EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
MICHAEL (mid-30s) stands a few feet away from a headstone, his expression a mix of confusion and empathy. The cemetery is serene yet somber, with old, moss-covered headstones and towering trees casting long shadows. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, adding to the quiet stillness.
The WOMAN (early 30s) is kneeling in front of the headstone, her delicate frame trembling as she places a bouquet of white lilies on the grave. Her blonde hair, slightly tousled by the wind, glistens under the muted sunlight. Tears run down her cheeks, reflecting the pale light.
Michael takes a hesitant step forward, but his movement is almost imperceptible, like a shadow.
Michael turns to see two ANGELS, ARIA and CARO, emerging from the ethereal mist that swirls around their feet. Aria’s golden hair shimmers as if it’s woven with threads of light, and her sapphire eyes hold a depth that seems to pierce through Michael’s confusion. Caro’s crimson hair flows like flames, and her emerald eyes glisten with an otherworldly sparkle.
ARIA
You must go to her, but not here.
MICHAEL
I can’t do this, Aria. I don’t even remember her. Why can’t I have my memories back at least?
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. HEAVENLY CLOUDS - DAY
Michael awakens amidst clouds, their soft, cotton-like texture surrounding him. The scene is bathed in a warm, golden light. Aria and Caro stand over him, their forms partially obscured by the luminescence.
ARIA
Your time on Earth is finished, Michael. You have died, but your mission is not complete.
MICHAEL
What do you mean, not complete? Am I not really dead? Who are you? Who am I?
ARIA
I am Aria, and this is Caro. You are Michael.
Michael gazes at them in awe. The beauty of Aria and Caro contrasts sharply with the starkness of the cemetery. Aria’s hair cascades like a golden waterfall, her eyes a captivating blue that seems to reflect the very essence of the sky. Caro’s hair glows with a reddish hue, and her eyes sparkle with a vibrant green that contrasts with the somber scene.
CARO
Are you okay?
MICHAEL
Do I… did I know you?
ARIA
(chuckling)
You’ll soon come to realize we all know each other.
MICHAEL
So am I in Heaven?
ARIA
No, Michael. You’re not in Heaven.
MICHAEL
I can’t be in Hell. Am I going to Hell? Is that why I can’t remember my life?
ARIA
(smiling warmly)
No, Michael. You don’t have your memories because you won’t allow yourself to face them. You are not going to Heaven just yet. Your mission on Earth is not done. You made a horrible decision that ended your life and tore apart other lives. Now you must go back and repair those lives before you can enter Heaven.
MICHAEL
How? I don’t even remember what I did or how I died.
ARIA
That will be up to you. You will remember your life when you allow your mind to face what you have done.
As Aria walks away, Michael reaches out but the mist swirls around him, and he is left alone. The gentle sound of a distant wind chime adds an eerie note.
MICHAEL
Where are you going?
ARIA
Not me, we. Follow me, Michael.
Caro touches Michael’s hand with a ghostly warmth, her eyes reflecting a blend of sadness and hope.
CARO
Please, Michael. Do as you have to, so you can come back here with me?
MICHAEL
I do know you or I did, didn’t I?
ARIA
That’s enough, you two. Michael, you have to go or you cannot enter Heaven. It’s your choice, of course, but I don’t see it as a hard choice.
MICHAEL
Okay, I will do it.
Aria places a hand on Michael’s shoulder, her touch both reassuring and ethereal.
ARIA
I’m glad to hear you say that, but of course, I knew you would. You will enter into a new life, not your old one. Nobody will know you as who you were. You will have to find a way to introduce yourself into their lives.
As she speaks, the clouds part behind her, revealing a vibrant scene—a party in full swing. The YOUNG WOMAN stands alone, her beauty captivating. The colors of the party contrast starkly with the muted tones of the cemetery.
MICHAEL
Is she an Angel as well?
ARIA
No, Michael. She is very much alive in the physical sense, but emotionally she is far from alive.
MICHAEL
Did I… is she… I hurt her? How? Why?
ARIA
Yes, she is one of the ones who were hurt by the choice you made.
MICHAEL
Who? How many others? I don’t understand.
CARO
Michael, you were a good man. Don’t think you weren’t.
Tears glisten in Caro’s eyes, reflecting the celestial light. Michael’s heart aches as he struggles to remember.
ARIA
Michael, this is all we can tell you for now. You must leave on your mission. The rest will come to you when you allow yourself to remember, then you will understand and know what you have to do.
MICHAEL
Okay, how do I…
Suddenly, the angels disappear into the mist. Michael stands alone, the cemetery’s silence enveloping him. He looks around, noticing the gentle sway of the grass and the occasional rustle of leaves.
He turns and sees the woman has vanished. He approaches the headstone and reads the inscription.
MICHAEL (V.O.)
Jonathan Michael Reynolds. February 7, 1972 - March 7, 2004. Great, that doesn’t really help me.
Beneath the name, another inscription catches his eye.
MICHAEL (V.O.)
Cecilia Anne. July 10, 1974 -
MICHAEL
Cece?
The name triggers a flood of memories.
MICHAEL
Oh Dear God! What did I do?
FADE OUT.
THE END OF CHAPTER 1
