Volunteers
Page 10
I believe in Man. I do not believe in any of you.
Caleb gets up and tries to lean over.
CALEB
(low)
-Eunice, what are you-?
Alleiram pulls him back.
ALLEIRAM
Let her speak.
EUNICE
(beat)
I will however make things easier for you.
(to the council)
I will stand aside and let you do what you intend to do regardless of what any of us say. But in return I want to be taken back to Earth, so I can be with my people when do commit your genocide.
Silloh looks at her, cold. The council members mutter amongst each other.
Caleb grabs Eunice's arm.
CALEB
Are you out of your mind??
Eunice shoves her arm free.
EUNICE
Don't touch me.
Silloh raises his hands, bringing order.
The arena falls quiet.
SILLOH
(beat)
Despite your offense Earth child what you request cannot be granted. Those outside the Great Council who freely choose to come to us can never return to their home world.
Alleiram stands.
ALLEIRAM
I believe the request can be granted.
Silloh looks at her, annoyed.
ALLEIRAM (CONT'D)
One is only forbidden to return to the people of their birth should they continue on their great journey. If the time of Man is to end the Chosen may be with them.
Silloh turns to Eunice.
SILLOH
(beat)
You are aware that your fate will be no different to the others of your kind.
Eunice nods.
EUNICE
Yes, I am aware.
Caleb hides his face in his hands.
SILLOH
Very well then. Your request is granted.
Caleb watches as Eunice walks away from the table and leaves.
CUT TO.
EXT. BALCONY - EUNICE'S BEDROOM - DAY
Eunice stands with her back to us. We hear a door open.
Caleb stops by the opening.
CALEB
(beat)
Why are you doing this?
Eunice doesn't move.
EUNICE
What do you want?
Caleb moves beside her and leans in.
CALEB
You can't do this, you can't go back there.
EUNICE
What difference does it make?
CALEB
The difference is it's gonna be a post-apocalyptic war zone back there. At least here you're safe.
Eunice looks at him, her face blank.
EUNICE
(beat)
Turn around.
Caleb looks and sees his fantasy Eunice bent against the rail, smiling at him. Caleb shakes his head, angry.
CALEB
-Damn it!
Fantasy Eunice disappears.
EUNICE
I'll ask you again, what difference does it make to you?
Fantasy Eunice appears again behind Caleb, her arms wrapped around him, kissing his neck.
CALEB
(struggling)
-No.
Eunice smiles to herself.
EUNICE
Why fight it? It's what you want.
Fantasy Eunice turns his face and kisses him.
Eunice backs away.
EUNICE (CONT'D)
Enjoy her.
CALEB
(turns)
No, this isn't-
Caleb frees himself but it's too late, Eunice is gone.
CUT TO.
INT. CALEB'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Mirror's reflection. Caleb's lies awake, staring at the ceiling.
He turns his head and looks to the balcony.
CUT TO.
EXT. VENICE BEACH - DAY
Bare feet on sand. Caleb walks alone, people coming and going, laughing and playing.
He sits down and hides his face in his hands.
HOMELESS MAN (O.S)
(beat)
This some game?
He slowly turns around.
CALEB (O.S)
No games. You can take this now or take my word.
He sees himself standing before the homeless man.
HOMELESS MAN
(beat)
All right, I'll be here tomorrow.
He sees his other self smile and put away the money.
HOMELESS MAN (CONT'D)
Hope your word means something.
Caleb looks down at the sand.
BELAC (O.S)
Caleb.
CUT TO.
INT. CALEB'S BEDROOM - MORNING
Belac stands looking over Caleb.
BELAC
Alleiram asks if you wish to speak with the Council.
Caleb slowly sits up.
BELAC (CONT'D)
(beat)
It's your sixth and last chance.
Caleb nods.
CUT TO.
INT. COUNCIL ARENA - DAY
Silloh smiles, watching Caleb being led by Alleiram and Belac.
Caleb sits by the table, five empty chairs be side him.
SILLOH
(beat, to Caleb)
After all that has been said I'm afraid the Great Council's judgment remains unchanged. Is there anything you wish to add?
Caleb holds a moment, then slowly stands.
He looks straight at Silloh.
CALEB
(beat)
No.
Alleiram closes her eyes and lowers her head.
CALEB (CONT'D)
There's nothing I can say that will change your minds. There's nothing anyone can say that will change my mind. We're a selfish species. We're weak, we're childish, we lie and we deceive, both to each other and ourselves. We want to believe we are better than we are but we're not. We're a footstep away from the animals and that ain't gonna change.
His eyes crosses fantasy Eunice in the crowd, smiling at him.
CALEB (CONT'D)
If you offered Esidarap to ninety-nine percent of the people on Earth they'd make the same decision we have. They'd turn their backs on all the others and just suck every ounce of joy out of this place they could.
The gardener watches from the balcony.
CALEB (CONT'D)
They'd convince themselves, rightly or wrongly, that what happens to the others is out of their hands or for the best.
(beat, angry)
I know all this about Man because I am a man. We don't believe in ourselves or our potential. We just pretend we do. We don't have faith in ourselves or our future and so... we should not have one.
The council applauds. Silloh slowly nods, pleased.
Caleb stops and looks at him.
CALEB (CONT'D)
But I want you to remember one thing after all this is finished. After there isn't a single man or woman left alive on the Earth. There was always that one percent that were not like the rest of us, that were not like me. Because when you finish with the human race you finish with them too. And all they could have offered.
The gardener lowers his head.
Caleb sits back down.
SILLOH (O.S)
It is decided then.
Caleb looks away.
SILLOH (CONT'D)
(beat, smiles)
The human race will end.
He closes his eyes.
CUT TO.
EXT. ENTRANCE - PALACE - SUNSET
A rainbow fills the sky. Caleb sits alone on the entrance steps, plucking strings on Eunice's guitar.
He focuses a moment then starts playing the melody she played on the promenade.
Alleiram steps out and stops by the doors, listening to him play.
ALLEIRAM
(beat)
Is that you or is that Esidarap?
Caleb sets down the guitar.
CALEB
It's definitely not me.
He looks at the guitar.
CALEB (CONT'D)
(beat)
Has she left?
Alleiram pauses then shakes her head.
ALLEIRAM
No.
CALEB
But she will soon.
ALLEIRAM
Yes.
Caleb sighs.
CALEB
I guess she won't see me, and Esidarap only shows what you want to see.
ALLEIRAM
That is true.
She sits down beside him.
ALLEIRAM (CONT'D)
But she has made it clear she wants no part of Esidarap.
Caleb stops and looks at her. Alleiram smiles.
CUT TO.
EXT. WOODEN PIER - LAKE - GRAY AFTERNOON
An empty canoe floats on calm water, the horizon hidden behind a blanket of gray fog.
Eunice stands at the end of the pier, untying rope tethering the raft.
CALEB (O.S)
This is how you'll go?
Eunice looks back.
EUNICE
(beat)
I guess so.
Caleb approaches, hands in his pockets.
CALEB
Will you tell them? When you go back.
Eunice shakes her head.
EUNICE
Even if anyone believed me it wouldn't matter.
CALEB
It might, it might make things easier, for everyone.
Eunice stops, hesitant, then slowly turns to face him.
EUNICE
(beat)
I'm not mad at you.
CALEB
You're not?
Eunice looks away and shakes her head.
EUNICE
No. I'm... disappointed. That you weren't patient. That you felt I wasn't worth waiting for.
Caleb lowers his head and nods.
Eunice looks at him, sadly.
EUNICE (CONT'D)
I hope you're happy here. I really do.
Caleb watches as she climbs into the canoe.
She turns her head and forces a smile.
EUNICE (CONT'D)
(beat)
Au revoir Caleb Colton.
Caleb manages a light wave.
CALEB
Goodbye, Eunice.
Eunice turns away, tears forming.
She closes her eyes, grabbing the oars, and starts rowing.
The canoe starts to pull away but then stops and reverses back.
Eunice turns and sees Caleb pulling the rope.
EUNICE
-Caleb?
CALEB
This isn't how its going to end.
He throws aside the rope and jumps down into the canoe.
CALEB (CONT'D)
I'm coming with you.
EUNICE
You don't have to do this.
CALEB
I know I don't.
He turns to her and smiles.
CALEB (CONT'D)
I'm choosing to.
Eunice starts to smile back, half in disbelief, half with overwhelming joy.
CALEB (CONT'D)
And I'm not expecting anything from you. When we get back you never have to see me again but I'm not letting you go back alone.
Eunice nods, holding back her tears.
EUNICE
All right.
CALEB
Come on move aside.
Eunice makes room but then stops. The sky is darkening, the gray clouds dispersing.
Night is falling.
Caleb looks up as Eunice stops, staring beyond the pier.
On the grassy hill figures are approaching.
Thousands of them!
EUNICE
Caleb.
Caleb turns and almost falls out the boat.
CALEB
Jesus Christ!
The figures get closer but become fewer in number.
We recognize some of their clothes, they're all members of the council, and they're all merging together.
Eunice draws closer to Caleb.
Amongst the people we sees Silloh, Belac, even Alleiram, all blending together.
Caleb holds Eunice's hand.
A single individual finally approaches the pier.
It's the gardener.
He stops and smiles, looking at them in utter astonishment.
GARDENER
You truly are a curious species.
EXT. HILL - WHEAT FIELD - NIGHT
Caleb and Eunice look around, disorientated.
The three are now standing on a hilltop.
A blue/white glow radiates from above. The gardener is already looking up at the Earth, filling half the sky.
He shakes his head and looks at Caleb, still smiling.
GARDENER
This is marvelous.
CALEB
(beat)
It is?
GARDENER
No individual has ever denounced their kind and still chosen to return to them. And all for the sake of another.
CALEB
(confused)
They haven't?
Eunice pulls her eyes away from the Earth.
EUNICE
I-I don't understand, are we back home?
The gardener smiles, spreading his hands.
GARDENER
None of this is real.
Mars, Jupiter and Saturn rise over the horizons.
Caleb and Eunice look around, completely lost.
CALEB
What is this?
GARDENER
An illusion.
EUNICE
Wait a minute, Belac, Alleiram, the whole council? It was all fake?
The gardener just smiles.
GARDENER
Everything you have experienced since you left your world I have created for you.
EUNICE
Why? Why play all these games?
GARDENER
I needed to assess you. This was the most efficient way.
CALEB
So you were never going to wipe out the human race?
The gardener laughs, looking up at the Earth again.
GARDENER
Oh I was. And exactly how the Council described.
CALEB
But there is no Council?
The gardener looks at them and pauses.
GARDENER
There is no Great Council but there are however countless civilizations across this galaxy.
The light above changes.
Caleb and Eunice see the Earth shrink away, replaced by the entire Milky Way galaxy.
GARDENER (CONT'D)
There are so many that the heart aches when knowing all end in Final Stagnation.
EUNICE
(stunned)
All of them?
The gardener looks at her and nods, sadly.
GARDENER
(beat)
I am what remains here of the First Ones, the only species that has ever achieved unification of any kind.
Caleb and Eunice look up again as we push into the galaxy, passing system after system.
GARDENER (O.S)
For a long time the First Ones searched for others like them but none were ever found.
We see stars exploding, their matter reforming to create new suns.
GARDENER (O.S)
Even after the second and third generation all that was discovered was the most basic of life.
We reach the center of the galaxy.
GARDENER (O.S)
Finally the day came when the First Ones exhausted their knowledge of this place and chose to move on.
We dive into the center of the Milky Way, disappearing into a super black hole.
The gardener smiles to himself.
GARDENER (CONT'D)
I however believed a civilization such as ours would arise again, and so remained to tend this great garden.