Love Over Time

Written by Aqua Harris

The sun blazes down as people enjoy a nice, hot June afternoon. Abruptly, dark clouds start to form. The ground starts to shake heavy as a bright, white orb appears.

Some block the light while others record the phenomenon on their phones. The orb disappears and it becomes sunny again. People look around, questioning the event that occurred.

A KID continues to play in the waves until they hear splashing in front of them. They glance to see a MAN in a suit and tie, soaking wet, looking confused. The kid points to the man excitedly, and looks at his MOTHER.

KID

Mommy, mommy! Look!

The mother turns around, confused. Her eyes go wide and she hits her HUSBAND on the arm to get his attention.

HUSBAND

What is it-

Her husband turns and sees the suited man.

HUSBAND (cont'd)

Hey man, what are you doing in there?

The suited man doesn’t speak. He stops looking and starts to walk around in the water.

HUSBAND (cont'd)

Hey? Hey!

He begins to follow the man, asking questions. The commotion brings onlookers to the man and they start to ask questions. The man becomes surrounded by people that don’t look, or dress, like him.

Military trucks suddenly arrive and exit the vehicles. They walk into the water and block off the scene from onlookers. Among them, Lieutenant General EDGAR makes his way through the crowd and turns to them.

EDGAR

Everyone, do not worry. We will figure this out shortly. In the meantime, go on back to your activities and let us handle it.

The crowd groans in disapproval as Edgar speaks, but follow Edgar’s orders and leave. Edgar turns to one of his comrades.

EDGAR (cont'd)

Take this-

Edgar looks at the suited man up and down.

EDGAR (cont'd)

-man back to base. We need to know where he came from.

The comrade salutes Edgar and nods.

COMRADE

Yes, sir.

The comrade turns to the soaking suited man and motions to his men. They obey and roughly grab the man’s arms. The suited man doesn’t resist, he just looks around confused.

The base is filled with cars, tanks, and soldiers as everyone scrambles around for answers. A large crowd of people stand at the gates as the suited man is carried into the base.

The suited man, now wearing a plain red t-shirt and dark blue denim jeans, sits in the room. Edgar and a private sit in the room, looking down at him.

He zones out, hearing nothing but white noise. His attention is brought back when he hears the Lieutenant say something.

EDGAR

Do you hear me, boy?

The quiet man looks at Edgar, angered by the “nickname”. Edgar sighs and brings out a TV with a video of the arrival of the orb and man.

EDGAR (cont'd)

That orb you came from? Caused a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that went as far as Philadelphia. You know anything about that?

The man looks at the Lieutenant for a moment, then looks forward.

Edgar sighs and leaves the room, and the private, giving the silent man a once over, follows behind the Lieutenant.

Once they leave, the man takes out a silver locket and opens it. A black and white picture of a woman smiling is carefully placed. Tears form in his eyes as he thinks about her...

BEGIN FLASHBACK:

INT. SOFIA’S SPOT - NIGHT 4 4

SUPER: NEW YORK, 1920

Jazz music and laughter fill Sofia’s Spot with people drinking and dancing provocatively. Playing the music is NATHAN -- African American, wearing slacks and a sweater vest-on the piano, the same man from the beach.

As he plays the piano, a women walks into Sofia’s Spot. This is SHERI -- African American, black Marcel waves, wearing a red flapper dress. As he looks at Sheri, he starts to stumble over the notes. He gains his momentum back and continues playing, but glances back at her.

Sheri walks over to the bar and orders a drink. She turns in her seat, eyeing everyone dancing. She looks over to Nathan and she smiles a little.

Once the song ends, Nathan walks over to the bar and orders a drink. He turns to see Sheri glancing at him. The bartender gives Nathan his drink as he nods to the woman.

NATHAN

Having fun?

Sheri smiles at Nathan.

SHERI

Oh yeah. It’s really great. Especially since you’re here talking to little ol’ me.

Nathan chuckles and sips his drink. They talk for a bit until a small White man comes running in.

MAN

It’s the coppers! Run!

Patrons scramble to escape as the bartender starts hiding alcohol under the floorboards.

Nathan grabs Sheri's hand and leads her toward a secret hideout.

As they get situated, the cops arrive in the building. Nathan holds a finger to his lips, shushing Sheri. He looks through a small peephole, while the police tear apart the building.

COP #1

You think that negro that owns this place hid the alcohol?

COP #2

Probably, but they think we’re stupid. Everyone usually hides that stuff underground.

COP #1

Let’s let em off with a warning this time. 5 5

The cops nod, smashing a few more tables, and leave the building. Nathan peeks his head out of the hideout and leaves, Sheri’s hand in his.

Sheri laughs once they're far away from the building.

SHERI

I haven't had this much fun in a while.

Nathan smiles at her.

NATHAN

What’s your name, little lady?

SHERI

Sheri.

NATHAN

That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful broad like you. I’m Nathan.

Nathan raises his hand to shake hers. Sheri smiles and shakes Nathan’s hand as they continue walking. They stop at a dark brown cobblestone house.

SHERI

This is my stop.

NATHAN

Well, I hope you come back to Sofia’s.

Some nights aren't as eventful as tonight, but it's still fun.

Sheri walks up to Nathan and kisses his cheek.

SHERI

I would like that.

She turns and walks up the stairs. Nathan is paralyzed after the kiss, but still looks at Sheri as she is about to walk through the door.

Sheri turns back and waves to Nathan. As he waves back absently, she laughs and closes the door. He starts to walk away from Sheri’s building and whistles a little tune.

Sheri walks up to Nathan as he talks to the owner, SOFIA, and hugs him from behind. He stands and gives her a big hug and kisses her on both of her cheeks.

Sheri and Nathan walk in the park talking and laughing at each other’s jokes. They stop and he shows her a silver locket. She turns, her back facing him, and he puts the locket around her neck.

Sheri and Nathan watch a fireworks display in the park. She gets close to Nathan as they watch and looks at him. He turns his head to look at her, and smiles.

They look in each other’s eyes as they lean in. When they kiss, fireworks go off into the sky, but they don’t pay attention to them...

(1921)

...Nathan and Sheri continue the kiss as a flash goes off. A preacher smiles and claps for the now married couple. They smile at each other before turning to their families.

Nathan carries Sheri bridal style in the doorway of their new house as their family cheers for them outside. Her white dress drags through the door and the door closes.

Sheri stands in the kitchen cutting onions. She looks out at the neighborhood kids playing through her window and contemplates.

She brushes the thought and continues to cut the onions. Suddenly, the front door opens and Nathan, wearing the suit from earlier, walks in.

NATHAN

Sheri stops her cutting and smiles.

She walks out of the kitchen and over to Nathan to give him a loving kiss on the lips.

SHERI

How was work?

Nathan takes an exhausted breath.

NATHAN

Tough. But, they let us out early so that’s a good thing.

Nathan sits on the couch as Sheri walks back into the kitchen. He takes off his hat, gets up from the couch and walks over to the radio, turning it on.

Nathan turns the dials until, He comes across a station talking about the news. Satisfied, he sits back down and listens.

...in other news Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti have been found guilty of first degree murder...

Nathan nods his head at the news.

NATHAN

I told you. I told you they’d convict them!

Sheri chuckles in the kitchen.

SHERI (O.S.)

Harlem's very own Harry Houdini over here.

NATHAN Ha ha.

Nathan closes his eyes, listening to the radio. The light in the room dims and becomes grey, but Nathan doesn’t notice.

NEWSCASTER (O.S.)

...hold on, folks. We have just been told that there is now a Category 5 hurricane on the New York coast...

Nathan perks up and looks out of the window to see the clouds in a dark blueish, grey color.

NEWSCASTER (cont'd) (O.S.)

...please lock all doors and windows, and, if you can, please sit in a windowless room...

Nathan stands and runs to the kitchen.

Nathan looks out of the window to see the wind picking up rapidly.

NATHAN

Sheri, we need to go. Now.

Sheri scoffs and looks up at Nathan.

SHERI

Nathan, what are you getting on about-

Nathan grabs Sheri’s shoulders and turns her to the window.

NATHAN Look!

Sheri sees the sky and notices the rain pouring down HARD. She drops the knife on the cutting board as Nathan grabs her hand.

He takes her to the living room, and she starts to pace.

NEWSCASTER (O.S.)

...we are receiving word that a large tsunami has hit the coast. Wherever you are, you need to find shelter now!

The room becomes darker and darker as the tsunami closes in. Nathan pulls Sheri behind him and backs them into a wall. He turns around to see Sheri's nervous face, and squeezes her hand.

NATHAN

I love you.

Sheri looks at him and gives him a long, passionate kiss.

SHERI

I love you, too.

Just as the end the kiss, the tsunami hits their house, breaking the windows. It begins to flood as Sheri cries in Nathan’s arms. He whispers in her ears to keep her calm, but the water is already up to their waists.

NATHAN

You’re gonna have to take a deep breath, okay?

Sheri nods and follows Nathan’s instructions. Nathan also takes a deep breath before the water completely covers the house. Nathan grabs Sheri’s hand and they swim to the front door.

Once Nathan opens the door, he goes through it first, but gets hit by a large tidal wave. He then realizes that he's not holding his wife’s hand anymore.

He rises up from the waves, water filling his lungs. Coughing out, he tries to look for her.

NATHAN (cont'd)

Sheri! Where are you?!

Nathan is tossed back into the water. He starts sinking when the orb emerges from the sky and drops down in the water. Nathan begins to close his eyes as the orb becomes brighter and brighter.

Nathan hears the Lieutenant and private walk back into the room. He quickly wipes his tears away. Lieutenant Edgar looks at the man and sighs.

EDGAR

Look, we know you have something to do with those earthquakes. All you need to do is just tell us how ya did it.

Nathan looks at Edgar and remains quiet. Edgar walks over to Nathan calmly. Nathan looks down at the smiling picture of his wife in the locket in his hands.

NATHAN

Do you know if my wife came here too? (then) This is her.

Nathan raises his hand to show Edgar the picture of his wife. The Lieutenant looks uninterested at the picture then meets Nathan’s eyes.

EDGAR

No, you were the only one. (then)

You know, you can go to jail for causing this. No one, not even your wife-

Edgar points to the picture.

EDGAR (cont'd)

-Can get you out of this, freak show.

Nathan looks at Edgar with hatred in his eyes, launches himself, and punches him. The private runs over to Nathan and pries him off of Edgar, now with a bloodied nose.

EDGAR (cont'd)

Take his ass to solitary. (then) I’ll deal with you later.

Nathan smirks as he is hauled out of the room.

Nathan gets pushed into the bare room by two soldiers. As the door closes, he slides down the wall in defeat.

NATHAN (V.O.)

My dear, sweet Sheri. As I recite this letter in my head, I sit in a different world than ours.

Nathan sits alone in the dark, the only light is the moon through the window.

NATHAN (V.O.)

They put me in “solitary confinement” for assaulting an officer. He had it coming though. He said some nasty things. I should have done more, but I don’t know what they would've done to me if I did.

Nathan starts to hum the tune he whistled after first meeting Sheri.

NATHAN (V.O.)

I don’t know if you survived that hurricane. Hell, I don’t even know how I did. Maybe when I get out of this dreaded place, we’ll see each other again. I’m picturing it now, you running up to see me with that beautiful smile on your face as I hug you. Yeah, I’d like that.

As he continues to hum, we see the large military base. Everyone carrying on as if nothing happened. Suddenly, a bright light comes from Nathan's cell.