DARKNESS FALLS "SEVENTH ECHO" PART TWO By Beth Mayo EXT. RIVER - DAY (echo zero) Same footage from prologue of first half, Erin going down to river and then looking out over the water. VOICEOVER - ADRIAN Are you watching him again? He won't die on you, you know. CARRIE But he almost did. ADRIAN So what? You saved him - that's what we do. CARRIE I know, but... It made me realize something. ADRIAN What? That they are all really the same? CARRIE No. He's different. Erin, he's different. ADRIAN What are you saying, Carrie? CARRIE I'm going down, Adrian. And I'm not coming back. INT. CDA - DAY (7th echo) Erin walks down the hall. He passes Dan who is sitting on a bench in the hallway without even seeing him. Dan looks up and sees Erin. He stands up and calls after him. DAN Hey Erin! Erin walks a few more steps and then turns. ERIN Hey. Dan runs up to Erin and shakes his hand. DAN Congratulations! ERIN On what? DAN On the part that you got! ERIN What part? DAN You mean you haven't seen the cast list yet? We're both in the play, in Cymbeline! ERIN Oh, really? I didn't know that they had posted it already. What part did you get? DAN Actually, we're playing the two brothers, Guiderius and Arviragus. You know, the guys who are sons of the king but were kidnapped as babies so they don't know that they're royalty. ERIN Which one am I? DAN You're Arviragus, the younger son. I'm Guiderius, the one that gets to swordfight with Cloten and chop off his head! Isn't that cool? ERIN Yeah, that's great. When does rehearsal start? DAN In a couple of weeks, I think. ERIN Great. I guess I'll see you at rehearsal, then? DAN Yeah, sure. See you later. Dan walks down the hall and out of the building, and Erin goes through a doorway into another part of the building. EXT. CAMPUS - DAY Melanie is sitting on a wall reading a copy of Cymbeline. Dan walks past her, then stops, and comes back. DAN Hey, Melanie. MELANIE Oh, hi. Dan, isn't it? DAN Yeah, glad you remember me. Whatcha reading? MELANIE Oh, this? Just some Shakespeare. DAN Hey, Cymbeline! I'm gonna be in that! MELANIE Oh, really? I didn't know that anyone was doing Shakespeare again. DAN Yeah, it's great, isn't it? MELANIE You know, I have a friend who does tech stuff, if you guys need anyone. You know, for lights or sound or something. DAN Awesome! Yeah, you should come to rehearsal sometime and talk to the director. Erin is seen walking by in the background behind Melanie. Dan sees him. DAN Excuse me for a sec. Hey Erin! Erin turns around, sees that it's Dan, and heads over to where Dan and Melanie are talking. DAN Hey Melanie, this is Erin. He's gonna be in the play with me. MELANIE Hi, Erin. Nice to meet you. ERIN Yeah, nice to meet you. DAN Melanie has a friend who might help out on some tech for Cymbeline. What's her name, Melanie? MELANIE Carrie - the girl I was eating lunch with when I met you. Erin's head snaps up at the mention of Carrie's name. Dan notices this. DAN Do you know her? ERIN Yeah, I ran into her a few weeks ago. Melanie suppresses laughter. DAN Huh. Small world. So I'll see you and Carrie at rehearsal next week? It's at 7 on Thursday in the Company Players theatre. Do you know where that is? MELANIE I don't, but I'm sure Carrie will. I'll see you guys then, okay? DAN Yeah, sure. I'll see you later! ERIN It was nice meeting you, Melanie. MELANIE Oh, yeah, nice meeting you too. Dan and Erin head off together, leaving Melanie sitting on the wall still reading. INT. CARRIE'S DORM ROOM - EVENING Carrie sits at her computer. The phone rings and she answers it. CARRIE Hello? MELANIE Hey, Carrie? This is Melanie. CARRIE Oh, hey Melanie. What are you up to? MELANIE Not much. Guess who I talked to this afternoon. CARRIE Who? MELANIE Dan... and Erin. CARRIE Huh. MELANIE And they're both going to be in that play together. CARRIE Cymbeline? MELANIE Yeah. And Dan wants us to come to rehearsal next week. He says you can talk to the director and maybe do some tech stuff for the show. CARRIE That's great. We should definitely go. When is it? MELANIE Thursday night of next week at 7 in the Company Players theatre. Do you know where that is? CARRIE Of course. Can I meet you for dinner at 6:30 and then we'll go to rehearsal? MELANIE Sure. I'll see you in the dining hall at 6:30. Talk to you later, okay? CARRIE Sure. Bye. MELANIE Bye. In her room, Melanie hangs the phone up and goes back to reading the play. EXT. FIELD BY A RIVER - DAY (3rd echo, circa 1609) A group of people (including Erin) is seen walking through the field with baskets in hand. They select a spot and sit down to have a picnic lunch. The setting and atmosphere is very idyllic. ERIN So, how's rehearsal for Master Shakespeare's newest play? MAN Pretty good. ERIN And who do you play? MAN This guy named Guiderius, a son of the king, Cymbeline. WOMAN What's the play about? During the explanation, scenes from the seventh echo production of Cymbeline are shown, in addition to the current scene. MAN Well, it's about this guy named Cymbeline, who was the king of England a long time ago. His two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus were stolen away from him when they were very young. He had another child, a daughter named Imogen. Then the queen died and Cymbeline remarried to a woman who had a son from a previous marriage named Cloten. The play begins when Imogen has gotten married against Cymbeline's wishes and he banishes her husband. The queen's son Cloten is trying to make it with Imogen, so she ends up running away to supposedly meet her husband. Only she runs into Guiderius and Arviragus, Cymbeline's missing sons. In the meantime, Rome is invading because Cymbeline doesn't want to pay tribute to the Romans. There's a big battle and through the intercession of the gods, the missing sons are recognized for who they are, Imogen is reunited with her husband, and the treacherous queen and her son Cloten are killed. WOMAN So it's a comedy? MAN Well, not exactly. For a long time it looks like it's going to have a tragic ending, but everything works out in the end. Erin appears to have zoned out, he is looking off towards the river. MAN Erin? Erin shakes his head and comes out of it. ERIN Oh, sorry. I thought I heard something. So tell me about your part - don't you get to sing a song? MAN Actually, Master Shakespeare changed it so I don't have to sing it. But the song will still be in the play. The dialogue trails off as Adrian is seen standing by the water. He looks back towards Erin and then back to the river rushing by. EXT. CAMPUS - EVENING (7th echo) Carrie and Melanie are seen walking from dinner to rehearsal. CARRIE That sounds really interesting. Not your run-of-the-mill Shakespeare. MELANIE Yeah, it's different. I can't wait to see it. CARRIE Well, we're a little late, but it doesn't really matter. The two arrive at the theatre and go inside. Actors are milling about on stage, in street clothes carrying scripts. The director, along with a few others are sitting in the audience. DIRECTOR Okay, everyone take five minutes. The director stands and stretches, and sees Carrie and Melanie standing in the back of the theatre. DIRECTOR Can I help you? CARRIE Yeah. I'm Carrie, and I'm a friend of a cast member who told me that you guys were looking for people to run tech equipment during the show. I've run sound and lights before on a few other shows, and I'd like to help out on this show. DIRECTOR Great! I'm Leigh, the director. We haven't even really designed the sound and lights yet, but just give me your phone number and I'll let you know if we need someone. You're welcome to sit and watch rehearsal if you want to. CARRIE Thanks! She goes and continues talking with the director while Melanie, hanging back, watches the actors on stage. Erin and Dan are sitting going over lines and Dan looks up and sees Melanie. He smiles and waves, and then continues reading the script with Erin. DIRECTOR Okay, let's go. Act Four, Scene 1. Cloten, you're up. Carrie and Melanie sit down a few rows behind the director. An actor moves to the forestage, while the others go off into the wings or sit in the audience. The actor reads from the script. CLOTEN I am near to the place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapp'd it truly. EXT. RIVER - DAY (echo zero) Erin walks down to the river and stands looking out over the water. INT. THEATRE - NIGHT (7th echo) CLOTEN This is the very description of their meeting place, and the fellow dares not deceive me. Cloten has finished his speech and moves offstage. DIRECTOR Okay, scene two. Imogen, Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus. Imogen (girl), Belarius (guy), Guiderius (Dan), and Arviragus (Erin), move onto the stage. BELARIUS You are not well: remain here in the cave, We'll come to you after hunting. AVIRAGUS (ERIN) Brother, stay here. Are we not brothers? IMOGEN So man and man should be; But clay and clay differs in dignity, Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick. The scene continues as Carrie and Melanie talk. CARRIE Why are they calling her "brother"? MELANIE She's under disguise until she can get back together with her husband. Imogen is the daughter of Cymbeline, remember? Cymbeline banished her husband so she goes off to meet with him. CARRIE So that means that Erin and Dan are playing Cymbeline's long lost sons? MELANIE Yeah. EXT. RIVER - DAY (echo zero) Erin stands by the river. Adrian is seen through the trees, coming closer to Erin. INT. THEATRE - NIGHT (7th echo) Belarius is alone on stage. BELARIUS Yet still it's strange What Cloten's being here to us portends, Or what his death will bring us. Guiderius (Dan) enters. GUIDERIUS (DAN) Where's my brother? Arviragus (Erin) enters, from a different direction, carrying Imogen. BELARIUS Look, here he comes, and brings the cause of a dire occasion! ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) She is dead. I had rather skipp'd from sixteen years of age to sixty: To have turn'd my leaping time into a crutch, Than have seen this GUIDERIUS (DAN) Oh sweetest, fairest lily: My brother wears thee not the one half so well As when thou grew'st thyself. MELANIE She's not really dead - she drank one of those poisons that make her look dead but she's still alive. You know, like Juliet. Carrie is not listening to Melanie, instead, she is enraptured by what is unfolding on stage. ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) Where shall we lay him? BELARIUS By good Euriphile, our mother. ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) Be't so. And let us, Polydore, though now our voices Have got the mannish crack, sing him to th' ground. GUIDERIUS (DAN) Cadwal, I cannot sing: I'll weep, and word it with thee; ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) If you'll go fetch Cloten, We'll say our song the whilst. Belarius exits. Erin lays Imogen down on the stage. GUIDERIUS (DAN) Nay, Cadwal, we must lay his head to the east, My father hath a reason for't. ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) 'Tis true. So, begin. GUIDERIUS (DAN) Fear no more the heat o' th' sun, Nor the furious winter's rages, Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages. Golden maids and girls all must, As chimney sweepers, come to dust. ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) Fear no more the frown o' the great, Thou art past the tyrant's stroke, Care no more to clothe and to eat, To thee the reed is as the oak: The scepter, learning, physic must All follow this and come to dust. GUIDERIUS (DAN) Fear no more the lightning flash, ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) Nor th' all dreaded thunder stone, GUIDERIUS (DAN) Fear not slander, censure rash, ARVIRAGUS (ERIN) Thou hast finished joy and moan. BOTH (DAN AND ERIN) All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee and come to dust. Dan is acting very well, but it is nothing compared to Erin. He is on the verge of tears, expressing a sorrow he never knew he felt as well as a wish to die once and finally, and never to be reincarnated again. His sorrow overcomes him and he walks off the stage. EXT. RIVER - DAY (echo zero) Erin stands by the water's edge. Adrian comes up to him and the two start to talk. Erin begins to back away from Adrian into the river. INT. THEATRE - NIGHT (7th echo) ADRIAN All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to me, and come to dust. Carrie jumps, hearing Adrian speak the lines behind her. She turns and sees him standing just inside the door to the theatre. Carrie turns to Melanie. CARRIE I'll be right back. Melanie looks confused and then sees Adrian at the back of the theatre. She shrugs and continues to watch rehearsal as Carrie leaves. EXT. THEATRE - NIGHT Carrie follows Adrian out of the theatre. CARRIE What do you want? ADRIAN Only for you to remember. CARRIE Remember what? Who are you? Adrian starts walking towards Carrie and she starts backing up. She backs into a wall and stands, mesmerized, as he approaches. ADRIAN I want you to remember a time when we watched over others. Erin is seen rounding the corner of the theatre. He stops and stares as he sees Carrie and Adrian. ADRIAN A time when we watched over each other. He moves as if to kiss Carrie, she appears helpless. ERIN Hey, get off her! Erin runs up to them while Carrie snaps out of it and ducks under Adrian's reach. Erin steps in between Adrian and Carrie. ADRIAN Should have known you'd show up. ERIN Just leave her alone! CARRIE Erin... ADRIAN Since when do you protect her? She's the one who watches over you! ERIN What are you talking about? ADRIAN Oh, so you don't remember either, do you? ERIN Remember what? CARRIE Stop it! Carrie jumps between Adrian and Erin. ADRIAN Ah, that's more like it. Though you're better off without him. And you know it, somewhere inside. You'll see it, someday. CARRIE What are you talking about? ADRIAN Not much longer now. I'll be waiting for you, Carrie. He stalks off into the night. Carrie is about to go after him, when Erin collapses onto the ground. CARRIE Erin! Erin appears exhausted and deeply upset. ERIN Carrie, what's going on? CARRIE I don't know, Erin, but it'll be okay. I promise. ERIN But I've lived through all the promises, Carrie. I'm so tired. I just want to rest. CARRIE You will. Soon. We'll figure this out. Erin stands, angrily. ERIN I don't want to figure it out! I want it to be over! I'm so tired of this, over and over again! CARRIE Tired of what, Erin? ERIN This! Everything! I want it to be over, even if I have to end it myself. Erin starts to leave. CARRIE Wait! We can figure this out! ERIN If you do, come and find me. If not, I don't ever want to see you again. I'm just too tired to go through this again. Erin leaves Carrie on the steps of the theatre, heartbroken without knowing why. Melanie comes out of the theatre. MELANIE Carrie? What happened? CARRIE God, Melanie. I don't know. I need to go talk somewhere. MELANIE Sure. Let's go. Carrie and Melanie leave the theatre. EXT. FOREST PATH - DAY (2nd echo, circa 1500) A group of men in dark clothing are standing by the path, talking. Erin is wandering, as if lost, and then sees the men and heads towards them. ERIN Excuse me. The men all turn to look at him, and then smile at each other. ERIN I seem to have lost my way. Could you tell me how to get back to town? MAN Sure. We've got a map, right here. Erin walks over to look at the map, the men encircle him and then one of them hits Erin over the head from behind. Erin falls to the ground, unconscious. MAN Get whatever he's got, and then we'll throw him in the river. Adrian is seen standing a distance down the path. EXT. COFFEE HOUSE - NIGHT (7th echo) Carrie and Melanie sit at an outside table drinking coffee. MELANIE So what's going on? Who was that guy in the theatre? CARRIE I don't know. MELANIE You don't know him? CARRIE No, I know him. MELANIE You're not making any sense. CARRIE I mean, I know him but I don't know who he is. But that doesn't make any more sense either. None of this makes any sense at all. MELANIE So how do you know him? CARRIE I don't know! Melanie, something is going on and I don't know what it is. But I get the feeling that if I miss something, if I mess this up, it will be irreversible. MELANIE And it has something to do with this guy? CARRIE Yeah, and with Erin too. From the first time I met Erin I felt like I knew him from somewhere, and this other guy is sort of the same way, but more distant. Like whatever happened between us was a long time ago. He keeps saying that he'll be waiting for me, but I don't know why. Who am I to him that he would wait for me? And I feel that if anyone should be waiting, it should be me waiting for Erin, though I get the feeling that time is running out. MELANIE And what's going to happen when time runs out? CARRIE I don't know. Something horrible if I mess this up. But I don't even know what's going on, how am I supposed to know what to do?! MELANIE It'll be okay, Carrie. This has just weirded you out a little, that's all. The rehearsal was kind of spooky. Why don't you go back to your room and get some sleep? I'm sure that'll make you feel better. CARRIE Maybe you're right. If I could just get some decent sleep, maybe this would be easier to deal with. MELANIE It will. Melanie stands. MELANIE Come on. I'll walk you back to your dorm. CARRIE Okay. Carrie stands and the two leave. EXT. RIVER - DAY (1st echo, circa 1400) Two men are walking by the river. FIRST MAN Did you hear about the fellow who was drowned the other day? SECOND MAN No, what happened? FIRST MAN He was out boating and managed to capsize the boat. He was so far out, no one could get to him in time. They found his body washed up on the shore near here. SECOND MAN Poor soul. What was his name? Adrian is seen through the trees. EXT. DORM - NIGHT Erin is seen walking up to the dorm, a figure following him. Erin reaches the dorm and is about to open the door when the figure catches up with him. It is Dan. DAN Hey Erin, wait. ERIN What is it? DAN Are you okay? What was going on back at the theatre? That was more than just acting - is something bothering you? Erin pauses, weighing whether or not to send Dan away. ERIN Why don't you come up to my room? I need to talk. DAN Sure. Erin opens the door and the two go inside. INT. ERIN'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT Erin opens the door and turns on the light. He and Dan enter and sit down. DAN So what's bothering you? ERIN I don't really know. All I know is that it has something to do with Carrie and this guy I saw her with at the theatre. DAN Do you like her? ERIN I don't know. But it's something more than that. All along I've had this uncanny feeling that I know her from somewhere. But the real problem is that I'm afraid to find out how we know each other. DAN Why? ERIN I just get the feeling that once I know, it'll set things in motion. Something's going to happen that I can't prevent. All I really know is that I'm afraid of whatever's going to happen, and that for some reason, I feel so tired. DAN Tired of what? ERIN Of what's happening. But it only started a few weeks ago, and I feel like it's been going on forever. I just want whatever this is building towards to be over so I can rest. You probably think I'm crazy. DAN Dude, I watched you play Hamlet. You're not crazy. You just need to figure out what the problem is and act on it. ERIN Well, this whole thing started when I met Carrie. But I don't think she's the real problem. Whenever I try to think about it, I just get so tired. DAN Well, maybe you just need some rest then. You can think about it better when you've had some sleep. ERIN Maybe you're right. There is a substantial pause, then Dan stands up. DAN Well, I'll show myself out then. ERIN Thanks a lot, man. I guess I'll feel better if I get some sleep. DAN Yeah. Give me a call if you run into any trouble. ERIN Okay. Thanks. DAN No problem. Dan leaves. Erin turns off the light and then curls up on his bed in a ball. INT. CARRIE'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT Carrie lies asleep in bed. EXT. RIVER - DAY (dreamworld / echo zero, circa 1300) Carrie walks down by the river in an old-fashioned dress. Erin is seen standing by the river. Adrian comes out of the woods and confronts Erin. Erin backs away from Adrian and into the river. Adrian grabs Erin roughly and then holds him underwater until he drowns. Adrian pulls Erin's body out of the river and leaves him on the riverbank. Adrian backs off into the trees and watches what happens. Carrie is still walking down the riverbank and then sees Erin's body lying by the water. She starts running and then collapses on his body. CARRIE Oh, God. Erin, why? Carrie cries over Erin's body. Adrian watches from the woods. CARRIE Maybe...maybe God will give us another chance. In another life, we can be together. I don't want to die, but... Oh God, please. Please let us be together. Carrie pulls a knife out of the folds of her dress. She takes it and stabs herself, and then falls over across Erin's body. Adrian realizes what has happened and goes berserk. ADRIAN Carrie, no! Adrian runs down to the riverbank and cradles the now dead Carrie. ADRIAN Oh God, Carrie, you weren't supposed to kill yourself! I just wanted you to see how foolish loving a human was and come back to me. Oh, Carrie! There is a pause while Adrian cries over Carrie's body. ADRIAN You're still an angel, Carrie. God will grant your prayers. I've already fallen for killing this man. But I can at least follow you, wait for you. Someday you will see that no matter how much you loved this man, I loved you first and more than he ever could. Adrian kisses Carrie on the forehead. ADRIAN Down through the centuries, I will wait for you, Carrie. Always. EXT. CAMPUS - EARLY MORNING Day breaks over campus. INT. CARRIE'S DORM ROOM - EARLY MORNING Carrie wakes but lies still, absorbing all that she has remembered. CARRIE Oh my God... INT. ERIN'S DORM ROOM - EARLY MORNING Erin lies asleep in bed. INT. CARRIE'S DORM ROOM - EARLY MORNING CARRIE Adrian... INT. ERIN'S DORM ROOM - EARLY MORNING Erin is still asleep in bed. The light snaps on. Erin sits up, looking around half-confused and half-afraid. Then he sees it is Adrian. Erin freezes. ADRIAN Hello Erin. ERIN What do you want? ADRIAN I take it you still don't remember. You're probably wondering what the hell is going on and why it seems so familiar to you. But I'm about to explain. And then I'll take you to your death. ERIN What? ADRIAN Just listen, Erin. I know how tired you are. Just let me tell my story, and then you can finally rest. There is a pause - Erin is scared but wants this to be over with. Adrian continues. ADRIAN About 700 years ago, there was an abbey somewhere in Ireland. The brothers who lived there had a fairly quiet and peaceful life. And then dawned a fateful day. One of the brothers almost drowned when he went down to the river to get some water. Luckily, he was saved. By his guardian angel. INT. CARRIE'S DORM ROOM - MORNING CARRIE Adrian...and Erin! Oh my God, I have to find Erin! Carrie jumps out of bed and runs out of her room. INT. ERIN'S DORM ROOM - MORNING ADRIAN Angels live forever, you know. Or at least they can if they want to. But when this angel saved this monk, she fell in love with him. She decided to become human herself so she could be with him. But the angel already had someone she loved - another angel. And when she decided to leave her angel for a man... I got angry. And when she was on her way to meet the monk, I got to him first. And I drowned him in the river. ERIN Oh my God... ADRIAN I drowned you, Erin. ERIN Oh, God... EXT. CAMPUS - MORNING Carrie is seen running across campus to Erin's dorm. INT. ERIN'S DORM ROOM - MORNING ADRIAN But my angel didn't see what I had planned. She took her life, in hopes that she would be reborn into another life where she could be with you. But I made sure that didn't happen. Down through seven centuries, seven lives, I have followed you. And once I'm rid of you, once and for all, Carrie will be mine again. So you see, you have no choice but to come with me. You've lived through seven lives, never knowing why - you never even met Carrie until this life. And though you did meet her, do you really want to keep on living? Isn't it time for you to rest? ERIN Rest...and never have to live again? ADRIAN Yes, Erin. To never be made to live another pointless life, where you die without ever knowing the reason you were born. Adrian holds out his hand. ADRIAN Come with me, Erin. I promise, it'll be over soon. And then you can finally rest. Erin pauses, considering, but is overcome with fatigue. He rises out of bed and grabs Adrian's hand, leaning on him for support. ADRIAN Let's go. The two leave Erin's room. Moments later, someone bangs on the door. CARRIE Erin? Are you in there? She tries the door and finds it unlocked. Carrie enters Erin's room. CARRIE Dammit, they've already gone. But where to? The river! Carrie slams the door shut behind her and runs off down the hall. EXT. LENOIR - MORNING Melanie sits at a table with a large coffee, thinking. Dan walks out of Lenoir and sees Melanie. It is obvious that neither of them has gotten any sleep. DAN Oh, hey Melanie. What are you doing up this early? MELANIE Thinking about stuff. DAN What kind of stuff? Carrie and Erin? MELANIE How did you know? Dan sits down at the table with Melanie. DAN 'Cause I'm thinking about the same thing. MELANIE I couldn't sleep last night, worrying about them. I'm afraid that something's going to happen to them, but I have no idea what it is. This whole thing is crazy. DAN What happened outside the theatre last night? MELANIE I'm not sure. Carrie went out there to talk with some guy, but when I went out he was gone and Erin had just run off. I talked to Carrie later on, and she doesn't know what's going on either. DAN Yeah, and neither does Erin. I just told him to get some rest and sort it out in the morning. MELANIE That's what I told Carrie to do. But I was still so worried that I couldn't sleep at all. I wish I knew what was going on. Suddenly Carrie is seen running up to the dining hall. DAN Hey, here comes Carrie. He stands. DAN Carrie! She doesn't acknowledge him at all and starts to run past them. Dan runs out and stops her by making her run into him (ala Carrie running into Erin in part one). DAN Carrie, where are you going? What's wrong? MELANIE Did something happen to Erin? CARRIE Where's the nearest river? MELANIE What? CARRIE Where's the river, godammit?! DAN Uh, there's one about fifteen minutes east down Highway 12. But why - CARRIE Melanie, I'm borrowing your car. Give me your keys. Melanie pulls our her keys and hands them to Carrie. MELANIE What's happened to Erin, Carrie? CARRIE Nothing if I can get there fast enough. DAN Can we come with you? CARRIE I'm sorry, but no. I have to do this by myself. If something happens to me.... MELANIE If something happens to you! Carrie, what's going on?! CARRIE I love you both. Please, just live. Goodbye. Carrie turns and runs off. Melanie starts to go after her but is stopped by Dan. MELANIE Carrie! DAN It's out of our hands, Melanie. MELANIE But we can't just let her go! Don't you have a car? DAN Yeah, but she's gotta face it on her own. MELANIE Can't we follow her? At least see what happens? We can help her if she needs it. I mean, what about Erin? DAN Alright. Let's go. They run off to Dan's car. EXT. WOODS - DAY Carrie is seen running through the woods. She sees Adrian near the river and runs towards him. CARRIE Where is he? ADRIAN You're too late. CARRIE What? ADRIAN You're too late to save him this time. But I'm still here. CARRIE Why would I want you? Look at what you've done! ADRIAN But I did it out of love, Carrie! You would have lived with him, and maybe have even been happy. But you would have died eventually. And I loved you too much to let that happen. I still love you too much to let that happen. CARRIE What are you saying? ADRIAN Erin is a lost cause, Carrie. He always was. But we can still be together. That's all I ever wanted. Surely you can see that. CARRIE We can never be together. Not after what you did. You think that I have no choice in this, that you've made it so I have to come back to you. But that's not true. ADRIAN But what else can you decide? Erin is already dead, never to be reborn again. He is lost to you. CARRIE But you're lost to me too. I can never have you back, after all that you've done. ADRIAN But you can't just go on living without either one of us. You can't live with the knowledge that you had that man reborn seven times for nothing. CARRIE I know I can't. So I'm going to be with Erin. Carrie brushes past Adrian on her way to the river. Adrian is so shocked he doesn't try to stop her. Carrie walks a few feet and then turns to face Adrian. CARRIE Adrian, I give you the hardest punishment to bear. ADRIAN What can be worse than losing you? CARRIE I forgive you. Carrie continues on to the river. Adrian collapses in the path. Suddenly Dan and Melanie run up. DAN Where's Carrie? MELANIE What did you do to Erin? ADRIAN She really is an angel... DAN What? ADRIAN After all I've done to her and that man...she forgave me. MELANIE Where are they? ADRIAN At the river. Dan and Melanie run off. Adrian lies in the path. ADRIAN Together...we are forgiven. Adrian smiles through his tears. Suddenly he goes limp, his eyes roll up in his head. EXT. RIVERBANK - DAY Shots of the river - everything is peaceful and beautiful. Carrie and Erin are seen, lying dead on the riverbank holding hands. After a few moments, Dan and Melanie appear on the scene. DAN Oh my God... MELANIE Carrie! Melanie moves as if to hold Carrie's body, but Dan holds her back, soothing her. Melanie is crying uncontrollably. DAN Sshh...it's okay. MELANIE What happened? Why does it have to be like this? DAN I don't know. I don't think anyone knows. But the things that happen are the things that are supposed to happen. Even though we don't understand them. MELANIE I don't believe it...but it seems right somehow. DAN Sshh...Let's let them be. Dan leads Melanie off. The camera pans over Carrie, her hand in Erin's and then Erin. They are both smiling. Adrian is seen lying dead in the path. He is also smiling. Dan and Melanie are seen walking further down the riverbank. Dan says something and Melanie smiles through her tears. Shot of the river, flowing by. Fade to black. THE END. 1