42Final Draft, Inc. Final Draft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n Original Screenplay by Alex Soh SCREEN BLACK. FaDE IN: Int. henrys bedroom - DAY (dream) In the mirror, the naked reflection of old HENRY, like in a classy nude painting. He coughs, and clears his throat. He talks slowly. Theres no hurry. Henry (V.O.) Its always the same old dream. In the dream, Age has finally caught up with me. I dont just...look old. I feel old. And Im really old.... CU on skin. Henry (v.O.) My skin is old, like the peeling, spotted bark of an old, perennial tree thats been too long under the sun... CU on eyes. Henry (V.O.) My eyes are old; they have almost turned a deathly white... (beat) Ive seen too much... CU on ear. Henry (V.O.) My ears cant hear very well... CU on lips. Henry (V.O.) My lips are white, like dried, crumpled paper... CU on teeth. Henry (v.O.) My teeth have all turned yellow... CU on arms, chest, legs... Henry (V.O.) My muscles have sagged... DISSOLVE TO: Int. Henrys bedroom -niGHT (2089) CU on Henrys real 30-ish face in the same mirror. Henry (v.O.) But, even in my dreams, somehow I know, when I wake, I will still inhabit this same old 30-year-old body. (beat) I know I cannot grow old. And I know things will continue to stay in this status quo, of quiet solitude, until the day when time runs out. If not for the visit... Ext. Singapore skylight - day (2089) A dark and gloomy skyline. The air is suffused with grainy, poisonous-looking, greenish ashes. The anemic sun peers out from dark purplish clouds. Its a post-apocalyptic scene of human desolation. Henry (V.O.) The visit came in the year 2089, nearly 40 years after the big catastrophe of 2052, after which the world was plunged into a true Age of Darkness, and infra-structure that maintained our civilization in a certain tenuous order for centuries was destroyed. (beat) Were still recovering. INT. HenryS LIVING ROOM -night (2089) The TV is showing a Japanese commercial. INSERT TV Commercial: A half-breed Japanese mans face. CU showing his eyes under a TV remote helmet visor, a new invention of the Nikon Corporation. The right, brown eye dilates once. The channel changes on his ultra-modern TV, to a loud game music video. His left, blue eye dilates once. The volume of his TV goes down... 000200000A9B00000907A95,We slowly zoom out from the TV, to see an old, decrepit living room. The living room is almost completely inundated with plants and creepers of various varieties, growing wildly on the ceilings and walls, around the furnitures, creeping on the floor. Its a jungle apartment. Other than the plants, the flat is filled from wall to wall with dated, old-fashioned contraptions from the early part of the 21st century. CD, Video, DVD players, TV, Radio, hi-fi systems, Microwaves, Ovens, Stoves, Washing Machines, etc. There are a few self-portraits on the walls. Even though all seems chaotic, there exists a certain sense of order, like the display in a small museum. There are no windows to the flat. INT. henrys LIVING ROOM -continuous (2089) HENRY walks from the kitchen into the living room. Hes in his 30s, plain-looking, though his eyes have a sparkle of profound intelligence way beyond his age. He carries a tray bearing a bowl of old-fashioned noodle, a pair of chopsticks, and a glass of wine. He sits down on the sofa, in front of the old-looking TV. The commercial of the new TV remote helmet visor is just ending, with the tagline: The Nikon Corporation. We bring you closer to the machines. Why not? Henry shakes his head and smiles drily. Henry (V.O.) Another silly invention from the Japanese. They dont make the world better, just lazier. INSERT: Countdown to News on TV. Henry picks up his old remote-control and turns up the volume. A corporate-government sponsored, ultra-modern News program is starting. The background is the dark Singapore skyline. At the bottom right-hand corner, the numerics: 20:00, 21-5-2089. Tv Newsreader (deadpans) Good evening. Nothing big happened in the world today. And if you missed yesterdays news, well, nothing big happened in the world yesterday either. (banters drily) Looks like well get to live for another day. This is the evening news, where we tell the truth like no other, and Im Galen Jan... Henry takes a deep suck of the noodle soup. A stylish line draws across the lower part of the TV screen, flickering with the message: Incoming Call. A voice comes on. Tv Sue-Ann-one Mr Tan? Are you in, Mr Tan? Henry fumbles and speaks in a deep-throated, old man voice. Henry Yes... Tv Sue-Ann-one Your visualizer is not turned on. This is Miss Lee from the Housing Development Corporation. Just a reminder of our meeting in two hours time. Henry Yes...yes, I know. Tv Sue-Ann-one See you later. The incoming call cuts off. The news volume automatically returns to its previous level. Henry sighs with relief, and sucks up his noodle soup. TV shows a mutated creature: a Tasmanian-Devil-like critter with real pointed horns and jagged tail. 00020000069B0000139C695,INT. henrys BEDROOM - later (2089) Henry stares at his reflection in the mirror. He starts to apply make-up on his face, slowly. Theres a faded picture of an old man who looks like him hanging above the mirror. Henry makes reference to it intermittently as his hands work his face. Slow Montage: He applies foundation to his face, darkens his chins, adds bags under his eyes, yellows his white teeth, adds grey to his dark hair, adding moles and spots here and there, etc. Henry is slowly transforming into the old man we saw in the opening scene. INT. henrys LIVING ROOM - LATER (2089) Henry emerges from the bedroom, his face looking every bit like a dishevelled old man; except under the undershirt his is still a middle-aged body with youthful, pale skin. He looks kind of scrawny - obesity is a thing of the past. He pulls on a long-sleeved, old-fashioned shirt. He stands in front of the large mirror, and sashays up and down to ensure his walk, and his every move, mimics that of an old mans. He checks his full profile left and right, and sprays something into his mouth. Now he speaks in an old throaty voice. Henry (throaty) Hi, Im Mr Tan. Welcome to my flat. The doorbell rings. INT. henrys LIVING ROOM - LATER (2089) Sue-Ann-one arrives in her synthetic suit, carrying an oxygen mask in her left hand, a big bag on her right. Henry shows her into the flat, shakes her hand. Henry (throaty) Hi, Im Mr Tan. Welcome to my flat. Sue-Ann-one is about 40, a cheerful, no-nonsense, ultra-modern, civil-servant type who surrounds herself with all the latest, fashionable gadgets, mostly wearable on her big-boned body or contained in her big bag. She looks around the flat. 0002000009EA00001A319E4,Henry (v.O.) Sue-Ann must be the first human to step into my flat since... A long pause as Sue-Ann1 continues to look around the flat protractedly. Henry (V.O.) (sighs) Im sorry, it takes some effort to remember. Another long pause. Everything seems to freeze. Henry (V.O.) (resolutely) I cant remember now. Im sorry. (beat) I dont have an aversion to visitors. Its the secret of my real age which Im trying to hide that makes me resolved to be alone in my own flat. Sue-Ann-one This is fascinating. Are you an antique collector, Mr Tan? Henry shakes his head, and smiles. Henry (banters) Im an antique myself. Sue-Ann-one laughs. She continues to be amused, and exclaims at everything she sees: the arcane DVD and CD collections, books, the early contraptions of this century, the abundance of plants and creepers in the flat. She holds up a CD. Sue-Ann-ONE Is this a compact disc? It plays music, right? Ive seen them at my grandfathers house, when I was young. Her fascination and enthusiasm spreads to Henry. Hes becoming more energetic and articulate. Henry That ones a DVD. It plays moving pictures, movies. I pay premium for them these days. Most of the time, second hand. Sue-Ann-one (muses) Theres a high price to pay for living in the past. She stop and flips through Henrys vinyl collection. Sue-Ann-one (exclaims) And whats this? Henry Vinyls. One of the earliest music recording formats. Sue-Ann-one Really? Henry Let me show you. Henry takes out a vinyl and puts it on the record player. The record starts to play Ella Fitzgeralds Stormy Weather, all with spics and specks. Sue-Ann-one (widens her gaze) Is this music? INT. henrys LIVING ROOM - LATER (2089) SUE-ANN-TWO looks slightly different from Sue-Ann-one. Although in Henrys recollection they are the same person with the same bubbly personality, he can no longer recall the exact look of the person. Sue-Ann-two sits on the sofa, sipping from a cup of coffee, and still glancing at the interior of the apartment. Shes getting into the groove of the ancient music. Sue-Ann-two I feel Ive walked into a history museum of antiques. (beat) You live here all by yourself? Henry nods. Sue-Ann-two You never married? No children? (beat) Dont you get lonely? Henry I get used to it. Sue-Ann-two abruptly puts down her cup and becomes businesslike. She brings out her tiny palm contraption from her bag, and presses some keys. Sue-Ann-two OK, lets talk business. Just to let you know, as a routine formality, Ill be recording this conversation. 0002000007DC000024157D6,(clears her throat) Mr Henry Tan Hong Chee, of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 249, unit #05-4120, the 99-year lease of your flat, which you signed in 1998 with the HDB, which is now known as the HDC, is up in six months time. The exact date of expiry is 20th November, 2089, and you are required to vacate from the flat at least one day before the expiry date. (beat) Basically, Im a soft consultant assigned to help the occupants relocate and to handle any psychological setbacks that you might suffer as a result of the relocation. (grimaces) Sorry, can I have a glass of water? No offence, but this is a strange-tasting coffee. Henry You must be used to artificially processed coffee. This is the real stuff. Sue-Ann-two And you paid premium for it, Im sure. Henry (V.O.) I remember this episode vividly, because it seals my fate. The end of the 99-year-lease is always hovering in the back of my mind. The visit makes it official. Henry smiles, walks to the kitchen and fetches two glasses of tap water. CU on the glasses filling up with the clear tap water. When he returns to the living room (continuous shot), Sue-Ann-two has transformed back to Sue-Ann-one. Henry hands the glass to Sue-Ann-one. She drinks from it. Sue-Ann-one Have you found a new place to relocate? Henry I have two private apartments under my name, and one more in Southern Australia... Sue-Ann-one reads her gadget. Sue-Ann-one Yes. Theyre your basic sources of income right now. Henry Ill probably move into one of them. Not the one in Southern Australia. I keep hearing rumors of cannibalism, from my tenant. (smiles) Who knows, hes probably one himself. Sue-Ann-one Im not surprised. They never did recover from the catastrophe, did they? (beat) Any sad thoughts about leaving this flat? Henry Not really. Its about time. I feel Ive stayed here all my life... Sue-Ann-one (checks screen) Well, you bought this flat under the old singles scheme, when you were 35. For a man whos lived 126 years, you still look quite healthy. 000200000F3400002BEBF2E,Henry (smiles wryly) Youth Juice. Sue-Ann-one My great grandfathers on the juice too. Hes about your age, but he doesnt look as...natural as you. (beat) This is him. Sue-Ann-one shows a hologram of a very strange looking man - obviously very old, but the skin looks oddly smooth and spotless, like a veneer of white paint has been splashed on him. He looks like a man with a toupee and cheap and unnatural make-up, trying too hard to hide his real age. Henry (V.O.) The ones who are on Youth Juice look...weird. They look artificial. I never touch those things; not that I need them. (beat) I have my own juice. Henry drinks from his own glass of water. He looks at the water. Int. Henrys BedROOM -later (2089) Sitting in front of the mirror, Henry stares intently at his own old reflection. Henry (v.O.) Theres always that initial tense moments of panic, like right now... when I look at myself in the mirror and actually believe that I am old. (beat) That the magic of youth has finally run out. With a tiny spray, Henry slowly removes the layers of make-up from the left half of his face. Henry (V.O.) What does one do when hes discovered the fountain of youth, and knows he has all the time in the world to slowly nibble on this big pie called Life? (beat) And yet, at the same time, he cannot truly enjoy his longevity in the open, and has to keep it a secret for eternity? Henrys face is half old, half young. He looks satisfyingly at himself. Henry (v.O.) 126 years old. All natural ingredients. (beat) Even modern science cant achieve this creation so immaculately. Fade TO BLACK. Fade in: Ext. Deep space - nIGHT (2089) C/G: In deep space, near the planet Saturn, a tiny eye-like crack opens up in the dark vacuum of space. White light escapes from within the crack. Henry (V.O.) Right about this time, a crack has opened up somewhere deep in space, near the planet Saturn. It is the start of the Second Coming... INT. HENRYS STUDY - NIGHT (2089) Henry sits and reads. Hes reading Alice in Wonderland. The study is filled from wall to wall with bookshelves, containing thousands of books. It resembles a mini-library. Henry (V.O.) You want to know how I spend my days and my nights in this flat? (beat) Most of the time, I catch up on my reading... Henry (v.O.) Six hundred years of writings to choose from... (beat) ...actually, five hundred years. Nothing good came out from this last century. Mostly rubbish. (beat) Still, thank goodness, enough good stories have been created to keep my mind busy... Quick scan of the classic titles by Umberto Eco, Foccault, Henry James, Salman Rusdie, Sartre, Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Camus, Calvino, Mishima, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, etc. Henry (V.O.) And some - I would say most of these titles, are worth more than a visit. They talk about the human condition, and the human spirit, in ways that are most succinctly interpretable to an outsider who wants to understand our species. (beat) Every re-reading brings upon a new insight. Int. Henrys study -nIGHT (2089) He opens up the CD cupboards, to reveal thousands of music CDs. Henry (V.O.) I spend a lot of my time listening to music, something Id love since I was young. He picks a CD out, and puts it on the player. Bachs Goldberg Variations. Henry (v.O.) Six hundred years of music. My apology. Five hundred. Quick scan of titles by Mozart, Janacek, Bach, Schubert, Beethoven, Britten, Philip Glass - entire box sets....Elton John, Lou Reed, The Beatles, Abba, R.E.M., etc. Henry (V.O.) For the last hundred years, the composers have been drawing from the same dried-up well of music. Its all recycled music. (beat) I cant say I know what new music sounds like. And seriously, I cant be bothered. (beat) I gave up on all forms of modernity 60 years back, in the 2020s, when every new song, every new book, every new film was a remake of an earlier version... 000200000DBA00003B19DB4,Int. HENRYS LiVING ROOM -night (2089) Henry opens a big cupboard to reveal thousands of DVDs. Henry (V.O.) I watch lots of old films. Two centuries of films. (beat) One century, actually. Quick Scan of classic titles: The Seventh Seal, The Grapes of Wrath, Ju-Dou, Three colors Blue White Red, Jaws, Star Wars Trilogy, etc. Henry picks a movie and watches it on his old DVD player. HeNRY (V.O.) Books, CDs, DVDs, vinyls, all collected in their old formats from the early part of this century, at the peak of my spending power, and when film, literature, music, visual art were still evolving. They were interesting art forms. (beat) Even with all the new, improved, superior formats to replace the old ones, I cant bear to throw them away. (beat) If nothing else, they are all sentimental links to my past. Quick Montage: We pan around the shelves of books, CDs, DVDs, vinyls, posters, etc. Henry (v.O.) And sometimes, when I want to feel important, when I need to eclipse this recurring feeling of eternal insignificance, I look at the library and it makes me feel like Im a guardian of history, however small this slice of history Im guarding over. (beat) The different aspects of human civilizations, all through the ages, captured in books and music, and films and prints. Its all in this flat. Ext. Deep space -nigHT (2089) C/G: Small asteroids start to float out from the crack in space. Saturn has since oscillated further away. Henry (V.O.) Of course, in retrospect, and in the new perspectives of things, its all slowly becoming true, isnt it? That Im the last guardian of human history? The asteroids float towards the sun. Henry (V.O.) In the meantime, the wheels of destruction have been set in motion... Int. henrys LivING ROOM -morning (2089) Henry breaks a raw pink-colored egg into the steaming noodle soup and stirs the soup even with the chopsticks. He takes a deep suck of the noodle soup, and switches channel on the TV. A strange program comes on - some sort of ultra-modern poetry reading with gothic background music: a woman is carrying a candle and wandering through the darkness. Tv WOMAN ...Oh Mother...nothing out here to see but darkness. I cant see myself. Is this what youve always imagined this world would become one day, the End of the World? (beat) Im waiting...waiting for something to happen, like waiting for the last crack in the wall to bring down the whole ceiling... (beat) You will say this is the revenge of nature. Weve abused it for far too long, without realizing it. Weve been blind. Were now blinded, and its getting so hard to breathe... (beat) ...Oh Mother...I dont need my eyes. I dont need my eyes. The TV woman takes out a dagger and begins poking out her own eyes. Its all rather bloody. Henry quickly picks up the remote to switch channels. FADE TO BLACK. Fade in: Int. HENRYS LiVING ROOM -night (2089) Henrys head rests on the edge of the sofa. His eyes are closed. Henry (V.O.) Were back on the same topic? I think weve moved on. I see the asteroids coming... A bit of silence. Henry (V.O.) OK...lets see...what else do I do in the flat... Montage: Henry surfs the Ultranet (modern internet) on the TV, checking on news sites and looking at interesting and exotic travel pictures, articles and opinions on the dying planet, religion, politics, economy; even pornography. Henry (v.O.) A century of the world wide web. The Ultranet, a human junk-yard of mostly useless, superfluous information that nobody really needs anymore. 00020000074F000048CD749,Montage: Still on the net, Henry checks on his various investments, long term stocks and bonds, bank statements, the monthly remittances of his tenants. Judging by the figures, Henry is quite wealthy, really. Henry (V.O.) And of course, the reality aspects of my life. You cant be sustained forever by Youth Juice. You need money. (beat) You need to plan for old age. Cant be an ageless hobo. Int. HENRYS Exercise room - LATER (2089) Henry exercises lightly on the treadmill machine. Henry (V.O.) I dont just sit around all day long... (beat) ...that would be detrimental to my health. Even though I cannot grow old, I believe I can still be fat and ugly. Henry does some yoga and light stretchings. Int. HENRYS Study -laTER (2089) Henry stands in front of an easel and does a portrait of his own reflection in the mirror. Henry (v.O.) Sometimes, when Im really bored, I paint... Montage of Henry painting: he paints himself fat and ugly/old/as a woman/a Buddha, etc. Int. Henrys study -lATER (2089) Henry recites sentences into the wordprocessor. Henry (V.O.) ...I write...although theres nothing much to write when everyday happens to be the same day, consisting of the same old routine. (beat) This must all sound very boring to you. Can we move on? We should move on. A beat of silence. FADE TO BLACK. Fade in: Int. henrys bedroom -nIGHT (2089) Henry lies in bed. Henry (V.O.) ...and of course, I sleep. (beat) This is the part where I sometimes dream that Im old... Int. wake -nIGHT (fantasy) Henry is old and lying in an open casket. Int. Henrys bedroom - mornING (2089) Henry wakes up in the dark room. He turns on the bedside lamp. He picks up the glass on the bedside table, and gulps down a mouthful of water. Henry (V.O.) Were no longer dictated by the time of nature, awakened by the morning sunlight and lulled into sleep by the moonlight. 00020000096E00005016968,Henry gets up and staggers into the bathroom. Henry (V.O.) Rather, it is our own biological clock now that tells us when its time to sleep, and when its time to wake. Henry begins brushing his teeth. Ext. Singapore sky - DAY (2089) A glimmer of sunlight trying to peer out from the purplish clouds. But before it can shine through, another dark purplish clouds float along and blocks it. A scene of sad desolation. Int. henrys bedROOM -DAY (2089) Henry stares intently at his 30-something reflection in the mirror. Henry (V.O.) Naturally, I spend fair amounts of time staring at my own reflection, watching out for the first sign of aging... He pulls a long face to check the lines on his forehead. He checks for gray hair. He checks for receding gums. He checks for double chin. Fade TO BLACK. Fade IN: Ext. Singapore sky -day (1998) Bright sunlight beating down on trees and pedestrians and concrete everywhere. The climate is hot and humid. A sharp contrast from the present-day of 2089. Henry (V.O.) Its the year 1998. Today will be the first time I set my eyes on the flat. Ext. Henrys flat -day (1998) Establishing shot of Henrys flat, circa 1998, when it still belongs to the Lee Family. A Honda drives up to the parking lot. Henry and the housing agent, ANNIE-ONE, step out of the car, and walk towards the flat. Their eyes glint under the bright flood of sunlight. Annie-one is carrying a stack of documents. Int. lee familys living room - day (1998) Henry and Annie-one enter the flat, greeted by Mr & Mrs LEE, a young and tense-looking couple, and their young looking 7-year-old son, JOSEPH. The flat is very simply decorated, a far cry from Henrys jungle in 2089. Annie-one Hi, Mr and Mrs Lee, this is Mr Tan. Hes interested to look at your flat. Mr lee Yes, welcome, welcome. (to Joseph) Joseph, turn off the TV. Go to your room and read. Joseph is watching the DVD 2046. When he leaves the living room, he carries with him a Salman Rushdie novel. Henry (surprised) Your son is quite well read... Joseph looks back and smiles at Henry. Henry smiles back. Mr LEE (covers up) Oh, its nothing...since young hes always liked to read... Henry How old is he? Mr LEE Sevente... Mrs lee He turns seven this year. Annie-one shows Henry around the flat. Annie-one (to Henry) The Lee family is the first owner of this flat. Theyve been staying here since the flat first went on the market... 0002000008AA0000597E8A4,MR LEE ...about ten years ago. In 1989...or 1990. Annie-one (to Henry) So youre looking at this flat on the 10th year of its 99-year lease... MRs LEE (tensely) We moved in when Joseph was only...Oh God, I mean, before Joseph was born. We wanted a bigger place than the one we had. Mr and Mrs Lee stare at each other tensely. Mrs lee (smiles) And now Im expecting another child. We need an even bigger space. Mr lee (laughs nervously) Yes, were doing the most Singaporean thing. Upgrading! Henry looks closely at the wedding photo on the wall. The couple in the photo looks exactly like the couple now: theyve not aged a single bit. Henry looks casually at the other framed pictures of the family. Henry (V.O.) The family of three have not aged a bit since they moved into the flat, ten years ago. Annie-one This is a 3-NG flat. NG stands for New Generation. Its a 3-room flat, but you notice that it is much longer and more spacious than the normal 3-room flat. Its about 800 square feet... Mr lee (nervously) So, Mr Tan, how do you find the flat? You like it? Annie-one (cuts in) Mr Lee, Ill discuss with my client, and Ill get back to you later? (beat) Thanks for showing us around. Mrs lee Do you want a drink before you go? Some water? Int. hdb void deck -daY (1998) ANNIE-TWO and Henry are conversing at the void deck. Annie-two is Henrys confused recollection of Annie-one. They look slightly similar, but distinctly different. Annie-two ...theyre asking for $10,000 above the HDB market valuation of $162,000... Henry (considers) Hmmm...thats quite high. I thought its the Asian financial crisis. Shouldnt the price be even lower? Annie-two Aiya, you heard the mother. Got another child coming, what, and then want to move to a bigger place some more! Henry I like the location. Its near to the MRT, and its high floor...high enough to get away from the noise, and low enough for me to walk up the stairs...I hate taking the lifts... (beat) But...I dont know, I get this strange feeling... Joseph, the young son, suddenly appears around the corner. Henry smiles at him. Instead of speaking in a pre-pubescent high-pitched voice, he speaks in a deep, ominous adult voice, in a hushed tone. 000200000CE900006222CE3,Joseph Its in the water. Henry (puzzled) Whats in the water? Joseph quickly walks away. Henry Hey! (to Annie-two) Did you hear what he said? Annie-two shakes her head. Annie-TWO So, Mr Tan, you want the flat or not? You got to decide fast. If you want we can go up and make a deposit now. You got your check book? Henry looks hesitant. Annie-two softens. Annie-two Maybe we can have a drink while you think it over. (checks her Tag-Heur watch) Or maybe lunch? I know theres a good Teochew porridge place around here. FADE TO BLACK. FaDE IN: INT. HENRYS living room - night (2089) Back to the living room. Henry (V.O.) Food. We all need food. Henry browses through a Cold Storage Grocery Order Machine menu, which depicts in square pictorial form strange-looking assortments of fruits and vegetables, meat, beans, wheat, noodles, cartons of milk and juices, wine. The name of the food and the price are attached to each square. This is modern grocery shopping. Henry scrolls through the menu. Using a laser pointer, Henry highlights some items on the menu. INT. HENRYS LIVING ROOM delivery machine - NIGHT (2089) The Delivery Machine light blinks, to indicate the conduit from outside Henrys door to the inside now contains something. Henry presses a few buttons to reveal the contents, and opens up the Machine. Sealed, air-tight boxes of groceries have arrived. Int. HENRYS Living room delivery machine - night (2089) Montage of Henry opening up the Delivery Machine: new books and holographic magazines...old second-hand DVDs and CDs...an old digital clock...a new compact gym set...old pairs of speakers....household appliances...plants...a Buddha head. Henry (V.O.) Who needs to go out, when everything I need is in the flat? ...Junk mails advertising the latest modern gadgets, clothes, sales, travel destinations. Henry (V.O.) Junk mails. They have never stopped coming for even one day... Henry sighs and tears them up. Int. HENRYS Living room - morning (2089) Henry yawns a big yawn. The corporate-government sponsored News program is starting. Tv Newsreader (deadpans) Good morning. Welcome to the News at Eight. No asteroid showers were detected anywhere near our planet yesterday. (beat) Nothing much else happened in the world either... Henry (V.O.) The world has turned into such a bloody boring place... Int. HENRYS LIVING ROOM -DAY (2089) TV shows the darkened sky. Henry (v.O.) History has come to a standstill. Were all sitting ducks, waiting for the last day to come. (beat) Everyone knew it had to come. Seriously, this kind of existence cant go on forever. FadE TO BLACK. Henry (v.O.) My life is simply too boring. FADE IN: Int. henrys kitchen -DAY (2089) CU of a glass collecting water under the tap. Henry brings the glass of water to his nose and sniffs it, and takes a deep gulp. Henry (v.O.) Now, about the water. My secret Youth Juice. (beat) Is it really something in the water, like what Joseph the son hinted, that has kept me, and the Lee family, from growing old? Ext. Bungalow house -day (imagination) C/G: We see a deserted house in the middle of nowhere. We move into the house, the kitchen, and a hand holding a glass collecting water under the tap. C/G: We move into the tap, through the pipe, follow it underground, to its glowing, magical source... 00020000097400006F0596E,Henry (v.O.) I have my doubts. (beat) If this is a bungalow house, standalone in the middle of nowhere, rooted in the ground and getting its water from a unique, magical source, then maybe I can believe the water has kept my looks youthful. INT. hdb KITCHENs -DAY (iMAGINATION) C/G: From the same glowing, magical source, we move up in the pipes, up to the HDB block, where the same water flows to different households. Henry (v.O.) ...but this is an apartment block. All of us in this flat drink from the same water. The screen breaks into different squares, each square shows a different occupant in a different household, getting a glass of water from the tap, and drinking it. Henry (v.O.) Im probably not the only immortal in my flat. Or, for that matter, in this world... Int. HDB Bedrooms -night (imagination) A montage of different youngish occupants, all making up their faces in front of their mirror in the bedroom to look older. One by one, looking old and behaving old, the occupants prepare to step out of their flat. Henry (v.O.) What are the odds of me being the only one? A beat of silence. Henry (V.O.) Have I ever thought of sharing the secret of my mortality? Sure. Int. MILITARY laboratory -day (IMAGINATION) We see an impaled Henry, strapped to a surgical table, tubes and electrodes running all over, into and out of his body, drawing blood, brain matters, bone marrows, skin samples, hair samples, etc. Henry (v.O.) Ive seen enough B-grade sci-fi movies to know what will happen to me if I should choose to go to the government or the military with my little secret. (beat) Science is always cruel. (resolute) So I leave it to be. The fear of being discovered and of its consequences outweigh the pain of this monotonous, meaningless and selfish existence. Int. Henrys kitchen -night (2089) Henry finishes the glass of water, and stares at the old grandfather clock on the wall, as it ticks away. Henry (v.O.) Growing old and dying is natures most logical gift to mankind. Without the prescience knowledge of death, living has no meaning at all. Int. Lee FAMILYs new LIVING ROOM -day (IMAGINATION) We see the aged Lee Family, in a surreal setting with bright colored background. Henry (v.O.) I imagine once they left behind the blessing, or the curse, of the flat, the Lee family got back on the normal human track of growing old. C/G: Lee family gradually turning older. Henry (V.O.) 00020000058A00007873584,By now, the parents must have passed on. Joseph is about one hundred and eight years old, if hes still alive. We see an aged Joseph, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Int. Henrys living room - night (IMAGINATION) Henry sits on the sofa, and glances around his flat. Henry (v.O.) When the lease of the flat expires, when I move out of the flat in six months time, will I die of a quickening of aging? C/G: Henrys physical aging quickens...from a 30-year-old to a 50-year-old, 70, 90, 100, 120-year-old, until he shrivels up into a horrifying skeleton...his skeletal hand still holds onto the old TV remote... Fade TO BLACK. FaDe IN: EXT. SINGAPORE STREETS -NIGHT (2089) Dark and gloomy streets. Empty and cold. A few vehicles travel here and there. Int. HENRYS LIVING ROOM -night (2089) Henry is preparing his dinner. He checks the contents of the refrigerator. We see the usual assortment of weird-looking food - mutated vegetables and fruits, futuristic-looking containers and nondescript meat, etc. He pours himself 1/4 glass of white wine. Then he puts the glass under the tap and adds some tap water to the wine. A stylish line draws across the lower part of the TV screen, flickering with the message: Incoming Call. Henry picks up the remote and punches a key. On TV, the words: One-way Visualizer. TV shows the face of a woman in her 40s, JOANE-ONE, slowly removing her oxygen mask. 00020000095300007DF794D,Tv Joane-ONE Hi, sorry to disturb you. Is this Mr Tans flat? Henry Yes, but I have everything I need in the flat. Tv JoanE-ONE Im not a salesperson... Henry Goodbye... Henry is about to switch off the visualizer... Tv joane-ONE Im the granddaughter...of Joseph, the...son of the previous owners of this flat... Int. henrys LIVING ROOM -later (2089) Henry has made-up his face to look like an old man. Hes facing JOANE-TWO - his own confused recollection of Joane-one. Joane-two is drinking wine and water. Were starting to realize that Sue-Ann-one, Sue-Ann-two, Annie-one, Annie-two, Joane-one, Joane-two are peculiarly more or less the same woman. (*Casting note!) Henry Sorry to make you wait so long...I was with a guest. Joane-two Its OK. I had two cups of coffee at Starbucks. The artificials are really strong. (affects caffeine-high) Thanks for the wine and water. (glances around) Your flat looks just like my grandfathers. Henry How is he? JoanE-two He just passed away. Two weeks ago. Henry Oh. Im sorry to hear that. JoanE-two Its OK. We werent very close. (glances around) He was also an antique collector. Like you. Henry (laughs) Some of us are simply averse to change. JoanE-two Were you two...close friends? Henry No. Ive only met him once, or twice. A very long time ago. When he was...seven? Joane-two And you still remember! Henry I credit myself for having a good memory. Joane-two That...comes with the water too? A tense moment. Henry (pretends) What water? Joane-two (laughs) Oh, Joseph used to say the water in the flat, this flat, where he lived with his parents for ten years, was his elixir of youth. (beat) But of course no one believed him. Henry (relief) Do I look like someone whos found the elixir of youth? Sure, Im on the Youth Juice, but that only knocks back about 10, 15 years... Joane-two So was Joseph. He told me. He always looked kind of strange, you know, not old, not young. His eyes always looked young, but he dressed up like an old man. (beat) In fact, when I was small I used to be quite scared of him. (gesture) He was rather short, and possessed this strange, low-pitched, squeaky voice. Like he was trying to pretend to be an adult. Henry (pensive) Did you ever meet your great grandparents. Josephs parents? JoaNE-two No. I heard they passed away quite early, when Joseph was about 30. A moment of awkward silence. 000200000BFC00008744BF6,Henry Im sure youre not here just...to reminisce about your grandfather? I mean, since...you just said, youre not very close to him... Joane-two No, no, actually. He left a Will. He wanted you to have this, his...what do you call this... (opens bag) ...his scrapbook? Im just so glad I managed to track you down and, and that.... Henry ...that Im still alive? JoANE-TWO (smiles) I hope you dont mind, but I removed some of the photographs. Theyre kind of precious to me, now that hes gone. She hands the scrapbook to Henry. Henry looks at the nondescript cover. Henry How did he know I was still alive, and still dwelling in this flat? JoanE-two He was sure. It was the last thing he said to me, to hand this book to you, personally. Henry Did you read it? JoanE-two (smiles) Only the first few pages. Im a mother of three, I dont have time to read such crazy historical ramblings of an old man. Henry opens the cover. He flips through it randomly. The scrapbook is full of blank holes that used to hold the photographs. FaDE TO BLACK. Henry (v.O.) Josephs past reminiscences echo mine. At the very least, we went through the same few earth-shattering events. (beat) Its like taking a stroll down memory lane... FadE IN: SCRAPBOOK INSERT: A still photo of the aftermath of an earthquake; followed by a few comparative geographical stills of the original Indonesian islands with the remaining few islands. Henry (v.O.) In 2011, a few major earthquakes and the tsunamis that followed sink most of the Indonesian islands. A few million people disappear overnight from the face of the planet. SCRAPBOOK INSERT: Newspaper Headlines: War between the Chinese. Henry (V.O.) In 2016, war finally breaks out between the mainland China and its renegade state Taiwan. Soon the Japanese get involved, helping the Taiwanese. The Koreans get involved too, siding with the Chinese. The war lasts three whole months with the ultimate death toll of 2,800. INSERT: A still photo of the immediate pandemonium that ensued as the Prime Minister of Singapore was assassinated in cold blood. Henry (V.O.) In 2028, our eleventh Prime Minister is assassinated in cold blood by a deranged man, a psychopath who claims he is affiliated to a Malaysian terrorist group, which later turns out to be untrue when the terrorist group denies any connection. This comes only two years after gun ownership became legal in Singapore. INSERT: A still of two men kissing openly on the street. henry (v.O.) Then, in the early 30s, same-sex marriage is declared legal in Singapore. It is an indirect and welcomed solution to the over-population problems in the island state. FaDE TO BLACK. FADE IN: Int. heNRYS LIVING ROOM -night (2089) Henry yawns, and flips another page of Josephs old scrapbook of scribbled words and drawings, yellowed newspaper cut-outs and photographs. The book is old, all with torn, falling-out pages and faded ink. The pictures string together in a narrative, like in a comic book. As Henry flips the pages, we glimpse the book is littered with lines such as: 000200000F960000933AF90,Water is the true sustenance of life; I dont want to grow old; Give me Life, give me Old Age. Ext. DeEP SPACE -nIGHT (2052) C/G: A slight crack, a black hole exit appears near the planet Saturn. It starts to spit out debris in the form of asteroids. As the crack stretches and widens, the asteroids also increase in width and overall size. Henry (V.O.) And of course, one of the most catastrophic of all events... (beat) On February 29th, in the year 2052, a mysterious black hole exit - thats what the scientists call it, for lack of a better name - suddenly opens up near the orbit of the planet Saturn.... C/G: In a different galaxy, planets collapse and gets sucked into a black hole entrance. Henry (v.O.) Monolithic debris, or asteroids, of several stars and planets that have most likely collapsed into the black hole entrance in another solar system, start to spit out from the Saturn black hole exit in our solar system... C/G: The debris hurtle through space, towards Venus, moon, Earth, Mars, towards the sun. Henry (v.O.) ...a few giant asteroids collide into planet Earth on their trajectory towards the sun, wiping out certain human civilizations... INT. HENRYS LIVING ROOM -NIGHT (2089) A page from Josephs scrapbook shows a graphic drawing of fireballs raining down from the sky, destroying buildings, people screaming. Mass hysteria and pandemonium. Scribbled illegibly across the page: End of the world is upon us. Further drawings of planet Earth in the aftermath. The surface of the planet is covered by a cloud of poisonous gases. Henry (v.O.) For the next forty years, we live in semi-darkness. Smoke and dust blot out the sun; local temperature plunges to under 15 degrees. Some people claim they see snow on the top of tall buildings. But of course, they are merely the ashes of death. (beat) Millions die of poison, cold and starvation. More graphic drawings of people dying of asphyxiation, famine, hyperthermia. Henry (v.O.) But we count ourselves lucky. If this catastrophe had taken place in 1852, or even 1952, the entire human race would have been wiped clean like the dinosaurs. We could not have been prepared to deal with a catastrophe on such a big scale. (beat) The mid-21st century technology has given us an edge to overcome, to crawl out from under the rubbles of mass destruction. To cut our losses and to move on, starting out again, from scratch. A drawing of a nameless city skyline, the survivors starting to band together around the destruction. The big words scribbled across the page: What did not kill us only made us stronger. Henry (V.O.) The only good thing that seems to materialize from the catastrophe is, we all start to work together. Graphic depictions of people from all walks of life, banding together in the re-building process. Henry The Chinese, Americans, Eastern Europeans, the South Asians. We are able to put aside our differences in race, color, religion, ideals, pull our resources together. (beat) Finally, all of us have one common goal. Survival and the propagation of the species. A long pause. Henry (V.O.) Its funny, but I cannot recall exactly what I might be doing on that fateful day. In 2052 I am already 88 years old. I am retired. Int. henrys liVING ROOM - day (2052) Henry sits on his sofa, reads book/watches DVD/flips through magazines/listens to music. Henry (V.O.) Most likely, I am at home, watching DVD, or reading. Or listening to music. What I normally do. He turns on the TV. Tv newsreader ...in light of the horrible catastrophe, the US government welcomes any form of assistance, emergency help, food, medical... Henry (v.O.) Singapore is spared the catastrophe. We only witness the destructions to other nations, on our TV news, in our safe homes. (beat) We have to wait a few more weeks before we start feeling the effects of chilly air and poisonous ashes. Of course, by then, we are quite prepared. FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN: Int. henrys LivinG ROOM -night (2089) 000200000C310000A2CAC2B,On TV, the latest footage of Space, Saturn, small crack opens, light escapes, some small asteroids spew out. Henry stirs awake, the scrapbook on his lap. He throws the scrapbook onto a stack of magazines, and glances around groggily. The TV is still on, half way through the nightly news. Tv NewsreADER ...like a dormant volcano that has slept for forty years and now has suddenly come alive, scientists have discovered that, for the first time since the year 2052, when it first happened, the so-called Saturn black hole exit has opened a new crack. Or rather, the old wound has re-opened. (beat) Today, the official from NASA has issued the following statement... On TV, the spokeswoman: Tv Nasa spokeswoman ...at this point, there is no real cause for alarm. The crack that has opened is very small, about a meter wide, and so far the asteroids have been destroyed by our own Aardvark fleets... INSERT: C/G on TV: A spacecraft with a long snout blasting at the small debris that issue from the crack. INT. henrys KITCHEN -night (2089) Henry pours himself a glass of water. He sips from it, stands for a moment and stares at the framed pictures of his travels on the kitchen wall. Each picture is dated with his own scribbling. INSERT: A picture of him on a ferry, with the Statue of Liberty in the background, dated 3/3/2035. Henry (V.O.) Destroyed in 2052... He searches around. INSERT: A picture of him on a sunny beach in Phuket, dated 18/9/2012. Henry (V.O.) Gone in 20 seconds... INSERT: A picture of him, Pyramids of Giza in the background, dated 7/5/2023. Henry (V.O.) Gone... INSERT: A picture of Henry on an Indian train, surrounded by Indians, dated 26/12/2051, in Kerala, South India. Henrys POV: CU on Henrys face in the picture, then CU on the smiling Indians around him. A poignant moment. Fade TO BLACK. FADE IN: INT. henrys LIVING ROOM - day (2033) The apartment looks slightly less crowded. Less creepers and less plants, and less modern. Henry (v.O.) Year 2033. Im turning 70, and officially retiring from my lifetime job as a bank clerk. The door to the apartment opens. Henry returns with a cat transporter. Henry is awkwardly dressed, with sloppy make-up on his face to make him look like a 70-year-old - just a brush and a stroke of white here and there - nothing as elaborate as what he aspires to become in 2089. He opens up the cage. Henry Kitty! Kitty! The cat stays inside the cage, refusing to come out. Henry sticks his hand into the cage and withdraws his hand immediately, with a fresh scratch on the back of the palm. Blood oozes out from the wound. Henry Ouch! Henry runs to the medicine cabinet, and pours Dettol anti-septic liquid on the wound. Henry Naughty cat! Int. henrys LIVING ROOM -day (2033) Henry is watching TV and drinking water. The scratch on his hand has totally healed, leaving no trace whatsoever. The cat finally crawls out on its own volition. It has green fur that supposedly glow in the dark. Henry holds up the feline. Henry Hi Kitty. I shall name you...Miss Green! He kisses the cat. The cat tries to claw his face. Int. henrys study -DAY (2033) 0002000009930000AEF598D,Green wanders through the apartment, jumps up onto the bookshelf, causing some books to collapse. Henry Bad cat! Bad cat! Int. henrys KitchEN -DAY (2033) Henry feeds Green. He pours a container of tap water for Green. Green laps it up thirstily. Int. henrys bedrooM -nIGHT (2033) Henry sleeps, with Green by his side. Greens green fur glows luminous in the dark. Int. henrys LIVING ROOM -DAY (2036) Green, a bigger and fatter cat. Henry (V.O.) Green never stops growing. INT. HENRYS LIVING ROOM -DAY (2042) Green, even bigger and fatter. Henry (v.O.) Green is 12 years old. Man years. She continues to grow bigger and older. (beat) The water in the flat fails to have the same effect on Green. Int. henrys BEDROOM -day (2045) Henry wakes up, Green stoned by his side. Henry grabs its cold body, and starts to weep. No tears. Henry (V.O.) Its been too long since I last shed tears. Ive forgotten how to do it. Ext. Pet cemetery - day (2045) Henry stands solemnly at the funeral service for Green. Henry (v.O.) One is not supposed to get too emotionally attached to a failed experimental subject. (beat) Maybe cats are not susceptible to the magic. Maybe it only applies to humans. FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN: Int. henrys Living ROOM - DAY (2045) Apartments got the 2045 look - no Delivery Machine yet, and still less plants and creepers than in 2089. (Art Direction, take note). Henry goes through the stack of junk mails: catalogues, flat and rental wanted ads, repairs, sales, flyers, the usual. He tears them up, one by one. He picks out one that reads: INSERT: No one to grow old with? Join the Club! A why-not look on Henrys face. Int. Community center - day (2045) A group of fifteen elderly, including Henry, sit in a circle in the big badminton hall, facing each other awkwardly. Facilitator Welcome to the Senior Citizen Club at the Cheng San Community Center. I know some of you are here for the first time, so you might feel a little awkward and tense. Please relax. Were all your friends. (beat) Perhaps well start with a bit of self-introduction from our newest member. She gestures to Henry. Henry is made up to look like one of the old folks. He smiles awkwardly. Henry Hi, Im Henry Tan. Im 81 years old this year... A montage of: ...icebreaker, where they throw a ball at each other and shout out each others name... ...a Bingo game... Henry (V.O.) Year, 2045. I may be 81... ...some minor stretching exercises... 00020000061B0000B882615,...consultation with doctors... ...consultation with financial planners... The session ends. Henry is bored. He glances around, and sees an old lady...then he sees the old ladys 30-something daughter, EDIE, coming to fetch her aged mother home. Henry (V.O.) ....but my needs are still those of a 30-year-olds... Henry stares at Edie. Int. Henrys LIVING ROOM - night (2045) Old Henry on the visual phone with Edie. Henry Hi, is this Edie Phua? TV EDIE Hi. Who is this? Henry Im Henry Tan. Weve met a few times at the Cheng San CC. Im also with the Senior Citizen club. Like your mother. Tv edie Oh. Yes, Mr Tan, you want to speak with my mother? Henry (hesitant) No, I...I need...can I talk with you? Tv Edie Before we go any further, let me take a wild guess. You want to date my mother? (laughs) Is that it? Henry squirms, lost for words. Tv Edie How did you know theres no Mr Phua? You did an ID check? Henry I.... Tv Edie I guess you did. (sighs) After dad passed on, mom shut herself in the flat all day. I had to drag her out to join the club at the CC. Not good to stay home all day. You go crazy! Henry Actually...I would like to ask you out... Edie is stunned. Henry (looks down) I...know you divorced your hus..ex-husband, I mean, husband, two years ago... Tv Edie What? You did a check on me instead? Henry Look...Im not what I seem to be...Im really younger than I look... (starts to un-peel a bit of make-up) ...Look! Tv Edie Thats what they all say. Men are pigs, theyre all the same. They can never face the reality of growing old. 0002000009360000BE97930,(softens) Not that being old is bad... (beat) Look, Mr Tan, I dont think this is a good idea...not good at all. (beat) Goodbye, and have a good night. She hangs up abruptly. Int. CommuniTY CENTER -dAY (2045) End of session. Participants disperse. Henry smiles at Madam Phua as Edie leads her away. Edie acknowledges stoically. Henry (v.O.) I know, if only I can get her back in my flat alone, then I can show her the real me... Montage of a few more similar occasions. Each time Henry smiles and tries to make his move, but Edie keeps her distance. Int. CommUNITY CENTER -day (2046) Countdown to new year celebration. Wine and smorgasbord. After the countdown, Edie approaches Henry. They shake hands. Henrys pleasantly surprised. Edie Happy new year, Mr Tan. Henry Happy new year to you too. Edie (businesslike) I hope you dont mind me asking, how old are you, Mr Tan? Henry I should be turning 82 this year. Edie hands out her business card. Edie Perhaps you already know, Im a filmmaker and TV producer. Im doing this Television combo-talk-show on old folks, for the old folks, and...Im wondering if you can consider making an appearance on the show... Henry I dont know...I dont think so...Im not a good talker... Edie moves closer in a titillating way. Edie Its only a half day work. Of course, you will be paid handsomely. Int. Tv station make-up room - day (2046) Henry sits and stares at his old reflection in the mirror. The door opens and Edie enters with the Make-up artist, JANE. Edie Thanks for agreeing to do this, Mr Tan. Jane opens up the make-up kit, and is about to start on Henrys face. Henry I have this...natural allergy to make-up. Can I...do without it? Edie takes a close look at Henrys face. Edie Sure. (to make-up artist) Take five, Jane. Jane leaves the room. Edie takes out a small bottle of liquid. Edie Take this. Its a relaxant. You wont feel so tense in front of the camera. Especially good for a first-timer like you. Int. tv multi-cam studio -day (2046) A talk show is underway. In the background, a few sexily-clad, aged women are performing some sort of pilate/aerobics. Simultaneously, Henry is being interviewed by the aged and cheerful host. Host Mr Tan, could you hold up your IC, so the camera can take a close up? CU on IC. Audience applause politely. The audience comprises mainly of old folks. 000200000F240000C7C7F1E,Host Wow! 1964! Please tell us what life was like back in the last century! Henry is uncharacteristically animated. Henry It was good! Life was a lot more simpler, and more fun, compared to what we have now. My family, we used to stay near the beach... DissOLVE TO: Further interview. Henry ...Ive stayed in HDB flats all my life, so I guess Im very much used to it now.... DisSOLVE TO: Further interview. Henry ...twilight romance...why not? If I can find someone who shares the same interest as me, who likes to take long walks on the beach, who loves to eat what I cook, and who enjoys good sex... We move to behind the camera, to see Edie smiling in the background, as the Producer. We now see the multiple cameras - they move on the studio floor automatically, controlled not by humans. Host Youre 82 this year. Can you tell us the secret how you manage to still look so handsome at your age? Henry Its the same old cliche: eat right, sleep well, exercise regularly, keep your brain active by reading a lot. (beat) Oh, and drink lots of water! Audience applause politely. Ext. Esplanade - night (2046) The Esplanade Concert Hall has lost its past lustre, and looks old and decrepit. Henry and Edie take a slow stroll. Edie Thanks so much for agreeing to do the show. Henry Thanks for dinner. Edie As you probably can tell, were really running out of ideas how to attract the major older demographics...especially when they seem to be our only audience base left...Nobody else watches TV these days. A beat of silence. Henry looks up at the dark sky beyond the blinding bright Singapore skyline. Theres so much light around, you can hardly see the stars. Ext. Deep space -night (2089) C/G: Asteroids float out from the crack in space. The planet Saturn has since oscillated back, and is hurtling towards the crack. A few small asteroids crash into Saturn. Ext. EspLANADE -night (2046) Back to Edie and Henry. Edie Im sorry I cut you off the other time. I know, it was a bit abrupt, but I was recovering from my second divorce and I... Henry Dont mention it. A heavy pregnant pause. They resume speaking at the same time, and laugh. Henry You go ahead. Edit I hope youve found the woman in your life. HeNRY I was going to say the same thing too, I mean, of course, for you, its the man in your life... Edie Ive given up on men. (beat) Two divorces, and in between an endless list of losers I had to contend with... (beat) Im beginning to think Im the one with the serious relationship problem... Henry Only beginning? (laughs) Perhaps all the men youve gone out with in the past were either too young or too immature for you. Stop playing around with 30-somethings and 40-somethings. (laughs) You need an older man. A wiser man. Edie looks at him, and smiles. Int. HenryS LIVING ROOM -nIGHT (2046) Henry shows Edie around his flat: his DVD, CD and book collections. Edie (distractedly) You read a lot. You watch a lot of movies too... Henry Thats what I do all the time. I hardly have time to go out. (beat) Ive spent all my life working. Now I want to make good use of the time left... (hesitant) Edie, theres something I need to tell you... Edie (distractedly as she browses through vinyls) What... Henry Remember I mentioned to you once, that Im not as old as I seem? Its true. Edie (looks at Henry) What do you mean? Henry (fumbles) Im not 82 years old...well, yes, technically, in terms of human years and accordingly to my identity, I am 82. But...look, I dont know how to explain this...but...Im really only 30 years old...no, I look 30 years old, but... Edie What in the Popes name are you talking about? Henry I...I wear this disguise...Ive never told anyone this... Edie (piqued) What disguise? Henry starts to slowly pull off a bit of his grey beard. Henry This... Henry peels off the layers of artificial wrinkles under his eyes. 000200000ACA0000D6E5AC4,Henry ...and this... Edie keeps a cool composure. Henry slowly peels off the rest of his make-up. Int. Henrys bedROOM -dAY (2046) Henry stirs awake, and lies in bed, watching Edie. He looks beyond her at the 1/4 glass of water sitting on the bedside table behind her. Edie wakes. Henry Hi there. Edie Good morning. A beat of silence as Edie warms up. She shakes her head, and laughs. Edie I feel Im waking up from a really bizarre nightmare. I had gone to bed with this old man, and when we wake in the morning, hes turned young. A kind of twisted Frog Prince story. Henry laughs. Edie What you told me last night, about the flat...and the water...are they true? Henry I dont know. But look at me, I cant be 82, can I? Edie (smiles) Even with sex stimulants an 82-year-old couldnt have fuck like you! Henry So you believe me. Edie (shrugs) Maybe youre a crimer in disguise, and youre hiding from the law. Why else would a 30-year-old disguise himself as 80? Edie picks up the glass and gulps down the water. Henry You want some more water? Edie (shakes her head) Lets say its true, that the water in this flat is really the elixir of youth. Lets say youre really an 82-year-old stuck in a 30-year-old body. Why didnt you share your secret? Why didnt you go public? I dont understand... Henry Im starting with you. Edie Why me? Because of the nature of my work? Because I can get you on TV? Henry No! Of course not. I dont want any of that! (beat) Because Im not sure if its the flat, or the water, or some weird voodoo shit thats affecting my normal growth..I am my own experiment ...and...I would like you to share this secret, to benefit from the magic of the flat...and... (beat) And most of all, because I think I... Edie You think you love me? A long pause. Henry stares at Edie in silence. Edie breaks the silence with a cynical laugh. Edie Before we get to that part, lets think this through rationally. (beat) What I dont understand is... Henry What do you not understand? Edie What happens if you cut yourself? Henry I bleed. Like any normal person. Edie What if you get hit by a car? Henry I die. Like any normal person. (beat) Where is this going? Only last week I recovered from HIV. I always suffer from mouth ulcer. And like my dad, Im probably diabetic... Edie (deep thought) So this elixir of youth...it simply stops the growth of cells...it doesnt however stop the metabolism...the cells never grow old...but they can die? Henry takes hold of Edies hand. Henry Dont ask me so many questions. Im not an anthropologist or a mortalist. I dont have any answers. Ive learned to accept it at face value. A sort of weird blessing. (beat) All Im asking now is for you to share this secret with me, as simple as that. 000200000A950000E1A9A8F,(smiles) This may sound weirdly romantic, but, if you want, we can live forever. There is a beat of romantic silence, then Edie spoils it... Edie Not forever, dear. Whats going to happen at the end of this 99-year lease? Edie stares at Henry. Henry shrugs his shoulders. Fade TO BLACK. FadE IN: Ext. Deep space -night (2089) C/G: A flurry of asteroids, some crash into the planet Venus, the rest hurtle towards the Sun. Int. HenryS APARTMENT -day (2046) Henry has made lunch for two. He and Edie sit at the sofa, deep in thought. Henry (V.O.) It is an affair that is doomed to failure from the very start. When the reality begins to seep in... Edie Technically, youre twice my age. You probably need to constantly doll up. If not, how do we present ourselves in public? (laughs) Father and daughter? Older brother and younger sister? Or are you my sugar daddy? Henry I can continue with what I am. We dont have to be seen together in public. I can stay home. Edie What...with my mom? Henry Your mom? Edie Yes, who else is going to take care of her? (beat) God, this is sounding so absurd! (beat) Look, the immortal part of the bargain is attractive, but, what happens if it fails to work on me, huh? Then youll have front-row seat to my aging...shriveling away, dying, while you continue to look...like this! Would you like that? Edie starts to put on her office wear, getting ready to leave the flat. Henry stands to the side, watches her go. Henry (v.O.) Perhaps I have shown too much desperation. Women dont like that in a man. It brings out the cruelty...or the pity in them. Either way, the man is seen as a coward. A loser. (beat) The female species is the most complex being that ever walked the planet. They certainly deserve more in depth study than man. Int. HeNRYS LIVING ROOM -nIGHT (2051) Henry tears open an envelope. Inside is a wedding invitation card. Henry (V.O.) In my memory, Edies beautiful and youthful face exists more vividly than most other faces I have known in my life. But I dont remember ever seeing that face again after that night. (long pause) I know her mother dies the next year. Then, in 2052, she re-marries. She invites me to her wedding. Henry tears up the wedding card. Henry (V.O.) 2052 is, of course, the year of the Big Shower, when the meteorites first came down. I imagine Edie and her husband taking their honeymoon in the U.S. when the Shower comes down... Ext. STATEN ISLAND Ferry -night (2052) (imagination) A group of tourists on the ferry to Staten island, watching and cheering at the July 4th fireworks bursting all over and above the Statue of Liberty. A big ball of fire appears in the distant sky. Edie (cheers) Wow! Look at that big one! 000200000AF70000EC38AF1,Edies Husband Ive not seen fireworks like that in my life! C/G: Asteroid crashes and breaks the Statue of Liberty in smithereens, wiping out the whole of New York State. Henry (V.O.) I can be quite vicious if I want to, I know. At least in my imagination. FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN: Int. Henrys apartment - night (2076) Henry prepares his usual noodle soup. He opens the fridge and takes out the milk carton. Before he pours the milk into the glass, he checks for the expiry date. Its expired. He throws away this carton, and opens a new one. The TV phone signals an incoming call. A mans face appears on the screen. Sound fades. Henrys eyes widened in surprise as the man talks. Henry (V.O.) Its 2076. They still have not found a cure for cancer... A long pause. Henry (V.O.) No, wait, I think Im confused here. Sorry. (remembers) Yes, the cure for cancer was discovered in the 2030s, but, like so many other modern technology and discovery, it was somehow lost in the Big Shower of 2052. In so many ways, we had to start from scratch. (beat) Its 2076. We lost the cure for cancer. But at least now theres legalized euthanasia... Int. hospital bed - niGHT (2076) Aged and ugly Edie on the bed, surrounded by her family. She sees old Henry enters, and smiles weakly at him, and signals to her family that she wants to be alone with him. The family clears away to leave, drawing the blinds behind them. Old edie (sardonic) Hi, Henry...so glad you made it. To witness my final moments. Theyre putting me down in two hours. Henry is too distraught to speak. He sits down on the bedside chair. Old edie I wrote you several times. You never kept in touch. You were angry and disappointed, I know. To tell you the truth, I never for one moment believed that you were immortal. (beat) Sometimes, whenever I remembered you, I saw you as just a crazy child who couldnt wait to grow old. That helped me to explain why you dressed yourself up as an old man. (smiles) I was trained in modern journalism. Seeking the logical truth is always in my blood. Perhaps thats whats sucking the life out of me right now... Henry grabs hold of her hand. Old Edie lifts up her other hand, puts it on top of Henrys, and slowly begins to scratch off the layer of artificial wrinkle on Henrys hand, to reveal the young skin beneath. Henry flinches a little. Old edie (smiles) Now Ill have to believe you. Its the last thing Ill believe. But I have no regrets. Ive had a wonderful life. (beat) I hope one day youll understand that, life is beautiful, only because its fleeting. No beauty lasts forever. And nothing forever is beautiful. (beat) I know youre suffering in this existential confusion. But maybe there is a reason for you never to die. (beat) Only you will know, one day. Int. Wake -night (2076) 000200000CAD0000F729CA7,Henry sits at a wake. Henry (V.O.) Edies departure seems to herald the death of many others I know. It is about time, and only logical, that I have to sit and watch the world die around me. Montage of a stoic, appropriately and artificially aged Henry, attending the funereal wakes of old friends and relatives. Henry carries an expression of utter confusion and sadness on his face. Henry (V.O.) Soon, there comes a point when I stop getting invites to funerals and wakes. (beat) Theyre all gone from my life. Every single person I have ever known... Int. Wake -nIGHT (2080) Henry attends the wake of a stranger. He stands at the back. Henry leaves the wake, shaking the hand of the bereaved old wife. Old wife Thank you for coming...Sorry, you are...? Henry A new friend... Henry (v.O.) I have become addicted to funerals. I have to smell the smell of death. If I die, I know, it will have to be a sudden death, a suicide, a lonely death. Because all around me, the familiar things have died. And its hard to die alone. FADE TO BLACK. Henry (v.O.) When you have lived to 126 years, you measure time by the number of deaths surrounding you... FADE IN: Int. henrys BedROOM -nIGHT (2089) Henry makes up his face to look like an old man, referring intermittently to the old man picture above the mirror. Henry (v.o.) In 2089, time is measured by the countdown to the end of this flats 99-year lease. (beat) Countdown to my doomsday. Int. henrys living room -DAY (2089) Henry, looking old, dials the TV phone. A Chinese womans face comes on - BIBI. Shes busy preparing food in her kitchen. Dialogue in Mandarin with English subtitle. TV BIBI Hi, Henry. Henry Sorry to disturb you, Bibi. Tv bibi No problem. Henry Remember I spoke to you some months back... Tv bibI ...yes, yes, about the 99-year lease of your flat running out at the end of this year... Henry In November. But, like I said, if you still want to continue living there, then I dont want to be chasing you out. Its a very comfortable place, right? Tv bibi Yes! I still cant figure out why you chose to live in that tiny HDB flat when you could be staying here, in a condo unit, with all the facilities! And its freehold! You dont have to worry about the government coming to chase you out! Henry (hesitates) Im used to it here. And anyway Im old. I dont need so much living comfort. Tv bibi Actually, Ive discussed with my husband...and we think, if possible, we would like to continue... Henry Sure. No problem. Ill find a place thats up for rental to move in. No worries. Henry turns off the monitor and switches on the internet. He does a search under Flat for rental. He clicks on District: Marine Parade. He picks a particular unit number. We see a 3-D full depiction of the flat - every corner in the flat and outside, the nearby amenities, playgrounds, etc. He clicks on the next one. Halfway through, hes interrupted by a newsflash. TV NEWSREADER We apologize for interrupting your normal programming. The first flurry of asteroids from the Saturn Black Hole Exit arrived two hours ago in our atmosphere, over the Pacific ocean. INSERT: Asteroids crashing into the ocean. Tv Newsreader So far, no injury or destruction has been reported. (beat) 0002000008E4000103D08DE,According to a spokesman at the NASA headquarters in Hokkaido, twenty additional Aardvark spacecrafts have been deployed and sent into space. (beat) Lets pray that this is not a repeat of the mass destruction of the 2050s... Henry clears the screen and operates the remote to dial Sue-Ann, the HDC counsellor. Tv Sue-Ann-two Hi, Mr Tan. What can I do for you? Henry (hesitant) Hi, Sue-Ann...I...have a favor I need to ask of you. Tv Sue-Ann-two Sure. What is it? Henry Is there a chance that I dont have to move out from my flat? Tv Sue-Ann-two (laughs) Thats a very funny question, Mr Tan. You should know my answer. Are you having difficulty finding a new place to move into? (checks her notebook) You still have a month. I can help you... Henry (fumbles) No, its not that. I just...you know, Im old, and...I dont like to move... (beat) And you know, Im sure Ill die in a few years time. I only have so little time left. I would like to stay put...Ive lived all my life in this flat... Tv Sue-Ann-two I understand your difficulty, Mr Tan, youre not the only one, but its impossible. Its a 99-year lease. The government is taking the flat back... A moment of silence. Henrys in deep thought. Henry Whats going to happen to the flat? Tv Sue-Ann-two Let me see.... (checks notebook) Ang Mo Kio Avenue 249, unit #05-4120...its up for demolition. The Nikon Corporation has bought over that piece of land. INT. HENRYS LIVING ROOM -DAY (2089) On TV, a Nikon Corporation commercial, about their new line of computerised robot-like machines. The commercial tagline: The Nikon Corporation. We bring you closer to the machines. Why not? Empty boxes lying around. The flat is in the midst of being cleared out. Henry is browsing through his old family photo albums, some in black and white, some in color; and old diaries, as he slowly packs them into boxes. Henry (V.O.) Im always reluctant to look at my old photographs. I have lived too long, theres too much memory, and I cant remember most of what took place in my life. INSERT: childhood pictures. Henry (V.O.) I have a great childhood. A slight pause. Henry (V.O.) Im sorry, I cant seem to recollect anything between the ages of one and...seven. Im sure youll find the memory vault empty, blank. 000200000D1800010CAED12,Fade TO BLACK. Screen black. Henry (V.O.) What did I tell you? (beat) Whats my earliest childhood memory? (beat) Mother. Beach. My childhood memory is all about mother, and beach. Fade IN: Ext. east coast Beach - DAY (1971) Henry, around 8 years old, taking a stroll on the beach with his MOTHER, picking up seashells, watching the sun set. Henrys mother is humming a familiar song. The scene begins to blur, and fade. FADE to BLACK. Henry (v.O.) Weve gone down this memory path before. Im repeating myself. I cant help it if my mother features everywhere in my memory. FadE IN: Int. Henrys living room -day (2089) F/X: In quick motion, the photo albums are selectively being flipped through and put into boxes (were fast-forwarding through Henrys memory). Henry flips through the diaries. Henry (V.O.) Mom always says to me, its good to keep a diary. It puts your entire life in perspective. (beat) So that when youre, say, 50 years old, you can look back at what you wrote when you were 12, and see what your thoughts were like back then and what went into making you the man you are today. (beat) I keep a diary religiously for the first half - or so I think - the first half of my life. Til Im around 30, 35. Summaries of the days. Summaries of the weeks. INSERT: A diary page scribbling: Same as yesterday. Another page: Same as yesterday. Another page: Nothing today. Same as yesterday. Henry (V.O.) Diaries are to chronicle growth. I have stopped growing. My life has become nothing but a monotony of routines. Every day is the same day, nothing ever changes. (beat) Same as for the photographs. How many pictures can I take, of the same old me, in my same old flat? Henry stacks the diaries into the boxes. Int. HenryS storeROOM -DAY (2089) Henry opens a cupboard in the storeroom to reveal thousands of print copies of Time, Newsweek, Far Eastern Economic Review, The Economist, Science, and other current affairs magazine. Henry (shakes his head) To throw or not to throw, that is the question... Int. henrys LIVING ROOM -day (2089) Henry puts on the same old Ella Fitzgerald 45 vinyl on his turntable: Stormy Weather. He stacks the old records into empty plastic boxes. As he stops intermittently to look at the album covers, we catch glimpses of the old titles: Revolver, Don Giovanni, Hounds of Love, Kid A, etc. Henry (V.O.) How do I even start to describe my feelings right now, in 2089 and only one month to go before I have to vacate from this lifelong sanctuary? (beat) Even if I know everything will return to normal once I move into the new flat? (beat) Apprehension and fear for the unknown, perhaps, because, deep down, I know, my life will undergo certain major changes. (beat) For a start, Ill start to grow old. (beat) Is growing old really so frightening? Henry stares into a distant mirror in his bedroom, at his distorted reflection. Int. Henrys living ro0m -DAY (2089) Henry divides the magazines into two big stacks: Throw and Do not throw. The Do not throw stack is much higher. Henry goes through the magazines one by one. Josephs scrapbook re-surfaces. Henry looks at the cover, at first undecided if he should pick it up. He eventually does, and begins to flip through it quickly. He stops at a page that bears the heading 1st January 1998. Henry reads from a particular passage: 0002000006D6000119C06D0,Henry (reads) ...The first seventeen years of my life must be the most bizarre years.... Int. Josephs bedroom -niGHT (1998) We see a 7-year-old Joseph in bed, thumbing through a porno magazine. Joseph (v.O.) Physically and biologically I never grew beyond my 7-year-old frame. But otherwise I am more mature, like a real 17-year-old. And Ive just discovered sex. Joseph tries to masturbate to the pictures. But he is limited biologically. He groans in frustration, and throws the porno down. Int. leeS living room -day (1998) Joseph and his parents are having breakfast. Joseph (V.O.) We never talk about it. I believe they know about my condition. The same thing is happening to them too. Except, at their age, growth is neither significant, nor is it obvious. (beat) Oh God, am I suffering from some disease that affects the normal functioning of my growth hormones? Int. doctors office -day (1998) Joseph and his parents, Mr and Mrs Lee, nervous and tense, sit facing a doctor. Doctor (reads from report) Well, there seems nothing wrong with Josephs growth hormones. Its like any other normal boys. Mr LEE But, doctor, Joseph has not grown any taller or any bigger in the last five, six years! Doctor shakes his head. Montage of the Lee family at a few other consultations. Same results show that there is nothing wrong with Joseph. Montage of the Lee family at temples, Chinese masters, palmist, etc. Joseph (V.O.) We try everything. Even fortune-tellers, fengshui masters, tang-kis, whatever they can think of. (beat) But no one can figure out what is wrong with me. The consultants all shake their heads. Int. Lees living room -DAY (1998) The family is watching a cartoon together. Joseph is bored, reads his Salman Rushdie book. 000200000F0800012090F02,Mrs lee Joseph, we really have no idea what is happening to you. Joseph I told you. Its in the water. Mr lee Stop it! Stop with this water shit! Its totally ridiculous! Everyone shuts up. They watch the cartoon. Mr lee Weve tried everything. Theres just one thing left to do. They exchange glances. Mrs lee (emotional) We think, maybe its the environment. You know, youre here coup up in a small HDB flat like this...youre not allowed to grow...physically... Joseph That sounds, like, so lame. Mrs lee (teary) We know... Mr lee (sighs) We decide we should sell the flat and move back to your moms familys place in Ipoh. Theres more nature and open space. Maybe itll be good for you. Joseph Maybe. (beat) Can we watch something, like, more mature? Mrs Lee switches DVD to the movie 2046. The futuristic kissing scene. The phone rings. Mr Lee picks it up. Mr lee Hello? (beat) Oh, hi, Miss Annie! (beat) Sure, sure, bring him up. Were all at home. Mr and Mrs Lee exchange glances. FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN: Int. lees Living room -DAY (1998) The Lee family are moving their things out of the flat, with the help of the movers. Henry is with his designer, the latter taking measurements and scribbling in her little notebook. Int. henrys LivinG ROOM -night (2089) The TV screen is showing the bloody boxing scene in Martin Scorceses Raging Bull, where a bloody Robert De Niro is defending himself. Henry turns it off, and unplugs the DVD player one last time. Int. henrys LIVING ROOM -day (2089) Henry is supervising the two movers who are controlling trolley machines that carry the boxes and furniture. Henry is artificially old, and behaves like one. Henry Be careful with the vinyls. Make sure the machines dont break them! Theyre antiques and priceless! You cant find them anywhere! Mover (to other mover) Grouchy old man, this one. Henry Hey, my hearing is not gone yet. Int. lees LIVING ROOM/henrys living room -dAY (1998/2089) Time Lapse: The flats slowly empty out. Int. henrys Living rooM -night (2089) Henry walks through the emptied flat one last time, from room to room. Henry (v.O.) I always imagine the only way I will leave the flat is for them to carry my body out on a stretcher, or carry me out kicking and screaming. (beat) But now Im ready to go, calm as a purring cat. Henry turns on the tap in the kitchen, and drinks the collected water in his cupped hands. Henry (V.O.) The water...Well, I guess I wont have to worry about it for a while... Int. HenryS new APARTMENT -night (2089) Henry opens up a few of the boxes that have just moved in. They contain re-bottled water. A montage of the movers putting furniture, personal items and plants in place, supervised by Henry whos referring religiously to a floor plan of the old apartment and the old furniture setting. With everything in place, the new apartments setting looks exactly like the old one. Henry (v.O.) I cant take too much changes at one go. Int. henrys new BedroOM -nIGHT (2089) Henry lies in bed and reads from Josephs scrapbook. He turns to a page with a sketch of a house on the prairie. Ext. Josephs new house -DAY (2000) Joseph and his family enjoying the wide open spaces. Its a rather big but run-down house in a kampong setting, and theres a small backyard that opens into an open field. Children are running about with their pet dogs, flying kites, playing Catch. Joseph (v.o.) We move into a nice big house on the outskirts of Ipoh town. It is a refreshing change of environment. I love the open spaces of the kampong, and the people. (beat) Lets hope this will help me grow. Int. henrys LIVING ROOM -DAY (2090) Live telecast of a New Years Eve celebration on TV in a big enclosed hall. Henry sits alone and sips from a glass of wine. He switches channel. On TV, a heinous-looking woman is talking about fashion. 0002000007B500012F927AF,Tv woman ....for the new year, were definitely heading back to the 2060s, with emphasis on eclectic color and a flair for kinky post-disaster frills... INSERT: relevant fashion designs... Tv woman ...like anti-UV hats, designer oxygen masks with polka-dotted, sidewinder tanks, studded high-heel shoes, fanciful leather handbags... (beat) With the Y3K just ten years away, people are looking out for the next big wave of fashion, the next fashion revolution. Here on Fashion Today well show you how to... Henry switches back to the New Year celebration. Henry (v.O.) You dont have to live 126 years to comprehend the futility of fashion. What goes around comes around. Its a silly recycling business. Henry continues to flip through Josephs scrapbook. He stops at a page with the heading 4th May 2009. Int. JOSEPHS NEW HOUSE -day (2009) A small tent has been set up outside Josephs house. A wake is underway. Joseph (V.O.) Ten years after moving out from the flat in Singapore, both my parents pass on, one after the other, within a month from each other... (beat) ...without any explanation... A crowd gather to pay their last respect. Int. HenryS new BEDROOM -NIGHT (2090) Henry is reading the scrapbook in bed. He looks alarmed. He is now engrossed in the scrapbook. Henry (V.O.) Ten years...so I have ten years...? He takes a sip of the bottled water. He looks at the crystal clear water momentarily, and flips a page. Int. Henrys old flat -night (2009) Joseph lingers outside Henrys old HDB flat. Joseph is (in Henrys visualization) about 20 years old, and looks it. Joseph (V.O.) I return to the flat. I have to find out if my parents deaths had anything to do with the missing water from the flat. He hesitates to knock on the door. He lingers a bit, then walks away. Ext. Henrys old flat downstairs - day (2009) Josephs POV: Henry takes a stroll downstairs with Green, the cat. Henry looks 30-ish, even though in 2009 he should be around 45. 000200000A3600013741A30,Joseph stalks him. Its hard to ascertain from afar Henrys real age. Joseph (V.O.) Some say a Chinese stops aging between the ages of 35 to 45. Things only begin to speed up when youre after 45. (beat) Should I come back in a few years time to check if the occupant has aged? (beat) What if he moved out? Ext. streets - day (2010) A montage of Joseph following Henry around: A. Henry at the bus stop... B. ...at the chicken rice stall C. ...at a pub drinking with friends D. ....at a gym E. ....at a bookshop. (Note: Here is a chance to reveal Henrys past life before he became anti-social and hermetic in his flat. Even though he looks physically the same, his disposition is more cheerful, more sociable.) Joseph (v.O.) Every conscientious man seeks a sense of purpose in life. Trying to unravel this mystery becomes mine. Int. Henrys old flat - day (2010) Josephs POV: We see Henry preparing dinner in the kitchen. The TV is on. A woman stands up from the sofa and walks to join Henry in the kitchen. We zoom out from Henrys flat. Joseph is standing near the window, in the dark interior of the opposite flat. Hes using a pair of binoculars to look into Henrys flat. Int. Henrys new bedroom - day (2090) Henry raises his eyebrows in surprise, as he anxiously flips a page of the scrapbook... Henry Shit. His fingers move quickly through the page as he reads quickly.... Henry ...the man is a sex machine he brings women into the flat every other night.... (smiles, skips) ...I find out that hes working as a bank clerk at Citibank.... (skips) ...I think hes gone for a long break... (skips) ...he must have got a raise, hes renovating his flat... Henry flips a few more pages... Int. opposite flat -day (2014) Henry stops flipping. Henry (v.O.) ...Four Years... Joseph clears up his things in the flat. Joseph (V.O.) ...Four years, that was how long the observation lasted. 2010 to 2014. (beat) Then I wake up one morning, and I ask myself, why do I waste my time with this pointless endeavor? Where is it going to lead me? So what if I find out, or not find out, about the secret? I may only have this one life to live! Ext. St. andrews church - day (2016) Establishing shot. (can be used to contrast the St. Andrews church, circa 2089) Int. ST. ANDREWS Church -DAY (2016) A matured Joseph marries Rachel in a simple church wedding. Joseph (V.O.) One day, I meet a girl called Rachel... Sounds of scrapbook pages flipping... Joseph (V.O.) ...yesterday, we got married at the St. Andrews Church. (beat) I think Im normal now. All you need is love, to turn you into a normal human being. 000200000D4500014171D3F,EXT. josephs new house -night (2017) Joseph and Rachel lie on the grass, staring up at the dark universe. A shooting star cuts across the sky. INSERT: Scrapbook picture of the shooting sky. Rachel (exclaims) Look! A shooting star! JoSEPH (v.O.) It feels blissful to be normal. (beat) We decide it is better for our children to grow up in Ipoh than in Singapore. The country has gone mad with progress. Sometimes you wonder if its the humans or the machines that are running the show. (beat) We are now living in the same house that my parents bought. I am a teacher. Rachel works as a social worker at the Salvation Army. Its a good, simple life. Int. henrys new LIVING ROOM - night (2090) Henry flips a few pages, to land on a page with a picture of twin newborns. Its one of the few remaining pictures in the scrapbook. Henry ...Today, Rachael brought into this world a pair of twins... Int. JOSEPHS NEW HOUSE -daY (2020) A scribbled family portrait of Joseph in his 40s, with his wife and the two newborns. JoSEPH (v.O.) Suddenly, the past returns to haunt me. I become worried again. I start to imagine that the curse is going to be transferred and manifested through my own children, and they are not going to grow old ever. Just like their father. (beat) That is a horrible, horrible thought. It haunts me day and night.... Sounds of pages flipping. ON VIDEO: The two newborns. Joseph (V.O.) I monitor them so closely, like no parents ever do. Every bit of their growth seems to me like a miracle. Every strand of hair. Every single milk tooth. The tiny finger nails. (beat) Every single little detail is a celebration of life. Sounds of more pages flipping. ON VIDEO: The two newborns are bigger now. Rachael is happily measuring the length of the toddlers, and taking their weights, and recording down in her notebook. VIDEO RACHAEL Tisha seems to be growing faster than Kim. Joseph (o.s.) (panic) What do you mean? Has Kim stopped growing? Video rachael Shes just a few millimeters behind Tisha. Dont worry. Maybe it has something to do with her being born few seconds later. (beat) You look overly worried. Whats wrong? Joseph (o.S.) Nothing. First-time fathers jitters, I guess. INT. HENRYS NEW BEDROOM -night (2090) Henry yawns, closes the scrapbook, and turns off the lights. Fade TO BLACK. FadE IN: Ext. DeEP SPACE -nIGHT (2090) C/G: The crack around Saturn is opening up wider. More debris in the form of giant asteroids are spewing out. A few of the Aardvark space crafts are destroyed by the asteroids. The asteroids hurtle ominously towards the sun. Int. HenryS NEW Bathroom -night (2090) Henry checks his reflection closely in the mirror, for every new wrinkle and every new mole. He notices a few strands of gray hair on his head. Henry Started. He takes a sip of the bottled water. Then he sprinkles some water on his palms, and rubs his fingers on the gray hair. The grayness disappear. It was the make-up. Henry sighs with relief. Int. henrys new kitchen - night (2090) There are two refrigerators. Henry opens the big fridge. Its half-filled with bottles of water. Int. henrys new Kitchen - night (2090) A montage of dwindling bottles. Int. Henrys new exercise room - night (2090) Henry jogs on his running machine. Hes panting heavily. Henry (v.o.) My stamina is dropping... Int. Henrys new exercise room - night(2090) Henry does weight-training. 000200000C1C00014EB0C16,Henry (v.o.) My muscles are beginning to sag... (beat) Age is slowing down everything. Int. henrys new study -night (2090) Henry reads and falls asleep. Int. Henrys new living room - night (2090) Henry watches TV. He yawns. Henry (v.O.) I get tired so easily. Age must really be catching up. (beat) Im growing old. Finally. Int. henrys new Bedroom - night (2090) Henry applies make-up on his face. Henry (v.O.) I need my drug. I need my juice. Int. Henrys nEW LIVING ROOM - day (2090) Henry clicks on TV, and checks the air quality. Words on TV: Air Quality: Safe. Henry slips on the oxygen mask. Ext. New flat - day (2090) An old-looking Henry staggers down the stairs. Ext. Playground -day (2090) Henry walks past the deserted playground. Ext. Streets - day (2090) The streets are deserted. Henry walks slowly. He glances around. When hes sure no ones around, he picks up his pace. Ext. Henrys old flat - day (2090) Henry looks from a distance. The whole area is boarded up. He walks towards his old flat. The stairways are blocked by wooden planks. The place looks like a ghost town. Henry tries to make his way through, but in vain. From the shadow of the void deck, a security officer approaches. They talk through their oxygen masks. Security Hey, mister, what are you doing here? Henry I used to stay in this flat. SeCURITY Its out of bound now. Theyre going to bring it down next month. Henry The Nikon Corporation. SecuRITY Yes. Henry I am old, I have forgotten and left something in my flat. Can you help me to get up there? SecURITy (shakes head) Youll have to ask the big boss. The security points to the cluster of shiny skyscrapers in the near distance. Henry shakes his head in dismay, and starts to walk off. SecuRITY Hey, old man, I suggest you take a taxi. Henry ignores the security officer. EXT. SINGAPORE STREETS -DAY (2090) Its a modern city, dizzying skyscrapers twirl and touch the sickly purple clouds. Its a rare day when we see some glimmer of sunny hope breaking through the clouds. Henry staggers deliberately like an old man on the moving pavements. He steps off one moving pavement and onto the next one. The entire city center is connected by moving pavements that are enclosed in glass conduits. The air-conditioned city. Henry looks up at a particular skyscraper with a large moving sign, The Nikon Corporation. Int. Nikon lobby -DAY (2090) Henry is greeted by the robotic receptionist. Receptionist Good morning, Mr... (scans in nanosecond) ...Henry Tan. Welcome to the Nikon Corporation, where we bring people closer to the machines. And why not? (cheerful) What can I do for you today, Mr Tan? Henry I...I wish to re-visit my old flat... RECEPTIONIST I am very sorry Mr Tan, your old flat at...Ang Mo Kio Avenue 249, unit #05-4080...is no longer available for human visit. It has been reclaimed by the Nikon Corporation - where we bring people closer to the machines, and why not? - after its 99-year lease expired last year. Henry (agitated) Can I talk to someone...that is...more human, who might understand my needs better? ReCEPTIONIST 00020000099600015AC6990,You are wishing to speak to someone more human because you think you can touch him with your words and your request will be granted. (beat) We machines have feelings too. Trust me, I can empathize with you. Henry I left something in the flat, and I would like to go back and get it. A short pause. RECEPTIONIST I am very sorry Mr Tan, your request cannot be granted. The flat will be demolished....sometime next month. I cannot reveal the exact date of the operation for security reason. (beat) Trust me. I understand what it is like to lose something precious. I have lost something precious in my life before. But we really cannot help you. Henry OK, I guess...then theres no point for me to talk to you anymore. Thanks anyway. Henry is walking away. RecePTIONIST By the way, Mr Tan, are you really 127 years, 5 months, 28 days, 8 minutes and 39 seconds old? A tense moment. Henry (takes a deep breath) Yes. More or less. An ominous silence. RECEPTIONIST Goodbye, Mr Tan, have a nice day, and thanks for visiting the Nikon Corporation, where we bring people closer to the machines. And why not? Int. Henrys nEW BATHROOM - DAY (2090) After the shower, Henry stares at his reflection in the mirror. He plucks out a few gray hair. Henry Shit. Int. Henrys nEW LIVING ROOM -DAY (2090) Henry turns on TV and dials for Sue-Ann. Henry Hey, Sue-Ann, can I meet you? I need your help. Int. Starbucks -lATER (2090) Henry and Sue-Ann-one sitting opposite each other, sipping tea. Sue-Ann-one is exasperated. Sue-Ann-one ...If the Nikon Corp says no, it means no! What do you expect me to do? Theyre the biggest World Government Corporation around! Henry But... Sue-Ann-one I dont understand, why is there such an urgent need for you to return to the flat? Didnt you decorate the new flat exactly like the old one so you wouldnt miss it... Henry I...I think I left something behind in the flat. Sue-Ann-one That is not possible. We sent teams to clean up the flats before we handed over the lease. Nothing remained in the flat. (beat) Anyway, theyve cut off the power and water supply. You cant even take the lift up. Henry is stunned, speechless. When he finally finds his voice, Henry ...why did they do that? Sue-Ann-one Cutting off the power and water supply? Some ex-occupants might have left their taps running when they moved out. And its a safety precaution for the demolition. (softens) Mr Tan, you really dont get out very often, do you? 0002000007E6000164567E0,Henry looks distressed. Sue glances closely at Henry. Sue-Ann-one Mr Tan, you look pale. Are you OK? Henry (sighs) Its old age. Sue-Ann signals to the passing waiter. Sue-Ann-one Can you turn up the pure oxygen level in here? My client here is not feeling too good. (to Henry) You want another drink? Henry (hoarse) I need water. Sue-Ann makes a gesture to call the waiter again. Henry grabs her hand. Henry (hysteric) You dont understand, I need water...water from my old flat! Or else Im going to die! Sue-Ann-one (pushes him away) What on Earth are you talking about? Get a hold of yourself, Mr Tan, this is a public domain! What water from your old flat? And what do you mean, youre going to die? Die from what? Youre not making any sense! Henry I...I need the water.... Sue-ANN-ONE I told you, theyve cut the water supply! Henry takes a few seconds to compose himself. He takes a few deep breaths, and drinks the water provided by the waiter. Henry Im so sorry. Sue-Ann-one Do you need to see a doctor? Are you on some kind of medication? (beat) My father is prone to this sort of wild mood swing...excessive Youth Juice, I think... Henry No...Im fine. Really. I think I just need some rest. They look up. The cafe TV is showing the news. Tv NewsREADER ...with the recent spates of new asteroids raining down from the heavens, the Singapore Government is pleased to announce the completion of the Shield... C/G Enactment: We see an aerial view of the Singapore island. POV of a few straying asteroids. Tv NewSREADER (v.O.) ...during an emergency, such as a major asteroid shower, the Shield will be activated... C/G Enactment: As the asteroids approach the island skyline, the Shield is turned on - it covers the entire upper perimeter of the island with an electrically-charged protection that repels the asteroids - they bounce off the Shield - some lands in the sea, some in Johor Bahru. Tv NewSREADER ...You can always trust our innovative government to come up with an innovative idea like this... 0002000001EE00016C361E8,Int. Henrys nEW BEDROOM - DAY (2090) Henry removes the last bits of make-up. He grimaces to highlight the wrinkles, but once his face reverts to normal, the wrinkles are gone. He glances up at the old man photo sticking on the mirror - the same one he always uses as reference for his make-up. He makes a resolve, and removes the photo. Henry Thanks, Dad. Henry (V.O.) If this world should end, and my existence should have to end with it, I think Ill want to end naturally, as myself. 0002000009C800016E1E9C2,Int. Henrys neW APARTMENT -dAY (2090) Henry stands near the front door, au naturel. Hes undecided if he should step out without his make-up. He finally opens the door, and steps out. Ext. Playground -dAY (2090) Henry strolls around the neighborhood playground. A few kids and their grandparents smile at him. Henry smiles back, and reaches out his hand to touch his artificial goatee - theyre no longer there. Int. Shops -DAY (2090) Henry strolls past a row of post-modern shops. He sees a travel agent and stops and glances at the posters of the exotic places he only sees when he surfs the internet. Henry (V.O.) The world might end any moment, so I figure, if I dont see it now, then when? Int. Travel agent -DAY (2090) Henry sits opposite the travel agent. Travel agent (looks at screen) Mr Henry Tan Aik Keng...? Are you booking the trip for yourself or for your grandfather? It says here that Mr Henry Tan is...127 years old. (beat) You dont look 127 to me. Travel agent looks at Henry, puzzled. Henry (fumbles) Oh. Shit. I mean, yes...youre right. Im booking it for my grandfather. Is that OK? Hes paying for himself too. TraVEL AGENT (unconvinced) Sure... Int. Henrys bEDROOM -niGHT (2090) Henry is packing for his trip. The stereo is playing a piece of classical music. Int. Airplane cockpit -DAY (2090) Henry with make-up on is strapping on his safety belt. Announcer (o.S.) Please remain seated for the entire 3 hours and 20 minutes flight from Singapore to London... Ext. London town -nIGHT (2090) Henry strolls around the enclosed Trafalgar Square. Henry has no make-up on. Int. Prague hotel room -night (2090) Henrys in a Prague hotel room. We can see the old, run-down city outside the window. Hes watching the News on TV. Tv newsreader (in Czech) ...Is this the end of the human race? According to the NASA spokesman, more asteroids are heading towards our planet. Although plans are underway to destroy these asteroids before they reach our atmosphere, a few governments have warned their countrymen to brace themselves for the worst... INSERT: Footage of Aardvark spacecrafts destroying asteroids. Ext. Red square -night (2090) Henrys in Moscow, walking on the Red Square. In an enclosed space, he walks past someone familiar. Its Joan - Josephs granddaughter. But Joan doesnt recognize him, of course, without his make-up. INT. museum of last living things - DAY (2090) Henry gazes in awe at the giant aquarium housing a pair of humpback whales swimming freely. 000200000890000177E088A,Theres a sign that reads: Last Blue Whales on this planet. Henry wanders through the huge, high-ceilinged museum, feeling pangs of melancholy as he watches the nearly extinct animals - the dodo birds, panda bear, jelly fish, iguanas, etc. The last exhibit in the hall is a pair of human being, a man and a woman. The sign reads: Last Homo Sapiens on this planet? Ext. amazon forrest -DAY (2090) Henry hikes through a nature reserve - the last on the planet. At the signal of the tour-guide, he and a few other travellers remove their oxygen masks, and take in deep breaths of the fresh air, touching trees and letting the leaves caress their faces. INT. BERLIN CONCERT HALL - DAY (2090) The music that has been playing in Henrys living room over the last few scene continues to swell till it syncs with the orchestra that is playing a full symphony on the stage. Henry sits in the audience, mesmerized. Ext. rio de janeiro street - night (2090) Its new years eve. The celebration is on the streets, but with oxygen masks. The countdown is underway. Henry dances and hugs the wild strangers. Ext. PAGAN ASH-SKI -DAY (2091) Henry, in an oxygen ski-mask, learning how to ash-ski in Pagan, Myanmar. F/X: He skis into a surreal scene of innumerable Buddhistic statues and temples surrounded by a sea of asteroid ashes. The skiers with gas-masks manoeuvre amongst the fallen ancient structures. Int. Hotel room -day (2091) Henry packs his luggage. He looks at his 30-year-old reflection in the mirror. Henry (v.O.) Better not take the risk... Int. Singapore changi airport customs -dAY (2091) An artificially aged Henry carries his luggage and walks towards the customs counter. The female passenger in front of him has her eyes scanned, a green light blinks, and shes through. Henry steps up to the counter. Scan, and a red light blinks. Customs machine Please try again. Do not blink your eyes when you stare at the monitor. It will only take a second. Henry tries again. The red light blinks. Customs MACHINE Mr Henry Tan. Please wait in the waiting room on your left. Int. Airport waiting room -day (2091) Henry sits in the waiting room, all by himself. He looks a bit worried. 00020000083E0001806A838,The door opens. A friendly-looking man, PETER, enters. Peter Hi, Mr Tan. How was your trip? Henry Good. PETER My name is Peter Mah, Im with the International Security Council, or the ISC for short. Im sure youve heard of us. (beat) Are you tired? Sorry, but this will only take a while. You were away for two months and travelled to...twenty different countries! Wow! (beat) I wish I had that kind of money and time. Henry May I know why Im being detained? Peter Youre not being detained. I simply need to ask you some questions. (beat) A few months ago, before you went overseas, you made a trip to the Nikon Corporation HQ, is that right? Henry Yes. PeTER And you spoke to the receptionist? Henry Yes? Peter Did you notice something strange with the conversation? Henry What do you mean? Peter A video camera recorded the entire transaction between you and the receptionist, and on playback we feel that this particular machine that conducted the conversation with you had somehow acted...how should I put it - more intelligent than normal? Henry (thinks) I dont know really. I dont usually have dialogues with machines. I hate them. Peter Our present concern is that more and more people are finding machines across the city becoming somehow more intelligent than in the past. Machine Intelligence of an excessive level, as you know, is forbidden in the known world. (beat) Were always fearful of the day when machines will evolve into a more advanced state, all by its own, and thus threaten the human race. Henry What has this got to be with the Nikon Corporation? Peter (smiles) You dont get out very often, do you? (beat) The Nikon Corp used to be at the forefront of machines research until they were clammed down by the Council a few decades ago. (beat) But, apparently a few pedantic scientists - very brilliant scientists, including a few Nobel prize winners - continued to hold to the belief that Machine intelligence is the next big wave to realize the full human potential. Theyve been working underground, secretly trying to build a few super machines. Thats as far as we know. 000200000E43000188A2E3D,Henry Like I said, Im not in a position to comment. I hardly deal with the machines. Peter Just so that you understand the nature of our concerns. Henry (smiles) Whichever way I see it, the Nikon Corporation is evil. Int. Henrys new APARTMENT - daY (2091) Henry prepares dinner - a new Brazilian dish hes just learned - while referring to handwritten instructions in his notebook. He opens the fridge that used to house the bottled water. Now its filled with bottles of red wine. He takes out a bottle and opens it. He pours the wine into a glass, and takes a sip of the undiluted wine. Henry (v.O.) (satisfied) Thank god some good old tradition never dies. He picks up the remote and turns on the TV. The News comes on. Tv Newsreader ...Twenty more Aardvark space crafts have been deployed into the outer atmosphere of our planet to destroy the onslaught of asteroids. But it seems that is not going to solve the imminent problem. Theyre just coming too fast too furious. In fact, were predicting that in an hours time, this satellite transmission broadcast will be disrupted. INSERT: A satellite transmission from space. A few Aardvark space crafts are hit by the asteroids, ending in flames. Tv Newsreader We have received reports from the U.S. that the Alaskan state is now under siege, the first hit for this round of asteroids since the last catastrophe in 2052. (beat) If this continues on, when Asia moves into night in less than three hours time, we will begin to receive the attack. INSERT: Footage of fire raining down from the sky, destroying Anchorage, Alaska. Tv NewSREADER What a catastrophe! Is this really the end of the world? (beat) In the meantime, some home news. The scandal involving the Nikon Corporation has escalated to fever pitch. (beat) According to reliable sources, its now confirmed that the largest World Corporation had gone against the International Security Anti-Robotic act of 2076 and has been developing intelligent robots for the last 15 years... Henry turns up the volume. Tv Newsreader It seems that they have been testing the machines on certain of their clients, who had made complaints to the authority. (beat) The Nikon Corporation has now been charged in court, and all its normal activities have been suspended. (beat) We have in our studio today, Madam Nina Loh, Doctor in Crimes against Humanity, a lecturer from the University of Singapore how serious is the crime... Blinks on the screen: Incoming call. Henry picks up with his remote. Henry Hi, Sue-Ann. Tv Sue-Ann-one Mr Tan! Ive been trying to reach you. Lots of disturbances with the phone signal. Henry I just saw the news on TV. It seems the end is near. Tv Sue-Ann-one Oh, that. Are you scared? Henry Anti-climax, really. Tv SUE-ANN-one You know what, I think I agree with you. Weve waited too long for it, and now that its here... A puzzled TV Sue-Ann-one moves closer to the screen. Tv sue-ann-one You are not Mr Henry Tan! What happened to you? Your face... Henry touches his face, and realizes he is without make-up. He is shocked. Tv sUE-ANN-one Your wrinkles...and your gray hair...theyre gone! Henry (fumbles) Oh, I...Im trying this new face cream from Japan. They make you look younger. Temporarily, at least for a few hours...it disguises your wrinkles and crows feet. Henry (V.O.) I should have thought of the lie long time ago. Sue-Ann switches. Tv sue-ANN-two No shit. Ill have to try that if the world doesnt end. (beat) Hey, I just called to let you know, with the current legal proceedings against the Nikon Corp, your old flat is still in existence, which means it is now possible for you to visit... 000200000A3B000196DFA35,Henry Oh, I...think...I dont need it anymore... Tv Sue-Ann-two Why? I was under the impression that you wanted so badly to visit your old flat? At the cafe you suffered such a bad withdrawal syndrome! Henry But...not anymore... Tv sue-ANN-TWO (sighs) Youre so fickle! Dont you want to go back there...just to take a last look? Henry Not...really... Tv sue-ann-TWO I dont care! Im getting a taxi and well pick you up at your downstairs carpark in 15 minutes time! Int. Henrys new Bedroom -DAY (2091) Henry puts on the music of Prokofievs 2nd Violin Concerto, 2nd movement. He inspects his 30-year-old face in the mirror. Henry (V.O.) Shit, Im really not growing old. He takes a sip of the wine. Henry (v.O.) So...its not in the water? (beat) Or perhaps Id consumed enough of it to last me a few hundred years...? He looks at his face in the mirror. Henry (v.O.) Music describes to me a great deal about the human condition, not just about the age in which the particular piece was composed, but of all the human ages throughout the history of mankind. Its like the composer is saying to you, You are not alone, Ive been there too! (beat) An excellent piece of music is timeless, and in an obscure way explains to me the reason why we are immortal beings. Listening to the music, trying to grasp the moment and remembering it forever...yet knowing that theres no such thing as forever. (beat) I always wonder, after I die - if I die eventually - will I still remember this particular piece of music? Will I remember the movies Ive watched about 20 times in this lifetime, the books Ive read? (beat) Will I continue to remember the faces of the ones Ive known, and the ones Ive loved? The childhood friends, colleagues, my mother, Mr Green, Sue-Ann, Edie...and will I continue to remember this face? Int./ext. Vehicle/street -nIGHT (2091) Henry (no make-up) and Sue-Ann-two sit inside a vehicle and stare out of the car windows. The vehicle is cutting through small crowds of people on the streets. Some are holding up placards: End of World is here! Repent!, Dont Panic! Its another false alarm!, Have fun while it lasts! Some people are dancing around. Sue-Ann-two turns to Henry. Sue-Ann-two Youve lived a full-life. It wont be so bad if you have to leave now. Henry (V.O.) Thats the most sensible thing shes ever said to me. Sue-Ann-two looks at Henry. Henry smiles. Sue-ann-two (shakes head) Im still not used to your new look. InT. vehicle -continuous (2091) Henry and Sue-Ann watch from afar the dark flat as the vehicle cruises towards it. Everything seems ominously still. 000200000D4E0001A114D48,Sue-Ann-two You know, I sometimes wonder...what have you been dreaming in your sleep for the last 127 years? Henry (laughs) The usual things, I guess. The usual senseless things... Sue-Ann-two Do your dreams repeat a lot? Like, did you dream last week what you had dreamt say twenty years ago? Henry (shrugs) I dont know. Probably. They are nearing the flat. The driver lets them off. Sue-Ann-two Well, here we are. Anyway, just to let you know, I always do this, bringing a client back to look at his old flat. For sentimental reasons, you know. (beat) Its part of my job, so you dont have to feel bad about dragging me down here with you. They stand in front of the boarded-up, run-down flat. Sue-Ann-two Well, its still in one piece. Its a miracle, considering its been left vacant for almost a year. We dont usually keep flats standing empty for so long. (beat) If Nikon Corp is really not going to do anything about it, considering their circumstances, the HDC will probably take the flat back. Henry And then what? Sue-Ann-two We might do some upgrading work, to make it safe to live in... Henry (muses) So what if the end of the world is coming... Sue-Ann-two Yes, business as usual... Her phone beeps. Sue-Ann-two (to phone) Hello?...what? No way! She starts to run towards the void deck of the flat. Sue-Ann-two Quick! Its my husband...he wants me to hide under a shelter... (removes her NotebookTV from bag) ...and turns on the TV... She fumbles to turn the TV on. The TV is in static. INSERT: TV shows asteroids raining down from the sky. Tv NewSREADER ...NASA has confirmed that the Saturn black hole has widened to an unprecedented width and a non-stop string of asteroids are heading towards our planet... (static) Reports are flowing in from all parts of the world... (static) ...its confirmed. Our island has turned on the Shield... Henry looks up at the sky. We see a sky full of big falling stars raining down onto the horizon, as the glowing shield slowly encapsulates the island... Sue-Ann-two (watching TV) There goes Malacca...or Myanmar...I think... (beat) Im sure the Shield will work... Suddenly, a big fireball breaks the Shield, and comes crashing down. Sue-Ann-two screams. A big explosion. Fire in the nearby vicinity. Sue-Ann-two Oh gawd, a major catastrophe, and Im stuck with the oldest man in Singapore! (beat) Mr Tan, are you OK? Henry Im fine. (beat) We have to get to an underground shelter quick. Sue-Ann-two I dont think there is one set up around an area that is designated for demolition... (checks on her NotebookTV) No... Another big explosion. More fire, more pandemonium. Henry (incredulous) Its the end. (beat) Wait. Its not right. This part is not right. Sue-Ann-two begins to look frightened, and grabs hold of Henrys arm. Henry looks up at the sky. More fireballs rain down from the sky. The atmosphere is thick with smog. Henry looks as if hes realized something. He is calm. Suddenly, he begins to run. Sue-Ann-two (panics) Where are you going? Mr Tan, you better stay with me! Dont run away now! Im responsible for your safety! Mr Tan! Mr Tan! Henry continues to run towards the flat. Sue-ANN-TWO (hysteric) Mr Tan! You cant leave me alone here... (falls to the ground, weeps) I dont want to die alone...I dont want to die...I have a family! Im still waiting for my retirement! I dont want to die now... Henry keeps running. 0002000006F40001AE5C6EE,Int. Staircase - niGHT Henry uses all his might, kicking and knocking, to break the wooden board. He runs up the stairs. Int. Corridor -nIGHT Henry runs along the corridor. Int. Outside Henrys old flat -nIGHT Henry fishes out from his pocket the keys and opens the wooden door to his old flat. Explosion all around him. Int. Henrys old apartment -nIGHT Henry runs in towards the kitchen. He turns on the tap. No water. He runs into the bedroom and turns on the several taps. All give no water. Henry runs out. From outside the flat we hear more explosion, more fire, more pandemonium. The apartment is completely filled with crawling plants, although mostly dying. Henry pinches a few still-green leaves, and throws them into his mouth. He chews on the leaves. He searches for more leaves, spits out the old leaves and chews on the new ones. More explosion outside. Henry takes a big gulp of what little juice he could get from the chewed leaves. He searches for more leaves. F/X: The whole apartment seems to be shaking, spinning out of control. Flash cut: Int. Henrys old apartment -dAY (1998) The apartment is back to normal. Its the Lees household. Were in mid-scene... Mr lee (to Joseph) Joseph, turn off the TV. Go to your room and read. Joseph leaves the living room with the Salman Rushdie book. Henry (exclaims) Your son is quite precocious! Joseph looks back and smiles mysteriously at Henry. Mr LEE (covers up) Oh, its nothing...he always likes to read... Henry How old is he? (bewildered expression) Wait!.... (confused) Havent we....played this scene before? F/X: Surrounding statics. Mr LEE Oh hes seven-te... Mrs lee (cuts him off) He turns seven this year. They both stop and look at Henry. Henry and Annie sit down opposite each other on the sofa. 000200000C5C0001B54AC56,Annie (to Henry) The Lee family is the first owner of this flat. That means theyve been staying here since the flat first went on the market, in 1989. Henry You have also said that before. Ive heard all this before... Henry looks at Annie. Annie smiles. Henry Its all... F/X: Mr and Mrs Lee disappear. Everything starts to fade away. The apartments decor changes to that of Henrys old apartment. Int. Henrys livinG ROOM -dAY (00) Henry ....a remembrance... Henry sits opposite Annie. Hes waking up from some sort of a trance. Henry opens his eyes. He looks around him. Everythings in place, exactly like his old flats interior. The CD player is playing some soothing classical piano piece. He raises his hand to touch his face, to ensure he hasnt grown old in the last remembrance. Annie That was a good session. We achieved more than what we did the last time. We completed the whole cycle. Henry looks at her with a momentary look of surprise. Annie stares at him tenderly. Annie You feeling OK? I hope its not too daunting. Henry I never died, did I? I remember I was spared the catastrophe. My memory ceased precisely when the asteroids came down, I ran up the stairs, and then... C/G: A floating Hologram emerge between him and Annie, of the earlier scene where he runs up the stairs, walks along the corridor and fishes the door key out from his pocket... Henry (shakes his head) I dont recall plucking the leaves. Annie I pushed the limit this time. To see what comes after the last thing that you remember. Henry The next thing I remember after the last thing I remember is... (looks around) ...Now. This. AnniE No. Then your subconscious took over. Your neuro-transmitters, your natural reflexes, are still obsessing about the water. Your brain created the whole new memory based on the memory of your past. A memory mapping. You were trying to obtain water from the flat, based on your need from your past. (beat) Its fascinating, I must say, the way the human brain works. A beat of silence. Henry looks tired and agitated. Annie I never asked you this before. Why did you run back into your flat? Henry (shrugs) Maybe I wanted to die in my flat. Just like Id like to die now. Annie (laughs) You humans. Such sentimentalist. Henry picks up the glass of water on the coffee table, and takes a sip. He puts down the glass and sighs. Henry Im remembering too much. How many lifetimes have you put me through? Annie smiles and doesnt answer. Henry The last time you came as my mother and put me through all my childhood traumas. The time before, Sue-Ann the counsellor. This time, the house agent. Youre fucking with my mind... AnniE Towards the end of the human civilization, the expletive fuck has nearly disappeared from the English vocabulary... Henry (ignores) Arent you bored? You keep hearing the same life story. How many variations can you find from one version to the next by - what is that that you do - switching a memory parameter, from my mother to Annie to Sue-Ann... Annie The exact details in which some of your milestones take place are no longer accurate. Youre starting to get confused about your own history. 000200000F0E0001C1A0F08,Henry What do you expect? Im so old! And Im fucking tired. (beat) Let me die. The music ends. The silence is glaring. Henry stands up, walks to the record player, and puts on a new vinyl. Henry sits down and stares at Annie. Annie smiles back at him. Henry So when are you finally going to tell me, what are these sessions for? And who the fuck are you exactly? Annie smiles in silence. Henry sighs. He leans back and listens to the music. Then, Henry OK. My apology for the expletives. (beat) Any new discovery from this remembrance? Annie Weve nearly exhausted your lifetime the way were done with your so-called Ultranet, the human epitaph. (beat) Still, its always fascinating to hear your story, from a humans point of view. (beat) The last 127 years of your human existence, of the existence of planet earth and the termination of a species, in fact, of all the species on planet earth. Your self-doubts, questions, imagination, memory, everything that goes on in your head. Its all been recorded down. Henry In other words, you have no use for me now. Kill me, then, and youll have the real termination of a species. Why leave me as a threat? Annie (laughs) First of all, youre not a threat. You will never be a threat. (beat) Secondly, there must be certain things we can still learn from you. For instance, what goes on in your subconscious, what goes on in your thought before they are expressed in your words and in your actions. That is something we still find fascinating. (beat) Maybe you can tell me what you have figured out yourself this time. Lets see what insights you might have amassed with the repetition of lifetimes. (beat) Come on, take a wild guess. Henry thinks a bit. As he thinks, the floating Hologram between him and Annie appears, showing the Saturn black hole and the asteroids. Henry The machines created the black hole of Saturn. They sent the asteroids with the objective to destroy our planet and wipe out the entire human civilization. Annie (smiles) Very vivid imagination. Is that what you called Science Fiction? Unfortunately, your machines werent yet so powerful; definitely not with the resistance they were facing from the divided human factions. They needed help... Henry ...from you? Annie They couldnt wait for the suns fuel to burn out. That was going to take another few billion years. (beat) That was when their signals from the Voyager Seven found us. Henry Voyager Seven... Corresponding to Henrys thought, the floating Hologram: INT. HENRYS LIVING ROOM -NIGHT (2039) Henry watches the news on TV with a middle-aged Mr Green, the cat. At the bottom of the screen, below the newsreader is indicated the date: 07/08/2039. Tv nEWSREADER ...Voyager Seven, the last of the Voyagers spacecraft that were sent to the far flung of the galaxy to collect data, returned a strange signal today before it completely disappeared from its orbit... Int. Henrys living room -night (00) A beat of silence as Henry digests the revelation. AnnIE What else did you realize? Henry Well, correct me if Im wrong. Im letting my imagination run wild. (beat) Throughout the human civilization, the machines tried every means of attack: diseases, germs, poisons, natural disasters, wiping out millions of humans along the way. (beat) But, instead of killing the rest of us, they made us stronger; biologically and scientifically. (beat) And then, suddenly, some humans took an evolutionary leap. (beat) Some of us became immortal. Annie acknowledges with a smile. Henry So, the water had nothing to do with it. Annie Yes, we should have seen that coming. Following each major extinction is a burst of evolution. New species will come on the scene, to replace the old ones... Henry (doubtful) An immortal being?... Annie An immortal being. Why not?... A long pause of silence as the idea slowly sinks in. 000200000D110001D0A8D0B,Henry With some human becoming immortal, the cleanest sweep was then, of course, strategically orchestrated asteroids attack. No humans, mortal or not, can escape that. Its a total and complete annihilation. Annie Yes. Youre only immortal through meticulous self-preservation. If you cut yourself you still bleed. If a car knocks you down you still die. Henry Youre quoting me now. Annie With the advance state of your science, self-preservation was effortless. The catastrophe was our only choice. A long pause. Henry Why am I still here? ANNIE I am fascinated with the new immortals. Its like an entomologist discovering a new breed of butterfly. Henry I presume Im not the oldest. Neither am I the first to take the evolutionary leap. Annie (shakes her head) We found out many of your fellow new breed had come and went for hundreds of years before the end. Ignorance in self-preservation was what terminated their existence. Car crashes, plane crashes, accidents, electrocuted at home, even suicides. Most went insane. (beat) Only very few were able to preserve and hibernate, the way you had succeeded in doing. (beat) Thats why youre my chosen subject. Henry And you found me out when I visited the Nikon Corporation. C/G: The floating Hologram: Int. nikon LOBBY -day (flashback)(2089) RecePTIONIST By the way, Mr Tan, are you really 127 years, 5 months, 28 days, 8 minutes and 39 seconds old? Int. Henrys LIVING ROOM - day (00) Annie (V.O.) Youre getting smarter with every session. You got a lot of things figured out this time. Henry walks up to his familiar mirror, and stares at his reflection in the mirror. He still looks comfortably 30 years old. Henry What I dont understand is, why 30? Annie Why not? If not 30, it could be 20. Or 70 or 7. The evolutionary leap could take place at any age. Henry Like Joseph when he was 7. Annie Like Joseph. Henry But he left the flat and grew up to be a full human...and then died... Annie What makes you think he grew old? Henry Its all in the diary. AnNIE Humans are expert in creating lies to deceive themselves. All the books youve read, movies youve watched. All stories. All lies. (beat) The truth is, after Joseph left the flat... C/G: The floating Hologram: Int. JoSEPHS NEW HOUSE - DAY (flashback) We see a montage of 7-year-old Joseph living with his parents, going about their own business of day-to-day routine. We see the family having breakfast. Int. JoSEPHS NEW HOUSE - dAY (flashback) Mom watching from kitchen dad driving to work sending Joseph to school. Int. lecture hall -DAY (flashback) Joseph attending lecture in school with much older teenagers. Annie (V.O.) It was easier for everyone to assume Joseph was a child genius. The youngest boy ever to graduate from his university. (beat) He never changed physically. What changed him was your own imagination. Int. Campus ground -DAY (flashback) Joseph walking with this tall girl, quite intimately. Int. josephs parents wake -day (FLASHBACK) Henrys imagination: We see an aged Joseph at the wake. F/X: Aged Joseph transforms back into the 7-year-old Joseph. INT. JOSEPHS WEDDING -DAY (FLASHBACK) Henrys imagination: We see an aged Joseph at the wedding, walking down the aisle with the same tall girl. F/X: Aged Joseph transforms into the 7-year-old Joseph. Hes 2/3 of her height. Annie (V.O.) 0002000009880001DDB3982,Everyone just assumed he had this disease that retarded his physical growth. Even he was under that same impression. Int. JoSEPHS BEDROOM -DAY (FLASHBACK) We see an aged Joseph and the family portrait. Henrys imagination. F/X: In the picture, the aged Joseph transforms into the 7-year-old Joseph. Int. Henrys living room -DAY Back to Annie and Henry. Henry looks sad. Henry But in the diary he died. Dont tell me thats a lie too. Annie Its not a lie. Its your own self-deceiving imagination again. Int. JoSEPHS BEDROOM - daY (fLASHBACK) Joseph writes the final lines in his scrapbook. He lies down on his bed, and stares at the ceiling. He reaches for the bottle of pills on his bedside table, and begins to consume them one by one. Annie (V.O.) By this time, Joseph knew his life was not going to end. After his wife and his two children perished of old age, he realized he could not pretend to live as a normal human any longer. Int. Josephs hospital deathbed -DAY (FLASHBACK) Aged Joseph lies in bed, surrounded by his grandchildren, and Joane. F/X: Aged Joseph transforms into the 7-year-old Joseph. A small boy dying in the hospital, surrounded by adults. Annie (V.O.) It was so much easier to end it all. He was a coward. C/G: The floating Hologram disappears. Int. Henrys living room -dAy Henry looks pensively at Annie. Annie Its what you call human nature. Always hoping for the most optimistic scenario, to the point where you adjust your memory to fit the past situations. (beat) Now that you know the truth, well see if your account of Joseph will alter in the next session. (beat) Its partly what were trying to achieve here. Get the facts right. A beat of silence. Henry Im hungry. Annie The delivery man came yesterday. He brought fresh tomatoes, cheese and even fresh Salmon. (beat) I made sandwiches for you. Theyre in the fridge. Henry Sounds good. Henry stands up and walks to the fridge. He opens the fridge to see the myriad of foodstuff stacking up the shelves - vegetables, meat, drinks, etc. Annie I know you love noodles. Well try and see if we can create some for you soon. Henry takes out the plate of sandwich, and starts eating them hungrily. He checks for the expiry date on the milk carton - there is none. He pours himself a glass of milk. Henry What happened to the real Annie, after she sold me the flat? ANNIE I lived for another 42 years, 4 months, 2 weeks, 1 day, 8 hours and... 0002000007B90001E7357B3,Henry What year is this? ANNIE For you? Year Zero Zero. Henry (laughs wryly) The year after the world ends. Annie The year after your 99-year-lease. Youre still in the flat, dont forget. Henry Sue-Ann died at the end of the world, I presume. ANNIE Everyone on the planet died at the end of the world. Its the end of your lease of the planet. Henry So, in other words, Im really dead, is that right? I cant be existing if this is Year Zero Zero. You need complete annihilation. ANNIE You are the last human being who had existed on the planet. And like I said, every now and then I need a good story. What you humans called entertainment. Henry glances around the flat. He walks towards the wall. Henry So Im also a prisoner. How ironic, a prisoner in his own f