The Five People You Meet in Heaven

1

This is a story about a man

named Eddie...

and it begins at the end,

with Eddie dying in the sun.

You might think it strange...

to start a story

with an ending.

But all endings

are also beginnings...

We just don't know it

at the time.

You lose this?

I suppose I should

come down there...

and give it back to you, huh?

That's what I thought.

You love this balloon?

Then hold tight to it.

- Thanks, Eddie Maintenance.

- Just Eddie.

But your shirt says,

'Eddie Main-te-nance.'

Well, Eddie is my name.

Maintenance is my job.

And this is just a shirt.

You have a cool job.

Well...

go catch up with your father.

Years ago, people

thought of Ruby Pier...

as a magical

and mysterious place.

Once, even Eddie

felt that way.

What are we gonna

fix today, pop?

I don't know, Eddie.

Whatever's broke.

Where ya been?

Hey, Gracie. How's tricks?

Okay.

Hiya, Eddie.

Watch the kid for me,

will ya?

Sure... How long

you gonna be?

Not long.

C'mon, Eddie. You want

to fix something for me?

Is it fixed yet?

Good as new, Pop.

Where's your brother?

I dunno.

Well, find him.

What is it with you two?

He was supposed

to be here by now.

What the hell

happened to you?

These guys...

they took my jacket...

There were four of 'em, Pop.

I coulda taken two,

but there were four...

What are you waitin' for?

What are you waiting for?

Take care of it!

Hey, pretty sharp!

Not again!

Look at you!

Look at ya... you're bleeding.

You get 'em, then?

What are you talking about?

Did you put him up to this?

I asked you... did you get 'em?

Good boy.

Honestly.

This fighting has to stop!

You wanna grow up

to be an engineer?

Do you? How you

gonna be an engineer...

if your hands are

all busted up, huh?

Eddie's too dumb

to be an engineer.

- Hey, careful!

- Knock it off!

You, too.

This war in Europe keeps up...

you'll be lucky to get

a crappy job like mine...

Eddie...

Eddie, are you there?

Yeah, Dom.

Hey, Eddie, we need

the keys to gate 16...

I'm on my way.

The last hour of Eddie's life

was spent like all the others.

Children liked Eddie.

Teenagers gave him headaches.

Knock it off!

What do you think you're doing!

It ain't safe!

They wanna get through

in there, Jason.

Clean it up.

Eddie Maintenance?

Just Eddie.

Eddie... can you...

Come on, kiddo.

I ain't got all day.

Can you make me an animal?

- Where's your mother?

- She's over there eating.

- Without you?

- With her boyfriend.

That's the piece that makes

it work... watch... here...

there, like that...

- and then...

- It's a rabbit!

Yeah, rabbit.

Thank you!

Go show your mother

what you got.

Eddie rode every ride

at Ruby Pier...

once a week to be certain

they were safe.

He'd done it for so long...

he could almost 'hear'

trouble coming...

in the spits and sputters of

the engines and the brakes.

Often he thought this was no way

for a man to grow old.

But this was his life, 'Eddie

Maintenance' they called him...

and a maintenance man he was.

Can I go now, Pop?

- Is it fixed?

- It's fixed.

Take that!

You're dead.

Practicing to kill, are ya, lad?

Hello, Mr. Shea.

You got any spare change you

ain't put in that toy gun there?

That was my last nickel.

Have you seen

your father, then?

We were in the war together.

Here's the thing about the war.

You don't think.

You just shoot and you shoot...

and then you pray

you come home.

It's the thinking

that gets you killed.

Eddie! Eddie!

The skeeball's broken.

Come on, Eddie,

come on, come on!

It's just the lever here.

There ya go, boys.

Juggle.

Yeah! Juggle, Eddie! Come on!

Alright, alright...

you got the magic ball.

How does he do it, folks?

Greatest show on earth...

watch him, buddy boys,

and you will be amazed...

Excuse me...

Excuse me.

What?

My friends and I were looking

for some of those lemon fizzes.

Yeah, right over there

by the carousel.

But that stand's closed already.

But I can fix that...

So, do you have a key

for all the food stands?

I got a key for everything.

Well, to be honest,

they're my Pop's keys...

He's the maintenance...

he fixes stuff here.

I'm just helping him out...

to save up enough money

for engineering school.

After the army, of course.

- You enlisted?

- Last week.

I gotta do my part.

Well... I better get back.

My friend's will think I swam off

into the ocean or something.

A souvenir.

I don't know your name.

Marguerite.

I'm Eddie.

Thanks for the fizz, Eddie.

It's the birthday boy!

Happy birthday, boss!

C'mon, Eddie. Live it up.

You only get a birthday, what?

Once a year?

Sounds about right.

How old are you now?

Old.

Man, I hope I live

to be as old as you.

Why?

Dom...

put the tools in the right spot.

Them labels are there

for a reason.

Hey, don't forget,

I'm off next week.

Me and Maria going to Miami

for our anniversary.

- You ever been to Miami?

- Me?

I never been anywhere I wasn't

shipped to with a rifle.

Here...

Naw... I can't.

Buy your wife something nice.

You sure?

Thanks, man.

Is that going to be enough?

- There you go.

- Thank you!

Marguerite you want

to do the honors?

- Who's this from?

- I don't know...

You made me love you

All the time you knew it

I guess you always knew it

You made happy

You look swell tonight.

Thank you.

Eddie.

Are you afraid?

- I'd be afraid.

- You ain't the fightin' type.

Look at it this way. I get to

see some faraway places, right?

I always wanted to do that.

I've never been more than

five miles from here.

Me, neither...

But that's gonna change.

Really?

I ain't spending the rest

of my life at Ruby Pier.

Marguerite...

You don't have to ask me.

I don't?

- Ask you what?

- To wait.

Just don't die, ok?

I ain't gonna die.

I ain't gonna die...

Eddie! Eddie!

I see it! I see it!

Get up there!

Alright everybody, stay calm...

stay calm!

Who's up there with ya?

Willie!

Okay, tell Willie to release

the safety bars...

green button, rear panel...

you got it?

Then send down that cart!

Everybody just stay calm...

Hydraulics, gears...

- cables...

- Rear panel, safety box...

It's the cable...

This will all be over

in a few minutes...

Don't release the cart...

it's gonna fall...

it's gonna fall!

Get back, all of ya's!

Get back! Back!

It's gonna fall! Get back!

Back! Move!

All of ya's, get back... move!

Get back, it's gonna fall!

This is a story about

a man named Eddie.

But the end of his life

was only the beginning.

Eddie saw nothing of his

final moment on earth...

He felt no pain from his death.

All he felt was lightness,

and calm...

as if every hurt he had

ever suffered...

had been washed away.

And then he woke up.

How about him,

ladies and gentlemen?

Have you ever seen

a more horrible sight?

Look well upon this savage!

He is not of the human race!

From the farthest corners

of the earth...

we bring you this tragic soul

for your examination...

Hello, Edward.

I have been waiting for you.

Eddie had seen this man

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