Title: Bangkok Times

Genre: Romance/Drama

Log Line: When four passionate friends meet in Bangkok with one wild tour guide, fun happens life happens!

2004 - 2010 Writers-Network.com - All Rights Reserved

INT. DELTA AIRLINES FLIGHT 58 NIGHT Eileen Stevenson is reading Eat, Pray, Love on the airplane just as the pilot makes an announcement. Eileen is an older, mature woman with sharp features, big blue eyes, light brown styled hair. She is very stylishly dressed, and her makeup is still perfect. EILEEN (reading quietly) Were miserable because we think that we are mere individuals, alone with our fears and flaws and resentments and mortality. We wrongly believe that our egos constitute our whole entire natureThere does exist a supreme Self who is universal and divine PILOT (O.S.) We will now begin our descent. EILEEN (keeps reading) Getting out of a marriage is rough, though, and not just for the legal/financial complications or the massive lifestyle upheaval PILOT (O.S.) We are now descending. Please fasten your seat belts. EILEEN (whispers to herself) Attraversiamo Lets cross over! Wait Im just getting to the good part! PILOT (O.S.) Put the book away. This applies to all. Please put away all electronics, pull your seats upright, and prepare for landing! [optional] [EILEEN (putting away her book and looking out the window) Already? Look its so dark. I want to explore the city at night!

PILOT (O.S.) Yes its already dark as you can see from the window. The local time is about 12 midnight. The shops have all closed and you will have to do your shopping later on.] EILEEN

(looks up, snickers and squints at the intercom) Almost sounds like you heard me! The plane lands on a brightly lit runway. After about half hour, the passengers locate their carry-on items and amble out , down a hallway, following signs towards their baggage claim.

CUT TO.

INT. SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT BAGGAGE CLAIM - Midnight Eileen clears security and follows signs to baggage claim. Eileen identifies her luggage and loads it onto a cart. Her address reads San Francisco, CA. She exchanges $100 for 3000 Bahts. at the exchange counter. She wheels her cart towards direction marked Taxis and Ground Transportation. In the hallway, she eyes a young Asian man wearing thin-rimmed John Lennon glasses in his early 30s holding the sign Colt Tours. Their eyes instantly lock, and he smiles at her. Eileen waves a hello as she heads in his direction. SUTHEP (with a thick asian accent) Hello! I am Suthep your travel guide. I will show you Bangkok. I will give you the best of Thailand! Another woman joins them and shakes hands. They walk over to an area Where 2 other women are waiting with their luggage. EILEEN Hi, Im Eileen Stevenson.

JOANNA And Im Joanna Hopkins. ALANA Im Alana Mills. KATHRYN Im Kathryn Hamilton. Nice to meet you Sutip. SUTHEP Thats Suthep.

EILEEN Sutip you mean like Qtip? SUTHEP No no Soo Thepp Suthep. Try it again. JOANNA Im going to have to practice that one. ALANA I got it Suthep! SUTHEP Good everyone, lets find our bus! They start walking out towards the parked buses. They locate the one displaying COLT TRAVELS sign and load their luggage.

INT. THE TOUR BUS Moments Later They board. All the women choose window seats. They adjust the air, lights, and the seat incline. They stuff their boarding passes, itineraries, and documents into their purses before they finally relax. JOANNA So where are you from? What does your husband do? EILEEN Im from San Francisco. My husband is in engineering hes a Project manager. ALANA Im from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. My husbands in the navy. KATHRYN Im from Brooklyn. Im a teacher. Im not married. JOANNA Im from Atlanta. Im an ophthalmologist. Im divorced. SUTHEP Ok. Ladies. Thats all our group here. Good youve Introduced yourselves already. We will now check into hotel Rembrandt and tomorrow listen carefully. You will receive A wake-up call around 6:30 am. Meet me in the lobby at 7:30 Prompt. We will be heading out to our first stop - The Grand Palace.

ALANA Thats awfully early. But Im a light sleeper. SUTHEP Also rembember dont drink the water here. Only bottled water is safe! Their bus pulls into the driveway of a modern 15-story Rembrandt Hotel. The ladies are escorted into the lobby, and checked-in. They head out to the elevators and locate their rooms. They are all on the same floor. They receive their bags shortly with a knock on the door. They unpack, turn off the lights, and fall asleep. CUT TO . INT. WAT PHO RECLINING BUDDHA Next Day The ladies are admiring the serene face of the 14 meter long reclining Buddha. SUTHEP This is Phra Buddhasaiyas or reclining Buddha, created under King Rama III around 1824. He is covered in gold plating with motherof-pearl inlay on his eyes and soles of his feet. On the bottom side, you will see 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles. EILEEN So he was once a king himself? SUTHEP Thats right. He was Mahavir Siddharta Gautama before he became the enlightened one. As a prince, he was shielded from all sufferings. It is said that around the age 29, he saw a sick, old, dying man and could not fathom what is suffering. Thus, he started his path to ascetism, shunning all materialism, and attaining Nirvana, discovering the Four Noble Truths about suffering, posses sing the Ten Characteristics belonging to every Buddha. JOANNA So what did he think causes suffering? Is it brought about by evil? SUTHEP The only evil is within mans limitations of himself. Each one is guided by their conscience. That is the eyes and ears of your soul. What you see and feel at each moment is decided by each individuals conscience which in turn gets affected by what it sees and hears. Two people will never see the same image at the same time. Man must overcome the worldly pleasures, seek the truth, perform good karma, and that balances out his rewards, which lessen the sufferings.

EILEEN I wonder what the eyes of Buddha see and hear! What must it mean to be enlightened? SUTHEP I encourage you to read the Sutra on the Noble Eightfold Path : the right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Oh and please watch your step here! The raised step wards off evil spirits by preventing them from entering.

ALANA So karma controls everything? SUTHEP Karma is everything in Buddhism. Our actions have consequences ,and they give back to us what we took. You must balance the karma of your life. KATHRYN (tripping) Oh my god! I almost took that fall! JOANNA People tend to forget about the evil spirits and just trip over. They walk alongside the reclining figure. Joanna drops coins in the buckets and makes a wish. They approach the Buddhas feet. SUTHEP This reminds me of a haiku by the great Buson Flowers offered to the Buddha | Come floating | down the winter river.

EILEEN Suthep does Buddha mean to find a balance between karma and life? Because how am I responsible for someone elses suffering? SUTHEP Well just remember. We are all connected. All living things have a conscience. Some more than others. These levels define our needs, our drives, and our understanding of the world. There are different levels of enlightenment, four levels of attainment and two truths: the relative truth and the absolute. JOANNA What goes around comes around. SUTHEP And now weve circled around the Buddhas feet and are back to his head! ALANA (tripping)

How I keep forgetting that step! An Old SANGHA (explaining to the tourists) The four tenets to live by: To our elders be respectful. To our juniors be kind. With all humanity be harmonious. In all endeavors be true Remember a verse from the Sutra on Impermanence All who are born will die. All beauty will fade, The strong are stricken by illness, And no one can escape. Even the great Mr. Sumero Will erode by kalpas end. The vast and fathomless seas Will eventually dry up. The earth, sun, and moon Will all perish in due time. Not one thing in the world can escape impermanence.

The ladies exit the temple and head for the next destination Wat Traimit.

INT. WAT TRAIMIT GOLDEN BUDDHA Later That Same Day SUTHEP So this is Golden Buddha this statue is solid gold weighing 5.5 tons! This is a famous temple in the city of angels! ALANA Buddha really is everywhere isnt he? One can feel his Omnipresence. He is all knowing omniscient. EILEEN Like The eyes of truththey are always watching you. JOANNA Feels more like "Big brother is watching you!" EILEEN But its hard to believe in his karma theory! SUTHEP It is not a theory it is our belief. KATHRYN Ive been teaching children for over 20 years. I hope that Accounts for some good karma! That Must be why I want to choose a Vocation. Ive been getting the calling. SUTHEP You want to become a nun? Wow! We only allow men to become monks and priests. Women are not allowed! ALANA If I get good karma, it would be from my fathers side. We own Textile factories. Ive inherited my virtues from him. JOANNA Ive been focused on continuing my medical practice. I think that

counts for good karma. My husband Has always pressured me to stop working and stay home. I thought it would make me a dumb wife. I insisted on talking to the men, however my husband and I have pretty much stopped talking now for the last 10 years. Is that What my karma has brought for me? EILEEN Hmm but thats being a good wife you still stayed with him. SUTHEP Eileen do you have a suffering you would like to share? EILEEN I suppose Ive tended to m y husband like a good wife I feel more like a needy wife too obedient to please him. I have given up my own existence. Looks like my karma isnt saying much! We dont talk anymore and live in utter dislike of each others company. (sighs and mumbles to herself) Would Buddha care to tell me why I suffer like this? SUTHEP Take Buddhas blessing Eileen. He will go with you where ever you go! Lets now go to Wat Phra Kaew the emerald Buddha!

INT. WAT PHRA KAEW EMERALD BUDDHA Later That Same Day SUTHEP Were on the east bank of Chao Phraya River at the Grand Palace And the Temple of Emerald Buddha built by King Rama I in 1782. The Buddha is a solid jadeite, the deep green color of emerald. His robe changes three times a year. His robe tel ls you if its the hot season (diamond tunic), cool season (gold robe) or rainy season (blue robe)! They stroll along the Grand Palace as Suthep explains the history of each Building, temple architecture, symbolism, bonsai trees, and more. They are approached by a photographer. They pose for a group photo. They receive a copy and admire their photograph. The ladies stop at various shops and test their bargaining skills.

INT. GIFT SHOP AT GRAND PALACE Moments Later EILEEN This art piece is so beautiful! ALANA I resisted buying art it would just be sitting there announcing

my trip to Bangkok! EILEEN (holding up a rice paper sketch) True I wouldnt bother custom framing this just get an ordinary frame with a nice border. This rice paper is so delicate! ALANA Although with a pretty frame, this rice paper drawing can be enhanced! But the fact is you bought it for $10 so why buy a frame thats worth more than that? EILEEN (holding up another painting) Well this one is for about $30 and it comes with a $10 frame. ALANA Its just a souvenir. Just take it! Dont think about the prices. KATHRYN (joining them) I bought a jade Buddha, a jade elephant, and a jade necklace! Im all jaded out! JOANNA Its The Buddha whos too jaded! SUTHEP (wrapping up) Lets call it a day. CUT TO. INT. TOUR BUS EARLY NEXT MORNING Ladies had gathered in the lobby as per Sutheps instructions, and proceeded towards the tour bus. Kathryn is nowhere to be found. SUTHEP Kathryn will not be joining us today. She fell ill last night and we took her to the nearest hospital. They are running tests and diagnosing the problem. Sorry to inform you. JOANNA Oh no! There goes the rest of her trip! Did she get seen by a doctor? Im a doctor is there something I can do for her? SUTHEP She was seen by a doctor he is a good doctor at the city hospital. He is an American actually staying in Thailand. The

health care here is very affordable it will only cost her $12 for xrays and medicine! ALANA Im worried for her hope she gets well soon. SUTHEP We have lots planned for today. We will see the floating markets, Jim Thompsons house, and later at night, if you are Interested, go shopping at the night markets. JOANNA What are these night markets? They sound shady. SUTHEP (wincing) Would I take you to such a place? EILEEN Could you? Ive heard so much about the sex trade of Thailand. The underground prostitution. SUTHEP Prostitution Is bighow should I call it business here. Thats Why we have a huge AIDS epidemic that we cant control. But *that* Night market is at Patpong Night Bazaar. I could just drive you through, but as your tour guide, I wont make an official stop. JOANNA Whats big business is Buddha he really sells! Look around hes everywhere on clothing, jewelry, buildingshis omnipresence can be felt. SUTHEP The royals of Thailand are omnipresent and they really do have eyes everywhere! Just then, an older American businessman, surrounded by very young Thai girls, makes his way past the traffic and turns into a street corner. The age of those girls is barely legal, which ruffles the ladies feathers. ALANA Isnt that interesting? He turned into that corner just as he saw us! EILEEN Im not really that curious about Patpong. Even this discussion is embarrassing! SUTHEP Thai people are actually quite conservative Eileen. We speak respectfully with each other especially to elders. To talk directly can be perceived as bad manners. You notice how many Traditions and rituals we observe. The Buddhist religion also

Places many restrictions on our daily lives, but we have Modernized our society to follow the American lifestyle. We want to be Americanized just like the rest of the world. JOANNA Suthep did you have an arranged marriage? Do they have those Here in your culture? SUTHEP Yes arranged marriages are big. I met my wife she knew my Fathers family. Our horoscopes matched, and we he ld a traditional Ceremony honoring all our elders, exchanging gifts, and serving a large meal to the welcome guests. They prepared for us a wedding bed for the newlywed couple that is a tradition in our culture. Here are some pictures from my wedding. Suthep hands a photo album to the ladies. EILEEN (looking through his album) Suthep your wife is beautiful. Her skin is so pale like porcelain. SUTHEP Thank you yes she met all my requirements. I wanted a working wife. We Thai people dont like our wives to just sit at home must work! EILEEN What does she do? SUTHEP Well she is at home now with our two sons. So she stopped working. She is not like her wedding photo anymore! EILEEN (handing over the album to Joanna) Oh these photos are very nice! The bus arrives at the floating markets and comes to a stop. EXT. AT FLOATING MARKET MORNING SUTHEP The markets close by noon so we have to get here early. Remember most floating shops will be willing to bargain. These Are small business owners who were driven out to these man made Canals by large businesses they couldnt compete with. So they Will be willing to strike a deal with you dont buy any silver or Jade here authenticity will not be guaranteed. Just buy small souvenirs. The ladies take a long boat ride through the interior canals, observe their

Waterfront houses, some made of teak and some unkempt. Vendors sell fish, fruits, crafts, and small souvenirs in their boats. After a long time, the boat ride ends. The ladies walk around and window shop.

EILEEN Suthep is there a camera store nearby? SUTHEP Sure, you need memory sticks? EILEEN Yes this is annoying I cant take any more pictures! SUTHEP Theres one around the corner follow me. I take you. Eileen and Suthep take a winding, twisting alley towards a small camera shop. Eileen buys extra memory sticks. It starts to rain. Eileen and Suthep get soaked and wait in a corner until it clears. SUTHEP (intently looking at Eileen) Eileen why you come alone on this trip? EILEEN (in confusion) What do you mean? SUTHEP I mean why you not come with husband? EILEEN Suthep we are just not that close. SUTHEP Is this typical American? EILEEN I dont know if its typical but in America, the wife can go where she pleases. SUTHEP You are so American! Thai people not like that. Thai women dont Leave husband alone. Not good.

EILEEN Well Suthep I already mentioned the tensions in my marriage. SUTHEP Why you have tension? EILEEN I dont know perhaps we should divorce. SUTHEP Without reason? Your culture is so harsh. Thai people are very nice and friendly. Thai women respect the man. EILEEN But do you like your wife to be submissive like that? SUTHEP I like bold American womenkind of like you! EILEEN Well to have a wife like me SUTHEP (interrupting) Eileen I dont being used. EILEEN (surprised) Im not using you. Our interaction is just that I mean you are a tour guide. I would do the same if you were the tourist and I were your tour guide. You dont seem to trust me. SUTHEP Its not about trust. These are just business relationships that we All have designed around ourselves. Yet something about me has troubled you it has troubled your conscience. I can sense that your are worried about somethingabout me? EILEEN (falters) Well, for one, I am currently in a relationship. So the kind of feelings you are communicatingyou are searching for something from me. SUTHEP Eileen it is you who are the seeker. You dont realize it. CHILD #1 (interrupting Eileen) Excuse me Madam would you like to buy this souvenir plate? (holds up a plate)

EILEEN No Ive already shopped. CHILD #1 Miss your photo is on the plate see! EILEEN (glancing, gasps in horror) Oh My God I dont want to see my face on a dinner plate ever again!! CHILD #1 You dont want to buy? EILEEN No please take that away! It stops raining. Eileen and Suthep return to join the others. They notice a Small toddler girl following Joanna. JOANNA (playing with the small toddler) Look Eileen I made a friend! CHILD (giggles with Joanna) Mamma! SUTHEP But where is her mother? The child leaps into Joannas arms and hugs her. They start giggling. JOANNA I dont think she has one. (whispers in her ear) I will call you Hope. SUTHEP We have to leave her here. She is a homeless child.

EILEEN Oh no Suthep she will be sold at Patpong Night Market. JOANNA We cant just leave her she has been following me. I gave her so Much money already, and fed her. She was so hungry! She is just a baby! HOPE

(clapping) Mamma! SUTHEP Cant get too friendly not allowed by tour company. JOANNA Suthep I think I want to adopt this baby. I want to take her with me. Im not going to leave her on the streets tonight. SUTHEP Joanna we need to talk. This is not allowed. You need Permission from the government.

They all board the bus with the child, and drive out to Jim Thompsons house. INT. JIM THOMPSONS HOUSE LATER THAT SAME DAY GUIDE #1 Please remove your shoes and lock your bags before you enter Jim Thompsons house! The group locks their purses and shoes in a locker and follows the guide into Jim Thompson home. After they tour the dining room, living room, study, and bedrooms, they arrive at his home theater. GUIDE #1 A short film will explain about Jim Thompson and who he is. Film Narrator (V.O.) Jim Thompson was a New York society architect, who was stationed in Bangkok in 1930s as a U.S. colonel during WW II. He was taken with Saims silk industry and decided to revive the craft of hand weaving, design, and textile coloring. His renowned home combined 6 teak buildings and represents the best of Thai architecture.

A brief overview of his home and the silk industries owned by Jim Thompson is followed by the mystery that shrouds his disappearance during the height of the Cold War. Film Narrator (V.O.) On March 26, 1967, Jim Thompson set out to visit Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. He went for a walk one morning into the Jungles and never returned. Many search parties failed to turn up Any clues to his whereabouts. He is believed to have simply Disappeared!

The film ends, and the crew heads out to the shops and make some silk Purchases. SUTHEP We should head out soon. We will be leaving for Ayutthaya, Sukhothaya, and Lampang tomorrow morning. Where are Alana, Hope, And Joanna? EILEEN (pointing to a remote building) I saw them walking towards the restrooms, and they simply Disappeared they never returned! SUTHEP Very funny Eileen! CUT TO. INT. TOUR BUS Next Morning The group heads off towards Sukhothai and Lampang. After a day of sight seeing old ruins and relics at Wihan Luang, Wat Maha That, Wat Sri Chum and Wat Prathat , they check into Lampang River Lodge for the night. They meet for dinner. SUTHEP Lampang is much north and much smaller to Bangkok. It is colder here. JOANNA Yes, our rooms are so damp and musty. ALANA Dont open the closets something scary crawled out of mine! EILEEN Glad were only here for one night! SUTHEP Some optional activities here are visiting the Hillside tribes, watching them perform. The Queen Mum has done a lot of charity work with these villages lot of opium trade went on here. Opium really ruined many lives. Now she create jobs and help them to understand its dangers now it is under control. ALANA They became victims of the opium wars how sad. SUTHEP Well they are a minority here in Thailand they have no status.

We dont consider them Thai citizens. EILEEN Reminds me of a story I once read as a young girl - The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte, about a town called Poker Flat where all those deemed immoral were exiled to - to cleanse the society of bad elements it was their wild wild west.

SUTHEP They are very superstitious and have many strange beliefs. They are quite relaxed about sex its very natural for them. In the Summer, the ladies wont be covered up as they are now. EILEEN Oh I would imagine many of their girls end up being sold. SUTHEP Well their fathers are very strict but you will agree all Thai girls - very pretty! The group finishes dinner and calls it a night. Eileen spends the night thinking about the incident when things changed in her marriage. When the girls were just toddlers, and they were planning a Disney Cruise... EILEENS POV Flashback to her fourth year of marriage her daughters are 2 and 1 years old. Eileen shows her husband a Disney Cruise travel brochure. EILEEN Thisll be a vacation that they remember! HUSBAND Theyre too young to remember anything. Anyway I wont be going with you youll have to go alone. EILEEN (coldly) Hmm I will then just take them actually from now on you dont have to join us. They think mommy is more fun anyway. HUSBAND Im sure you saw to it that they did. EILEEN Youre actually accusing me of plotting against you with the girls?

HUSBAND (getting arrogant and angry) Im sure you can think of lots of things to do with your time! Eileen, Ive lost feelings of respect for you. Youre becoming something of a boresomeone you get used to just sitting around the house. EILEEN Well I never knew you felt this way its a good thing that I Realized that now! (pausing) And for the record, you told me to quit my job - for the girls! You couldn't stand that I was about to be promoted while you were still toiling away after few doors closed on you. Oh how pathetic you sound! HUSBAND (sarcastically) So Im pathetic too? EILEEN Have you heard a word Ive said? (pausing) Are you seeing someone else? HUSBAND (ignores her and starts walking out of the room) EILEEN (raising her voice) Is she more exciting? Let me guess ...Is she younger? HUSBAND (ignores her and quietly goes into the kitchen) EILEEN (calling out) Hey Im talking to you listen to me! Stop ignoring me! EILEENS POV Flashback ends. Eileens eyes fill with soft tears that she wipes away in the dark. Eileen spends the night tossing/turning and remembering her ire and frustration. She recalled how from that moment on the connection between them was lostlike a cord had been cut. They now led two separate lives under the same roof.

CUT TO. INT. TOUR BUS Next morning The group visits Hilltribe Villages of Thailand the first stop is the Long Neck Karen camp. JOANNA (taking their photo) I hate to make it a freak show but those neck bands are so heavy! ALANA Ive read that it actually weakens the neck muscles and removing Those can lead to fatal injury even deathif not careful. SUTHEP They are very shy and suspicious. The Long Neck Karen are the Most oppressed minority Thai government will not grant them Any rights. EILEEN Oh even the little girls have to wear them! SUTHEP Yes the women believe long neck is beautifullike swan. EILEEN Every culture has set beliefs about beautyeven if primitive. ALANA Primitive they are not did you see those HUMVees they are driving? I think these souvenir shops do well in tourist seasons. JOANNA Maybe its opium trade. The group then heads to Baan Tong Luang village. CUT TO. EXT. KHANTOKE CULTURAL CENTER Later that same night. The group is enjoying a Khantoke Music show in the auditorium and a dinner. At the show, Suthep asks Eileen to join him for a dance. Eileen and Suthep dance all night. SUTHEP These dances have different meanings. The fingernail dance is followed by the sword dance, then the magic fowls dance. There are a total of about 15 to 20 dances in this show.

EILEEN You dance very well Suthep. SUTHEP All Thai people like music and dancing. Its in our blood. EILEEN Dancing is soothing and spiritualit cleanses the soul! SUTHEP The hilltribes, like the Akha, believe that to be free is natural and That Sexual chemistry should not be challenged. EILEEN Just go with the flow, eh? Lets see where the next step goes. EILEENS POV Eileen suddenly feels inebriated the room starts spinning and she starts hearing voices. She stops dancing, but notices that Suthep is unaware of her. The rest of the group does not see or hear what she witnesses. She becomes a little delirious and confused. Then she sees a lighted pathway leading her away from the crowd under a Bodhi Tree. The light is a halo coming from somewhere behind the clouds from top of the tree. MANS VOICE (O.S.) EileenEileen. Come this way towards the light! EILEEN (looking around) Who is that? Who is calling me? MANS VOICE (O.S.) Look up! Follow the path towards the light! Eileen follows the path, stops, and looks up. EILEEN (confused, looks up) Oh myGod you are god! Are you the Buddha? A 10-foot tall statue of the standing Buddha hovers above her. BUDDHA STATUE Come to me Eileen!

Eileens spirit floats above her body and floats towards him. She stops at his mid chest. EILEEN (mustering some tears) Am I dying? Is this death? She feels the rush of wind past her cheeks as she drifts through the clouds. BUDDHA (calmly, with eyes closed) It is a higher plane of conscience up here, and you will see the world below our feet. EILEEN (looking down) Are we in outer space, cloud 9? What plane of existence is this? BUDDHA It is not of your world. This realm is outside of our plane of thoughts. EILEEN This must be the Nirvana that they talk about. BUDDHA We are not anywhere close to the Nirvana that I have achieved. EILEEN (closes eyes) Its nice I like it in complete silence in perfect harmony. BUDDHA (O.S.) Eileen I sense a disturbance with you you are not at peace. EILEEN (opens her eyes) I suppose I could be happier but why does that disturb you?

BUDDHA (opens his eyes) Remember we are all connected.

EILEEN (gawks in astonishment and wonder)

You meanthat you and Ithat we? BUDDHA I love you Eileen I hope you know that. EILEEN I feel love for you dear lord - my heart it is yours! BUDDHA Surrender to me Eileen! Surrender to yourself. Follow my path. EILEEN (feeling childlike and elated) I surrender to the great spirit in the sky! Please lead the way! BUDDHA Your heart has unfulfilled desiresmany wishesyet to Be done. EILEEN Oh yes theres so much I havent yet done, but time has run out. BUDDHA Then I cannot take you with me. You must finish what you have started. You should stay and figure it out. EILEEN What do you mean? I cannot leave a life behind I have Children who need me! BUDDHA There are people here who need you you have a duty to them. EILEEN I dont love my husband he does not need me I am at crossroads. BUDDHA Look deep into your heart you will find your soul. EILEEN My heart wont make up its mind I am trapped in a bad Marriage, in a bad relationship. BUDDHA Is there someone who has feelings for you? EILEEN

Do you think its Suthep? Is this one of his tricks? BUDDHA Suthep is but a child to do this to you. I see you have feelings for him! EILEEN What? Do I really have those feelings? Is this what is meant by love? BUDDHA Do you want to seek love? Do you want to follow the path to love? EILEEN What will happen if I stay here and start a new life? Take on a new career, a new identity for myself or just again be the same wife and mother that Ive always been ? BUDDHA Life will find balance here and there will be love at the End waiting for you! EILEEN Is love what I am seeking? What about peace? BUDDHA To be at peace is love. EILEEN (in prayer) That is Buddhas lovefor mefor all mankind. Buddha is love he loves me! Suddenly, Eileen becomes aware of the dancing and returns to ground. The music from the sword dance gets louder. The sword dance is in full swing. The sword dance soon ends and the magic fowl dancers enter the arena. Eileen returns to her table the music still echoing along with chanting. They shortly leave for the hotel. No one has noticed where she had gone. CUT TO. INT. EILEENS HOTEL ROOM Late night A very pensive Eileen stays up meditating about the days events unfolding. EILEEN (thinking out loud)

The same old drab boring routine would loneliness creep in? Or have I really met my soul-mate? Is there something real between us? Who is this us? What will my life become? Eileen ponders a scenario where she is living in Bangkok perhaps she would be Working helping out her household. Perhaps her career will take her up the ladder. She would raise her children here they could go to a good International school, the college, and choose a profession. A life filled with more love, less conflicts, and more balance. She thinks about whats waiting back home as she unpacks her bags and each day turns out to be the same as the previous no change and no prospects. But she has such a good life many would be envious! A house in the best suburb with a great yard, kids getting good grades, shopping, holidays, and a great life overall! Why is she complaining? Who would even know that she is having problems just by looking at her? What exactly were the problems? EILEEN (thinking out loud) I would get away from that unresponsive man who calls himself my husband but married life here again it would be the same woes, the same trials and tribulations! The image of Buddha comes to her mind. She closes her eyes thinking about his Love and drifts off to sleep.

CUT TO. INT. TOUR BUS Next morning The group returns to Bangkok after a long bus trip. They are joined by Kathryn and Dr. Jones for a late lunch. EILEEN Youre looking well glad youve recovered. KATHRYN (showing her engagement ring) Dr. Jones and I are engaged! ALANA (smiles) Oh thats great. How nice! EILEEN (surprised) Whens the wedding? Dr. JONES

We have yet to detail out our plans. SUTHEP You will stay here until then? KATHRYN Yes I plan to make Bangkok my permanent home now. JOANNA (checks out her ring) Im also going to be staying on until this adoption is approved. This ring is beautiful! ALANA Im also extending my stay to tour Phuket, Laos, and surrounding areas. I love it here. SUTHEP You have all modified the tour none of this is part of the Standard package! You got more than you paid for! EILEEN Looks like Ill be the only one returning on tomorrows flight! You Have all found reasons to stay longer in Thailand! SUTHEP Sure you wont change your mind? Anything here youd like to see More of?

EILEEN Ive enjoyed everything immensely, but I must be getting back. My husband will be waiting. Despite what Ive said, Im kind of missing him. ALANA No youre not! How can you leave this place? Its gorgeous. The ladies finish their lunch and stroll the streets. They go through different shops, and exchange more shopping tips and ideas. CUT TO. INT. HOTEL LOBBY Later that same day. Eileen meets Suthep in the lobby with her packed luggage. Eileen hands him a Thank You card and a tip. They shake hands, and Eileen checks out. INT. SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT Later that same day.

Suthep drops Eileen off at the airport and waves goodbye. Eileen boards her flight as her eyes are filled with tears, but she seems calm and at peace with herself. As she heads back to San Francisco, she knows in her heart, there will always be a memory of Thailand, Buddha, and of Suthep as she looks down at Bangkok from above and proceeds to read the rest of her book Eat, Pray, Love. FADE TO SEARING WHITENESS.