275. Marked - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. WRIGHT SQUARE, SAVANNAH - NIGHT


• ERIC sits on a comfortably old wooden bench under the branches of a tree dripping with Spanish moss.


• The moonlight filters through the foliage making the park feel as if there is a subtle magic at work.


• He is dressed in jeans, a plain t-shirt and somewhat anachronistically wears a dark vest with a pocket watch and chain.


• GEM walks off of the street into the park and spots Eric.


• She is dress in a dark skirt and tanktop; and has two nose rings that glisten in the light.


• She carries a thermos with her.


• GEM
• Hey, you, I brought your tea.


• Eric grins at her.


• ERIC
• Why, thank you.


• She sits next to him on the bench.


• GEM
• I'm still very confused by you.


• Eric chuckles and pours a stream of tea from the thermos into the metal lid.


• He sips it and closes his eyes, savoring it.


• ERIC
• What's there to be confused about?


• Gem just looks at him and raises an eyebrow.


• ERIC
• I need to stretch.


• Gem keeps looking at him.


• ERIC
• Gem?


• GEM
• Oh, right, sorry.


• She hops off the bench.


• Eric shift his shoulders around and then with a powerful motion unfurls large dark wings.


• GEM
• What's there to be confused about he says? You're an angel for goodness sakes, a..a watcher? Whatever it is. When I started going to church, I didn't quite expect to be signing up for this.


• ERIC
• Oh, it's been going on a lot longer than that...besides, you've always had a feeling there was something else.


• GEM
• Whatever. You should probably tuck those away.


• ERIC
• I've got 45 seconds before the next passerby walks past, I intended to enjoy those 45 seconds.


• GEM
• So why me? I mean...


• Eric quickly folds his wings in as a YOUNG MAN and his ST. BERNARD walk past.


• GEM
• I was saying, that, why not start hanging out with someone who has been a believer for longer? I mean, some could certainly use that evidence. See what I mean, confusing.


• ERIC
• Father has his reasons and trust me, for some of those people, seeing me wouldn't help or hinder what they believe.


• GEM
• So you said you had good news...and bad news.


• ERIC
• Don't be afraid.


• GEM
• That's easy for you to say; I'm not sure that bad news from an angel is something I want to know about.


• ERIC
• You were marked before you were born; you can walk away, but it would be walking away from that which you were designed for.


• GEM
• Stop being cryptic.


• Eric sips at his tea and studies her.


• ERIC
• You are to be a messenger. It is time again for the young to see visions and speak words they themselves cannot understand.


• GEM
• A prophet?


• ERIC
• You could say that.


• GEM
• Oh, you are out of your mind. This is ludicrous. I, I mean, it's a bit tough to swallow...wait, not even a bit. Very, ridiculously hard to swallow.


• ERIC
• You accept my existence.


• GEM
• I also accept that I might be raving nuts. Sweet mother of Ghandi...


• ERIC
• She was sweet woman.


• GEM
• Oh come on.


• ERIC
• Do not be afraid, the Spirit will go before you, She will guide you in Truth and give you wisdom.


• GEM
• But I'm so wrong for this, I've messed up so much, I still do. I'm not...


• ERIC
• Shhhh.


• A flame ignites above his hand.


• ERIC
• There is no separation between you and Father. He has removed all sin. Do not call unclean what He has declared clean.


• The flame reflects in Gem's eyes.


• GEM
• Ok. I'm not ready, but I'm willing.


• The flame disappears.


• Eric sits and pours another cup of tea.


• GEM
• I'm going to have to do some things that are pretty terrifying aren't I?


• ERIC
• Yeah, but so did Ghandi, Erasmus, The Weather Underground, and all your heroes. You wanted to be a revolutionary, welcome to the quiet revolution. Tea?


• He offers her the cup.


• GEM
• Yes, please, looks like I'm going to need it.


• She sits back down on the bench and takes the cup, holding it with both hands and thrilling at its warmth.


• FADE TO BLACK.