Paradise Read online

where they should have stayed.

  Alana looks at the woman, anger in her eyes.

  TAYLOR

  (laughs)

  Anyway, moving on, who would like some

  desert? We've prepared some rare

  delicacies.

  Sebastian squeezes Alana's hand and leans forward.

  SEBASTIAN

  (low)

  Wanna get out of here?

  Alana nods, grateful.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. POND - ISLAND FOREST - MORNING

  Sebastian rubs some water over his face and neck. The ripples settle. He sees his reflection.

  He's older, more wrinkled.

  He touches his hair. Gray and white.

  EXT. SANDY SHORE

  Sebastian wanders back onto the shoreline and notices smoke rising from around the corner. He makes his way over and sees Hope standing with her back to him.

  She's burning the remains of the young man.

  Sebastian stops beside her.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  There may be others in the forest. We'll go

  on foot.

  Hope nods, quiet.

  HOPE

  (beat)

  Let's go then.

  She turns and walks away.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WHITE FOREST - DAY

  Sebastian uses a spear as a walking stick, Hope a short distance ahead, bow and arrow ready.

  Sebastian slowly looks around. The trees are different, the leaves winter white.

  He slows down and starts to cough. He settles, taking a deep breath, and pushes on.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. CAMP - WHITE FOREST - NIGHT

  Hope chews on some yellow cherries. Sebastian rests back against a tree and looks up at the sky.

  SEBASTIAN

  If we can't find anything tomorrow we'll

  head back and take your bird horse. If it's

  still there.

  HOPE

  (low)

  He will be.

  Sebastian looks at her and notices a small horn constructed from red eye bones. He picks it up and looks at it.

  SEBASTIAN

  (smiles)

  This how you call it?

  Hope nods, staring at the fire.

  Sebastian studies the device, impressed.

  HOPE (O.S)

  What if they're all like that? What if

  they're all dead?

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  You're mother and I woke up, there will be

  others.

  HOPE

  You don't know that.

  Sebastian nods.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  No, I don't.

  HOPE

  If it's just the two of us what's the point?

  What's the point in being here?

  Sebastian doesn't know what to say.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  (beat)

  There's no future.

  He sees tears in her eyes. Hope doesn't wipe them away.

  FADE TO BLACK.

  FADE IN.

  INT. BATHROOM - PENTHOUSE - NIGHT

  Large mirror, Alana stands, staring aside.

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  Why didn't you tell me?

  Sebastian is behind her, a container of pills in his hand. He looks down at them.

  ALANA

  What difference would it have made?

  SEBASTIAN

  I could have helped. We could have gotten

  help.

  ALANA

  (laughs)

  You can't help me, no one can.

  Sebastian squeezes his forehead.

  SEBASTIAN

  Not this again, why can't you just let it go?

  ALANA

  “Let it go”? Pretend like it never

  happened? Like it's not happening now?

  (turns)

  People being beaten, murdered and raped

  just because they were born somewhere

  else and you want me to let it go?

  SEBASTIAN

  I'm doing all I can, you have any idea how

  many millions I've put in lobbyists and

  aid?

  ALANA

  You're not doing anything for them, you're

  doing it for yourself, because you feel you

  have to.

  Sebastian shakes his head, putting down the pills.

  SEBASTIAN

  I'm not getting into this Alana.

  ALANA

  What is it, you think I won't sleep with you

  if you don't pay for it somehow?

  SEBASTIAN

  -Enough.

  ALANA

  Or is it the novelty of having your own

  secret little Marshy whore?

  SEBASTIAN

  -I said enough!

  He grips her by the shoulders.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  I love you Alana, you know I do, and you

  love me. Don't you EVER forget that.

  ALANA

  (beat)

  Take your hands off me.

  Sebastian looks at her.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  Now.

  He releases her.

  Alana snatches back the pills and turns to the sink.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  I don't need your help.

  She pours a glass of water.

  ALANA (CONT'D)

  I never did.

  SEBASTIAN

  No.

  He reaches for the pills. Alana pulls away.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  You're not taking any more.

  Alana fights him off.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  -Stop it -I said Stop it!

  Alana punches him in the face. The container hits the floor, pills scattering over the tiles.

  Alana stops.

  Sebastian touches his nose, bleeding.

  Alana backs away, hitting the wall. She shakes her head and slides to the floor, hiding her face in her knees.

  ALANA

  Please... just leave me...

  Sebastian kneels down in front of her.

  SEBASTIAN

  Alana.

  He holds up her face.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  I will never leave you.

  Alana shakes her head.

  ALANA

  I'm such a mess... I'm so confused.

  Sebastian rests his forehead against hers.

  SEBASTIAN

  Just tell me what I have to do to make

  things right.

  ALANA

  I can't...

  Sebastian strokes a tear and kisses her, blood from his nose smudging on her lip.

  SEBASTIAN

  I'll do anything. Anything.

  Alana raises her hand and holds his face.

  ALANA

  It'll cost you too much.

  SEBASTIAN

  It doesn't matter.

  ALANA

  Sebastian. It will cost you everything.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. CAMP - WHITE FOREST - MORNING

  Sebastian opens his eyes. They're now turning sickly yellow.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. HILL - WHITE FOREST - DAY

  Branches are pulled aside. Hope peers out. In the distance is a river and several more hills.

  HOPE

  (points)

  There.

  Sebastian leans forward.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  You're sure?

  HOPE

  There was smoke, I saw it.

  Sebastian draws back.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  (turns)

  We could wait and see.

  Sebastian looks out again.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  No. Lets get closer in.

  Hope nods.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WHITE FOREST - DAY

  A flock of blue
birds cross the sky.

  Hope has an arrow ready. She slowly scans the area...

  Sebastian stops and leans against a tree, coughing.

  Hope looks back.

  Sebastian waves his hand, coughing again.

  SEBASTIAN

  I'm fine.

  Hope notices his eyes. Sebastian nods forward.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  Keep going, I'll catch up by the river.

  Hope pauses, concerned, but then reluctantly nods.

  Sebastian takes a deep breath.

  -“Squawk”

  He looks up.

  A zebra-striped bird watches him.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  (beat, low)

  You guys are everywhere aren't you.

  The bird “squawks” again.

  Sebastian reaches for his coconut-flask.

  MAN (O.S)

  It's a long way from home.

  Sebastian stops.

  SEBASTIAN (O.S)

  (laughs)

  It sure is.

  He slowly looks aside.

  CUT TO.

  INT. PRESS OFFICE - WILDER CORP - DAY (FLASHBACK)

  Sebastian stands on a podium, a swarm of reporters and flashing cameras in front of him.

  FEMALE JOURNALIST

  What are your plans for Mars? Rumors

  have been circulating that its a new

  terra-forming technology, other are stating

  that it's transport and mining in and

  around the Jovian system.

  SEBASTIAN

  Terra-forming will play a large part with

  what we plan to do. If we want to

  successfully expand on Mars we need a

  more habitable planet. Previous attempts

  made some progress but we're taking a

  more long term approach, and rightly so.

  Mars has potential and lots of it. Potential

  that's been overlooked for too long. The

  reality is we have a planet with a keen and

  hungry population, a low exchange rate

  and more workable land than anywhere on

  Earth. It's an opportunity unlike anything

  we've had before and opportunities should

  never be missed.

  A reporter raises his hand. Sebastian nods.

  MALE REPORTER

  Mr Wilder, you say “long term” but how

  long do you foresee it will be before Mars

  HAS a sustainable atmosphere?

  Sebastian sips some water.

  SEBASTIAN

  I wouldn't like to say, I'm not a scientist,

  but I will say this. At WilderCorp we have

  the best minds alive doing some amazing

  work, and they'll continue to do amazing

  work because they all believe in the future.

  And that's what this new era of

  WilderCorp is about. It's not about one

  man, one company, one nation or planet,

  it's about the future.

  He glances up. Alana stands at the back of the room.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  The future of the human race.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. RIVER - WHITE FOREST - DAY

  Hope creeps through the branches, arrow ready. She reaches the end of the forest and peers out.

  The river is ahead.

  She hears a splash and stops. It's coming from her right.

  She slowly moves aside, careful not to make sound.

  The splashing gets louder.

  She stops again and looks out.

  A pair of furry white hands cup some water. The hands are human-like but with three long fingers.

  Hope crouches down to get a better view.

  The hands lift water to lips. We see the creature's face. It's less human and more monkey or ape.

  Hope aims her arrow...

  SEBASTIAN

  (low)

  -Hope.

  Hope spins around. Sebastian approaches. She puts a finger to her lips and points ahead.

  Sebastian looks at her, confused, then crouches beside her. He sees the creature and gasps.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  (low)

  What the Hell...

  HOPE

  What is it?

  Sebastian shakes his head, staring at the MONKIAN.

  SEBASTIAN

  I have no idea.

  Hope looks to the left. Her eyes widen.

  HOPE

  Papa.

  Sebastian follows her eyes.

  Three other Monkians are gathered by the river, one carrying branches, another foraging, the third making a fire.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. WHITE FOREST - RIVER - NIGHT

  Darkness. Moonlight. Hope stares aside.

  HOPE

  (low)

  Where did they come from?

  The two are sitting against a tree, no fire burning.

  SEBASTIAN

  (beat)

  I think they were here long before us.

  HOPE

  Do you think they're dangerous.

  SEBASTIAN

  I don't know.

  He rests back against the tree, lost in his thoughts.

  SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

  If they can think, they might be able to

  help us.

  HOPE

  Help us how?

  Sebastian looks around.

  SEBASTIAN

  They might know things about this place.

  Things we don't.

  HOPE

  (beat)

  Do you think they saw others? Others like

  us?

  SEBASTIAN

  It's possible. If they did they could show us

  the way.

  Hope slowly nods, taken by the prospect.

  HOPE

  Yes.

  Sebastian coughs.

  Hope looks at him.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  Papa?

  The coughs get harder, Sebastian turns away. Hope leans forward.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  Papa, what is it?

  Sebastian covers his mouth.

  SEBASTIAN

  I'm all right, just getting a little sick.

  Hope rubs his back, helping him settle.

  HOPE

  You've been getting worse.

  Sebastian looks at her and sees the worry in her eyes. He squeezes her shoulder and smiles.

  SEBASTIAN

  It'll pass. I just need to rest.

  Hope nods. Sebastian lie down and turns away, coughing again.

  Hope rests back against the tree and looks down at him, his hair ghost white under the moonlight.

  She also sees blood on his palm where he covered his mouth.

  She looks away, nervous.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. WHITE FOREST - RIVER - MORNING

  A mist lingers in the air. We hear a flutter. A zebra-striped bird stops in a tree and looks down, cocking its head.

  A figure slowly moves through the mist, a spear in hand. Hope comes out onto grassy clearing, the river ahead.

  Smoke rises from a fire. Two Monkians chew on some twigs.

  Another flutter. Hope glances aside. Several birds are flying off. She looks ahead and sees the two of the Monkians staring at her, their long ears erect.

  Hope slowly holds out the spear and rests it down.

  HOPE

  It's all right. I won't hurt you.

  The Monkians are still.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  I've come for your help.

  Two more Monkians emerge and stop at the sight of her.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  I need medicine.

  She raises a hand to her mouth.

  HOPE (CONT'D)

  Medicine. Medicine for sick.

  Two of the Monkians slowly approach, fascinated but cautious.

  Hope stands still.

  The Monkians reaches out. Hope takes a
step back, stopping herself from making any abrupt movement.