113. EXT. PARIS GARE DE LYON - NIGHT - MONTHS LATER

Text appears - August, 1929

114. INT. PARIS GARE DE LYON - SAME TIME

Abigale is confined to a wheelchair, her eyes staring emotionaless into the the distance, fondling a letter gently in her hands.

Gabriel stands beside her, shaking Bellanger’s hand. The two children hold Gabriel’s hand, standing still at his side. Bellanger’s luggage is stacked beside him.

Gabriel has a scar spanning his cheek. Bellanger’s arm is in a sling, bound tightly in real bandages.

GABRIEL: You didn’t have to see us off.

BELLANGER: It’s no issue. My family’s meeting me at Gare du Nord.

Bellanger looks to the children standing beside and behind Gabriel.

BELLANGER (Slowly): You be nice to Mr. Gabe, okay?

The children nod. It’s apprehensive, the two holding Gabriel’s hands tightly.

The man smiles, kneels, and puts his hand on Abigale’s knee.

BELLANGER: Will you be okay?

Abigale SIGHS.

BELLANGER: Gabriel’ll take care of you.

ABIGALE: I know.

Bellanger stands. The Boy shoves the Girl.

GABRIEL: I’ve already telephoned my parents. She’ll stay with me.

ABIGALE: And you know that I’m completely against it.

GABRIEL: I know.

A beat.

GABRIEL: But, you don’t want to be alone.

Abigale’s eyes momentarily drop. Bellanger smiles.

BELLANGER: And the children?

Gabriel nods, a weary smile on his face.

GABRIEL: They’ll be taken in by my aunt, until permanent homes can be found.

Gabriel crouches down and smiles at the children.

GABRIEL (Slowly): You’re staying with my Aunt Iris. Does that sound fun?

The children nod slowly, eyes watching the other people around them.

Gabriel shakes hands with Bellanger again.

GABRIEL: You stay safe, monsieur.

Bellanger smiles.

BELLANGER: You too.

He kneels down again, and looks at Abigale.

BELLANGER: Vous écrivez, mademoiselle. D'accord?

Subtitle: "You write, mademoiselle. Okay?"

Abigale nods.

ANNOUNCER: Attention. Le Simplon Orient Express partira du quai 2, dans dix minutes, avec une liaison directe vers Calais et Londres.

Subtitle: "Attention. The Simplon Orient Express, will depart from Platform 2, in ten minutes, with a direct connection to Calais and London."

Gabriel straightens up and puts his hands on Abigale’s wheelchair handles. The children move to Abigale’s side.

GABRIEL: Jusqu'à la prochaine fois.

Subtitle: "Until next time."

Bellanger smiles warmly.

BELLANGER: Jusqu'à la prochaine fois, monsieur.

Gabriel turns Abigale around and begins wheeling her towards Platform 2. The children trot off, following behind.

From the corner of Abigale’s eye, she spots Ratchett’s suitcase tucked neatly among Bellanger’s things.

Bellanger waves them goodbye, grimaces slightly, and moves O.S.

115. INT. PLATFORM TWO - A MINUTE LATER

They all board the train quickly.

116. INT. SLEEPING CAR COMPARTMENTS - THREE MINUTES LATER

Everyone is settled in for the journey. Gabriel’s settled the Girl and Abigale into their compartment, and settled the Boy and himself into their compartment. The door connecting the two are open.

Both children move into Gabriel’s compartment and stare out the window. Gabriel’s putting a bag on the luggage rack.

BOY: Tantas pessoas...

GIRL: Sim, eu sei.

Abigale sits at the table by the window, her wheelchair having been taken away. She still fiddles with the paper.

Gabriel approaches her.

GABRIEL: You all right?

Abigale INHALES loudly. She begins twisting the edges of the letter.

ABIGALE (Whispering): No.

Gabriel puts his hand on her shoulder. Abigale looks at him.

ABIGALE: But I’m not alone.

She hands the letter to Gabriel. Her eyes get glossy with mist.

ABIGALE: I’m ready.

He hesitantly takes it.

GABRIEL: Are you sure?

Abigale nods.

Gabriel sits down beside her and unfolds the letter.

GABRIEL: Are you sure?

She nods again.

The train SHUDDERS, and slowly pulls from the platform.

The Boy and Girl watch from the window of the other compartment, waving to the conductors on the platform.

GABRIEL (Reading):  "To Miss Abigale Charlotte Benjamin, we, at the legal offices of Greenwald and Traver’s, are incredibly sorry for your recent loss. However, as dictated by Mr. David Hayworth Benjamin’s will - your father - certain assets in his estate must be discussed."

Gabriel pauses, and looks to Abigale.

She’s staring out the window, broken and exhausted. Everything’s been drained out of her.

He grabs her hand gently. She turns to him.

GABRIEL: You’re not alone, Abigale.

Abigale audibly SWALLOWS. She doesn’t look at him.

ABIGALE: I know.

Gabriel pauses, his mouth ajar.

GABRIEL: I want to inspire you to live again.

She looks at him. For the first time, perhaps in weeks, she smiles, albeit wearily.

ABIGALE: How forward of you, Mr. Thomas.

The train WOOSHES though a tunnel. The children are all too excited about staring into the darkness.

A moment later, the train exits the tunnel.

Abigale reclines.

ABIGALE: You can keep reading if you want.

Gabriel looks over the letter.

GABRIEL: It’s nothing important.

She smiles weakly.

ABIGALE: Look at you. You’re reading something masculine.

Gabriel smirks, and stands.

PAN: OUT THE WINDOW OF THE CARRIAGE AND OVER PARIS.

The train BLOWS its whistle, which echoes in the night.

FADE TO BLACK

END