At the life changing testimony
The snow and the decoration beautify New York city. Inside the For season Hotel, its effervescence. The staff is getting ready for Christmas eve. In the presidential suite, the Linwoods just finished their breakfast.
INT- SUITE'S LIVING ROOM- DAY
LYDIE: Mom, dad. I have something important to say.
They turn and give her attention.
LYDIE: I suggest a better plan than going to dinner in a 7 star restaurant tonight. Yesterday when we were out, I saw something heart breaking.
They look at her, intrigued.
LYDIE: I saw kids singing in an orphanage play ground. Their clothes were lame. I'm sure they won't even get a toy tonight.
DAD: Daughter, I'm sorry for them, but...
LYDIE (Interrupting): Dad look what I ate for breakfast. Look where we spend hollidays. My clothes are luxurious...I have a question.
MOM: Yes ?
LYDIE: Why ?
DAD: What ?
LYDIE: Why they have nothing and I have everything ? Why ?
DAD: You can't feel guilty for growing up in a rich family. You didn't choose, them neither.
LYDIE: But it's unfair. Why some people born rich and some poor ? Life is damn unfair...
MOM: Okay. You're right dear. What do you want to do about it then ?
LYDIE: They organise a soup kitchen tonight. We should go. We can buy some toys for the kids.
Her parents nod, impressed.
...
EXT- ORPHANAGE- NIGHT
Lydie and her parents walk toward the door with big bags. Her dad can't stop watching behind to verify he can still see the Rolls royce he parked far away.
A woman is standing at the door smiling at them.
INT- ORPHANAGE HALL- NIGHT
The woman is walking through a corridor, and the three are behind them.
WOMAN: Some are orphans, others are just abandonned by their parents. Rare are the parents who come and visit them.
MOM: I really admire your work.
LYDIE: We brought them clothes and toys for christmas. You could install the tree there. Tomorrow morning they'll be surprised.
WOMAN: Thank you very much. By the way I'm Jenny Jenkins. My Husband and I built this house to help street children as we were once.
MOM: Nice to meet you Jenny. I'm Lydia Linwood. Here is my daughter and my husband Larry.
They shake hands and Jenny drive them outside, were they can seat. There are others people sitting.
EXT- ORPHANAGE GARDEN- NIGHT
Jenny gets on a podium with a microphone.
JENNY: You are all a blessing for us. Thanks for bringing food for the soup kitchen. Before we start, My Husband has a word for you.
She gets down and hand the mic to a tall man.
MAN: If I'm stiff, it's not because I'm shy. I can't move a lot or my 200 pound will break the Podium.
People giggle.
MAN: Hello, I'm Jorge. I married that gorgeous woman 26 years ago.Guess where we met ? In a very romantic...garbage dump!
People giggle again.
JORGE: Seriously. It was the only place where I could work at the time. I'm going to tell you quickly a little love story.
People are looking at them intrigued.
JORGE: I grew up on the street and when I met Jenny we built a yoghurt company. With the benefice, we built this house for orphans. But At 15 I could never imagine I would end here.
He look at the silent crowd.
JORGE: At that age I already knew drug, alcohol, sex. Guys. Never abandon your kids. Two people got me out of there. The day I turned 16, I did my first aggression...
_FLASHBACK STARTS_
EXT- RAINY EMPTY STREET- NIGHT
A young teenager is sitting on a corner. Suddenly, a man comes by. The teenager comes from behind and attack him. He puts a knif on the man's ear.
TEENAGER: Give me your wallet!
MAN: Kill me if you want. I prefer dying instead of allowing you to commit a sin.
TEENAGER: Shut the f*ck up! Give or you die.
MAN: I won't!
The teenager cut the top of the man's ear, and this one push him brutally away. He put a taser on the teen's chest.
INT- BEDROOM- DAY
The teenager slowly wake-up. He realise that his hand is attached to an infusion. He glance in the room and realise he is in a medical bedroom.
A nurse enters the room and open the windows.
TEENAGER: Where am I ? Why can't I move ?
NURSE: You have a harsh fiver. You are hospitalized for a minimum of 3 weeks.
_FLASHBACK END_
The crowd is looking at Jorge, wondering.
JORGE: I discovered the man I attacked paid for my hospital fees. He visited me everyday during 2 months and I never talked to him. Until...
_FLASHBACK_
INT- BEDROOM- NIGHT
TEENAGER: Why ?
MAN: Because I have to. I have to love you.
The teen shout of anger.
TEENAGER: Get out of here!
The man stand up and gets out.
INT- BEDROOM- DAY
The teen is sitting on a chair. The man enters, and sit on the bed.
TEENAGER: Are you my father ?
MAN: No. I don't even know your name.
TEENAGER: What do you want from me ?
MAN: Do you feel better ?
TEENAGER: Yes. Now let me go back home. I'll repay you.
MAN: Which home ? You don't have any.
TEENAGER: Mind your business.
MAN: It's all mine now. I could have complain to the police. But instead, I brought you here.
TEENAGER: What do you want man ? Get out, go and complain to the police right now. I command you.
MAN: I didn't pray for you all this time for you to end in jail. If you don't want to come at my house, you'll stay here.
He stands up and gets out.
_FLASHBACK END_
JORGE: I finally accepted. It was the only way to go back to my drugs, my girls...But I hesitated. This man had a very comfortable home. Good food, TV...
People starts to whisper.
JORGE: I found no "sexy chiks" in that little village. Sunday mornings he went to church. One day he came back home and I heard him crying in his room.
_FLASHBACK_
INT- LITTLE CORRIDOR- DAY
The teenager approach the door and watch through the slightly opened door. The man is on his knees holding his hands.
MAN: Please Lord forgive me for what I've done to her. I want Virginia to come back home. Lord Touch her heart...
The teenager turn back and run to his room. He get on his knees, close his eyes, and hold his hands.
INT- BEDROOM- DAY
TEENAGER: Please make that, young single girls arrive in this village. Please help me to find more weed and coke. Pleaase I need it so bad!
_FLASHBACK ENDS_
JORGE: I waited a long time, I started to think that as he prayed first when his vow is realised, mine will be next. One day at mitnight, it was raining and the bell rang...
_FLASHBACK START_
The Man and the teenager stiff at the sound of the bell.
TEENAGER: Do you have one of your weird church reunion tonight ?
MAN: No. Monday at mitnight I don't. Shh stay quiet.
The man stand up, take a big stick and approches the door slowly. He opens the door brusquely, and is surprised.
MAN: Virginia ?!
A blonde woman jump in the man's arms and starts to cry.
MAN: I'm sorry for what I did. I love you.
VIRGINIA: I miss you Caleb. I want to come back to my husband.
_FLASHBACK ENDS_
JORGE: Well his vow was answered. I waited for mine to come. It didn't. I told him that his god was a bad one, discriminative.
_FLASHBACK STARTS_
INT- LIVING ROOM- DAY
MAN: Did you pray ?...You ?
TEENAGER: It's not human to deprive me from weed. It's the best medical treatment of the world.
MAN: What else did you asked ?
TEENAGER: Girls, coke...
The man starts to laugh.
MAN: The God that I serve can't give you something bad for your body and you soul. He loves you.
_FLASHBACK ENDS_
JORGE: I started to ask more questions, and finished to tell my story. He said the cause of my problems was sin.
_FLASHBACK STARTS_
INT-DARK ROOM- DAY
The teenager is crying in his bed. He suddenly scream of pain. The man and virginia runs into the room.
MAN: Are you okay ?!
He continue screaming. Virginia opens the window.
TEENAGER (talk with pain): Cl-close! The...
The man approches and drop hand on the teen's head. Then he starts to pray. Virginia join him from the distance.
MAN: Jesus Christ help this kid.
TEENAGER: Get off of me! Get out! Go !
He start agitating and the man take a distance while continuing to pray.
...One hour Later...
Virginia is playing guitar while worshiping. The man is now close to the teen's body laying on the ground. He is puffed.
MAN (Whispering): Jorge. Stand up lay on your bed.
He help him get up and walk him toward the bed. He cover his body.
VIRGINIA: I'll bring you some food Jorge.
The teen is already snoring.
MAN (Whispering): He need to rest.