First Look: DEAD afterlife – The Screenplay by Michael Joy
The First 5 Pages:
EXT. – ROAD TO THE CEMETARY – DAY
The funeral procession drives down a long rural road towards an isolated cemetery. DRIVER JOE, a middle aged man wearing dark sunglasses and driving gloves, puts his foot on the gas accelerating the hearse up to about 70mph while blowing through a red traffic single, and leaving the rest of the procession trailing behind.
DONALD CONLEE V/O
My name is Donald Conlee and this is my funeral. That’s me bouncing around in the back of that hearse. I was murdered last week and I’m still trying to come to terms with that fact. The crazy thing is, this is going to be the best part of my entire day. You would think after you’re dead, things couldn’t really get much worse. Well, they can. The man driving, I don’t know him, but he’s going to be an important part of the next 24 hours.
The hearse peels wheels pulling into the cemetery’s dirt driveway, kicking up all kinds of dust. A line of cars follow him in, all parking in a straight line. The first person out is RIO, the beautiful young assistant to Donald Conlee. She appears through the cloud of dust.
RIO
(softly to herself)
Oh Donald, you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.
ROBERT DECKER, an arrogant businessman who works for the Food and Drug Administration, also an associate of Donald Conlee, gets out of his sports car while talking loudly on his cell phone.
ROBERT DECKER
I don’t care what the hell you have to do. I want those god damn
papers on my desk by the end of business day today! (hangs up)
RIO
You know, you’re at a funeral.
ROBERT DECKER
About that. Who the hell picked this cemetery? It’s in the middle
of fucking nowhere. You know how long it’s going to take me to get
back to the city?
The pallbearers offload the coffin out of the hearse. They lose grip and the coffin almost doesn’t make it on the dolly.
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
You pricks drop this coffin again and I’ll put each one of you in the ground.
The funeral director pushes the coffin the rest of the way to where the outside ceremony is being held. The guests leave their vehicles and walk towards the ceremony location. The ghost of Donald Conlee is standing there greeting people as they arrive, but no one can hear him.
Aunt Mildred, Uncle Sid, and Sid Jr. arrive.
DONALD CONLEE
Thank you for coming to my funeral.
Cousin Eddie and his hooker girlfriend, Peggy Lee, arrive.
DONALD CONLEE
Eddie and Peggy Lee, I’m glad you could make it.
EDDIE
You better not embarrass me again.
PEGGY LEE
You’re lucky I even came here with you.
Angry old man in wheelchair arrives and just rolls past everyone, not stopping.
DONALD CONLEE
Thank you for coming to my…
Rio walks up and she’s in tears. As she passes Donald she pauses as if she senses someone is there.
DONALD CONLEE
Rio, there’s so much that I need to tell you. This should have never happened.
Robert Decker arrives. He’s talking on his cell phone and walks past Rio. Donald Conlee doesn’t say anything. He just gives a hard look in Robert’s direction as he passes.
DONALD CONLEE
I sure wish you could hear me.
Rio dries her eyes. She is escorted by a pallbearer to her seat.
PALLBEARER BOB
I think that’s everyone.
PALLBEARER PAUL
Yeah, that’s it.
Donald Conlee turns away and starts walking toward the graveyard.
EXT. – GRAVEYARD – DAY
Donald Conlee walks through the graveyard past two grave diggers.
MANTELL
I think it’s going to be an interesting day.
JAGGERS
My horoscope said I’m going to meet new and interesting people.
MANTELL
The only people we ever meet are already dead.
Donald Conlee continues walking until he comes upon an older grey haired man in a white suit, THE GATEKEEPER.
THE GATEKEEPER
Hello Donald. You are right on time. Let me introduce myself, I am the gatekeeper. You’ve said your goodbyes?
DONALD CONLEE
Yes, I did.
THE GATEKEEPER
Do you have any questions?
DONALD CONLEE
No, I don’t think so.
THE GATEKEEPER
Please follow me.
They both approach the old and rusted cemetery gates.
THE GATEKEEPER
There is no need to be afraid.
You will know what to do.
As they draw nearer, the gates become newer and eventually turn into the pearly gates of heaven. The gatekeeper holds open the gate and Donald Conlee tries to enter but something is holding him back.
THE GATEKEEPER
Something is wrong.
DONALD CONLEE
There is something holding me back.
THE GATEKEEPER
This has never happened before.
DONALD CONLEE
You’re not making me feel any better about this.
THE GATEKEEPER
Please, step back away from the gates.
The gates turn back into the old rusted cemetery gates once again.
DONALD CONLEE
I know I’m dead and everything, but I have a bad feeling in the
pit of my stomach.
THE GATEKEEPER
I think we should return to your funeral services.
For partnership opportunities,
contact Michael Joy | joyhorror@msn.com
