COLMA

Written by

Diane Carol Harder

Liliath & Penumbra

dch@liliathandpenumbra.com
(323) 647-5327
 TEASER

BLACK.

We hear the faint sounds of a HEART RATE MONITOR flatlining.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
Until that night, I was just a
normal Midwestern guy.

FADE IN:

INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA -- DAY (FLASHBACK)

Crowded and rowdy, with everyone in their proper groups.

JEREMIAH NEWMAN (15), that skinny kid you always saw hanging
around the art room in high school, sits at a table full of
kids his age, eating their lunches.

He holds a camera up to his eye.

P.O.V. a PRETTY GIRL (14) LAUGHS with her friends.

Jeremiah SNAPS a picture.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
I went to school.

The girl notices Jeremiah looking at her and gives him a shy
smile.

INT. NEWMAN HOUSE - JEREMIAHS ROOM -- DAY (FLASHBACK)

Moody, with walls that are plastered with photographs he

took. Jeremiah sits on the bed with the pretty girl from
before. He KISSES her.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
I went out with girls.

His hand moves toward her breast - but she slaps it away.

INT. NEWMAN HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -- EVENING (FLASHBACK)

Comfortably lived-in. Jeremiah checks his phone to find a

text with a selfie from the same pretty girl. He rolls his
eyes.

Then he gets elbowed by his LITTLE BROTHER (8) --

 2.

-- theyre both in full Chicago Bears fan gear, and hes not
paying attention to the game on TV.

He looks up just as theres a touchdown. They jump up and

CHEER (M.O.S.).

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
I watched football.

His phone lies forgotten on the couch.

INT. NEWMAN HOUSE - KITCHEN -- DAY (FLASHBACK)

Crowded with gadgets bought off the Home Shopping Network.

Jeremiahs solidly-built FATHER (40s) argues with him over
the report card hes holding (M.O.S.).

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
I fought with my parents.

His timid MOTHER (40s) tries to intervene, but they ignore

her and keep screaming.

INT. DARK ROOM -- NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Red-lit, with tubs of chemicals and a line for drying prints.

Jeremiah stands in here alone, developing photos of a new
PRETTY GIRL (15).

This is his Zen place.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
Just a normal guy.

CLOSE ON JEREMIAHS peaceful expression.

BACK TO:

BLACK.

The flatlining HEART RATE MONITOR returns.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
Then it all changed.

EXT. BLACK TUNNEL -- DAY

Jeremiah approaches the end of a dark tunnel toward a bright

light. THREE SHADOWY FIGURES await him, waving him forward.
 3.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
I could see em waiting for me.

ON JEREMIAH, as he stops, his eyes wide.

DOCTOR (O.S.)
CLEAR!

A FLASH as we hear a DEFIBRILLATOR giving a jump --

-- and everything goes --

BACK TO:

BLACK.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
But I wanted to live.

And the HEART RATE MONITOR starts to BEEP the sound of a

regular heartbeat again.

END OF TEASER.
 4.

ACT ONE

BLACK.

The HEART RATE MONITOR is giving the regular BEEPS of a

healthy heartbeat.

DOCTOR (O.S.)
Okay - weve got him! Hes back.

And the sounds fade out again.

Beat.

P.O.V.: the darkness slowly becomes lighter, as whoevers

eyes were looking out from, are opened.

Theres a water stain on the ceiling.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM -- DAY

Small, semi-private, and filled with way too many flowers.

Jeremiah lies in bed staring at the ceiling, a bandage
wrapped around his head.

He turns to discover a WOMAN (late 50s), with long salt-and-

pepper hair and an aura of peace, sitting in the seat next to
him.

WOMAN
Hello, Miah.

Jeremiah furrows his brow.

JEREMIAH
(croaks)
Who are you?

She holds a cup with a straw to his mouth, for him to drink.

WOMAN
Im your Aunt Grace.

Jeremiah almost chokes on the water. She pulls the cup away.

JEREMIAH
You are?

She nods, somber. He moves to sit up.

 5.

JEREMIAH (CONTD)
(wincing)
Wont dad be pissed youre here?

GRACE
Shh - lie still - your ribs are
bruised.

He lies back down.

She smiles at him, sadly, but then falters.

He just waits.

GRACE (CONTD)
Do you remember what happened?

Jeremiah gives her a blank stare.

But then, after a moment, his eyes widen, theres a FLASH and
we --

CUT TO:

INT. NEWMAN CAR -- NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

A solid, well-used American model. Jeremiah is in the

drivers seat, with his father in front and his mother and
little brother in back.

He and his father are in the middle of another heated

argument (M.O.S.).

Theres another FLASH, and suddenly everyone is SCREAMING --

-- Jeremiah steers, trying to avoid something, and just when

the car seems about to hit an oncoming tree, theres another
FLASH and we --

CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM -- DAY (PRESENT)

Jeremiah returns his gaze to the water stain on the ceiling.

JEREMIAH
It was my birthday. They let me
drive cause I got my learners
permit.

Graces eyes fill with tears.

 6.

GRACE
Youll be coming to live with me
now.

She pulls him into an awkward hug, her tears dripping on his
back.

CLOSE ON JEREMIAH, as he flinches with pain at her touch, but

does not cry.

EXT. CHICAGO SUBURBS - CEMETERY -- DAY

A snow-covered cemetery. A group of MOURNERS cluster near the

only fully green patch to be seen.

EXT. CHICAGO SUBURBS - CEMETERY - NEWMAN GRAVESITE -- DAY

The snow has been thawed in order to create three, fresh,

side-by-side graves.

NURSE (V.O.)
How are we feeling today, Mr.
Newman?

Grace stands next to the graves for the burial service,

surrounded by the other mourners.

INT. HOSPITAL - JEREMIAHS ROOM -- DAY

Jeremiah, his head bandage now long gone, stares up at that

same water stain. Its grown.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
Why do grown-ups like to use we
when they really mean you?

JEREMIAH
Were just peachy. Thanks.

The NURSE (30s) writes something on his clipboard, then nods

at Jeremiahs untouched food.

NURSE
(smiles, not unkind)
I see we havent been eating.

Jeremiah rolls his eyes.

 7.

EXT. CHICAGO SUBURBS - CEMETERY - NEWMAN GRAVESITE -- DAY

The OFFICIATE motions to Grace.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
We arent hungry.

She pries a clod of dirt from the barely-thawed ground to

toss onto the matching caskets.

INT. HOSPITAL - JEREMIAHS ROOM -- DAY

The nurse moves closer, putting his hand on Jeremiahs

shoulder. He stiffens.

The nurse leans close.

NURSE
Its hard, I know, but you can do
it.

Jeremiah looks at him, surprised.

The nurse smiles wide and winks.

NURSE (CONTD)
The foods pretty awful, but were
only here for a few more days,
right?

Jeremiah gives him a COURTESY LAUGH, and he checks something

else off on the clipboard.

Jeremiah turns back to the water stain and the nurse leaves.

EXT. CHICAGO SUBURBS - CEMETERY -- DAY

Grace and the other mourners walk away from the gravesite,
and climb into their cars to leave.

EXT. CHICAGO SUBURBS - HOSPITAL -- DAY

Busy with the usual winter hubbub. Grace, bundled up in heavy

clothes, exits the doors, with a HOSPITAL ORDERLY wheeling
Jeremiah in a wheelchair close behind.

They get to a waiting CAB, and Jeremiah climbs gingerly out

of the chair and into the backseat.

Grace nods her thanks to the orderly, and moves toward the
other side of the cab.
 8.

After a moment, the car pulls away.

INT. CAB -- DAY

Jeremiah and Grace sit in the back, heading for OHare. He

stares out the window.

Grace leans over.

GRACE
(whispering)
You sure you dont want to stop at
the cemetery and say goodbye? We
have time.

He looks over at her. Shes SNIFFLING and wiping at her nose

with a tissue.

JEREMIAH
Im sure.

Grace gives him a significant look, but he ignores her and

looks back out the window.

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. GRACES CAR -- DAY

A nice, clean hybrid. Jeremiah stares out the window, now

from the passenger seat, at the sunny California scenery they
pass as they drive along the highway toward San Francisco.

Grace drives, occasionally glancing at him with concern.

JEREMIAH
(sighs)
So I really have no choice? I mean,
Ive never met you before, let
alone been to Colma.

Grace lets out a frustrated BREATH and forces a smile. This

is not the first time shes heard this.

GRACE
Sorry, kiddo. Im your only living
relative, so youre stuck with me.

JEREMIAH
Yeah, well, sorry the state had
nowhere else to put me.

Grace looks like shes been slapped.

 9.

GRACE
Thats not what I meant - you know
thats not what I meant, right?

ON JEREMIAH, as a flash of regret crosses his face. He

shouldnt have said what he did.

They both SIGH.

Then they drive past the town sign: ITS GREAT TO BE ALIVE IN
COLMA!

Grace watches Jeremiah for his reaction. He frowns slightly,

confused.

Then they drive past a graveyard on the right, with a large

sign that reads: HOLY CROSS CEMETERY.

Jeremiah turns his head so he wont have to look at it --

-- but theyre also passing CYPRESS LAWN MEMORIAL PARK on the

left.

Grace opens her mouth to speak, but then reconsiders.

Another set of gates announces the HILLS OF ETERNITY on their

right.

Then GREEK ORTHODOX on their left.

Then HOME OF PEACE.

And GREENLAWN MEMORIAL PARK.

Jeremiah turns to Grace.

JEREMIAH
What the hell kind of place IS
this?!

GRACE
Watch your language.
(beat)
Colmas whats called a necropolis.

He gives her a dark look. He doesnt know what that means.

GRACE (CONT'D)
A city of cemeteries.
(all she can think to say)
Youll get used to it.

Now SALEM CEMETERY is right outside his window.

 10.

Jeremiah looks down at his lap.

GRACE (CONT'D)
Its actually very peaceful here.
After all, death is a natural part
of life.

He shoots her an angry look.

JEREMIAH
You couldnt tell me this before,
you know, we actually came here?

GRACE
I didnt think it really mattered
that much.

He looks at her with disbelief.

JEREMIAH
Thats messed up.

She lets out another exasperated BREATH, but then a FLASH of

fear suddenly crosses both their faces as they realize they
really are stuck with each other.

She stares back out the windshield, while he looks down at

his lap. He steals a look at her.

JEREMIAH (V.O.)
My dad disowned his sister. I mean,
refused to talk to her at all. I
can sort of see why.

Grace makes a turn onto a local street.

EXT. GRACES HOME -- DAY

A cute, well-maintained guesthouse - located behind the

large, dark, CARO FAMILY FUNERAL HOME. A lemon tree grows in
the yard.

STUART (40s), MICKEY (12), and TIMOTHY CARO (8), stand in

the driveway, holding a giant welcome banner. While Stuart is
rather nondescript and self-effacing, Mickey is a brash and
bubbly tomboy. Meanwhile, Timothy is a very small and
delicate boy for his age.

MICKEY
What do you think hes like?

STUART
Hes probably pretty sad right now.
 11.

MICKEY
I get that, but I mean, what do you
think hes like?

TIMOTHY
I hope he has a cat.

Mickey gives him a look.

MICKEY
He wont have brought a cat with
him.
(she thinks, turns to
Stewart)
You think he brought a cat?

Stuart smiles.

STUART
I dont remember Grace mentioning
one.

Timothy SIGHS.

TIMOTHY
Then I hope he gets a cat.

Stuart just shakes his head.

Mickey jumps excitedly.

MICKEY
There they are!

Graces car comes around the corner.

INT. GRACES CAR -- DAY

Jeremiah takes one look at the funeral home and turns to

Grace.

JEREMIAH
What is this?

GRACE
Now, you need to understand that
because Colma is a necropolis, a
lot of people who live here work in
the death industry-

JEREMIAH
Okay, but, why are we here?
 12.

Grace parks the car and turns off the engine. She avoids
looking at him.

GRACE
-I, for instance, am a make-up
artist for the Caro Family Funeral
Home, helping people look their
best as they meet their higher
power.

Jeremiah closes his eyes.

JEREMIAH
Can. I. Just-
(deep breath)
-get a straight answer from you?!

Grace turns to him.

GRACE
Well, Miah, this is where I live.
And where you live now, too.

Jeremiah barely has time to register this --

-- before his door is opened by Mickey, whos too excited to

wait for him to do it himself.

He turns to find the whole Caro family beaming at him.

CAROS
Welcome home!

He turns back to Grace and gives her the most seething glare
he can manage.

END OF ACT ONE.