with his mama.
JI
(sarcastic)
Oh my God...
Bom's eyes dart uncomfortably around the room.
BOM
I'm afraid this is gonna be too hard.
Now I got two souls I gotta contact.
I don't know about that. It's
difficult, you know. The pain. The
effort.
MRS. SANTIAGO
I pay more. How much? How much?
BOM
Twenty dollars.
JI
Way to go. Milk her for every penny.
Bom jumps up and stares at her sisters. They look back
at her curiously. They can't figure out what's wrong. Neither
can Park Bom.
Mrs. Santiago reaches into her purse. A twenty dollar bill
changes hands.Ji watches, amazed at it all.Bom sits
down and goes back into her trance. Her eyeballs roll up
into their sockets.
CLARA/LOUISE
Praise the Lord. Thank you,.
Bom is beginning to shake again. The two women grab her
shoulders to keep her from falling out of the chair. Suddenly
her whole body stiffens.
CLARA/LOUISE
(continuing)
Have mercy! Have mercy!
Mrs. Santiago stares on in amazement. After a moment
Bom's body collapses in a heap. Then, like a phoenix rising
from the ashes, she pulls herself up in her chair and assumes
a normal pose.
After several seconds to get her bearings, Park Bom begins to
speak. Only now she has an entirely new voice. It sounds
deep and hoarse, like an old man's. For all its put on
theatricality, it is strangely convincing.
PARK BOM
Welcome, Rosa Santiago. You are
fortunate today. The channel is clear.
Many spirits are gathering.
JI
(scanning the room)
Yeah? Where?
Bom jerks. Her eyes dart nervously around the room.
MRS. SANTIAGO
My husband?
BOM
(a bit uneasy)
I can feel his vibration. Yes, yes,
he is drawing toward us now. I can
see him coming.
MRS. SANTIAGO
Julio! Julio! How is he? How does he
look?
BOM
Oh, he is a very handsome man.
MRS. SANTIAGO
(surprised)
Handsome?
BOM
In our Father's Kingdom we are all
handsome.
MRS. SANTIAGO
(understanding)
Julio!
Ji looks on dismayed.
BOM
He is standing before me. He is
wearing a black suit.
MRS. SANTIAGO
A black suit? Oh yes, yes. He was
buried in that.
Mrs. Santiago begins to cry. Ji looks around the room with
growing disgust. Then he leans over to BOM and yells
into her ear.
JI
What a crock of !
Park Bom nearly falls off her chair. She spins around.
BOM
Who's there?
Ji is stunned. Clara and Louise look at one another in total
confusion. This is obviously not part of the act. Mrs.
Santiago seems frightened.
BOM
(continuing)
Where are you?
JI
(looking around)
Who?
Bom screams and jumps up thrashing at the air. Her knee
kicks the table and sends it toppling. Mrs. Santiago is
terrified.
MRS. SANTIAGO
Julio! Julio!
JI
What's going on?
BOM
Get out of here! Leave me alone!
Mrs. Santiago doesn't know what to do. She begins to cry.
JI
Who are you talking to?
Clara runs up to Bom.
Bom
Keep him away!
Louise looks at the empty room.
JI
Are you talking to me?
BOM
Do something. Help me.
Clara just stares at her sister. JI is excited and amazed.
JI
I don't believe this. Hey you. My
name is KWON JIYONG. Can you hear me?
KWON JIYONG!
BOM
Stop it!
JI
Say my name! Kwon Jiyong! Say it!
CLARA
Talk to me, Bom. Say something.
BOM
KWON JIYONG!
Ji nearly falls on his face. Clara's eyes widen. She is
more confused than ever.
SAM
Jesus!
CLARA
Kwonjyong?
Bom runs into the closet.
It has a false panel leading to a hidden chamber on the left
side and she barricades herself inside it. Clara and Louise
stand outside pulling on the handle. They seem frightened.
CLARA/LOUISE
Bom! Bom!
INT. CLOSET - DAY
ParK Bom is rocking back and forth on the floor praying. Ji's
feet enter the frame beside her.
BOM
Lord, I swear, no more cheatin'. I
promise, Lord. I don't want to go to
hell. I'll do anything. Gimme a
penance. Just make him go away.
JI
Go away. Hell no. I'm stayin' right
here!
Park Bom screams, jumps back into the closet, and bolts up
against the door. It tears from its hinges and falls into
the seance room, nearly crushing Louise. Mrs. Santiago runs
out screaming. Bom takes one look around and collapses
in a dead faint.
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