Paradise Read online

  when these side effects start occurring?

  ALANA

  It's possible but then a person would be

  dependent on cell rejuvenation for the rest

  of their life.

  SEBASTIAN

  They'd be immortal.

  ALANA

  True, they'd also lose more and more of

  their memories until there's nothing left.

  It'd be like de-evolving them.

  Sebastian flashes his eye-brows.

  SEBASTIAN

  Not exactly progress for the human race

  then.

  Alana laughs, looking down at her glass.

  ALANA

  Exactly. But it's not about living forever,

  it's about living now.

  She sits up.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  Imagine it. Stasis could allow ANYONE to

  travel to anywhere in the galaxy, the

  universe even. People are always

  complaining about overpopulation, that

  there aren't enough resources, it's all

  nonsense. Everything's out there.

  Everything we could possibly want. We

  just have to grab it.

  SEBASTIAN

  You're talking as though habitable planets

  are everywhere.

  ALANA

  Mars wasn't.

  She smiles, sipping her wine.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  Things change. Nothing's ever permanent.

  Sebastian slowly nods.

  SEBASTIAN

  Well.

  He raises his glass.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  (smiles)

  Here's to change.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. ROCKY COVE - MORNING

  Waves crash.

  Sebastian steps forward.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  (low, angry)

  You stupid girl.

  Drawn on a slab is a figure on a horse, the two flying over the ocean...

  CUT TO.

  EXT. SHORE - ROCKY COVE - DAY

  Sebastian sits alone, waiting. Anger now replaced with concern...

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. OCEAN - ROCKY COVE - EVENING

  ... The sun and galaxies set... Sebastian remains in the same position, concern now turning into fear.

  ALANA (O.S)

  I'm right here.

  Sebastian turns his head.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. BALCONY - PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

  Alana stands by the rail, still in her blue dinner dress.

  Sebastian smiles, carrying two glasses of wine.

  SEBASTIAN

  What you doing out here?

  ALANA

  Just taking in the view.

  Sebastian stands beside her, the city and skyscrapers before them.

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  Amazing isn't it?

  ALANA

  It sure is.

  He glances aside and realizes she's not looking at the city but the sky.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  What is it?

  Alana looks at him and smiles.

  ALANA

  Can't see it?

  Sebastian looks up but sees nothing.

  SEBASTIAN

  What?

  Alana laughs, pointing to a patch of sky.

  ALANA

  There.

  Sebastian squints his eyes but can't see anything.

  SEBASTIAN

  Stars?

  Alana smiles, taking his glass.

  ALANA

  Here.

  She sets down their glasses and guides his finger, their faces side by side.

  His finger lines up with what appears to be a pink star.

  Alana holds his arm steady, his finger in line with a pink star.

  SEBASTIAN

  Is that...?

  Alana laughs.

  ALANA

  Yeah.

  Sebastian smiles, staring at the once red planet.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (softly)

  So far away.

  Sebastian notices a light scar on her wrist. He draws back and looks at her, their faces still close.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  How old were you when you left?

  Alana stops and looks at him.

  ALANA

  Six.

  Sebastian nods.

  Alana lowers her head.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  (beat, low)

  I'm sorry.

  SEBASTIAN

  Sorry? For what?

  ALANA

  I don't know.

  Sebastian touches her chin and lifts her face.

  SEBASTIAN

  It doesn't matter. I've still fallen for you.

  Alana's blue eyes glisten in the moonlight. She feels his hand on her cheek. She raises her own hand, touching his.

  Their faces draw closer, slowly.

  Sebastian kisses her, delicately, her face trembling.

  His hands settle on her waist, Alana's arms wrap around him... Another kiss follows, stronger, deeper... Alana closes her eyes, returning the kiss.

  INT. BEDROOM - DIMLY LIT

  Alana is laid down. She holds Sebastian face as he presses his lips against hers. She stares up at the ceiling as he moves to her neck and shoulder.

  ALANA

  (low)

  Go slowly.

  Sebastian stops and reads her face.

  SEBASTIAN

  Am I your first?

  Alana looks at him, embarrassed.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  We don't have to.

  Alana shakes her head.

  ALANA

  I want to.

  She touches his lips.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  This feels right.

  She pulls him close and slowly kisses him. Sebastian kisses her back, moving to her neck and shoulder.

  Alana closes her eyes, opening herself.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. SHORE - ROCKY COVE - MORNING

  The tethered raft bounces on the light waves. Hope shakes Sebastian awake, bow over her shoulder.

  HOPE

  Papa! Papa, get up!

  Sebastian opens his eyes. He sees Hope looking down at him.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  You have to come with me!

  SEBASTIAN

  Hope! What the Hell were you thinking??

  Hope grabs his hands and pulls him up.

  HOPE

  -We have to go! Now!

  The horse is behind her.

  SEBASTIAN

  -Hold on...

  HOPE

  -There's no time!

  SEBASTIAN

  -Wait!

  He grabs her shoulders.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  What's over there?

  Hope grins.

  HOPE

  People!

  She laughs.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  There's OTHER people!

  Sebastian stops.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. OCEAN - DAY

  The waters roll by.

  Sebastian nervously looks down, holding on to Hope's waist.

  The horse flaps its wings, struggling under their combined weight. Hope kicks its side, pulling on the antler-handles. The horse grunts and rises.

  Sebastian looks ahead.

  Mist clears, revealing an island.

  HOPE (O.S)

  Yah!

  The horse dives down towards the sandy shoreline.

  Sebastian looks around. There doesn't seem to be any sign of life.

  HOPE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  There!

  Sebastian leans forward. He sees something on the shore.

  ... A white pod.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. SANDY SHORE - DAY

  The horse nibbles on some berries.

  Sebastian and Hope stand in front of
the pod.

  SEBASTIAN

  Did you see any others?

  Hope feels over the pod, eager.

  HOPE

  No, but I didn't go far inland.

  Sebastian looks at the pod again, it's face down in the sand.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  You and mama came from something like

  this, didn't you?

  Sebastian nods, still staring at the pod.

  Hope tries to push it over but it's too heavy.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  How do we get it open?

  Sebastian pauses, then looks to the horse.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. SANDY SHORE - LATER

  A thick vine is tied to the side of the pod. Hope sits on the horse, the other end of the vine fastened around its waist.

  SEBASTIAN

  (backing up)

  All right give it a go.

  Hope pushes the horse forward, pulling on its antlers.

  HOPE

  Yah!

  The horse opens its wings and begins to rise, tugging on the pod. Sebastian also pulls, using all his strength.

  The horse grunts, struggling.

  Hope looks back. The pod is slowly turning.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  It's working!

  Sebastian clenches his teeth, pulling harder.

  ... The pod finally rolls over with a low “thump”.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  Down, down.

  Hope jumps off the horse and runs back to the pod.

  Sebastian steps forward and wipes mud and grime off the glass cover.

  Hope stops beside him and stares in amazement. Inside is a young man in his early 20s, wearing a familiar white jumpsuit.

  She smiles, touching the glass.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  It's a boy.

  Sebastian pauses, recognizing his face.

  INT. BRIEFING ROOM - BRIGHT LIT (FLASHBACK / MUTE)

  Alana and the young man sit by a table, the two going over some papers...

  EXT. SANDY SHORE

  Hope pries the edges of the glass cover.

  HOPE

  How do we get him out?

  (struggling)

  How do we get it open?

  Sebastian looks over the pod. None of the lights are on.

  HOPE (O.S) (CONT'D)

  Papa, how do we get him out?

  The young man is completely still.

  Sebastian slowly turns to Hope.

  SEBASTIAN

  Sweetheart. I don't think he's alive.

  Hope stops.

  HOPE

  No. No he's just sleeping.

  SEBASTIAN

  This thing isn't working.

  HOPE

  -No! He's alive.

  She pushes at the glass.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  He's just sleeping!

  Sebastian touches her shoulder.

  SEBASTIAN

  Hope, it's too late.

  HOPE

  NO!

  She grabs a rock and pounds at the glass.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  He's alive! He's alive!

  SEBASTIAN

  Hope, stop it! Stop it!

  HOPE

  He's alive!

  -“HISS!”

  SEBASTIAN

  Hope!

  A side panel sparks up, Sebastian pulls Hope aside just as the glass guard retracts with a soft “hum”.

  Sebastian holds a moment then cautiously steps forward.

  He looks down at the young man.

  He still isn't moving.

  Hope looks over his shoulder.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  Hello?

  The man's skin turns pale white, his flesh aging and rotting like a vegetable in time lapse.

  Hope screams, hiding her face in Sebastian's shoulder. Sebastian turns her away, shielding her eyes.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  It's all right. It's all right.

  He slowly looks back at the man.

  There's nothing left but a white jumpsuit and a skeleton.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. SANDY SHORE - SUNSET

  Hope sits on a large rock, staring at the ground. Sebastian kneels down in front and takes her hands.

  SEBASTIAN

  He was gone long before we got here. There

  was nothing we could have done.

  HOPE

  (beat)

  Papa.

  SEBASTIAN

  Yes sweetheart.

  HOPE

  I'd like to be alone.

  Sebastian looks at her and slowly nods. He lets go of her hands and gets up, kissing her forehead. Hope continues to stare at the ground, her face blank.

  CUT TO.

  INT. DINING ROOM - COUNTRY HOUSE - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

  Alana stares at the table, wearing a formal dinner dress, her face blank.

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  (low)

  You all right?

  Alana glances aside and forces a smile.

  Around the table are a dozen men and women, all smartly dressed.

  TAYLOR (early 30s) laughs.

  TAYLOR

  Seriously why should Martians be given

  such an easy ride? If they wanna be

  successful they gotta prove themselves, get

  off their skinny red asses.

  Laughter. Alana plays with her glass.

  An ENGLISH WOMAN shakes her head.

  ENGLISH WOMAN

  They're leeches, all of them, especially

  these illegals.

  TAYLOR

  What's curious to me is why doesn't Mars

  have industry, private industry. The

  potential's there, the resources. They

  haven't got it because we keep throwing

  charity at them, and the moment there's

  talk of withdrawing any of it we have these

  Red2Green fanatics threatening war.

  JENNINGS (40) shakes his head.

  JENNINGS

  It's all talk. Mars has no legitimate

  government. They couldn't start a war with

  anyone.

  JENNING'S WIFE

  Martians are different, they really are. It's

  the low gravity. I read that it's done

  something to their brains.

  Sebastian glances at Alana, still looking at the table.

  TAYLOR

  Interesting you raise that point. I mean

  what are the Martians? Seriously, what

  are they? What can they ever be?

  Alana slowly looks up.

  TAYLOR (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  Workers.

  (smiles)

  The majority of Martians spend their lives

  in mines and factories. They are

  psychologically, and perhaps even now

  physiologically, a working class.

  SEBASTIAN

  You mean lower class.

  TAYLOR

  No, I don't mean that. And this doesn't

  have to be a bad thing. Look at India, here

  we had a civilization that was intact for

  thousands of years. Why? Because they

  had a clearly defined social structure. A

  society where everyone knew their place,

  from top to bottom.

  SEBASTIAN

  So children are doomed by the place in

  society they're born into?

  TAYLOR

  “Doomed” is a bit harsh. Why not...

  content?

  ALANA (O.S)

  How can you be content if you have

  nothing?

  Everyone stops and looks at Alana. Taylor glances at Sebastian.

  TAYLOR

  Well...

  ENGLISH WOMAN

  They have an entire world. If they feel they

  have nothing here then perhaps Mars is