by Mehul Desai
He scrambles to his feet and runs as fast as he can.
Another red eye leaps out from the side, narrowly missing him.
Sebastian jumps into a tree and frantically climbs, ducking into the branches.
He gasps, out of breath, and looks down.
There's no sound, only the “tapping” of rainfall.
He closes his eyes, settling, when a “wailing” sound rises, then another, and another.
He covers his ears as the pitch gets louder, piercing his skull. He presses his hands harder and finally screams.
CUT TO BLACK.
FADE IN.
EXT. TREE - FOREST – MORNING
Droplets of water fall on Sebastian's face. He slowly wakes, remembering where he is.
He turns his body and cries out, a sharp pain coming from his arm. He looks down and sees a deep cut, blood covering half his jumpsuit. He closes his eyes and fights the pain.
CUT TO.
EXT. BEACH - MORNING
Sebastian trips and falls. He gets back onto his feet and races forward.
Six-clawed footprints are all over the place, zig-zagging over the sand.
SEBASTIAN
Sand!
He reaches Alana's pod and spins around, looking up and down the beach.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
SAND!
There's no answer, the ocean waves drowning his voice.
He shakes his head and drops to his knees, pressing his forehead into the ground.
A hand reaches forward and touches his shoulder.
Sebastian spins around.
Alana stands, a cut running down the side of her forehead.
ALANA
I... I tried to find you.
Sebastian jumps to his feet and holds her face.
SEBASTIAN
-Are you all right? Are you OK?
ALANA
(crying)
I tried to find you.
Sebastian holds her tight.
SEBASTIAN
-I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm so sorry.
Alana squeezes him back, breaking down.
ALANA
Don't leave me, don't ever leave me!
Sebastian nods, pressing his face into her wet hair.
DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. WOODS – DAY
The zebra-striped bird sits on branch, looking down. Sebastian and Alana slowly move through the forest, hand in hand.
Sebastian's arm bandaged with the remaining strips of his jumpsuit.
DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Two fires burn. Alana sleeps. Sebastian checks the fire further down.
ALANA
-NO!
He hurries over.
SEBASTIAN
Hey hey, it's all right.
Alana looks around, sweating.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
You were just having a dream.
Alana sits up, settling.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
They're gone, they won't come back.
Alana looks at him, confused, then closes her eyes and squeezes her forehead.
Sebastian leans forward, concerned.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
What is it?
Alana stares aside.
ALANA
I wasn't married.
SEBASTIAN
What?
ALANA
The ring, it belonged to someone else.
SEBASTIAN
(hesitant)
Do you... remember anything else?
Alana looks away.
ALANA
I don't wanna talk about.
Sebastian nods, rubbing her arm.
SEBASTIAN
It's OK.
Alana wipes a tear with her wrist.
DISSOLVE TO.
EXT. SKY - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
A finger points to a star.
YOUNG ALANA (O.S)
(subtitled)
Is that it?
Elin guides Alana's hand.
ELIN (O.S)
There.
Alana squints her eyes, trying to focus.
YOUNG ALANA
Where's Chryse?
Elin stands beside her, both dressed in plain white overalls.
ELIN
You can't see it from here, we're too far
away.
Alana climbs down from the bench and sits with Elin. She looks at a gold ring in her hand.
YOUNG ALANA
Why didn't mama come with us?
ELIN
She couldn't, she could only send us.
YOUNG ALANA
But why send us?
Elin takes the ring from her.
ELIN
She wanted us to have a better life.
Alana pauses.
YOUNG ALANA
What was she like?
ELIN
She used to draw. She was really good. She
used to teach us every morning.
Alana looks aside, going quiet.
YOUNG ALANA
(beat)
I don't remember what she looked like.
Elin smiles and touches her hand.
ELIN
You were very small.
YOUNG ALANA
(beat)
You won't forget her will you?
Elin shakes her head, smiling again.
ELIN
I won't.
She puts the gold ring back on her finger. A woman screams off-screen.
Alana turns her head.
WOMAN (O.S)
(accented)
I seek! I seek! I infected!
ELIN
(to Alana)
Stay behind me.
Two watchmen drag a young woman towards the storage blocks within the INTERNMENT CAMP.
YOUNG ALANA
Where are they taking her?
One of the watchmen uses a tazer on the woman, shutting her up.
Elin turns away.
ELIN
(low)
Nowhere, stop looking.
Alana sees a door close behind them.
CUT TO.
EXT. CAMP - FOREST - MORNING
SEBASTIAN
Sand! Sand!
Alana is shaken awake.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
Get up!
ALANA
(groggy)
What is it?
Sebastian grins.
SEBASTIAN
You gotta see this!
EXT. CLIFF - FOREST
The two stop by the edge of a cliff.
Alana's eyes widen.
ALANA
I don't believe it.
Sebastian continues to grin.
SEBASTIAN
What do you think?
Alana looks at him and smiles.
ALANA
I think we have a new home.
Below, flanked by two hills, is paradise. Clear streams, green meadows and a beautiful waterfall.
CUT TO.
EXT. WATERFALL - DAY
Sebastian jumps into the pool. Alana laughs, sitting on a large rock and eating some fruit.
CUT TO.
EXT. CAMP - CAVE - NIGHT
Arrows and spears are lined up and constructed.
ALANA
This vine here.
SEBASTIAN
That one?
ALANA
Yeah, works much better.
Alana tests a bow.
CUT TO.
EXT. STREAM - MORNING
Sebastian stands with a spear, following a fat silver fish.
He stabs the spear down and twists.
He smiles, holding up the chunky fish.
CUT TO.
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Alana creeps forward, bow and arrow ready.
A rabbit-creature nibbles on some grass.
Alana draws back on the arrow, holding a moment, then releases - “Thwuk”.
She lowers the weapon and smiles.
&nbs
p; CUT TO.
EXT. CAVE - CLEARING - EVENING
Alana skins the rabbit, Sebastian cooking the fish. He looks aside and sees Alana struggling.
SEBASTIAN
Here.
He passes the fish to her.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
I got it.
He takes some flint and cuts out the meat.
Alana glances at him and smiles.
CUT TO.
INT. CAVE - LATE NIGHT
Light rain drizzles outside. Sebastian lies asleep by the fire.
EXT. STREAM
Alana throws up next to a tree, choking lightly. She closes her eyes, hand over her belly, and vomits again.
She rests back against the tree and slides down, still feeling sick. Rain “taps” on the ground next to her, getting louder.
CUT TO.
EXT. STORAGE BLOCKS - INTERNMENT CAMP - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Heavy rain. Young Alana walks through the wet mud, squinting her eyes.
She's in a dark side alley.
YOUNG ALANA
Elin?
She looks around but can't find her sister. She moves to one of the doors and waits under the shelter, shivering.
WATCHMAN (O.S)
What we got here?
Alana jumps, startled.
A WATCHMAN stands at the mouth of alley, in silhouette.
WATCHMAN (CONT'D)
You lost kid?
Alana freezes up.
The Watchman steps forward into the light. He has a rifle slung over his shoulder.
He reaches down and touches Alana's chin.
WATCHMAN (CONT'D)
Let me see your eyes.
He lifts her small face up. We see that Alana's left eye is bloodshot red.
WATCHMAN (CONT'D)
Jeeesus.
ELIN (O.S)
(accented)
She seek, she infected.
The Watchman turns, going for his gun. Elin slowly approaches, hands raised.
ELIN (CONT'D)
Here, you take.
She quickly removes her gold ring and offers it.
ELIN (CONT'D)
You take.
Alana shakes her head.
YOUNG ALANA
(subtitled)
No! That's mama's!
ELIN
(to Alana)
Shut up!
The Watchman looks at the ring.
Elin waits, shivering in the rain.
The watchmen flicks the ring back to her.
WATCHMAN
(to Elin)
Get back with the others.
Elin pushes forward, trying to move between him and Alana.
ELIN
(accented)
No no, wait, she seek, she infected.
The Watchman shoves her aside, hand on his rifle.
WATCHMAN
I said get back with the others!
Elin panics. She quickly grabs his hand and places it on her breast. The Watchman stops.
ELIN
I clean. I clean.
The Watchman looks at her a long moment.
ELIN (CONT'D)
(to Alana)
Go.
YOUNG ALANA
Elin...
ELIN
Just go.
Alana backs away, watching the two under the shelter.
The Watchman smiles.
He shoves Elin against the door and drops his rifle, quickly undoing his belt.
Elin looks away, her face blank and unresponsive.
Alana leaves the alley and holds against the wall, trying to listen. She can't hear anything over the rain.
She closes her eyes. Angry.
CUT TO.
EXT. STREAM - EARLY MORNING
Sebastian kneels down next to Alana, asleep under the tree.
SEBASTIAN
(low)
Sand?
He touches her shoulder.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
Sand.
He strokes back her hair and sees tears in her eyes.
He looks at her face and pauses.
CUT TO.
EXT. CAVE - CLEARING - MORNING
Sebastian works the fire, Alana sits opposite, quietly eating some mango. Sebastian glances at her.
SEBASTIAN
(beat)
You all right?
ALANA
Fine.
SEBASTIAN
(beat)
What were you doing over there?
ALANA
Just went for some water, must have fallen
asleep.
Sebastian nods, poking the flames.
SEBASTIAN
You can talk to me. If you want to.
Alana nods, still distant.
ALANA
I know.
She gets up and disposes of the mango skins. Sebastian watches her, concerned.
CUT TO.
EXT. WATERFALL - DAY
Sebastian washes his face and neck. He stops and looks at his reflection in the pool. His beard has grown considerably.
He looks aside and lifts a sharp piece of flint.
He lifts his chin and begins cutting.
CUT TO.
EXT. STREAM - SUNSET
A fish swims by, glowing yellow as it passes Alana's feet.
Sebastian steps out from behind the trees, beard and hair trimmed. He sees Alana sitting alone and takes a deep breath.
He walks over and sits down beside her.
Alana glances at him and offers a small smile.
SEBASTIAN
(beat)
You were right.
ALANA
About what?
Sebastian slowly looks around.
SEBASTIAN
That we're lucky.
Alana half nods, looking around herself.
ALANA
This place is quite beautiful.
It's like it was made for us.
SEBASTIAN
That's not what I meant.
Alana looks at him, not following.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
(beat)
We're never gonna go back, even if we
remember. Are we?
ALANA
No. I don't think we are.
Sebastian nods to himself.
SEBASTIAN
Then I accept.
ALANA
Accept?
He slowly looks at her.
SEBASTIAN
I accept this life.
Alana still doesn't follow.
Sebastian leans forward, motioning to kiss her. Alana pulls back.
SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)
(beat)
What is it?
Alana looks away, nervous.
ALANA
I'm sorry.
SEBASTIAN
Sand?
ALANA
I'm sorry.
She quickly gets up and runs into the woods.
SEBASTIAN
Sand!
INT. WOODS
Alana crashes into a tree, tears in her eyes. She slowly raises her hand, touching her left eye.
CUT TO.
EXT. MAIN HOLDING GROUND - INTERNMENT CAMP - MORNING
Elin studies Alana's eye, still red.
ELIN (O.S)
Looks OK. I don't think we need to do both
eyes.
Alana stares at her.
ELIN (O.S) (CONT'D)