a letter from heaven

8/13/2019 A Letter From Heaven

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Curtain closed.A young mans voice over.

Adult Ethan (V.O.)

I was born in Pleasantville. The first gated community in the country. A place where peopleshould be friendly, welcoming, open- heartedand that money or family background or

education or luck didnt matter. Well, it was not. They did matter to everyone in Pleasantville.

Except Grandda

Curtain opens.

Landons household. 30 years ago. Night.

William Landon

Im home. Ethan! Ethan! Where are you?

Young Ethan runs to his father.

Young Ethan

Papa, papa. You are home. (Shows his father his examination paper) Look, papa, I score 100

again.

William Landon

(pat on his sons head) Well done, boy. I am so proud of you. Its getting late. Get ready to go tobed.

Young Ethan

Are you coming to tell me a bedtime story?

William Landon

Ethan, it is late. You

Young Ethan

(hugging onto the fathers leg) Please, papajust one short oneplease????

William Landon

(look at his sons begging face) I guess, one will do. But, a short one.Then you will go to bed.

Agree?


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Young Ethan

Yeay! Agree!! I will change into my pyjama now

Young Ethan runs to his room.

William Landon

(look at the picture of his wife) Did you hear that? Ethan is such a big boy now. 100 again. I wish

you were here. Why do you have to go?? (sobs)

Young Ethan

(stick his head out from his bedroom) Papa, Im ready.

William Landon

(wipes his tears) Im coming son.

William Landon walks to his son. Lights off.

Next day. Office.

Mr Gorgon

Tom!! Where is the Womens Fashion Week article? (ransacking his own table looking for the

article)

Tom

(rushes in with a pen in his hand) It is on the table this morning, Sir.

Mr Gorgon

On my table? Which corner of the table? Huh?

Tom

(moves forward) Sir, if you would allow me to find for you. (moves away the files) ahh.. its here,

sir. See, the one with a pink ribbon on the right corner. Pink colour gives you an extra zest!!

Mr Gorgon

(waves him off) Alright, out you go. Go onshoo!!

Tom walks out.


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Page 4

Mr Gorgon

(rips off the pink ribbon) Extra zest?

A few minutes later.

Mr Gorgon

Tom!

Tom

Tom Tom at your service, Senor.

Mr Gorgon

Get William here now!

Tom

Right away.

Later.

William Landon

You wish to see me, Gallu?

Mr Gorgon

Yes, Will. Please, have a seat.

Mr Gorgon

You do know that Mr Balwar is retiring next week. I would like you to take his place as the Chief

Editor in Happyville.

William Landon

(looked shock) Me? Taking over from Mr Balwar? But Gallu, you know I cant leave

Pleasantville

Mr Gorgon

I know Will. You dont want to leave Pleasantville. Take it this way, it might as well be a fresh

start for you and Ethan.


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William Landon

I cant Gallu. I promised Betty that I will not leave her alone here.

Mr Gorgon

Will, she will not be alone here. Just go home and think about it. Just go to Happyville for sixmonths. If you still dont like it, I will have you back here the next minute.

William walks out.

Night. Landon household.

William Landon

(over the phone) Yes, I know. Ethan need you here. I will not be away for too long, I guess. I

need you here to take care of Ethan.

Background. Ethan screams.

William Landon

I think Ethan is having nightmare again. I will come fetch you this Friday. Bye.

William rushes to Ethans room.

Background.

William Landon (V.O.)

Its ok. Ethan. Its only a nightmare..shh.

Fade out.

Friday.

Young Ethan

Papapapa. Im home! Mrs Morrison said

Young Ethan stops as he sees his father talking to an old man.

William Landon

There. Hes home. Come here, Ethan.

Ethan walks to his father. Eyes on the old man who looks back at him.


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Page 6

William Landon

Ethan, this is your grandda. Hes here to take care of you when Im away.

Young Ethan

Away? Where are you going papa?

William Landon

We discussed, Ethan. I will be heading to Happyville for six months. At the meantime, you will

stay here with Grandda. (turns to the old man) Dad, meet your grandson.

George Landon

Hello Ethan. Its been a while since I last seen you.

Young Ethan

You have seen me? Why have I not remembered?

George Loony

You were a baby when I saw you.

Young Ethan

(tilt his head to think) Then, why have you not come to see me since then?

William Landon

ErrEthan

George Loony

(waves his hand) I would love to come sooner, if I have not been working.

Young Ethan

Working? What kind of work?

George Loony

Postman. I work as a postman.

One month later.

Young Ethan

Fido, Im telling you, it is true. My Granddasaid he sent letters from house to house every day.


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Young Fido

Every day? Wow!! I did not know postman cycles to send letters every day.

Young Ethan

(excited) Yes, Grandda sent letters every day. He carried this mail bag behind his bicycle andsent to the people every day. He said it is normal to have postman sending letters to houses at

the place where he comes from.

Young Fido

I am curious Ethan. We dont see peoplewho cycles here, not to mention postman. I dont even

know there is such thing called post box.

Young Ethan

Yeah, Grandda said hes going to show us how to fly kites.

Young Fido

Really? Oh, lets run to your house now!!

Landon Household.

George Loony making kite in the garden.

Young Ethan

Grandda, Im home! Grandda, what are you doing?

George Loony

Oh, you are early today Ethan. I am writing a letter to your Granny.

Young Ethan

A letter? But you are making a kite

George Loony

(smiles)Yes, a kite to send the letter to your Granny.

Both boys look at each other, puzzled.

Young Fido

But Grandpa George, how do you send a letter to the deceased?


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George Loony

Ahhthat is the most interesting part. But, I shall keep it a secret till I show you. Come, get me

my hat, and we will head out to the Central Park.

Young Ethan

Yeay! Central Park!

Young Fido passes the hat to George Loony.

Three of them heads off to Central Park.

Central Park. People watching at the trio.

Young Fido

Grandpa George, how do you send the letter to Ethans Grandma?

Young Ethan

Yeah, show us, Grandda.

George Loony

First, you tied the letter to the back of the kite. Then we fly the letter up to the heaven.

Young Ethan

Send letter to the heaven?

George Loony

Yes, a letter to heaven.

Young Fido

Wow! That is awesome!! Can we fly the kite now?

George Loony

(nods) come along, boys. Hold the kite for me Fido. Ethan, come, hold the thread. Release the

kite slowly.and the let go of the thread slowly.and there you go

Young Fido

(look up to the sky) Wowlook at the kite. It is awesome. I have not seen a real kite flying in the

sky before.


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George Loony

Easy, boy. Dont rush. Control the kite.

People at the park look at them in disgust. Children are excited but are pulled back by the

parents.

Night. Community Centre.

Mr Nerd

Gentlemen and lady. We gather here today to discuss on the misconduct of one George Loony.

Mr Yak

Mr Chairman, I suggest that we chase this George Loony out of Pleasantville. Since hes here,

he has been shown sign of bad influence to our community.

Mr Uruk

I agree. Last week, I saw him eating ice- cream with Ethan Landon as they walk back from

school.

Mr Moon

Ethan has been out to play with Fido more often than they should this past month. They should

be studying to get good results and get to good college, not playing baseball!

Men

I agree!!! (men talking voicing their complaints)

Mr Nerd

Gentlemen, be quiet. Lets hear from our lady here. Mrs Gaga, what do you think of this George

Loony?

Mrs Gaga

Gentlemen, I have done some background checking on this George Loony. It seems, George

Loony comes from a poor community, Junkville. (face in disgust) He works as a postman (gasps

from the gentlemen). Yes, a postman. He spent most of his time flying kite. His wife died of

cancer. (gasps from the gentlemen) [thats the poor man disease] After the wife died, Mr WilliamLandon ran away to a relatives house in Joyville. This relative is wealthy but has no heir for the

inheritance. He adopted Mr William Landon as his son who then inherited his estate after he

died a few years later. That is why Mr William Landon does not share George Loonys last name.


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Mr Uruk

I suggest that we banish George Loony from Pleasantville.

Mr Moon

I agree. I suggest we do it tomorrow before he corrupts more children.

Mr Yak

Look at what he has done to my Fido! He is now talking of being a postman! A postman! Can

you imagine my Fido as a postman?

Mrs Gaga

Should have stopped him from entering Pleasantville at the first place!

Mr Nerd

Gentlemen, before we inform Mr Landon

Mr Uruk

We dont have to inform him. We have the authority to decide.

Mr Yak

Yes, Mr Chairman. I suggest we banish him first thing tomorrow morning before it is too late.

Mrs Gaga

(looks to Mr Nerd) It is your call now, Mr Chairman.

Mr Nerd

(brings down his gravel) I, hereby, decides that we banish George Loony from Pleasantville. We

shall give him two days to pack.

Mr Moon

But, Mr Chairman

Mr Nerd

Gentlemen, this is final. Council dismissed.


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Corner of the house. Night.

Young Ethan

Papacome backthey are taking Grandda away please papacome back

William Landon (V.O.)

Calm down Ethan, Gallu has informed me of that. I will be home tomorrow morning. Ethan, be

calm and be strong.

Young Ethan

(crying) yespapa.

Next day. Landon household.

Mr Nerd

George Loony, you will leave Pleasantville today. Mr Uruk here, will accompany you out to the

gate.

Mrs. Gaga

Ewwjust standing here with you, has downgraded me as a socialite!

Young Ethan

(rushes out) You cannot do this Mr. Nerd. You cannot take Grandda away!!!

George Loony

Ethan

Mrs. Gaga

Ohhyou loony boy!!

Mr Nerd

Ethan, the council has decided

Young Ethan

No.noGranddaplease dont go

Young Fido

Daddy!!Daddy!! Do something!! I dont want Grandpa George go too


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Mr Yak

Fido! You come here immediately! You have disgraced me!

George Loony

Ethan, Fido. Let me go.

The men tried to drag George Loony away from the children.

William Landon

Wait! Hold on! Leave my father!

Mr Nerd

Mr Landon. (nods to Mr Gorgon) Mr Gorgon. Mr Landon, we are

William Landon

No! You will not banish my father from Pleasantville! He has the right as much as us to stay in

Pleasantville.

Mr Moon

Mr Landon, he is corrupting the childrens minds.

Mr Gorgon

Corrupting? Teaching them to have fun is not corrupting their minds.

Mr Yak

He made my Fido to want to be a postman!

Young Fido

I want to be a postman! I am interested!

William Landon

Mr Nerd, I respected you as the Chairman of the council but this is my father. I had been away

from my father for a long time. I want him to be here, back to the family, as a father, as a

grandfather.

Mr Nerd

Mr Landon


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Mr Gorgon

Mr Chairman, as the biggest benefactor for the council, I would like you to reconsider this. If not

for William, as a personal favour to me. And you, Mrs. Gaga. As the sole lady in the council, I

thought you should be more sympathetic

Mrs. Gaga

I have been sympathetic to even allowed him to step into Pleasantville! How dare you?

Mr Nerd

Mr Gorgon, Mrs. Gaga

George Loony

Mr Gorgon, thank you for your kindness. Willie, I will leave Pleasantville. It is for the betterment

of Ethan.

William Landon

Dad

George Loony

(waves him off) But I have a request. I wish to spend my birthday with my family before I leave.

Mr. Nerd

Wish granted. You may stay another day. Nothing more.

George Loony

Thank you.

The Council men

Mr Chairman

Mr Nerd walks away, the men followed. Mr Gorgon taps on Williamss shoulder and left too.

Young Fido left too.

Night.

Young Ethan

Grandda, happy birthday!! Errhow old are you Grandda???

George Loony

I am as old as the earth!! Ha ha!


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Young Ethan

You are ever so funny Grandda. I wish you will stay here forever(sobs)

George Loony

Ethan, you know this is impossible. Come here, Ethan. Sometimes in life, you cant always getwhat you want. We make choices and this a choice I have made. You have to respect it.

Young Ethan

(nods) But I can come to see you right?

George Loony

Yes, you are always welcomed.

William Landon watches his father and son from the corner. Tears roll down.

George Loony

Now, I believe it is your bedtime. I am tired too. It will be a long journey for me tomorrow.

Young Ethan

Ok. Good night Grandda.

George Loony lay back on the couch.

William Landon

Dad, Ethan is in his bed. Thank you for bringing laughter back to Ethan. Dad, you dont have to

leave actually. I will fight to the end to have you stay. You have the right as much as the others

do. Dad? (shakes his father) Dad? Dad?

Present.

Landon household

Door bell.

Old William Landon

Ethan! Ethan! Whos at the door?


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Adult Ethan

(walks in) Its the postman. Err dad. Im not sure how to put this delicately. Its a letter from

Grandda.

Old William Landon

What? A letter from dad? Let me see, Ethan.

Adult Ethan hands his father the letter attached to the kite.

Old William Landon

Its dads handwriting. (struggles to open the envelope)

Adult Ethan

Here dad. Let me help you.

Old William Landon read the letter with his son and cried.

Letter( V.O. by George Loony)

Dear William and Ethan, thank you for the six months time. I enjoyed living with both of you in

Pleasantville. I failed in my marriage and my life but I was blessed with a successful son and a

sweet grandson, so I can die happily.

William, you were a weak boy and cried a lot. So when I prayed to God, it was first for your

health and also that you would be open- hearted. These days, Im greedy. I pray for you and

your sons safety. Having a grandson calling me grandda and listen to every words I say

tentatively made me so happy. What more do I ask for?

Im so fortunate to be able to bid goodbye to both of you in a state of happiness. Goodbye.

Lights off.

The End

a letter from heaven

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