Chapter 6
GHOST
INT. Park Bom'S LIVINGROOM - DAY
Beads of sweat collect on Bom's brow and cheeks. She
seems feverish. Clara and Louise are sitting beside her with
damp towels nervously soaking up the perspiration. Bom
appears to be talking to herself until we PULL BACK and reveal
Sam nearby.
BOM
My mama, her mama, may they rest in
peace, they had de gift. Mama always
said I had it, but I never did. She
tol' me all about it, how it felt
an' all. But now that it's happenin'
I don't know what to do. You're
scarin' me half to death. Please,
you gotta go away, you gotta find
someone else.
Clara and Louise look at one another with growing concern.
JI
Someone else? Are you outta your
mind?
BOM
I'm gettin' there fast.
(she pushes Louise's
hand)
Leave me alone.
JI
Not till you help me.
BOM
Where are you?
LOUISE
Where? I'm right here.
SAM
I'm standing right beside you.
BOM
(mimicking his words)
"I'm standing right beside you."
(she pauses and looks
up)
Are you white?
JI
What?
BOM
Oh God, I knew it. He's white. Why
me?
Louise looks at her sister and shakes her head.
JI
Listen, damn it. You can help me.
There's a woman, Sandara Park. She's
in terrible danger. The man who killed
me broke into our apartment. He's
going to go back. You've gotta warn
her.
BOM
Why would she listen to me?
JI
She has to! This man's a killer!
He's got a key.
BOM
Forget it, mister. I can't.
JI
It's just a phone call. You're all
I've got. Lookit. I'm not leavin'
till you help me. I don't sleep
anymore, so I can sit here day and
night. I don't care how long it takes.
I can talk forever.
Park Bom gulps, a horrified expression on her face.
INT. LOFT - DAY
The telephone rings. Dara, preparing dinner, runs to answer
it.
Dara
Hello.
BOM
Dara? Is this Dara speaking?
DARA
Yes.
BOM
My name is Park Bom. I'm a spiritual
reader and adviser.
(she hesitates)
I'm calling for a friend of yours.
He asked me to call. This is
important. You gotta believe me.
Don't be afraid.
DARA
Who is this?
BOM
I got a message from Ji.
DARA
(stunned)
What?
BOM
Kwon Jiyong. He asked me to call.
Dara slams down the receiver, panting. For several seconds
she doesn't move. Slowly, she walks to the couch and sits
down. She is trembling.
INT. BOM'S KITCHEN - DAY
Park Bom hangs up the phone.
Bom
What'd I tell you.
JI
You gotta go there.
BOM
Look, I don't care what you do to
me, I'm not goin' nowhere.
INT. BOM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Ji is sitting on the edge of Bom's bed, singing.
sounds like he's been singing for hours. He is very hoarse.
JI
"I'm Henery the Eighth I am / Henery
the Eighth I am, I am / I'm gettin'
married to the widow next door /
She's been married seven times before
/ And every one was an Henery /
Wouldn't take a Jae or a Ji /
I'm her eighth old man I'm Henery /
Henery the Eighth I am, I am / Henery
the Eighth I am / Second verse same
as the first / I'm Henery the Eighth
I am..."
Park Bom bolts upright in her bed, her hands over her ears.
BOM
Okay! Okay! I'll go. You just shut
your mouth.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY BUS - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY
INT. BUS - DAY
Ji and Bom are sitting at the rear of a crowded bus.
She appears to be talking to herself.
BOM
I can't believe I'm doin' this. I
gotta be a crazy lady goin' into the
city with you. I never go there.
What the hell you doin' in my life,
huh? Why me?
Several people move away.
EXT. LOFT BUILDING - DAY
Park Bom approaches the loft building and buzzes Dara's
apartment. She waits a few moments.
Bom
There's nobody there.
JI
Just wait.
BOM
No, sir. I did what I promised. I
said I'd come and I'm here. I didn't
say anything 'bout .
JI
Just one more time. Please. It's a big place.
Bom turns to leave. Ji, desperate, starts to sing.
JI
(continuing)
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the
wall, ninety nine bottles of beer,"
Bom stops. She turns back to the buzzer and rings once
more. Suddenly Dara answers.
DARA
Hello, who's there?
BOM
(nervous)
Don't go away. It's Park Bom. I
called you last night. Your friend
Ji says you gotta talk to me.
There is a CLICK as Dara hangs up.
INT. LOFT - DAY
Dara walks away from the intercom, shaken. Suddenly we hear
Park Bom yelling up from the street.
BOM
Hey you, Dara! You gotta listen to
me! this is for real. Ji is here.
He needs to talk to you.
Dara walks over to the window and looks down. Bom is
standing in the street looking up. She is calling out at the
top of her lungs. Dara pulls back. She is afraid.
BOM
(continuing)
He says remember the starfish at
Montego Bay? Remember the picture he
took a' you in Reno?
(pause)
Remember his yellow underwear, the
pair you wrote your name on? She
wrote her name on 'em?
Dara tenses. There is a sign of recognition in her eyes.
EXT. TRIBECA STREET - DAY
Park Bom is standing by the curb and shouting up to Dara's
fifth floor window. Several people stare at her curiously.
She turns to them.
BOM
Hey, do you mind? This here's a
private conversation.
The people turn away. She turns back to the window. Ji
prompts her.
JI
Ask her about the sweater in the
closet, the one she knitted that's
too big.
BOM
What about the sweater you knitted
that was too big?
JI
Four sizes.
BOM
Four sizes.
JI
She couldn't throw it out. I saw. I
was there.
BOM
You couldn't throw it out. He saw.
He was there. This is for real. Hey
do you hear me up there?
A WORKMAN peers out of a second story window.
WORKMAN
I hear you.
BOM
I'm not talkin' to you.
WORKMAN
Haven't you ever heard of phones?
BOM
Kiss my behind!
(yelling again)
Listen, I'm not gonna stand here all
day.
WORKMAN
Thank God.
BOM
Forget it. I've had enough of this.
Bom is about to walk away when the entrance door opens.
Dara steps outside. Bom sees her and stops.
Bom
(continuing)
Dara?
(Dara nods)
I'm Park Bom.
(walking over and
shaking her hand)
You can call me Bom.
INT. SOHO LUNCHEONETTE - DAY
Dara and Bom are sitting in a booth staring at one
another.
DARA
Why should I believe you? Why should
I believe any of this?
BOM
Girl, if you think I'd come down
here for the fun of it, you got
another think comin'. This Ji of
yours... I don't know, lady. I mean,
you ever hear a whole night of "Henry
the Eighth I am?"
DARA
He did that? That's how he got me to
go out with him.
BOM
And he cain't carry a tune.
DARA
I know. Oh God. This is all so crazy.
I can't believe I'm talking to you
like this. I don't believe in these
things. I don't believe in life after
death.
JI
Tell her she's wrong.
BOM
He says you're wrong.
DARA
You're talking to him right now?
BOM
What? You think I'm makin' it up?
DARA
Where is he?
BOM
How should I know? It's not like I
can see him. I just hear his voice.
JI
I'm holding her hand.
BOM
He says he's holding your hand.
DARA
I'm sorry. I don't believe you. Why
are you doing this to me? I don't
believe a word you're saying. Ji is
dead. He's dead.
JI
I'm holding her hand.
BOM
He says he's holding your hand.
Dara's hand jumps. Park Bom looks at her. There is a long,
poignant moment. Ji chokes up.
JI
God, I love her. I love her so much.
BOM
He says he loves you... so much.
DARA
(shaking her head)
No. He would never say that.
JI
(his eyes brightening)
Ditto. Tell her "ditto".
BOM
Ditto? What's that mean, ditto?
Dara starts, an expression of true astonishment shining in
her eyes.
DARA
Ji?
INT. LOFT - DAY
Dara is pressed up against the edge of the couch listening
nervously as Bom speaks. Ji wanders around the room,
anxiously.
BOM
To tell the truth, I don't know how
I'm doin' it. In fack, confidentially,
nothin' like this never happened to
me before. Now, all a sudden, I can't
turn it off.
(she sees a photo of
Ji)
Is this you? Is this him?
They both say "yes" at the same time.
BOM
(continuing; to Ji)
Hazel eyes, huh? You sound like they'd
be blue.
DARA
I don't understand. Why did he come
back? Why is he still here?
BOM
Cause he's stuck, that's why. He's
between worlds. It happens sometimes,
when their spirits get out too quick.
He thinks he still has stuff t'do
down here.
JI
Come on Bom, stop rambling.
BOM
Oh, oh, now he's got an attitude.
Dara stares at Bom.
JI
I do not have an attitude.
BOM
(to Dara)
We're having a discussion.
(back to Ji)
Whataya mean, you're not angry? If
you weren't angry you wouldn't be
raisin' your voice like that.
JI
Goddamn it, Bom!
BOM
Ah ah,That does it. I don't
talk to anybody who takes the Lord's
name in vain.
She stands up, as if to leave.Dara watches with growing
discomfort as Park Bom seems to be talking to herself.
JI
Relax, Park Bom.
BOM
You relax. You're the dead one. You
want my help, then you apologize.
Nobody talks to me like that,
understand?
JI
Jesus Christ!
BOM
(to Dara)
Excuse me, girl. Time for me to go.
Park Bom heads for the door. Dara is confused.
DARA
I don't believe I'm watching this.
JI
Damn it. All right. I apologize.
Bom stops, pauses a moment, and walks back to the couch.
JI, relieved, paces back and forth.
Bom's eyes follow his voice as Dara watches her
curiously.
JI
(continuing)
Please, Bom, I need you to tell
Dara what I'm saying. You gotta
tell her word for word.
BOM
Monsieur has a message for you.
JI
Dara, you're in danger.
BOM
You can't tell her like that. And
would you stop movin' all over the
place? You're makin' me sick.
Dara looks concerned. JI leans into Bom.
JI
Say it!
BOM
He's sayin' you're in danger.
DARA
Danger?... What do you mean?
JI
I know the man who killed me. Kim
Jaejoong. I know where he lives.
BOM
He says he knows the man who killed
him, Kim Jaejoong. He's Pure Korean.
Dara grows pale as she listens. Her forehead tightens.
JI
Write it down.
BOM
Write it down.
JI
You do it!
BOM
Now I'm a secretary.
Bom takes a card from her purse and grabs a pencil.
JI
321 Prospect Place. Apartment 4D.
BOM
321? Hey, that's my neighborhood.
Bom seems perplexed as she writes it down and gives it
to Dara.
JI
Dara, he's got my wallet and my
key. He was in here.
BOM
He's got his wallet and key. He was
in here.
DARA
In here?
JI
(directly to Dara)
You have to go to the police. The
Mugger wasn't acting alone. It was a
setup, Dee. I was murdered.
BOM
He says he was set up, that he was
murdered. He wants you to go to the
police.
Dara stands up, afraid. Park Bom stands up, too.
BOM
(continuing)
I'm sorry. I don't want nothin' to
do with this.
Bom heads for the door as Dara watches in a daze.
JI
Where you going?
BOM
Don't follow me! I've done all I'm
gonna do.
(opening the door)
I'm finished. And I ain't comin'
back. So don't you come botherin' me
again cause it's over. I mean it.
This is it. Have a nice life. Have a
nice death. I'm goin'.
She lets herself out. Jiyong just stands there as the door slams
shut.
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