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
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.