YOU HAVE

martin

I have a yearning for... smog,

cars and many, many people...

A real dirty... big city. 

What do you think?

Ellen gently strokes his cheek.

ellen

You’re back.

Martin’s eyes are still glued to the spot where the house used to be.  He is still a bit disoriented.

martin

How did you get me out of there?

ellen

I wouldn’t have made it by myself.

She looks at Lindner.

lindner

You were right:  You can never run away from the past.  Especially if it scares you.

Ellen nods her head.

Then, she turns back to Martin.  They look at each other for a long moment.  Then, she puts her arms around him and kisses him.  It’s all over now.

There’s something else Ellen wants to say to Lindner.  But when she turns around, she finds that he’s already walked a bit away:  He is going to his car.

ellen

Mr. Lindner!

The old policeman stops by his car.

ellen

Thank you.

Lindner smiles.  Then, he steps into his car and drives away.

Ellen helps Martin to his feet.

ellen

Can you walk?

Martin is in pain, but brave.

martin

No problem.

He takes a step, but then he flinches with pain.  The movement hurt.

martin

For God’s sake, what happened to me?

ellen

You don’t remember?

Martin shakes his head.

ellen

It’s a long story.

Arm in arm, the two of them stagger to their car which is parked next to the entrance gate, the last remnant of the house.

They get into the car and drive off.

The car slowly vanishes in the distance, leaving behind the vast, swampy landscape where there was once a house.

FADE TO:

118.     apartment house in the city – ext. / day

A beautiful old building, located by a park in the city.  Ellen and Martin live in the penthouse.

Text chart: “1 year later”

119.     apartment – int. / day

Ellen is standing by the window, looking over the small city park.  She looks happy.

Martin joins her at the window and hugs her.

martin

What a sight:  A few trees, a couple of ducks in the pond.  That’s all the nature I need.

Ellen laughs.  They are about to kiss, when suddenly the doorbell RINGS.

ellen

Are you expecting company?

Martin shrugs his shoulders and walks to the door.  He opens it to Paul and Claudia.

Paul and Claudia

Surprise!

Paul is carrying a package under his arm.  He walks straight past Martin, to Ellen.  Martin and Claudia follow him.

Paul

This baby is a dream come true,

I tell ya!  The third edition within one year!

ellen

Wow! - Considering how it all came about...

Paul tears open the box.  It contains several copies of “You have 7 Days to Live”.  Above the title, it reads: Ellen and Martin Straub!

Paul

You two are one hell of a team!  And as far as I’m concerned:  In case you plan on moving back to the countryside, I’ll be glad to lend a hand.

Martin and Ellen trade looks.

martin

Have you already told him about our idea for the new novel?

Paul can’t wait to find out.

Paul

Yeah?  What’s it about?

Ellen grins ambiguously.

ellen

It’s about this publisher who constantly gets on his authors’ nerves.

Martin plays the ball back to her.

martin

...until one day, he goes too far and the two of them get really mad...