This story has similar themes to ‘The Quiet Photographer’ as it again focuses upon life and spirituality but with more of a focus on morality. Based slightly on the Sixth Sense through seeing the dead and helping them to move on ‘Cross-Over’ also features influences from British realism such as the works of Ken Loach. The main character is a working class man who hates the class structure and believes life is unfair but eventually through seeing the dead realises what is more important in life. This story fits into many genres of Horror, British Realism and Drama to make it more individual as this is quite a common format as seen by characters such as Scrooge who is also visited by the dead until he appreciates more than just money.
Premace: What if you realised you had the power to recognise spirits who needed help crossing over into heaven?
Controlling idea: Life can be seen through what has been lost.
Synopsis:
Andy has been working as a cleaner at the Icelandic Hotel for four years now and still nothing has changed. Every morning at 6 am he goes into laundry and sorts out the posh punters suits and dresses from the previous nights cocktail parties and poker games. Then when the stiffs are out to breakfast at 10am he collects his cleaning trolley and starts on the rooms. Andy once thought these would always be spotless and clean to match their charming looks, but obviously, looks can be deceiving. Around 3pm Andy heads back down to his locker room in the basement of the hotel and hurries to get changed and get home.
One day Andy goes out front for a smoke to watch all the expensive cars pulling into the car pool area. As he puts out his smoke an old man in a suit gets out of his Jaguar and demands that Andy parks it for him. Andy explains that it’s not his job and the man makes a comment on the slackness of the working class. Annoyed, Andy argues with the man that not everyone is lucky enough to have all these nice things. The manager runs over after hearing the commotion and pushes Andy aside and then gently walks the man inside and calls over a driver.
Back home Andrea is doing the ironing in the front room with Julia sat playing a game whilst listening to the radio. As Andy walks in through the door Julia runs up to him to give him a great big hug. Andy just looks at Andrea with a sombre expression and pulls off his name badge as he walks into the kitchen. Andrea then tries to comfort Andy but he just grabs his sports car magazine and stomps his way upstairs.
Andy wakes, startled, as a noise is heard inside. Worried about an intruder Andy gets out of bed and slowly walks out of the room. On the landing Andy sees a picture of his family on the floor, covered by a curtain swaying in the wind. Thinking this was the noise Andy is startled when a man dressed in a suit approaches him. Andy realises this is the same man that he argued with earlier that day. Realising he is dead Andy explains that he has to move on. The man says that he can’t because his suitcase is too big and he can’t leave it as it’s all he has. Eventually Andy makes the man realise he cant take his possession with him, and so the man leaves with nothing.
The next morning Andy wakes up to the sound of Andrea making breakfast. Andy runs down the stairs and grabs Andrea and Julia and gives them a great big hug. Andy, realising he already has everything he wants, gets his sports car magazine and places it in the bin.
