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  “A world balanced for countless

  generations.”

  Archive footage shows primitive tribes.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “We were different in so many ways.”

  A hunter fires an arrow, a farmer plows, a mother cooks.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “We could create. We could grow.”

  Images from space, lights of cities spreading over the planet.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “And so we did.”

  We pan away... to a red world.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “We changed everything.”

  The Martian atmosphere thickens, patches of blue and green cropping up.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “We were no longer animals, no longer

  children. We were Gods.”

  Explosions appear the surface of the planet.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “And like Gods we lived.”

  The explosions intensify, fierce nuclear detonations.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “There was no escape from our fate.”

  We pull away, passing the Earth, which is also exploding.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “We were forever divided. Consumed by

  madness.”

  A rectangular shape drifts by, disappearing into the stars.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “So we fled into the night.”

  The curve of a gray planet rises. A module shoot down.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “While we dreamed above our seeds grew

  below.”

  The white dome lands on a dead wasteland.

  In time-lapse plants and trees grow, clouds zipping by in the sky, faster and faster.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “Waiting for our new home to call us.”

  The top of the dome flashes, blinding us.

  The rectangular shape is side-by-side with the curve of the planet, now green and Earth-like.

  Five pods part from the side of the Ark ship and approach the curve of the planet.

  Sebastian recognizes the image.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “We left our cradle in the stars.”

  The pods shoot down through the white clouds and land around the white dome.

  Sebastian looks aside, the light from the stage flickering over his face.

  ALANA'S VOICE (CONT'D)

  “This is the story of our past. The story of

  our beginning...”

  DISSOLVE TO.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - BRIGHTLY LIT - LATER

  Empty chairs, rows and rows...

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  Something went wrong. We all should have

  come here. Right from the start.

  Hope looks at the chairs around them.

  HOPE

  There's so many. They could be anywhere.

  Sebastian slowly nods.

  SEBASTIAN

  (smiles)

  I guess not even Gods are perfect.

  He starts to cough.

  HOPE

  Papa?

  She rubs his back.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  Come on.

  (she helps him up)

  There must be medicines here, we have to

  find them.

  SEBASTIAN

  There is.

  HOPE

  Then lets go.

  He touches her arm.

  SEBASTIAN

  I can do this alone.

  Hope looks at him, unsure.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  I won't be long.

  She reluctantly nods.

  Sebastian uses the spear as a walking stick and makes his way the entrance. The wall parts, letting him out.

  Hope turns around.

  A tiny figure in the large hall.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  INT. DINING HALL - BRIGHTLY LIT

  Long dinner tables stretch out. More empty chairs beside them. Hope looks down at the tray in front of her.

  She removes the lid and sees green peas, mashed potato and slices roast lamb.

  She lifts a fork and looks at it, curious.

  She turns her head and sees a little robot setting down other dinner trays.

  CUT TO.

  INT. MEDICAL WING

  Beds and instruments are attached to the walls. Sebastian stands alone, balancing on the spear. His face paler than ever, covered with deep wrinkles.

  A low “hum” rises. In front of him a chamber, wide enough for a single person, opens. Its design similar to the pod.

  A blue light flashes.

  AUTOMATED VOICE

  “Please enter for cell rejuvenation.”

  Sebastian stares into the chamber, eyes yellow and heavy.

  INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

  Sebastian plays with his glass.

  ALANA (O.S)

  It's not about living forever.

  Alana smiles.

  ALANA (O.S) (CONT'D)

  It's about living now.

  Sebastian smiles back.

  ALANA (O.S) (CONT'D)

  Nothing is ever permanent.

  INT. MEDICAL WING

  The blue light continues to flash.

  AUTOMATED VOICE

  “Please enter for cell rejuvenation.”

  Sebastian looks aside. The pillow on one of the beds is pressed, sheets ruffled. Someone has laid there.

  He looks back at the chamber. Torn.

  CUT TO.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - BRIGHTLY LIT

  Hope sits on the stage, her feet hanging down. She shakes her head.

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  Take only what you need. If you ever get

  sick you come back here right away.

  She slowly looks at him, upset.

  HOPE

  Where am I supposed to look? I wouldn't

  know where to start.

  SEBASTIAN

  Go to any place we haven't been. Other

  lands beyond the waters.

  He squeezes her hand.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  You can find them, I know you can.

  Hope shakes her head.

  HOPE

  I can't just leave you here. I have to take

  care of you.

  SEBASTIAN

  This place will take care of me. I'll be fine

  soon enough, the medicines are working.

  HOPE

  I'll wait then, we can go together.

  SEBASTIAN

  There isn't time, the others may be sick

  too. You have to get them here as fast as

  you can.

  HOPE

  I can't do this alone.

  Sebastian holds her chin up.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  You can. You're strong. Stronger than I

  ever was... Even stronger than your

  mother.

  He wipes a tear from her cheek.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  I always wondered why she named you

  what she did.

  He smiles.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  I now know.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. GREAT DOME - VALLEY - LATE NIGHT

  The doors part, white light pours out. The Monkians look up, eyes widening.

  Two silhouettes emerge. Hope turns around, her long black hair blowing in the wind, bow and arrows on her back.

  HOPE

  I won't forget you. Whatever happens. I'll

  never forget you.

  Sebastian smiles.

  SEBASTIAN

  You will always be my little girl.

  She leans forward, kissing him on the forehead, a tear sliding down her cheek.

  HOPE

  You will always be my papa.

  The winds get stronger. She backs away, the Monkians clearing a path.

&
nbsp; Sebastian watches as she disappears into the night... his smile fading...

  DISSOLVE TO.

  INT. WHITE ROOM

  Footsteps echo down the corridor. The framed paintings slowly pass by. More exotic creatures, winged unicorns, black tigers. The last image shows a woman on a hilltop, looking out over a forest, multiple moons above.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S)

  “You all have many questions. Myself

  amongst you. I will answer as much as I

  can.”

  DISSOLVE TO.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - LIGHTS DOWN

  Earth on stage.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S)

  “This was our home. The place of our birth.

  A place now gone.”

  Sebastian sits in the middle row, wearing a fresh white jumpsuit.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “It was a place rich with life.”

  EXT. MARTIAN CLIFF - MORNING (FLASHBACK / MUTE)

  Red sand, whispers of green grass.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S)

  “A world balanced for countless

  generations.”

  Two figures stand, their faces scarfed.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “We were different in so many ways.”

  One of the figures removes her scarf, it's Alana. She takes a deep breath and looks up, feeling each breath.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “We could create.”

  Sebastian lowers his scarf and looks down.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “We could grow.”

  In front of them, hidden in a small canyon, is a construction site. We see the rectangular shape of the Ark ship, almost completed.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “And so we did.”

  Alana points and smiles. Sebastian sees it.

  The white dome is lifted into the underbelly of the ship.

  EXT. HILL TOP - PREDAWN (MUTE)

  Hope blows on her horn.

  ALANA'S VOICE (O.S)

  “We were no longer animals, no longer

  children. We were Gods.”

  The bird horse flies down, landing in front of her.

  INT. POD CHAMBER - ARK SHIP (FLASHBACK / MUTE)

  A hundred stasis pods are stacked and rowed. Sebastian and Alana walk hand in hand, both in white jumpsuits.

  Sebastian climbs down a ladder and gets into one of the open pods. Alana kneels down beside him.

  He tries to smile but Alana is unable to.

  SEBASTIAN

  Will it hurt?

  ALANA

  You'll just fall sleep.

  Sebastian nods.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  Sebastian...

  Sebastian puts a finger to her lips.

  SEBASTIAN

  No more talk. I'm ready.

  Alana kisses his hand.

  ALANA

  I'll dream of you, for a lifetime. For many

  lifetimes.

  Sebastian pulls her close. They kiss each other as hard as they can. Alana raises her hand presses a small needle into his throat, “click”.

  Sebastian gasps, feeling the rush. He looks up at Alana as his vision blurs.

  His hand lowers... eyes closing...

  Alana presses her forehead against his.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - LIGHTS DOWN

  Sebastian closes his eyes, the holo message still running.

  INT. POD CHAMBER (FLASHBACK)

  Alana shakes her head, guilt consuming her.

  ALANA

  (low)

  Forgive me.

  She touches his face.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  I never deserved you.

  Sebastian sleeps, unresponsive.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  When we sleep they will too. They all will...

  They will all sleep and they will never wake

  up.

  She starts to cry.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  There's no hope here, there never will be.

  We have to begin again. The old has to

  make way for the new. The weak... has to

  fall.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - LIGHTS DOWN

  Sebastian opens his eyes, now bleeding.

  On stage we see Mars consumed by fire, along with the Earth.

  INT. POD CHAMBER (FLASHBACK)

  ALANA

  You were the only good thing to ever

  happen to me. I can't let our time together

  be for nothing.

  She touches her belly.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  The first of a new generation will be ours.

  EXT. SKY - OCEAN - SUNRISE (MUTE)

  The bird horse approaches an island, Hope on its back.

  INT. POD CHAMBER (FLASHBACK)

  Sebastian's pod slowly closes.

  ALANA (O.S)

  You'll live inside me. Both in this life and

  the next.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - LIGHTS DOWN

  Pods land around the dome... Sebastian's head is low. Alana's face now appears on stage.

  ALANA / HOLO MESSAGE

  “We have all made a great sacrifice. But it's

  a sacrifice that had to be made.”

  EXT. BEACH - ISLAND - DAY

  Hope staggers forward, seven pods in front of her.

  ALANA / HOLO MESSAGE (O.S)

  “For any true beginning one can have no

  past.”

  She turns her head and sees seven graves.

  ALANA / HOLO MESSAGE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “We must see our world with new eyes.”

  She look up. A group of children emerge from behind the trees.

  ALANA / HOLO MESSAGE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  “We must be children again.”

  The children, no older than ten, smile.

  INT. BRIEFING HALL - LIGHTS DOWN

  We slowly pull back, Sebastian silhouetted by Alana's projection.

  ALANA / HOLO MESSAGE

  “Don't look back. Don't regret. We have all

  been blessed in a way few ever have been.”

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. BEACH - SURF - SUNSET

  A wave passes, revealing a gold ring.

  ALANA / HOLO MESSAGE (O.S)

  “We have all been reborn.”

  Another wave passes, clearing the engraving.

  “ALANA S WILDER”

  FADE TO BLACK

  PARADISE Copyright © 2011 by Mehul Desai

  This work has been registered with

  Writers’ Copyright Association

  Registration C103839