Ford Escort Won't turn over?

The way it sounds is that the shifter is messed up. The only way the vehicle will start is either park or neutral. You need to make sure the shifter is actually shifting the transmission. When you use the shifter make sure it doesn't feel loose and that every gear engauges. Look for slack in the shifter cable or if it's broke. Be sure to check all mechanical linkages from the shifter to the trans. Hope this helps