Paradise Read online

  Remember if anyone asks you say you're

  infected.

  YOUNG ALANA

  Did he hurt you?

  Elin turns away.

  ELIN

  It doesn't matter.

  YOUNG ALANA

  It matters to me.

  Elin looks at her baby sister, feeling her pain.

  ELIN

  It's my job to protect you. I have to do

  whatever it takes.

  YOUNG ALANA

  (angry)

  But it's not right.

  Elin holds back her tears.

  ELIN

  No, it's not. But things will change. They

  always do.

  She takes her hands.

  ELIN (CONT'D)

  All this will be forgotten.

  Alana looks down, trying not to cry.

  Elin pulls her forward and hugs her tight. Alana hides her face in her shoulder.

  ELIN (CONT'D)

  Be strong.

  She kisses her cheek.

  ELIN (CONT'D)

  It will all be forgotten.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. CAVE - CLEARING - MORNING

  Alana returns to camp and sees Sebastian sitting by the fire. She stops.

  Sebastian looks at her and slowly stands.

  SEBASTIAN

  I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to...

  ALANA

  -No, I shouldn't have run away like that.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat, embarrassed)

  You don't have to do anything you don't

  want to do. I mean that.

  Alana nods.

  ALANA

  (beat)

  Thank you.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WATERFALL - DAY

  Sebastian stands waist deep in the water, tracking a fish. He aims his spear and strikes. The fish splits in two and swims off.

  SEBASTIAN

  Great.

  He turns around, looking for another fish, when he hears something nearby.

  A piano.

  Chopin's Nocturne. Op. 9 No. 1.

  He slowly turns around.

  Voices rise, people chatting... A party...

  INT. MUSEUM - MAIN FLOOR - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

  Sebastian laughs wearing a black tuxedo, two beautiful women beside him. He sips his champagne and looks aside, the man in front of him talking away.

  EXT. WATERFALL - DAY

  Sebastian steps back. The music and voices fade.

  He turns around, confused.

  CUT TO.

  INT. CAVE - DAY

  Alana sits against the cave wall, staring into thin air, a fire burning beside her.

  CUT TO.

  INT. LIMOUSINE - NIGHT (FLASHBACK / MUTE)

  Window, a crowd of protesters pass by, angry banners, angrier faces; “FUCK MARS!”, “IMMIGRANTS = DISEASE!”, “SEND THEM BACK!”.

  We see a cartoon Martian tied to an Acme-style rocket, shooting off into space.

  Alana (19) stares out.

  A hand touches her knee.

  She turns her head and forces a smile.

  CUT TO.

  INT. CAVE - DAY

  Alana closes her eyes.

  CUT TO.

  INT. BATHROOM - APARTMENT (FLASHBACK)

  Pills on a palm. Alana shoves them into her mouth, forcing them down. She looks at herself in the mirror.

  She's still 19, hair disheveled, eyes broken and heavy.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. STREAM - NIGHT

  Galaxies reflected on the running water, Alana's face. Distorted.

  She sits alone, staring at the stream.

  Sebastian emerges from the trees and stops. He looks at her a moment, awkward, then turns away.

  ALANA (O.S)

  Don't go.

  He stops and looks back. Alana is still staring at the water.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  Are you all right?

  Alana looks up and almost laughs to herself.

  ALANA

  “Am I all right”? I don't know WHAT I

  am.

  Sebastian sees tears in her eyes.

  He slowly sits down beside her. Alana continues to look at the sky.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  You said you thought you were someone

  important, right.

  SEBASTIAN

  I think I was.

  Alana smiles to herself.

  ALANA

  I don't know I was. I don't think I was

  anyone.

  SEBASTIAN

  (low)

  Who we were doesn't matter anymore.

  ALANA

  It does.

  She looks away, pausing in her thoughts.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  There's something I should have told you.

  Something I should have told you from the

  start. I guess I just didn't know what was

  happening. Any normal person would have.

  SEBASTIAN

  What are you talking about?

  Alana looks at him. Almost ashamed.

  ALANA

  (beat)

  I'm having a child.

  SEBASTIAN

  A... child?

  Alana lowers head.

  Sebastian looks aside, stunned.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  Do you remember who...?

  Alana shakes her head.

  Sebastian sees a tear fall from her cheek.

  ... He raises his hand and strokes back her hair.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  I'm sorry.

  Alana's face remains low.

  Sebastian touches her chin and holds it up.

  The two look at each other. Faces close.

  Sebastian leans forward and kisses her, lightly. He pulls back, eyes locked.

  Alana touches his lips.

  She kisses him back, slowly... The kiss gets stronger, deeper. Passionate.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. CAVE - NIGHT

  Alana arms are wrapped around Sebastian, a fire burning beside them. She turns her head and closes her eyes, Sebastian making love to her.

  She looks up at him and sees his eyes still on hers. She holds his face with one hand, moving with him.

  She feels the rush and arcs her neck back.

  Sebastian closes his eyes as she gasps aloud, his forehead sinking down to her chin.

  Alana opens her eyes and sees the stars.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. CAVE - CLEARING - MORNING

  Sebastian and Alana lie face to face, arms around each other. Sebastian runs his finger down the curve of her cheekbone.

  Alana's eyes open.

  The two again just staring at each other.

  SEBASTIAN

  (softly)

  This feels... right.

  Alana touches his lips.

  ALANA

  Yes.

  She smiles, unable to contain herself. They press their foreheads against each other and begin to laugh.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WATERFALL - DAY

  The two are in the water, embraced in another kiss. Alana bites Sebastian's neck and laughs, swimming away.

  Sebastian goes after her, grabbing her from behind and steals another kiss.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WOODS - DAY

  An arrow strikes a pig-creature in the neck. Alana smiles, lowering her bow.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. CAVE - CLEARING - NIGHT

  A feast is cooked, meat from the pig along with various vegetables.

  Sebastian picks a yellow grape and feeds it to Alana, resting on his lap. Alana smiles, rubbing her belly.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. STREAM - DAY

  A fishing net is drawn back. Alana smiles from the grass, her belly more swollen.

  Sebastian holds up the catch, proud.

  CUT TO.

  INT
. CAVE - NIGHT

  The two make love again, Alana on top.

  She takes Sebastian's hands and sets it over her belly.

  Sebastian looks at her and smiles. Alana smiles back.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. Woods - DAY

  The sun is high, the trees green and full of life.

  Alana walks alone, almost hobbling in her pregnant state.

  She sees some flowers and picks one off.

  She picks a flower and smiles, blowing on the petals. The colors change.

  “Squawk”

  She looks up. A zebra-striped bird sits on a branch.

  Alana pauses, almost recognizing the creature.

  The bird cocks its head, “squawking” again, then flies off.

  Alana watches it go.

  CUT TO.

  INT. CAVE – MORNING

  Alana clenches her teeth, tears streaming down her face.

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  Keep pushing.

  Alana squeezes her eyes, in agony.

  ALANA

  I can't.

  SEBASTIAN

  You can.

  Sebastian is crouched between her legs.

  ALANA

  It hurts!

  Sebastian takes her hand.

  SEBASTIAN

  It'll all be over soon.

  Alana pushes, using all her strength... a baby's cry is heard.

  Sebastian gasps.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  It's here! It's here!

  Alana looks down.

  Sebastian rises, a newborn baby in his hands.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  It's a little girl! You got a little a girl!

  Alana laughs/cries, exhausted. The baby is gently placed in her hands.

  Alana shakes her head, unable to believe what she's seeing.

  The baby's eyes slowly open, blue like hers.

  ALANA

  She's so beautiful.

  Sebastian looks at her as she stares at her daughter.

  He draws back, giving them space.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  We have a family.

  She takes Sebastian's hand and pulls him near.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  We have a little girl.

  Sebastian puts his arm around her and looks down at the child.

  SEBASTIAN

  What's her name?

  Alana smiles to herself, as if she already knew.

  ALANA

  Hope.

  The baby closes her eyes, drifting into sleep.

  Alana strokes her cheek.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  Her name is Hope.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WOODS - DAY

  A deer creature drops dead. Sebastian approaches and feels its antlers.

  The deer's eyes move. Sebastian takes out a blade and cuts its throat. As he checks the antlers again we see that he's older.

  CUT TO.

  INT. CAVE - WALL – DAY

  Animals, trees and stick figures are drawn.

  ALANA (O.S)

  Flower, can you say that? Flow-wer.

  Alana, also looking a little older, sits with HOPE, now aged 4.

  HOPE

  Flowa.

  ALANA

  (laughs)

  Good good.

  The deer carcass is thrown down by the mouth of the cave. Hope turns, her hair straight and black like Alana's.

  HOPE

  Papa!

  She runs to Sebastian.

  SEBASTIAN

  Hey sweetheart, wanna help?

  HOPE

  Yeah!

  Sebastian laughs, kissing her head. Alana rolls her eyes.

  ALANA

  (playfully)

  I guess I'll have to finish this all by myself

  now.

  HOPE

  Sorry mama!

  Hope watches as Sebastian cuts off the antlers. Alana return to the wall and adds some detail to a tree.

  INT. APARTMENT - DIMLY LIT - NIGHT (FLASHBACK / MUTE)

  ... A thin brush works a canvas...

  INT. CAVE

  Alana stops.

  INT. SMALL APARTMENT - DIMLY - NIGHT (FLASHBACK / MUTE)

  A painting of a forest... a bird flying off into an alien sky.

  The artist's eyes are blue... Focused.

  INT. CAVE

  Sebastian glances aside.

  Alana is frozen.

  SEBASTIAN

  Hey.

  Alana comes about.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  You OK?

  Alana looks back at the wall.

  ALANA

  (beat)

  Yes.

  HOPE (O.S)

  Mama, come and see what papa bought.

  Alana looks to Hope and smiles, making her way over.

  On the wall we see the drawing of a bird flying off into the sky...

  CUT TO.

  EXT. CAVE - CLEARING - NIGHT

  Hope is asleep by the fire. Sebastian and Alana finish making love. Sebastian catches his breathe and rests his head on her breast. Alana kisses the top of his head and strokes his hair.

  ALANA

  (beat)

  Do you still think about the past?

  SEBASTIAN

  Not for a long time.

  ALANA

  What's the last thing you remembered?

  Sebastian thinks about it.

  SEBASTIAN

  Music. A place with lots of people. A party,

  I think.

  ALANA

  What were they like? The people.

  Sebastian tries to remember.

  SEBASTIAN

  I don't know. I suppose they were happy.

  ALANA

  Were you?

  Sebastian looks at up at.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  Maybe.

  He smiles.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  But not like this.

  Alana smiles back. Sebastian moves up and kisses her, Alana returns the affection.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. STREAM - BRIGHT DAY

  Hope has her hand over Alana's belly. She feels a light kick and laughs. Alana smiles.

  Both are sitting with Sebastian under the shade of a tree.

  SEBASTIAN

  He's a strong one.

  HOPE

  (excited)

  It's a boy?

  ALANA

  It could be a girl.

  SEBASTIAN

  (smiles)

  No it's a boy.

  ALANA

  What makes you so sure?

  SEBASTIAN

  He kicks more than Hope.

  ALANA

  And a girl can't kick?

  Sebastian laughs, setting his hands on her belly.

  SEBASTIAN

  I think he's gone to sleep.

  ALANA

  Maybe SHE has.

  Sebastian kisses her cheek and gets up, heading for the stream. Hope feels her belly again.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (to Hope)

  What would you like sweetheart, a little

  brother or little sister?

  Hope considers a moment.

  HOPE

  I want to have a boy.

  ALANA

  Really?

  HOPE

  Yes, when I grow up.

  Alana's smile fades.

  ALANA

  (low)

  Let's not talk about that right now, OK.